Business Voice May 2020

Words of Wisdom for Small Businesses from Jim Murren COVID-19 Task Force Chair & Former CEO, MGM Resorts International Page 14 Help a Business, Thank a Hero, Switch to Kindness!

Page 7

Governor Steve Sisolak Virtual Visit Back Cover

Cultivating growth and prosperity

Help a Business Thank a Hero

Vegas Chamber Launches Switch to Kindness!

Gift Card Program Supporting Local Businesses & First Responders Partnership with Switch, LVMPD Foundation & ItsOnMeÂŽ will infuse much-needed cash to help small businesses Switch to Kindness! offers a one-stop shop platform to purchase* electronic gift cards from local businesses, which will then be distributed to Southern Nevada first responders by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Foundation.

Buy gift cards & get details at VegasChamber.com *Five percent processing fee applies

Cultivating growth and prosperity

MARY BETH SEWALD PRESIDENT & CEO

s many businesses throughout the state begin the process of safely reopening, the Vegas Chamber is here to help you. As we have done throughout the entire COVID-19 crisis, we will continue to provide you with opportunities to hear from our region’s leaders and industry experts, as well as access to vital information and resources.

Additionally, the Vegas Chamber is offering free basic memberships to any business in Nevada. This will help many struggling businesses have access to our teleconferences and webinars, get exposure on our “Switch to Kindness” program, and take advantage of our Office Depot discount program. The free membership runs through June 30, so please spread the word.

Bringing our economy back to life is going to require a lot of planning, patience, and diligence about adhering to self-distancing standards, wearing protective masks, and increasing cleaning and sanitation measures so that we do not increase the spread of the virus. It also means that many businesses will continue to sacrifice by not being able to open at full capacity or rehire all of their employees. But Phase 1 of the Roadmap to Recovery is a very important step in the right direction.

Throughout this process, the Vegas Chamber will continue to be here for you.

Finally, we are proud to launch a new webinar series with Matter Real Estate to help guide the challenges of reopening your operations. The webinars will features local and national experts who will provide valuable information to help you. Look for more details in this magazine.

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We are proud of some of the new programming that we have introduced. Our “Switch to Kindness” program helps businesses while honoring a hero.

This program allows people to purchase electronic gift cards from local businesses and either send it to a friend or donate it to a local first-responder. The great news is that the business gets the revenue now, helping to infuse much-needed cash at this critical time. We are proud to partner with our sponsor Switch, along with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Foundation and Vegas-based tech company ItsOn.Me. to launch this program quickly to help our small businesses. Go to VegasChamber.com if you want to make a purchase.

I’m reminded that even in these extremely challenging and unusual times, business people are natural innovators and they discover new ways of doing things. Our team at the Vegas Chamber is finding success working from home, more productive than ever. We are convening our members via Zoom and GoTo Meetings, and appreciate seeing familiar faces. And we are trying new ways of staying in touch with you, such as our new electronic version of this magazine.

As we move forward into the recovery phase, the Vegas Chamber continues to be here for you. Please reach out to us. Let us know what you need, whether questions, expertise, or connections. We will do whatever it takes to serve you.

VEGAS CHAMBER MAY 2020 BUSINESS VOICE

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We're In This Together

Business Voice VOLUME 41 NUMBER 05 Vegas Chamber 575 Symphony Park Avenue, Ste. 100 Las Vegas, NV 89106 702.641.5822 • VegasChamber.com

Mary Beth Sewald

Free Short-Term Memberships Now Available

President & CEO Vegas Chamber 2020 Board of Trustees Executive Committee

Trustees

Emeritus Board

Tom Burns

Paul Anderson

Jay Barrett

Joseph Asher

Senator Richard Bryan

Chairman Cragin & Pike

Gina Bongiovi

Chair-Elect Bongiovi Law Firm

Terrance Shirey

Boyd Gaming

William Hill US

Brandon Barkhuff NV Energy

Hugh Anderson

Danielle Bisterfeldt

Michael Bolognini

Michael Bonner

Betsy Fretwell

Bob Brown

Opportunity Village

The Neon Museum

John Guedry

Kerry Bubolz

John Wilcox

Lisa Howfield

Tyler Corder

Lori Nelson-Kraft

Alex Dixon

Switch

Bank of Nevada KLAS-TV

Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

Ellen Schulhofer

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

Chris Wilcox

Eide Bailly LLP

Ryan Woodward

National Technical Institute

The Beckley Group The Howard Hughes Corporation Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Vegas Golden Knights Findlay Automotive

Production Team Joyce Goedeke Publisher/Editor

Cara Clarke Editor

Bill Noonan

Boyd Gaming Corporation (Retired)

Jim Prather

Las Vegas ReviewJournal

Bruce Spotleson

JDW Group LLC

Past Chairpersons

PureStar

Berlyn Miller 1979

Michael Feder

Phil Arce 1984

Dickinson-Wright, PLLC

Elaina Blake 1985

Jeff Grace

Dave Vlaming 1986

Gartner

Mark Hutchison

Hutchison & Steffen, PLLC

Gregory Lee

Eureka Casino Resort

Sara Lindgren

Jeffrey A. Silver 1988 Peter Thomas 1989 William Martin 1991 Bob Maxey 1992 Denny Weddle 1993

JPMorgan Chase

David Smith 1994

Rex Liu

Ted Wiens, Jr. 1995

Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

John O’Reilly 1996

Marta Meana

Diane Dickerson 1997

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Edward Crispell 1998

Production Coordinator/ Contributor

Napoleon McCallum

Bill Wells 2001

Noel Gonzalez

Bill Nelson

Graphic Designer

Piercy Bowler Taylor & Kern

Jacey Gonzalez

Boyd Nelson

Pomai Weall

For more information, visit VegasChamber.com

Fafie Moore

ERA Brokers Consolidated

Lisa Beckley

Cox Communications

We're offering small businesses a free short-term membership to access our webinars & COVID-19 resources. Plus, earn up to $500 for referrals!

Fennemore Craig, P.C.

Immediate Past Chairman Nevada State Bank HighTower Las Vegas

The Vegas Chamber team is here to nuture businesses through this difficult time.

