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D E C E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1 3 / Y O U R b u s i n e s s - t o - b u s i n e s s w e e k ly SPECIAL FOCUS THE YEAR IN REVIEW This month, VEGAS INC looks back at the news of 2013 and ahead to 2014. Smatresk leaves bold legacy at university By Paul Takahashi staff writer CHRISTOPHER DeVARGAS Who's who: From left to right, Robert Young, Bruce Ford, Elaine Wynn, Dan D'Arrigo, Lisa Santwer, Bob Potts, Carla Sloan and Vince Alberta pose before participating in an end-of-the-year business roundtable hosted by VEGAS INC. FORECASTINg 2014 The panel: • Vince Alberta, vice president of public affairs, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority • Dan D'Arrigo, chief financial officer and executive vice president, MGM Resorts International • Bruce Ford, senior vice president and Nevada and San Diego core business banking manager, City National Bank • Bob Potts, research director, Governor's Office of Economic Development • Lisa Santwer, director of marketing and public relations, Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada • Carla Sloan, state director, AARP Nevada • Elaine Wynn, chairwoman, Nevada Board of Education • Robert Young, chairman, Asian Chamber of Commerce 20131202_VI01_F.indd 1 Business leaders reflect on this year and make predictions for next year By Richard N. Velotta senior staff writer W hat did Southern Nevada's business community learn in 2013? And what's the forecast for the year ahead? VEGAS INC assembled a panel of eight local businesspeople for a roundtable discussion about where we've been and where we're headed. The takeaway: The economy is improving — slowly. How did your industry fare this year, and what lessons did you learn? D'ARRIGO: The one overriding factor is that we've been the hardest hit economy in the country. Although it has been a slow recovery, it has been a steady one. We saw slow recovery in 2011, then again in '12 and '13. The good news is that we're recovering. The economy is moving in the right direction, and we've learned a lot from that. We'd all love to see the kind of recovery we had in years past. It was always a hockey-stick recovery where we'd bounce back in months rather than years. We're all a little frustrated by the pace of the recovery, but we take solace in the fact that we're heading in see ROUNDTABLE, page 14 When Neal Smatresk took the helm of UNLV four years ago, Nevada's largest university was embroiled in turmoil. Its former president had been ousted by the Nevada Board of Regents. The university was slashing programs and faculty while raising tuition and fees. Smatresk could have weathered the economic storm with his head down, hatches battened down. But he didn't. Instead, he dreamed big and created a vision that many say gave the university and Las Vegas a reason to hope in the aftermath of the Great Recession. "Neal carried us through a tough time," Regent Cedric Creer said. "Neal has done a good job, despite the budget constraints. He was the right guy at the right time for UNLV." Smatresk's sudden announcement Nov. 20 that he intends to leave UNLV to become the president of the University see UNLV,page 16 INSIDE TODAY LOG JAM | P. 6 Transportation officials expect crowds at McCarran Airport to continue to grow THE ANTI-UNION? | P. 7 Alliance to Protect Nevada Jobs hopes to become a force in state politics THE LIST | P. 22 Air cargo carriers, by pounds of cargo 11/27/13 12:41:32 PM

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