Face to Face - June 2004

Face to Face

Name Dr. Frederick A. Tarantino

Title President and General Manager

Company Bechtel Nevada Corporation

Type of Business  Management and operations contractor for the Nevada Test Site.

Location Las Vegas

Years in Nevada 8 years

Years with Company 3 years

Transitioning the Nevada Test Site from its Cold War mission to becoming a multi-purpose site that serves the defense needs of the 21st century.

The people. Bechtel Nevada people are terrific – they are committed to our mission, a safe working environment and each other’s well-being. They are also motivated by our mission, which is to provide important testing, experimentation and training to assist in national defense. It is a very gratifying mission, particularly in this period of national need to fight the war on terrorism.

I enjoy spending time with my children, especially my youngest son, who will graduate from high school this year.

Favorite Business Book :

The Effective Executive, by Peter Drucker

Best Business Advice :

The time you spend on people will pay off a hundred-fold in your overall business performance.

We are expanding our counterterrorism and homeland security efforts, developing science-based experimental physics capabilities to verify nuclear reliability without underground testing, and preserving the ability to conduct an underground test if the nation ever needs it.

Name: Kevin M. Rabbitt

Title: Executive Vice President, Products and Services

Company:  GES Exposition Services

GES Exposition Services provides exhibition and event services in every major convention market across North America.

Location: Las Vegas

Years in Nevada: 2 years

Years with Company: 2 years

During the past couple of years, exhibitors have been looking for greater returns from their tradeshow participation, while their corporate marketing budgets continued to decline. GES rose to this challenge by executing two new programs. Our operations excellence program helps keep exhibitors’ costs down by making our processes more efficient. Our exhibitor value program provides high-tech tools to enhance the tradeshow experience.

My free time is consumed by my wife, Emily, and our two daughters, Kristen (4) and Sara (2). I also enjoy playing basketball and watching live sporting events.

Don’t wait for the 100 percent right answer before taking action. Rather, begin executing with the 80 percent right answer that is 100 percent implementable, then continually refine the approach over time.

I would like to be remembered as a good husband, father and citizen who made a positive impact on the people in my life. Second, I would like to be remembered as someone who had a track record for success by consistently demonstrating leadership, integrity, perseverance, courage and respect for others.

GES has over 440 miles of carpet in inventory, produces 1,875,000 square feet of graphics and signage annually and processes more than 24,000 W-2s per year. In other words, it takes a small army of very sophisticated and experienced people to construct and dismantle what is virtually a small city in just a few short days.

Name: Jonathan Snyder

Title: CEO

Company:  KeyOn Communications

Type of Business :

KeyOn provides high-speed Internet service to homes and business throughout Las Vegas.  

Location: Las Vegas

Years with Company: 2

Years in Nevada: Nevada native

As a start-up provider of telecommunications services, competing against larger and well-capitalized companies, the hardest part of our business is making sure customers know our service is available. Building brand awareness is something all start-ups face, and it is even truer in a business where the phone company and cable company have direct contact with your potential customers.

I enjoy facing the day-to-day challenges of running a young and aggressive company. Each day brings its share of tough decisions. Being in a position to help guide the company through these challenges and opportunities makes each day more exciting and rewarding than the next.

While work takes up a considerable time given the stage of our company, I try to take time to be with my family and friends. I enjoy sports – both watching and participating – and have recently taken up the guitar. When we have time, my wife and I enjoy traveling.

I would like to help diversify the Las Vegas business market to include technology companies and to create an environment where young companies can thrive. Along with a few other start-up companies that have achieved success in Las Vegas, KeyOn is blazing a trail that hopefully will open opportunities to other technology companies when they consider making their homes in Las Vegas. I hope we will have provided the inspiration and ultimately the success to attract these companies to the Valley.  

Favorite Business Book:

The Goal, by Eliyaju M. Goldratt

Business is a constantly evolving process that requires great discipline and hard work, and more importantly, patience. Always keep your options open – even if it means walking away from deals.