The JABarrett Company

Contributer

The Las Vegas Sands Corporation

Southwest Gas Corporation

Brig. Gen. Robert Novotny

The Business Voice (USPS #717-970) is published by Vegas Chamber 575 Symphony Park Ave., Ste. 100 Las Vegas, NV 89106 Annual Subscription $25 Periodical postage paid at Las Vegas, NV POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Vegas Chamber, 575 Symphony Park Ave., Ste. 100 Las Vegas, NV 89106

Jay Kornmayer 2002 Lou Emmert 2003 Tim Cashman 2004 Hugh Anderson 2005 John Wilcox 2006

Nellis Air Force Base

Fafie Moore 2008

Karla Perez

Steve Hill 2009

Valley Health System

Kristin McMillan 2010

Teresa Di Loreto

Michael Bonner 2011

Nevada Military Support Alliance

Kevin Orrock 2012

Tina Quigley

Jay Barrett 2013

Chase Rankin

Las Vegas Review-Journal

Mark Shearer

Bruce Spotleson 2014 Bob Brown 2015 John Guedry 2016

Raiders

Bill Noonan 2017

Larry Singer

Michael Bolognini 2018

Newmark Knight Frank

Terrance Shirey 2019

Vicky VanMeetren

Roseman University of Health Sciences

Chris Way

KTNV-TV 13 Action News

EDITORIAL POLICY: The Business Voice is a member newsletter of the Vegas Chamber. The Vegas Chamber welcomes input, ideas and suggestions from our members. As with any periodical, we must adhere to strict deadlines and we reserve the right to edit all materials submitted for publication. Commentaries that are marked as such do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of the Chamber, its trustees or employees. The Chamber cannot guarantee the validity or accuracy of the content of paid advertisements.

All content is subject to change. Questions or concerns about content of the Business Voice can be addressed to the Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy, Vegas Chamber, 575 Symphony Park Avenue, Ste. 100, Las Vegas, NV 89106.

Table of Contents

07

MAY 2020

Help a Business, Thank a Hero

7

Welcome New Members

8

Member News

9

Construction efforts continue at the Las Vegas Convention Center

10

Chamber News

13

Words of Wisdom for Small Businesses from Jim Murren, Nevada COVID-19 Task Force Chair & Former CEO of MGM Resorts International

14

What's Virtually Happening

19

People Helping People: Spotlight on REQ, President’s Club Member

20

Working For You

21

Candidate Endorsement Guide

22

Leadership Las Vegas: Now More Than Ever

24

News You Can Use

25

Board of Trustees: Spotlights

26

09

10

13

14

20

24 VEGAS CHAMBER MAY 2020 BUSINESS VOICE

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Cold or Allergies

Flu

Coronavirus

Itchy Eyes Stuffy Nose Sneezing Fever Fatigue Body Aches Shortness of Breath Coughs History of Travel Exposure Worsening Symptoms Sources: CDC, Mayo Clinic. For more information: www.cdc.gov/COVID19-symptoms

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Help a Business, Thank a Hero, Switch to Kindness!

Vegas Chamber Launches Gift Card Program to Support Local Businesses and First Responders Partnership with Switch, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Foundation and ItsOnMe® will drive much-needed revenue to help small businesses

The Vegas Chamber announces an unprecedented partnership with Switch, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Foundation, and ItsOnMe® to launch the “Switch to Kindness” campaign to support local businesses and first responders. The program offers a one-stop shop platform for the public to purchase electronic gift cards from local businesses, which will then be distributed to Southern Nevada first responders by the LVMPD Foundation. Gift cards may also be purchased and sent directly to friends, family, colleagues, and other recipients of choice.

The program is through the ItsOnMe® portal, a Las Vegasbased company that makes it easy for consumers to gift local and has been utilized for gift-a-meal programs in other cities. (More information about the company can be found here www.itson.me).

The electronic gift card will be delivered directly through an email system that leads to a recipient of choice or to the LVMPD Foundation to be donated to a first responder.

The LVMPD Foundation administers the distribution of the gift cards to Southern Nevada first responders through its existing, proven distribution network.

“The LVMPD Foundation is proud to be a partner in this exciting campaign, because we know that our officers and other first responders and healthcare professionals will greatly appreciate the community supporting them in this special way,” said Tom Kovach, executive director of the LVMPD Foundation.

“Additionally, we are pleased to be serving as the fiscal agent allowing community members to make tax-deductible contributions to the campaign through the LVMPD Foundation to purchase gift cards.”

This partnership not only supports Southern Nevada’s businesses by bringing much needed cash into their operations, but also provides an opportunity to thank the tireless and selfless efforts of Southern Nevada’s frontline first responders like law enforcement, healthcare, fire and emergency medical services personnel, or show appreciation to recipients of choice.

“The Vegas Chamber is proud to launch this partnership to help a business and thank a hero. The Switch to Kindness program will infuse money to struggling businesses that need help now while thanking our first responders who are selflessly working on the front lines to keep our community stay healthy and safe,” said Mary Beth Sewald, president and CEO of the Vegas Chamber.

The program is sponsored by Switch and is open to Vegas Chamber member-businesses, including businesses that are currently operating, as well as companies that have had to suspend their operations because of COVID-19.

Businesses that are not currently Vegas Chamber members may participate by signing up for a temporary free Vegas Chamber membership through the Chamber’s website.

“We commend the Vegas Chamber and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Foundation for this unprecedented partnership to help our first responders and health care providers as they respond to the COVID-19 crisis. On behalf of our company and our family of employees, Switch is honored to be part of this relief effort,” said Betsy Fretwell, SVP of Switch Cities.

Interested businesses that would like to be listed on the site for e-gift card purchases can register through the VegasChamber.com website.

To purchase gift cards through the program, go to VegasChamber.com and click the “Switch to Kindness” link.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! PRESIDENT'S CLUB:

KSNV TV3

mynews3.com

A Greater Hope American Realty Residential & Commercial LLC Anchor Chiropractic Ashley Home Stores Camp Las Vegas Dog House Diaries Drybar Elevated Lifestyle Development LLC Fab Decor Rentals & Events HNTB Corporation

PureStar

purestargroup.com

Holiday Inn Express Tropicana Ivory Coast Consulate JMPForce Kristi Staab Enterprises Laguna Productions Orbis Solutions Inc Social Light Event Staples Vis-A-Vis Co Wendot Law Group

Members joined from March 1 - March 31.

Advocacy. Accessibility. Vegas-ness. Community. Tenacity. Empowerment.

Nevada thrives when Nevada businesses thrive. Cultivating growth and prosperity is our purpose.

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BUSINESS VOICE MAY 2020 VEGAS CHAMBER

Member News RED - PRESIDENT’S CLUB MEMBER

In the Community Secretary of State Elections Division The 2020 primary election on June 9 will be a vote-by-mail election. The decision to conduct a vote-by-mail election was made in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The SOS Elections Division has created a website dedicated specifically to providing information about the 2020 primary election at mailitinnevada.com. For the health and safety of all Nevadans, we are encouraging all voters to Mail It In! Ballots are currently on their way to voters, and some of you may have already received your ballot in the mail. You must be a registered voter in order to have a mail ballot sent to you for the primary election. If you are not currently registered to vote, or if you need to update your voter registration information, it is not too late. Go to www.RegisterToVoteNV.gov and get registered today.

