Nevada's top office park developers all haveone thing in common. NEXTLINK American Nevada Corporation. Peccole Nevada. The Howard Hughes Corporation. Thomas & Mack Company. All four of Nevada's leading office park developers chose NEXTLINK when the time came to upgrade their telecommunications capabiliti es. They all understood the great importance of providing potential new tenants with the latest and most sophisticated technology NEXTLINK was able to wire all of their properties, with minimal interruption, to the nearly 500 mile fiber-optic network they already have in place. Now, these leading developers have what NEXTLINK likes to call "the fiber-optic advantage."Their buildings' phone lines can now handle voice, data, video, you name it. All simultaneously, more efficiently, more reliably and quite literally, traveling at the speed of light. When you're serious about tapping into tomorrow's telecommunica­ tions technology, give NEXTLINK a call. They're prepared to give it to you today. Cive NEXTLINK a call. We're ready to get to your business next. 990-1000 NE T YOUR PHO N E SE RV ICE. REDEFI N ED jBUSINESS ~OURN:,~1 CORPOMTE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lance Bradford -Partner, Bradford & Bradford CPAs Join best-selling author and Lyle Brennan - Publisber, 1\"B] Stephen Brock- President. NBJ ' ~merica's #1 Sales Trainer" Philippe Jaramillo- President. Mardi Gras Hotel Dr. Anthony Pollard - President, Rainbow Medical Center Frank Scott- CEO, Spons Media Network ADVISORY BOARD OF DIRECTORS BRIAN TRACY Mary S. Falls - Vice -President, presenting a results-oriented program Northern Nevada Business Banking, US Bancorp Somer Hollingswonh -President, Nevada Development Authority Maximum Achievement lart)' E. Krause - Partner and Director, Anhur Andersen LLP and MaJ)•Dean Manin -President, Ma!)·Dean & Associates Clare O'Brien- Director ofMarketing, McCarran Airport Advanced Selling Strategies Stan Thomas- Director ofSpecial Business Projects, Sierra Pacific Power Company Carole Vilardo -President. l\evada Taxpayers AssociationScon March 16, 1998 Voeller - Director ofAdvertising & Public Relations, Silver Legacy Resort Casino Las Vegas, Nevada Patricia M. Wade - President, Wade Development Co., Lnc. 8:30am-5:00pm PUBI,ISHER Lyle E. Brennan PRESIDENT Stephen Brock VICE PRESIDE!'IT Ben Falk ASSOCL4.TE PUBLISHER - EDITOR Connie Brennan ASSOCIXI'E EDITOR - ART DIRECTOR Barbara L Moore CIRCULATION I DISTRIBUTIO ' Lisa Maguire CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Connie Brennan I Kathleen Foley I George Fuller David Hofstede I joe Mullich I Harry Reid I jennifer Robison R. Keith Schwer I jacqueline Q. Shelton I Da11d Stipech Michael Sullivan I Lisa Weiss McQuerrey I jane Whisner RESEARCH DIRECTOR I TOP R4.NK ~"EVADA Lisa laguire • Costs less than you're paying now CORPOR4.TE OFFICE 2127 Paradise Road • Las Vegas, NV 89 104 • Order Service 24 hrs./ day, 7 daysfwk (702) 35-7003 • FAX (702) 733-5953 email: 1nnv.nevadabusiness.com • Local and Long Distance Service NXI'IO. "AL MARKETI. 'G REPRESENTATIVE Lisa Maguire • Simple, Easy to Read Billing SOUfHERIII NEVADA MARKETING REPRESE ITATIVES Stephen Brock Ben Falk • Claire Smith • Lori Wilson • Liz Young • Custom Calling Features Letty Elias • Christopher Evans • Voice Mail NORTiffiRN NEVADA MARKETI 'G REPRESENTATIVE The Elizabeth Younger Agency • Caller I.D. Tiffanv Frisch 223 Marsh Are. • Reno. W 89509-1626 • Centrex (702) 329-4200 • FAX (702) 329-4283 Ne\·ada Business Journal is listed in Standard Rates & Data. #20A-Business-Melr0. State & Regional. Advertisers should contact Sales at (702) 735 -7003 in Southern Nevada. or (800) 242-016-+ in Nonhero Nevada. or write to: Nevada Business Journal, 2127 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas. NV 89104. Demographic infonnation available upon request. Month­ to-month circulation may vary. i'ilJJ is published monthly. bulk postage paid. Subscription rate is $44.00 per year. Special order single-copy price is $7 .50. All contents© 1998 copyright. and reproduction of mate ri al appear­ ing in iBJ is prohibited unless so authorized by the publisherofNBJ. ICHOOSE I CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please send previous address or mail­ ing label & new address. Allow six weeks. EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS: Address all submissions 10 the al­ tention of Connie Brennan. Unsolicited manuscriplS must be accom­ panied by a self-addressed stamped en\'elope. NBJ assumes no re­ sponsibility for unsolicited materials. DISCLAI1\1ER: Editorial views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher or its boards. 4 Nevada Business journal • Feburary 1998 CO M MENTARY VACATION? EXPERIENCE THE EXCITEMENT ... So You're a THE ENTICEMENT ... THE WORLD'S BEST: Property Owner * CRUISES *TOURS ••• * RESORTS *SPAS Or Are You? QUALITY, SERVICE, VALUE CRUISE C. TOUR LYLE E. BRENNA!