If you or a family member belong to a union, you might not know that the dues deducted from your hard-earned paycheck are funding causes you oppose or supporting groups with views exactly opposite of yours. Even if you do know it, is there anything you can do to stop it? Two recent Supreme Court decisions show that there might be some hope in controlling unions’ out-of-control … [Read more...]
Archives for August 2014
Best Companies to Work For: Taking Care of People
In the midst of the recession, some employees might have argued that a “Best Company to Work For” is whichever company gives them a job. While times have been tough for many Nevada businesses, as the state comes out of this recession, it is clear there are a number of companies who continue to go above and beyond for their employees. These businesses make it a priority to take … [Read more...]
Executive Education: New Pathways to Success
When the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Extended Studies program held a series of leadership sessions for Barrick Gold, the event embodied new trends in executive education in Nevada. The 15 courses held over two months were shorter than the training once offered by business schools and colleges. Instead of theoretical discussions of leadership, the program covered … [Read more...]
Industry Focus: Public Servants
A public servant is anyone who serves the people, from Nevada’s elected officials to those serving in our public agencies. What isn’t often evident is that many of them do a sometimes thankless job for little pay because they have a passion for service. From door-to-door campaigning to working to raise ever-increasing amounts of necessary funding, many Nevada public servants … [Read more...]
Nevada’s Residential Market: A Season of Change
For the last two years, Nevada’s residential housing market has seen substantial rebound, with significant effect on prices. Lowered median home prices have created low inventory and a seller’s market, which in turn impacted distressed properties and neighborhoods. “People are a lot smarter today, having learned from mistakes that occurred in the market; buyers are much … [Read more...]
Elko Catches Up to Growth
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...]
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...]
Claudia Wines: Northeastern Nevada Museum
Director Elko http://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...]
Jeffrey F. Barr, Esq.: Ashcraft & Barr | LLP
Partner Las Vegas http://ashcraftbarr.com/ If you could be remembered for one thing, what would it be? I would like to be remembered as a gregarious and caring husband, father and lawyer who served his family, friends and community with enthusiasm and joy. What business advice would you give someone just starting in your industry? Be humble. Be inquisitive. Jump in … [Read more...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
Nevada Real Estate & Development Report: August 2014
E Project, Other ADDRESS 501 S. Las Vegas Blvd., 89101 CONTRACTOR OF RECORD Recreation Development Company LLC (RDC) DETAILS A $1.3 million ‘shell and core’ contract has been awarded to RDC for gypsum board assemblies at the Federal Justice Tower in downtown Las Vegas. The 129,000 SF project is a joint effort between the City of Las Vegas Redevelopment Agency and developer … [Read more...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