Las Vegas Review-Journal has been supporting local businesses during this pandemic by offering complimentary listings in both print and online to help businesses announce their changes to the public. This includes announcing businesses that are open, businesses that are closed, and businesses that are offering different services during this pandemic. The “Local Business Updates” form is available at the reviewjournal.com/vegasbizupdates and online at VegasChamber.com under COVID-19 resources.

Demi’s Gift Baskets donated Easter baskets across the Valley to brighten faces during these trying times. They donated 50 Easter Baskets to St. Jude's Ranch for Children where the baskets were distributed to children with cancer and homeless youth in the Valley.

Las Vegas Sands Corporation donated two million masks, one million to Nevada, one million to New York. Sands has donated more than 2.5 million pieces of personal protective equipment to Nevada, New York, California and Massachusetts.

The company also donated 1,900 coronavirus test kits and is donating 20,000 protective suits to the State of Nevada.

Caesars Entertainment Corp. has distributed 3,500 masks to Dignity Health, 200,000 pairs of gloves and 4,000 masks to University Medical Center, 150 cases of hand sanitizer and 7,500 masks to the Metropolitan Police Department and 2,000 pairs of gloves to the Nevada Trucking Association.

Alphagraphics Central Business District I Las Vegas is offering a free open/curbside takeout sign to restaurant members. To help out local businesses in these difficult times, AlphaGraphics Central Business District/Las Vegas is currently offering local restaurants a free 24x18 yard sign to let customers know that they are open. To take advantage of this offer, email LasVegas@alphagraphics.com or call 702.789.7557.

Cox Communications is providing a great resource to help customers during the COVID-19 crisis. With restaurants shifting their focus to delivery and takeout services, they understand that consistent business is paramount right now and want to do everything they can to help. To help restaurants get their message out, they are offering free advertising on television.

Interested restaurant owners can email MarketingInsights@ CoxMedia.com to sign up, and include the name of the business and the location of the restaurant. There are no purchase requirements. Space is limited based on availability.

KTNV Channel 13 created a free online posting network to help promote businesses that are still open during the COVID-19 crisis. All of its coverage takes place via Twitter and Instagram (@wereopenLV) and business owners are encouraged to tag this profile in their “We’re open!” posts.

The Vegas Chamber is proud to provide members with a place to publish their current announcements as a benefit of membership. Email news items to pr@vegaschamber.com.

Tide Dry Cleaners is saying thank you to the individuals and families making huge sacrifices during this global pandemic.

Tide Cleaners and Tide Loads of Hope are offering free laundry and dry-cleaning services to the immediate family of front-line responders who are supporting our community. Important note: This program is exclusively for the “at-home laundry & dry cleaning” of the front-line responders and their families. They are not able to accept garments or linens that are used in the field for hospitals or fire stations.

VEGAS CHAMBER MAY 2020 BUSINESS VOICE

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Construction efforts continue at the Las Vegas Convention Center Looking ahead through confident eyes even in trying times, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is moving forward on its Convention Center expansion project and underground transportation system, the Convention Center Loop, developed by visionary Elon Musk.

The LVCVA, acting with far-sightedness and its confidence in the destination’s future, continues to mark milestones on these ongoing construction projects so that visitors, conventioneers and the local community will find an even more robust Las Vegas when the destination reopens.

In March, construction workers began pouring 600,000 square feet of concrete flooring for the main exhibit hall inside the new West Hall expansion. Expected to take four to five months, the concrete-pour is a major advancement in the construction. Now 80 percent complete, the expansion is on schedule for a December 2020 completion.

The West Hall expansion will add 1.4 million square feet of space to the existing 3.2-million-square-foot campus. Featuring

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BUSINESS VOICE MAY 2020 VEGAS CHAMBER

state-of-the-art design and technology, the West Hall will also include an outdoor plaza and grand atrium.

Meanwhile, workers on the Convention Center Loop in February completed excavation on the first of the system’s two vehicular tunnels beneath the LVCC campus. That came after tunneling 40 feet underground for nearly a mile over three months, breaking through the concrete wall near the West Hall expansion. A breakthrough of the second tunnel is scheduled to occur in mid-May, with the start of paving in the first tunnel set to follow shortly thereafter. Work is also well underway on the first of three passenger stations.

Musk’s first commercial project, the innovative and fun transportation solution will move up to 4,400 conventioneers per hour on free rides lasting just over a minute in electric Tesla vehicles, throughout the 200-acre-plus campus.

The system will connect the existing convention space with the new West Hall, part of an overall expansion scheduled to debut to in January 2021.

Even more enticing is its potential for future expansion to ease congestion throughout the entire Las Vegas resort corridor.

“This marks an important milestone in the future of transportation,” said LVCVA president and CEO Steve Hill, who, despite the significant challenges facing our city and the world, told LVCVA board members recently that when the destination reopens, “Las Vegas is absolutely still the best place to be.”

VEGAS CHAMBER MAY 2020 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.

Las Vegas Review-Journal Digital-Only Subscriptions Unlimited Web, Mobile And E-Edition Access

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Help a Business Thank a Hero Vegas Chamber Launches Switch to Kindness! Gift Card Program Supporting Local Businesses & First Responders Partnership with Switch, LVMPD Foundation & ItsOnMe®️ will infuse much-needed cash to help small businesses Switch to Kindness! offers a one-stop shop platform to purchase* electronic gift cards from local businesses, which will then be distributed to Southern Nevada first responders by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Foundation.

Buy gift cards & get details at VegasChamber.com *Five percent processing fee applies

Reviewjournal.com/Subscribe

Chamber News Vegas Chamber Offering Free Short-Term Memberships The Vegas Chamber team is here to support businesses through this difficult time. We are aware that many different small businesses could benefit from some of the services we provide. If you know of non-member businesses who would be interested, the Chamber is offering small businesses a free shortterm membership to access our webinars and COVID-19 resources. Plus, members can earn up to $500 for referrals.

Vegas Chamber Team Members’ WFH (Working From Home) Best Practices

“I believe that having a comfortable clean surface from which to work from is highly encouraged. My favorite tip whether cooped up for quarantine or not, would be to utilize a standing desk for half the day as sitting all day can be very bad for you.

Remember to take breaks and eat at a similar schedule as would have been in the office."

Noel Gonzalez, Graphic Designer/Videographer

"One of the best practices I am following right now is having my lunch breaks outside. Make sure to remove yourself from that space and go for a short, safe walk around the neighborhood or enjoy your backyard while the weather is still nice. I also think it is important to stay on a regular sleeping schedule. Try to continue waking up early as you would if you were going to the office. This will keep you in the right mindset and make the transition back to office life easier when it comes."

