Visiting Angels expands, opens second office in Summerlin

Demand increase allows Las Vegas residents easier access to home care

HENDERSON, Nev. – In response to increasing demand for home care in the Las Vegas Valley, Visiting Angels recently opened a second office in Summerlin, 9436 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite 11-F, just west of Del Webb Boulevard. The first office is located in Henderson.

Business is up 20 percent across the board from this same time in 2011. With 40 percent of their clientele in the Summerlin area already, it only made sense for Michael and Jackie DiAsio to transform their “on call” location into a brick and mortar office where clients in Las Vegas can have easier access to services.

“We’ve always provided services to Summerlin even though our physical location was in Henderson,” said Michael DiAsio, co-owner of Visiting Angels. “However, many people didn’t realize we served the entire valley. As our business continued to grow, it only made sense to open a second physical location, this time in Summerlin.”

Visiting Angels provides in-home care to the disabled and senior population. Services include everything from personal hygiene care and light housekeeping to grocery shopping, companionship and meal preparation. Patients with memory loss issues are apt to wander off, leave on appliances or possibly injure themselves; in-home care can provide the safety factor families need when they leave their loved ones at home.

The expansion to the Summerlin office also allows Visiting Angels to add more caregivers to its team. In 2012, they added 69 more employees. Although the overall demand for caregivers is on the rise, the number of male clients who specifically request a male caregiver has increased in the last year. Also, with the number of military veterans reaching an age where they require at-home care, the request for a military veteran caregiver, too, has become more frequent.

With the summer months near, an increase in respite care also is on the horizon. Visiting Angels provides care for loved ones whose caregivers need a vacation. Visiting Angels works with Helping Hands of Vegas Valley and the Alzheimer’s Association under the organizations’ respite voucher programs, which fund respite care for qualifying families throughout the year. While many families take vacations during the summer, there are times throughout the year when a rest is needed as well.

“Some families utilize our services every time they go on vacation, two or three times a year,” DiAsio said. “We can be as flexible as needed, whether it’s for a few hours, a week or all summer.”

Visiting Angels is senior home care with more than 400 franchises across the United States with three franchises in Southern Nevada. The Green Valley Parkway office – located at 1701 N. Green Valley Pkwy. – and the Summerlin office – located at  9436 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite 11-F – are owned by Michael and Jackie DiAsio. The Green Valley Parkway office is the largest in Southern Nevada. The DiAsios’ locations serve Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City.

For more information on Visiting Angels or to apply for a position as a caregiver for the company, visit www.visitingangels.com or call 1-800-365-4189.

Lucchesi Galati Architects changes name to LGA

New digs at Holsum Lofts proves perfect timing, energy for firm

LAS VEGAS – The move to the historic Holsum Lofts in The Arts District wasn’t meant to coincide with the name change of Lucchesi Galati Architects to LGA, but the serendipitous timing turned out to be perfect.

The new office is located at 241 W. Charleston Blvd. Suite #107, close to downtown Las Vegas and in the heart of The Arts District. 

“It’s smaller than our old office, but we decided to adapt to the space. Eliminate paper. Smaller work stations,” said Craig Galati, LGA partner. “The space felt right, so we adapted to it.”

It’s no secret times have been difficult for all the Las Vegas Valley the last few years, especially in the construction, architecture and new building industries. After celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2011, the firm made a conscious decision to evolve. Thinking outside the box is a big part of the company’s culture, and the move is part of it.

“During hard times, it’s important to be connected, especially to your staff and those you work with on a daily basis,” Galati said. “For me, it’s great timing, because I’m sitting with everyone now instead of in my own office. I was out of touch with everyone in the office, and I didn’t know it until I sat with them. It felt like we were back at the beginning of the company when we all sat together again.”

Established in 1986, Lucchesi Galati, now LGA, is a cross-disciplinary, client-centered consulting firm that brings together the disciplines of architecture, sociology and sustainability using a collaborative, participatory and community-based process. Best known for its work on the LEED-certified Springs Preserve master plan and one of only a handful of Platinum LEED-certified buildings in the world, the Desert Living Center at the Springs Preserve, LGA has been a longtime advocate of green design and green living.

