2016-11-20 - VEGAS INC - Las Vegas

vegasinc.com | November 20 - November 26, 2016

Customers shop for toys ahead of Christmas at a Wal-Mart in New Jersey. (associated press)

What’s on your Christmas list?

Toy shopping is big business in America; local industry insiders share their criteria for choosing gifts

By Howard Riell | SPECIAL TO VEGAS INC

Americans love toys. According to the NPD Group, a global information company, the U.S. toy industry grew by 6 percent — $206 million — in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2015. Of the 11 super-categories within toys, eight posted gains, with action figures and dolls experiencing the highest dollar growth. toys, Continued on page 10

100

Miles that Chinese automaker BYD’s 3.9-ton electric garbage truck can travel on a single charge.

The vehicle was unveiled recently in Phoenix.

$17.8B Amount in online sales Chinese retail giant Alibaba recorded on Nov. 11, which is “Singles Day,” an informal holiday that started in 2009.

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CONTENTS

VEGAS INC NOV. 20-NOV. 26

GROUP PUBLISHER Gordon Prouty ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Breen Nolan

NOTEWORTHY STORIES

05 06 13 Q&A WITH GEOFF EDLUND

The president of Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters discusses the company’s expansion into the Hoover Dam market, the rewards and challenges of growing up in a family business, and the people who inspire him to value and enjoy life.

THE NOTES Giving, P4

MEET IMBRIFEX BOOKS

Mark Sedenquist publishes novels, memoirs, history and books about outdoor recreation and road-trip travel, all with some connection to the desert Southwest. As such, he said, Las Vegas feels like the perfect home for his company.

TALKING POINTS Future-proof your business with tech investments, P7

OUR TAKE: AIRPORT PARKING GARAGE BOTTLENECK BEGS FOR SOLUTION There are far worse things in life than being stuck in an idling car in a parking garage for two hours. But when that’s where you find yourself, it’s hard to put things in perspective.

After flying home from Reno recently, I hopped in my car and attempted to leave the long-term parking garage at McCarran International Airport. Instead of quickly driving down the garage’s spiral ramp toward the exit, I got stuck with other motorists staring longingly at the Las Vegas skyline.

According to an airport spokeswoman, a combination of factors caused the backup.

First, traffic on the Airport Connector was heavier than usual as drivers, reacting to road closures from the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, headed to southern neighborhoods. Second, a confusing jungle of construction cones confronted drivers exiting the tunnel. And finally, one, possibly two accidents south of the tunnel made traffic even worse.

We can’t invite people to Las Vegas only to condemn them to an evening sitting in a parking garage or in a taxi on a small road next to Terminal 1.

The authorities know this. Within days, they scheduled a meeting of interested parties, including airport officials and representatives from Metro, to figure out what happened and talk about solutions.

There won’t be an easy fix. There’s only so much space around the garage. Still, for the sake of haggard residents, Las Vegas visitors and the money they bring to our city, let’s hope they work as quickly as possible.

— THOMAS MOORE

DATA AND PUBLIC INFORMATION A listing of local bankruptcies, bid opportunities, brokered transactions, business licenses and building permits.

MORE VEGAS INC BUSINESS NEWS Calendar: Happenings and events, P11 The List: Technology companies, P15

EDITORIAL EDITOR Erin Ryan (erin.ryan@gmgvegas.com) MANAGING EDITOR Dave Mondt (dave.mondt@gmgvegas.com) ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR/SPORTS AND DIGITAL Ray Brewer (ray.brewer@gmgvegas.com) STAFF WRITERS Kailyn Brown, Jesse Granger, Chris Kudialis, Megan Messerly, Thomas Moore, Daniel Rothberg, Cy Ryan, Ricardo Torres-Cortez, Jackie Valley, Ian Whitaker COPY DESK CHIEF John Taylor GENERAL EDITOR Paul Szydelko ASSISTANT GENERAL EDITOR Adam Candee COPY EDITOR Jamie Gentner SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS EDITOR Craig Peterson RESEARCHER Clayt Keefer EDITORIAL CARTOONIST Mike Smith LIBRARY SERVICES SPECIALIST Rebecca Clifford-Cruz OFFICE COORDINATOR Nadine Guy

ART ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR Liz Brown (liz.brown@gmgvegas.com) DESIGNER LeeAnn Elias PHOTO COORDINATOR Yasmina Chavez PHOTOGRAPHERS L.E. Baskow, Christopher DeVargas, Steve Marcus, Mikayla Whitmore

ADVERTISING ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER OF ONLINE MEDIA Katie Horton GROUP DIRECTOR OF SALES OPERATIONS Stephanie Reviea PUBLICATION COORDINATOR Denise Arancibia SENIOR ADVERTISING MANAGER Jeff Jacobs EXTERNAL CONTENT MANAGER Emma Cauthorn BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST Sandra Segrest ACCOUNT MANAGERS Katie Harrison, Dawn Mangum, Sue Sran ADVERTISING MANAGERS Jim Braun, Brianna Eck, Kelly Gajewski, Chelsea Smith, Danielle Stone, Alex Teel GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP SALES ASSISTANT Steph Poli

MARKETING & EVENTS EVENT MANAGER Kristin Wilson DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Jackie Apoyan

PRODUCTION VICE PRESIDENT OF MANUFACTURING Maria Blondeaux ASSISTANT PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Paul Huntsberry PRODUCTION MANAGER Blue Uyeda PRODUCTION ARTIST Marissa Maheras, Dara Ricci ART DIRECTOR Sean Rademacher GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Michele Hamrick, Dany Haniff TRAFFIC SUPERVISOR Estee Wright TRAFFIC COORDINATORS Kim Smith, Meagan Hodson

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION Ron Gannon ROUTE MANAGER Joel Segler

GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP CEO, PUBLISHER & EDITOR Brian Greenspun CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Robert Cauthorn MANAGING EDITOR Ric Anderson CREATIVE DIRECTOR Erik Stein

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 44 Vegas Inc (USPS publication no. 15540), 2275 Corporate Circle, Suite 300, Henderson, NV 89074 is published every Sunday except the first Sunday of the year by Greenspun Media Group. Periodicals Postage Paid at Henderson, NV and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: Vegas Inc 2275 Corporate Circle Suite 300 Henderson, NV 89074 702.990.2545 For inquiries, write to: Vegas Inc 2275 Corporate Circle, Suite 300 Henderson, NV 89074 For back copies: Doris Hollifield at 702.990.8993 or e-mail at doris.hollifield@gmgvegas.com For subscriptions and customer service: Call 818.487.4538, or visit vegasinc.com. For annual subscriptions, $50.

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VEGAS INC

giving

nov. 20-Nov. 26

Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

Southern Nevadans raised more than $110,400 for Three Square Food Bank as part of Wal-Mart’s campaign to “Fight Hunger.

Spark Change.” MGM Resorts International donated $50,000 to Three Square’s BackPack for Kids program.

Findlay Cadillac and Findlay Honda Henderson donated a 15-passenger van, valued at $26,000, to Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth.

A $10,000 grant from the NV Energy Foundation will benefit the Friends of Nevada Wilderness stewardship program. The grant helps cover salary to organize and host events, as well as travel costs.

Life Time Athletic Green Valley, 121 Carnegie St., raised more than $25,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during the club’s annual “Ride for a Reason” event.

Veritas raised more than $60,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas as a part of the Veritas Sales Conference Giveback Program.

Eugene Santiago, Betty Campbell and Patti Gerace joined the Helping Hands of Vegas Valley board of trustees. Santiago is a volunteer for the agency and a caregiver for his mother, who is a recipient of Helping Hand services. Campbell is program coordinator at the UNLV Lied School of Real Estate Studies. Gerace is the director of marketing for Walker Furniture.

The Mary and Sam Boyd Clubhouse received a $16,500 Triple Play grant from Amerigroup Foundation. The clubhouse was the target of a string of vandalism incidents in early 2016.

The Nevada Arts Council awarded nearly $50,000 in grants to 14 Nevada artists selected to receive FY17 Artist Fellowships, including Cynthia Dufault, Mykola Suk, Brittany Bronson, Stephen Caplan, Brett Alters, Dawn-Michelle Baude and Jennifer Grim.

In celebration of Nevada Ballet Theatre’s 45th season, Jeff White Custom Jewelry and former prima ballerina Cynthia Gregory debuted a specially designed series of pendants.

Lootique is open at 72 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 125, Henderson. The store returns proceeds to the community through donations to organizations such as Safe House Nevada, Humanitarian Aid Fund, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and Heaven Can Wait Animal Society.

City National Bank was a $6,500 Champions Club sponsor of this year’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open golf tournament Oct. 31Nov. 6.

Henry’s Place, the youth camp named in honor of Metro Sgt. Henry Prendes, who was killed while responding to a domestic violence call in 2006, launched and hosted 12 boys this summer on its 14-acre site in Cedar City, Utah.

Best Mattress presented $10,000 to Opportunity Village.

Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada received $2,500 from Meals on Wheels America to support its client pet support program.

Michael Scheidle is one of 75 men and women performing 10 months of national service as part of the Atlantic Region’s FEMA Corps Class 23. FEMA Corps is a track of the National Civilian Community Corps, an AmeriCorps program. Scheidle and his team are focusing on disaster response and recovery.

Charlie Luh of Luh & Associates, a founding sponsor of the 1000 Books Foundation, donated 500 activity journals, 200 T-shirts and 200 temporary tattoos to the North Las Vegas Library District for use in the district’s “1000 Books Before Kindergarten” challenge, which encourages young children to read.

MGM Resorts International donated $10,000 to Dress for Success Southern Nevada to help maintain and expand the nonprofit’s boutique.

Hooters Hotel donated its August marketing budget to Habitat for Humanity, Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Three Square Food Bank, Goodwill of Southern Nevada, Communities in Schools, Salvation Army Southern Nevada, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, Shine Family Foundation and Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada.

SyFy’s “Sharknado: The 4th Awakens” afterparty at the Stratosphere raised $7,500 for the Animal Foundation.