Azy Colen, Events Coordinator VEGAS CHAMBER MAY 2020 BUSINESS VOICE

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Words of Wisdom for Small Businesses from Jim Murren, Nevada COVID-19 Task Force Chair & Former MGM Resorts International CEO sector to best aid the state in the response, relief and recovery from COVID-19. By bringing the philanthropic and business communities together, the task force can more effectively fulfill those needs and ease the strain on Nevadans and our medical community.

emember when the year 2020 sounded so opportunistic, futuristic and flying cars were expected to be the norm? Yes, us too. It would be the understatement of the year to say that no one in their right mind would think that a virus would usher in the year and explode into a global pandemic, yet, here we are. With a staggering number of unemployment claims and businesses stretching themselves thin, the Vegas Chamber is more committed than ever to support and cultivate its members and community.

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We do that by providing access to resources that members may not otherwise have. Vegas Chamber President and CEO Mary Beth Sewald had the unique opportunity to sit down with Jim Murren, Nevada COVID-19 Task Force chair and former MGM Resorts International CEO, to get invaluable insight and advice from the man who retired for 22 minutes in March, between his roles as a chief executive officer for an international corporation and appointment by Governor Steve Sisolak to chair the COVID-19 Task Force during a never-before-imagined time in global history.

The Nevada COVID-19 Task Force is a group of business leaders and community members, led by Murren, driven to rally the resources of the private

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BUSINESS VOICE MAY 2020 VEGAS CHAMBER

Mary Beth Sewald (MBS): Thank you for stepping up and taking on this task force. You and the task force have raised upwards of about $11 million and you’ve successfully secured a lot of personal protective equipment (PPE) that we needed in Nevada. Give us an update of what goes on behindthe-scenes and how you have leveraged your global relationships to make this task force happen.

Jim Murren (JM): Thank you. It’s a team effort. We

assembled eight folks that are really leaders in our state: Doug Cannon of NV Energy; Steve Menzies; Dr. McBeath; Senator Cancela; Phil Satre; Alex Dixon and Scott Nielson. What we tried to do is find folks that, not only care about the state, but have particular expertise that we can leverage. Imagine the task force as a little mini Apollo 13 effort that we are given a series of challenges and we try to find a private sector response to those challenges.

We used our extensive global networks. I used MGM and Sands, and Wynn through their Macau operations; NV Energy stepped up; Nevada Gold, which is a joint venture between Barrick and Newmont up north. We all reached out globally in our

supply networks and leveled the playing field against the more higherresourced states around us and the federal government.

All the dollars that have been raised have gone directly toward the immediate need...so a dollar invested into the COVID-19 fund is a dollar that goes to the community.

MBS: Take us to that moment when you got inspired to take on this pivotal role.

JM: I was hired by Mr. Kerkorian* 22 years ago and his

basic message was: A company cannot be sustainable unless the communities in which that company operates in is sustainable; we are inextricably linked.

So that mission driven approach toward business has been the guiding philosophy of, at least what I have tried to do at MGM, and I’m incredibly proud of the folks that are there now. I talked to the governor and we started talking about what I could probably try to do for Nevada.

It was a pretty easy decision for me especially because so many talented men and women rallied around this and I’ve seen so much cooperation, empathy and generosity throughout the state. I saw this after 9/11, frankly; I saw it during the Great Recession; when we had that unspeakable act of evil on 1 October; you see the best in people, as well as the worst of people...but I've seen the best of people in Nevada...north and south, industry by industry, competitors rallying around to a single purpose to try to respond to this crisis, relieve those who are suffering, and then help build the building blocks to recover so we can get our economy back on its feet.

MBS: I appreciate that so much because you having a mentor in Mr. Kerkorkian has certainly shaped who you are today and has led you to this point in your life. How have your experiences made you uniquely valuable and suited for this important role?

JM: Well, I don’t know if I’m valuable, but I have a skill

set and experiences that I’m using to the best of my ability.

I moved to Nevada 22 years ago and I quickly became a Nevadan. I quickly understood that a lot of the issues that we face in the state are nonpartisan in nature and I’ve tried to really think about Nevada first. And I can’t believe that I am from a little town in Connecticut, but I’ve been all around the world for the company.

I’m using my Rolodex and folks on the task force that have incredible skills in their fields to try to help Nevada, which, otherwise, we are a small state, pretty under resourced relative to other states, and we’re just trying to level the playing field a little bit.

MBS: What conditions do you see as precedent to getting our Nevada businesses back open and what kind of milestones do you think we need to achieve to do that?

JM: Testing...it’s on every news channel; it’s on

everyone’s minds. Governor Sisolak, the state and the private sector did a very courageous thing, in terms of shutting down the economy. I was still with MGM; it was one of the last things that I did as CEO. The board agreed to close all the Las Vegas Strip resorts the same day that Wynn announced they were closing the resorts. We didn’t want to do that; we understood, as an industry, the pain and suffering that would occur with all the employees. We also understood we needed to put public health above the profit decisions.

So, now where are we today? We have flattened the curve; we have mitigated what could have been a far worse environment in Nevada, and we’re starting to build the building blocks to restart the economy.

I think that is a really important part of building business confidence so that business folks can get more confidence putting their people back to work, and consumer confidence so that people can get back out and start to consume in the economy that we have; and, as important, if not even more important, for visitors to come to Nevada, north and south, and feel comfortable that we have addressed [it] to the best of our ability with the information that we have.

MBS: Shifting gears to tourism and conventions in Las

VEGAS CHAMBER MAY 2020 BUSINESS VOICE

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Vegas; where would you say Las Vegas has the most opportunity to be the leader in restarting the global travel industry, for example?

It’s critical that we get the small and medium sized businesses up and running. It’s absolutely utterly vital to our economy.

JM: Well, at the risk of being Irish and optimistic,

I think the mega employers need to help open because they’re counter parties to many of those small and medium size businesses owners and vendors, procurement partners, etc. But we need to give your membership the tools to be able to make confident decisions about reopening.

but, I am in both cases…I retired for 22 minutes from MGM and working out on this task force, but I’ve had the benefit of thinking about holistically how we can work together. And, also the benefit of talking to not only many of the gaming companies, but many of the folks throughout the private sector in Nevada.

But I think there are some lessons here that we can’t forget.

• We can’t forget that we need to be prepared for the next crisis.

• We can’t rely upon other states, other parts of the world so dependently on some of the key elements of public health in Nevada.

We have the ability in Nevada because we have a high concentration of employees and a handful of companies and a very cooperative state government that works very closely with the private sector and the LVCVA, which works closely with the state, private sector, airport authority and the chamber, to work collectively on what a recovery looks like and we’re doing that now.

MBS: What will be the Las Vegas experience in the future and how might that be different?

JM: The experience will evolve with the stage we

are in, in terms of, public health response. We need to put in places, procedures to reopen parts of the economy.

