Enrollment Systems Benefit Employers Employers are using their benefits enrollment systems to encourage employees to adopt healthier behaviors. A survey of 117 U.S. companies by Watson Wyatt Worldwide found that 53 percent of employers have incorporated health risk assessments into enrollment systems or will incorporate these programs by 2009. More than one-third use … [Read more...] about April 2008: Business Up Front
Departments
Office Market Summary: 4th Quarter 2007
Las Vegas The Valley’s office market has weakened significantly since the end of 2006. Net absorption decreased substantially from 904,266 in Q3 to 491,365 in Q4. In addition, after three straight quarters of increasing, the absorption-to-completions decreased considerably to 0.45. 2007’s fourth quarter vacancy rate increased to 12.2 percent from 10.9 percent in the third … [Read more...] about Office Market Summary: 4th Quarter 2007
What’s your prediction on the housing market?
Boyd L. Erickson, Principal, Finnegan Erickson Associates, Henderson The housing market will rebound earlier than the rest of the country because of the opening of the mega resorts on the Strip – which will require more employees – resulting in the need for more housing. Amy Lessinger, Broker/Owner, RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, Reno The housing market has dropped about 23 … [Read more...] about What’s your prediction on the housing market?
March 2008: Business Up Front
Parental Perks at Work Raising a family while working can be a challenge for most parents, but it seems many businesses are lending a helping hand. According to a recent survey, which asked executives if their organization has made changes in workplace policy to accommodate working parents in the past five years, more than 62 percent of executives answered yes. This means that … [Read more...] about March 2008: Business Up Front
March 2008: Nevada Briefs
Kortek Services and Connecting Point Merge Kortek Services Inc., a Las Vegas-based technology solutions provider, merged with Ron Cook’s Connecting Point, a technology business continuity company. Kortek will be relocating to Connecting Point’s Fremont Street facility. Ron Cook has been named chairman of Connecting Point, Lester Keizer will be CEO and Lyle Epstein will be … [Read more...] about March 2008: Nevada Briefs
Do you feel our “Sin City” image makes Nevada a tough place to raise kids?
Darren Hankel, Principal, Consultants in Marketing, Inc., Las Vegas “If you take a proactive role in parenting, you can instill core values and ethics that lead to a solid moral foundation. Even though my two daughters are young, I engage them in conversations so that I understand how they are interpreting the world we live in.” June Connelly, Executive Director, … [Read more...] about Do you feel our “Sin City” image makes Nevada a tough place to raise kids?
March 2008: Business Indicators
The slowdown continues. U.S. GDP grew at a tepid rate of 0.6 percent for the fourth quarter of 2007. Job growth showed similar weakness, a decline of 17,000 jobs over the last month, leaving employment essentially flat. Indeed, it takes a substantially greater decline than last month’s job losses for a recession. End-of-year numbers may also be influenced by irregular events … [Read more...] about March 2008: Business Indicators
Retail Market Summary: 4th Quarter 2007
Las Vegas While the housing depression has led to a decline in retail sales growth in the Las Vegas Valley, an increase in retail employment indicated continued growth for the Valley’s retail market. The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation recorded 104,900 retail jobs in December 2007. Construction activity was high with 561,800 square feet of new … [Read more...] about Retail Market Summary: 4th Quarter 2007
March 2008: Face to Face
Pete Blakely President BJG / Architecture + Engineering Reno Years in Nevada: Native Years with Firm: 15 Type of business: Architectural and Structural Engineering Design Services Biggest Business Challenge: Creating the growth necessary to provide opportunities for my employees’ professional growth. What do you like best about your job? Interacting with … [Read more...] about March 2008: Face to Face
February 2008: Business Up Front
Consumer Electronics Industry Sales to Jump The consumer electronics (CE) industry is projected to post a 6.1 percent increase in revenues in 2008 with total shipments forecast to top $171 billion. The Consumer Electronics Association released its estimate of final shipment revenues for 2007, which totaled $161 billion, up 8.2 percent over 2006. The overall projection for … [Read more...] about February 2008: Business Up Front
Industrial Market Summary: 3rd Quarter 2007
Las Vegas According to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, 169,800 industrial-related jobs were recorded in September 2007, a net decrease of 400 or 0.24 percent, from September 2006. During this 12-month period, the largest increase was in the Transportation & Warehousing sector, with 1,300 new jobs added, followed by Manufacturing, with 400 … [Read more...] about Industrial Market Summary: 3rd Quarter 2007
February 2008: Face to Face
Juan DeVarreau Chief Operating Officer Beasley & DeVarreau Sotheby’s International Realty Las Vegas Years in Nevada: 20 Years with Firm: 10 Type of business: Real Estate Sales and Marketing Biggest Business Challenge: My biggest challenge was convincing my father to let me attend real estate school instead of college. He thought real estate was too volatile … [Read more...] about February 2008: Face to Face
February 2008: Business Indicators
The indicators have revealed a mixed picture for both the Nevada and U.S. economies. Increasingly, however, the data point to increased chances for both a national and silver state recession. Nevada has been in an imbalance position ever since the housing markets in Las Vegas and Reno peaked. Nevada has seen marked decline in prices and sales. Recovery from an excess supply of … [Read more...] about February 2008: Business Indicators
February 2008: Nevada Briefs
Great Basin Internet Services Acquires WPTI Telecom and Broadband Great Basin Internet Services Inc. (GBIS) has acquired WPTI Telecom, LLC and WPTI Broadband, LLC, a provider of Internet connectivity and collocation land-voice solutions for broadband applications in Minden. This merger will provide GBIS with access to competitive local exchange carrier status, meaning it can … [Read more...] about February 2008: Nevada Briefs
January 2008: Business Up Front
Lack of Innovation Cripples Organizations’ Performance What does it really mean to be an innovative company, and how does an organization know if it is innovative? Companies can perform their own innovation health check by looking closely at some of the key variables that affect innovation, according to Andrew Graham, CEO of Kepner-Tregoe, Inc., an international consulting and … [Read more...] about January 2008: Business Up Front