2019 End of Session Highlights Page 17
Q&A LVCVA CEO and President Steve Hill
Chamber Helps Pass Landmark Education Funding Plan Page 13
Business Excellence Awards Nominations Page 35
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Honoring
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Congressman Cong Mark Amodei Mark Presidents Award
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Findlay Fin Automotive Automo Group
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Saturday, Saturday, August August 24, 2019 24, 2019 The The Four Four Seasons Seasons Las Vegas Las Vegas For For more more information: information: NevadaBroadcasters.org NevadaBroadcasters.org
PRESENTING PRESENTING 35 HALL 35 OFHALL FAME INDUCTEES OF FAME INDUCTEES & &INTRODUCING INTRODUCING THE 2019-2020 THE 2019-2020 FOUNDATION FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS RECIPIENTS
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of businesses and our community is at the core of what the Las Vegas Metro Chamber does. This issue of the Business Voice highlights some important ways we are staying true to that mission. The Q&A with Steve Hill, CEO and President of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), is focused on one of the most exciting and innovative projects in our state: the construction of a new underground transportation system by The Boring Company as part of the Las Vegas Convention Center expansion. This project, developed by Elon Musk, is the first of its kind in the world, and can be a game-changer when it comes to finding solutions to our transportation challenges on the Strip corridor. Also inside, you will find a summary of the critical role the Metro Chamber played during the 2019 Legislature. When the 120-day legislative session began, there were several proposals that, if passed in their original form, would have enacted regulations that would have been very harmful to our small businesses. Throughout the session, the Chamber regularly convened representatives from a wide range of industries so that the business community spoke with a united voice. And Chamber leaders, including Chairman Terry Shirey, Government Affairs Chairman Hugh Anderson, and I regularly met with Governor Sisolak and legislative leaders, especially Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson, and Senator Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro to keep lines of communication open. In the end, these conversations were beneficial in finding reasonable
compromises to bills impacting our businesses. The Las Vegas Chamber was also instrumental in passing the new K-12 funding formula that brings greater transparency to how money is allocated to our schools. This is the first time in 52 years that the funding formula has been changed. This new plan recognizes changes in student population and provides more funding to help our students succeed. You can read an interview with Senators Joyce Woodhouse and Mo Denis, Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction Jhone Ebert, and economic analyst Jeremy Aguero in this magazine that highlights the benefits of this new funding plan. Additionally, the Chamber stood strong to pass several Southern Nevada priorities including funding for the new health sciences building at College of Southern Nevada and Nevada State College, as well as an education building at NSC. And in the end, the Chamber was able to get funding for a new engineering building at UNLV. All these projects are good for workforce training and will be drivers of our economy. Finally, we are excited to announce an unprecedented partnership with the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance on part of our annual trip to Washington, D.C. It brings the state’s two largest business and economic development organizations together to create an even stronger voice on behalf of Nevada. If you are a President’s Club member, I encourage you to be part of our Washington, D.C. Fly-in September 8 to 13. It is an effective way you can join with peer leaders as we advocate for federal priorities our state needs to grow and thrive.
LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JULY 2019 BUSINESS VOICE
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Local journalism makes a difference.
Rachel Aston
A colleague told me about a man who was brought to tears talking about the Moulin Rouge property as he gave her a tour. I knew I wanted to interview him about what the long-closed hotel-casino meant to him and why. To Deverynn Bryant and Katherine Duncan, this property was an opportunity to repair race relations. After it burned on Oct. 5, I added audio from a town hall meeting where community members still spoke of bringing it back. Why does the government not invest in the Historic Westside in a way that benefits the area? People at that meeting echoed what Deverynn had already spoken of. They believe officials and the larger community don’t care to preserve their history or assist in their struggles. I hope someone will see the film and decide to help the Westside in some way, even if that never brings back the Moulin Rouge.
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Table of Contents 13 CHAMBER HELPS PASS LANDMARK EDUCATION FUNDING PLAN
JULY 2019 6
Q&A LVCVA CEO and President, Steve Hill
9
Welcome New Chamber Team Members
11
Your Scene | You're Seen
13
Chamber Helps Pass Landmark Education Funding Plan
17
2019 End of Session Highlights
24
What's Happening
25
Board of Trustee Spotlights
26
Committee Corner
28
President's Club Spotlights
31
Access Las Vegas
32
Member News
34
Ribbon Cuttings
37
Lunch with the Sheriff
39
Welcome New Members
40
VYP: Creating Your High Conversion Site
43
Revitalization of Shade Tree
45
Public Policy Leadership Series
46
Jobs Outlook, Provided by Nevada State Bank
06 Q&A LVCVA CEO AND PRESIDENT STEVE HILL
25 BOARD OF TRUSTEE SPOTLIGHTS
32 MEMBER NEWS
17 2019 END OF SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
26 COMMITTEE CORNER
34
40
RIBBON CUTTINGS
VYP: YOUR HIGH CONVERSION SITE
LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JULY 2019 BUSINESS VOICE
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Q&A: LVCVA CEO Steve Hill Shares Latest on Convention Center Expansion This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Can you tell us about that and give us an update on the expansion project? What we can expect ahead? The Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) opened its doors on April 12, 1959 with 150,000 square feet to attract the business traveler to the destination during the slow, mid-week period. Today, the tourism industry continues to be crucial to Southern Nevada’s economy generating $58 billion in total economic impact, supporting approximately 368,000 jobs and $15.7 billion in local wages and salaries. These jobs represent 38 percent of Southern Nevada’s total workforce. Currently in the midst of an expansion as well as a renovation of the current facility, the Las Vegas Convention Center will span 200 acres when complete in time for CES in January 2021. The project will add 600,000 square feet of exhibit space, new meeting rooms and other amenities to the existing 3.2 million square feet. The $1.4 billion Las Vegas Convention Center expansion project is expected to support nearly 14,000 construction jobs and nearly 7,800 full-time permanent jobs upon completion. Additionally, the expansion will generate an additional $2.1 billion in economic activity during construction and upon completion will have an annual incremental economic impact of $810 million while attracting more than 600,000 visitors each year.
Our city is constantly evolving and we love to see what innovation the LVCVA is next exploring. What is the status of the LVCVA’s collaboration with Elon Musk’s The Boring Company for a people mover at the Las Vegas Convention Center? Once again, Las Vegas leads the way in continuing to elevate the visitor experience utilizing innovation, such as with The Boring Company transportation collaboration for an underground autonomous electric vehicle people mover. The LVCVA Board of Directors recently approved a $48,675,000 contract with Elon Musk’s The Boring Company to design and construct a people mover for the Las Vegas Convention Center, referred to as the LVCC Loop, that could rapidly and safely carry passengers via a loop of underground express-route tunnels. Attendees walking the expanded convention center from end to end would log approximately 1.5 miles creating the need for an on-property guest transportation solution for our 1.5 million annual guests. Furthermore, the LVCC Loop has the potential to provide future connectivity from Downtown Las Vegas through the resort corridor and extend to McCarran International Airport to potentially serve as another transportation solution for our 42 million annual visitors.
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BUSINESS VOICE JULY 2019 LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
What are some of the Las Vegas Convention Center Loop’s highlights? The Las Vegas Convention Center Loop is slated to highlight three underground passenger stations, a pedestrian tunnel and two vehicular tunnels with an expected total length of approximately one mile. The underground loop system offers less disruption to pedestrian and vehicle traffic and maximizes passenger and pedestrian safety. The loop will be designed for ridership of at least 4,400 passengers per hour and is scalable depending on Las Vegas Convention Center attendance. Ground is scheduled to be broken this Fall and will serve as The Boring Company’s first application open for public use.
There’s always a lot happening in Las Vegas. What else is on the horizon? In addition to all of the great amenities and offerings by our resort partners, we are focused on attracting more large-scale special events to the destination. Southern Nevada recently secured hosting the 2020 NFL Draft. The annual Las Vegas Bowl continues to evolve with matchup of a Pac-12 school against either Big Ten or Southeastern Conference team, not to mention the pending opening of The Las Vegas Stadium that will allow for bigger events to be hosted in Southern Nevada. Las Vegas is now positioned to host the likes of the Super Bowl, Final Four, college football playoffs, championship games, and major concerts that we were unable to host in the past due to limited facility capacity. Attracting more events to Southern Nevada is yet another opportunity to drive tourism.
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BUSINESS VOICE JULY 2019 LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Welcome New Chamber Team Members Workforce development is consistently a high priority for all employers in Nevada. The Las Vegas Chamber works closely with its community partners to recruit, develop and hire top talent to serve, promote and support Chamber members. The Las Vegas Chamber is proud to welcome these new team members to the Chamber family
Chandler Faggiano Customer Service Excellence (CSE) Coordinator Hailing from Spokane, Washington, Chandler Faggiano comes to the Las Vegas Chamber with experience in customer relations, communications and event execution. Faggiano’s most recent experience was with MGM Resorts Luxor Hotel and Casino, where she was a marketing specialist for the past year. She also served as a guest experience specialist in her time at Luxor, where she coordinated employee training activities, managed customer relations, guest inquiries/complaints and executed guest surveys/satisfaction reports. Before that, Faggiano was a front desk agent at Excalibur. During Faggiano’s time at MGM, she was fortunate enough to be a part of the CSE program and receive the Gold achievement in Customer Service Excellence twice. Dream vacation destination? My dream vacation destination would be The Maldives or anywhere in Europe.
Noel Gonzalez Graphic Designer/Videographer Noel Gonzalez earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Design from the Art Institute of Las Vegas. A graphic designer since 2011, Gonzalez has crafted custom logos, marketing materials, front end web design, mobile and tablet interface designs and much more. Gonzalez also has videography experience and looks forward to honing his skills even further in this role. His clients have included, but are not limited to: Ford, Regional Flood Control District, Regional Transportation Commission and Summerlin/Downtown Summerlin to name a few. Prior to that, Gonzalez was a graphic designer at Roberston+Partners Advertising, Scientific Games (Bally Technologies) for four years and got his start in design work at the T-Shirt Diner. In addition to these positions, Gonzalez also freelance designed for the last two years. What do you want members to know about you? That I put a lot of great effort in everything I do, and recently live by a belief that goes ….‘How you do anything, is how you do EVERYTHING’- Peter Voogd.
