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Over dinner a few weeks ago, some friends asked me about the benefits of a living trust. When I finished my explanation, they stared at me in surprise and asked, "Then why doesn’t everyone have a living trust?" That’s a good question. The only answer I could think of was, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink." Actually, an individual’s failure to … [Read more...] about Why Everyone Needs a Living Trust

What issues are uppermost in the minds of Nevada’s business leaders? No matter what segment of the economy they fit into, business owners and high-level executives across the board have more in common than might be expected. Concerns about growth, staffing, insurance costs and the drought keep CEOs burning the midnight oil from all areas of the state, in companies large and … [Read more...] about Third Annual Power Poll: Nevada’s Business Leaders Share Their Opinions

Question: "What efforts is Congress making to make sure the troops in Iraq have the equipment and supplies they need?" This past summer I and four of my colleagues who serve in the U.S. House of Representatives had the opportunity to travel to Iraq less than one week before the transfer of power to the interim government took place. While in Iraq, I met with our troops. … [Read more...] about Troop Protection and Training: Number One Priority in Iraq

Let’s imagine you’re a business owner and you discover that your office manager is running her own personal business on company time. Instead of doing work for your company, the workers in your office are busy stuffing envelopes for the manager’s business, making phone calls to get her more clients, visiting her potential clients on company time and keeping the books for her … [Read more...] about Final Score: Augustine 1, Taxpayers 0

When Flagship Construction’s high-energy team set sail in Las Vegas four years ago, they never looked back. The company’s aggressive approach to growth has earned it high marks, including an annual sales volume that has grown to more than $90 million in ground-up construction. Flagship has landed high-profile jobs at McCarran International Airport, in addition to prestigious … [Read more...] about Flagship Construction: Expertise Helps Company Pursue Varied Niches

HSI, originally known as High Sierra Industries, was formed in 1977 to provide employment for local citizens with disabilities. Though the mission seems simple, success is in the people and the details. HSI is a non-profit organization that provides a variety of meaningful work, learning and supported-living opportunities for individuals with developmental, physical and … [Read more...] about HSI: Challenged Individuals – Helping the Community and Each Other

People communicate in different ways. Conversing in ways that work for you may not work for the colleague or staff member you’re communicating with. Here are a few powerful tips that leave both communicator and listener feeling empowered: Listen first. Begin by listening to what your co-worker has to say. Then paraphrase what you just heard. Listening before speaking also … [Read more...] about I See What You Say: Using Communication Styles at Work

A business that rebuilds used aircraft parts for resale provides an illustration of a company making Nevada’s corporate environment work to its benefit. The division of the company that purchases the aircraft parts was incorporated in Nevada, while the corporate headquarters remained in Washington state. All told, this arrangement saves the company about $50,000 in excise taxes … [Read more...] about Incorporating in Nevada: Opportunity and Advantages

The typical consensus model of Nevada political discourse did not apply to the battle over taxes during the 2003 legislative sessions. In a state typically characterized by legislators, interest groups and lobbyists working together to achieve amicable solutions, 2003 was marked by lines drawn in the sand that led to two special sessions and a challenge to the legislative … [Read more...] about Brave New Legislative World: A Preview of the 73rd Session

This past October, President Bush signed two tax bills into law. The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 focuses mainly on business tax. The Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004 extended many of the tax law changes in previous tax bills that were due to expire. Some key provisions of both bills are explained below. Sales Tax Deduction: For tax years beginning in 2004 and … [Read more...] about Take a Close Look: Recent Tax Law Changes May Affect You

People in today’s hectic business world spend more time in the office than at home. As a result, creating just the right work environment has become a key priority for employers and employees alike. Company owners realize that a happy, inviting work space can increase employee productivity and job satisfaction. It can also produce better efficiency and improve staff retention. … [Read more...] about What’s Hot in Office Design? Efficiency, Flexibility, Teamwork and “Turning Green”

"What is the Nevada Department of Transportation doing to keep up with the phenomenal growth in Nevada?" As Nevada continues to grow, "business as usual" is probably the approach least used in either the public or private sector. The Silver State continues to transform itself, especially the urban centers of Las Vegas and Reno. That is also true for the Nevada Department … [Read more...] about Nevada Department of Transportation: Full Speed Ahead

There’s an amazing new trend occurring on the Web called "open-source software." Actually it’s not all that new – the idea has been around for awhile. What’s new is that it’s now advanced to the level that you can fill most, if not all of your needs in building a Website through open-source software packages. Why do you care? Quite simply, because it’s free to use! In the … [Read more...] about Spinning a New Web: With Open-Source Software

It was only a matter of time before one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities was home to the leading company in the nation’s fastest-growing medical specialty. That marriage came about in September when IPC - The Hospitalist Company expanded its practice into Las Vegas and began serving patients at the two St. Rose Dominican Hospitals. Hospitalists are physicians, … [Read more...] about IPC – The Hospitalist Company: Brings New Specialty to Nevada

In just five years, Bank of the West has worked hard to establish itself in Nevada’s banking industry. The California-based bank came to Northern Nevada in 1999, when it purchased SierraWest Bancorp. Two years later, it expanded to Las Vegas by acquiring seven branches divested in a merger between Wells Fargo Bank and First Security Bank. "The bank’s philosophy is to try to … [Read more...] about Bank of the West: Focusing on Community Ties