Feature Stories - July 2005

POWER HITTERS

Nevada’s “A” Team

by Ruth Furman

The "power hitters" profiled in this issue are different individually, but share much in common. Several of the power hitters told of their "barks" being worse than their "bites." Others listed fascinating hobbies. Still others shared interesting stories about their ascent to the top in their chosen professions.

For Jim Miller, of Reno’s Washoe Medical Center, perseverance paid off. Carol Harter of University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) dropped out of college before going on to pursue multiple degrees. Dr. John Lilley traveled to so many states that he calls himself an academic gypsy, before happily landing at University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).

The power hitters treasure their families and value their team members. "Giving back" is a value that runs deep for all, and many chose an example of enriching the community as their greatest accomplishment or proudest career moment. Most of our power hitters were modest to a fault. R&R Partners’ head honcho and lobbyist, Billy Vassiliadis, doesn’t like to talk about himself, preferring instead to tout Nevada. Other power hitters took delight in giving compliments to each other, such as good friends James Rogers and William Martin – a veritable mutual admiration society. When asked about his biggest accomplishment, Irwin Molasky talked of both his wonderful family and the Nathan Adelson Hospice, which he helped establish. Being true to themselves, dedicated to Nevada – that’s what it takes to be a power hitter.

Player: Steve Garofalo

Position: President and CEO

Team: Citibank, (Nevada)

Years in Nevada: 6

Number of Employees: 2,400

Nevada is a place rich with opportunity, according to a leader of a thriving banking and credit card organization. "I love Nevada," said Steve Garofalo, president and CEO, Citibank (Nevada). "Given the rapid growth in the state and the excellent economic climate, there is the opportunity to shape a great future here." Citibank started in the state with a small call center of fewer than 200 employees and has grown its credit card operations center to a multi-functional facility for Citigroup and Citi Cards, including consumer finance, retail banking and brokerage divisions. Citigroup is a forward-thinking organization in regard to families and, in 1991, opened the first on-site corporate childcare center in Nevada. "We are also very proud of our employees’ and our institution’s track record on volunteerism and giving back to the community in which we live, work and raise our children," said Garofalo. "Building and maintaining employee loyalty over the long term also builds customer loyalty – a key for success in our industry." Garofalo said Nevada has much to offer in the business arena, including a growing telecommunications industry. "However, if we are to attract tech professionals to the region, we must improve our fundamental building blocks: education and an educated workforce, healthcare and our cultural environment," he added.

Player: William E. Martin

Position: Chairman, President and CEO

Team: Nevada State Bank

Years in Nevada: 23
Number of Employees: 832

Brad Pitt – in a Nevada State Bank commercial? William Martin, the chairman, president and CEO of Nevada State Bank has convinced more than one "fan" that it is Pitt promoting the bank – not him – in the television ads seen round the state. "Some people believe me," said Martin, who has a well-deserved reputation as a practical joker. But Martin is known for more than the ad spots. He was named the 2003 Distinguished Nevadan by the University and Community College System of Nevada and was honored in 2001 and 2005 as one of the state’s "Most Respected CEOs" by Nevada Business Journal. The 23-year resident of Nevada said his biggest accomplishment came in 1973. As the National Bank Examiner-in-Charge, he uncovered the largest-ever bank fraud and bank failure at the U.S. National Bank of San Diego. Martin said he’s seen firsthand that great things result from treating all people with respect. The man with 832 employees statewide said only one person will be the focus of his next big project. Martin, who married his wife, Denise, in April, joked that he’ll be working to make his wife realize what a wonderful guy she married. "It may prove to be my biggest project ever," he said.

Player: George W. Smith

Position: President

Team: Bank of America Nevada

Years in Nevada: 13

Number of Employees: 2,000+

The "Can Do" Silver State? For George Smith, president of Bank of America in Nevada, it’s the only slogan that makes sense. "The wonderful pro-business attitude in Nevada makes our state the best in which to do business," said Smith, 47, who also serves as the commercial loan executive for Nevada, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. Smith and finance go back to 1982, the year he earned a bachelor’s degree in the field from California State University, Fullerton. Three years later, he earned his master’s degree – same school, same subject. Since then he’s made his mark in the banking world, with stops at Citicorp North America, Mitsui Manufacturers Bank and Bank of America – all in Los Angeles. These days, he oversees the bank with the top retail market share in Southern Nevada. "My biggest accomplishment is helping to create a strong and seasoned team of bankers who every day help our clients achieve their financial goals," said Smith, who plans to accomplish even more in the next two years. Over the next 24 months, Bank of America will develop more than 10 state-of-the-art banking centers focused on customer interaction.

