Business Leaders Under 40

The next generation of business leaders are eager young professionals that are facing economic times their predecessors never experienced. They’re having to compete with those same predecessors that are retiring later because of the recession and are facing challenges that no one could have anticipated.

The following pages provide an insight into 20 of these young executives that are making waves in Nevada’s business community. They have managed to achieve success despite the challenges facing them and sometimes because of them.

Jeremy Aguero

Principal

^{Applied Analysis}

Professional Ambition:

To leave the community better than I found it.

Best Business Advice Received:

Proper prior planning prevents poor performance.

Tools of Success:

My support structure, an incredible family, a business partner who has been my best friend since we were six years old, and colleagues who I can trust and depend on.

Jose Aguirre, MD

President

^{Lake Tahoe Regional Hospitalists, St. Mary’s Hospitalists, LTRH Medical Billing Service}

Professional Ambition:

My greatest ambition is to maintain a hospital medicine practice that thrives on providing compassionate care with unsurpassed quality.

Best Business Advice Received:

The best business advice I have ever received is that if you treat people well and always do right, good things will happen.

Tools of Success:

We have been extremely fortunate to be affiliated with, not only outstanding medical professionals, but the highest quality human beings. Our providers are essential to our success.

D.J. Allen

Sr. Associate Athletics Director of External Affairs

^{UNLV Intercollegiate Athletics}

Professional Ambition:

To provide my children with more opportunities, both personally and professionally, than I have had. My parents gave this to me and I hope to continue that legacy.

Best Business Advice Received:

Surround yourself with people better than you at certain things and let them do their jobs. Don’t let your ego get in the way of being successful.

Tools of Success:

I married an incredible woman. Stacey is my biggest fan and my best friend. If you are going to be successful in your career, your spouse needs to support you one hundred percent. It’s that simple.

Jason Belland

Executive Director

^{American Heart & Stroke Association}

Professional Ambition:

Considering my chance to play hockey for the Detroit Red Wings has already passed… to continue my career with the American Heart Association in an Affiliate or National Center Leadership position.

Best Business Advice Received:

Don’t sweat the small stuff… Learn from your mistakes, you can’t change the past you can only make plans for a successful future.

Tools of Success:

The enthusiastic work of our volunteers! We wouldn’t be able to achieve success without their dedication, drive, and commitment to the mission of the American Heart & Stroke Association.

Lisa Chasteen

Leasing Director

^LaPour

Professional Ambition:

To just keep growing professionally and personally and taking advantage of the unique situations and opportunities that are presenting themselves right now.

Best Business Advice Received:

“It’s not rocket science”. It wasn’t the most eloquent advice but it continues to help me keep things in perspective.

Tools of Success:

A lot of hard work and perseverance as well as the network of colleagues that I have had the pleasure of working with, many of whom have become true friends and amazing resources.

Robin Civish

Director

^{Commerce Real Estate Solutions / Cushman & Wakefield Alliance Member}

Professional Ambition:

I would like to be known as one of the best in my field, as well as someone who has integrity and pride in everything I do.

Best Business Advice Received:

Find a career that you enjoy, then make sure you continue to grow in that field.

Tools of Success:

Knowing that the best deal is one that works for everyone.

Darren Davis

Executive Director

^{Orleans Arena}

Professional Ambition:

To provide meaningful and memorable entertainment for the local community and visitors to our city.

Best Business Advice Received:

That your word is what’s most important. If you commit to something, follow through; if you agree to something, make it happen.

Tools of Success:

The support I have received from Boyd Gaming and the colleagues I have in the industry (promoters, agents, managers, friends etc).

Al Gourrier

President

^{1st Commerce Bank}

Professional Ambition:

To have an impact in the community in which I work and live. To be part of the solution to challenges we face socially, economically and in education. I have always been driven by contribution and service.

Best Business Advice Received:

If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.

Tools of Success:

I believe that education has always been the foundation of my success, that coupled with a strong work ethic and a persistent will to achieve.

Karie L. Hall

VP of Hotel Operations

^{Flamingo Las Vegas and Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall}

Professional Ambition:

I would love to be a General Manager of a property someday, but I don’t necessarily have one single ambition, I am always seeking out opportunities to grow and learn.

Best Business Advice Received:

Don’t be afraid to take risks and seek out opportunities that push you outside of your comfort zone. That’s how you grow.

Tools of Success:

I believe in the power of teamwork and that the most significant accomplishments occur when you have a solid vision, mission and team in place.

Tyler Jones

Principal

^{Blue Heron Companies}

Professional Ambition:

Most homes in our market are outdated and inadequate. Blue Heron would like to change this and become the authority on cutting edge design and energy efficient homes in Nevada.

