Name: Art Greene
Title: Client Relations Manager
Company: Geotechnical & Environmental Services
# years in the industry: 1 1/2

Where are you originally from and how long have you lived in Las Vegas: I grew up in the small town of Mount Shasta on the California/Oregon border.  I moved to Las Vegas in 1985 to attend UNLV.  Go Rebels!

What has NAIOP provided you that has helped you grow professionally or personally?

NAIOP helped create an almost instant network of industry friends.  I’ve been able to build real relationships with people from all aspects of the commercial real estate industry.  The network has helped to fast-track my learning process and open doors to opportunities.

What has been your favorite experience or story that happened at NAIOP event?

My new member coffee has been my favorite event.  I was able to meet a lot of people and learn not just what they do, but who they are.  Our group is diverse and part of the fun is learning what people do when they are away from the industry.

Who have you met at a NAIOP event that has influenced you or that you have become close friends with?

I have only been a member for a year and I already have a long list of people that have influenced me and I have become friends with.  We’ve gone to lunch and cheered on our home teams at the Allegiant and T Mobile arenas.

What do you want your legacy to be in the Southern Nevada community?

People always want to do business with other people they know, like and trust.  Maybe that’s why I like NAIOP so much.  I’d like to be known as the guy who built relationships and connections professionally and personally.

 

Name: Ellie Solomon
Title: Solutions Consultant
Company: Network Security Associates
# years in the industry: 5 1/2

Where are you originally from and how long have you lived in Las Vegas: 16 years ago, I left Turkmenistan for Las Vegas in search of new opportunities. Las Vegas quickly became my second home, filled with unforgettable experiences, personal growth, and joy. I feel proud of all that I’ve accomplished and am excited for what the future holds.

What has NAIOP provided you that has helped you grow professionally or personally?

I have greatly expanded my knowledge of the latest developments in the CRE Southern Nevada through participating in  workshops and webinars, as well as taking in the insights of captivating guest speakers and panelists at the informative monthly networking breakfasts.

What has been your favorite experience or story that happened at NAIOP event?

I attended a Catholic Workers  event where the goal was to feed the homeless and provide them with care packages. The grateful expressions on the recipients’ faces and the sense of community at the event left me grateful for my own warm home and family, and inspired to continue helping those in need. And it reminded me of the importance of coming together as a community to support those who are less fortunate.

Who have you met at a NAIOP event that has influenced you or that you have become close friends with? 

There have been so many people who have influenced me along the way, both those who I’ve become close friends with and those who may not even know the impact they’ve had on me. But I really want to take a moment to acknowledge the Chapter Leadership. There are a lot of organizations in the Valley, but I have to say that NAIOP is my absolute favorite. It’s run so well, and the connections you make and the education and growth opportunities you get as a member are top-notch. I’m a new member and I already feel like it’s going to pay off in the profits I make.

What do you want your legacy to be in the Southern Nevada community?

My legacy is that of a trusted technology advisor who transformed local businesses with innovative IT solutions. I was the go-to expert for construction firms, engineering firms, and architects, guiding them through the technology landscape. My commitment to streamlining systems, enhancing security, and improving efficiency left a lasting impact and will be remembered as a shining example of expertise and dedication.

NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, has announced Jaydin Moore as a recipient of its annual Diversity Student Scholarship. The scholarship program supports students who are pursuing a degree in commercial real estate and is a key component of the association’s pledge to advance diversity in the industry.

“NAIOP is committed to supporting the next generation of commercial real estate leaders and increasing diversity in the industry,” said Marc Selvitelli, CAE, NAIOP president and CEO. “This scholarship program provides not only a financial award but also opportunities for education and networking at our annual fall conference – valuable resources for this emerging talent.”
NAIOP is awarding four $5,000 graduate student scholarships and two $2,500 undergraduate student scholarships to individuals from demographics that are traditionally underrepresented in commercial real estate and whose universities are part of the NAIOP University Membership program.

In addition to the scholarship, each scholarship recipient will have the opportunity to make new professional connections and sharpen his or her commercial real estate acumen with complimentary registration to attend NAIOP’s CRE.Converge 2023, Oct. 18-20, in Seattle.