Suzi Waltos Director of Events and Engagement Suzi Waltos is a highly motivated and experienced event professional with a strong history of wildly successful events while delivering unsurpassed guest experiences. Waltos’ vision and dedication to service creates out-of-the-box events. Having served as events manager at MGM Resorts International (Corporate) and The Venetian, Waltos has led her teams during some of the biggest high-profile events and conferences Las Vegas has seen; many programs earning the event industry’s highest honor, the GALA award. As with Waltos’ previously held positions within these international companies, doing the right thing, leading with integrity, treating people with respect and being a positive member of the community are essential for the growth of Nevada and beyond. Waltos began her career in her hometown of Atlantic City, NJ and comes to the Las Vegas Chamber with more than 20 years of hospitality, event, marketing, Food and Beverage and casino experience to the team. What do you want members to know about you? I am a proud member of DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) that is to say, my family are founding fathers of America and the original English settlers of South Jersey. LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JULY 2019 BUSINESS VOICE
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Your Scene | You’re Seen Business Power Luncheon with MGM's Lilian Tomovich
This year’s first Business Power Luncheon was a success! Chief Experience Officer Lilian Tomovich with MGM Resorts International provided insight on how to provide an amazing customer experience by being “customer-obsessed.” Tomovich reminded the audience that by always putting the customer first can result in a positive experience almost every time. KLAS 8 News Now Anchor Denise Valdez graciously hosted emceed the conversation, with the Waldorf Astoria as a wonderful setting.
Executive Women’s Council
“Fearless. Fierce. Kind.” Just some words used at the first Executive Women’s Council event. Thanks to KLAS 8 News Now for hosting the “Women in Media” panel featuring 8 News Now’s General Manager Lisa Howfield and Weather Anchor Sherry Swensk; Entercom’s Natalia Hernandez; and LVRJ’s Carri Geer Thevenot. These executives shared uplifting and pointed stories with the new council members. Special thanks to Presenting Sponsor SCE Federal Credit Union. Join this amazing group of fearless, fierce, kind female executives at LVChamber.com
LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JULY 2019 BUSINESS VOICE
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BUSINESS VOICE JULY 2019 LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Governor Steve Sisolak signs Senate Bill 543, The Pupil-Centered Funding Plan, into law.
It was the mid-1960s and the lure and excitement of Las Vegas continued to boom with both locals and intrigued tourists. On the Strip, significant changes occurred in 1966 when the Aladdin and Caesars Palace hotels and casinos opened. Then in 1967, Howard Hughes purchased the Desert Inn; Siegfried and Roy debuted at the Tropicana; and motorcycle stuntman Evel Knieval attempted and failed his famous jump over the fountains at Caesars Palace. As Las Vegas built its way into becoming an iconic city and the Silver State grew, there was much work occurring off the Strip that lent its hand in addressing the needs of the thousands of Nevada students: The Nevada Plan, a statewide, formula-based funding mechanism for public K-12 education. The Nevada Plan determines basic per� pupil support amount for each school district, which established a guaranteed level of funding based upon the demographic characteristics of each school district. However, as Nevada grew and its population diversified, the Nevada Plan remained the same and did not evolve to reflect the student population. As a result, the specific needs of students, such as English Language Learners, that require more money were not taken into consideration in the allocation of funds through the formula. Distributing K-12 funding to where it is needed most by students has long been a priority of the Las Vegas Metro Chamber, and finding an effective way to update the Nevada Plan funding formula has been an issue the Chamber has engaged In for many years. LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JULY 2019 BUSINESS VOICE
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“For years, the Las Vegas Chamber has been a leading advocate in Carson City on education reform measures to drive student achievement. We supported Senate Bill 543 because updating and modernizing the state’s K-12 education funding formula was an essential step in helping provide more resources for students in the Clark County School District,“ said Hugh Anderson, chairman of the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee. When the 80th Legislative Session commenced, there was a renewed determination to finally overhaul the Nevada Plan. State Senators Joyce Woodhouse and Mo Denis introduced SB 543, a pupil-centered funding plan. The bill modernizes the state’s 52-year-old Nevada Plan and provides for greater transparency to the education system. The new funding plan is student-centered and offers solutions to a diverse student population throughout the state. “From inception, it started back in 2014, when Senator Denis and I worked on a legislative study on the education funding formula,” said Senator Woodhouse, who has been a leader on education issues for several years. “The major effort was to determine what the weights should be for English Language Learner (ELL) students, special education students, and students who live at or below the poverty level.” In 2018, a study commissioned by the Legislature between legislative sessions, presented by Augenblick, Palaich and Associates, examined “the most efficient way that school funding formulas should operate,” as noted by Woodhouse. The Augenblick report recommended that students considered at-risk, ELL, and special education be supported with additional funding on top of the base funding. “I was a first-grade teacher in my first year when the Nevada Plan was devised in 1967, and our classrooms look very, very differently today than they did then,” said Woodhouse. “And that’s one of the big issues that needed to be addressed in the new funding formula was both the demographic and diversity of our student population in our schools across the state of Nevada and especially those in Southern Nevada.”
Chamber President and CEO Mary Beth Sewald interviews Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction Jhone Ebert and Applied Analysis Principal Jeremy Aguero on Like Nobody’s Business, the Chamber’s TV show.
Jeremy Aguero explains the intricacies of Senate Bill 543, the Pupil-Centered Funding Plan.
With those recommendations and the study results in-hand, and looking ahead to the 2019 Legislative Session, “That’s when Senator Denis and I said, ‘okay, the 2019 session is the one that we have to do this…’” added Woodhouse. Woodhouse and Denis began meeting with then-State Superintendent of Public Instruction Steve Canavero and chief financial officers from all school districts within the state to learn the technicalities of the Nevada Plan and the new plan and how they would work together to devise a new plan. Along with these critical meetings, Woodhouse collaborated with data experts and education advocates. Stakeholder meetings were organized that included the teachers union, the business community, school boards, district superintendents and others in both Northern and Southern Nevada. Woodhouse assembled a team of experts to create the bill, including Applied Analysis Principal Jeremy Aguero and new State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jhone Ebert. Additionally, Woodhouse noted that, “from the very beginning, we were including our legislative fiscal staff and our legal staff because we knew this was going to be a heavy lift, particularly in drafting the measure. Whatever formula we developed would have to be written into legal language and then be able to work.”
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BUSINESS VOICE JULY 2019 LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction Jhone Ebert shares her perspective on how Senate Bill 543, The Pupil-Centered Funding Plan.
Recognizing that the legislation in extensive, Aguero sums up the five key elements of SB 543 as follows: 1) Creation of the Nevada Education Fund (puts all state and local education funds into a single, separate account, creating transparency relative to education funding). 2) Creation of the Education Stability Account (ends the practice of reverting education dollars to the state’s general fund; ensures that any excess revenues are placed into a rainy-day fund for Nevada’s public schools). 3) Replaces the Nevada Plan with the Pupil-Centered Funding Plan (establishes base funding and the intent to keep base funding whole under normal economic circumstances; establishes weighted funding for special education, English Language Learners, students living at or near the poverty line, and gifted and talented students; and ensures that dollars distributed from the state to the districts, and from districts to schools, reflect the need profile of students).
4) Creates the Nevada Commission on School Funding (monitors implementation and provides guidance to school districts, the Nevada Department of Education, the Governor and the Legislature; makes recommendations under two scenarios: (i) current funding levels; (ii) optimal funding levels (adequacy); and promotes transparency, accountability and communication). 5) Increased Accountability (reporting at the Department, district and school level; ensures that dollars are following the students, as intended and ensures that schools are not being shortchanged in terms of base funding, e.g., long-term sub issue or in terms of weighted funding, e.g., students with similar needs profiles receiving very different resource allocations).
“The new plan puts students first when it comes to funding education by recognizing their differences, which is a condition precedent to getting all students the resources they need to be successful,” said Aguero. “The new funding formula also creates school funding formulas in the public arena, instead of behind closed doors. More broadly, SB 543 improves education funding transparency by making it clear to everyone what tax dollars are being spent on K-12 education and where those dollars are being allocated.” The Chamber supported this provision to bring more transparency to school funding in the benefit of the public. The purpose of SB 543 is to achieve equal educational opportunities student-to-student through a more-equitable allocation of funds from district-to-district. To that end, the bill has three aims:
• Simplify school finance by consolidating funding streams into a statewide education fund; • Augment base district funding using weights that recognize that the costs to prepare students are not uniform and should be student-centered; and • Improve transparency through an oversight commission of individuals with finance expertise.
LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JULY 2019 BUSINESS VOICE
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Jeremy Aguero/Applied Analysis, Mary Beth Sewald/Las Vegas Chamber and Jhone Ebert/Superintendent of Public Instruction share insights on Senate Bill 543 – the Pupil-Centered Funding Plan.