For more information on LGA, call 702-263-7111 or visit www.lgainc.com.

Company celebrates 15th anniversary with expansion, new building

Capstone Brokerage opens branches in New York, New Jersey, Reno; Mayor Pro-Tem Stavros Anthony to attend the April 25 ribbon cutting

LAS VEGAS – The preparations for Capstone Brokerage’s 15th anniversary began in 2011 with the first steps – naming Mary Thompson as president and moving the corporate headquarters into a new building better suited for a company experiencing significant growth. Although the company has clients across the United States, it took the next step and expanded this year with branches beyond Las Vegas borders.

The expansion is an answer to the demand from clients and the ever-growing needs of the company. In the last 15 years, Capstone Brokerage has developed a healthy client list covering all industries including construction, professional and trucking as well as some national accounts in the technology industry. Capstone has developed a large client roster that includes most of the top nightclubs in the United States from New Jersey and New York to Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The company provides risk management services for many casino hotels as well including such companies as Wynn Resorts.

Thompson, who served as a member of the company’s leadership for seven years prior to her appointment, helped navigate Capstone Brokerage through one of the most difficult business environments in decades. She took the helm last summer just as expansion efforts were first taking shape.

“As a company, we’ve experienced growth throughout the recession,” Thompson said. “With the instability of the economy, that’s quite a feat. Inc. Magazine has recognized the company every year since 2008 for its steady growth, which is significant.”

Recognition as one of the fastest growing companies in America on Inc. Magazine’s annual list for the last four years helps illustrate the company’s growth, but expanding beyond the boundaries of Las Vegas began with the opening of Capstone Brokerage’s new headquarters.

Last summer, the company moved into a larger, 12,320-square-foot space located at 8681 W. Sahara Ave. The building includes office space as well as a meeting facility, where the company hosts events and seminars. The move was just the beginning of the company’s expansion efforts to keep up with its growth.

Currently, Capstone has expanded to include branches in New York and New Jersey, and a branch in Reno is expected to come online by the end of the year. The Reno office will focus on the Northern Nevada and Northern California markets.

“Business opportunities came up in the New York and New Jersey area, so we decided to pursue them,” Thompson said. “The Northern Nevada and Northern California markets are good environments for growth, and there are good opportunities to expand there as well as the Northeast.”

The company will host a grand opening celebration for the new office and 15th anniversary on Wednesday, April 25. During the event – which will take place from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the new building located at 8681 W. Sahara Ave. – will feature a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. Mayor Pro-Tem Stavros Anthony will be present for the ribbon cutting.

Capstone Brokerage is a Las Vegas-based independent risk management and insurance brokerage that offers a comprehensive selection of products and services.

Capstone Brokerage was recognized as one of the fastest growing private companies in America by Inc. Magazine in 2008, achieving revenue growth of 325 percent over a three-year period. The company was recognized on the Inc. 5000 list in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. In addition, Capstone was recognized in 2009 and 2010 in Business Insurance Magazine as “Best Places to Work in Insurance Nationally.”

For more information, call 702-227-5727, or visit www.capstonebrokerage.com.

Town & Country Bank names Jeu senior vice president

Jeu brings more than 20 years in customer service experience to the bank

LAS VEGAS – Town & Country Bank has chosen Wayne Jeu as the organization’s senior vice president and relationship manager.

In his position, he will focus on new business development, building long-term client relationships and originating commercial and government-backed loans.

“Wayne has exceptional customer service skills, so bringing him on as our senior vice president and relationship manager was a perfect fit,” said Ali Rizvi, Town & Country Bank’s chief business banking officer. “Town & Country Bank is dedicated to providing top customer service, and Wayne fits in with our way of doing business.”

Prior to joining the Town & Country team, Jeu served as the vice president and relationship manager at Plaza Bank in Las Vegas since 2010.