Best Business Advice Received:

My father taught me that it doesn’t matter what you choose to become, just be the best. Simple. I heard from the age of five – at the time I wanted to become a cement truck driver.

Tools of Success:

My parents unconditional love and support, my best friend as a business partner and an amazing group of passionate people surrounding me working towards a common vision.

Kitty K. Jung, M.A.

Commissioner, District 3

^{Washoe County}

Professional Ambition:

I want to continue to raise the bar, eliminate mediocrity and disrupt the status quo.

Best Business Advice Received:

To be more concerned with accomplishing something than with to whom the credit will be bestowed.

Tools of Success:

Doing my homework, making sure I base decisions on data and trying to figure out what ultimately is best for my community.

Jennifer Lazovich

Attorney

^{Kaempfer Crowell}

Professional Ambition:

To have a long and successful legal career with a reputation of achieving the results clients seek with integrity and expertise.

Best Business Advice Received:

The Cow Parable may sound like odd advice but it applies to any business: When there is a problem you need to do three things: (1) get the cow out of the ditch; (2) find out how the cow got into the ditch and (3) make sure you do what ever is necessary so that cow doesn’t go in the ditch again.

Tools of Success:

I have been lucky to be surrounded by co-workers who are smart, honest, dedicated and perhaps most important of all, a recognition that loyalty, compassion and humor empower all of us to achieve success.

Bobbi Miracle, CCIM

Salesperson

^{Commercial Executives}

Professional Ambition:

To help facilitate the success of my clients and build the level of trust that is required to create referrals and lasting relationships.

Best Business Advice Received:

“Never get dollar signs in your eyes.” It is all about relationships, not money. I want to do the job for the right reasons with the right people.

Tools of Success:

Honesty. I am not afraid to tell someone I do not know the answer. I may not know everything, but I will always seek the answer and advise accordingly.

Aurangzeb Nagy

Founder

^{American Patriot Solar Community}

Professional Ambition:

Put solar panels on every home and business in Nevada at the lowest cost that current technology allows.

Best Business Advice Received:

My father: Always be honest and treat other people the way you would want to be treated.

Tools of Success:

Finding other people inspired to help America become energy efficient and to reduce green house gas production.

Gerd Eibe Poppinga

Owner/Member

^{Offsite Data Depot LLC}

Professional Ambition:

To be a successful business leader within my community. To educate, give back and help others succeed.

Best Business Advice Received:

Treat others you do business with as if they are family.

Tools of Success:

Paying attention to other successful business owners in how they approached challenging situations. Learning means listening and then applying what you’ve learned.

Berna L. Rhodes-Ford

Of Counsel

^{Holland & Hart llp}

Professional Ambition:

To continue to gain the trust and respect of my peers and clients, thus becoming one of the most sought-after corporate/healthcare/employment attorneys in Southern Nevada.

Best Business Advice Received:

“Do good work.” Lawyers have the unenviable task of rainmaking (i.e., developing clients). A colleague told me “Don’t focus on getting clients. Do good legal work; the referrals will come.”

Tools of Success:

Support of a wonderful husband who understands late nights and rush deadlines and a great mentor who cares about both my professional growth and development and my personal happiness with a strong work ethic and a persistent will to achieve.

Taber Thill

Senior Vice President

^{Colliers International}

Professional Ambition:

To go home each day a better broker and a better person than I was the day before.

Best Business Advice Received:

Learn from your mistakes but move forward like you can’t fail. Oh yes, and specialize.

Tools of Success:

I focus on what is important to my clients and find a way to create value. I am also fortunate enough to work and collaborate with some of the most successful people in the industry.

Darik Volpa

Founder, CEO

^{Understand.com}

Professional Ambition:

Fundamentally change the way doctors and patients interact.

Best Business Advice Received:

I have worked with a lot of great people so the list is long, but this nugget stands out…“Dig your well before you’re thirsty”…thanks Harvey.

Tools of Success:

Taking risk. Building solid relationships. Focusing on what I am good at, and surrounding myself with talented people to do the things I am not good at.

Fritzi A. Witsoe

Senior Internal Auditor

^{Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority}

Professional Ambition:

Comprehensive growth is the most important and rewarding career goal that drives all of my professional and personal ambitions. Growth doesn’t happen overnight and requires diligence and dedication to your responsibilities.

Best Business Advice Received:

To voluntarily take part in those tasks which make you feel the most uncomfortable, it challenges you to find your weak spots and stretches your abilities with practice.

Tools of Success:

Understanding that things are ever-changing; adapting to change is a necessary trait for survival; in work and life in general.