To simplify school funding, the new funding formula does not differentiate between “inside” or “outside” revenues. Instead, SB 543 calls for the creation of a State Education Fund, a central repository for school funds, which will be administered by the Nevada Department of Education. To augment base funding, the new formula is designed to acknowledge students with various levels of needs through the establishment of weights. Those categories include English Language Learners, Gifted and Talented Students, Special Education as well as At-Risk. The bill will replace a patchwork quilt of different funding schemes with a formula that provides funding to school districts that enroll students who face a steeper climb. To improve transparency, SB 543 calls for the creation of an 11-member body called the Commission on School Funding. The role of this Commission is to provide non-partisan and independent consultation to the Interim Legislative Committee on Education related to the implementation of the new funding formula. "Having a new funding formula is important, but a formula alone is not enough. Execution matters. For that reason, SB 543 provides a two-year runway for the new finance system to ramp up before it is fully implemented. During the two-year period leading up to July 1, 2021, the existing process for distributing funds to public schools will continue to operate as usual, while the new formula will run side-by-side," said Jhone Ebert, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. "During this period, key components and any needed modifications will be identified and established by the Commission on School Funding and the Department of Education, along with recommendations to the Governor and the 2021 Nevada Legislature for successful implementation starting on July 1, 2021. This twoyear run-up to implementation provides the time needed to finalize the formula that is at the heart of this bill." “It was difficult to do, but when you do the right thing, it’s the right thing to do,” said Senator Mo Denis. “With the passing of SB 543, it’s a new day for families, students and teachers, and a new day for education in Nevada.” The Las Vegas Chamber was a leading advocate of SB 543 and Instrumental in its passage. The Las Vegas Chamber, along with numerous community stakeholders, came together over the last several years to be catalysts for changing the formula. Additionally, the annual BE Engaged conference, led by former Chamber chairman and Bank of Nevada president and CEO John Guedry, paved the way for the business community uniting behind SB 543. The message these business and community leaders sent to Carson City was that ultimately K-12 funding should be allocated to drive student achievement. “Student success is vitally important to our business community. Students are our future workforce and we need them prepared to take on the challenges of current and future jobs,” said Mary Beth Sewald, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Chamber. “As the largest business association in Nevada, the Chamber had a responsibility to work collaboratively with lawmakers, business and community leaders, and other stakeholders to find a better way to allocate K-12 funding in order to drive student achievement. We could not let this opportunity pass without succeeding, and we are very proud that the Pupil-Centered Funding Plan passed this session.” Learn more about SB 543 at https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/80th2019/Bill/7052/Overview
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BUSINESS VOICE JULY 2019 LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
2019 END OF SESSION HIGHLIGHTS After 120 days, the Nevada Legislature adjourned its 2019 session on June 4. The Chamber was in Carson City full-time throughout the session, making sure your interests were represented daily. As the “Voice of Business”, the Chamber promoted legislation that helps businesses thrive and create jobs, and we stood up against policies that would increase the cost of doing business, harm job creation, and hinder economic prosperity for Nevada’s employers and their employees. Our focus was to ensure that legislation passed would not deter the hiring of Nevadans for good paying jobs. We also worked with policy makers to ensure that investments were made in Southern Nevada to help our region grow and thrive.
The Chamber’s job was to eliminate as many bad proposals as possible and mitigate provisions that would adversely impact business in bills that moved forward. With more than 1,100 bills introduced, the Chamber tracked 549 bills and testified on 130 bills. By end of session, the Chamber's Government Affairs team spent more than 2,500 hours at the Legislature protecting you. As the “Voice of Business”, the Chamber engaged daily with legislators, staff and administration officials to articulate and share the perspective of employers on business and education issues. The Chamber convened all of Nevada's business associations and trade organizations to speak with one unified voice. This effort by the Chamber meant Nevada's broad and diverse business community presented a unified and cohesive front on the critical, important business issues. The Chamber also made the commitment to keep you informed on the latest activity in Carson City that impacts you and your business. Your engagement also helped us move Southern Nevada forward by passing key Southern Nevada Forum priorities, such as construction for the College of Southern Nevada and Nevada State College Health Sciences Building and for the Nevada State College Education Building. These initiatives will help train more healthcare workers and educators, which will address workforce needs in the education and healthcare sectors and bolster economic growth and stability. We also helped secure funding for the new UNLV new engineering building. The Chamber also helped pass a new modernized funding formula for K-12 education that will allocate more funding to Clark County School District. These investments will help Southern Nevada grow, prosper and compete in a global economy. While the 2019 Legislature has concluded, the Chamber's primary role of protecting and advocating for you, our members continues. Advocating for legislation that will foster economic growth and working to stop bad policies that will hinder job creation and economic vitality in Nevada. Listed are several bills that the Chamber engaged on during the legislative session. The Chamber’s full legislative end of session report was released on June 30, 2019 and is on the Chamber website at LVChamber.com Check it out for the comprehensive list of bills that the Metro Chamber engaged on behalf of its members. LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JULY 2019 BUSINESS VOICE
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EDUCATION
Assembly Bill 289: Revises provisions relating to the subject area of reading Legislative Summary: AB 289, as originally written, would have changed provisions of the Read By 3 education program, which requires third-grade students to be able to read at a specified level of proficiency or potentially be held back a year. The Metro Chamber was initially opposed to AB 289, as the Metro Chamber supported the original education reform measure passed in 2015 and as well as certain accountability measures tied to education dollars and programs. However, AB 289 was amended to focus on support services for underperforming students and additional remedial measures that can be taken in conjunction with parents before students can be held back. The Metro Chamber removed its opposition from the bill based on the adopted amendments. Primary Bill Sponsor: Assemblyman Tyrone Thompson Position: Concerns Mitigated Assembly Vote: Yeas: 28, Nays: 11, Excused: 2, Vacant: 1 Senate Vote: Yeas: 17, Nays: 4 Final Action: Bill signed into law by the Governor.
Assembly Bill 541: Revises provisions relating to the subject area of reading Legislative Summary: AB 541 is the biennium bill that funds capital improvements throughout the state such as advance planning, construction and modernization of facilities that are owned and managed by the state. This bill specifically provides for the construction of the Nevada State College Education Building at $55.8 million and College of Southern Nevada/Nevada State College Health Sciences Building at $70.7 million. The Metro Chamber supported this bill as the construction of those academic buildings are important to addressing the shortages of teachers and healthcare workers in Southern Nevada. This bill was also a priority of the Southern Nevada Forum. Primary Bill Sponsor: Assembly Committee on Ways and Means Position: : Support Assembly Vote: : Yeas: 41, Nays: 0, Vacant: 1 Senate Vote: Yeas: 21, Nays: 0 Final Action: Bill signed into law by the Governor.
Assembly Joint Resolution 5*: Amends the Nevada Constitution Regarding Higher Education Legislative Summary: The Metro Chamber is supportive of AJR 5 as part of the organization's long-standing priorities relating to higher education reform. This resolution provides greater clarity between the Board of Regents and the State Legislature by amending the Nevada State Constitution. The Metro Chamber believes that the passage of AJR 5 is an important component to reforming the state’s higher education governance structure and its alignment to meeting the needs of today’s students and employers. Primary Bill Sponsor: Senator Joyce Woodhouse Position: Support Assembly Vote: Yeas: 36, Nays: 5, Excused: 1 Senate Vote: Yeas: 20, Nays: 0, Excused: 1 Final Action: Delivered to the Secretary of State. This resolution will be up for a vote of the people in November 2020 since it is a proposed change to the State’s Constitution. HEALTHCARE
Senate Bill 192: Provisions relating to minimum wage and healthcare Legislative Summary: SB 192 would require in order for employers to be eligible to pay the minimum hourly wage rate of $7.25 that healthcare plans that offer must at a minimum standard provide a list of benefits, which would be tied to the federal Essential Health Benefits. If the healthcare plan does not meet the required benefits, then the employer must pay the higher rate of $8.25 an hour.The bill also creates Office of the Ombudsman for Hospital Patients. The Chamber originally opposed the bill strictly relating to section one of the bill because of the concerns of tying the minimum wage rate to the Essential Health Benefits list and suggested that the benefits be linked to the list of benefits found in NRS 689B as it will provide greater flexibility to Nevada’s Division of Insurance and employers, however, based on a technical mandate regarding the required benefits that would need to offered, the Chamber removed its opposition. Primary Bill Sponsor: Senator Pat Spearman Position: Concerns Mitigated Assembly Vote: Yeas: 36, Nays: 3, Excused: 2, Vacant: 1 Senate Vote: Yeas: 21, Nays: 0 Final Action: Bill signed into law by the Governor.
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Assembly Bill 251: Expands the number of employers subject to provisions prohibiting certain unlawful employment practices Legislative Summary: AB 251 would have changed existing state law regarding microbusinesses in Nevada. Existing state law prohibits an employer from engaging in various unlawful employment practices that result in discrimination which currently applies to businesses with 15 or more employees. AB 251 would have lowered that threshold to five employees or less while federal law is established at 15 employees. The Metro Chamber opposed the bill because it would have created a bifurcated regulatory system in which a microbusiness in Nevada would have been in compliance with federal law but not with state law. The Metro Chamber believes that existing state law of 15 employees or less is appropriate due to the size of these microbusinesses and the limited resources that they have. All businesses want stability, predictability, conformity and alignment when it comes to government regulations and laws. This change would have brought confusion to microbusinesses in Nevada. Primary Bill Sponsor: Assemblywoman Michelle Gorelow Position: Oppose Assembly Vote: No vote taken by the Assembly. Senate Vote: No vote taken by the Senate. Final Action: The bill failed because there was no vote taken by the Assembly Committee on Commerce and Labor. As a result, the bill received no further consideration during the legislative session. Assembly Bill 421: Revises provisions relating to construction Legislative Summary: The original version of AB 421 would have repealed many components of the residential construction defect reform provisions that were adopted by the State Legislature in 2015. Current laws allow home builders and homeowners to address construction issues in a timely and effective manner. However, the bill was amended to include several components such as detailed notices, removal of an expert who provided an opinion on the construction defect to be present at an inspection and changes the terms from a “home warranty” to a “builder warranty”. The bill also proposed changing the period from six years to 10 years in which a homeowner can seek improvements from the homebuilder on their home. The Metro Chamber opposed the original bill because the provisions would have increased the cost of home prices and hinder the affordability of homes for many Nevadans across the state, especially in Reno and Las Vegas, where the average home prices have been increasing the last several years. However, a compromise was reached by the homebuilding industry and as a result the Metro Chamber removed its opposition to the modified version of the bill. Primary Bill Sponsor: Assembly Committee on Judiciary Position: Concerns Mitigated Assembly Vote: Yeas: 27, Nays: 13, Excused: 2 Senate Vote: Yeas: 20, Nays: 0, Excused: 1 Final Action: Bill signed into law by the Governor.