Jeu started his career in banking in 1989, when he managed various commercial branches and opened two new ones in the Las Vegas market. He graduated from Citrus College and California State College, Los Angeles.

Town & Country Bank has served the Las Vegas Valley’s personal and business banking needs since 2002. With four locations around the valley, Town & Country Bank has complete financial packages and expert customer service to help clients meet their financial objectives.

For more information, call Town & Country Bank at 702-252-8777 or visit www.tcbanknv.com.

Community Management Group manager earns designation

Bridget Rodriguez earns CMCA designation, continues career development education

LAS VEGAS – In a constant effort to continue her education, Bridget Rodriguez, community manager with Community Management Group, recently earned her Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) designation, a national certification for community management and general practices of community management professionals.

Rodriguez’s dedication to her profession led her to seek the optional CMCA designation to better serve her company and the homeowners associations with which she works.

“In my profession, expertise and ethics are the two signs of professionalism,” Rodriguez said, adding that earning the designation has provided her with a wealth of information at the national level that can be applied at the local level. “The CMCA designation helps increase my value to the communities I work with by giving me advanced knowledge in contracting, customer service, ethics, financial management and more. It allows me to better serve those communities all while being a more valuable addition to Community Management Group.”

To earn CMCA designation, community managers enroll in a professional management development program course, which studies the essentials of community association management. After completion of the course and the application, students complete an exam.

In addition to CMCA, Rodriguez also plans to complete the requirements for the Association Management Specialist (AMS) certification, the second level of career development for community association managers, later this year.

“It goes to show our community managers take their careers seriously, and it’s comforting for homeowners to know they have true professionals working for their best interests,” said Courtney Murphy, president and supervising community manager for Community Management Group. “Continuing education also makes me certain our community managers are as up to date on their career field as possible as well as it shows a commitment to quality.”

Established by longtime Las Vegan Courtney Murphy in 2009, Community Management Group is a Nevada-based community association management company serving assorted planned unit developments in the Las Vegas Valley.

Providing top customer service in all facets of its work, CMG works with homeowners, HOA board members and vendors to assist in decisions to maintain communities’ property values and ensure the preservation of associations’ financial health. The company’s services – handled by a team of certified managers – balance fiscal responsibility, cutting edge technology (which is unique in the field), homeowner education and a positive atmosphere for all its clients, from single family and business parks to condominiums and master planned communities.

For more information on Community Management Group, visit www.cmg-hoa.com, call 702-942-2500, or follow the company on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CMGlv.

Community Management Group manager earns designation

Maria NeSmith earns AMS designation, continues education in career development

LAS VEGAS – In a constant effort to continue her education, Maria NeSmith, community manager with Community Management Group, recently earned her Association Management Specialist (AMS) designation, a national certification for community management and general practices of community management professionals.

Since NeSmith has already earned a Supervising Community Manager’s License, which is the top-rated requirement to practice community management inNevada, obtaining the AMS designation was purely optional. However, additional certifications are proof of a manager’s commitment to the profession and the communities they serve.

“Boards are tasked with a lot of responsibility. It’s my goal to provide as much support as possible,” NeSmith said. “By continuing my professional education as a licensed community manager, I am able to broaden my knowledge and be a valuable resource.”

The AMS designation is the second level in the Community Associations Institute career development track for community association managers. To earn AMS designation, community managers enroll in a professional management development program course, which studies the essentials of community association management. After completion of the course and the application, students complete an exam.

The completion of her AMS designation comes on the heels of another success, as NeSmith also recently attained her Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) certification, which provides advanced training in finances, ethics and customer service.

“It goes to show our community managers take their careers seriously, and it’s comforting for homeowners to know they have true professionals working for their best interests,” said Courtney Murphy, president and supervising community manager for Community Management Group. “Continuing education also makes me certain our community managers are as up to date on their career field as possible.”

Established by longtime Las Vegan Courtney Murphy in 2009, Community Management Group is a Nevada-based community association management company serving assorted planned unit developments in the Las Vegas Valley.