HomeAid Southern Nevada collected enough back-to-school supplies to create more than 1,000 backpacks that will be filled with supplies and personal hygiene items to be provided to homeless, displaced and disadvantaged high school students in Southern Nevada through Project 150.

Cox Charities donated $140,000 to 31 local nonprofits. Individual awards ranged from $1,500 to $5,000 each to groups focusing on children/families, education/STEM or diversity. Recipients and their programs were: n The Animal Foundation, Keeping Every Person and Pet Together/Pets for Life n Baby’s Bounty, Baby Cargo n Blind Center of Nevada, Yes I Can n Communities in Schools, CIS Academy Explorations n Create a Change Now, Garden at Tom Williams Elementary School n Discovery Children’s Museum, Discovery on Wheels, House Calls n Friends in the Desert Foundation, Food Program n Friends of LVMPD Foundation, Every 15 Minutes n Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada, Arts & Cultural Series n After-School All-Stars, What’s Cool After School n Herbert A. Derfelt Elementary School, Going Googly over Google Chromebooks and Making Memories for Years to Come n HopeLink of Southern Nevada, Breakfast Bookworm n Huntridge Teen Clinic, Teen Medical & Dental Programs n Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Mobile Museum n Las Vegas Rescue Mission, Family Food Pantry n LVCC Library District Foundation, West Las Vegas bitLAB n Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, Camp Cartwheel n Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth, NPHY Drop-In Center, Food for Homeless Youth n Nevada PEP Include Me, Disability Awareness Program n Public Education Foundation, The Community Knowledge Center n Refuge for Women, Refuge for Women Las Vegas Safe House n Serving Our Kids Foundation, Weekend Food Bags for Needy Children n Sign Design Theatre Co., Summer Day Camp n Southern Nevada Children First, Drop-in Center n Spread the Word Nevada, Kids to Kids n Street Teens, Food Program n The Shade Tree, Children’s Activity Center n Three Square, Backpack for Kids Program n Together We Can, EATS and Mentoring Program n Trauma Intervention Program of Southern Nevada, 2016 Summer New Volunteer Training Academy

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VEGAS INC

the interview

nov. 20-Nov. 26

Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

Q&A with geoff edlund

‘Do business the right way, the ethical way’ Geoff Edlund is president of Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, which last year added a golden helicopter to its fleet, coined “copter #50,” in celebration of the company’s 50th anniversary. Edlund’s grandfather, Elling Halvorson, founded the company and his mother, Brenda Halvorson, is CEO. But that didn’t mean Edlund got to just walk in and become president without proving he was the right man for the job.

Papillon Grand Canyon recently launched the new Hoover Dam-area tours at Lake Mead. Talk about the expansion and why you thought this was a good time for it.

Our expansion into the Hoover Dam market was an opportunity we had been pursuing for two years.

With the launch of this new base, we offer our guests flight options that are both affordable enough to do on a whim and compelling enough to plan in advance. One of the most attractive parts about this opportunity for us was the location of the heliport, directly off U.S. Highway 93, and the ability to attract drive-by traffic, which is something we don’t see a lot of at our other locations.

Do you think aerial sightseeing has gained more popularity over the past few years?

Without question. The growth can be attributed to a number of factors but one key component is that the aircraft we operate today are designed specifically for sightseeing, which has improved guest experience. These aircraft have spacious cabins, larger windows, noise-canceling headphones and forward facing, theater-style seating. In addition, they have a modified tail rotor system which has dramatically reduced noise levels, making them more environmentally friendly than ever.

Eighty percent of your clientele are international tourists. How do you cater to them?

We want our international guest experience to be as seamless as possible, so we have translated our websites and tour narrations into 10 languages and now can accept payment in more than 20 currencies.

What is the most valuable lesson you learned from your mother, who is the company’s CEO, and grandfather, who is the founder and chairman of the board?

How to do business the right way, the ethical way: This is what our company was founded on, and this is how we continue to operate today. We genuinely respect and value our employees, our guests and our business partners, and it’s satisfying to prove you can still be successful in today’s business world doing things the right way.

Talk about Papillon’s charitable program that you manage and what charities the company collaborates with.

Our founder, Elling Halvorson, has always been known for his philanthropy. As such, the company he created has always been heavily involved in charitable giving. Today, we support countless organizations with a goal of directing the majority of our support to local business communities — Southern

Geoff Edlund, president of Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, stands on the tarmac in Boulder City. (mikayla whitmore/Staff)

Nevada and northern Arizona. We like to spread the support around each year, but two groups we have grown close with in recent years are St. Jude’s Ranch for Children in Boulder City and Opportunity Village of Las Vegas. We love the work these wonderful people are doing here, and we’re looking forward to flying Santa Claus into the annual Magical Forest tree-lighting event again on Nov. 25.

You spent 13 years as a senior investment manager in Seattle’s real estate market.

Why did you change your career path?

I wanted to work for the family business my entire life, but the opportunity wasn’t there for me until five years ago. Our family believes for a family business to be successful, you need family members who have proven themselves in the outside world first.

What has been your most exciting professional project?

There are a lot of exciting projects in this business, but one that stands out would be two years ago when we relocated some aircraft to Scottsdale, Ariz., to fly football fans into the Super Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. This may not sound like a “most exciting project,” but our family is from Seattle and we are diehard Seahawks fans, so the opportunity to share the experience with 25 friends and family members that day is something I will never forget.

Where do you see yourself and your company in 10 years?

Ten years from now, I see the company having experienced significant growth (similar to the past decade) with expansion into new domestic markets, and possibly an international market as well.

What is your dream job, outside of your current field?

I’m a huge sports fan, so my dream job has always been to play a professional sport. When I was younger, I would have said NBA basketball, but today my knees would suggest PGA Tour golf.

If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be?

My wife and I love to travel, so it’s hard not to say the south of France or Swiss Alps, but we value our family most, so I’d have to say summers in Seattle and winters in Manhattan Beach.

What is something people might not know about you?

I have twin uncles with duchenne muscular dystrophy who have taught me how to value and enjoy life.

They are the longest-living people in the history of the disease and they live every day to the fullest, which is something I wish everyone could witness and learn from, especially as a child.

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VEGAS INC

get to know a local business

nov. 20-Nov. 26

Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

by the numbers

3.8 million

Number of political tweets in a 35-day period made by software robots, according to a research leader at the USC Information Sciences Institute. There were proTrump and pro-Clinton bots, and their goal was to distort online discussions and promote a specific candidate. These tweets accounted for 19 percent of the 20 million tweets analyzed.

5 million

Estimated number of people who gathered at the Chicago Cubs championship celebration. It was the largest crowd ever gathered in the Western Hemisphere and ranked seventh among the largest gatherings in history.

$8.8 billion

Amount spent on the James Webb Space Telescope, the primary replacement for the Hubble telescope. The new telescope will gather seven times more light than Hubble and has the power to detect a bumblebee on the moon.

56,300

Number of visits the official New Zealand Immigration website received from U.S. computers in the 24 hours following Election Day. The daily average before the election was roughly 2,300 visits. Canada’s official immigration website crashed due to heavy traffic the night of the election.

$26.5 million

Amount Amazon has been ordered to pay in refunds to parents whose children made in-app purchases, without permission, on Amazon smart devices. The Federal Trade Commission filed complaints in 2014 against Amazon, Apple and Google for this practice of making extra purchases easily accessible to children.

$12.9 billion

Cost of the U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford. Construction on the massive 4.5 acre ship started in 2009 and is nearly complete.

Mark Sedenquist is the owner of Imbrifex Books, a local publishing company that focuses on the desert Southwest.

(STEVE MARCUS/staff)

Publisher: In Vegas, anything is possible Imbrifex Books

Describe your business.

for more than 20 years to roadtripamerica.com readers. This daily correspondence has sharpened my thinking about all aspects of road tripping. My understanding of what drives families, couples and solo travelers to hit the road provides me with deep understanding of what kinds of books and travel guides they are seeking and how the information they need can best be delivered.

Address: 8275 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 200, Las Vegas Phone: 702-309-0130 Email: acquisitions@imbrifex.com Website: imbrifex.com Hours of operation: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday Owned/operated by: Flattop Productions In business since: April 2016

Imbrifex Books is a traditional book-publishing firm that makes the most of 21st-century tools and technology. While we’re new in the world of books, we’ve been involved in online publishing since the dawn of the public Web. We launched roadtripamerica.com in 1996 and living-las-vegas.com in 2004. We provide editorial service, graphic design and marketing services to our authors. Because we are a small press publishing six or seven titles per year, we have a personal commitment to ensuring that every book is a success.

Las Vegas feels like the perfect home for our company — the Wild West, where anything is still possible and anything might happen as soon as next week.

What inspired you to open this business?

Las Vegas is a hotbed of talent and creativity. There are hundreds of stories between Jean and Apex just waiting to be discovered, developed and delivered to a worldwide audience. Imbrifex Books intends to provide a quality conduit for those stories.

What criteria do you look for when taking book idea submissions?

For fiction: Do the first five sentences of a manuscript have sufficient tension to encourage me to read the next five? For nonfiction: Does the proposal sell me on the concept, and does the author have the skill to bring the book into being?

Does the query letter provide concrete answers to the questions we pose on our submission guidelines?

Can I sell this book? How big an audience is the book likely to attract?

To what extent does the author have a platform that we can leverage to promote the book?

Have you always been a book lover?

I’ve always loved to read. When I was 7 years old, I spent a year in traction with both legs attached to heavy weights for 24 hours a day. It presented me with a fantastic opportunity to hone my reading skills. I developed a speed-reading technique that I still use. Being able to read full-length books in a few hours is a skill I particularly appreciate now that I need it for professional reasons.

Why did you decide to focus on the Southwest?

I’ve been providing real-world, real-time advice every day

Talk about the book “Getting Off on Frank Sinatra,” which is set to release in March 2017.

