SkillsUSA announces Nevada winner in sheet metal competition

Kelsey Hicks, 17, of Reed High School in Reno, Nev. won the gold medal in sheet metal at the Nevada Skills USA competition March 26-28 at Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 88’s training center in northeast Las Vegas. The silver medalist was Tanner Vaughn of the Academy of Arts, Careers and Technology High School with the bronze medal going to Nicholas Heward of McQueen High School – all of Reno. Hicks was one of eight competitors– and the only female – in the sheet metal competition this year.
 
The theme for this year’s contest was “Champions at Work: Educated and Skilled to Lead America.” Winners from state competitions are scheduled to attend the 50th Annual National Leadership and Skills Conference June 23-27 in Kansas City, Mo. 
 
Dan Rose, apprentice coordinator at Local No. 88’s training center, has been involved with SkillsUSA for 12 years and hosts the sheet metal competition whenever it takes place in Las Vegas. Students are judged on the quality of their written exam, interview, resume and hands-on project.
 
“The group today is the most professional group I’ve seen so far. This introduces these kids to a career choice they may not have known before,” Rose said. Students accepted into the four-year program attend on virtually a full scholarship, earn a living while they are in school and graduate with zero college debt. “It also opens up our facility to those schools that participate. I want them to know what’s out there. Sheet metal apprenticeship is not an alternate to college. We are a college. I’m not a training coordinator. I’m a dean.”
 
With construction picking up in the Las Vegas Valley, the future of sheet metal work is the apprenticeship program and the students involved in the Skills USA competition, Rose said.
 
Hicks became interested in sheet metal when she was recovering from a volleyball injury and needed something to keep her busy. A teacher at her school suggested sheet metal, and since her recovery, she has dropped volleyball to hone her sheet metal skills.
 
“I wanted to win at something. I wanted to do something to not feel like a loser,” Hicks said of her switch to sheet metal. “(My teacher) brought me out of that. I realized I was really good at it, and I dropped volleyball.”
 
Going into this year’s competition, Hicks was the 2013 Nevada Skills USA champion. She went on to place 13th in the national competition last summer.
 
“It’s something I enjoy. All my skills are incorporated into it,” Hicks said. “I know it’s what I want to do as a career path.”
 
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure the United States has a skilled workforce. Skills USA helps each student excel with the mission to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.

Emerald Island Casino to celebrate 11 years of success

Downtown Henderson cornerstone aims to please to patrons, community first; casino to host birthday party May 10 complete with prizes, 1,000 pounds beef brisket

HENDERSON, Nev. – When Tim and Mike Brooks purchased the building that would become the Emerald Island Casino in downtown Henderson, it had been many things – the old Henderson Post Office and three other failed casinos. Instead of seeing what it once was, the Brooks brothers saw what it could be.

On Friday, May 23, the Emerald Island will celebrate its 11th year. While 11 is not typically a benchmark age for big congratulations, every year is cause to celebrate for Tim Brooks and his team. It’s another year the Great Recession didn’t close the doors. It’s another year regulars like Don Conrad, a Vietnam veteran and former POW, can enjoy the games and food, and it’s another year the Emerald Island Casino can be an active member of the community.

“You get what you give,” said Mike Keaton, director of finance. “We’ve got time in. If we can give a little of our time to make Henderson a better place, we do.”

Members of the Emerald Island Casino team are involved on boards and committees to better Henderson, including the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, where Tim Brooks serves as the chair elect of the board of directors.

As part of the casino rewards program for players, points can be used at a number of Henderson businesses, many within walking distance from the casino in downtown Henderson. Keaton said the rewards program idea was conceived in 2009 when the recession hit and everyone was suffering.

“It has a lot to do with our guests,” said Craig Garland, director of operations. “If they could only redeem them here, they could only redeem them at the restaurant and the rewards center.”

“It’s a triple win,” Keaton said. “It’s good for the vendors because it helps the businesses in the area, and patrons want the opportunity to use their points the way they want to use them.”

The patrons are the most important part of the team, Brooks said. They are the ones who helped the casino celebrate a 6 percent profit increase in 2008 while other larger casinos were fighting to keep their doors open.

“Everyone knows your name, and everyone takes care of you,” Brooks said. “We are in the entertainment business first, the casino business second. We’re going to make sure you have a good time, and if you want to play slots, you can do that, too.”

It sounds like a cliché – and Brooks is fully aware of this – but he means it. He’s not a typical casino owner. On any given day, he has homemade ravioli and miscellaneous baked goods from his patrons in his office refrigerator. Snowbirds keep in touch when they go back home. He attends funerals and birthday parties. When Garland was out sick last year for a few months, patrons checked on his progress daily.

