When the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Extended Studies program held a series of leadership sessions for Barrick Gold, the event embodied new trends in executive education in Nevada. The 15 courses held over two months were shorter than the training once offered by business schools and colleges. Instead of theoretical discussions of leadership, the program covered … [Read more...] about Executive Education: New Pathways to Success
Feature Story
Getting Out: The Financial Planning Features of a Business Exit Strategy
Starting a business takes a large amount of planning. But after the business plan is completed, retail or office space is rented and employees are hired, many entrepreneurs have neglected one crucial question: When the time comes, how will they exit their business? When owners are immersed in the details of building a business, it’s difficult to imagine selling it or giving … [Read more...] about Getting Out: The Financial Planning Features of a Business Exit Strategy
A Future of Change: Economic Development
Nevada, because of its narrow focus on three industries, was devastated by the recession and eventually led the nation in foreclosures and unemployment. As both the director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) and a resident of Nevada, Steve Hill believes there is a rising wave of economic development diversifying an outdated and vulnerable economy built on … [Read more...] about A Future of Change: Economic Development
Closing the Generation Gap: Millennials vs. GenXers vs. Baby Boomers
In workplaces across Nevada, change is coming more quickly than at any time since baby boomers changed the status quo regarding diversity, hair length and governance in the 1960s. On shop floors and in cubicle farms from Ely to Searchlight, millennials – a term used to describe those under age 34 – are challenging the baby boomers – those now over age 50. The genXers – those … [Read more...] about Closing the Generation Gap: Millennials vs. GenXers vs. Baby Boomers
Nevada’s Utilities: Fueling the State’s Energy and Water Needs
As movers and shakers in Nevada’s utility industry plan for the future, they share a number of common bonds in the challenges they face. Future strategies are likely to make provisions for such factors as increased regionalization, new regulations, enhanced customer satisfaction, state-of-the-art technologies, alternative energies, drought conditions, greater management … [Read more...] about Nevada’s Utilities: Fueling the State’s Energy and Water Needs
Power Poll 2014: The Bounce Back
Optimism characterizes the mood of Nevada executives this year. Whether it’s waving goodbye to the recession or already having moved on to bigger and better things, business owners and executives have officially brushed off the oppressive economy and are now working on the bounce back. The 2014 Power Poll marks the twelfth year executives have weighed in on various issues … [Read more...] about Power Poll 2014: The Bounce Back
Banking on Nevada: A New Day Dawning
Banking doesn’t exist in a vacuum; the industry is affected by the economic environment which, in turn, can be directly affected by practices and realities within the banking industry. So it should be good news that Nevada bankers are feeling optimistic about 2014. The banking industry has stabilized, according to George E. Burns, commissioner, Nevada Financial Institutions … [Read more...] about Banking on Nevada: A New Day Dawning
Betting on Gaming in Nevada
Nevada and gaming go together like peanut butter and jelly. The industry has been Nevada’s foundation for so long it’s hard to think of one without the other. However, as gaming changes, Nevada has found itself adapting and learning to find new ways to earn revenue in a market that, it would appear, everyone wants a piece of. The bill allowing online poker in Nevada was … [Read more...] about Betting on Gaming in Nevada
A Primer on Estate Planning: Be Prepared
Estate planning is one of those tasks everyone knows is important, but few do eagerly. After all, staring the Grim Reaper in the face to figure out how to distribute assets isn’t fun. However, postponing the decisions is a mistake. Jeffrey Burr, an attorney specializing in estate planning, explained many of the threats that lurk. “Just being unprepared” tops the list, he … [Read more...] about A Primer on Estate Planning: Be Prepared
Medical Marvels
The healthcare industry has seen a vast amount of changes in a short time period leaving doctors working double time to catch up. This has only helped solidify the drive and passion of many of Nevada’s excellent healthcare providers. The following list highlights these doctors as ranked by the community and their peers. The 2013 Medical Marvels list is a compilation of … [Read more...] about Medical Marvels
Franchising: A Rapid-Growth Business Model
Since 1985, Reno-headquartered franchisor, Port of Subs Inc., has sold licenses to entrepreneurs to independently own and operate its made-fresh-to-order sandwich shops, in accordance with the brand and the parent companies’ wishes. Today, the corporation has 108 franchisees in addition to 35 of its own locations, spread throughout the western U.S., and it continues to expand. … [Read more...] about Franchising: A Rapid-Growth Business Model
Mind Lock: Protecting Intellectual Property
The biggest mistake companies make when it comes to their intellectual property is failing to fully identify and protect it, experts said. The consequences can be disastrous and expensive. “Intellectual property is becoming more and more important as our economy changes into an idea-based economy from a manufacturing-based one,” said Charles Lombino, an intellectual property … [Read more...] about Mind Lock: Protecting Intellectual Property
Creating New Opportunities: Executive Education in Nevada
In today’s competitive job market and with evolving technologies, it’s not unusual for corporate executives to pursue additional education, whether to increase their knowledge in specific areas, update or acquire skills, discover new trends or even learn new management styles. Nevada offers various academic opportunities, from courses to degrees, some of them new, designed … [Read more...] about Creating New Opportunities: Executive Education in Nevada
Credit Unions in Nevada: They’re Coming Back
During the recession, Nevada’s Boulder Dam Credit Union (BDCU) moved from the black into the red, primarily due to loan losses, said President and CEO Eric Estes. It weathered the financial decline by shrinking assets and shares. After three and a half years in the doldrums, the credit union’s health began to turn around. BDCU now has been profitable for about 18 months, … [Read more...] about Credit Unions in Nevada: They’re Coming Back
Workforce Development In Nevada
In the wake of the recession, with unemployment just under 10 percent, it would seem employers would have no problem filling positions. But though Nevada’s employment base is growing again, it remains below pre-recession levels and of people who have gone back to work, a disproportionate share have gone back part-time or in jobs that don’t fully utilize their skills. Add in the … [Read more...] about Workforce Development In Nevada