Business Voice a Member Publication December 2009 | Volume 29 Number 12
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Business Voice A Member Publication December 2009 | Volume 29 Number 12 Routing Slip Please share The Business Voice with others Chamber announces dynamic slate of speakers for Preview Las Vegas 2010 he Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce recently He will speak on unconventional thinking in an announced the lineup of speakers slated to unconventional world. What’s Inside T present at the January 28 Preview Las Vegas 2010. This annual economic forecasting and A brilliant but uncomplicated man who uses simple networking event brings together insightful national questions to reach startling conclusions, The Wall Street Chairman recaps Chamber speakers, local economic experts and industry leaders Journal has written, “If Indiana Jones were an economist, accomplishments for a conference and trade-show event that provides he’d be Steven Levitt.” Levitt has shown other economists 3 first-hand information on the ever-changing dynamics just how well their tools can make sense of the real world. of our state and local economies. Get noticed in annual membership directory 4 Chamber’s Advocacy 2009 Review 6 2010 Board of Trustees Installation Luncheon 8 December Calendar of Events Steve Levitt Jim Murren Rossi Ralenkotter Jeremy Aguero Punam Mathur 16 Economist and Bestselling Chairman of the Board President/CEO, Principal Analyst, Vice President, Author, Freakonomics and CEO, MGM MIRAGE Las Vegas Convention and Applied Analysis Human Resources and much more... and SuperFreakonomics Visitors Authority (LVCVA) NV Energy Preview Las Vegas 2010 Speakers Originally published in the U.S. in 2005, FREAKONOMICS instantly became a cultural Steven D. Levitt phenomenon. Hailed by critics and readers alike, it went Economist and Bestselling Author on to spend more than two years on The New York Times bestseller list, having sold more than 4 million copies Steven D. Levitt is the best-selling author of around the world, in more than 30 languages. Levitt has FREAKONOMICS and SUPERFREAKONOMICS. appeared widely on television, and maintains the popular continued on page 28 Exhibits Space Available Now! Preview Las Vegas 2010 Thursday, January 28, 2010 Thomas & Mack/ Cox Pavilion Workplace Voluntary Benefits Disability Vision Life Dental Medical Stop-Loss With over four decades of healthcare experience, our specialty benefits success is no accident. Specialty Benefits from Humana We’ve now combined our Fortune 100 status and 40 years of healthcare experience with a broader offering of specialty benefits we can customize just for you. For starters, we deliver a wider range of coverage that includes workplace voluntary benefits, disability, vision, life, dental, and medical stop-loss. As your partner, we’ll also provide you with seamless, personal service through our one point of contact backed by our team of experts. And we’ll give you the same kind of focused, innovative thinking we’ve provided for the PGA TOUR and other clients through the years. No matter what you’re looking for in specialty benefits, Humana has you covered. Find out more at Humana.com/Specialtybenefits Humana Plans are offered by the Humana Family of Insurance and Health Plan Companies. GCA05S8HH From My Desk “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” A year of challenges for members and the Chamber By Steve Hill, Chairman, Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Board of Trustees 2009 has been a year that many would like to forget. It you and your business, as well as to preserve the pro- reminds me of the opening line of Charles Dicken’s A Tale business climate that is essential for long term economic of Two Cities: “It was the best of times; it was the worst recovery: of times.” 1. Successfully advocated for passage of significant reform It is certainly no secret that we have experienced the worst by Nevada Legislature to reduce long term taxpayer recession in Nevada’s history. Businesses of every size have liability been hit by the economic downturn. Businesses have had At the beginning of the 2009 Nevada Legislature, the to layoff valuable employees, and struggle with a lack of Chamber outlined its priorities for enacting significant available credit, changes in consumer spending as well reform of the Public Employees Retirement System Steve Hill as the reduction of visitor volume and softening in other (PERS) and Public Employees Benefits Program (PEBP). CalPortland major industries. Many of the Chamber’s reform recommendations were passed by lawmakers, ultimately reducing the long-term How could this possibly be “the best of times?” As we have unfunded liability of these benefits and saving taxpayers struggled together, the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce hundreds of millions of dollars each year. The Chamber has strived to deliver even more value for your membership also successfully advocated for greater transparency in and give you the tools, benefits and opportunities to help public employee contract negotiations. By bringing you survive. more transparency to the collective bargaining process, taxpayers will have more insight into what the ultimate Here are ten things