Our debut novel, by Megan Edwards, will be available online and in stores in March 2017. In this mystery set in Las Vegas, aspiring journalist Copper Black discovers a dead body behind a door she should never have opened. Now embroiled in a high-profile murder investigation, Copper juggles her love life, career ambitions, family drama and an Indian uprising while trying to solve the murder. It’s a book for all who love Las Vegas and a good whodunit.

talking points Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

Reader comments We want to hear from you. Visit vegasinc.com to post your opinion.

On Chris Kudialis’ lasvegassun.com story “Recreational marijuana use OK’d

by Nevada voters”: I voted “yes” on Question 2 because I find it to be abhorrent that you have numerous people being incarcerated for marijuana offenses. It is a waste of taxpayer dollars paying for people in jail for marijuana.

— Thundersteel It’s still illegal by federal law and there’s a new sheriff in town.

Remember when Chris Christie said if he was U.S. attorney general he would enforce ALL the laws?

— Well Now On Daniel Rothberg’s VEGAS INC story “Treasury finds troubles with TARP in Nevada”: When you pass legislation to help those in need, you can count on the program being abused.

TARP is no surprise; I wonder who developed this state agency to handle this money. — ecitsuj On Ian Whitaker’s lasvegassun.com story “Three charter outfits approved to take over struggling public schools”: If there’s enough money in this ‘tax and school’ scheme, then why can we not provide the needed schooling that members of our citizenry can appreciate?

What Is it?

— JoeLamy

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VEGAS INC nov. 20-Nov. 26

Future-proof your business with tech investments

T

guest column: harness and analyze this data is valuable. echnology is quickly al welch Perhaps even more valuable is the ability to transforming nearly every identify trends and make predictions about industry and causing major the future. disruption that often creates unforeseen challenges to a company’s n Cloud computing. According to business model. Consider how the emergence of online market research firm IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Cloud IT marketplaces that enable people to list and rent vacation Infrastructure Tracker, about 30 percent of the IT market homes are threatening traditional hotels. Or how is spent on cloud technology. IDC forecasts that within the smartphones disrupted GPS manufacturers and digitalnext two years, cloud spending will expand to 43 percent of native retailers forced traditional brick-and-mortar the market. As the number of connected devices continues companies to rethink their strategy. Companies that ignore to grow, greater processing power will be essential. technology risk becoming irrelevant. n E-commerce. Global tech company Pitney Bowes Businesses are catching on. This year, the majority of reported in its Global Online Shopping study that middle-market companies will spend up to 10 percent 76 percent of U.S. consumers were likely to purchase of their budgets on technology, according to the Bank products directly from online marketplaces. of America Merrill Lynch 2016 CFO Outlook. Smart n Digital payments. CFOs are beginning to invest in companies are investing in innovation to simplify daily digital payments, and we expect that number to grow tasks, expand product offerings and enter new industries. significantly in the coming years. Not only do digital The majority of CFOs surveyed for the 2016 CFO Outlook payment options provide added security benefits, but they have plans to boost technology investment this year, with also help increase sales and revenue. key drivers being an increased need for fraud prevention, It’s becoming increasingly important to look ahead for growing market share, expanding sales from a physical differentiation of products and services based on emerging footprint to a virtual footprint and upgrading aging innovation. The speed of disruption requires companies technology. Currently, technology investments are spread to put new efficiencies to work faster to stay ahead of across four key areas. competitors, and technology should be the top of every CFO’s agenda. n Data management and analytics. Research firm Al Welch is the Las Vegas market president of Strategy Analytics reports that we’ll have four internetBank of America Merrill Lynch. connected devices, per person, by 2020. The ability to

Smith’s world

Mike Smith is an award-winning editorial cartoonist who also draws for the Las Vegas Sun. His work is distributed nationally by King Features Syndicate. See archives of his work at lasvegassun.com/smithsworld.

8

VEGAS INC nov. 20-Nov. 26

your Business-to-business news Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

Uber, Lyft expand Las Vegas service with cheaper carpool option By daniel rothberg Staff Writer

Within a week of one another, ondemand transportation companies Lyft and Uber launched services that allow customers to carpool. The services, nearly identical on each platform, match riders who are going to similar destinations, combine their trips and

tions more efficient and was popular in other markets. In San Francisco, Uber said UberPOOL rides comprised nearly half of its trips.

With its carpool option, Lyft plans to target passengers who are going to similar places at similar times, such as shift workers commuting to the Strip or tourists traveling to and from the

provide a discount on the ride.

The companies say the service — known as Lyft Line and uberPOOL — is a less expensive transportation option, in some cases half the price of their traditional offerings.

Both companies have launched the options in other cities. Lyft and Uber have said carpooling made their opera-

“City National helped us double our sales.”

airport.

State regulators gave Lyft and Uber permission to operate in Nevada last year, and the companies have expanded their operations rapidly. They contract with thousands of drivers in Clark County, and Uber claims to have about 882,000 active riders in Nevada.

Tina Quigley, who leads the Southern Nevada Regional Transportation Commission, said the carpooling option could alleviate traffic and provide another transportation option.

“As we support all modes of transportation, we are excited that our community gets to experience the next generation of mobility that will help relieve congestion on our busy streets and provide another transportation option for our growing region,” she said in a news release.

Over 340 million people have used Smule’s music applications on their mobile devices. We’re growing at a rapid rate, and with the support of City National Bank we have more than doubled, crossing $100M in sales with over 1M paid subscriptions. City National has been incredibly

State puts up another $419K for escalators for pedestrian bridges

flexible in helping us put together a financing structure that has allowed us to continue executing on our business plan...

By cy ryan

and actually accelerate it.

The state Transportation Board is unhappy with the cost and delay in building escalators to pedestrian bridges over Tropicana Avenue.

Gov. Brian Sandoval, board chairman, said the project has been discussed since 2003 and “is getting more expensive.”

Board member Tom Skancke asked, “When is the bleeding going to stop?”

The $30 million project is being funded by $19 million from the Las Vegas Convention Center, with the rest coming from the Department of Transportation.

The issue arose recently when the board was asked to approve an additional $419,573 for 16 new escalators from Otis Elevator Co. Jacobs Engineering, which designed and is building the project, initially estimated a lower price for the escalators from another company.

William Hoffman, deputy superintendent of the department, called the project “very challenging.” It was designed for lower-cost escalators, which turned out to be incompatible.

Board member Len Savage of Reno said Jacobs Engineering should have foreseen the problem when it bid on the work.

The board reluctantly approved the extra money, but members said they should be informed when the department approves change orders.

City National is The way up for Smule.

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Jeffrey Smith CEO, Smule Hear Jeffrey’s complete story at Findyourwayup.com/GrowFastNV

Find your way up.

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VEGAS INC nov. 20-Nov. 26

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toys, from page 1

Smaller, less expensive toys growing in popularity “Toys have become the new chocolate,” the group reports. “Looking at the top 10 items that sold during Easter week, most are small in size, likely so they may fit in an Easter basket.”

These items also are smaller in terms of price point: The average retail price of a toy for Easter was 38 percent less than the average price of a toy in 2015.

According to the not-for-profit Toy Industry Association in New York, key trends for 2016 include toys that teach or reinforce science, technology, engineering, arts and math “continue to be top contenders in the toy market. Parents and educators appreciate these toys because they help prep kids for school by building important spatial, reasoning, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.”

So-called brain-boosters that fall into this trend also encourage proficiency in other subjects, the association says, such as language and history, and support children as they grow.

“From enhancing kids’ communication skills to improving their logic, the latest cohort of educational toys encourages kids to explore, experiment, design and discover, all while having fun,” the organization reported.

So — what will Santa be schlepping to Las Vegas on his sleigh this holiday season?

‘I Want My Kids Challenged’ Steve Johnston, owner of Rogue Toys and father of 2- and 6-yearold sons, says he prefers that toys be educational “because I want my kids challenged. However, toys like ‘Star Wars’ action figures also allow them to keep an active imagination.”

Johnston advises against buying children drones and hoverboards.

“Although these get kids out and moving, they are hazardous and break easily,” he said.

Johnston’s younger son will receive “Blaze and the Monster Machines” toys.

“He has a huge interest in these toys,” Johnston said. “The cartoon is on Nick Jr., teaches young kids problem solving, and introduces them to technology and industry.”

For his older boy, Johnston will be getting Pokémon and Lego toys.

“The ‘Pokémon Go’ craze has him with a constant interest,” he said.

Krystal and Steve Johnston of Rogue Toys appreciate the classics. (staff file)

“Shop early to beat the lines and the crowds. So many trending toys seem to sell out fast. Also, find one toy or present that is original and has sentimental value.”

— Daniel Pearce, general manager of the Marvel Avengers STATION attraction at Treasure Island

Johnston has fond memories of his own childhood toys, many of which were “Star Wars” action figures.

“My father said I cut my teeth on ‘Star Wars,’ ” he said. “I remember carrying Luke Skywalker in my pocket for like six months.”

Johnston urges parents not to focus too much on trends when choosing toys.

“Just because it’s a top toy on whatever list doesn’t make it best for your kids. Find out their interests and let them be kids. If they are fond of something, support it,” he said. “Maybe give them reasons to continue being a kid.”

‘In Moderation’ “Because my son is 10 months old today, I’ll be buying toys that are toddler-specific,” said Daniel Pearce, general manager of the Marvel Avengers STATION attracpearce tion at Treasure Island. “The Funko plush lines are really cool and have great licenses with Marvel’s Avengers and ‘Star Wars.’ ” Pearce says it is important that children get familiar with electron-

ics, given that they are such a big part of the future. “But everything needs to be in moderation. It’s important for kids to get outside, run, get dirty and play.”

How many toys is too many? Pearce said you could never have enough.

“I’m still buying toys for myself,” he said. “They may be a bit more complex, but they’re still toys.”

What toys should parents and grandparents not buy?

“The new parent in me immediately says, ‘Anything that is a choking hazard,’ ” Pearce said.

His advice to gift givers is to be sensible: “Shop early to beat the lines and the crowds. So many trending toys seem to sell out fast. Also, find one toy or present that is original and has sentimental value. My wife has mastered this. I’m still working on it.”