Assembly Joint Resolution 10: Proposes to amend the Nevada Constitution to prospectively increase the required minimum wage paid to employees
Legislative Summary: AJR 10 proposes to amend the Nevada Constitution to increase the minimum wage LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JULY 2019 BUSINESS VOICE
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to $12 per hour beginning July 1, 2024. The resolution would also allow the legislature to establish by law a minimum wage that an employer must pay to each employee. The resolution would eliminate the $1 healthcare credit that currently exists in the constitution. The Metro Chamber opposed this resolution because of a variety of concerns including the increased costs to employers and the potential negative impact on job creation, as well as job losses. Primary Bill Sponsor: Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor Position: Opposed Assembly Vote: Yeas: 28, Nays: 12, Excused: 1, Vacant: 1 Senate Vote: Yeas: 12, Nays: 8, Excused: 1 Final Action: Delivered to the Secretary of State. This resolution must be passed a second time by the Legislature in 2021 before it can go to the vote of the people in November 2022 since it is a proposed change to the State’s Constitution.
Senate Bill 493: Creates the Task Force on Employee Misclassification Legislative Summary: SB 493 defines “employee misclassification” as the practice by an employer of improperly classifying employees as independent contractors to avoid any legal obligation under state labor, employment and tax laws. The bill also creates the Task Force on Employee Misclassification; the bill also lays out the duties of the taskforce and makes other changes relating to employee misclassification; and providing an administrative penalty. While the Metro Chamber does not disagree with the bill as originally written, it has since been amended. The Metro Chamber originally opposed the bill as the language was broad in its definition of independent contractor, the excessive and punitive fees and treble damages that were part of the bill. However, the definition of an independent contractor was significantly narrowed, and the fines were lowered to be in line with existing fine structures and the treble damages and attorney’s fees were removed. Primary Bill Sponsor: Senator Marilyn Dondero-Loop Position: Concerns Mitigated Assembly Vote: Yeas: 30, Nays: 11, Vacant: 1 Senate Vote: Yeas: 12, Nays: 8, Excused: 1 Final Action: Bill signed into law by the Governor.
Assembly Bill 224: Revises provisions to the NV Grow Program Legislative Summary: AB 224 makes changes to the NV Grow Program, which is designed to help Nevada’s businesses grow by providing incentives. The bill transfers the responsibilities to the Division of Workforce and Economic Development of the College of Southern Nevada. The Metro Chamber supported the bill since the NV Grow Program is designed to help small businesses prosper by providing local demographic and industry data to business owners. Primary Bill Sponsor: Assemblywoman Dina Neal Position: Support Assembly Vote: Yeas: 39, Nays: 1, Excused: 1, Vacant: 1 Senate Vote: Yeas: 19, Nays: 2 Final Action: Bill signed into law by the Governor.
Assembly Bill 413: Revises provisions relating to local governments Legislative Summary: AB 413 strengthens provisions to current law governing Business Impact Statements relating to local government decisions. Local governments are currently required to consider whether proposed rules impose a direct or significant economic burden on affected businesses and if so, they are to prepare a Business Impact Statement to be considered by the body prior to adoption of new rules. AB 413 strengthens this provision by rendering rules adopted by local governments void if adopted without consideration of a Business Impact Statement. The Metro Chamber supported AB 413 and its increased protections of small businesses. Primary Bill Sponsor: Assembly Committee on Government Affairs Position: Support Assembly Vote: Yeas: 41, Nays: 0, Excused: 1 Senate Vote: Yeas: 21, Nays: 0 Final Action: Bill signed into law by the Governor.
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BUSINESS VOICE JULY 2019 LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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Be a part of Nevada's largest Fly-in to Washington, D.C! Southern Nevada leaders travel to Capitol Hill from Sept. 8 to 13 to meet with Nevada’s Congressional federal policy makers advance policies Be a partmembers, of it! Southern Nevada leaders and travel to Capitol Hill critical from to the future of13 our Sept. 8 to tostate. meet with Nevada’s Congressional members and
advance policies critical to the future of our state.
Don’t miss our co-hosted Nevada State Dinner Gala, an annual black-tie affair, at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. on Monday, Sept. 9.
Don’t miss our co-hosted Nevada State Dinner Gala, an annual black-tie affair, at the Willard Hotel in D.C. on Monday, Sept. 9.
REGISTER NOW OR BECOME A MEMBER AT LVCHAMBER.COM OR CALL 702.641.5822.
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BUSINESS VOICE JULY 2019 LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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Assembly Bill 489: Revises provisions relating to grants Legislative Summary: AB 489 establishes a fund under the Office of Grant Procurement for the purpose of allocating funds for federal grants requiring a State matching contribution. AB 489 also specifies that appropriations from this fund be used to secure grants with a federal dollar match, ensuring that the State sees a measurable return on invested monies. The Metro Chamber supported AB 489 as it dramatically expands that State’s ability to leverage tax money to secure federal grant dollars for a variety of projects desperately needed to improve infrastructure and keep pace with continued growth. Primary Bill Sponsor: Assembly Committee on Government Affairs Position: Support Assembly Vote: Yeas: 40, Nays: 0, Excused: 1, Vacant: 1 Senate Vote: Yeas: 21, Nays: 0 Final Action: Bill signed into law by the Governor.
Senate Bill 426: Revises provisions related to transportation Legislative Summary: SB 426 would provide the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada the flexibility to ensure that they are developing a comprehensive and feasible mobility plan. The original provisions of the law are set to expire on December 31, 2020, but this bill would extend that deadline until 2024. The Metro Chamber supported the bill as it will allow the RTCSN to develop a bill that best represents the transportation needs of residents of Southern Nevada. Primary Bill Sponsor: Committee on Growth and Infrastructure. Primary Bill Sponsor: Committee on Growth and Infrastructure Position: Support Assembly Vote: 40, Nays: 0, Excused: 1, Vacant: 1 Senate Vote: Yeas: 21, Nays: 0 Final Action: Bill signed into law by the Governor.
Assembly Bill 538: Revises provisions governing certain taxes
Legislative Summary: AB 538, as proposed, would eliminate the scheduled reduction of the Modified Business Tax (MBT) rate for Nevada’s businesses. The Metro Chamber opposed the legislation as it was part of the overall tax compromise plan that was adopted by the legislature in 2015 that businesses would see a reduction in the MBT. Primary Bill Sponsor: Assembly Committee on Ways and Means Position: Oppose Assembly Vote: Yeas: 27, Nays: 12, Excused: 2, Vacant: 1 Senate Vote: No vote taken by the Senate. Final Action: The bill failed because the Assembly rescinded the action of passage. As a result, the bill received no further consideration during the legislative session.
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What’s Happening PLACES TO BE. PEOPLE TO MEET. THINGS TO KNOW. IN JULY. July Sponsors:
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Become a better speaker and a more effective presenter by joining Chamber Voices Toastmasters. Open to all members. 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce 575 Symphony Park Ave., Suite 100 Cost: $63 every six months. Guests always complimentary.
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Electra Cocktail Club inside The Palazzo 3325 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Cost: $20 LLV Alumni. Contact Cara Clarke at cara@leadership.vegas for more information.
TUESDAY, JULY 2 CHAMBER VOICES TOASTMASTERS
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Come help VYP serve our community in this meaningful way! The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas is to provide a supportive "home-away-fromhome" for families and children who are receiving inpatient or outpatient medical treatment at local hospitals. Families are stronger when they are together, and their presence helps an ill child heal. 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas 2323 Potosi St. This event has strict regulations that must be communicated prior to you participating. If you would like to participate, please register then contact Cara Clarke cara@leadership.vegas Sponsors: Station Casinos, IBM
TUESDAY, JULY 2 CHAMBER CONNECTIONS Chamber Connections is a dedicated leads group comprised of professionals from a variety of industries. This is a place for professionals to grow their network and their businesses by sharing contacts, referrals and ideas. 5:30 – 7p.m. Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce 575 Symphony Park Ave., Suite 100 Cost: Contact agoldberg@lvchamber.com or call 702.205.5492 for space availability and cost.
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THURSDAY, JULY 11 VYP COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS: ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT SECTORS With world-class shows and some of the most exclusive attractions in the world, its no wonder Las Vegas is known as the entertainment capital of the world. Join VYP for a Community Conversations panel where we discuss the Arts & Entertainment sector state-wide, the economic impact it has on our region as well as how the industry stays fresh in a transient town. 8 – 9:30 a.m. Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce 575 Symphony Park Ave., Suite 100 Cost: $ $15 VYP+ Member, $20 VYP General Member, $25 Day Of Please contact Nicole Lovato at 702.586.3825 or email nicole@ leadership.vegas with any questions
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THURSDAY, JULY 11 LEADERSHIP LAS VEGAS (LLV) ALUMNI SIMSOC SHAKE-OFF MIXER You already know which class is the best (yours, of course), but do you know which LLV color is the best? Don't miss the SIMSOC Shake Off and cheer on your favorite SIMSOC color in a friendly cocktail competition. Each SIMSOC color - red, green, yellow, and blue - will have an alumni representative who will work with a mixologist to develop a cocktail representative of the color. At the event, alumni will have the opportunity to vote on which cocktail best captures the spirit of its SIMSOC color. 6 – 8 p.m.
