VEGAS INC Magazine - Latest Las Vegas business news, features and commentaries about gaming, tourism, real estate and more
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/31693
“Only after solid efforts to help them improve performance should substandard teachers be removed from the classroom. But a system that protects poor teachers at the expense of our children cannot continue.” Chamber policy leaders also say colleges and universities need to be more entrepreneurial, work with the business community, place students where their skills and interests best fit and be aligned with economic development plans. he chamber also is tying its support for additional tax revenue to reforming the collective bargaining process and adjusting local government pay, fixing the public employees’ retirement system and discontinuing state retiree health insurance subsidies for new employees. The chamber has been beating the drum of reform of PERS and PEBS—the Public Employees’ Retirement System and the Public Employees’ Benefits System—for years. The 2009 legislative session ended with a small modified business tax increase for nonfinancial institutions with payrolls of more than $250,000 minus health insurance benefits. The effect was that large companies paid more and small businesses got tax breaks. Legislative leaders say 74 percent of Nevada businesses got that break. The collective bargaining reform plan is similar to proposals that Republican governors have pressed for nationwide. The eyes of the nation were on Wisconsin this year when the debate reached the state house in Madison and lawmakers left town to avoid voting on a reform proposal championed by newly-elected Republican Gov. Scott Walker. Locally, firefighters and their unions were in the hot seat when sick-leave abuses were uncovered and rightfully questioned. The chamber makes the case that because of collective bargaining, public employees are paid far more than the national average, which exacerbates retirement system obligations. “High salaries have also resulted in Nevada having the least public employees per person in the country, meaning there are fewer employees providing services to the people of Nevada,” the chamber’s reform position paper says. The chamber seeks several changes state law regarding collective bargaining agreements. Its five-legged reform plan is thorough and well stated. But with Democratic majorities in the Senate and Assembly, there’s little chance for it to win approval. And that’s where the question about the chamber’s relevancy comes into play. The jury is still out on whether the chamber and its positions matter. But for the good of the state and local economy, they must. Crosson saw the opportunities in his short tenure as chamber CEO. McMillan and many chamber leaders share that vision and want to pursue it. What follows are other proposed reforms the chamber should genuinely consider: n Continue the focus on education. Bringing Smatresk to chamber leadership was a great move. Local leaders can learn from Northern Nevada how the cohesiveness between UNR and the business community there has helped them both. There’s a good core of support for UNLV in Las | 16 MAY 2011 | Vegas, but not to the UNR level. Local business has to get behind UNLV, and it will make both entities more relevant. n Be willing to compromise. Tying support of tax revenue to a vast reform package that has little chance of passage doesn’t serve the business community, much of which agrees that fixing the education system should be the priority in turning the economy around. Chamber lobbyists need to recognize that the goal should be winning small reform battles instead of the whole war. try n Support, but don’t to take the CHAMBERS, ADJACENT NORTH LAS VEGAS The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce isn’t the only business organization transitioning through a leadership change. The North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce lead on economic diversification. A big change expected from the Legislature this year involves the transformation of the Nevada Economic Development Commission into a more public- private partnership. Economic diversification is an important issue, but it’s not the chamber’s key responsibility. But the chamber should respond to inquiries about the pros and cons of relocating to Southern Nevada, and that means being honest about education and how it can be improved. n Engage the gaming industry. One would think that in a city like Las Vegas, casino companies would dominate the chamber of commerce. Most major gaming companies except Station Casinos are members, but gamers don’t dominate public policy discussions. McMillan said one of her goals is to focus on where the gaming industry and the thousands of other members have common ground. “I think we have a very good relationship with our gaming members,” she said. “Our role is to find ways to successfully serve the entire business community.” But there’s no doubt that the gaming industry carries a lot of weight with lawmakers. The chamber can capitalize on that if it can align its public policy decisions with the state’s leading industry. n Continue great chamber programs. Leadership Las Vegas is one of the best programs it has developed. It’s the program that brought McMillan in and it has developed hundreds of savvy businessmen and women. Other organizations have tried to replicate the program. “Who doesn’t like Leadership Las Vegas?” McMillan says. Indeed. n Build bonds with other chambers. There’s no doubt that the Las Vegas chamber is king of the hill. It’s the by far largest chamber in the valley. But there are other business voices in Las Vegas to be heard. The Las Vegas chamber has reached out to others—the Latin chamber, the Urban chamber, the Asian chamber—and encouraged some joint meetings. The two other major municipal chambers, in Henderson and North Las Vegas, have or are getting new leadership. Now is a perfect time for there to be greater cohesiveness among various voices of business in the valley. n Let the new leadership take charge. McMillan has enormous shoes to fill and she knows it. But she has taken on big jobs before, overseeing a major communications industry merger and riding herd over regional offices in 10 states. She’s smart and charismatic. That skill set is necessary to build compromises that need to occur if we’re going to get our economy on track. Right now the chamber has the opportunity to truly matter in this important city’s business community. Right now, we really, really need it. Carpe diem, Kristin McMillan. The time has come—again—to seize the day. has a new executive director, and the Henderson Chamber of Commerce will get a new president and CEO aſter its longtime leader announced her retirement. Curtis Cummings, a board member and construction company executive, has taken the reins of the North Las Vegas chamber. Cummings will succeed the former president and CEO Michael Varney, who leſt to take the executive position at the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. “Curtis has demonstrated a high level of CUMMINGS involvement in chamber activities and a keen awareness of chamber operations in his role as vice chair of membership,” Chairman John McMillan said in announcing the appointment. “We believe he’ll be able to make the transition in executive leadership seamless and efficient.” Cummings has been on the NLVCC board of directors for four years. HENDERSON In Henderson, Alice Martz, who has been the chamber’s president and CEO for the past 14 years, announced her retirement last month aſter 24 years with the chamber. During Martz’s tenure, she established the Leadership Henderson program, created the Henderson Business Resource Center and negotiated the donation of the chamber office building. Kirk Clausen, the chamber’s chairman of the board and Wells Fargo Nevada regional president, said he is grateful for Martz’s stewardship of the chamber. “Alice’s leadership over the years has been precisely what our organization needed to ensure we’re relevant and resourceful to Henderson’s business community, then and now,” Clausen said in a statement announcing the retirement. “I wish nothing other than a joy-filled retirement as she has done so much for our community and continues to commit herself to helping us further moving forward into the future.” The chamber has begun the process of finding a replacement. —Richard N. Velotta MARTZ 25