Player: Dr. Carol C. Harter

Position: President

Team: University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Years in Nevada: 10

Employees: 2,800

It’s a little-known fact that the president of UNLV said "I don’t" to college and dropped out to say "I do." But Dr. Carol C. Harter – and her husband, Dr. Michael T. Harter – quickly redeemed themselves, collecting six degrees while raising their sons, Sean and Michael. Creating the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law and the UNLV School of Dental Medicine stand out as key accomplishments. She said the only two such professional schools in the state are highly regarded among national professional schools. "While building an excellent core of traditional programs, we have also worked to capitalize on Nevada’s assets by creating educational programs that build on our state’s successful industries," said Harter, who added that "it makes perfect sense," that the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration is the top-ranked hospitality program nationwide. As Southern Nevada grows, so does UNLV’s student body. While Harter said funding cannot begin to keep pace with growth, solutions are in the works. "We are engaged in UNLV’s first major capital campaign. Private sources must be available to create excellence in programs across the board," said Harter, who also looks forward to the "Midtown UNLV" initiative, a public-private effort aimed at creating a "synergistic" university district.

Player: John M. Lilley

Position: President

Team: University of Nevada, Reno

Years in Nevada: 4

Number of Employees: XX

For UNR President Dr. John Lilley, success starts with faculty, and one of the best measures of success is the dollars faculty members earn through competitive grants. Last year, UNR’s faculty raised $120 million competitively. Lilley assumed the presidency of the University of Nevada Reno, the state’s historic flagship research and land-grant university, in 2001. He has initiated a comprehensive strategic planning process for the university, collecting the best ideas and allocating operating dollars and physical space accordingly. UNR has faculty in all 17 Nevada counties, and Lilley loves the scale of life in Nevada. "Government leaders and economic leaders are very accessible here," Lilley said. "As a result, anyone who comes to Nevada has the opportunity to make a major impact." Lilley’s goal for UNR is to become better. "It’s not enough simply to become bigger." Toward that end, projects include raising money for endowments, a new knowledge center and student union. Also planned is a new campus in South Reno – the Redfield campus, a collaborative endeavor with the community college system.

Player: James E. Rogers

Position: Chancellor

Team: UCCSN

Years in Nevada: 55

Employees: 13,711

Business leader James E. Rogers approached his new endeavor as the ninth chancellor of the University and Community College System of Nevada with the gusto he is known for, focusing heavily on public-private partnerships and bringing new dollars to higher education in the state. It’s familiar terrain for Rogers, who found he was donating more of his time and resources to higher education than ever before. "There are not a lot of people out there interested in raising money for public institutions," he said. Retirement is a foreign concept to the 66-year-old, who described himself as a man of no patience. Furthermore, Rogers opined that many business people in the state gripe about quality of education, but stand outside the fence. "Las Vegas and this state have more managerial talent per capita than any place else in the world." He commended business leaders like William Martin, Glenn Schaefer and the Greenspun family for their commitment to education in the state. Rogers said a closer alignment and partnership between higher education and K-12 education is planned, with private funding steering the way. Private funding will also contribute to investments in university faculty and to scholarships to entice deserving students.

Player: Norm Dianda

Position: President

Team: Q&D Construction

Years in Nevada: native (65)

Number of Employees: 900

The Silver State offers a golden opportunity for business owners, according to Norm Dianda, a Nevada native and president of Q&D Construction, a Reno-based company with 900 employees. "We have an abundance of business leaders who have vision and can-do attitudes, which helps give us a dynamic economy," said Dianda. A well-known supporter of prudent economic development in northern Nevada, Dianda has advocated improved construction delivery systems, such as design-build and design-assist. "This is a great place to work while you’re raising your family and enjoying recreation," Dianda said. He and his wife Laura have two grown sons, Mike and Chris, and a grandson, Joey. The leader has given time and money generously to support youth education, perhaps prompted by his first mentor, a shop teacher who exposed him to the joy of building and impressed on him the importance of doing something right the first time. Among his own business accomplishments, Dianda cited his growing his company to No. 147 in Engineering News-Record’s "Top 400." The next big project for Q&D’s operations has the company moving the Artéfice by Dianda millwork manufacturing facility from Q&D headquarters to its new location in Sparks so Q&D can remodel and increase the size of its offices and mechanics shop. The company is also working on a variety of projects for East West Partners at Northstar at Tahoe.