‘Do Not Go Crazy’ Scott Seegmiller, CFO of WestCorp Management Group in Las Vegas, says he is in favor of electronic toys, “but in moderation. They keep the kids entertained so the parents do not go crazy.”

Seegmiller said toys “should be able to teach something to the kids — figure it out, learn a skill, enhance the imagination.” He counsels parents to give toys in moderation.

“Give them something to open on Christmas so they are not disappointed, but stop before you think you should,” he said.

Parents and grandparents should not buy toy guns, video game software or “cheap stuff” for children, he added. “Playing with guns is not necessary. A new game gets played and tossed, teaching them to always want more, cheap stuff.”

Marina Nicola, owner and partner at Vox Solid Communications, promised that this year she would buy “toys that are either educational or are one piece.”

As a working parent, she said, nicola “you have a lovehate relationship with electronics.

When you’re preoccupied, electronics become the one-eyed babysitter.

But when you’re ready to engage with your children, it can be a fight to disconnect them.”

How educational a toy is, Nicola says, will always be in the eye of the beholder. “If it’s, say, a game about state capitals, it won’t do the child any good if it’s not fun to play. On the other hand, a mound of dirt can be just as much fun, especially if the parent is in the dirt playing with the child, making it an educational experience.”

Every toy, she said, should have its proper place in a home, whether it’s a designated shelf or box.

Nicola remembers loving Legos as a child.

“I’d build houses for my Barbies, make large trucks and construct castles. I actually saved my Legos, as I knew one day I’d want to pass them on ... and I have.”

A little bit of compassion aimed at parents is good, too, she said.

“No one should buy anything for someone else’s child if there is more than one piece involved,” Nicola insists. “If it requires assembly or comes in a carrying case or is a set of something, there will be too many pieces to keep track of.”

Nicola also recommended that toy shoppers buy early “and buy online.

Remember the tug-of-wars over Cabbage Patch dolls? With free shipping, there is zero reason to ever go through that again.”

11

VEGAS INC

your Business-to-business news

nov. 20-Nov. 26

Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

Calendar of events SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20 Marijuana Edibles Job Training and Certification Time: 4:30-7 p.m. Cost: $99 Location: Trim Ready, 827 Las Vegas Blvd.

South, Suite A, Las Vegas Information: Call 702-658-9333 This course will focus on the edible manufacturing and marijuana-infused products business.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21 Group Management Services Mentor Sessions Time: 7-7:30 a.m. Cost: Free Location: Innevation Center, 6795 S. Edmond St., Las Vegas Information: Visit eventbrite.com Human resources experts will advise business owners about administrative burdens such as payroll and taxes, risk management, employee benefits and more.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22 Real estate investor briefing Time: 7-9 p.m. Cost: Free Location: Noble Title, 6585 High St., Las Vegas Information: Call 702-723-6227 Learn how to invest in real estate. Topics include how to pay off a mortgage in 5-7 years or onethird of the time, fixing and flipping houses, and acquiring rental properties.

Young professionals mixer Time: 6-8 p.m. Cost: Free Location: Davidoff of Geneva Cigar Bar, 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas Information: Visit eventbrite.com Connect with other young, local business professionals in an open environment.

Real meal meetup Time: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost: Free Location: Violette’s Vegan Organic Eatery, 8560

W. Desert Inn Road, Las Vegas Information: Visit eventbrite.com Network with people in the whole foods and health industries to cultivate relationships and business partnerships.

OpenCoffee Club for Las Vegas Female Entrepreneurs Time: 10-11 a.m. Cost: Free Location: Bar Code, 1590 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas Information: Visit eventbrite.com Join this group of female business owners to make connections, promote one another’s businesses and establish friendships.

Keller Williams Realty Las Vegas luncheon Time: 1-5 p.m. Cost: $49 Location: Keller Williams Realty Las Vegas, 9420 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 100, Las Vegas Information: Email asc@whykwlasvegas.com Author and business professional Dave Jenks will be the featured speaker. Proceeds will benefit the Tom Foster Fund, which helps educate real estate agents. Attendees are encouraged to wear pink.

Real estate seminar Time: 7-9 p.m. Cost: Free Location: Team Elevate, 6585 High St., Las Vegas Information: Call 720-744-0884 Real estate investors are seeking trainees to earn while they learn the business.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24 Eight Proven Ways to Recycle Your Content to Boost Exposure Time: 11 a.m.-noon Cost: Free Location: Online; link sent after registration Information: Visit eventbrite.com Discover strategies to leverage media, testimonials, social reviews, blog posts and more.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29 Networking power lunch Time: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost: $20 for Metro Chamber members; registration required Location: Downtown Summerlin, 1980 Festival Plaza Drive, Las Vegas Information: Call 702-586-3851 Connect with fellow Metro Chamber members over lunch. Attendees will be able to sit in tables of 6-8 and network in a small-group setting.

“Who Are You Selling To?” Part III: Who are your customers and what are their buying habits?

Time: 4:30-7 p.m. Cost: Free Location: University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Classrooms B and C, 8050 Paradise Road, Las Vegas Information: Visit nsbdc.org Patrick Griffis, business librarian at UNLV Libraries, will teach attendees how to use research tools from the UNLV Business Library to identify their customers and find information to better promote their businesses.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 Networking: Without Follow Up, It’s Just a Party Time: 4:30-7 p.m. Cost: Free Location: University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Classrooms B and C, 8050 Paradise Road, Las Vegas Information: Visit nsbdc.org Kathy Carrico, statewide training director for the Nevada Small Business Development Center, will teach attendees how to establish and keep new relationships that can broaden outreach and facilitate the growth of their customer base.

Topics to be discussed include how to start a conversation, workshop activities, networking for introverts and more.

Conventions

expected Show Location Dates attendance

Royal Court Coronation

Gold Coast

Dec. 1-5

300

Go Pro Recruiting Mastery

Las Vegas Convention Center

Dec. 1-4

14,000

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Thomas & Mack Center

Dec. 1-10

175,000

Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational

Las Vegas Convention Center

Dec. 2-3

3,000

Bick International - Coin, Currency, Jewelry and Stamp Expo

Orleans

Dec. 2-4

1,000

Great American Comic Con

Cashman Center

Dec. 3-4

5,000

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition

Mandalay Bay

Dec. 4-8

20,000

12

VEGAS INC nov. 20-Nov. 26

view from the top Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

Las Vegas built for those chasing the American dream

T

he United States often is referred to as the land of opportunity. With this belief, people from around the world migrate here on the premise of personal and professional fulfillment, and the pursuit of freedom and happiness. This desire to better oneself and the attainability of this desire is referred to as the American dream.

Domestically, though, the American dream is often considered unattainable by today’s young professionals.

Considering entry-level salaries in most industries and real estate prices in the 10 most populous cities, it is easy Guest column: to understand why. The max tappeiner idea of working one’s entire life to one day afford a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco or New York does not quite meet that grand idea of the American dream.

One could argue that the suburbs still offer the attainability of the American dream, but the daily commute can make this more of a nightmare than

a dream. Furthermore, considering lifestyle and leisure options, the entertainment and restaurant offerings do not come close to what densely populated cities offer.

Las Vegas, though, has positioned itself as a city where the American dream remains alive. Our city offers limitless opportunities for those who want to work hard and better themselves.

Our city faces many challenges, including education, but progress is being made. If we consider UNLV and the imminent opening of the medical school, along with the arrival of Roseman University and its pursuit of an additional medical school, it’s clear to see a brighter and more prosperous future ahead.

Another frequently quoted drawback is the lack of cultural entertainment. And while the dimensions of our beloved neon cowboy Vegas Vic resemble those of Abe Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial, the similarities go no further. And while the history portrayed by the Mob Museum is fascinating, it doesn’t measure up to the art collection of the Louvre. We are a young city, though, and we offer our own sense of cultural entertainment which will grow richer over the years. The foundation has been laid with the arrival of the Smith Center and similar institutions.

And so while our city has clear opportunities, key components of the American dream, such as affordable housing, remain intact. For better or worse, real estate prices remain below their 2008 peak and rental properties will remain affordable as long as building permits continue to be issued.

The second pillar of the American dream, professional fulfillment, has never been more accessible than it is today. With the arrival of an NHL team and possibly an NFL team, as well as the city’s focus on building out its health care infrastructure and the diversification of our economy, demand for young, ambitious talent has never been stronger.

Throughout my professional life, I have found that companies committed to their core business, that don’t deviate from their values, are the most successful. With this in mind, our city does not have to become the cultural epicenter of the West Coast; neither do we have to reinforce the image of Sin City for decades to come. Las Vegas should present itself more clearly as what it is more so today than ever before: a city of opportunity. Our city is one of those rare places where the American dream is attainable to anybody who is willing to work for it.

Max Tappeiner is vice president of hotel operations at Las Vegas Sands Corp.’s Venetian and Palazzo.

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the data Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

13

VEGAS INC nov. 20-Nov. 26

Records and Transactions BANKRUPTCIES CHAPTER 11 Stages Inc. 3950 N. Tenaya Way, Suite 120 Las Vegas, NV 89129 Attorney: Seth D. Ballstaedt at seth@ballstaedtlaw.com

Bid Opportunities November 22 2:15 p.m.

Southwest Regional Sports Park Clark County, 604257 Sandy Moody-Upton at scm@ clarkcountynv.gov 2:15 p.m.

Moapa Town Roads II - Henrie Road Clark County, 604263 Tom Boldt at tboldt@clarkcountynv.gov 3 p.m.

Various current production model vehicles Clark County, 604272 Sandra Mendoza at sda@clarkcountynv.gov

November 28 3 p.m.