“We like what we do. It’s very rewarding. It’s not about the money. That’s second. What it’s really about is to feel good every day and feel good about being here,” Brooks said. “We’re closer to many of our guests than they are to their own families because they’re here every day. They give us more than we give to them.”

“We can walk this place and say ‘hi’ to 30 to 35 people before we reach the cage,” Garland added.

The casino is small by Vegas standards – 8,500 square feet with 400 slots, a 60-seat restaurant and an 18-seat bar. This summer, the Emerald Island Grille restaurant will be renovated and doubled in size. And because it’s the only restaurant in the casino, it won’t close during the renovation.

Why? The customers.

“People come and we feed them,” said Brooks, who added the casino’s chefs are Henderson rib cook-off champions. “People come for the food.”

To celebrate another year in business, another year as a member of the community and another year of success, the Emerald Island will host a birthday party starting at noon on Saturday, May 10. The party will include cake, prizes and 1,000 pounds of beef brisket.

“Everything we do we do for our guests,” Brooks said. “Good old service never goes out of style. Service, service and more service.”

The Emerald Island is Nevada’s only all-penny casino and is located at 120 Market St. in historic downtown Henderson. Once the Henderson Post Office and three failed casinos, Tim and Mike Brooks purchased the 8,500-square-foot, 400-slot casino and opened it on May 23, 2003.

For more information about the Emerald Island Casino, visit www.emeraldislandcasino.com.

SEO, social media simplified during Roadmap to Success workshop

Henderson Chamber of Commerce to present Neal Weisman of i2net.com May 15

HENDERSON, Nev. – Neal Weisman, president of i2net.com, will present “Internet Marketing: Making Sense of SEO, Social Media and Paid Campaigns for Your Business Success” as part of the Roadmap to Success workshop series from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 15, at the Henderson Business Resource Center seminar room, 112 S. Water St., near West Pacific Avenue in downtown Henderson.

During the presentation, Weisman will explain search engine optimization (SEO), discuss the importance of online marketing and social media, and further clarify paid advertising conversions that yield new business.

Weisman is the founder and visionary of Interactive Ideas i2net.com, which began in 1994 for the purpose of enhancing Internet technologies for the most demanding e-business applications. With 19 years in the technology field, Weisman and his team employs graphic design, interior design, computer science, public relations, marketing, fashion design and web media to help companies create and maintain their online marketing strategy.

The presentation is open to the public. Admission is free for members of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce and $25 for non-members. Walk-ins will be charged an additional $10. Those interested should RSVP online at hendersonchamber.com/events by Tuesday, May 13.

The Roadmap to Success workshop series covers all aspects of business critical for business owners to understand and properly execute to stay afloat, especially when times are tough. The series began in September and continues through May. It comprises 16 workshops covering topics including finance, human resources, law, marketing, and operations, sales and technology.

The workshop series is sponsored by the city of Henderson, Cox Communications and Prism Global Management Group LLC.

The Henderson Chamber of Commerce Foundation is a non-profit corporation organized to manage and distribute funds and resources to further the development of the community through activities that are exclusively charitable, scientific, or educational. The Foundation is responsible for the creation and success of both the Henderson Business Resource Center (a business incubator), and the Leadership Henderson program.

For more information about the Henderson Business Resource Center or the Roadmap to Success Series, visit hendersonchamber.com.

Henderson Library Foundation to participate in Nevada’s Big Give

Twenty-four hour fundraiser April 25 allows patrons to donate as little as $10

HENDERSON, Nev.  – On Friday, April 25, Nevadans and Nevada supporters alike will have the opportunity to support their favorite Nevada-based charities without leaving the comfort of their couch, their office chair or wherever their smartphone takes them.

The Henderson Libraries Foundation, which raises funds for Henderson Libraries, will participate in Nevada’s Big Give, an annual fundraising event organized by NevadaGIVES. The event allows everyone a chance to support the libraries’ four branches. Donations will be accepted online at http://nvbiggive.razoo.com/story/Henderson-Libraries-Foundation from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Donations to Henderson Libraries Foundation will go directly to provide funding for library collections, outreach services, innovative technology such as the computer labs at each library branch and online resources, capital projects and scholarships for qualified individuals in Southern Nevada seeking a master’s in library information and science.

Participants are encouraged to give any amount over $10. For example, a $15 donation covers the cost of a picture book, $25 covers the cost of a new bestselling novel, $50 is the cost to provide a basic computer class to beginning computer users and a $100 donation is the equivalent of the cost of providing a pre-school program that includes early literacy activities to engage children in reading and learning.

