While the rest of Nevada suffered the dramatic 2007 economic downturn and aftermath, the Greater Elko region boomed, primarily due to bustling mining operations resulting from a high gold price. In fact, over the last decade, the population there has burgeoned. The City of Elko alone went from about 10,000 to 20,000, with the broader Elko area home to about 30,000. “It’s … [Read more...] about Elko Catches Up to Growth
Las Vegas business
Dusty Wunderlich: Bristlecone Holdings
CEO Reno Bristlecone Holdings What do you like most and least about your industry? I enjoy the finance industry due to its diversity. Since finance spans across all industries this allows you to work with and learn about a broad range of businesses. The downside is that financing products and services tend to be looked upon negatively by most people even though they are … [Read more...] about Dusty Wunderlich: Bristlecone Holdings
Claudia Wines: Northeastern Nevada Museum
Director Elko https://museumelko.org/ How did you first get into your profession? I was on the museum board of directors. I became the interim director until we could find a real one. That was 13 years ago and I’m still here. What is your pet peeve? People who hold grudges. Get mad and get over it. When you were a kid, what did you want to be? I was raised on a … [Read more...] about Claudia Wines: Northeastern Nevada Museum
A Piece of Nevada’s Pie: The View from Reno’s Mayoral Office
A good friend of mine, former Nevada Governor Mike O’Callaghan, once told me: “Don’t try to get the whole pie. Get a piece of the pie. Maybe later you can get another piece of the pie.” That philosophy — that you’re only as good as the whole — is one that I’ve followed religiously during my time in public office, whether it be as City of Reno Mayor (2002-present), Lieutenant … [Read more...] about A Piece of Nevada’s Pie: The View from Reno’s Mayoral Office
August 2014: Around the State
RSCVA Sees Year-Over-Year Growth The Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA) concluded the Fiscal Year 2013/2014 with 163,259 room nights of future business for Reno, Sparks and North Lake Tahoe. That number is a 49 percent increase from last year’s 110,000 room nights. According to the RSCVA, 63 percent of this year’s bookings are new business for the Reno … [Read more...] about August 2014: Around the State
A Closer Look at Franchising
Many businesses view franchising as a low-cost way to expand their operations, while franchisees see an opportunity to work for themselves without the same level of vulnerability that’s associated with starting a new venture from scratch. While both answers are correct, the truth is that the franchise business model seems deceptively simple from the outside. Here’s a closer … [Read more...] about A Closer Look at Franchising
Margin Tax Would Cause Destruction of 3,600+ Private-Sector Jobs
New Dynamic, General-Equilibrium Analysis Simulates Impact of Tax Proposal Although much has been said about the proposed margin tax on businesses that will appear as Question 3 on November’s ballot, there is a shocking lack of clarity about the actual impact of the tax on Nevada’s economy. There isn’t even agreement on an approximate amount of new tax dollars the tax would … [Read more...] about Margin Tax Would Cause Destruction of 3,600+ Private-Sector Jobs
Industrial Summary: Second Quarter 2014
Southern Nevada The Las Vegas industrial market vacancy rate stood at 10.9 percent by the end of the second quarter of 2014. The latest period represents a decline of 0.9 percentage points when compared to the prior quarter. Compared to a year ago (Q2 2013), industrial vacancies in the Valley have fallen an even more substantial 3.4 percentage points. The vacancy rate is now … [Read more...] about Industrial Summary: Second Quarter 2014
Business Indicators: August 2014
The “third” estimate for first quarter 2014 shows U.S. real gross domestic product decreasing at an annualized rate of 2.9 percent, lower than the negative 1.0 percent growth reported in the “second” estimate. The revision was due to the increase in personal consumption expenditures being smaller and the decline in exports being larger than previously estimated. Federal … [Read more...] about Business Indicators: August 2014
What was your first car?
“My first car was a 1960 Comet Station Wagon. When I was 14 years old, there was a kind elderly lady that lived next door who couldn’t drive anymore. So I mowed her lawn, ran errands, etc. for her. As thanks she gifted me the car and I was one very happy 14-year-old unlicensed driver!” Terry Downey | President and General Manager, Aliante Casino + Hotel + Spa “My first car … [Read more...] about What was your first car?
Clark County School District Waste: Throwing Our Money Away
Am I the only one sick of this BS? Two stories have come to light recently that show how taxpayers’ money is being wasted by the Clark County School District. These examples not only point out the quality of the district’s decision-making, but also make me wonder what other questionable expenses haven’t yet been discovered. Did you know that the school district has a budget … [Read more...] about Clark County School District Waste: Throwing Our Money Away
How Nevada Stacks Up 2014
The numbers are in and most data indicates that Nevada is making economic progress in recovering from the depths of the recession. The state’s unemployment rate, while still high, is lower than it was a year ago, the housing market is up, and tourism numbers are slightly higher. This weak and prolonged recovery is taking its toll, but Nevadans – ever resilient – are hopeful … [Read more...] about How Nevada Stacks Up 2014
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
Industry Focus: Insurance
Despite constant changes in legislation and the additions of new regulations, the insurance industry strives to be a consistent resource for business owners and individuals alike. Recently, insurance executives across the state met at the Las Vegas offices of City National Bank to discuss the challenges in their industry. Connie Brennan, publisher of Nevada Business … [Read more...] about Industry Focus: Insurance
Hospitals in Nevada: An Industry in Transition
Some things that don’t change in healthcare: the importance of patient outcome, patient experience, patient compliance and patient ability to pay for services. Other things in healthcare are changing rapidly: bio-engineered medications to treat specific patients, imaging devices take the place of exploratory surgery, the model for healthcare, the way hospitals are reimbursed … [Read more...] about Hospitals in Nevada: An Industry in Transition