Annual requirements contract for NFPA medical gloves Clark County, 604248 Sandra Mendoza at sda@clarkcountynv.gov

Brokered transactions Lease $520,275.30 for 2,394 square feet, retail 4604 W. Sahara Ave, Suites 1-2, Las Vegas 89102 Landlord: Sahara 3D LLC Landlord agent: Nelson Tressler and Michael Zobrist of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank Tenant: Domino’s Pizza Tenant agent: N/A

Business Licenses Nailand License type: Barbershop and cosmetology Address: 560 Marks St., Suite D, Henderson Owner: KOI Beauty Salon New Amsterdam Naturals License type: Automated teller operator Address: 823 S. Third St., Las Vegas Owner: Nevada Wellness Project Nomad Auto Sales and Rental License type: Automotive sales

with minor repair Address: 2000 Western Ave., Las Vegas Owner: Mu-Ra Osaka Catering II License type: Food services or cafe Address: 4211 W. Sahara Ave., Suite E, Las Vegas Owner: Noboru Paragon Service LV License type: Repair and maintenance Address: 2432 W. Peoria Ave., Suite 1042, Las Vegas Owner: Joseph Boni and Lloyd Scates Passion Medical Associates License type: Pro services - medical Address: 4240 Simmons St., North Las Vegas Owner: Passion Medical Associates Paul Gerber General Contractor License type: Contractor Address: 3028 Becks Hill Drive, Las Vegas Owner: Paul Gerber Paysite License type: Wire service Address: 4701 W. Lake Mead Blvd.; 8570 W. Sahara Ave.; 6703 W. Alexander Road, Las Vegas Owner: Us Payments Pearls and Lollipops Portrait Studio License type: Photography Address: 5390 Beaverhead Drive, Las Vegas Owner: Karissa Hugh

Las Vegas Owner: Priscilla J. Fowler Prominent Insurance Services License type: Insurance agency or adjusting firm Address: 10120 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 200, Henderson Owner: Prominent Insurance Services Pure Natural Grace License type: Business consultant Address: 2117 Marsh Tern Court, North Las Vegas Owner: Pure Natural Grace Quick Smog Express License type: Automotive garage/ service station Address: 2401 N. Decatur Blvd., Las Vegas Owner: Santiago Gomez Pena Re-Bath of Las Vegas License type: Contractor Address: 5195 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas Owner: WB Play To Win Read & Wright License type: Miscellaneous sales/ service Address: 650 E. Azure Ave., North Las Vegas Owner: Blad Wright Red Rock Home Loans License type: Mortgage lending Address: 701 N. Green Valley Parkway, Suite 200, Henderson Owner: Red Rock Home Loans

Peterson Hope License type: Law firm or law office Address: 10001 Park Run Drive, Las Vegas Owner: Peterson Hope

Rjla Handyman License type: Residential property maintenance Address: Did not disclose Owner: Alma Valencia-Granados

Petite Sweets License type: Food services or cafe Address: 2305 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, Las Vegas Owner: Elizabeth Parent

Robert M. Apple and Associates License type: Professional services Address: 2300 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 800, Las Vegas Owner: Robert Apple

Philosophy Tours License type: Travel and ticket agency Address: Did not disclose Owner: Jean-Louis De Biasi and Patricia Bourin

Rock Solid Credentialing License type: Business support Address: Did not disclose Owner: Maria Elwell

Phyllis M. D’Anna License type: Real estate sales Address: 8290 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 100, Las Vegas Owner: Phyllis M D’Anna Playa Papagayos Restaurant License type: Restaurant Address: 4760 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 20, Las Vegas Owner: Gems of the Sea Priscilla Fowler Fine Art License type: Art gallery-retail Address: 1025 S. First St., Suite 155,

Rockabilly Girl License type: Online clothing store Address: 2839 Lochbroom Way, Henderson Owner: Rockabilly Girl Sal’s Home Improvement License type: Property maintenance Address: 916 N. Major Ave., Henderson Owner: Sal John Laduca SCA Design License type: Architectural firm Address: 710 Coronado Center Drive, Suite 110, Henderson Owner: SCA Design

Selene Spencer License type: Real estate sales Address: 8290 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 100, Las Vegas Owner: Selene Spencer

consulting service Address: 10080 Alta Drive, Suite 125, Las Vegas Owner: Sparrow Wealth Management

Service Management Systems License type: Property maintenance Address: 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway, Henderson Owner: Service Management Systems

Stacy Conner License type: Real estate sales Address: 9420 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 100, Las Vegas Owner: Stacy Conner

Shauna Gut License type: Real estate sales Address: 8290 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 100, Las Vegas Owner: Shauna Gut

StorageOne License type: Mini warehouse Address: 7580 Oso Blanca Road, Las Vegas Owner: Durango 95 Mini Storage Partners

Silver Janitorial Supply License type: Miscellaneous sales/ service Address: 2736 E. Lake Mead Blvd., North Las Vegas Owner: Jonnathan Gomez

Summit Anesthesia Consultants License type: Professional services - medical Address: 9127 W. Russell Road, Suite 110, Las Vegas Owner: Swissman Costas and Klain

Simio’s Close Out License type: Variety store Address: 2560 Las Vegas Blvd.

North, North Las Vegas Owner: Daniela D. Moore

Sunset Warrior License type: Mail order/internet sales Address: 4345 Pacific Crest Ave., North Las Vegas Owner: Sharmayne A Scott

Simpson Coulter Studio License type: Professional services Address: 151 E. Warm Springs Road, Las Vegas Owner: Welles Pugsley Architects Sin City Smokers Barbecue and Catering License type: Catering/restaurant Address: 2861 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson Owner: Sin City Barbecue Sister House Collective License type: General retail sales Address: 1961 Balzac Drive, Las Vegas Owner: Sister Shop LV Smart Construction License type: Contractor Address: 16423 N. 40th St., Las Vegas Owner: Did not disclose Smash Toys License type: General retail sales Address: 425 Fremont St., Las Vegas Owner: L&S Investments Southwest Home Inspections License type: Home inspection service Address: 1485 Heather Oaks Way, North Las Vegas Owner: Southwest Home Inspections Sparkles Beauty Salon #2 License type: Barbershop and cosmetology Address: 125 S. Water St., Henderson Owner: Danna Valdovinos Sparrow Wealth Management License type: Management or

Superior Hospice of Las Vegas License type: Medical office Address: 3033 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 100, Henderson Owner: Superior Hospice of Las Vegas

BUILDING PERMITS $14,730,641, commercial - new 4550 Nexus Way, North Las Vegas Martin-Harris Construction $5,243,184, multifamily residential 7350 W. Centennial Parkway, Las Vegas Bower Bay Construction $3,693,093, multifamily residential x4 7350 W. Centennial Parkway, Las Vegas Bower Bay Construction $3,350,000, tenant improvement 400 Stewart Ave., Las Vegas Penta Building Group $3,000,000, commercial 7350 W. Centennial Parkway, Las Vegas Bower Bay Construction $2,212,273, multifamily residential 7350 W. Centennial Parkway, Las Vegas Bower Bay Construction $1,600,023, education building 2844 Via Contessa, Henderson CA Las Vegas 2840 VC $1,150,000, tenant improvement 2450 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas

14

VEGAS INC nov. 20-Nov. 26

the data Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

Records and Transactions Affordable Concepts $951,250, assembly group complete 123 Pancho Via Drive, Henderson Edgeworth Family Trust $800,000, sign 301 Fremont St., Las Vegas Architectural Design & Signs $700,000, electrical 4661 Eaker St., North Las Vegas Helix Electric $663,182, apartment - production 160 Cielo Abierto Way, Building 13, Henderson Horizon Range $661,477, apartment - model 160 Cielo Abierto Way, Building 2, Henderson Horizon Range $654,865, apartment - production 160 Cielo Abierto Way, Building 12, Henderson Horizon Range $450,000, commercial - alteration 2620 W. Brooks St., North Las Vegas JH Construction $385,261, tenant improvement 714 N. Rainbow Blvd., Las Vegas Complex Builders $375,000, commercial 7350 W. Centennial Parkway, Las Vegas Bower Bay Construction $254,405, residential - production 2834 Athena Hill Court, Henderson Greystone Nevada

$237,659, residential - production 1133 Sparta Crest St., Henderson Greystone Nevada

$171,673, residential - production 2446 Amatrice St., Henderson KB Home Inspirada

$218,972, residential - production x2 2135 and 2143 Artena St., Henderson Pardee Homes Nevada

$170,287, townhouse - production x2 2004 and 2014 Via Firenze, Henderson Inspirada City Partners

$218,972, residential - production x2 2110 and 2119 Monte Bianco Place, Henderson Pardee Homes Nevada

$161,914, residential - production 152 Sand Lake St., Henderson KB Home Nevada

$196,016, residential - production 382 Lost Horizon Ave., Henderson Greystone Nevada $192,301, residential - production 996 Cedar Cliff Court, Henderson Greystone Nevada

$160,639, residential - production 529 Wildflower Ave., Henderson Greystone Nevada $160,266, single-family dwelling 12230 Tempestad Ave., Las Vegas Toll North LV

$190,639, single-family dwelling 52 Tarragona Breeze Ave., Las Vegas William Lyon Homes

$159,308, residential - production x2 517 and 525 Wildflower Ave., Henderson Greystone Nevada

$179,693, single-family dwelling 8867 Pauley Hills St., Las Vegas Richmond American Homes of Nevada

$157,755, residential - production 3179 Rowan Brook Ave., Henderson Greystone Nevada

$176,886, residential - production 801 Horizon Canyon Drive, Henderson Greystone Nevada

$157,405, single-family dwelling 8810 Saxon Canyon St., Las Vegas Richmond American Homes of Nevada

$173,935, residential - new 2513 W. Gilmore Ave., North Las Vegas Richmond American Homes of Nevada

$157,277, single-family dwelling x2 9619 and 9623 Ramon Valley Ave., Las Vegas Greystone Nevada

$173,780, residential - production 2118 Monte Bianco Place, Henderson Pardee Homes Nevada

$250,000, tenant improvement 11700 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 110, Las Vegas Bentar Development

$173,550, commercial - addition 3837 Bay Lake Trail, North Las Vegas S&H Industrial Services

$248,342, single-family dwelling 9627 Ramon Valley Ave., Las Vegas Greystone Nevada

