Face to Face - May 2006

Face to Face

Name: Kara Kelley

Title: President and CEO

Company: Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce

Location: Las Vegas

Years in Nevada: Life

Years with Company: 10

Type of Business: Providing businesses with a unique mix of products, services and advocacy to help them prosper

Biggest Business Challenge:

Promoting a vibrant and business-friendly economy. Nevada’s robust economy is the result of the choices we have made in our state to keep taxes low, and to not burden businesses with cumbersome regulations and costly fees. These are key components of our healthy business climate, which continues to rank as one of the best in the nation for small business and job creation.

What do you like best about your job?

Working with a great team to help small businesses grow and prosper. I also interact with some of the most dynamic business leaders in the state.

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

With my husband Paul and our daughters Quinne and Katherine.

Favorite Business Book: The Executive Compass, by James O’Toole

Best Business Advice:

Promote entrepreneurism and small business. It’s a great time and place to realize the American Dream.

Little-known fact about yourself:

I am a native of Las Vegas. What would you like your legacy to be? Being a good steward for a strong economy and a healthy community.

What legislative issues did the chamber work on in the last session?

We worked to defeat many anti-business bills and advocated for sound fiscal policies. Most importantly, we attempted to hold down property taxes for all taxpayers and closely monitored state spending to ensure our hard earned dollars are efficiently spent. Additionally, we focused on improving affordable and accessible healthcare for Nevada’s working poor.

Name: Lacy Thomas

Title: Chief Executive Officer

Company: University Medical Center

Location: Las Vegas

Years in Nevada: 2

Years with Firm: 2

Type of Business: Hospital and Ambulatory Care Organization

Biggest Business Challenge:

Maintaining a competitive position in the market while still holding to the statutory mandated mission of a public hospital.

What do you like best about your job?

Seeing people working together in a team environment that results in the deliverance of high-quality patient care.

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

An executive with a professional sports organization.

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

Relaxing with family and friends.

Little-known fact about yourself:

I’m a history buff.

Best Business Advice:

Be quick to listen and slow to speak. The acknowledgement of the team is more important than the promotion of one’s self.

What would you like your legacy to be?

That I was able to develop a team of dedicated individuals who were committed to giving their all to UMC’s goal of providing the highest level of quality patient care, regardless of the person’s ability to pay.

How big of a problem is it that uninsured patients use your emergency room as their primary source of medical care?

It is a huge problem; however, being uninsured is not the only issue. In most cases, their healthcare needs could be better met in a non-urgent environment. They are in the emergency room because of a lack of access to services in their community.