Face to Face - February 2004

Face to Face

Name: Michael Marriott

Title: Executive Vice President

Company: IT Strategies International Corp.

Type of Business:

Privately-held global firm that provides computer consulting for both private companies and public organizations.

Location: Las Vegas

Years in Nevada: 6

Years with Company: 6

What do you like best about your job?

The best aspect of my job is linking the appropriate technology consultant with a client and seeing them both succeed. It is not only gratifying to witness our consultants growing with our client’s business, but also being able to bring the right technical resources to a client that are not easy for our competitors to find.

How do you spend your time when you’re not working?

I like to draw. I have earned a black belt in Tae Kwando. I also like to read and I am interested in astronomy.

To have created a strong, viable technology company in Las Vegas and to have been a part of establishing Las Vegas’ reputation as a center for leading technology businesses. Favorite Business Book:

Out of the Crises, by W. Edward Demings

Best Business Advice:

 Never give up, and never forget that the customer is the focus of all you do.

What’s the future for high-tech jobs in Southern Nevada?

The prognosis is good, considering that the predominant Nevada industry – gaming – is beginning to use computer technology in sophisticated ways and is realizing the benefits to the bottom line. This shows a promising future for technology professionals here in Nevada.

Name: Linda Harris

Title: President

Company: LF Harris and Company

Type of Business: Commercial general contractor specializing in high-end retail located in casino and strip malls

Location: Las Vegas

Years in Nevada: 26 years

Years with Company: 12 years

The majority of my time in recent years has been spent training and motivating staff to maintain high-quality projects with tight schedules, while meeting cost budgets. Client needs and competition demand stronger communication skills to provide "cheaper, better, faster" construction projects. Financial challenges are constant, with collections becoming more difficult in tough economical times.

Completing successful and unique projects with challenging schedules. It is also personally satisfying to watch our staff members grow into well-rounded construction leaders with a passion for their careers, their families and their community.

Boating on Lake Mead and trying to improve my golf game. Quite a bit of my time is also spent working with industry associations such as the Associated General Contractors, the National Association of Women in Construction and Commercial Real Estate Women.

Always say what you mean and do what you say. Don’t forget to have fun and enjoy.

The language barrier was a big challenge when we built Chopard Boutique, an exclusive jewelry and accessories store at the Forum Shops in Las Vegas. The client was from Geneva, the architect from Rome and the architectural woodwork supplier was also Italian. Shop drawings were in metric and few of our team members speak much Italian.