$173,281, residential - production 21 Hilltop Crest St., Henderson William Lyon Homes

$155,618, residential - new 313 Tyler Texas Place, North Las Vegas Woodside Homes of Nevada

269 Besame Court, Las Vegas Toll North LV $150,000, tenant improvement 12 E. Ogden Ave., Las Vegas Logic $149,493, residential - production 859 Via Campo Tures, Henderson Greystone Nevada $149,493, residential - production 206 Via Del Salvatore, Henderson Greystone Nevada $149,493, residential - production x2 856 and 863 Via Campo Tures, Henderson Greystone Nevada $144,503, townhouse - production x4 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012 Via Firenze, Henderson Inspirada City Partners $142,396, residential - production 2267 Valdina St., Henderson KB Home Inspirada $141,198, single-family dwelling 10733 Irving Park Ave., Las Vegas Toll North LV $139,512, residential - production x2 513 and 521 Wildflower Ave., Henderson Greystone Nevada $138,550, single-family dwelling x2 10812 and 10831 Irving Park Ave., Las Vegas Toll North LV

$154,092, single-family dwelling 10555 Constant Spring Ave., Las Vegas Richmond American Homes of Nevada

$138,306, single-family dwelling x2 9635 and 9674 Bruschi Ridge Court, Las Vegas Richmond American Homes of Nevada

$150,741, single-family dwelling

$136,906, residential - production

LAS VEGAS’ PREMIER

729 Gorringe Ridge Court, Henderson KB Home LV Pearl Creek $136,795, residential - production 860 Via Campo Tures, Henderson Greystone Nevada $136,699, single-family dwelling 257 Lindura Court, Las Vegas Toll North LV $134,002, single-family dwelling 468 Vigo Port St., Las Vegas Ryland Homes $133,220, onsite 5835 E. Ann Road, North Las Vegas Reliant Construction $130,700, residential - new x2 5714 and 5718 Colbert St., North Las Vegas Harmony Homes $130,700, residential - new 2103 Roundtop Court, North Las Vegas Harmony Homes $130,700, residential - new 5709 Colbert St., North Las Vegas Harmony Homes $130,197, residential - production 3180 Rowan Brook Ave., Henderson Greystone Nevada $126,592, residential - production 3184 Rowan Brook Ave., Henderson Greystone Nevada $125,535, residential - new 5705 Colbert St., North Las Vegas Harmony Homes $125,000, commercial - alteration 2860 E. Cheyenne Ave., North Las Vegas DC Building Group

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The List

Category: technology companies (Ranked by number of employees as of oct. 31)

Company

Year est.

Employees

Products/services

Top executive

Scientific Games 6650 S. El Camino Road Las Vegas, NV 89118 702-897-7150 • scientificgames.com

1979

1,500

Slot machines, casino and slot management and accounting systems, card shufflers, chip sorters, proprietary table games, electronic table games, social casino games, mobile applications

Kevin Sheehan, chief executive officer and president

2

Cox Communications 1700 Vegas Drive Las Vegas, NV 89106 702-384-8084 • cox.com

1998

1,400

Business/residential telephone, cable TV and high-speed internet, home security, PRI/digital trunking, SIP trunking, data transport, managed Wi-Fi deployments

Mike Bolognini, market vice president

3

International Game Technology 6355 S. Buffalo Drive Las Vegas, NV 89113 702-669-7777 • igt.com

1981

800

Casino games, systems and solutions

Renato Ascoli, CEO

4

CenturyLink 6700 Via Austi Parkway Las Vegas, NV 89119 702-244-7455 • centurylink.com

1953

650

Business/residential high-speed Internet, TV, cloud, hosting, security and phone lines

Mike Jewell, director network service operations

5

Aristocrat 7230 Amigo St. Las Vegas, NV 89119 702-270-1000 • aristocrat-us.com

1963

600

Slot machines, casino management systems, virtual casinos, mobile game apps

Maureen Sweeny, chief commercial officer

6

Konami Gaming, Inc. 585 Konami Circle Las Vegas, NV 89119 702-616-1400 • konamigaming.com

1997

450

Casino slot machines, management systems and technology

Steve Sutherland, chief operating officer/executive vice president

7

Everi Holdings Inc. 7250 S. Tenaya Way, Suite 100 Las Vegas, NV 89113 702-855-3000 • everi.com

1998

275

Michael D. Rumbolz, Integrated gaming payment solutions, video and mechanical reel slot games and technology president and CEO solutions.

8

Verizon Wireless 5555 Redwood St. Las Vegas, NV 89118 verizonwireless.com

2000

230

Wireless communications services

Krista Bourne, president - South Central market

9

Link Technologies 9500 Hillwood Drive Suite 112 Las Vegas, NV 89134 702-233-8703 • linktechconsulting.com

2000

135

IT, cyber security, audit/compliance, project management, systems integration, professional services and staffing

Debbie Banko, CEO

10

JCM Global 925 Pilot Road Las Vegas, NV 89119 702-651-0000 • jcmglobal.com

1990

120

Bill validators, peripheral currency transaction equipment, digital display equipment

Blake Sartini II, senior vice president of distributed gaming

11

Freeman Audio Visual, Inc. 3325 W. Sunset Road, Suite A Las Vegas, NV 89118 702-263-1484 • freemanco.com

1993

100

Audio-visual equipment rentals

Richard Pabst, regional vice president/general manager

1

Source: VEGAS INC research. It is not the intent of this list to endorse the participants or to imply that the listing of a company indicates its quality. Visit vegasinc.com for more. Although every attempt is made to ensure the accuracy and thoroughness of VEGAS INC charts, omissions sometimes occur and some businesses do not respond. Please send corrections or additions on company letterhead to Clayt Keefer, research associate, VEGAS INC, 2275 Corporate Circle, Third floor, Henderson, NV 89074.

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SIMLV.O @ IN O J | G R .O SIMLASVEGAS

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FROM THE PRESENTING SPONSOR Dear VEGAS INC readers,

I

n partnership with VEGAS INC, Cox Business is honored to serve again as the title sponsor of the sixth annual Top Tech Exec Awards. This prestigious event recognizes the top information technology executives in Southern Nevada, nominated by their industry peers, as well as the crucial work that every technology executive contributes to drive the industry and economic growth in Southern Nevada.

We are truly excited to host this event for the sixth year in Las Vegas! This could not have been accomplished without the support of the community and VEGAS INC. VEGAS INC is the No. 1 business weekly in Southern Nevada locally and nationally reaching 40,000 readers, an organization that is committed to journalism that informs, inspires and moves readers to action.

Each year our attendance has grown and is an indication Las Vegas has embraced these awards and the work that our tech executives contribute day after day, year after year.

Cox Business and Hospitality Network warmly extends its sincerest congratulations to each 2016 nominee and award recipient and is proud to recognize these individuals for their outstanding leadership, vision, innovation and commitment to the technology industry.

FROM OUR SPONSOR

B

lueprint Consulting Services provides progressive business and technology solutions that connect strategy and delivery. Blueprint has a simple focus: identify and deliver solutions that provide measurable outcomes and exceptional results.

Our experienced thought leaders specialize in multiple areas of business transformation including solutions involving growth strategy, organizational change, go-to-market planning, product development plans, digital commerce, information management and analytics, and cloud enablement.

Blueprint partners with clients of all sizes and in all industries who need help solving their complex business problems. We co-develop solutions that help solve our clients’ most challenging technology problems.

Neal Ryan, President and Co-founder Blueprint Consulting Services

As a leading telecommunications services company with a strong focus on community development and diversity, Cox Communications is a valued and trusted community business partner in Southern Nevada. With our proven experience as a leading nationwide telecommunications solutions provider with a commitment to service excellence, Cox Business and Hospitality Network is a crucial technology partner to a diverse portfolio of local and nationwide business verticals and segments. Cox Business and Hospitality Network works closely with clients to customize voice, video, Internet and data transport solutions to support their requirements and business objectives.

Together, Cox Business and VEGAS INC are pleased to host one of the most important events in Las Vegas and the Southern Nevada community! We thank you for attending the event and celebrating our Top Tech Execs.

Once again, congratulations to the recipients of the 2016 Top Tech Exec Awards!

Derrick R. Hill, Vice President Cox Business & Hospitality Network Las Vegas

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FROM OUR SPONSOR Hello,

S

IM Las Vegas Chapter is organized to help IT leaders foster the development of information systems for the improvement of management performance and executive policy, ensuring alignment with community needs, and education and legislative matters. It is comprised of IT leaders from private, public, and educational sectors throughout the Las Vegas valley.

Through much discussion and brainstorming sessions, the SIM Las Vegas members established the following initiatives as priorities to achieve: • Spread IT interest, awareness and opportunities for students • Support growth and diversity of Southern Nevada’s IT professionals • Support organizational cybersecurity for Southern Nevada organizations

working group, which are comprised of SIM Las Vegas members and nonmembers.

Committees have also been formed to assist the SIM Las Vegas organization. These include a Membership & Marketing Committee, a Program Content Committee and a Legislative Committee.

We are excited about the passion and commitment of our members and volunteers and are enthusiastic about the change that will come to our valley as a result of the work they are performing.

If you are a SIM Las Vegas member or volunteer, you have my heartfelt gratitude. The work we do is great with a positive changing impact. If you are not, this is your opportunity to become a part of the change you want to see in our community and our profession. Join SIM Las Vegas as we achieve our efforts to improve Information Technology in Southern Nevada.

Working groups have been formed to develop scope and ex- Sincerely, ecute action on these initiatives — the Education, Workforce, Laura L. Fucci, President and Security Committees. SIM Las Vegas members chair each Society for Information Management, Las Vegas

FROM THE EDITOR

T

he sixth annual Las Vegas Top Tech Exec Awards is a collaboration between Cox Business and VEGAS INC to recognize Southern Nevadans who are helping shape the future before our very eyes. These are people who are often on call 24-7, asked to solve problems that may never have happened in a rapidly evolving industry.