The Henderson Libraries Foundation raised $37,165 last year through Nevada’s Big Give. The Henderson Libraries Foundation, which raises funds for Henderson Libraries, was 7th in number of donors (103) and 16th in amount raised online ($6,305).

Established in 2003, NevadaGIVES is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to increase awareness of philanthropy so more people give back in a way that is meaningful to them. The goal is to build a vibrant, effective and growing philanthropic community that improves the quality of life for all Nevadans, as well as to support volunteerism by serving as an informational resource.

After more than $400,000 was raised in the first year of the event, the goal this year is to raise double that in one 24-hour period for nonprofits across the state by encouraging Nevadans to give where they live.

Every donation – whether it’s $10 or $1,000 – will count. The top nonprofit organizations that receive the greatest number of unique donors will receive bonus cash prizes. The foundation hopes to raise money to ease the pain of the Henderson Libraries’ shrinking budget and raise awareness about the value and needs of the libraries. Businesses or individuals interested in giving a matching gift leading up to the April 25 event can contact Marcie Smedley at 702-564-9287, ext. 4 or mlsmedley@hdpl.org.

“By providing free access to computers, information, education and activities for the whole family, libraries are a critical part of the local community,” said Gayle Hornaday, interim executive director for Henderson Libraries. “Our budget has shrunk, but our services are as relevant as ever before. The donations we receive each year through Nevada’s Big Give really make a difference.”

Established in 1943 as a single library in Downtown Henderson, Henderson Libraries operates four locations throughout Henderson. Henderson Libraries cooperates with other public libraries in Southern Nevada, the Nevada System of Higher Education, the Clark County School District and all other libraries around the state to provide quality service for Nevada’s residents.

For additional information on Henderson Libraries, visit www.mypubliclibrary.com or call 702-492-6581.

For more information about NevadaGIVES, visit www.nevadagives.org.

Simple Computer Repair makes customers’ non-smart devices smart

Service provides custom solutions

LAS VEGAS – One day, all home entertainment TVs and other devices will likely be smart, but things aren’t there just yet. (A smart TV is any TV that has Internet access built in, allowing it to access a range of online services.) Still, for many consumers, older technology is worth keeping, especially if their devices can be connected easily and inexpensively.

That’s why Simple Computer Repair established a home networking service that connects televisions, computers, laptops, game consoles, smart phones and tablets, essentially making “non-smart” devices “smart.” While the concept is similar in scope for all customers, the service isn’t one-size-fits-all.

“We’ll first ask a customer, ‘What do you have? What do you want it to do?’ We’ll do a discovery meeting with them in person or on the phone, determine their needs and recommend a simple, affordable solution,” said Chris Medina, Simple Computer Repair’s general manager.

Options include the ability to watch Netflix from any TV; listen to Pandora from any TV; stream audio and video to any TV from most devices; print from any room on most devices; and participate in console gaming with friends.

“After the equipment arrives, we schedule a home visit,” Medina said. “It’s all about connectivity, adding wireless adapters. There’s no installation, no drilling or hammering and making a mess. As long as the device has a USB port, we can work with it. Most people aren’t aware they own these devices already and don’t know what they’re capable of doing.”

Simple Computer Repair owner Jim Brock agreed.

“Of course, equipment manufacturers and big box retailers want us all to spend a lot of money on new systems. We’ve figured out a way around that. It’s not as complicated as they’d like us to believe. And it’s a fraction of the cost.”

Simple Computer Repair opened in 2008 and provides repair services for all makes and models of desktops and laptops, Apple iPhones, iPads and iPods; game consoles and flat screen TVs. There are two locations in the Las Vegas area, including the southwest location at 5130 S. Fort Apache Road, Ste. 263 and the Henderson location at 1000 N. Green Valley Parkway. There are also franchised locations in Arizona at 13050 W. Rancho Santa Fe #B-5 in Avondale, near Phoenix, and in Michigan at 50480 Schoenherr Rd. in Macomb, near Lake St. Clair.

For additional information on Simple Computer Repair, visit simplecomputerrepair.com.

Fundraising event builds awareness about teen sexting

Leadership Henderson, SM@RTConnections host bowling tourney April 27

HENDERSON, Nev. – Leadership Henderson’s Class of 2014, working with SM@RTConnections, will host a bowling fundraising event at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 27, at Wildfire Casino & Lanes, 4451 E. Sunset Rd. in Henderson.

The event’s theme will be Hero Bowl: Knock Down Pins for Kids. Participants are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite superhero. The fundraising event is being held to raise awareness among parents and young people about teen sexting.