\' Publisher CENTER mong the many rights Americans enjoy is the right to own prop­ PAHRUMP TRAVEL SERVICE 1201 S. HWY. 160, STE.4 erty. There was a time when property ownership meant the owner PAHRUMP, NV 89048 could develop land any way he or she saw fit and be assured the (702) 751-2005 land could not be confiscated. (800) 254-3896 m FAX (702) 751-1601 But as the rights of the property owner continue to erode in the face of E [email protected] eminent domain and increased government control, the only thing owners A "CHEAP" VACATION can count on is they will pay taxes on the land they purchase. They are at the IS OFTEN THE MOST COSTLY MISTAKE! mercy of city and county governments, planning commissions and home- owners associations as to what, when and how they can build. Perhaps more than any other state in the nation, Nevada has a need for zon- ing and some controls over development. SINCE • I985 But, with those in authority dictating even the smallest-details in develop­ ments, land owners often times view the "approval bureaucracy" as an ~BUSINESS adversary that costs time and money. I understand government employees and elected officials involved in steering the development of this state ~Q!lRti~L Business Magazine have their work cut out fo r them. But, what I don't understand is why we • In-Depth Editorial Features allow terms like, "continuity of design" and "aesthetically pleasing" to halt • Informative Columns • Business Indicators projects and cost private enterprise millions of dollars. Just when developers • Top Rank 1 evada think they understand the system and what is required of them ... the rules • Building 'evada change. The regulations have gotten so strict that a businessman cannot bui ld • Commentary a personal bathroom adjoining his office unless it's handicapped equipped. • Lifestyle The rationalization is that someday a handicapped person may buy the • Politics • & Morel office and need to use the facilities. Come on! Launch Your Subscription Today! I fully support the requirements of all public areas being handicapped accessible. But something major is wrong when government dictates the size ONE YEAR and equipment of your personal john. Save 26o/o If ownership means we can do whatever we want with our property ... TWO YEARS $ it appears that none of us is a property owner. 73 COMMENTS? e-mail: [email protected] Call1WW 702-735-7003 Februarv 1998 • t\el'ada Business journal j From the Editor NB]'s Top 50: Choosing the Best of the Best tributors to the magazine and our readers. years, while others are relative newcom­ Those included in the final version. con­ ers. Whether nearing retirement, or just tained in this publication. are people who beginning to make a mark, the Top 50 received multiple recommendations. continue to impact the business climate CONNIE BRENNAN Editor Aside from business achievements, and quality of li fe in Nevada. each is heavily involved in organizations Because Nevada is so diverse, busi ness n a state that's seen blistering growth that improve the quality of life in his or and commun.ity influence is reflected in - spurred by movers and shakers who her community. In many cases, the indi­ different ways in different communities. I continue to make a difference in the vidual chairs or serves on organizations N BJ's Top 50 includes people from the communities in whi ch they live and work and committees too numerous to mention. major metropolitan centers as well as - selecting the Top 50 was no easy task. Those chosen who happen to hold a leaders in rural evada. I'm sure many will wonder why some public or elected position were included Arguments can (and probably will) be obviously influential people were omitted with absolutely no consideration as to up­ made for people not on the li st, as cases from our Ji st, while others not as widely coming elections. They. like everyone on will be made against some who are. In known, were included. the li st, were judged based on their conui­ any case. each and every one in the The original list was a compilation of butions to the state. Top 50 has made a tangible contribution recommendations from our Editorial Readers may also note many have toward making our state a better place Board, community leaders, regular con- helped shape the Silver State for several to live and work. • COMMENTS? e-mail: [email protected] Communications Technology I I I meets commitment. CRC, las Vegas' oldest long distance company, is committed to providing the lowest cost, most effective caller conveniences, and a full range of services: • Long distance • Local service • Debit cards • Operator services • International origination • International calling card • Enhanced calling card with voice and fax mail I Call 1-800-873-2722 today to save money. 4275 E. Sahara Avenue, Suite 6 ... the company that cares Las Vegas, Nevada 89104 6 Nevada Business journal • Feburary 1998 February 1998 I CONTENTS Volume 13 - No. 2 Features 9 Nevada's Cutting Edge Telecommunications BY DAVID HOFSTEDE Despite the Silver State's small stature, its telecommunications TOP 50 infrastructure is the envy of many states. Do you recognize 20 Selecting a Professional BY usA wErss-MCQUERREY anyone f rom our Top 50 photo album? Ad agent, accountant or attorney, when hiring a professional, Here's a list of names look for someone dedicated to helping you achieve yow· specific goals.