Face to Face - February 2005

Face to Face

Name: Lisa Ackerman

Title: Vice President/Campus Director for Southern Nevada

Company: University of Phoenix, Southern Nevada Campus

Type of Business :  Private university with five Southern Nevada campus locations, offering degree programs for working adults

Location :  Las Vegas and Henderson

Years in Nevada: 8

Years with Company: 8

Our community has a low perceived value of higher education. Nevada is ranked 46th in the nation for percent of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Most corporate positions do not require a degree, nor do many businesses provide tuition reimbursement. Only 7 percent of the population holds a master’s or higher, so recruiting faculty to meet our stringent requirements can be challenging.

The opportunity to change many lives for the better. On a personal level, our annual commencement ceremony moves me deeply as hundreds of Las Vegas grads cross the stage, hearing applause from families, friends and our staff.

I enjoy spending any free time I have with family, traveling or being outdoors.

Customer Satisfaction is Worthless, Customer Loyalty is Priceless, by Jeffrey Gitomer

Don’t compromise your ethics or change your basic personality as you reach for success – otherwise it is difficult to build a team of passionate people to run beside you.

The need for alternatives to traditional education is more evident than ever. In 1959, only 20 percent of workers between the ages of 30 and 59 needed some college – today that number is 56 percent and rising. Only 27 percent of today’s college freshmen are traditional students.

Name: Matt Bear

Title: Partner

Company: Venture Development Group

Type of Business: Real estate development focusing on shopping centers between one and 10 acres in markets west of Texas.

Location: Las Vegas

Years in Nevada: Lifelong resident

Years with Company: 2 1/2

Biggest Business Challenge:

Finding quality real estate at prices that translate into rents retailers can afford. In development it is critical to keep the "pipeline" full of development opportunities. A consistent workflow is the goal. For example, we strive to create developments, and then move to pre-development and leasing, and finally construction and rent stabilization. It takes constant attention to make sure each phase gets the attention it needs and that projects are started and finished in a way that is healthy to the organization.

Real estate development is a creative process. We look at land as a blank canvas providing us with an opportunity to innovate and create. Each and every day is something different, new and exciting.

I enjoy spending time with my wife, two daughters and two Labradors. My hobbies include golf, reading and listening to music.

Focus on goals, believe that you cannot fail, have courage to persevere through all things and never, never give up.

I believe that in the end I would like to have led a life full of passion to excel, and to have inspired others to pursue the life of their dreams with conviction, faith and courage.

No, I believe 2005 may be the strongest year in the last few years. Several new power centers in pre-development will be completed over the next two years. This will only create additional demand and activity.