We fielded nominations for the most outstanding information technology executives in Southern Nevada and asked our panel of judges to use the following criteria in reviewing them: • Accomplishments: Examine why the candidate was nominated, and if the applications supports the nomination.

Consider the candidate’s specific individual role in the achievements for which they been cited. Consider the nominee’s commitment to the industry.

• Technology Partnerships: Assessment of the nominee’s ability to develop strategic relationships with vendors, solution providers and technology partners. Also consider projects that showcase the nominee’s creativity and ingenuity in problem solving.

• Innovation and Vision of the Future: Consider the nominee’s insight and ideas for the future and how it affects the technology industry as a whole.

the work of IT professionals to do my job, I stand in awe at the broad scope of knowledge possessed by this group of people.

We want to thank the following judges for their help: Laura Fucci joined the city of Henderson in November 2012 as chief information officer. She is the president of the Society for Information Management, Las Vegas, and was recognized in the Government category at the 2013 Top Tech Exec awards.

Les Leonard is vice president of information technology of Resorts World Las Vegas. Leonard was recognized in the Gaming and Hospitality category at the 2015 Top Tech Exec Awards.

Lester Lewis is an IT strategist in the state of Nevada. Currently, Lewis is the deputy chief information officer for Clark County. Lewis was recognized in the Government category at the 2015 Top Tech Exec Awards.

Bob Schaich is senior vice president and chief information officer for the Nevada Market of UnitedHealth Group, a diversified health care services company. In 2015 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Top Tech Exec Awards.

Manjit Gombra Singh is a member of the advisory board for college of engineering at UNLV and working on cybersecurity.

Singh was honored in the Public Business category at the 2015 Top Tech Exec Awards.

It wasn’t easy to come up with the winners because there were so many strong candidates. As someone who relies on

Craig Peterson, Special Publications Editor craig.peterson@gmgvegas.com

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L I F E T I M E A C H I E V E M E N T AWA R D

W Camille McCue, Ph.D.

Director of Technology Innovations

Adelson Education Campus

ith childhood activities that included tinkering with her Apple II+ computer, competing in weekend math contests and conducting science-fair research, Camille McCue developed an early affinity for STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), parlaying that passion into a successful career in tech and education.

With a résumé that includes IBM, NASA and Vegas PBS, McCue — who also authors technology titles for “CliffNotes” and “…for Dummies” brands — was recruited by the Adelson Education Campus to develop and implement its game-changing Technology Innovations and Integration Initiative, coming on board in August 2015 and elevating the K-12 school into the premier STEM learning institution on the West Coast.

“We had initial funding of $1 million from Steven Mack (the Adelsons contributed another $3 million), who wanted to do something groundbreaking in technology,” said McCue, who holds a B.A. in math from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.A. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from UNLV. “I was brought in to lead the innovation initiative and direct the development of our new 5,000-square-foot STEM workshop and entrepreneurial facility, called the Startup Incubator.”

But first things first.

She said it was initially imperative to implement a one-to-world connectivity paradigm, where students and teachers — there are about 100 instructors and 550 children at Adelson — have mobile devices. The second step was ensuring

everyone knew how to properly use them.

Then came the centerpiece of the initiative, the Startup Incubator, an inventor’s workspace.

“The space provides a location and tools and mentors and curriculum so students can take an idea in their head to products and businesses for the real world,” said McCue, adding that the Startup Incubator has three main areas, a coding lab, a digital media studio and a FabLab. “It means fabrication lab, but it’s also fabulous, because we can make actual products.”

While 6th and 9th graders are required to complete a mandatory one-semester Startup Incubator course, it is also offered as an elective.

“It’s really popular, and more than half of the upper school is enrolled in an Incubator class,” McCue said.

— Danielle Birkin

C O M M U N I T Y E X E M P L A R Y AWA R D

A Shavonnah Tièra Collins Managing Director

RedFlint Experience Center

Las Vegas native and Frogger aficionado who learned basic coding using a computer-keyboardand-cartridge system that plugged into the television — it was purchased from the Sears catalogue — Shavonnah Tièra Collins has always had an interest in technology.

“But I didn’t know it was an actual career path until I took a web development class at UNLV after graduating from the University of Miami School of Business with a double major in business management and business law,” said Collins, who organized and facilitated Startup Weekend Las Vegas, served as an instructor and program coordinator/startup advisor at UNLV and founded Urban Innovators before joining the RedFlint Experience Center about six months ago.

RedFlint, sparked by the University of Phoenix, opened Oct. 15 and provides startups, established companies and entrepreneurs with hands-on, real-

life access to new concepts, programs and technology. The first such facility in Southern Nevada, the 10,000-squarefoot RedFlint center is located in the Bank of America Plaza downtown and serves to close the skills gap whereby rapid technological advances have caused professionals, who are otherwise fully qualified within their fields, find themselves falling behind.

University of Phoenix is partnering with Iron Yard Ventures — which has spurred investment in 59 startups in the last four years — to provide access to a premier business accelerator through RedFlint.

In her role as managing director, Collins manages the center’s day-to-day operations to educate, incubate and accelerate participants through interactive services and experiences.

“RedFlint is my dream job,” said Collins, adding that the education component was a critical area missing from

the local technology community. “The second piece is incubation, where you have an idea and don’t know where to start. Our workshops help them solidify their ideas in the marketplace. From there, the Iron Yard Ventures accelerator is open to all companies and founders.”

A collaboration with the University of Phoenix’s College of Information Systems & Technology and School of Business, along with Iron Yard, RedFlint is positioned to ignite change within many industries. About 50 percent of the companies participating in the accelerator are expected to be locally based.

“For us, RedFlint is about getting people engaged and exposing them to new technologies, and the response has been phenomenal,” Collins said.

“There’s so much potential in Southern Nevada when it comes to technology and entrepreneurship, and RedFlint is a great resource.”

— Danielle Birkin

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G OV E R N M E N T

O Jason Frame Manager of Information Technology

Southern Nevada Health District

ver the past year, when the Southern Nevada Health District was moving and consolidating locations, Jason Frame worked on moving departments and consolidating the data center — changes that have increased efficiency while lowering costs.

Together with his team, Frame also has developed several new apps for the Southern Nevada Health District. Most notably, he managed development for an app that lets the public view current and past grades and violations of any restaurant in the Las Vegas area.

He also directed the purchase and implementation of a network infrastructure in the new SNHD Decatur building that includes more than 45 Cisco switches, new internet routers, new firewalls and more than 30 wireless access points.

Frame who built the software engineering team from the ground up, start-

ing with selling the idea up the leadership chain and following through by creating a new supervisory position to run a custom development team using both industry standards and cutting-edge.

“We had a very productive year,” Frame said, “moving our corporate headquarters and modernizing much of our infrastructure, while at the same time creating many apps for the public to access various forms of our services.” He is proud of what he termed the “complete refresh of our physical infrastructure. As part of moving our corporate headquarters and combining two locations into a single location, we modernized our network and server infrastructure, often replacing hardware that was 10 to 12 years old.”

Frame and his colleagues moved roughly 380 employees into the old Target store at 280 Decatur Blvd., near 95 & Decatur. “Our new hardware has allowed

us to improve our network speeds by over 1,000 percent, and doing so actually lowered our monthly service costs because of the new hardware.”

During the move, he also added additional services for the public, such as making it easier for Las Vegans to register for and order their birth and death certificates using a kiosk-based app.

“We are continuing this modernization to allow us to offer more services to the public electronically so they can do business with the Health District on their schedule, and from a location that is more convenient for them,” he said.

For 2017, Frame is planning on completing the modernizations projects that are currently underway, then shifting focus to two main areas: improving customer services and disaster preparedness.

— Howard Riell

PUBLIC BUSINESS

R

andy Dearborn has been running digital signage networks since 1993, starting with a skunkworks set-up at Treasure Island and building it up to a network that covers thousands of screens across the MGM Resorts International portfolio.

As the person who oversees all the digital signage programs for the MGM properties, he is responsible for more than 62,000 digital devices/displays in Vice President of Multimedia Las Vegas alone from 11 properties on & Guest Technology the Strip. “The display count alone is over 60,000,” Dearborn said, “which inMGM Resorts cludes marquees, end caps, video walls, International way fingers, readerboards, twitter and Instagram walls, table denomination, menu boards — I could go on and on.”

Dearborn said his greatest accomplishment of 2016 was “finally beginning to leverage this massive digital network that we have been building for the past

Randy Dearborn

several years. For example, we built the largest DOCSIS III network anywhere in the hospitality industry. This has allowed us to convert our legacy analog coax cable plants into a full blown digital network.”

The initial advantage, he said, was not having to spend tens of millions of dollars at each property to pull Cat 6 or fiber to every guest room, “and we have over 40,000 guest rooms on the Las Vegas Strip alone.

“The DOCSIS network allows us to stream all digital traffic to the guest room such as Wi-Fi, IPTV, door locks, mini bars, ‘Do not disturb’ signs, tray tracking, and housekeeping requests along with other devices.”

During the months ahead, Dearborn and his colleagues plan to “unleash a gamut of incredible opportunities that we now have full control over.” Their

major challenge will likely be fully automating the system into existing APIs for F&B, retail, entertainment and more.

“This will take some time, but will be well worth the time and effort,” he said.

“One other challenge will be changing the operational mindset which allows data to determine what is exposed to our customer, along with syncing the different business with best practices.”

He urged colleagues to “be prepared — change is coming, and its coming fast. It’s funny: being in the gaming industry we’re comfortable with taking on risk, but betting on which new technology is going to stick is not good odds. With that said the one common factor in most technology is they all need increasingly larger bandwidth, so the safest bet is to build a great foundation that can take advantage of whatever comes down the pipe.”

— Howard Riell

Congratulations to Camille McCue, and all the nominees recognized at the 2016 VEGAS INC Top Tech Exec Awards.

The Adelson Educational Campus community is very proud and honored to stand beside you as we lead the way in Education Technology.

Camille McCue, the Adelson family, the Mack family and AEC students celebrate the opening of the game changing Startup Incubator Technology Lab at The Adelson Educational Campus.