Which gets me back to the beginning. Which, in my opinion, we need to have more Nevada-based resources. Manufacturing resources to manufacture that personal protective equipment; to manufacture the hand sanitizers; to help manufacture tests; to have Nevada based testing capacity so that we can test in-state. We can evolve testing for antibodies and other disease types and other pathogens in the future. We have Nevada based businesses that are rallying around, not only this crisis, but anticipating what we may need for the future.

The good news with all that is that it’ll help further diversify our economy. We know that we should not rely on one industry for 40 percent of the state economy. We’ve always known that. And every effort to diversify the economy is an effort for greater economic stability for the state.

MBS: Is there a [business diversification] plan, perhaps in the works at the governor’s office or, perhaps, in your task force, that would lay out potentially a new avenue and are there plans to bring those economic developments plans and those companies to Nevada?

JM: Well, the seeds are already being planted and this

is a really cool story. There’s a company up in Sparks that we’ve gotten to know that converted their

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manufacturing for hand sanitizer. So now we will be able to, as an example, source all the hand sanitizer that the task force has been asked to find, through a company in Sparks.

I think my next effort will try to be, perhaps, help some of the entrepreneurial spirit. I think that is the most gratifying aspect of what I’ve dealt with so far in the last month, is to see the ‘can do’ attitude and people pitching in and trying to find ways that they can help these fellow Nevadans. We should bottle that energy and enthusiasm up and invest in it, so that we can grow businesses in the state. I’m committed to it. I know the governor has focused on it. I know it’s going to be talked about it in Carson City.

MBS: I couldn’t agree with you more. The collaboration that this Chamber has been a part of and, in a couple cases has led the way on, has just been tremendous.

I know that we are all committed to continuing with that collaboration, to your point, to helping businesses across the entire state.

JM: Well, you’ve done that. That’s why I gave you the

shout out in the beginning because when I get on the COVID-19 website and it links me to the Nevada Community Foundation page of the millions of dollars raised in Nevada, and you look down that list of all the Nevada businesses that have given money, personal time, donations of property and equipment, it shows a broad-based effort.

might not have all the answers, but if you can buy yourself time working with lenders, working with vendors, working with the people that you need to deal with on a daily basis, you might not get to the end of the line and it might end badly anyway, but at least you’re still fighting. You’re still in the game.

That’s what I’ve learned in my life and have said: “If you buy yourself time, and never give up, and never give in, and remember what you’re fighting for."

Do what Mr. Kerkorian taught me: Look back in history and think about what we have done about 20 percent of the time. Not to beat ourselves up about why we made bad decisions, but just to try and learn from them and spend 80 percent of your time looking forward.

We’re going to get through this. We’ve done it before. I know we can do it again and I am committed to doing whatever I can. I know the men and women on my task force are very mission driven to try and help.

What you’ve done at the Chamber and the associations will have permanent positive impact to our state. It’s never been done before in my quarter of a century in Las Vegas, living in Nevada, this cooperation and collaboration, north and south, breaking down some of the barriers that we’ve had – I don’t see it right now and I hope that we remember that.

I just hope that we remember this when we come out the other side and remember how Nevadans worked together; and broke down some barriers that have been institutionally in place; and really think of how to help one another for this common good. And really feel how we avoid the inter-dependency to some degree that we rely on so much that has put us in the hole that we’re trying to dig ourselves out of.

MBS: You talk a lot about small businesses and small businesses make up about 95 percent of our chamber membership and are truly the heartbeat of our economy. As a task force leader and clearly a successful business leader yourself, what kind of comfort or, conversely, reality check might you give to Vegas Chamber members on recovery, rebuilding or possibly recession?

JM: There’s no doubt that we have taken an epic

unprecedented sucker punch. As someone who has lived through the crises which I mentioned before, this is worse in many respects and the damage is far more severe.

What I would say is something that Mr. Kerkorian taught me: Buy yourself time. Just buy time. You

*Kirk Kerkorian first ventured into Las Vegas with a stake in the Dunes Hotel in 1955. He built MGM Grand in 1973, sold it and built another MGM Grand in 1993. Source: UNLV.edu/LincyInstituteFoundation

VEGAS CHAMBER MAY 2020 BUSINESS VOICE

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It matters how we work together during challenging times...

IT MATTERS WHO YOU BANK WITH® During these uncertain times, we salute our local businesses who are tirelessly navigating this challenging economic environment.

Whether if it’s helping you with loan deferrals, applying for a Payment Protection Loan, or earning extra cash back rewards on credit cards in

During these uncertain times, we salute our local businesses who are tirelessly navigating this challenging economic environment.

Whether if it’s helping you with loan deferrals, applying for a Payment Protection Loan, or earning extra cash back rewards on credit cards in

support of local restaurants, these are just some of the ways we are here to help.

We are here for you, Nevada, and we are standing by, ready to work with you side-by-side now, more than ever.

support of local restaurants, these are just some of the ways we are here to help.

We are here for you, Nevada, and we are standing by, ready to work with you side-by-side now, more than ever.

We salute our business clients who work so hard through the prosperous times, and the difficult times. Our bankers are fully engaged in working side-by-side with our clients now, more than ever. Whether it’s working with businesses facing cash flow challenges, providing assistance through the Paycheck Protection Program*, or one of the many other ways we serve our communities, we are here to help. Just know we are here for you, Nevada.

WE’RE HERE TO HELP nsbank.com/cares 888.494.6542

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BUSINESS VOICE MAY 2020 VEGAS CHAMBER

*Subject to credit and SBA approval. Terms and conditions apply. See a banker for details.

A division of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. Member FDIC

What’s Happening 13

MAY CHAMBER CONNECTIONS

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13

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 – 7 p.m.

Virtual

CHAMBER CONNECTIONS A.M. This event is great for business professionals interested in expanding their network and optimizing their chamber membership. In addition to quality networking time, each event will feature two speakers: a member selected from the event prior, and a Vegas Chamber team member.

7:30 – 9 a.m.

Virtual

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VYP BIGWIG LUNCH TIME: BRIAN KILLINGSWORTH, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Interview with panel discussion from leaders in the Event Industry.

This webinar will target businesses and venues who are planning to host events. This will help attendees to know what steps are being taken to protect them at an event.

1 – 2 p.m.

Virtual

Please join us for a virtual Bigwig Lunch Time featuring Vegas Golden Knights Chief Marketing Officer, Brian Killingsworth. Brian will share highlights of his career, lessons learned along the way, and what it's really like being the Chief Marketing Officer for a National Hockey League team. We will be able to talk candidly with Brian about the upcoming NHL draft and moving its top minor league franchise to Henderson, as well as when and how the NHL season will resume amid COVID-19..

Noon – 1 p.m.