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SATURDAY, JULY 13 VYP COMMUNITY OUTREACH: RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF GREATER LAS VEGAS
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TUESDAY, JULY 16 CHAMBER CONNECTIONS See July 2
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TUESDAY, JULY 16 CHAMBER VOICES TOASTMASTERS See July 2
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THURSDAY, JULY 25 VYP+ EXCURSION: SUSHI & SAKE Join us for the second VYP+ Excursion of 2019 at Benihana for a Sushi and Sake 101 class. Learn how sushi is made, the interplay of ingredients and the artistic presentation, as well as sake, its subtle taste, aromas, and how it accentuates the flavors of the foods it compliments. 6 – 8 p.m. Benihana Las Vegas 3200 Las Vegas Blvd., Ste. 1250 Cost: $30 VYP+ Members Sponsor: Station Casinos, IBM
Visit LVChamber.com and click on the Events Calendar to register. BUSINESS VOICE JULY 2019 LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Call 702.641.5822.
BOARD OF TRUSTEE
SPOTLIGHTS RYAN WOODWARD CFO, National Technical Institute
Use one word to describe your leadership style. Calm
What books have you read recently? "Extreme Ownership" by Jocko Willink "Keepers of the Light" by Bob Gay
If you had to be shipwrecked on a deserted island, but all your human needs—such as food and water— were taken care of, what two items would you want to have with you? My scriptures and my wife (though she’s not an item) – both of them keep me focused on what’s most important in life.
What is your #1 tip in dealing with a “Negative Nelly” in a workplace? Sit down with them and take the time to understand how they see the world so you can gain some context to their negativity. I haven’t necessarily confronted them directly about it unless it’s causing real issues on the team. It isn’t always easy to do this, but if you can try to “put yourself in their shoes,” you can find ways to help them see the positive.
What behavior or personality trait do you most attribute your success to, and why? I’m curious by nature, so I’m constantly seeking to understand things. I try to see things from others’ perspectives and then I try to ask questions to help me understand the gaps between what they’re saying/doing and my own expectations.
HUGH ANDERSON
Managing Partner, Director, HighTower Las Vegas
Use one word to describe your leadership style. Direct!
What books or magazines have you read recently? "Master of the Senate" "A Gentleman in Moscow" "An American Sickness" "Mastering the Market Cycle" Forbes Magazine Scientific American Magazine
Which organizations outside your own do you admire the most and why? Any organization that focuses on the needs of those in need; Opportunity Village, Catholic Charities, Foundation for Independent Tomorrow, Shade Tree, Make-a-Wish, Mission High School
What’s your go-to productivity trick? Get up earlier than the next person.
If you could write a book about your life, what would the title be and why? Why not? I know the best is always yet to come.
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Committee Corner MEET OUR CHAMBER AMBASSADORS
LORI ALGIERI LEGAL SHIELD
MIKE CARTER CARTER INVESTMENT SERVICES
olunteers are one of our most valuable resources at the Las Vegas Metro Chamber in contributing to our work of helping Nevada businesses succeed. These members are an invaluable part of our efforts to support, connect and guide fellow members on how to best utilize and maximize Metro Chamber membership. Get more acquainted with our fantastic volunteers.
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Ambassadors are a group of experienced Chamber members who help new members acclimate to their membership and introduce them to the various benefits of belonging to the Chamber. Ambassadors host the Chamber’s Business After Hours, a membership networking opportunity available to all levels of Chamber members. Ambassadors are long-term members. Their tenure as members has provided them with opportunities to promote their businesses, as owners and employees of both large and small businesses, while building a community of diverse professionals to support the growth of their initiatives. Their experience has made them incredible resources on how to utilize Chamber benefits.
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You may have also shared in the celebration during a Chamber event when we recognized outstanding Ambassadors each quarter. We award Ambassador’s based on their level of engagement. They understand the true value from the Chamber membership is equal to the effort they put in. Through prioritizing in-person relationship building, they have found success in maximizing their Chamber benefits. Now that you know a little bit more about this incredible group of members, we hope you will take a moment to connect with them at an upcoming event. For more information regarding Chamber Ambassadors, contact the Membership department at 702.641.5822.
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President’s Club (B) Jonas Peterson President & CEO – Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance Jonas Peterson serves as President and CEO of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA). In that role, he leads a talented team focused on strengthening the regional economy and positioning LVGEA as a national leader in community and economic development. Since its launch in 2012, [LVGEA has more than doubled in size to become one of the largest nonprofit business associations in Nevada.] During that time, LVGEA has helped over 200 companies create more than 20,000 jobs and deliver $12 billion in economic impact throughout Southern Nevada.
(A) Paul Stowell Senior VP, Chief Market Strategist – City National Bank Paul Stowell is the Nevada Regional Executive, Marketing and PR Manager for City National Bank. He has a BA in broadcast journalism from BYU and was recognized in 2013 as “Business Person of the Year” by Nevada’s Future Business Leaders of America. He is an advisory board member of Touro University, an HSB advisory council member for West Career and Technical Academy, and a board member of the Nevada Museum of Art. He serves with the Boy Scouts, the Nevada Corporate Giving Counsel, Three Square, and the Assistance League of Las Vegas.
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B (D) Damon Schilling Manager, Government Affairs – AMR/Medic West Las Vegas Damon Schilling is Manager of Government Affairs for American Medical Response (AMR) / MedicWest Las Vegas. A Las Vegas native, he began his career at Southwest Ambulance in 2003. He worked in the dispatch center while attending paramedic school, completing his internship in 2007. Since then, Damon has held various roles within the organization. Damon served as the Community Relations Coordinator for AMR and MedicWest prior to his current position. Damon is a graduate from Nevada State College with a BA in Business Administration.
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(C) Julie Raye Founder & Visionary – The Grace Law Firm Julie Raye is the Founder and Visionary of Grace Law, a legal advocacy firm for women. With over a decade of experience, Julie focuses her practice in Family Law, Personal Injury, Business, and Criminal Defense. She is the founder of Grace & Justice, a non-profit community development corporation that ensures equal access to justice for women and those they love through legal advice and representation. Grace & Justice offers free legal services, programs, and organized activities that educate, support and help protect women who cannot afford an attorney.
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Spotlights (E) Christine Zack President/CEO – Easterseals Nevada Christine Zack joined Easterseals Nevada (ESN) as its President, CEO in December. She oversees the statewide healthcare and human services non-profit therapy clinics in Las Vegas and Reno and in the home through ESN’s Early Intervention Program. She oversees Adult Enrichment Services facilities in the Las Vegas Valley and statewide capability enhancement and assistive technology services. She is Adjunct Faculty at UNLV, a Board Trustee for The Shade Tree and a Board Director for the Nevada Public Employees’ Benefits Program. She is a graduate of Tulane Law School and Dickinson College.
(F) Jeff Grace Senior Account Executive - Gartner Jeff Grace is a former IT professional and CEO. He founded NetEffect in 2002 and grew it to one of the leading IT companies in Southern NV. After selling his interest in NetEffect, he joined Gartner to follow his passion for helping senior leaders make the most of their IT spend. Gartner is a member of the S&P 500 and provides data driven insights, advice, and tools to help organizations lead, succeed, and win. Jeff is a member the Board of Trustees of the Las Vegas Metro Chamber.
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(G) Paolo Tiramani CEO – 500 Group Paolo Tiramani is CEO of 500 Group, an intellectual property investment and development company with diverse holding in traditional, digital and intellectual assets. 500 Group focuses on new technologies which can be protected by patents. In 2017 500 Group moved operations to Nevada for its superior tax and business climate. 500 Group investments in Nevada include: The Paolo Tiramani Foundation; Supercar System, a powersports recreational product operated out of its 20,000 sq. ft facility at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway; and Boxabl, a revolutionary construction technology slated for factory production in Apex or similar.
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(H) Chris Way VP, General Manager – KTNV-TV, 13 Action News Chris Way is VP/General Manager of KTNV-TV, 13 Action News, an E.W. Scripps company. He oversees all business and operations activities of Las Vegas' ABC affiliate. Chris returned to Las Vegas two years ago after a short stint as General Manager at KMTV-TV in Omaha, Nebraska. Previously, he worked at KLAS-TV for eight years. Chris serves on community boards and committees including the United Way of Southern Nevada, the Nellis Support Team, Honor Flight of Southern Nevada, Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada, and the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Foundation.
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Chamber Helps Pass Landmark Education Funding Plan
The Las Vegas Chamber Showcases Top Leaders in Nevada Episodes Air the First Sunday and Various Times/Days Each Month Time: 4 p.m. PST | Channel: Cox Yurview LV 14 and 1014 View archived episodes at youtube.com/lasvegaschamber Presenting Sponsor:
Location Sponsor:
LVChamber.com | 702.641.5822
| @LVChamber
ACCESS HELPS EXECUTIVES NEW TO VEGAS GET UP-TO-SPEED ON REGION
re you an executive new to Las Vegas? Do you have new top-level employees who need to quickly understand how Southern Nevada works? Then Access Las Vegas is the perfect program for you. Access Las Vegas, slated for Tuesday, Oct. 22 and Tuesday, Oct. 29, is a two-day program specifically tailored for senior-level executives who are new to Las Vegas, recently promoted, or who want to quickly gain a deeper understanding of the community. The program gives participants the opportunity to learn about our unique community and be knowledgeable on how Las Vegas works, develop a better perspective of the many aspects of the region, and gain insight into the challenges and opportunities for a strong future.