Moore is an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in real estate and urban economics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a member of NAIOP Southern Nevada. He serves as president of the university’s Real Estate and Business Society; the group helps students bridge the gap between classroom learning and the professional world. Moore also works with real estate broker Dana Berggren in Las Vegas as an associate of sales and leasing.

To learn more about NAIOP’s strategic initiatives to advance diversity, visit naiop.org/diversity.

 

Moore is an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in real estate and urban economics at UNLV and is a member of NAIOP Southern Nevada. He serves as president of the university’s Real Estate and Business Society, a group that helps students bridge the gap between classroom learning and the professional world. He also works with local commercial real estate broker Dana Berggren as a sales and leasing associate.

NAIOP’s Diversity Student Scholarship awards two $2,500 undergraduate student scholarships and four $5,000 graduate student scholarships to students representing demographics that are traditionally underrepresented in commercial real estate and whose universities are part of the NAIOP University Membership program.

 

The 31st Annual NAIOP Golf Tournament was held on May 4, 2023 at Paiute Golf Resort. With more than 216 golfers and over 50 committee members and volunteers and all of our event sponsors, everyone enjoyed a fabulous day of golfing, refreshments, food and tee sponsor entertainment.

Our players started the day with grab and go breakfast, Bloody Mary bar, golf dart contest, networking and amazing sponsored player giveaways.

This year our “May the 4th be with You” Star Wars theme brought out all the costumes, games, food, swag, and fun! Congratulations to Helix Electric for winning the Best Theme hole sponsor with their creative Star Wars theme display.

Honorable mention goes to: Martin-Harris Construction’s taco stand and adorable stuffed Yoda giveaway, LaPour’s charcuterie, pressed juice and bean bag game, Tradewinds Construction awesome costumes, and David Evans & Associates handing out cigars for players. Thank you to all of our amazing sponsors for putting in so much hard work, braving the challenging winds and cold, all to make it a fun day on the course for our players!

Check out our winners:

1st Net – Brian Hulburt, Erik Swendseid, Alex Vance & Ed Vance

2nd Net – Tyler Ecklund, Tyce O’ Neill, Dan Palmeri & Mike Zaher

1st Gross – Ryan Hendershot, Mike Mixer, Taber Thill & Aaron West

2nd Gross – Rob Lujan, Justin Roeters, Jason Simon & Greg Tassi

Long Drive – (Men) – Shane Carvalho, Justin Roeters

Long Drive – (Women) – Sabrina Borghoff, Amber Carlson

Closest to the Pin – (Men) – Rand Athanas, Ryan Henderson

Closest to the Pin – (Ladies) – Amber Carlson

Pre-Tournament Contest – Brett Bottenberg

Best “May the 4th be With You” Star Wars Theme Hole Sponsor – Helix Electric

Thank you to our Volunteers & Committee members; we couldn’t do it without you!

 Volunteers:

  • Ashley Bingham, 911 Restoration
  • Deshone Brunswick, SVN | The Equity Group
  • Boyden Bulloch, EBS
  • Catherine Casasola, Tru Coat Paint
  • Devon Cole, Martin-Harris Construction
  • Micah Durham, Nevada General Construction
  • Dylan Garrett, Agave Paint & Drywall
  • Katie Goetchius, Korte Company
  • Jade Kopittke, Prologis
  • Robert Kraus, One Nevada Credit Union
  • Melissa Lawrence, NextGen Protection
  • Jordan Leavitt, Leavitt Insurance
  • Meredith Livermore, Commercial Roofers, Inc.
  • Nora Murphy, SVN | The Equity Group
  • Marc Philipi, Prospect Street Capital
  • Leslie Roberts, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
  • Philip Short, First Savings Bank
  • Ellie Soloman, Network Security Consultants
  • Sandy Thompson, One Nevada Credit Union
  • Michael Zufelt, One Nevada Credit Union

2023 Golf Committee:

Chair: Alicia Nelson, NextGen Protection
Vice Chair: Brett Bottenberg, McGinley & Associates
Board Liaison: Michael Newman, Compass Development
NAIOP Southern Nevada: Katrina Bruce & Johna Savage

