Name: Tommy Isola
Title: Owner/Manager Company: Blue Heron Companies, LLC
Type of Business Land acquisition and development
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Years in Nevada: 27 years
Years with Company: 1 year
Biggest Business Challenge: Our biggest challenge this year has been organizing a new company while simultaneously developing our first project. Our first development, Stone Canyon, is a luxury loft-style community with homes ranging from 3,409 to 3,884 square feet, and prices starting at $600,000. Although the style is open like a loft, the homes are two-story.
What do you like best about your job? The ability to take raw land and create a space that families will call their home is a pretty powerful thing. But when it comes down to it, building anything is fun.
How do you spend your time when you are not working?
I spend time with my family. I also enjoy rock climbing and fishing.
What would you like your legacy to be?
When my grandfather died, his funeral was in a big church and there was standing room only. I must have heard the words “honesty” and “integrity” a thousand times that day. He was a humble man, respected for his character. That is what I would like my legacy to be.
Favorite Business Book:
The Essential Drucker, by Peter Drucker
Best Business Advice:
“We work not only to earn an income, but to find meaning in our lives. What we do is a large part of who we are.” (Alan Ryan)
How have rising land prices affected your company?
Part of my job is finding new projects, and it’s been really difficult to find land at a price that makes sense. I’d like to see more affordable housing, and we do have another project on the drawing board in North Las Vegas, which is the same loft-style concept, but with smaller units in duplexes. Because that land was less expensive, we could afford to build a more affordable product.
Name: William (Bill) Werksman
Title: Managing Partner
Company: Resource Partners and CareerInsider.com
Type of Business : Executive recruiting
Location :Las Vegas
Years in Nevada: 16
Years with Company: 11
Biggest Business Challenge:
Clearly communicating what we do, and that we are not simply sending résumés out, hoping for a hit. We seek out high-performance individuals and recruit them to our clients’ opportunities. We are involved in preparing and building the personnel inside our client organizations.
What do you like best about your job?
The feeling of placing the right person in the right job. My true personal payback and enjoyment come three to nine months after a placement, when a candidate has been there long enough to start shining and demonstrating his or her skills throughout the organization.
How do you spend your time when you’re not working?
Playing sports or participating in other outside activities with my son and daughter. My wife and I also enjoy cooking. Her chili is world-class.
Favorite Business Book:
The New Strategic Selling, by Stephen Heiman and Diane Sanchez
Best Business Advice:
For employers: Your people are your most valuable asset and the only asset that will appreciate in value over time. For candidates: Make your career choices wisely. You spend more than half of your lifetime working, so if you are not happy what you are doing, find something that does make you happy. The money will follow.
What would you like your legacy to be?
To be known as someone who improved people’s lives and happiness.
Is there a difference between recruiting in Northern Nevada and Southern Nevada?
We do a lot of our Nevada recruiting in technology, and both cities have an abundance of job opportunities. We often find it challenging to woo candidates from Northern Nevada to Southern Nevada or vice versa. It’s a lifestyle choice.
