Royal Links Wins Awards
Royal Links Golf Club in Las Vegas was voted as one of Golf magazine’s “Top Ten You Can Play” for 1999 and one of the “Best New Courses You Can Play” by The Best Things in Golf. Developed by Walters Golf as a tribute to the game, each of its 18 holes was inspired by a different famous hole from a course where the British Open has been played.
Credit Unions Warn of Fraudulent Car Sales
Cases involving fraudulent car deals throughout the state have prompted representatives of southern Nevada’s credit unions to launch a Credit Union Lending Summit to discuss fraud issues and increase the level of awareness within the region’s credit union community. Credit unions have uncovered several cases of salvaged cars and flood damaged cars from other states being brought to Nevada to be sold with no record of the salvage information. Another scam involved a group of individuals who sold cars without registering them with the Department of Motor Vehicles, enabling them to obtain multiple loans on the same vehicle. Credit union representatives will continue to meet regularly throughout the year to create awareness of new fraud issues that can potentially impact credit unions and their members.
Bently Nevada Garners Award
Bently Nevada Corporation, the leading worldwide supplier of machinery protection and management solutions, won a “People’s Choice” Award at this year’s Turbo Expo sponsored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Held in Munich, the annual ASME event is international in scope and attracts thousands of users and manufacturers of gas turbine technology. Bently Nevada, based in Minden, used the occasion to demonstrate its revolutionary new ServoFluid ™ Control Bearing. Bently Nevada maintains over 80 sales and service offices in 40 countries around the globe. In addition to bearing technology, the company offers instrumentation, software and engineering services as well as fundamental rotor dynamic research.
Station Casinos To Acquire Santa Fe
Station Casinos, Inc. announced recently that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Santa Fe Hotel & Casino from Santa Fe Hotel, Inc., a subsidiary of Santa Fe Gaming Corporation. The purchase price of $205 million includes substantially all of the assets of the Santa Fe Hotel & Casino in northwest Las Vegas, plus an option to acquire an adjacent 21-acre parcel of real estate. The all-cash transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2000, subject to approval by all regulatory bodies. The property will be re-named Santa Fe Station. Situated on 38 acres, the Santa Fe currently offers approximately 85,000 square feet of casino space, 200 guest rooms, four full-service restaurants, a bowling center, an ice skating arena and 10,000 square feet of meeting and banquet facilities. Station Casinos, Inc. currently owns and operates five other gaming properties in Southern Nevada as well as two others in Missouri.
Dude Ranch Opens
Bunk Out West, a working ranch vacation and dude ranch destination, is now open for the summer season, which lasts through October. It is located on the 100-year-old Quarter Circle Five Ranch near Lund, 35 miles south of Ely. The facility is owned and operated by Michelle Gubler. Visitors arriving at Bunk Out West receive chaps and cowboy hats in preparation for a true western experience including horsemanship classes, trail rides, cattle rides and roping. Other activities include fishing, exploring nearby caves, learning leather crafts and nightly poker games. In late July, visitors can attend the regional rodeo.
U.S. Chamber Honors Reno Firm
Skagen Designs, Ltd. of Reno was one of six national winners to receive the Blue Chip Enterprise Award co-sponsored by MassMutual Financial Group and the United States Chamber of Commerce. The annual award program recognizes entrepreneurs for succeeding in the face of adversity. Less than ten years ago, owners Henrik and Charlotte Jorst came to the United States from their native Denmark to follow their dream of owning their own business. Starting with nothing but a concept and a loan from a family member, they founded Skagen Designs to create beautifully-designed high quality watches at reasonable prices. Today their company does more than $5 million in sales around the world.
SBA Opens Women’s Business Center
The Nevada Women’s Business Resource and Assistance Center (NWBRAC) opened a satellite office in May at the Henderson campus of the Community College of Southern Nevada. Partly funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, NWBRAC provides assistance and training in finance, management, marketing, procurement and the Internet to women interested in starting their own businesses and to current business owners focusing on expansion. Its aim is to help women in low to moderate income brackets increase their self-sufficiency. It also provides individual business counseling and access to the SBA’s other programs and services, including assistance with SBA loan packaging.
NNDA Tours Bay Area Companies
Representatives from the Northern Nevada Development Authority (NNDA) and Sierra Pacific Power Company recently visited six companies in the Bay area that had expressed an interest in northern Nevada. According to NNDA Executive Director Kris Holt, all six companies have the potential to expand and ultimately create approximately 100 primary jobs in northern Nevada. The businesses included a ceramics company, a vending machine manufacturer, a manufacturer of medical equipment, an electronics firm, an architectural accessories manufacturer and a manufacturer of paper products. NNDA and Sierra Pacific are business recruiters for the region which includes Carson City, Douglas, Lyon and Storey counties.
Governor’s Luncheon Honors Businesses
On June 16, the 16 th Annual Southern Nevada Governor’s Industry Appreciation Luncheon honored thirty-seven Southern Nevada firms. Ocean Spray Cranberries of Henderson received the 1999 Southern Nevada Distinguished Business Award. Unitel Wireless Products and Services Corp., located in Las Vegas, received the 1999 Southern Nevada Exporter of the Year Award, and Dr. John W. Whitney of Itronics., Inc., Reno was presented with the 2000 Nevada Inventor of the Year Award. Howard D. Putnam, former CEO of Southwest and Braniff Airlines, was the featured speaker at the event.
Balloons to Fill Reno Skies
The 19th Annual Great Reno Balloon Race will bring a rainbow of colors to the Reno skies on Sept. 8-10 at Rancho San Rafael Park. Over 120,000 spectators are expected to view the 130 hot air balloons as they participate in the Hare & Hound Race, the Community Launch Race and other exciting competitions. Washoe County elementary school children will participate in a Tissue Paper Balloon Launch, testing their homemade balloons as well as their knowledge of science. Admission to all events is free of charge.
High-Tech Oasis Opens
Port Cyber, a unique high-technology oasis for Web site designers, graphic artists and other professionals, held its grand opening on June 22. Located on the shores of a man-made lake in western Las Vegas, the new business is the brainchild of Douglas Geinzer, who also owns media and advertising companies at the same location. Port Cyber offers free office space, administrative support staff, high-speed communication lines and other support services to Web designers. In addition, Geinzer plans to help his clients mix work with fun by providing access to ping-pong tables, picnic areas, and boat rides on the lake.
United Way of Southern Nevada Announces Victory
United Way of Southern Nevada hosted a Victory Luncheon on June 8 to honor local companies, donors and volunteers who raised a record $11.2 million to fund United Way programs. This total represents an increase of nearly $1.8 million over last year’s campaign and makes United Way of Southern Nevada the third fastest growing United Way agency in the nation among large cities. MGM Grand Hotel & Casino received an award at the luncheon for most dollars raised by a single property, and Citibank Nevada was honored for long-term excellence. Mike Niggli, president and CEO of Nevada Power Company, chaired the recently concluded campaign and presented the awards.
