Since 2000, Las Vegas-based Green Planet Landscaping has been operating with 10 to 12 work crews, projects lined up for at least two months out and never experienced a slowdown during winter. In September, however, owner and president, Damon Lang, began seeing business drop off and clients who already were scheduled for service cancel their orders. Consequently, Green Planet … [Read more...] about Landscaping: Economy and water shape the future
Archives for January 2009
January 2009: Business Up Front
Original Bailout Loses Its Luster A recent poll released by the Gallup Organization says that for the first time since its passage by Congress in October, Americans have flipped from being more positive than negative on the Wall Street bailout. The first poll conducted just after the bill’s passage had it favored by Americans 50 percent to 41 percent; the same question in … [Read more...] about January 2009: Business Up Front
Retail Market Summary: Third Quarter 2008
Las Vegas The Las Vegas commercial retail sector continues to be impacted by the current economic climate, a deteriorating housing market and low consumer confidence levels. Fundamentals within the market prompted the closing of various retail outlets over the past several quarters, with additional closures possible. Several national retailers have recently entered bankruptcy … [Read more...] about Retail Market Summary: Third Quarter 2008
Don Wilkerson: Gaston & Wilkerson Management Group
President & CEO Las Vegas, Reno Number of Employees: 78 Years in Nevada: 49 Years with Company: Founded 19 years ago Describe your leadership style: Permissive. I like subordinates to take part in decision making and also give them a considerable degree of autonomy in completing routine work activities. Biggest business challenge: There are a few: … [Read more...] about Don Wilkerson: Gaston & Wilkerson Management Group
Outstanding Board Members
Organizations throughout the state depend on a strong board to serve their membership. The countless individuals that donate their time, energy and talents to serve various non-profit entities, go largely unrecognized. In this issue of Nevada Business, we honor professionals that have gone beyond expectation and have shown a strong commitment to the organization they … [Read more...] about Outstanding Board Members
Nevada’s Manufacturing and Distribution Industries: Meeting a myriad of challenges
Business in Nevada is reflective of the nation as a whole—rampant uncertainty. A decrease in consumer spending impacts both manufacturing and the distribution of goods and a slow economy creates a cash flow problem across the board. “Not only do you have to be concerned about the financial health of your own company,” said Greg Sanders, vice president and general manager of … [Read more...] about Nevada’s Manufacturing and Distribution Industries: Meeting a myriad of challenges
Industry Focus: Accounting
Recently, ten executives, representing some of Nevada’s top CPA firms, gathered at the office of Holland & Hart, LLP to discuss the challenges of implementing a number of new accounting standards, the evolution of the industry and how the demographics of the industry are changing and presenting their own challenges. Connie Brennan, publisher of Nevada Business, served as … [Read more...] about Industry Focus: Accounting
January 2009: Nevada Briefs
Hospitals’ Death Rates Improve The annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America study concluded that five Northern Nevada hospitals improved in seven out of eight categories. Nevada’s improvement rates still fall below the national average in numerous categories. Mortality rates nationally stand at 6.31 percent, Nevada is at 6.86 percent; but over the period between … [Read more...] about January 2009: Nevada Briefs
Use The Web To Do More With Less: Business broadband is the answer
Almost everything you need to give your business a world-class infrastructure is just a Web click away. A well-implemented, on-demand computing and communications outsourcing (or “Web sourcing”) strategy can set your firm up for success with big-business features at lower costs. The place to start for many businesses is with core requirements such as phone and e-mail. Using … [Read more...] about Use The Web To Do More With Less: Business broadband is the answer
Rising Healthcare Costs: How do we contain it?
In recent months and years, terrorist threats, the floundering economy and a deteriorating education system have rocked our nation’s core and caused us to reevaluate our values and priorities. Every day, we are bombarded with headlines regarding these events. But there is another issue that stands to define our future as much as any major event in the last 30 years— the rising … [Read more...] about Rising Healthcare Costs: How do we contain it?
RTC’s Club Ride: Gets employees and employers moving in the right direction
In today’s environment, virtually every business is interested in two things – going green and saving green. The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) is doing its part with its Club Ride commuter services program. Since launching Club Ride in 1999, the RTC has been on a mission to change the way Las Vegans get to work. The full-service Club Ride … [Read more...] about RTC’s Club Ride: Gets employees and employers moving in the right direction
January 2009: Business Indicators
The numbers are bad. Last year at this time things looked pretty good, at least in Nevada. Even though the U.S. had started to experience difficulties in the credit markets and the housing bubble had already started deflating, things were holding up. We did, however, see storm clouds on the horizon. A year later, however, conditions have deteriorated markedly. Job levels are … [Read more...] about January 2009: Business Indicators
Government Bailouts: Economics or politics?
“If politicians remain in the saddle and ride the private sector, the entrepreneurs who have powered America’s growth in the past will be displaced by lobbyists with access to the government honeypot.” - Irwin Stelzer, senior fellow and director of Hudson Institute’s Center for Economic Policy Every day we hear about another federal program labeled “economic bailout,” … [Read more...] about Government Bailouts: Economics or politics?
Welcome To The Long Run: Keynesian economics have been the downfall of American policymaking.
John Maynard Keynes is, of course, the famous economist who is credited with developing the subfield of macroeconomics – sometimes just called Keynesian economics. The American shift to Keynesianism began in the 1930s, and accelerated following the publication of Keynes’ General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money. Indeed, much of the New Deal was largely a result of his … [Read more...] about Welcome To The Long Run: Keynesian economics have been the downfall of American policymaking.
The Diversity Of Giving – Part II: The charitable toolbox
As varied as the number of reasons that individuals and families make philanthropic gifts, so are the methods by which they can structure their donations. The following information details the mechanics and advantages of some of the more popular gifting solutions. Most charitable vehicles can be placed in one of four board categories. Direct Gifts Direct gifts are the most … [Read more...] about The Diversity Of Giving – Part II: The charitable toolbox