that the Chamber did in 2009 to help cost of a contract would be and it will hold elected continued on page 9 Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Member Services 2009 Board of Trustees Las Vegas Chamber Helpful Hints: Executive Committee: of Commerce Steve Hill Hugh Anderson Richard S. Worthington 702.641.5822 • Limit the number of releases you Chairman of the Board Anderson & Delutri @ Merrill Lynch The Molasky Group of Companies send to the single most important CalPortland Membership Sales 586.3855 happening in your organization. Kevin Orrock Kara Kelley Advertising Sales 586.3812 Fafie Moore The Howard Hughes Corporation President & CEO CSE 586.3839 • No advertisements will be printed Immediate Past Chairman Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs 586.3805 in the Member News section. Realty Executives of Nevada InfoCenter 735.1616 Michael Bonner • No phone numbers will be listed in Greenberg Traurig, LLP Member Health Benefits 586.3887 the Member News section, with the Kristin McMillan Public Relations 641.5822 exception of non-profit organizations. Chairman-Elect Kevin Burke VYP 735.2196 CenturyLinkTM Burke and Associates, Inc. • Outdated material will not be Editorial Policy: published. The Las Vegas Chamber of Com- • Membership dues must be current Trustees: merce welcomes input, ideas and for submissions to be printed. Bob Ansara Cornelius Eason Bruce Spotleson suggestions from our members. Ricardo’s of Las Vegas, Inc. Workforce Connections Greenspun Media Group As with any periodical, we must • The Chamber reserves the right adhere to strict deadlines and we to make the final edit on all Charles Atwood Robbie Graham Vicky VanMeetren reserve the right to edit all mate- submissions. The Smith Center for the NTC Global Holding Group St. Rose Dominican Hospitals rials submitted for publication. Performing Arts San Martín Campus Commentaries that are marked as The Business Voice (USPS #717- Corey Jenkins such do not necessarily reflect the 970) is published by The Las Vegas Jay Barrett SAVMOR Rent a Car John Wilson opinion or position of the Cham- Chamber of Commerce. Marnell Corrao Associates, Inc. MedicWest Ambulance ber, its trustees or employees. The 6671 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Ste. 300 Bart Jones Chamber cannot guarantee the Las Vegas, NV 89119-3290 Bob Brown Merlin Contracting Nancy Wong Las Vegas Review-Journal & Developing Arcata Associates, Inc. validity or accuracy of the contents of paid advertisements. Questions Annual Subscription $25 Periodical postage paid at Las Vegas, NV Senator Richard Bryan Gina Polovina Michele Tell Woodrow or concerns about content of The Lionel Sawyer & Collins Boyd Gaming Corporation Preferred Public Relations, LLC Business Voice can be addressed POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: to Vice President of Marketing, The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Tim Cashman Kevin Rabbitt Michael Yackira Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, 6671 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Ste. 300 Foghorn Consulting GES Exposition Services NV Energy 6671 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite Las Vegas, NV 89119-3290 300, Las Vegas, NV 89119. Doris Charles Larry Singer Wells Fargo Bank Grubb & Ellis l Las Vegas December 2009 | The Business Voice | Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce 3 Chamber News Get noticed in the Chamber’s Annual Buyer’s Guide and Membership Directory If you’re looking for a way to get the most from your This advertising opportunity has a cash value of nearly advertising dollar, consider the value of promoting your $20,000. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity! business in the next issue of The Las Vegas New members call Peggy Franzino at 702.586.3847. Chamber of Commerce Buyers Guide and Renewing Chamber members, contact Shannon Mengel Membership Directory. This important desk at 702.586.3845. reference has an exceptional shelf life, with executives using it like a “Who’s Who” directory when they make important business and buying Chamber pays tribute to late decisions. By placing your business front-and- chairman, Larry Kifer center with a prominent display ad, you can attract the attention of decision makers valley- wide. The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce The Las Vegas Chamber of Buyer’s Guide and Membership Directory is Commerce would like to distributed throughout Las Vegas metro area to pay respect to late chairman more than 6,000 business leaders. This exclusive Larry Kifer, 64, a 50-year marketing exposure is available only to members resident of Las Vegas, who of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. For more passed away October 24, information, specifications and advertising rates contact 2009. Originally from Peggy Franzino, Director of Sales, at 702.586.3847 Kansas City, MO, Kifer or [email protected]. Deadline for was a graduate of Rancho advertising is December 15, 2009. High School and enjoyed a successful career as a Chamber recognizes December 2009 Circle of respected business leader in Southern Nevada. Excellence Award winner Barbara Rice of Realty Executives of Nevada has Kifer began his career at Centel Telephone Co.