CONGRATULATIONS

Armena Mnatsakanyan EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF NEVADA

Finalist in the Nonprofit Category for the 2016 VEGAS INC Top Tech Awards!

- FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS -

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NONPROFIT

I Armena Mnatsakanyan Executive Director

Lutheran Social Services of Nevada

t all started with a “crazy idea” when Armena Mnatsakanyan, executive director of Lutheran Social Services of Nevada, began brainstorming about how to increase efficiencies at the organization’s food pantry.

“Our pantry is supermarket-style, and I really liked the system, but we had clients lining up at 2 or 3 in the morning waiting for us to open at 8 a.m., and it was really hard for me to watch, especially for clients who are seniors or had children,” said Mnatsakanyan, who has been working in nonprofit management for 23 years. “I had a simple dream about virtualization, and in this age of online shopping, I wondered why a nonprofit couldn’t have a progressive, digitalized system.”

Mnatsakanyan’s research resulted in the October 2016 debut of DigiMart, an online food pantry system that is the

first of its kind for a Nevada nonprofit.

Here’s how it works: Clients are assigned a user name and password, and using a LSSN kiosk — or a computer or smartphone if they have access to such devices — they log onto a food database that displays pictures of available items. A click of the mouse puts selected items into the digital shopping cart.

When the order is complete, staff or volunteers bag the food and have it ready for clients to pick up.

Client are assigned points that are used like money to “purchase” food, and items that have a higher nutritional value “cost” less than items that are not as salubrious. For example, a can of reducedsodium chicken noodle soup may be just two points, while a can with a higher salt content might be five points. Fresh items always carry a value of one.

“It’s just that easy,” said Mnatsakanyan, adding that the DigiMart system is based on software developed and licensed by Nexus Financial Services in New York City for St. John’s Bread & Life, a social services agency in Brooklyn, which has operated a digital food pantry since 2008.

“Instead of reinventing the wheel, we called St. John’s program manager, and are so grateful to St. John’s for helping to get DigiMart off the ground,” she said.

LSSN received grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USAA Savings Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco.

“We’re the first agency on the West Coast to do this, and I think DigiMart will prove to be a pilot prototype project,” she said.

— Danielle Birkin

P R I VAT E B U S I N E S S

I

Clifton Cole

Virtual Design and Construction Manager

The Penta Building Group

n just 16 years, the Penta Building Group has grown into a nationally recognized contractor with more than 180 salaried employees. The company was founded on the premise that people come first, which results in the completion of high-quality projects, strong relationships with clients, partners, subcontractors, employees and the Las Vegas community, a safety rating below the national average, and zero instances of owner litigation while providing more than $4 billion in construction and pre-construction services — including over $380 million in revenue in 2015.

This kind of growth and success would not have been possible if the contractor had not learned to harness the power of technology. Cliff Cole was not only the catalyst for Penta’s technological revolution, but also the reason Penta remains at the forefront of the industry.

In 2008, Cole implemented Building Information Modeling (BIM), a process of designing buildings in the virtual space using one coherent system of models rather than separate drawings.

He developed a BIM strategy and coordinated software with other trade partners on the project. Penta then created a new position for Cliff, BIM Manager, responsible for implementing BIM and technology companywide.

Cole is proud of the technical advancements that his company has achieved over the last few years. “As one of the larger general contractors in Southern Nevada, Penta has been on the forefront of pushing numerous technology initiatives. I have lead the efforts for several technology initiatives that have pushed the boundaries for innovation and productivity. Also, I was instrumental in creating our first internal Penta technology committee that is responsible for creat-

ing, defining and shaping technology for the entire company.”

Cole pointed with pride to this year’s quadrupling the size of Penta’s Virtual Design and Construction Department and increasing the virtual 3-D capabilities.

“These increased capabilities have allowed us to be successful at winning more work, decreasing construction schedules and improving construction productivity.”

His current focus for 2017 will be to improve field mobility (technology on the go) and collaboration (integrating people and data) in the company. “This focus will improve efficiency in two areas that are critical to the success of the company. The major challenge will be to figure out how to get team members to trust in new technology and processes.

Developing standardization of processes and implementing training will help to minimize this challenge.”

— Howard Riell

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H E A LT H C A R E

A Dr. Zubin Damania

CEO

Turntable Health

s CEO of innovative downtown primary-care clinic Turntable Health, Zubin Damania is revolutionizing the traditional fee-for-service and medicine-as-business models of health care.

Under the pseudonym ZDoggMD, Damania has created a series of music videos, parodies and comedy sketches — think “Weird Al” Yankovic meets Mayo Clinic — using humor to both entertain and educate medical professionals and the general public about the dysfunctional U.S. health care industry. An internet sensation with more than 150 titles and more than 90 million views on Facebook and YouTube, Damania started making videos as a cry for help.

“It was also a way to satirize our broken system so I could effect change,” said Damania, who was working as an internal medicine hospitalist at Stan-

ford University Medical Center at the time, having received an undergraduate degree at the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied molecular biology and music; obtaining his M.D. from the University of California, San Francisco; and completing his residency at Stanford University.

Damania is helping to change the system in his role at Turntable Health, which has the motto “Primary Care, Remixed.”

He was recruited in 2102 as CEO of the clinic by Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh as part of the Hsieh’s Downtown Project, a $350 million revitalization effort to transform the neighborhood into the epicenter of the burgeoning local technology, arts, culinary and business scene. Hsieh tasked Damania with nothing less than rethinking how the goliath health care industry might look if it were done correctly from scratch.

“The old fee-for-service model, which I call Health 1.0, meant the more things you did to a patient, the more you got paid, and this was usually based on taking care of sick people rather than preventing disease,” Damania said. “Health 2.0 is medicine as business, with doctors sitting at a computer checking boxes. Our proposal centers around Health 3.0, which re-personalizes the sacred doctor-patient relationship from 1.0, and uses the technology and process improvements from 2.0 to focus on the unique patient and their needs.”

Offering affordable health care to all, Turntable charges a flat monthly rate of $80, and just $60 for children younger than 18. It also offers discounts for families and long-term membership plans, and anyone in the local culinary union qualifies for free coverage.

— Danielle Birkin

H OT E L | G A M I N G

M Mary Lynn Palenik

Vice President, Caesars Technology Services Office of Strategy and Planning

Caesars Entertainment

ary Lynn Palenik knows the importance of her role both within IT and in her company as a whole, and understands that one of her most important functions is sharing her knowledge and experience.

When she joined Caesars in 2015, her review of the organization identified gaps operationally and functionally, and in her team’s cohesiveness.

Through her organizational redesign, she streamlined things across her department and encouraged teamwork.

Palenik worked hard this past year on developing a cohesive and highperforming team. Other accomplishments have included the introduction of a new framework, functional redesign, and the implementation of a governance model to establish a foundation for operational excellence.

“These initiatives are inexorably linked to the positive results that have

been realized in a period of just over 12 months,” she said. “Since my joining the company in 2015, project success has increased at a multiple of over three times. These favorable results were achieved through discipline, project rigor, controls and accountability.

Collectively, these are my greatest accomplishments of 2016.”

In 2017, continuing with the theme of change, Palenik will lead the Caesars Technology Services Office of Strategy and Planning and direct additional transformation and modernization efforts. “We will invest in new and innovative technologies and platforms,” she said, “establish relationships with leading technology partners and drive the discipline of accountability across the IT spectrum. I will continue to identify opportunities to embrace continuous process improvement and synergies that support cost efficiencies and operating

effectiveness, and will look to provide business partners with seamless and exciting new business technologies.”

The advice Palenik has for her peers is the same advice that she would give to any professional. “Keep current and invest in yourself. Learning should never stop, and furthering your education through seeking and obtaining additional degrees or certifications is always important, and always beneficial.”

She also recommended that they stay connected with other professionals. “Become a mentor to others, write articles for industry publications and trade journals, and accept opportunities to speak on behalf of your profession and your company. Lastly, remember to share your talents and stretch yourself through service on one of the many worthwhile nonprofit organizations in our community.”

— Howard Riell

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E D U C AT I O N

A Daniel Chapnick

Regional Hiring Manager

iD Tech

s regional hiring manager for iD Tech — a summer technology program founded in 1999 — Daniel Chapnick is helping to inspire the next generation of programmers, video game designers, app developers, engineers, filmmakers, photographers and innovators.

“At iD Tech, we take the fun summercamp model and put a technology spin on it,” said Chapnick, who has a degree in electronic media from California State University, Long Beach, and joined iD Tech as a summer instructor in 2013, and now works full-time for the company, managing the Las Vegas, San Diego and Irvine programs.

A week-long day program for kids ages 7 to 17 — with overnight options available for kids older than 10 — iD Tech was originally founded in a garage in the

Silicon Valley, and has since expanded to more than 140 locations across the U.S. The workshops are typically held on college campuses, with the local program based at UNLV. “In Las Vegas, we average about 56 campers per week, with the cost starting at $849,” said Chapnick. “Each class has a student-to-instructor ratio of eight to one, so it’s a really personalized experience in a laid-back, no-pressure environment.”

As regional hiring manager, Chapnick works with local liaisons to coordinate the summer logistics and works with the IT departments to ensure computer compatibility. He also conducts outreach at local schools, and is exploring the idea of after-school programs and demos. He has built relationships with Clark County School District, FIRST Robotics, Skybot and other educational institutions in

order to collaborate and promote the camp as well as highlight these partners.

Chapnick is also responsible for recruiting and hiring summer staff.

“We love hiring college students, especially from UNLV for the local program, and find that computer science, engineering and graphic design majors work out really well,” he said. “At UNLV, we have a staff of eight, and it’s a paid position, so the college students get work experience, make some money and get to hone their own skills too.”

With a general mission to develop and deliver the highest quality technology experience and challenge kids to the next level, iD Tech summer camp, “lets their imaginations run wild, and anything related to the sandbox video game Minecraft is wildly popular.”

— Danielle Birkin

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