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Through Access Las Vegas, executives will: • Learn about the economy, industry sectors, and the most critical issues facing our community • Gain insights on a wide-range of topics, including workforce, education, infrastructure, economic development, and the arts • Understand the history of the region, its governance, and milestones
• Hear how Las Vegas is addressing its challenges and capitalizing on innovation and opportunities • Meet community leaders and make connections to activate your personal network • Build relationships with fellow class members
Past speakers include Jeremy Aguero, Applied Analysis; Superintendent Dr. Jesus Jara; Chancellor Thom Reilly; Dr. Robert Lang, Brookings Mountain West; Myron Martin, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts; Dr. Michael Green, UNLV; Dr. Christopher Stream, UNLV; Tina Quigley, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada; Kevin Bagger, LVCVA; and Mary Beth Sewald, Las Vegas Metro Chamber. Additionally, there will be a behind-the-scenes tour and a cocktail reception where you can meet business and community leaders. Access Las Vegas is a program of the Leadership Foundation of Greater Las Vegas, a non-profit organization affiliated with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. The program is $1,750 for Las Vegas Chamber members and $1,950 for non-members. For more information or to register, go to Leadership.Vegas and click on the Access program. You may also contact Cara Clarke at cara@leadership.vegas.
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Member News RED - PRESIDENT’S CLUB MEMBER
Announcements Nevada’s acclaimed water park, Wet’n’Wild Las Vegas kicks off the summer season with the start of its weekend series, beginning now through Aug. 17. All summer long, guests will enjoy children’s story time, dive-in movies, foam parties, DJs, food and Wet’n’Wild’s iconic slides and attractions. Wet’n’Wild Las Vegas is now open for daily operations. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit https://bit.ly/30KD6Bw. Award-winning and newly opened Galaxy Theatres Boulevard, located at the Boulevard Mall, is the first all-laser projection theatre in Nevada and home to the first Sony Digital Cinema™ in the world. Galaxy Theatres is offering Kid’s Summerfest through Aug. 26. Tickets are $2 per person for select movies all summer long. Kid’s Summerfest movies include “Despicable Me,” “Curious George,” “The Secret Life of Pets,” “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” and more. During Kid’s Summerfest, value packs are available for only $3, regularly priced at $6.75. The value pack includes a small popcorn, candy and small soda. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, online or on the Galaxy Theatres mobile app. Details at https://www.galaxytheatres.com/ Locations/20
Community Service
Easterseals Nevada, an innovative healthcare and human services non-profit, held its inaugural Children’s Fashion
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Show and Luncheon fundraiser. More than 40 children, many from the Early Intervention Program, walked the runway in apparel provided by Dillard’s. All proceeds supported Easterseals Nevada’s Children’s Programs. Lois Tarkanian was presented with the Lois Tarkanian Humanitarian Award for her continued support of the programs. Learn more at https://www. eastersealsnv.org/ Raising Cane's Founder and CEO Todd Graves joined the Vegas Golden Knights Chief Marketing Officer Brian Killingsworth for a special presentation in Vegas. Together, they donated more than $1 million to local charities as the result of the 51/49 raffle which took place during regular season.
Congratulations Nathan Adelson Hospice announced that Universal Health Services Regional Vice President and Las Vegas Chamber Board of Trustee Karla Perez has joined the Board of Trustees of Nathan Adelson Hospice. For more than 35 years, Perez has worked in the Las Vegas community, responsible for a variety of roles ranging from business development to overall hospital operations. In her current position, she oversees the operations of Spring Valley, Summerlin, Desert Springs, Valley, Centennial Hills and Henderson Hospital Medical Centers in Las Vegas, Desert View Hospital in Pahrump, and Northern Nevada Medical Center in Sparks, Nevada. For more information, visit https:// www.nah.org/
Let’s meet to discuss your next event, meeting or conference.
Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that John Krieger, member in the Las Vegas office, has been named to the National Law Journal’s list of Technology Law Trailblazers. The National Law Journal recognizes professionals who have moved the needle in the legal industry. Krieger works with numerous clients who have a presence on the Internet, assisting them with emerging legal issues and counseling businesses on the nuances of technology law. Additionally, Dickinson Wright PLLC also announced that the firm has received five practice rankings and three attorneys in Nevada have been ranked in this year’s The Legal 500 United States 2019. Details at https://www. dickinson-wright.com/our-firm/locations/las-vegas-sunset Desert Companion, the monthly premier city magazine produced by Nevada Public Radio, recently earned three trophies, representing the best in publishing and media. The Southern Nevada publication was awarded three MAGGIE Awards during the 67th Annual MAGGIE Ceremony held May 3 in Los Angeles. Touted as the longest reigning publishing awards program in the United States, The MAGGIE Awards recognize professionals from across the globe for excellence in more than 120 editorial, design, promotional and event categories. Learn more at https://knpr.org/desert-companion Vegas PBS is pleased to announce four of its locally-produced programs have been named winners of five total awards in the 40th Annual Telly Awards, including gold for original documentary “The Power of Love,” which explores brain health in Nevada and features the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, and another gold for editing on “Remembering Vietnam: Las Vegas Veterans”. The Telly Awards honors excellence in video and television across all screens and is judged by leaders from video platforms, television, streaming networks, and production companies including Vice, Vimeo, Hearst Digital Media, BuzzFeed, and A&E Networks. For information, visit https://www.vegaspbs.org/
The Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce is proud to provide members with a place to publish their current announcements as a benefit of membership. Email news items to pr@lvchamber.com.
Contact Bernadette Anthony at 702-386-2403 Bernadette.Anthony@plazahotelcasino.com
LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JULY 2019 BUSINESS VOICE 1 Main Street · Downtown Las Vegas · PlazaHotelCasino.com · 800-634-6575 · #PlazaLV
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Ribbon Cuttings PC - President’s Club
$ - Chamber Member Discount
PAM REHABILITATION HOSPITAL PAM Rehabilitation Hospital is an acute rehab hospital with 44 private rooms and a state-of-the-art gym with specialized therapists that focus on returning patients to their highest level of independence after a traumatic event or illness.
BOTTEGA EXCHANGE Bottega Exchange is a co-working space that combines the beauty of a coffee shop with the convenience of a professional office, a network that encourages community over competition and a place to mentor and grow your business.
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION University of Nevada Cooperative Extension announces the grand opening of the A.D. Guy Knowledge Center, which provides families with education opportunities in STEM, school readiness, nutrition, 4-H, coding, entrepreneurship and more. For more information, visit www.unice.unr.edu.
YOUNG LAW GROUP Young Law Group is a law firm that takes a holistic approach to serving clients and focuses on Estate Planning (wills, trust, POA’s, heath care directives), kids protection planning (guardianship), business (start-up’s, contracts, general counsel, disputes), and personal injury.
PAWS FESTIVAL Paws Festival is a family friendly and pet friendly festival with about 60 vendors and local animal charities and rescue organizations. They have an adoption fair, food trucks, live music and more.
ALPHAGRAPHICS Jeff Bailey brings nearly two decades of expert marketing strategy – through a consultative approach of delivering marketing communication services. AlphaGraphics is a trusted community partner for print and sign marketing services for organizations of all sizes. Visit us at alphagraphics.com
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BUSINESS VOICE JULY 2019 LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
To arrange your ribbon cutting, email ribboncutting@lvchamber.com
Business Excellence Awards Nominations Open Aug. 1 to 31 How does your business embrace creativity and innovation? Do you have an amazing company culture or meaningful corporate giving program?
SPONSORED BY:
If so, the Las Vegas Chamber wants to hear from you! We are looking for nominees for the annual Business Excellence Awards (BEA) program, and they can be from any size business, from a sole proprietor to several hundred employees, nominees must be members in good standing of the Las Vegas Chamber. Members can self-nominate or nominate another business. Nominations for the BEA program will be accepted from August 1 to 31. The Business Excellence Awards program, sponsored exclusively by Nevada State Bank, is a terrific way to recognize businesses that go above-and-beyond for their employees, customers, and our community. To nominate, visit LVChamber. com and tell us why the business deserves to be recognized. Video nominations (no longer than 60 seconds) will be accepted and are encouraged. Nominated businesses will be invited to a special recognition reception on October 16, where winners will then be announced in each of the following categories: Game Changer, Global Benefactor, Legendary Leader and Magical Team. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase the best businesses in the region.
AMERICA FIRST CREDIT UNION America First Credit Union opened its newest location on South Rainbow. As the sixth largest credit union in the nation, America First continues to provide its members with the highest standard of customer service in its 80-year history. Learn more at americafirst.com. Photo Credit: Matt Paddock
STATE VAN RENTAL State Van Rental specializes in passenger and cargo van rentals. Founded in 2009, it is the favored choice for families, travelers, sports teams, churches and corporate groups. They excel in customizing the rental experience to fit the needs of their renters.
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LUNCH WITH THE SHERIFF
This July, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Foundation will host its fourth annual Lunch with the Sheriff at Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa. This annual fundraiser provides the Sheriff an opportunity to address attendees regarding current LVMPD and LVMPD Foundation initiatives and plans for the future. This exclusive event featuring Sheriff Joe Lombardo will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24. “Every year, this luncheon is a great opportunity to hear about new and upcoming initiatives within LVMPD,” said Tom Kovach, executive director of the LVMPD Foundation. “We are excited to bring this popular event to a larger venue where we can expand the scope to interactively showcase our initiatives and provide more people with the opportunity to attend.” For the first time, this year’s luncheon will feature equipment and technology exhibits from multiple law enforcement units within LVMPD and will provide an exciting and interactive experience for the attendees to meet with officers and learn more about their latest advancements in public safety. This event has been designed to continue to develop stronger relationships between the community and officers, allowing participants to get to know their LVMPD heroes in uniform and learn more about how they work to keep the community safe each and every day. “We take great pride in hosting Lunch with the Sheriff each year because it allows us to connect LVMPD with community and business leaders and the general public in a productive and informative way,” said Kovach. “The LVMPD Foundation is leading efforts to bring a new, state-of-the-art Reality Based Training Center to Southern Nevada and we look forward to updating attendees on the status of this important project, which will provide critical, life-saving training to local, state and national law enforcement officers and first responders.”
THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2019 | 11:30AM
RED ROCK RESORT & SPA 11011 W. Charleston Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89135
The LVMPD Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1999 tasked with raising funds to support and supplement LVMPD efforts to make Southern Nevada a safer place to live, work and visit. The Foundation supports a diverse array of initiatives, including updating equipment and technology for the Department, advanced officer training, supporting the families of fallen officers, providing higher education scholarships for children of officers, Every 15 Minutes and Bolden Little League. In addition to Lunch with the Sheriff, the Foundation also hosts a myriad of community engagement and public safety programs and events. These events include Santa Cops, Wonder Women of Metro and the Good Ticket program.
To purchase tickets or a table for Lunch with the Sheriff, please visit lvmpdfoundation.org. Limited sponsorship opportunities are still available. If you’re interested in sponsoring the 2019 Lunch with the Sheriff, please contact Latoya Holman at lholman@lvmpdfoundation.org or call 702.983.7369. To stay up-to-date with the Foundation’s events and programs, visit lvmpdfoundation.org or find them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @lvmpdfoundation. LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JULY 2019 BUSINESS VOICE
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BUSINESS VOICE JULY 2019 LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! PRESIDENT'S CLUB: Allies
Renown Institute for Health Innovation
alliesusa.com
healthynv.org
First Legal
Rice Reuther Sullivan & Carroll
firstlegal.com
rrsc-law.com
Gartner
The Grace Law Firm
gartner.com
Thegracelawfirm.com
National Technical Institute
The Renaissance Companies renaissancecompanies.com
ntitraining.com
Nevada Military Support Alliance nvmilitarysupport.org
7-Eleven #24823 A Simple Affair AAA NCNV Alignology All Tune and Lube Americana Financial Group Amervis & Associates Angelina's Pizzeria's and Italian Kitchens Arcade City Food & Fun Ben Kermani MD LTD Beninati Family Insurance Black Rock Coffee Bar Busy B Groundskeeper and Floor Care Inc. Code Ninjas- Centennial Hills Cofield Real Estate Collaboration Center Foundation Courtney Group LLC Cream LLC Creed Boutique Las Vegas at The Forum Shops at Caesars Destinations By Design, Inc Envision Legal Solutions Fast Plumbing Service, Inc FirstLight Home Care of Nevada Forward March Inc
Freedom RVing ganc.io Glitz Entertainment Global Gaming Group Globicom Inc Goodfellas Collision Center Grand Desert Psychiatric Services H Vasas Insurance Services Hearts of Passion Home Care HOA Lawyers Group LLC Horizon Valley Enterprise LLC Houldsworth, Russo & Company i World Class Design LLC Jakob's Wealth Management Jim Hawkins- Mortgage Loan Officer K & G Construction Kim Long LLC Lotus of Siam Madewell Products LLC Matter Real Estate Group Mediterranean Exporter's Association Mesa Ridge Apartments Millennium Dance Complex Las Vegas Mint Payroll LLC Muscle Foods Export LLC
Patch MD Preston Homes and Steel Production Specialists of Las Vegas Quiznos RapidVisa Incorporated Reverse Mortage Funding LLC Shelter Insurance Show Talent LLC Silver Pointe Wealth Management Silver State Health Services Smart Medical Devices Inc Smith Plastic Surgery SOV Media LLC Stork Solutions Tax & Income Management Enterprises TeleSecurity Sciences, Inc. The Bottega Exchange The Mob Museum TownePlace Suites Las Vegas City Center Travelers Companies University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Vegan Bliss Viva Technologies Wecom Inc
Members joined from April 15 - June 15, 2019 LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JULY 2019 BUSINESS VOICE
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CREATING YOUR HIGH CONVERSION SITE Margarita Bondarenko, Vegas Young Professionals (VYP)
s a business owner, you are understandably motivated to want a website that will impress your customers. You want to create an online experience which promotes your brand and that you can be proud of. In that process it is easy to forget about factors that make you website easy to open and navigate or not include fundamentals that result in higher sales conversions.
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The goal is to fuse the design and practical aspect of your web design. With these right elements your website can drive value by delivering an organized and well-designed experience across the board to interest leads and results in greater sales conversions.
Showcase High Value Content It is easy to lose your audience’s attention. On average viewers will decide whether to stay on or leave your page within a matter of seconds. According to Kissmetrics 40 percent of people abandon a website that takes more than three seconds to load. To engage your readers, make sure to highlight the most useful information for your audience in a prominent location and direct them from there to any additional information you need to provide them. By placing the most important content prominently in highly visible areas (such as towards the top of each landing page) you can effectively engage your viewers. This, in turn, will encourage them to take action.
Create a Quality Visual Experience Faster loading speeds means properly formatted images and media content can load quickly and hassle free. This is important because a one second delay in page time equals a 7 percent loss in conversions, 11 percent fewer page views and a 16 percent decrease in customer satisfaction.
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BUSINESS VOICE JULY 2019 LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Visual content is an effective way to engage your audience and reach them not only on an intellectual but also on an emotional level. The use of images can foster feelings in your viewer, negative space can direct their eye to areas of the page you want to highlight, and color can not only cause an emotional response but also help encourage the viewer to take action. Whether through
photographs, icons, info graphics, negative spaces or video - the visual experience has a strong impact on your viewer. Imagine the impression a person can make with their appearance. How they are dressed, their facial expressions, body language, etc., all make an instant impression and reflect in your willingness to hear what they have to offer you. Your website is the virtual representation of your company. Put your best foot forward!
A PRODUCTION OF VEGAS PBS
SEASON 2 PREMIERE Experience of User Experience To increase your conversion rates, you need to engage your viewers to compel them to take action through your site experience. You may have excellent content, but it is vital that it is laid out in an organized and user-friendly manner if you plan to direct the viewer to take action. An effective user experience will appeal to your viewer on an intellectual and emotional level. This is a mix of art, science, and lots of testing. Testing to ensure that each page loads quickly, correctly and provides the right content and design is certainly not glamorous, but it is necessary to ensure all the work put into the presentation is delivered to the end user as intended. It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to check and check again that all platforms of your site provide a seamless user experience if you plan to turn your viewer into your client.
Friday, July 12 at 8 p.m.
WINNER TV PUBLIC INTEREST/ AWARENESS CATEGORY
2019 TELLY AWARDS
What people are saying... “Very impressed at how the show makes complex subject matters very accessible and easy to understand.” – Community member “The show has great potential to make an impact.” – Panelist “A wonderful opportunity to show our community working together on important issues.” – Panelist VegasPBS.org/Nevada-Week @VegasPBS @NevadaWeek
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BUSINESS VOICE JULY 2019 LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
WYNN LAS VEGAS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS COMPLETE 10-MONTH REVITALIZATION OF THE SHADE TREE Women’s Shelter Receives Vital, Large-Scale Construction Upgrade n May 9, 2019, Wynn Las Vegas announced the completion of its 10-month revitalization of The Shade Tree, a 24-hour accessible shelter designed to specifically meet the needs of women and children in crisis. Following the resort’s partnership announcement with The Shade Tree in Aug. 2018, Wynn Las Vegas, with assistance from more than 170 community partners, has collectively donated more than 15,500 hours of labor, and a total of $2.5 million in donated labor costs and in-kind donations of construction materials to make cosmetic and functional upgrades to the shelter from the ground-up. The Shade Tree, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit organization, helps women and children who are victims of homelessness, sex trafficking and abuse.
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Renovations include, an all-new expanded kitchen that can better accommodate the more than 200,000 meals served there each year; full renovation of the first floor, including an expanded intake center; full renovations to the second and third floor residential areas, including
all-new bathrooms, mattresses and linens; upgrades to the common areas on each floor; increased security measures; and a revitalized children’s play area. “What began as an opportunity to aid an essential community organization quickly became a project of passion for our staff,” said Darrell Richards, vice president of construction, Wynn Design and Development. “As we filtered through the list of upgrades The Shade Tree facility needed and started
to narrow our project scope, it was quickly realized that there was an opportunity to make a much greater impact here. The Shade Tree residents deserve to be in an environment where they feel safe and dignified, and we hope that with these upgrades we’re helping them do just that.” The combined investments from Wynn Las Vegas and several community partners helped to alleviate substantial current and future construction costs for The Shade Tree. The improved facility expands the capacity of the shelter, providing more women and children with temporary housing, meals, medical care, and other life-changing services that align with the shelter’s goal of fostering stability, dignity and self-reliance. Wynn Las Vegas alone provided 2,717 hours of pro bono services to The Shade Tree in the areas of food safety, security, engineering and marketing – amounting to more than $295,000 in value – and $250,000 in overall construction costs. “Words aren’t adequate to fully express our deep appreciation for the generosity and leadership of Wynn Las Vegas,” said Linda Perez, executive director of The Shade Tree. “The Wynn team has had an ongoing presence at our shelter for many months now, and their generosity is evident in so many forms, from monetary contributions, to volunteer hours, as well as taking on such a monumental community-wide initiative by securing nearly 200 partners to rally behind this project. “Wynn’s investment has significantly changed the overall energy of the facility, staff and more importantly, our residents. While the work is complete, the legacy of the project will positively impact our residents for years to come. An improved and upgraded facility enhances the overall living experience and elevates the efficiency and operations of our organization’s programming and services. As a result, Wynn has rebuilt more than just the physical structure of our building, it has rebuilt our residents’ independence, stability and dignity.”
LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JULY 2019 BUSINESS VOICE
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SMOKE-FREE SPACES GOOD FOR HEALTH. GOOD FOR BUSINESS.
IF YOU COULD HAVE A...
Safer workplace
Cleaner workplace
Healthier workplace
Profitable workplace
Productive workplace
WOULD YOU? Making your business smoke-free can help do all of that, and more! Tobacco-free environments create a healthy workplace for employees and a safe business for customers. Smoke-free policies can include prohibiting smoking within a specific distance near entrances or doorways, and eliminating the use of electronic or vapor products indoors.