  • Thomas Dunton, Nevada General Construction
  • Samantha Flaherty, Encore Landscape Management
  • Dylan Garrett, Agave Paint & Drywall
  • Roberto Gonzalez, McGinley & Associates
  • Guy Gugino, Union Bank
  • Paul Haber, XIT Solutions
  • Lisa Harman, Eagle One Construction
  • Ryan Hendershot, Colliers International
  • Alan Johnson, R & O Construction
  • David Logsdon, Actus
  • Traci Morgan, Affordable Concepts, Inc.
  • Terry O’Connor
  • Trevor Olkowski, G2 Capital Development
  • Rick Rainey, Builders United
  • John Rizzo, 555 Solutions LLC
  • Wendi Schweigart, NDL Group Inc.
  • Michael Sclafani, Logic Commercial Real Estate
  • Bob Stewart, Old Republic Title
  • Cody Taylor, Partner Engineering and Science
  • Nick Till, NAI Vegas

Once again, thank you to all of our amazing event Sponsors, our awesome Golf Committee and the outstanding Volunteers who made the event a huge success. And as always, thank you Katrina and Johna for all that you do!  Congratulations to our winners and we look forward to next year!  If you are a NAIOP member and would like to serve on the committee, please reach out.

Save the date of our 2024 Tournament on Friday May 17, 2023 at the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort.

Check out our photos from the event here.

Golf Committee Chair
Alicia Nelson
Business Development
NextGen Protection
702.600.8512 | anelson@nextgenprotection.com

Air conditioning is essential to surviving Southern Nevada’s desert heat, especially in summer. Many businesses use evaporative cooling systems to lower indoor temperatures, but these systems soak up a lot of water in the cooling process.

The second largest consumer of the community’s water supply, evaporative cooling systems are prohibited in new construction for projects applying for building permits after Sept. 1, 2023. While evaporative systems used for existing buildings may continue to operate, businesses are finding ways to install new technologies that make the systems more water efficient.

“Resorts World is a great example of a company upgrading evaporative cooling technology to save water,” said Patrick Watson, SNWA Conservation Services Administrator.

The 3,500-room hotel installed a new controller for its cooling towers, improving water efficiency by better controlling and monitoring of the system’s operations.

“With the new controller, Resorts World can cycle water more efficiently and replace it less often, saving more than 18 million gallons of water a year,” Watson said, adding that the resort took advantage of SNWA’s Water Efficient Technologies (WET) rebate to help pay for some of the costs associated with the upgrade.

The WET rebate offers financial incentives to commercial and multifamily property owners who install water-efficient devices and technologies. Properties can earn up to $500,000 in cash incentives for replacing cooling towers and swamp coolers with dry-cooled systems. Currently, Clark County is supplementing the SNWA rebate for consumptive use technologies through a grant (while funding is available).

“Dry cooled systems often use more energy than evaporative cooling systems, but dry cooling is more water efficient” Watson said, acknowledging one of the reasons some property owners have not pursued other cooling options. “We can always generate more power, but we can’t always create more water. Protecting our water supply during this megadrought is essential to our community’s long-term sustainability.”

For more information about the WET rebate, visit snwa.com.

Resorts World installed a new evaporative cooling system controller, which will cycle water more efficiently and save 18 million gallons a year.

Approximately 60 percent of all water delivered by the SNWA is consumed, primarily for landscape irrigation and cooling. Unlike water used indoors, water used outdoors and for cooling is lost as it cannot be treated and reused. As a result, consumptive water uses continue to be a primary focus area for future conservation gains.

 

Evaporative cooling systems, the second largest consumer of the community’s water supply, are prohibited in new construction for projects applying for building permits after Sept. 1, 2023.

Together again
Gee, it’s good to be together again
I just can’t imagine that you’ve ever been gone
It’s not starting over, it’s just going on

Together again
Now we’re here and there’s no need remembering when

‘Cause no feeling feels like that feeling
Together again

– The Muppets

Endearing, isn’t it?  Indeed, driving through Washoe Valley on the way to Day 1 of the 2023 Nevada Legislative Session had that unmistakable feeling of comfort and familiarity.  Despite the fact that the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and more than 20 of the 63 Legislators had never experienced a live legislative session, we were anxious to see our friends, work with our long-standing coalitions, and actually attend a live lobbying meeting for the first time since 2019. Yet, all good things must come to an end, and shortly after the gavel commenced the 2023 Session, our happy Muppets earworm quickly gave way to the mutually-assured destruction message from “Beat It”:

