ZZZ - GMG - VEGAS INC 2011-2014

8 | 3 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 4 | T h e 13 t h A n n u a l N e v a d a B u s i n e s s H a l l o f F a m e 2014 Inductees presented by UNLV Lee Business School leadership sponsors Bank of America Bank of Nevada Howard Hughes Corp/Summerlin in-kind sponsors Back Bar USA JMA Architecture Studios Greenspun Media Group Southern Wine and Spirits Deloitte & Touche USA LLP Thursday, February 13, 2014 6 p.m. Cocktail Reception 7 p.m. Dinner and Hall of Fame Induction $275 per person or $2,500 per table Grand Ballroom The Mirage Hotel & Casino 3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South To register, please visit netcommunity.unlv.edu/NevadaBusinessHallofFame or contact Anna Drury at Anna.drury@unlv.edu or 702.895.3608 Join us as we honor these individuals who have helped chart the course for a prosperous and progressive Nevada. The 13th Annual Nevada Business Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony Thursday, February 13, 2014 LEE BUSINESS SCHOOL Sponsored by Diana L. Bennett Governor Kenny C. Guinn (posthumously) Mark L. Fine In busIness by Paul Takahashi staff writer Nevada higher education leaders ap- pointed UNLV stadium point man, for- mer Hotel College dean and Las Vegas business leader Don Snyder to become the university's acting president. Snyder became the 10th UNLV presi- dent with overwhelming support from Nevada regents and the Las Vegas busi- ness community, who lobbied hard for the former Boyd Gaming Corp. and Fremont Street Experience executive. Snyder is the second business leader and non-academic to lead UNLV after former Gov. Kenny Guinn's tenure in the mid-1990s. Snyder represents a departure from the typical university president, an aca- demic with a lengthy curriculum vitae and list of research publications. One regent called Snyder a "nontraditional candidate" for the job, because of his extensive banking and gaming back- ground. While some faculty members ques- tioned appointing a non-academic to run the largest university in Nevada, re- gents said they wanted a temporary leader who could strengthen the ties between the UNLV and the Las Ve- gas business commu- nity. As Southern Ne- vada looks to diversify its economy, political leaders are looking at UNLV to educate the workforce for burgeoning careers in the technology sector, unmanned aerial drones and renewable energy. Eleven regents voted in favor of Sny- der's appointment. Two — Ron Knecht and Allison Stephens — abstained. Snyder said he was "absolutely stunned" by the appointment, and was gratified and humbled by the support- ive comments. "I will never let you down," Snyder told regents. "I look forward to the work." Business leaders said they supported Snyder because he was familiar with departing President Neal Smatresk's vi- sion for UNLV. During his four-year tenure at UNLV, Smatresk pushed to transform the rela- tively young university into a top-tier, in- ternationally renowned research insti- tution with a dedicated medical school and on-campus football stadium. Snyder, who helped raise a record $537 million during UNLV's inaugural capital campaign, was tapped by Sma- tresk to shepherd the campus football stadium to completion. Regents chose Snyder over several internal candidates, including former UNLV President Carol Harter and John Valery White, UNLV's executive vice president and provost. While Snyder was supported by the business community, Harter was sup- ported by some members in the faculty and community. She was asked to resign by former Chancellor Jim Rogers in 2006 after 11 years as the university's leader. Ironically, Rogers' wife, Beverly, was the sole public supporter of Harter dur- ing the regents meeting in which Snyder was appointed. "I'm here to stand up for Carol Harter," she told regents. "I am sick to my stom- ach about (Klaich's) recommendation" to name Snyder as acting president. White said he did not want to become the acting president, since serving in that capacity would preclude his eligibil- ity to apply in the presidential search. Regents Cedric Crear and Stephens said they would have liked to name White as interim president, groomed to eventually become the first black presi- dent of UNLV. Crear questioned Snyder's ability to juggle his duties as chairman of the UNLV stadium authority board and act- ing president of the university. Last year, Snyder stepped down as Ho- tel College dean to devote his full atten- tion to the stadium project. "I don't know how (Snyder) can do two jobs," Crear said. Klaich defended his recommenda- tion, arguing Snyder is a "superb mul- titasker" who can handle both respon- sibilities. He said the stadium board recently hired a project manager who will do most of the heavy lifting on the feasibility study. higher educaTion regenTs go ouTside academic realm For acTing unlV PresidenT snyder 20140203_VI08_F.indd 8 1/30/14 11:59:36 AM

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