Player: Irwin Molasky

Position: CEO

Team: The Molasky Companies

Years in Nevada: 55

Employees: 150

Irwin Molasky is an entrepreneur who likes being first with cutting-edge and meaningful projects. The Molasky Companies built the first and largest enclosed shopping mall in Southern Nevada (Boulevard), the first private hospital (Sunrise) and the first major luxury high-rise condominium (Park Towers). CEO Irwin Molasky, who has been called a high-rise pioneer, always thought of Las Vegas could go vertical. Molasky is responsible for bringing many nationally known retailers to his company’s community power centers, such as Best Buy, Office Depot, Barnes & Noble and Borders Books. The Molasky Companies are now working on the Molasky Corporate Center, the first LEED (leadership and energy efficient design) office building, which will be located in downtown Las Vegas. The building will feature collectable water and solar panels and will have re-usable materials for insulation. Molasky hopes many others will follow his company’s example. Now that land prices are doubling and tripling, building here is not for the faint of heart. A community leader and philanthropist, one "first" Molasky takes particular pride in is that he helped establish the Nathan Adelson Hospice, serving the terminally ill and their families.

Player: Peter Thomas

Position: Managing Partner

Team: Thomas & Mack Co.

Years in Nevada: 50

Number of employees: 25

His company owns and operates more than 1.7 million square feet of office and retail space in Southern Nevada. So, what’s Peter M. Thomas’ greatest accomplishment? "Getting my wife, Nancy, to marry me 33 years ago," said the managing partner of Thomas & Mack Co., a locally owned and operated asset management firm that has been developing and managing commercial real estate since 1956. Beyond the successful marriage proposal, Thomas said selling Valley Bank of Nevada to Bank of America tops his achievement list. From the 1950s through the 1970s, Valley Bank was the only bank lending significant sums to the gaming industry. "In 1992, Bank of America did not have a gaming loan portfolio. We provided the initial policies and experience to get them into the business. Today, Bank of America is the largest gaming lender in the world," Thomas said. The man who loves to ride his motorcycle while "soaking in Americana" is quick to credit the "Mack half" of Thomas & Mack. "The Mack family has been our partner in everything since my father, Parry, joined up with Jerry Mack some 50 years ago. All the second-generation members of both families are partners," said Thomas, who looks forward to the completion of Thomas & Mack’s "next big thing" – the Beltway Business Park, being developed in conjunction with Majestic Realty.

Player: Dr. Anthony Marlon

Position: CEO and Chairman

Team: Sierra Health Services

Years in Nevada: 32

Number of employees: 2,800

When Dr. Anthony Marlon’s grandson was three years old, he took his powerful grandfather’s face in his tiny hands and said, as only a child will, "Poppa, you are not mean, you just look mean." However you describe his expression, you only have to listen to Marlon talk for a few moments to realize he’s passionate about Nevada – and the healthcare it provides. Sierra Health insures many Nevada residents with managed-care plans. One of the company’s key objectives is wooing more medical professionals to the Silver State. Marlon, CEO and chairman of Sierra Health Services, said he remains extremely concerned about the deficit of quality young professionals coming to the market. Sierra Health has stepped up its already-aggressive recruiting efforts, especially for nurses and certain specialized medical professionals. The company has also invested heavily in technology, such as electronic prescriptions and digital radiology. Based on a successful program used at its Southwest Medical Associates, Sierra is expanding use of technology for electronic medical records, which Marlon sees as increasing the quality of medical care for patients and eliminating duplication of service and medical errors. "Las Vegas continues to grow, and we are trying to adapt to that growth and take advantage of it," he said.