Providing top customer service in all facets of its work, CMG works with homeowners, HOA board members and vendors to assist in decisions to maintain communities’ property values and ensure the preservation of associations’ financial health. The company’s services – handled by a team of certified managers – balance fiscal responsibility, cutting edge technology (which is unique in the field), homeowner education and a positive atmosphere for all its clients, from single family and business parks to condominiums and master planned communities.

For more information on Community Management Group, visit www.cmg-hoa.com, call 702-942-2500, or follow the company on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CMGlv.  

IT solutions companies merge to best suit client needs

JHC Solutions, TechVanta merged under TechVanta name officially March 1

LAS VEGAS – IT solutions companies TechVanta and JHC Technology Solutions merged under the TechVanta name officially on March 1. The merger comes as a strategic move to allow the business to grow and serve additional clientele in the future.

JJ Christian conceived JHC Technology Solutions in 2006 to serve small- and medium-sized businesses’ IT needs. TechVanta, established in 2009, matched JHC Technology’s company profile to reach businesses that needed technology guides without the expense of staffing a chief information officer or IT director.

Upon meeting a few years ago, Christian and TechVanta owner Rich Manley realized they had a common goal – embark IT wisdom without the lingo. That common ground led to a business friendship and eventually to the merger of the two companies.

“So many IT professionals talk in a language that can scare or intimidate a customer,” Christian said. “We engage our clients in a non-intimidating manner. Trying to explain in a way the customer can understand makes all the difference in the world, especially when you’re trying to earn their trust.”

Christian’s 19 years in the corporate world combined with Manley’s knowledge of emerging technologies made the merger an easy decision.

“It brings the resources of two companies together, which will allow a greater growth than they would on their own,” Manley said. “We were seeking the same clients for the same types of services; we were just going about it in different ways. Now, we can do it as one company instead of two.”

Combined, Manley and Christian have nearly 40 years experience in the field and diverse business IT experience, and they each carry multiple industry certifications, including advanced technical certifications from Microsoft. Christian and Manley also graduated from Leadership Henderson, an eight-month program sponsored by the Henderson Chamber of Commerce that is devoted to personal and professional leadership development since 2001.

For the first time last year, TechVanta earned the elite Silver Partner distinction from Microsoft and is taking strides to ensure it does again this year. The company is one of few in town to have earned the prestigious distinction.

For additional information on TechVanta, call 702-202-2202 or visit www.TechVanta.com.

Visiting Angels caregiver uses training to save Las Vegas man

All of Visiting Angels’ caregivers are trained in CPR, fall prevention, more

HENDERSON, Nev.  – Every morning, Tony May arrives at the Belew home to help Tony Belew get ready for the day. As a caregiver with Visiting Angels, May assists the 51-year-old with everything from a shower to breakfast.

Because Belew is approximately 6 feet tall and 300 pounds, it’s physically impossible for Linda Belew to help her husband with these tasks. Last year, while taking a shower, Belew suffered a stroke and lost consciousness. Although Belew outweighs May by 100 pounds, he was able to gently lower Belew to the floor and begin CPR while Linda Belew called paramedics.

A professional caregiver for five years, this was the first time May had to use his training to save a life.

“I was always afraid if something happened I’d be scared, but my instincts kicked in and I knew what to do,” May said. “I’m really happy what I learned saved his life.”

Linda Belew, shaken and distraught, was amazed May was able to take such gentle care of her husband during a delicate, and slippery, situation.

“That was a super human feat,” she said. “The reason I thought it was so heroic is my husband is a big man. Tony was so calm under pressure. I was pretty much panicking,” she added. “I shudder to think what would’ve happened if he went into that type of seizure and Tony wasn’t here. We were very appreciative of his skills that day.”

Michael DiAsio, co-owner of Visiting Angels in Henderson and Summerlin, said feats like this aren’t common but illustrates the level of skill caregivers possess.

