The financial services industry has experienced a few rough years but, like many other industries, is beginning to see a bit of a turn-a-round. With individuals beginning to show an interest in wise investments and a slow unclenching of funds, the financial industry is poised for a good year. Connie Brennan, publisher of Nevada Business Magazine, served as moderator for the … [Read more...] about Industry Focus: Investment Firms
Features
Alternative Energy: Still Energetic?
With the economy still languishing and no dramatic change in sight, questions need to be asked: Is the green movement retaining the fervor it had seen in the past? Does alternative energy have a shot at becoming a diversifying factor for Nevada? How will the movement ultimately affect Nevada’s diversity base? Are the jobs there for the long run? Does the industry stand on its … [Read more...] about Alternative Energy: Still Energetic?
Stop the Union Bullying: Culinary Tactics Hurt Us All
Leaders of the Culinary Workers Union in Las Vegas must be frustrated that they can’t convince Station Casinos workers to unionize. Think of all the dues they could be collecting right now, if only they could get their hands into the pockets of another 13,000-plus workers. They’ve been trying for more than 10 years to unionize Station employees, without success. Maybe Station … [Read more...] about Stop the Union Bullying: Culinary Tactics Hurt Us All
Series LLCs: Protect Your Investment
With home prices at historic lows, and mortgage interest rates around 4%, real estate investment is on the rise. If you own (or are considering owning) multiple rental properties, consider starting a series LLC (“Series LLC”) to maximize liability protection and save costs. Since the creation of limited liability companies (“LLCs”), an owner of multiple real estate … [Read more...] about Series LLCs: Protect Your Investment
Obama Tries to Grab Control of Another Vital Private Industry: The Internet
We have already seen the Obama administration attempt to take over the healthcare industry with its Obama care program, and we watched it meddle in the alternative energy market by propping up Solyndra and other companies that should have been allowed to fail. Recently, Obama appears to have sold out America again. This time it was jobs-for-politics by denying a permit for … [Read more...] about Obama Tries to Grab Control of Another Vital Private Industry: The Internet
Power Poll 2012
For the past several years, Nevadans have seen a multitude of changes in the state’s economic landscape. Unfortunately, many of those changes have been negative. Despite that, in this year’s tenth annual Power Poll, many executives maintain an optimism that was illustrated in last year’s poll and show hopes for the future of the Silver State. The Power Poll survey was sent … [Read more...] about Power Poll 2012
Social Media: Get in the Game
Eight out of 10 U.S. companies use social media, according to data from eMarketer, a digital marketing researcher. Is yours one of them? “It’s necessary to have some type of social media presence. If you can dedicate some time to it, there’s going to be a return,” said Adam Carter, Web and social media manager at Bauserman Group, a Reno-based communications agency … [Read more...] about Social Media: Get in the Game
Telecom: Now Calling the Future …
What’s ahead for Telecom in 2012? Lots of exciting new technologies and services, for one thing. And continued diversification, for another. And a still-crummy economy that will hamper a good amount of the growth that should be taking place. Reuters reported in early January that telecom firms around the world are expected to slash spending on networks over the next 11 … [Read more...] about Telecom: Now Calling the Future …
Mining in 21st Century Nevada
Flannel shirt, pickax, maybe a battered tin for separating out the gold ore. That’s one historical and most likely imaginary picture of mining in Nevada. Nope, not accurate. Mining in the 21st century is a highly technical field that utilizes computer modeling, satellites and GPS locations. “A lot of mining operations have very large remote control of operations, so … [Read more...] about Mining in 21st Century Nevada
Industry Focus: Elected Officials
Recently, elected officials met at Holland & Hart’s Las Vegas office to discuss the changing world of politics and the types of policies they expect to see in the coming years. Connie Brennan, publisher of Nevada Business Magazine, served as moderator for the event. These monthly meetings are designed to bring leaders together to discuss issues pertinent to their … [Read more...] about Industry Focus: Elected Officials
Texas Margin Tax: Always a Bad Idea: Margin Tax is More Destructive than Alternatives
Leaders in the Democratic majority during the 2011 state legislative session proposed a dramatic change to Nevada’s tax system: Phase out the Modified Business Tax — a tax on private-sector payroll — and replace it with a new, larger levy modeled after Texas’ business margin tax. The effort gained so little traction in Carson City that the Democratic leadership, embarrassed, … [Read more...] about Texas Margin Tax: Always a Bad Idea: Margin Tax is More Destructive than Alternatives
If You Can Read This, Thank a Teacher
Would you take a job that pays less than comparable positions, requires you to supervise unruly individuals without the authority to discipline them and results in your being blamed when other people don’t take care of their responsibilities? And yet, that’s what teachers do, because they want to make sure that our children get the education they need to succeed in life. I’d … [Read more...] about If You Can Read This, Thank a Teacher
Economic Development: The New Plan
Revenue – money flowing in – is the life’s blood of any household, business or organization. For the state of Nevada, revenue forecasts for 2012 and beyond are mostly positive… but continue to hinge on a variety of factors close to home and half a world away. Progress is being made on a number of fronts to generate new and perpetuate existing revenue streams, even as dark … [Read more...] about Economic Development: The New Plan
Financing: It’s a Jungle Out There
A year ago, Ed Brown said Nevada’s business financing picture in 2010 was the worst he’d seen in his 35 years of administering small business loans for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), describing it as “a bad time” and “depressing.” Minimal loans of any kind were being made. Funds were being pieced together from various sources. Some groups had no money to … [Read more...] about Financing: It’s a Jungle Out There
Industry Focus: Healthcare
An industry that remains in the throes of transition and reform, healthcare has been in the spotlight for the past several years. Between healthcare reform and changing practices, healthcare professionals have had to learn to jump with the times. Executives representing healthcare in Nevada recently met at the law offices of Holland & Hart in Las Vegas to discuss this … [Read more...] about Industry Focus: Healthcare