Just beat it, beat it 
No one wants to be defeated
Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right

Just beat it 

– Michael Jackson

As the interests of the state gave way to national political talking points and political infighting within and between the parties, the Assembly, the Senate, and the Governor’s office, the Carson faithful hunkered down for a long, bruising session.  It should come as no surprise, then, that when the dust settled on sine die, very little was accomplished.  Although legislative Democrats were quick to pillory Governor Lombardo for shattering the “record” for vetoes in a single session, very little mention has been made of either the plague-like attrition of legislation throughout the session, or the volume of awful policy which the legislature sent to the Governor’s desk, necessitating “the power of the pen.”  And while the number of vetoed bills is high, so too is the hubris in expecting that all bills passed by the legislature should be signed by the Governor, a separate but co-equal branch of government.

The numbers are eye-opening:

– BDR”s – 1,234

– Total Bills Introduced – 1,044

– Bills Passed and Sent to Gov. Lombardo – 610 (58%)

– Bills Signed – 535 (88%)

– Bills Vetoed – 75 (12%)

By any measure, the 2023 Nevada Legislative Session will be remembered for its missed opportunities, as Nevada electeds invariably chose politics over state interests on nearly every issue.  Indeed, even the appropriations bill for capital improvements was unable to escape partisan gamesmanship, as the Senate failed to pass the bill by sine die, requiring a special session to be held such that the budget could be fully funded; a constitutional mandate.  Over and over, bills that passed were either unanimous or party-line; a key indicator that caucuses are dug-in and bills are not being negotiated.  And while the parties may point to their respective “wins,” reality is actual progress for the State of Nevada was minimal, and Nevada’s unique 120-day biennial legislative session prevents further action until 2025, widening the chasm between where Nevada needs to be as a state in the 21st century, and where it ended up after sine die on June 6, 2023.

 

Jon Leleu
Attorney/Lobbyist
Argentum Partners
jleleu@argentumnv.com

Kerrie Kramer
Lobbyist
Argentum Partners
kerrie@argentumnv.com

 

NAIOP Southern Nevada has announced the 2023 Developing Organizational Leadership Institute (DOLI) inaugural class graduates.

DOLI class graduates include:

  • Deshone Brunswick , SVN | The Equity Group
  • Ciara Edgerly, Prologis
  • Thomas Godbout, First Savings Bank
  • Tonya Gottesman, MDL Group
  • Kari Laurent, LaPour
  • Danny Leanos, Jones Lang LaSalle
  • Amanda McCauley, Schnitzer Properties
  • Lucas Mojonnier, Coldwell Banker Commercial Premier
  • Chase Pavlov, Colliers International
  • Domenica Richards, P. Morgan Private Bank
  • Joy Rineer, Simpson Coulter Studio
  • Michael Sclafani, Logic Commercial Real Estate
  • Owen Sherwood, Fidelity National Commercial Services
  • Mike Tabeek, SIOR, CCIM, Newmark
  • Justin Witt, CBRE

The program’s main objectives include creating a cohort of diverse commercial real estate development industry professionals, while providing class participants with advanced and accelerated information about the chapter and NAIOP corporate, as well as providing core development in leadership concepts, including leadership styles, avoiding burnout, time management and productivity tools, and exposure to personality and communication styles.

DOLI officially launched in March 2023 and the graduation took place in May with special keynote speaker Frank Martin, a Southern Nevada icon in the commercial real estate and construction industries.

NAIOP DOLI Class of 2023 Graduation Group

Class is officially in session for the Developing Leaders Institute Class of 2023! DLI classes are held on the 2nd Monday of each month and will take place at the CBRE office. This year’s class consists of 22 professionals in the commercial real estate industry who will learn all things development from various subject matter experts. After each class, there is intentional networking at Born & Raised with the class teachers, NAIOP Board Members and DLI Alumni to further show this organizations commitment to the younger classes’ success.

DLI Class #1 – Commercial Real Estate Overview

The first DLI class was held on October 17, 2022 and was led by the President of Thomas & Mack Development Group, Rick Myers. Rick begun the class by discussing an article that he asked the class to read prior to meeting.  The article covered the story of T. Boone Pickens as he navigated a market takeover and showed what it takes to be forward thinking and persevere amongst your competitors.