Along with CPR, caregivers undergo additional training when they join the Visiting Angels team, no matter what their medical background may be. Some of the topics covered during the two-day training are household safety, body mechanics and transfer techniques, elder abuse signs, nutrition and hydration, Alzheimer’s disease communication, and fall prevention. Caregivers also learn how to care for themselves as to prevent injury on the job.

“There have been other incidents where the training caregivers received saved lives. They are there to help care for people who need assistance caring for themselves or, like in Mrs. Belew’s case, where family members can’t either,” DiAsio said. “Caregivers are there to make sure their clients are safe and have their activities of daily living met. It allows them to stay at home instead of going to a specialty care facility, as Visiting Angels’ care is typically more affordable and ‘one-on-one.’”

After a stroke in May 2008, Tony Belew spent 13 months in specialty care centers and a nursing home before he was able to come home in April 2009. Tony May started assisting the family the day after Tony Belew’s 49th birthday. Since then, May has become almost like an extended member of the Belew family.

“His father calls me their other son,” May said. “I’m very close to the family as well.”

There was a time when Linda Belew thought she wouldn’t be able to bring her husband home. Now, with the help of Visiting Angels, she has the help the family needs to stay together.

“I love Visiting Angels. They are so wonderful. We wanted him home, but we weren’t able to afford it at the beginning,” Linda Belew said. “I would never be able to care for my husband if it wasn’t for them.”

Visiting Angels is senior home care with more than 400 franchises across the United States. With two franchises in Southern Nevada, the Green Valley Parkway office – located at1701 N. Green Valley Pkwy.– is owned by the DiAsios and is the largest in Southern Nevada. It serves Henderson, the south, southwest, west and northwest regions ofLas Vegas. Due to an increase in need, the DiAsios have opened a satellite office in Summerlin off Lake Mead Boulevard and Rampart Road. Between its Henderson and Summerlin locations, Visiting Angels now employs more than 225 caregivers like Tony May who assist roughly 400 clients every day.

For more information on Visiting Angels or to apply for a position as a caregiver for the company, visit www.visitingangels.com or call 800-365-4189.

Fire life safety inspections, services means success for contractor

Indiana’s Mechanical Test and Balance has earned $200k since start of 2010

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The economy in recent years has been less than desirable, to say the least, and sheet metal contractors are still seeking ways to supplement their profit to create a more stable environment for their businesses.

Fire life safety is an emerging market with a growing demand. Dampers confine fire and smoke to one floor or section of a commercial building, keeping the rest of the building free of smoke, contaminants and particulate matter. The proper maintenance and inspection of these dampers could mean the difference between life and death. After an introduction to fire life safety at the 2008 Annual TABB Conference in Southern California, Jim Larsen, president and owner of Mechanical Test and Balance in Crown Point, Ind., was motivated to bring the service to his company.

After laying the groundwork, and earning his ICB/TABB Fire Life Safety Level I and Level II Technicians certifications, Larsen brought the service on at Mechanical Test and Balance. To start, project managers visited hospitals and schools, and fire life safety information was placed in the company’s newsletter to educate clients old and new on the value of fire life safety.

Every new client – from architects and engineers to building owners – was introduced to the information via a short presentation and packet containing available services.

“That was the key,” Larsen said. “It’s in the best interest of their employees and anyone who comes into the building. It’s fire life safety. It’s a no brainer.”

Mechanical Test and Balance’s first fire life safety client was a hospital in northwest Indiana. Once the company was off and running with the project, they could use the project as a model to show other clients what was possible. A hospital can lead to steady work for multiple employees at a time, because inspection and maintenance takes place in one section of a building at a time. Every damper is inspected and documented with any problems reported back to the client, and instead of hiring out, the company can perform any repairs, as well.

Offering inspection and repair services together is a large benefit and makes the company a one-stop shop for clients. If a hospital can count on a company for detailed documentation that helps them easily pass their safety inspections, the company has a client for life, Larsen said.

“Because of the size of a hospital, by the time you get through the building, it’s almost time to start over,” he added. “Ninety percent of the time the client asks us to come back and make modifications. We do all the repair work.”