Player: Jim Miller

Position: President and CEO

Team: Washoe Medical Center

Years in Nevada: 50

Number of Employees: 4,510

Colonel Sanders received 1,000 rejections before selling his KFC recipe. Jim Miller was turned down by 17 potential employers after graduating from college. Even the Colonel would be impressed with Miller’s mantra: "Develop and appreciate relationships with others who believe in you, and never stop believing in yourself." His credo worked like a charm. The 50-year resident of Nevada is the president and CEO of Washoe Medical Center. Based in Reno, the four-hospital system has forged medical ground. The Novalis shaped-beam surgery for cancer treatment and the Women’s Heart Program are just two of its crowning glories. He rides a unicycle in his free time, but on the job Miller enjoys collaborating with others to turn dreams into reality. Along with his 4,510 employees, Miller continually strives to meet the healthcare needs of the rapidly growing Northern Nevada community. Like most business leaders, Miller is focused on employee retention and recruitment. "Retaining, recruiting and training enough qualified professionals to ensure we are able to provide timely, quality healthcare services is part of the challenge of meeting the growing healthcare needs of our region," said Miller, the 2005 chair of the Nevada Hospital Association. With growth comes expansion. It’s something Miller knows well. A 10-story, 50,000-square-foot patient care tower and parking garage at the main campus are slated for completion in early 2007.

Player: Dr. Anthony Pollard

Position: Founder, Owner and Medical Director

Team: Rainbow Medical Centers

Years in Nevada: 17

Number of Employees: 156

When asked to name his accomplishments, you’d expect Dr. Anthony Pollard to first mention Rainbow Medical Centers, a practice he started in 1989 that now has seven locations serving the Las Vegas Valley. Instead, Pollard primarily points to the Anthony L. Pollard Charitable Foundation. Now, Pollard and his wife Diane are at work building a charter school in West Las Vegas called the Rainbow Dream Academy. "I’d like to see more people get more involved in philanthropy and social issues in the community so we maintain survivability in the future," said Dr. Pollard. But his emphasis on community doesn’t mean healthcare – and the healthcare system – isn’t also a priority. "The business of doing business in medicine has made growth more challenging for medical providers here," he said. "You have to make sure every pressure point is taken care of, and you can’t afford to have a lot of hiccups." Pollard believes much of Rainbow’s success and growth is due to following a business plan, watching overhead and managing expenditures without sacrificing the ability to deliver a quality product for the patient or the integrity of the employee. "From a primary care perspective, we still deliver the best possible care we can to our patients," he said.

Player: William Raggio

Position: Majority Leader

Team: Nevada State Senate

Years in Nevada: native (77)

Number of Employees: n/a

Player: Harry Reid

Position: Minority Leader

Team: U.S. Senate

Years in Nevada: native (65)

Number of Employees: n/a

Harry Reid values families – both his own and those of the Nevadans he represents in Washington D.C. as Senate Minority Leader. "The issues important to Nevada are the same issues that are important to the country, like healthcare, education, lowering the price of gas, protecting Social Security, and pension reform," he said. He pointed to the recent compromise on filibusters as one of the biggest accomplishments in his tenure as Senate Minority Leader. It’s a deal he believes will pave the way to more bipartisan work with Republicans. A father of five and grandfather of 15, Reid takes every opportunity to spend time with his family. "I have two sons in Henderson, one son in Reno, my daughter in the D.C. area and another son in Salt Lake City," he said. "So wherever my wife Landra and I go, we have children and grandchildren around us." For inspiration in leadership and taking care of Nevada’s families, the senator relied on his relationship with former two-term governor Mike O’Callaghan. "I admired the way he took care of people and was fair to everyone," said Reid. "He was also a man of great strength and leadership. I valued his advice and try to live my life in a way that would make him proud."

Player: Billy Vassiliadis

Position: CEO and Partner

Team: R&R Partners

Years in Nevada: xx

Employees: xx

If you’ve heard the phrase "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas," then you’ve heard the work of R&R Partners, led by Billy Vassiliadis, CEO and partner. "We thought it was a great ad campaign – but I don’t think anyone anticipated it would become a commonly used phrase in our culture," said Vassiliadis. "Every advertising agency dreams of the day when that happens." But there’s more associated with Vassiliadis than one mega-successful campaign. He’s also served as a top political adviser for federal, state and local elected officials and a public affairs and communications specialist used by leaders on both sides of the political fence. Even so, continuing to promote Southern Nevada and developing a greater sense of community are two top-of-mind items for Vassiliadis. Although tribal gaming is not the threat it once was, Vassiliadis still sees competition as the biggest issue facing Las Vegas. Following that, he’d like to see improvements in education at all levels and the development of a greater sense of community. A former Chicagoan, Vassiliadis is passionate about improving the livability of the city he lives in with his wife, son and daughter and is an advocate for a performing arts center and a professional basketball team.

Ruth Furman
Ruth Furman is a freelance writer based in southern Nevada.