Virtual

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THURSDAY, MAY 14

PART 2 OF 4 - GOING BACK TO WORK: HOW RESTAURANTS & BARS ARE SAFER THAN HOME

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Join the Vegas Chamber for our May Business After Hours networking event. The crowd is welcoming and business minded, which leads to authentic business connections 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Virtual

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Our small restaurants, the backbone of our entrepreneurial community, have been some of the hardest hit in these challenging times and have gone to extraordinary lengths in creativity in order to survive. Now that we’re able to visit them again, what changes have they made? Join us in this unique opportunity to hear directly from a legendary celebrity bar operator and one of the leading nationally acclaimed voices on food and nutrition and find out what they are doing.

11 a.m. – Noon Virtual

VYP VIRTUAL FUSION MIXER Please join us for a virtual VYP Fusion Mixer on Zoom. Our Vegas Young Professionals Advisory Council will be putting on a virtual mixer with break-out rooms so attendees can network in small groups and have some face time with new people during this pandemic. During this virtual mixer, we aim to allow our attendees to have time to socialize and blow off some steam while also creating meaningful business connections that will last longer than social distancing.

6 – 8 p.m.

Virtual

The crowd is welcoming, and business minded. Chamber staff and ambassadors make introductions in a natural way and ensure all members meet the type of people they’re looking to meet. It’s strategic, targeted, and leads to authentic business connections.

4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Virtual

MONDAY, MAY 18

VEGAS CHAMBER PRESENTS: A FEDERAL UPDATE FROM THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ON WORKERS COMP & LIMITED LIABILITY

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TUESDAY, MAY 19

VYP BUSINESS 101: NAVIGATING YOUR CAREER IN THE WAKE OF COVID-19 Please join us for a virtual Business 101: Navigating Your Career in the Wake of COVID-19. We will hear from two expert panelists, Andrew Hudson of Andrew Hudson’s Job Lists and Amy Hunter, the managing partner of Simmons Group. Hudson speaks on retooling your marketable skills and navigating the job market while Hunter speaks about the human resources side of maintaining your transferrable skill sets while possibly having to look for a new job during COVID-19. We expect this to be a lively discussion with interactive questions that will help you shape your next steps in your career in a post-COVID19 world.

Noon – 1 p.m.

Virtual

FRIDAY, MAY 22

VEGAS CHAMBER PRESENTS: ROADMAP TO RECOVERY - AN UPDATE FROM GOV. STEVE SISOLAK Please join Vegas Chamber President and CEO Mary Beth Sewald and Board of Trustees Chairman Tom Burns for an exclusive webinar as they present Governor Steve Sisolak. Governor Sisolak will provide updates on the Nevada United: Roadmap to Recovery plan and information on the phased approach to reopening the state. The Vegas Chamber is honored to host Governor Sisolak and invite members to this membership-exclusive event to hear from him.

11:30 a.m. – Noon Virtual - Members Only

Receive a federal update from Glenn Spencer, senior vice president, Employment Policy Division for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Matt Weber, senior vice president, Legal Reform Policy for the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform. They will also be joined by Tom Burns, president of Cragin & Pike and James Wadhams, partner at Black & LoBello, who will offer the Nevada perspective.

1 – 2 p.m.

Virtual

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THURSDAY, MAY 21

PART 3 OF 4 - GOING BACK TO WORK: YOUR BRAIN ON COVID - HOW FEAR WILL PREVENT YOUR PEOPLE FROM THEIR BEST WORK A tremendous insight to understanding how the fear mechanism is likely to hijack your brain during and post the COVID experience. Unlocking this feature is key to regaining control of your wellbeing.

11 a.m. – noon Virtual

A SPECIAL BUSINESS AFTER HOURS WITH CO-HOST URBAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 20

CONFERENCE & EVENTS: INDUSTRY INSIGHTS IN A CHANGING WORLD

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THURSDAY, MAY 28

PART 4 OF 4 - GOING BACK TO WORK Keeping your company culture intact while maintaining new safety protocols will be tough. Join this insightful presentation from some of the most sought after thought leaders on creating and maintaining employee engagement.

11 a.m. – Noon Virtual

CHAMBER VOICES TOASTMASTERS Looking for a way to improve your communication skills in both your personal and professional life? The Vegas Chamber is home to a Toastmasters club, Chamber Voices, open exclusively to Vegas Chamber members.

11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Virtual

VEGAS CHAMBER MAY 2020 BUSINESS VOICE

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People Helping People: Spotlight on REQ, President’s Club Member Early on when stay home directives went into effect, Vegas Chamber members immediately jumped in to assist one another. From President’s Club Members KTNV Channel 13 and Las Vegas Review-Journal offering free advertising to businesses to AlphaGraphics Central Business District/Las Vegas and Cox Media (both also President’s Club members) providing free assets and resources to member restaurants informing the community that they’re open for business, support was not short and, in many cases, more abundant than ever.

This includes President’s Club Member REQ (formerly Internet Marketing Inc./IMI) and Executive Vice President Justin Cohen, when Cohen’s team immediately recognized that it could support the Vegas Chamber with their technical expertise. While the Chamber was focused on connecting members with vital resources such as the Small Business Administration through free webinars and contacts, REQ worked behind-thescenes to utilize the gathered information and produce digital content utilized across platforms making it easily digestible and readily available.

Cohen took time out to provide insight on how REQ is working through this current norm.

During this extraordinary time, how has REQ been affected in its business operations?

• From a logistics standpoint, we were fortunate to be able to move our work force to remote status back in mid-March. A major benefit of living in a digital world is that we can continue to care for our clients and fellow team members effectively from the comfort and safety of our own homes.

• As an agency with clients across essentially all major verticals and with offices around the country, our breadth has proven to be invaluable in these times. As some verticals are hit hard, like our Travel & Entertainment friends who have been forced to reduce and often pause their marketing efforts, others in eCommerce and technology are growing.

What best practices has REQ adopted, in terms of its own team innerworkings and with clients?

• We have been in constant communication, both internally and with our clients…be it for strategic planning sessions or virtual happy hours. In many cases, we're getting even more face-time with Zoom/Hangout/etc. video calls than we did previously.

• While many of our clients have had rapidly shifting needs that must be addressed, all sorts of business opportunities have arisen for clients over the last couple of months. It has proven crucial for us to be both proactive AND flexible to meet those needs quickly and get campaigns to market.

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BUSINESS VOICE MAY 2020 VEGAS CHAMBER

Please describe the thought behind the SBA Loan project you executed with the Vegas Chamber, in order to help members.

• Given the general nature of communications from governmental agencies and the tendency for the content to be, shall we say, tough to digest, we thought we could collaborate with our friends from the Vegas Chamber to produce a helpful, summarized guide to complement the complex emergency loan program for small businesses. The infographic and accompanying video serve as simplified resources that can give business owners a better map to navigate the path critically needed emergency funds.

What operations do you see will be permanently changed once we get back to the world’s new normal and working together in an office environment?