In nearly two years, Mechanical Test and Balance is at a comfortable place, largely due to the introduction of fire life safety and Larsen’s forward thinking.

“We don’t have to look for work,” Larsen said. “Our reputation is set on honesty. We give them complete documentation. That’s very important. It’s been very good to us. It keeps us busy during the winter months. For the most part, one good job leads to another, but all my project managers know, if there is an engineer or building owner who doesn’t know what testing and balancing is … we go in and explain.”

Mechanical Test and Balance currently has one branch with 15 employees in Bolingbrook, Ill., in addition to the headquarters in Indiana. But companies don’t have to be of comparable size to make fire life safety work for them, Larsen said.

Since the beginning of 2010, Mechanical Test and Balance has earned $200,000 in business due to fire life safety inspections, maintenance and repairs.

“If smaller companies don’t have a fire life safety component, they’re missing a huge opportunity. For some of these smaller guys with one- to two-man shops, $100,000 a year is a big deal. That’s 1,000 man hours. That keeps a guy busy for half a year,” Larsen said.

Mechanical Test and Balance, Inc., headquartered in Crown Point, Ind., provides services including HVAC system commissioning, total system analysis, air and hydronic testing and balancing, pressure testing of ductwork, sound measurement and analysis, and fire and life safety inspections to clients, from hospitals and schools to high-rise, commercial and industrial buildings.

Since 1995, the company has been committed to providing excellent customer service along with a wide range of services to meet the public’s needs today and in the future.  Mechanical Test and Balance remains at the forefront of its industry through continued education and the employment of trained, certified sheet metal workers and pipe fitters.  The company is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accredited and is a member of the United States Green Building Council, Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau; Indiana Society for Healthcare Engineering, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association, and the National Fire Protection Association. For more information please call 219-746-1126 or visit www.mechanicaltestandbalance.com.

For more information on emerging market opportunities in the sheet metal and air conditioning industry, contact the National Energy Management Institute (NEMI) at www.nemionline.org or call 703-739-7100.

Community Management Group manager earns designation

Maria NeSmith earns CMCA designation, continues education in career development

LAS VEGAS – In a constant effort to continue her education, Maria NeSmith, community manager with Community Management Group, recently earned her Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA) designation, a national certification for community management and general practices of community management professionals.

Since NeSmith has already earned a Supervising Community Manager’s License, which is the top-rated requirement to practice community management in Nevada, obtaining the CMCA designation was purely optional. However, additional certifications are proof of a manager’s commitment to the profession and the communities they serve.

“I felt it was important to further my education for the benefit of the communities and volunteer board of directors to help them in their task of making sound decisions for their communities,” NeSmith said. “Holding more certifications and actively showing examples of educational benefits help encourage board members to consider the advice of the community manager more when making decisions for their community.”

To earn CMCA designation, community managers enroll in a professional management development program course, which studies the essentials of community association management. After completion of the course and the application, students complete an exam.

In addition to CMCA, NeSmith also has completed the requirements for the Associate Management Specialist (AMS) certification, the second level of career development for community association managers, and is currently completing the application process.

“It goes to show our community managers take their careers seriously, and it’s comforting for homeowners to know they have true professionals working for their best interests,” said Courtney Murphy, president and supervising community manager for Community Management Group. “Continuing education also makes me certain our community managers are as up to date on their career field as possible as well as it shows a commitment to quality.”

Established by longtime Las Vegan Courtney Murphy in 2009, Community Management Group is a Nevada-based community association management company serving assorted planned unit developments in the Las Vegas Valley.

Providing top customer service in all facets of its work, CMG works with homeowners, HOA board members and vendors to assist in decisions to maintain communities’ property values and ensure the preservation of associations’ financial health. The company’s services – handled by a team of certified managers – balance fiscal responsibility, cutting edge technology (which is unique in the field), homeowner education and a positive atmosphere for all its clients, from single family and business parks to condominiums and master planned communities.

For more information on Community Management Group, visit www.cmg-hoa.com, call 702-942-2500, or follow the company on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CMGlv.