Face to Face - November 2006

Face to Face

Paul Perkins and Jim Howard

Paul Perkins, SIOR, CCIM

 Senior Vice President, Industrial Properties

Alliance Commercial Real Estate Services, LLC

Reno  

Years in Nevada:   28       

Years with Firm:              

Since company was formed in May, 2005   

Type of business

Commercial real estate brokerage 

Biggest business challenge

Utilizing technology to make me more efficient only seems to bog me down. I spend too much time in the office responding to e-mails instead of out in the market. I think I was more productive with just a Day-timer, Rolodex and calculator.  

How do you spend your time when you’re not working?

My wife Lynda and I love to travel, play golf and sail. When we were younger, we did a lot of water skiing and snow skiing, as well.   

What do you like best about your job?

I love coming to work every day because I love the people in our company. Working with them, as well as having clients and competitors for whom I have a great deal of affinity and respect, has kept me enthusiastic about my business, even after 37 years. I’ve also enjoyed the opportunity to be involved in a number of civic and charitable organizations, and I’m grateful to have made so many friends through both business and civic involvements.  

If you could start over and choose a different profession, what would it be?  

I think it would be commercial development. Although there is a lot more risk, dealing with the myriad issues necessary to accomplish a project that provides lasting value would be very gratifying.     

Little-known fact about yourself:

I’m a single-digit handicap golfer and can drive a golf ball 350 yards. The reason it is so little known is that I’ve never done it except in my dreams.  

Best Business Advice:

Live your business and personal life by the golden rule and never let a decision or action that is expedient or self-serving take precedence over doing the right thing. Treat people today as though they would be asked to eulogize you tomorrow.    

Jim Howard

President

Desert Community Bank

Las Vegas  

Years in Nevada:

Las Vegas native (More than 50 years) 

 Years with Firm:    7  

Type of business

Full-service neighborhood bank  

Biggest Business Challenge:

Personnel. It’s so hard these days to find qualified bankers and lenders in this market. The large banks used to train lenders for us, and then we would hire them away. The large banks are no longer really banking companies; they’re sales companies now, and don’t train lenders anymore.   

If you could start over and choose a different profession, what would it be? 

 Law. Lawyers have all the power in this country. You can still be a banker with a Juris Doctor degree, but you can also manage companies, practice the law or teach – it’s the most useful and versatile degree to have. You can even run for office.   

How do you spend your time when you’re not working?

We had weekend activities in the past with our kids – now we do them with our grandkids. I like cars as a hobby: buying, restoring and playing with them. Golf is an “on demand” pastime only.   

Little-known fact about you:  

 I’m a Las Vegas native. When I was born, only about 10,000 people lived here.    

Best business advice:

A good name is really all you have. Pay your debts no matter what, keep your word, and maintain a good credit standing at all costs. Becoming known as a bad credit risk or a dishonest person will truly limit your opportunities.  

Which area of the business do you find most interesting?

Working to help people make and manage their business successfully, as a partner with them. We understand business cycles, borrowing needs and financial analysis better than most businesspeople do. Our advice and consultation is free. We don’t charge you until we do a loan for you.