• In general, we see work from home, remote teams and other technology-driven evolutions accelerating as we come back out of this phase and begin down the path to the new normal. We’ve seen far more germ-conscious societies evolve in many Asian countries in recent decades as a result or SARS and other epidemics and we expect to see some of that germ consciousness stick in American society. Not just in our offices, but out in our casinos, concerts, sporting events and even those neighborhood restaurants that we’ve all been supporting so they are still around to part of that new normal.

• In advertising, we'll see a larger focus on quality content and being topical to the right audience at the right time. At REQ, we've always believed this to be the case, but it became more apparent when everyone is sitting at home and consuming content like never before.

• Our Spring 2020 Stay-at-Home cultural phenomenon is the Netflix series, Tiger King. While certainly absurd, it shows that the right piece of content at the right time can be a hit with a tremendously broad audience. What do business owners want to consume? Sports enthusiasts? Home cooks? Parents that are homeschooling their children? There's something for everyone, and it's all about creating it and making it pop up on the right person's phone or screen at the time they’re most receptive.

Anything else you’d want to share?

• As proud members of the Las Vegas community and the Vegas Chamber, we are very thankful to be part of a community and an organization that have pulled together so selflessly to overcome these challenges together. From the Chamber giving free trial memberships to get small businesses the critical info they need to stay afloat to our casinos and others donating untold amounts of food and supplies to Three Square and other groups, it is easy to be a proud resident of Las Vegas after watching this community step up.

Learn more at REQ.co.

Working For You

Chamber Endorsements and All-Mail Ballot for Primary Election

Will the Chamber be making endorsements for the Primary Election?

Yes, the Chamber will be making endorsements for the Primary Election.

Who from the Chamber makes the decision on endorsements and what is the process?

Do I need to request an absentee ballot?

No, absentee ballots will be sent to every active registered voter. It will be mailed to the address on file. Visit www.RegisterToVoteNV.gov to register to vote online or make updates to your existing voter record.

Endorsement decisions are made by the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee (GAC) comprised of members from a variety of business sizes and industries. Invited candidates are interviewed by members of the GAC and the endorsements are made based on a candidate’s knowledge and understanding of business issues, voting record (when applicable) as well as dedication to creating a good environment for business growth, job creation and economic development.

What is my voter registration deadline?

What races does the Chamber make endorsements in?

How do I return my ballot and ensure it arrives in time to be counted?

The Chamber has historically made endorsements for the State Senate, State Assembly, Nevada System of Education Board of Regents, Nevada State Board of Education, Clark County Commission and the Clark County Board of School Trustees. Currently, the Chamber does not make federal endorsements.

Does the Chamber make campaign contributions to candidates?

Yes, the Chamber does provide campaign contribution to candidates through BIZPAC, which is a state political action committee and is registered with Nevada’s Secretary of State. The Chamber does not have a federal PAC and does not make contributions in federal races.

Do my dues go towards campaign contributions?

No, dues are not used for campaign contributions by the Chamber. Members are encouraged to donate to BIZPAC and those funds are used for campaign contributions.

Why is the Nevada election process going to “All Mail” for the Primary Election on June 9, 2020?

Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske has announced that, after conferring with elected officials from Nevada’s 17 counties, the Primary Election scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, 2020 will be conducted using an All Mail In format.

This action is being taken in response to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and will allow eligible Nevadans the opportunity to cast their votes, while maintaining recommended social distancing measures and protecting the health of election workers and volunteers.

What is an “All Mail” Election?

An All Mail Election format involves sending an absentee ballot via postal mail to every active registered voter in the state.

Same-day voter registration will be available at a limited number of in-person voting locations; however, the Secretary of State strongly encourages all voters to visit www.RegisterToVoteNV.gov to ensure that their information is up to date and accurate. With limited in-person polling locations available for Election Day, potential voters are encouraged to not rely on the same-day registration options.

Every absentee ballot will come with a prepaid envelope for returning via mail. Additionally, designated ballot drop locations will be made available for direct delivery.

In order to be counted, ballots must be dropped off in person by the close of polls on Election Day or postmarked by Election Day, which is Tuesday, June 9, 2020. Ballots that are postmarked by Primary Election Day and received no later than seven days after the election will be counted.

How do I ensure my ballot is valid and how can I remedy an invalidation?

Always check to make sure you have signed the ballot return envelope, and that your signature matches the one on file with the county election official.

Ballots missing signatures on the return envelope or with non-matching signatures will result in the voter being contacted up to seven days after the election to make necessary corrections.

How will this affect the reporting of the election results?

This may affect the updating of vote totals to up to seven days after the election. Close races may remain undecided until all ballots are counted. All counties will be required to certify their election results no later than 10 days after the election.

Where can I ask specific questions about the All Mail Election?

For more information about the June 9, 2020 Primary Election, contact the Secretary of State’s Elections Division at 775.684.5705 or nvelect@sos.nv.gov.

VEGAS CHAMBER MAY 2020 BUSINESS VOICE

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Candidate Endorsement Guide Primary Election, Tuesday, June 9, 2020

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State Senate

District 7 District 19

Ellen Spiegel (D) Pete Goicoechea (R)

State Assembly

District 1 District 2 District 8 District 13 District 14 District 22 District 25 District 33 District 36 District 42

Daniele Monroe-Moreno (D) Heidi Kasama (R) Jason Frierson (D) Tom Roberts (R) Maggie Carlton (D) Melissa Hardy (R) Jill Tolles (R) John Ellison (R) Gregory Hafen (R) Alex Assefa (D)

Clark County

District A District B

Michael Naft (D) Marilyn Kirkpatrick (D)

CCSD

District B

Bryan Wachter (NP)

Paid for by the Vegas Chamber. For more information on these endorsements, or to learn more about BizPAC, visit VegasChamber.com. These endorsements are as of May 12, 2020.

BUSINESS VOICE MAY 2020 VEGAS CHAMBER

Type to enter text

8985 S. Eastern Ave., #205

Las Vegas, NV 89123

Leadership Las Vegas: Now More Than Ever

Application deadline June 11

Now, more than ever, our community’s most influential and esteemed leaders must be knowledgeable about issues, well networked, and passionate about the success of the region.

Since 1986, Leadership Las Vegas has been part of the fabric of our community, inspiring our region’s top leaders to take responsibility for the greater good. Leadership Las Vegas was created by the Vegas Chamber to develop a pipeline of informed and capably leaders who are deeply connected to Southern Nevada.

As our community responds to the impacts of the Covid-19, graduates of the Leadership Las Vegas program are taking lead roles in protecting our community at all levels including government, education, businesses, nonprofits, and community safety net services.

