Uncategorized

Could you imagine signing an agreement for a major purchase such as a house or car without even knowing the price?  If you ran a business, would you agree to take on new employees without knowing what you would pay them? The truth is you’ve probably done these things most of your life without realizing it. As a taxpayer, you share in the cost for hiring and firing all public … [Read more...] about The Truth Will Set You Free: Knowledge about use of tax dollars is essential to freedom

With the unemployment rate in Nevada continuing to hover around 12 percent, more and more union construction workers are finding themselves on the bench. “I’m guessing almost 15,000 union people are unemployed {in Clark County},” says Richard Rizzo, vice chairman of Perini Building Company, the primary contractor for CityCenter. Although CityCenter currently employs around … [Read more...] about Construction Labor: Unions Adjust to the Recession

Representing the top one percent of Nevada’s attorneys, the 100 lawyers included in the 2009 Legal Elite have earned the trust and endorsement of their peers.  These attorneys have been recommended by the people that know them best, the lawyers they work with or see across a courtroom.  Who better to determine an attorney’s merit than another attorney? Out of the … [Read more...] about Legal Elite: Attorneys Choose Top One Percent

Technically the U.S. – and Nevada – has been in a recession since December 2007.  We’ve seen a tremendous blow to the financial markets during 2008 and falling consumer confidence throughout the first seven months of 2009.  There’s been continuous job loss every quarter for the last four quarters. Is there any good news?  Yes.  A consensus of economic panels states economic … [Read more...] about Unemployment: Getting Back to Business

Dear NAIOP Members and Guests,     Welcome to the 2009 NAIOP Northern Nevada Bus Tour. This is our third year in what has been both an exceptionally valuable and enjoyable annual event.  In an effort to address the changing business environment, NAIOP’s goal, both nationally and locally, is to make adjustments to our approach in an effort to ensure we maintain relevance to … [Read more...] about NAIOP Northern Nevada Chapter: 2009 Bus Tour Guide Book

There were flickers of hope this summer in Nevada, but the consensus within the state’s real estate community remains that at least another stagnant year looms for homebuilders. Despite two consecutive months of surging existing home sales and a handful of intriguing new communities coming online, the specter of impending foreclosures and surging unemployment continues to … [Read more...] about Homebuilders: Rethinking a Struggling Industry

Congress is moving quickly to enact healthcare reform to eliminate the increasing number of uninsured.  Legislation is likely to be considered this summer and all participants of the healthcare system, including insurers, are coming together to ensure healthcare reform is effective and sustainable for all Americans. Driving this is a moral, social and fiscal imperative to … [Read more...] about Together We Can Make Healthcare Reform Work

Many business owners in this new economy are facing the difficult decision of whether to keep their businesses up and running or to cut their losses and dissolve their companies now.  Although there have been several companies dissolving their businesses in the past year, there have also been new companies formed. Whether forming a new company or dissolving an existing one, as … [Read more...] about Legal Tips for Business Owners to Survive the “New Economy”

Opening a business in this economic climate might sound as crazy as selling ice cream during a blizzard, especially when the extended forecast is dark and gloomy. Yet, a ray of sunshine can be found cutting through the recessionary clouds. It really is possible to open a successful business today. The keys are finding a unique product that sells during tough economic times and … [Read more...] about Opening A Successful Franchise: A profitable way to stay afloat during tough times

Compensation levels for public employees in Nevada have been a topic of hot debate in recent months. As unemployment tops 12 percent in the Silver State, private citizens have grown weary of being forced to pay higher taxes in order to fund what have increasingly been viewed as relatively lavish salaries for union-protected government employees. Yet, while salary information … [Read more...] about PERS Reforms Do Not Go Far Enough: Legislature fails to meaningfully address escalating retirement costs

As businesses continue to trim their sails in response to the poor economy, the coming months can be a perfect time to increase efficiency by going green (or greener), according to green business advocates. “I look at these times as an opportunity to make shifts if you’re operating at a lower level,” explains Kimberly Phipps-Nichol, president and designer at Blue Water Studio … [Read more...] about Keeping It Green: How To Keep Your Company Energy Efficient

Dry Creek Garden Co., a Reno-based nursery specializing in native Northern Nevada flora, started blogging on its company Web site in June at the prompting of its webmaster. The blog’s daily postings, each with a photo, “primarily convey garden experiences,” said Nancy Strickland, the manager. Sample blog headlines are “Time to Harvest the Peas and Greens” and “The Day the Sun … [Read more...] about Blogging & Webinars: Tools for Online Communications

Administrator • Northern Nevada James Parrish Humbolt General Hospital James Parrish, CEO of Humboldt General Hospital in Winnemucca is a good example of someone who has ascended through the ranks to get to where he is today. While earning his bachelor’s degree, he progressed through various jobs in housekeeping at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, Washington until he … [Read more...] about Northern Nevada Healthcare Heroes: 4th Annual Awards Event

Administrator • Southern Nevada Rod Davis St. Rose Dominican Hospitals After nearly 18 years as president of the St. Rose Dominican hospitals, Rod Davis takes a certain pride in the growth and development of the three thriving campuses. In an industry, which he acknowledges can often be impersonal, Davis says he finds comfort in the mission and values that have served his … [Read more...] about Southern Nevada Healthcare Heroes: 4th Annual Awards Event

In the 2009 Legislature, there was considerable discussion regarding a host of major policy changes.  From the most major revisions to workers compensation since privatization to mandating autism insurance coverage for private paying businesses to revamping the energy office and promoting “green” jobs initiatives, the potential of the 2009 Legislative Session was surprising in … [Read more...] about Legislative Re-Cap: Budget woes front and center