Name: Mark Harold Bouchard
Title: Managing Director
Company: CB Richard Ellis
Location: Las Vegas
Years in Nevada: 22
Years with company: 2
Biggest Business Challenge: Building a business environment that is predicated on the principal of WE. Some of the great entrepreneurs of the modern age built everything they did in partnerships with others. It’s my experience that the very best companies embrace the principle of teams and the power of WE, versus the benefits achieved from the individual.
If you could start over and choose a different profession, what would it be? I’d be a coach working with young men and women, teaching them the value of teamwork and strong work ethic. Young professionals want to score-keep before they really learn to play the game.
How do you spend your time when you’re not working? I spend all the time I can with my wife (my greatest supporter) and children (my motivation). When I’m not with my family I spend as much time as I can with my church service.
Little-known fact about yourself: All things being equal, I’d love to live on a farm.
Best business advice: Never believe that you’re better than the people you surround yourself with. Make sure you stand for something and you develop your core values early.
What would you like your legacy to be? That I had a positive effect on people’s lives and careers. The greatest investment any professional can make is an investment in relationships, including partners, colleagues, clients and competitors.
With Southern Nevada land prices escalating, do you foresee more rehabbing of older office properties? If so, where is this most likely to occur? The key components for redevelopment will be older areas of the city, because the buildings that exist on these parcels are outdated and rundown. These opportunities will not be limited to commercial development, but will also affect the future thinking for residential needs as well. The most likely area for redevelopment will be the eastern and central area.
Name: Chuck Alvey
Title: President and CEO
Company: Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN)
Location: Reno
Years in Nevada: 15 years
Years with Company: 7 years
Type of Business: EDAWN is a private, not-for-profit corporation that recruits, retains, expands and starts quality primary business to/in the region.
Biggest Business Challenge: Economic development in a very tight labor market with low unemployment rates.
What do you like best about your job? I like the people I work with, both in the office and the regional community. I especially like their enthusiasm and diversity.
How do you spend your time when you’re not working? I spend my time with my wife and grown children. I enjoy going to the movies, being outdoors, working out and editing home videos.
Favorite Business Book: Rise of the Creative Class, by Richard Florida
Best Business Advice: Begin every task you perform with the end goal clearly in sight. Find and hire the best people and let them perform.
What would you like your legacy to be? That I was honest, fair and I left the world and the people I knew better for being here.
When you’re promoting Northern Nevada to companies considering relocation, what’s the first benefit you mention? There are many business-friendly opportunities in all of Nevada, which has an equally attractive quality of life and unparalleled outdoor recreational opportunities.