In addition to highlighting what it takes to be successful in the business, he provided a basic overview of the industry from the various product types, to financing and development. He provided examples as to how each product type is evolving and offered insight on how to stay on top of trends and lead the market.

To conclude the first class, the group voted for class president and class vice president. Congratulations to Chris Molina with McDonald Carano for being nominated as class president and Megan McInerney with Colliers International for being nominated as class vice president.

Thank you to MDL Group for sponsoring this class.

DLI Class #2 – Market Analysis & Site Selection

The second DLI class was held on November 14, 2022 and began with a current economic overview led by John Restrepo, Principal of RCG Economics. John provided a macro view of the economy and went into detail on the Nevada economy as well as offered insights into how these trends effect the commercial real estate market. He also went into detail about what states are best to do business in and why companies chose to do business in those states. Overall, Nevada came in at #39 on the list.

The second portion of the class was led by Adam Malan, Vice President at Colliers International and Ryan Martin, Senior Vice President at MDL Group, who spoke about market analysis and site selection. Both shared examples of completed projects and walked through the initial site selection process. They explained the risks you take and hurdles that you must overcome to develop successful projects.

Thank you to Schnitzer Properties for sponsoring this class.

DLI Class #3 – Due Diligence, Planning and Entitlements

The third DLI class was held on December 12, 2022 and was led George Garci of G.C. Garcia Inc., and Marianna Hunnicutt with Kimley-Horn and Associates.

George’s firm, the red tape Sherpas, taught the class the importance of investing in high quality due diligence up front in a deal to save all parties time and money later on. He provided many examples of situations that could have been avoided by better due diligence in the planning stages of a project.

Marianna taught the class the importance of understanding the various jurisdictions that review your projects as well as discussed various factors that play into the engineering of a project from mapping, drainage, traffic, utilities, etc. She tasked the class with their first group project where they were given a blank site and had to lay out a project while being aware of ingress/egress, grading, drainage, etc. The class took away a lot of valuable lessons from this group activity.

Thank you to G.C. Garcia, Inc for sponsoring this class.

DLI Class #7 – Navigating the Construction Process

On April 10, 2023, the 7th DLI class took place, led by the esteemed team at Burke Construction. The session focused on a comprehensive exploration of the construction process, encompassing the various systems and approaches to ground-up development projects. Held at the Harry Reid Tech Park, a notable construction project by Burke, the class offered an immersive experience. Following the informative presentation, attendees were given the opportunity to tour the facility, gaining firsthand exposure to the discussed construction components and witnessing fascinating ongoing projects by UNLV students.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Burke Construction for sponsoring this class.

DLI Class #8 – Marketing & Networking

The 8th DLI class convened on May 8, 2023, under the guidance of industry experts Dan Doherty (Colliers), Paul Sweetland (Colliers), and Dan Palmeri (CBRE). This session emphasized the significance of marketing and branding strategies within your business. Dan Doherty and Paul Sweetland offered insights from a team perspective, emphasizing the importance of marketing and branding for your clients. Dan Palmeri delved into the realm of personal branding on platforms such as LinkedIn and Instagram. He shared his success in establishing himself as a tenant rep broker in Las Vegas, encouraging attendees to develop a personable and distinctive presence on social media, leading to increased business opportunities.

Our appreciation goes to Panattoni Development Company for their sponsorship of this class.

DLI Class #9 – Real Estate Operations – Operating a Large RE Portfolio/Asset Management

The 9th DLI class was held on June 12, 2023, where we heard from industry professionals Lisa Brady (Prologis), Reed Gottesman (Schnitzer) and Amanda McCauley (Schnitzer). They have all had incredible successes throughout their careers as developers and we were honored to hear them speak about “how to play at being a developer”. They provided the class with insightful information on how the development process works and what they development playbook looks like. They ended the class with advice for us all as we advance in our careers.

We extend our sincerest thanks to Wallin Construction for their sponsorship of this class.

Apart from the monthly group sessions, each individual group is diligently working on finalizing their development projects, which will be presented to the Dudes on September 11, 2023. We wish all the groups the best of luck in their endeavors!

 

Class Vice President:
Megan McInerney
Associate Vice President | Las Vegas – Office Division
Colliers International
(702) 836-3700 | megan.mcinerney@colliers.com