Face to Face - August 2001

Face to Face

Name: Sharolyn Craft

Title: Counseling Director

Company: UNLV Nevada Small Business Development Center

Location: Las Vegas

Type of Business: A small business assistance program in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration and UCCSN.

Years in Nevada: 14

Years with Company: 14

Biggest Business Challenge:

Assuming directorship of a new business assistance program that had serious problems, turning it around and building it into a well-known program that provides business assistance & education to more than 2,000 Southern Nevada entrepreneurs each year.

Greatest Professional Accomplishment:

Being selected every year since 1993 as one of a select group of business experts from across the U.S. to serve as a Business Plan Reviewer for the U.S. Department of Commerce NIST Advanced Technology Program. This program provides funding to private sector companies to do high risk, long-term research on technology that, if successful, could have a significant impact on the U.S. economy.

Worst Failure:

I don’t think of anything in terms of defeat but in terms of "life’s lessons" from which I gain valuable experience. However, I do wish I had concentrated more on math when I was in school. I am constantly faced with situations that demand math skills, and I think if a businessperson has a good grounding in math, he or she is much better off.

Most Valuable Lesson Learned:

Never be afraid to ask questions of anyone. If you don’t ask it, the answer is always "no." And never be afraid to say, "I don’t know," if you don’t know.

Company Goals:

To raise the NSBDC’s profile in the community, to increase our existing business assistance base and to expand our entrepreneurial education programs to provide Southern Nevada small businesses with the tools they need to have to grow and prosper.

Best Business Advice:

Learn to trust your own instincts and surround yourselves with experts who are not afraid to disagree with you when necessary. Create your own "teams" to build your business — no one works in a vacuum.

Name: Steve Comer

Title: Managing Partner

Company: Andersen (formerly Arthur Andersen)

Type of Business: A professional services firm specializing in accounting and business advisory services. The Las Vegas office serves more than 75 clients statewide.

Years in Nevada: 16

Years with Company: 29

Biggest Business Challenge:

The public accounting and consulting business has changed significantly over my career and it continues to change. It is challenging to help our employees and our organization take advantage of the opportunities created by change.

Greatest Professional Accomplishment:

In 1985, Andersen established a permanent presence in Las Vegas. Since that time, this office has grown to be one of the city’s largest accounting and business advisory practices, with more than 100 professionals. I am proud to be a part of our growth in Las Vegas because it means that our clients are satisfied with our services – and they’re growing with us.

Worst Failure:

Southern Nevada has grown quickly and consistently. I did not foresee the continued growth, and I believe that even more opportunity existed than was previously identified by the Andersen organization.

Most Valuable Lesson Learned:

Business relationships are a long-term proposition. If you start a relationship with the idea that it will last a lifetime, you will have a mutually beneficial and long lasting relationship for both parties.

Company Goals:

Andersen strives to provide strategic solutions designed with our clients’ needs in mind. It aims to help our clients improve business performance by giving them the information they need to meet specific challenges, particularly those that arise from the rapidly expanding and diverse economy we have in Nevada.

Best Business Advice:

After studying a business opportunity or issue, even if you are unable to come to a conclusion, at least do something. If you take action, something will happen — if you do nothing, you haven’t progressed.

Name: Steven O. Kwon

Title: President and Founder

Company: GKG Builders, Inc.

Location: Las Vegas

Type of Business: General contractor, specializing in construction of commercial office buildings.

Years in Nevada: 27

Years with Company: 15

Biggest Business Challenge:

As a general contractor, I often must manage the potentially conflicting interests of the owner, the design professionals and the subcontractors who build the project. My biggest challenge is making sure the owner gets the building that was contemplated, while addressing the changes or clarifications that come up during construction, all the while making sure I and my subs get properly paid.

Greatest Professional Accomplishment:

I feel I have been able to merge my skills and training in architecture and engineering with my practice as a contractor. This has helped me provide my customers with the highest quality service and performance.

Worst Failure:

I do not consider that I have ever failed. I have had experiences with projects where I lost money. I have also had experiences with employees, customers and associates where I have been disappointed. However, these are all learning experiences that have helped me succeed.

Most Valuable Lesson Learned:

I have learned that having disputes is costly, especially when it gets to the point that lawyers have to get involved. It is generally best to be willing to compromise and try diligently to resolve disputes directly and quickly.

Company Goals:

My goal for the company is that we continue to grow and work on bigger and better projects where I can incorporate my professional training and my mixed Asian, European and American cultural backgrounds toward the building of a superior product.

Best Business Advice:

Choose something you know how to do (or can learn to do) well, and work hard at it, and always be honest.

Name: Patricia M. Wade

Title: President/Owner

Company: Wade Development Company, Inc.

Location: Reno

Type of Business: Real estate development in Nevada and California: master planning, industrial facilities, residential and golf course communities

Years in Nevada: 9 1/2

Years with Company: 13 (co-founder with Joe Wade)

My biggest challenge is trying to find enough time to do justice to all the demands of this intricate business. Real estate development, if done correctly, is a very hands-on, service-oriented business, particularly in the industrial sector. Anyone can sell land or a building — the customer service aspects, such as partnering with tenants throughout the life of their projects, separate the mediocre from the top-drawer developers.

My greatest professional accomplishment to date has been transforming our 5,000-acre Nevada Industrial Park in Fernley from a vast piece of desert with virtually no infrastructure to a nationally significant, institutional investment-grade industrial park in just a few short years.

My biggest failure, particularly early in business, was my inability to delegate duties. I missed many opportunities to empower and develop my team, and I also short-changed myself and my clients by spreading myself too thin. Today, I truly value the teamwork concept.

There are very few problems that cannot be solved, providing the involved parties are willing to discuss things openly and honestly. Communication, respect and honesty among people, regardless of position or title, are the true keys to business success.

To attract more major companies to Nevada Industrial Park and to expand our vertical development portfolio with several new industrial facilities. Finally, we are always looking for exciting new land projects to sink our teeth into.

Always treat people the way you wish to be treated and the rest will take care of itself. Also, know your market intimately so you have a lot more to offer potential clients than bricks and mortar.