Learn more about creating tobacco-free policies at your business or other public spaces! Visit GetHealthyClarkCounty.org for FREE no-smoking signage or call 702-759-1270 for more information. 44
BUSINESS VOICE JULY 2019 LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Paid for by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Applications Open for the Public Policy Leadership Class
re you interested in becoming more engaged in our community? Do you want to be a more effective leader and advocate to improve education, the business climate, healthcare, and the quality of life? Have you considered serving in elected office, on a public board or commission, or on a board of education? Thriving communities are the result of engaged leaders at all levels who are passionate and knowledgeable about creating positive change. Nowhere is this more important than in shaping public policies to solve problems and improve quality of life. Whether you want to serve in public office, on an appointed board or help drive meaningful solutions in our community, understanding good public policy is essential. The Public Policy Leadership Series educates leaders on policy and governance issues so that they can be effective in positively shaping our community and be effective public leaders. The program is a partnership with the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs and the Leadership Foundation of Greater Las Vegas, a 501(c)(3) non-profit in affiliation with the Las Vegas Chamber that is dedicated to cultivating knowledgeable, engaged professionals and leaders. Curriculum topics include: • Role of elected officials • Policy-making at the state and local levels • Understanding legislative process • Relationship between state and local government • Budget Process and revenue issues • Topical policy issues • Education Issues The classes begin on Thursday, Sept. 5, and will take place Thursday evenings (2.5 hours per session) for six weeks. Sessions will be held at the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs on the UNLV campus. Applications are due Aug. 30. To apply, go to www.Leadership.Vegas or contact Cara Clarke at cara@leadership.vegas
LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JULY 2019 BUSINESS VOICE
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A Positive Positive Outlook Outlook A
Job Opportunities Opportunities Job The typical worker holds 12 jobs between the ages of 18 The typical worker holds 12 jobs between the ages of 18 and 50. And, while there is some evidence that this number and 50. And, while there is some evidence that this number is rising, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that is rising, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that an average worker has been at their current job for 5.0 an average worker has been at their current job for 5.0 years, only slightly lower than the 5.1 years reported in years, only slightly lower than the 5.1 years reported in 2008. Moreover, in 2018, 33 percent of workers reported 2008. Moreover, in 2018, 33 percent of workers reported having worked for their current employer for 10 years or having worked for their current employer for 10 years or more, a higher percentage than a decade ago (32 percent). more, a higher percentage than a decade ago (32 percent). These statistics differ by level of educational attainment (e.g., These statistics differ by level of educational attainment (e.g., those with a college degree tend to report longer tenures those with a college degree tend to report longer tenures than those without a college degree); sex (e.g., men tend to than those without a college degree); sex (e.g., men tend to report slightly longer tenures than women); and age (e.g., report slightly longer tenures than women); and age (e.g., older workers tend to report significantly longer tenures than older workers tend to report significantly longer tenures than younger workers). They also vary by industry. Notably for younger workers). They also vary by industry. Notably for Southern Nevada, the leisure and hospitality industry tends Southern Nevada, the leisure and hospitality industry tends to have among the shortest job tenure rates, with a typical to have among the shortest job tenure rates, with a typical employee reporting only 3.0 years with their current employer. employee reporting only 3.0 years with their current employer.
recent annual report. Similarly, the Governor’s Office of recent annual report. Similarly, the Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation helps create work-based learning Workforce Innovation helps create work-based learning opportunities and provides access to dozens of internships, opportunities and provides access to dozens of internships, apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs through apprenticeship and on-the-job training programs through initiatives like its LifeWorksNV.org learning hub. And the initiatives like its LifeWorksNV.org learning hub. And the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, through Governor’s Office of Economic Development, through its Workforce Innovations for a New Nevada Fund, has its Workforce Innovations for a New Nevada Fund, has made strategic investments in high-demand, high-wage made strategic investments in high-demand, high-wage job training programs in fields such as cybersecurity, job training programs in fields such as cybersecurity, data analytics, advanced manufacturing and healthcare. data analytics, advanced manufacturing and healthcare. For some, a separation from their current job creates the For some, a separation from their current job creates the impetus to start their own business. For those who do, impetus to start their own business. For those who do, they’d be hard pressed to find a place better to do so than they’d be hard pressed to find a place better to do so than Nevada. The U.S. Small Business Administration reported Nevada. The U.S. Small Business Administration reported
What we all know is that employment situations change. What we all know is that employment situations change. S o m e by ch oice . S o m e by circu m s ta n ce . Th e m os t S o m e by ch oice . S o m e by circu m s t a n ce . Th e m os t important job skill in the 21 st century may very well be important job skill in the 21 st century may very well be adaptability. That That said, said, for for those those changing changing jobs, jobs,there there adaptability. has rarely, if ever, been a better economic climate. has rarely, if ever, been a better economic climate. As of of December December 2018, 2018, there there were were7.3 7.3million millionjob jobopenings openingsinin As the United States. By contrast, the number of unemployed the United States. By contrast, the number of unemployed job seekers seekers was was only only 6.3 6.3 million million during during the thesame samemonth. month. job Stated differently, there are more job openings the Stated differently, there are more job openings ininthe United States States than than there there are are people people looking lookingto tofill fillthem. them.InIn United December alone, alone, job job openings openings increased increasedby bynearly nearly200,000 200,000 December nationwide, led ledby by88,000 88,000additional additionalopenings openingsininconstruction construction nationwide, and 84,000 84,000 additional additional openings openings in in leisure leisureand andhospitality. hospitality. and With this this many many job job openings, openings, perhaps perhapsititdoesn’t doesn’tcome comeas asaa With surprise that that 3.5 3.5 million million people people quit quit their theirjob jobininDecember December surprise 2018, more more than than twice twice the the number number of ofpeople peoplelaid laidoff offduring during 2018, that same same month. month. For For those those displaced, displaced,the themedian medianduration duration that unemployment has has fallen fallen to to 8.9 8.9 weeks, weeks, one-third one-thirdthe the of unemployment time required required to to find find aa job job in in June June 2010 2010 (25.2 (25.2weeks). weeks). time Beyond this, this, those those separated separated from from their theirjob jobtoday todaybenefit benefit Beyond tremendously from training and placement programs tremendously from training and placement programs developed and and expanded expanded during during the the Great GreatRecession. Recession.InIn developed Southern Nevada, Nevada, Workforce Workforce Connections Connectionsadministers administersstate state Southern and federal federal funds funds specifically specifically to to help help job job seekers seekersaccess access and employment, employment, education, education, training training and and support supportservices. services. Over Over 1,370 1,370 young young people people and and 2,400 2,400 adults adultswere wereassisted assisted by Workforce Workforce Connections Connections last last year, year, according accordingto toits itsmost most
JeremyAguero, Aguero,Principal PrincipalAnalyst Analyst Jeremy
thatNevada Nevadahad had254,000 254,000small smallbusinesses businesses 2018, nearly that inin 2018, nearly 7,700 more than were reported in 2017. And, nearly 72,000 7,700 more than were reported in 2017. And, nearly 72,000 thoseNevada Nevadasmall smallbusinesses businesseswere wereminority-owned. minority-owned. ofofthose Changeisisnever nevereasy, easy,particularly particularlywhen whenit itis is unexpected. Change unexpected. Thatsaid, said,with withmore morejobs jobsthan thanpeople peopletototake take them, with That them, with moreprograms programsand andtools toolsthan thanever everbefore beforedesigned designed more toto connectworkers workerswith withjobs, jobs,and andwith withananeconomy economy that connect that is is aspro-entrepreneur pro-entrepreneurasasany anyininthe thenation, nation,the theprospects prospects as forNevada Nevadaworkers workersleaving leavingone onejob jobininsearch search another for ofof another arebetter bettertoday todaythan thanatatany anyperiod periodininrecent recenthistory. history. are ® ® IT ITMATTERS MATTERSWHO WHOYOU YOUBANK BANKWITH WITH
CONTACT CONTACT US US TODAY TODAY
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nsbank.com/outlook nsbank.com/outlook 702.383.0009 702.383.0009 BUSINESS VOICE JULY 2019 LAS VEGAS METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
®® AAdivision Bancorporation, N.A. Member FDIC divisionofofZions Zions Bancorporation, N.A. Member FDIC
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QTY ..............RETAIL
DISCOUNT PRICE ......SAVINGS
Sertraline 100mg Tablet
30 .......... $24.99
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Topiramate 25mg Tablet
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$10.37....................... 76%
Fluoxetine 20mg Capsules
30 .......... $44.61
$10.54 ...................... 76%
Bupropion 150mg E Tablet
30 ..........$38.42
$13.69.......................64%
Lorazepam 1mg Tablet
30 ............ $17.19
$10.79 ....................... 37%
*MEDICATION PRICES VARY BY PHARMACY AND PRESCRIPTION AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE OVER TIME. ASK YOUR PHARMACIST FOR THE ACTUAL DISCOUNTED PRICE. THIS PROGRAM IS NOT INSURANCE.
Tips for Mental Wellness Talk with your doctor and learn more about mental wellness
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LIVE.WORK. LEAD.
JULY 2019
Chamber Helps Pass Landmark Education Funding Plan
Join The Las Vegas Chamber’s New Executive Women’s Council A network of female leaders with the skills, insight and passion to enhance Southern Nevada’s business community. • Inspire women to positively influence the region’s business, government and nonprofit sectors • Elevate women’s careers through training, mentoring and relationship-building • Support women to meet their career and life goals and focus on community engagement
Learn more about this dues-based council and apply now at LVChamber.com or call 702.641.5822.
Presenting Sponsor
Program Sponsors
The Las Vegas Chamber Showcases Top Leaders in Nevada Episodes Air the First Sunday and Various Times/Days Each Month Presenting Sponsor:
Location Sponsor:
Must be or become a member of the Las Vegas Chamber to join the Executive Women’s Council LVChamber.com | 702.641.5822
| @LVChamber