Examples of graduates of the Leadership Las Vegas program who are engaging in guiding our community include:

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Congressman Steven Horsford Jhone Ebert, Superintendent of Public Instruction for Nevada George Togliatti, Director of Nevada Department of Public Safety Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown Henderson Mayor Debra March Las Vegas City Councilman Brian Knudsen North Las Vegas City Manager Ryann Juden Vegas Chamber CEO Mary Beth Sewald Vegas Chamber Chairman Tom Burns Alan Diskin, CEO of the Red Cross of Southern Nevada Julie Murray, CEO of The Moonridge Group Punam Mathur, CEO of The Elaine P. Wynn Family Foundation Nelson Araujo, Nevada Director (serves under Jacky Rosen)

Apply today to become part of this influential and esteemed network of leaders who are knowledgeable about community issues and passionate about tackling challenges, and shaping the future of Southern Nevada.

For more information or to apply, go to www.Leadership.Vegas. Application deadline is Thursday, June 11 at 4 p.m.

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News You Can Use

Why Corporate Social Responsibility Matters The Financial Times defines corporate social responsibility (CSR) as “a business approach that contributes to sustainable development by delivering economic, social, and environmental benefits for all stakeholders.” In the time of COVID-19, the way an organization responds to the crisis will be remembered for years to come. Yet a recent Harvard Business Review piece states that “Coronavirus is putting CSR to the test.”

Companies can leverage corporate social responsibility tactics to cultivate awareness as a leader in the Las Vegas community, as well as drive new business. By giving back to the community, team members can have an outlet to work together towards a common goal and—more importantly—the company can help those in need. This can improve public perception, cultivate new and stronger relationships, and drive client loyalty. And even in these troubling times, a business can still have and execute a strong CSR strategy.

CSR Tactics for Consideration Crafting a community outreach plan does not need to be a complete shift in strategy (or even a game-changer in this new normal), and it can be straightforward to implement and continuously execute. The below tactics can be part of any company’s CSR initiatives: Pro-Bono: For professional services providers (like law firms), pro-bono services is one of the first things on the list. Can your company offer a value-added outcome to members of the community as a free service?

Non-Profit Board Membership: Do any of your employees participate as members of local boards of directors? If so, there are specific ways to highlight this involvement. Think of including in your social media content, as well as supporting those organizations as a team. (Some extra benefits? Your board member will feel the added support from your business, and your team will have a special connection to that non-profit.)

Volunteering: Your employees and their families most likely are already doing this on their own. Could you collect and document the number of hours spent volunteering each month or possibly consider an officewide hour of volunteering each month?

Sponsorships: Consider selecting an organization or charitable field that your entire team can get behind.

When asked for a donation or support, you can choose to only contribute to organizations in your determined area. Why not craft a named scholarship for university students in your industry, support a health-based organization (like American Heart Association), help survivors (via a community organization like the Rape Crisis Center), or utilize your business acumen (with a group like Junior Achievement)?

Inspire Innovation: Do you have a 3D printer or other capabilities to make products that can help in this pandemic? Many examples of individual and company ingenuity are cropping up daily. Encourage the creative minds on your team to come up with innovative ways to help the community.

Community Involvement: Programs like Leadership Las Vegas or Leadership Advance allow executives and younger leaders (respectively) to develop and become stronger community leaders. Would one of your team members find value and grow from such an experience?

All Leadership Foundation programs from the Vegas Chamber help leaders and the organizations they represent become more entrenched in Southern Nevada.

As we navigate COVID-19, it will become increasingly imperative to support and lift up others in our community. Some of the above suggestions involve a budget line-item; others are more of a time-related nature. Now is the perfect opportunity to review—or create—community outreach strategies as we work together to create a thriving economic future. I send my wishes for good health and strong recovery for the Las Vegas that we all love.

Shan Bates-Bundick is a Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce member with nearly two decades of global marketing and communications expertise. She collaborates with businesses and non-profit organizations to create strong value proposition messaging and elevated brand stories in both traditional and digital channels. A LEED AP, Bates-Bundick spent years leading CSR initiatives for local and global organizations. Learn more at www.shanbates.com.

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SPOTLIGHTS LISA HOWFIELD

Vice President and General Manager, KLAS-TV 8 News Now/CBS Las Vegas

Use one word to describe your leadership style.

Collaborative

Who are some leaders you’ve looked up to?

Jim and Beverly Rogers, who taught me strength and tenacity Arny Schorr (Rhino Records), who taught me creativity without fear.

My parents, Allen and Peggy Poe, who taught me great leadership is the consequence of a focused follower.

Are you an early bird or a night owl?

I am definitely a night owl. Thank goodness for Stephen Colbert and James Corden!

Do you have a hidden talent?

I have played the piano since I was 9 years old. It really is therapeutic for me to sit down and play everything from Chopin, Mozart, Bach to Elton John or Queen.

If you could write a book about your life, what would the title be and why?

“Destiny – A Poe Girl’s Story.” Growing up in Las Vegas, I was often called “Little Lisa Poe” and loved all aspects of television since I can remember. It was my destiny to work my way up through the ranks of local television right here in my hometown!

CHRIS WILCOX Partner, Eide Bailly LLP

Which organizations outside your own do you admire the most and why?

The businesses in Las Vegas that generously build and improve our community.

What kind of cultures do you like to work in?

Where do you excel? How do you excel?

I need freedom; don’t micromanage me. I like to work with smart people that help me be my best at solving problems. I like and want to try new things in my personal life and in business.

What’s your go-to productivity trick?

Turn off email and totally disconnect. Amazing what I can get done with no interruptions of any kind.

If you could snap your fingers and become an expert in something, what would it be?

Foreign Policy. Understanding cultures and the impact on relationships with another country/culture would keep me engaged.

If one day you woke up and someone told you that you had to pick any different career, what career would you choose and why?

High school or college basketball coach. I love the game and I like helping young people grow and be the best they can be.

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BUSINESS VOICE MAY 2020 VEGAS CHAMBER

Make it a day of rest. Your lawn won’t miss a drop. But you’ll help save up to 900 million gallons of water. To learn more about mandatory summer watering restrictions, visit snwa.com.

AND DON’T WATER BETWEEN 11 A.M. TO 7 P.M. DAILY SNWA is a not-for-profit water agency

MAY 2020

A Vegas Chamber Virtual Visit with Governor Steve Sisolak Friday, May 22 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Vegas Chamber is honored to host Governor Sisolak and allowing members this special opportunity to hear from him on the Nevada United: Roadmap to Recovery plan and updates on the phased approach to reopening the state.

Registration required at VegasChamber.com This event is not open to businesses participating in the free membership program. If affiliate members are interested in participating, contact Vice President of Member Development Will Ochoa at wochoa@vegaschamber.com.

Virtual Visit with Governor Sisolak Exclusive to Vegas Chamber members

Going Back to Work

YOUR BRAIN ON COVID Webinar Series with Matter Real Estate Group

Thursday, May 21 11 a.m. - Noon