Face to Face - March 2008

Face to Face

Pete Blakely

President

BJG / Architecture + Engineering

Reno

Years in Nevada: Native

Years with Firm: 15

Type of business:

Architectural and Structural Engineering Design Services

Biggest Business Challenge:     

Creating the growth necessary to provide opportunities for my employees’ professional growth.

What do you like best about your job?    

Interacting with people to collaboratively solve problems.

If you could start over and choose a different profession, what would it be?  

I think if I were to start over, I would probably get involved in the medical industry.  Having spent a lot of time in hospitals over the last few years, the engineer in me has been very frustrated with the inefficiencies of hospital operations.

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

With my five kids, scouting and skiing.

What would you like your legacy to be?

A company that lives beyond me with a culture of responding to the changing needs of society.

Little-known fact about yourself:

I have two very distinct personalities.  My work persona seems to be completely different than my home persona. When people from work see me at home, it completely changes their perceptions about me.

Best Business Advice:

Hire the best possible people and get out of their way.

Was it difficult to incorporate green concepts into your company's culture?

We incorporated green into our culture because our employees demanded that we do so – it is the right thing to do.  Determining what makes “green sense” and what doesn’t has been somewhat difficult, but since the drive came from below, it has not been hard getting acceptance.

Robbie Graham

President

Nevada Title Company

Las Vegas

Years in Nevada:    30                                  

Years with Firm:    27

Type of business:

Title and Escrow

Biggest business challenge:

Acquiring and retaining the right people. Our industry is relationships and people based – without the right people we are not able to serve our customers. We believe our employees are our most valuable resource.

What do you like best about your job?   

The constant opportunity for growth – it is an ever-changing environment and industry. It’s important to keep an open mind to learning and exploring new ways of doing your job.

If you could start over and choose a different profession, what would it be?

I love what I do so to consider starting over is difficult to imagine. Perhaps I would have gained a degree in law as that area has been so vital to our growth.  

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

Mostly with my family, as I have two small children at home.

Little-known fact about yourself:

For many years I supported my husband in his art career – I sold art, decorated galleries and loved every minute of it!

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

I love being with my husband and best friend – Alex. We exercise, enjoy movies, love visiting our second home in Prescott, AZ and we like to travel.

Best Business Advice:

Stay focused on the basics, do what you do better than anyone else. Always be learning and developing. Information and knowledge are power.

Do you see an end in sight for the downturn in the real estate market?

Las Vegas is an extremely resilient economy. I feel confident as business leaders that we are all looking at ways to correct the current real estate market. Unfortunately, it may be a year-long process.