“Teen sexting is an issue that is growing in vast proportions, and parents need to be more informed,” said Chris Holman, founder of SM@RTConnections. “Even more importantly, teens themselves need to be made more aware of the potential dangers.”

Registration for Hero Bowl begins at 1:30 p.m., with the first of two games of bowling to commence promptly at 2 p.m. Bowling will be followed by an awards ceremony at 4 p.m. Awards will be handed out for best individual, team and Leadership Henderson alumni class scores; additional team spirit and encouragement awards will also be bestowed. A raffle and silent auction will also take place.

Registration is $45 per person or $200 for a team of five for those who register prior to April 20, and $50 per person after that date. For more information or to sign up, visit beingsmart.org/herobowl.

SM@RTConnections is a component fund of the Henderson Community Foundation, a recognized 501(c)(3) corporation in the state of Nevada. It was founded by Chris Holman and co-founded by Leadership Henderson’s Class of 2014. The organization educates parents and children about the dangers of the Internet and sexting. SM@RTConnections also provides general information about being a good digital citizen.

Leadership Henderson is a non-profit organization that operates under the Henderson Chamber of Commerce Foundation. It is governed by the Henderson Chamber Foundation Board and guided by a steering committee. The majority of the participants have been identified and recruited by alumni of the program and all were chosen through a selective application and interview process.

For more information on the Leadership Henderson program, contact Rebecca Fay at 702-565-8951 or visit hendersonchamber.com.

Las Vegas Rescue Mission partners with Galleria at Sunset to host 2nd annual Spring Cleaning Drive to help less fortunate

LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas Rescue Mission will host its 2nd annual Spring Cleaning Event, collecting items to help the homeless – non-perishable foods, clothing, coats and blankets, hygiene items, socks and more.

Las Vegas Rescue Mission will accept donations in Henderson at the Galleria at Sunset’s main entrance off Sunset Road, near Chevy’s and Red Robin from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 12. All proceeds will be used to help the local homeless population.

“Each day, the Rescue Mission serves hundreds of men, women, and children who are in great need by providing more than 30,000 hot meals [each month] to anyone who comes to our gates, 200 beds for emergency shelter each night and offering programs that provide clothing, hygiene products, and other basic needs to the homeless,” said John Fogal, director of development for Las Vegas Rescue Mission. “We’re encouraging the community to help by doing some spring cleaning at home and bringing gently used items they wish to donate at the Galleria at Sunset on April 12.”

Customers can also make cash donations to LVRM; in exchange for a $5 donation, customers will receive a retail discount card that offers discounts at various shops throughout the Galleria at Sunset. Las Vegas Rescue Mission will accept cash donations at Galleria at Sunset on March 29 on the mall’s upper level, near Zales; April 5 in the food court; and April 12 at the main entrance near Chevys and Red Robin.

The Las Vegas Rescue Mission has been actively involved in addressing the growing needs of the homeless population of Clark County since 1970. LVRM serves the hungry and hurting with meals, clothing, basic needs, shelter, and addiction recovery. For more information visit vegasrescue.org or call 702-382-1766.

The Galleria at Sunset opened in 1996 and is anchored by Macy’s, JCPenney, Dillard’s, Kohl’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods. It features retailers such as H&M, Coach, bebe, Buckle, Forever 21, Abercrombie & Fitch, Victoria’s Secret, and more. Galleria at Sunset is co-owned by Forest City Enterprises and QIC and managed by Forest City Enterprises. The 1,048,000-square-foot regional shopping center is the only enclosed mall in Henderson and one of the largest in Southern Nevada. In addition to retail, the Galleria at Sunset boasts two full-service and 11 fast food restaurants.

For more information on the Galleria at Sunset visit galleriaatsunset.com or contact the mall’s information center at 702-434-0202.

Biernacinski of Imagine Communications inducted into Women’s Hall of Fame March 28

Women’s Hall of Fame recognizes those who give back, assist women in realizing their potential, more

HENDERSON, Nev. – Imagine Communications’ director of media relations, Melissa Biernacinski, was inducted into the Women’s Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Hall of Fame in the Young Professional Leadership category. In honor of Women’s History Month, the event was held Friday, March 28, at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino.

The Women’s Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have achieved excellence in their chosen professions, who have given back to the community in a meaningful way and who have assisted women in realizing their full potential.

From the Imagine team, Biernacinski joins Imagine’s media relations specialist, Tiffannie Bond, who was inducted into the Women’s Hall of Fame, also in the Young Professional Leadership category, in 2012.

Biernacinski uses her background in journalism and strong relationships with members of the media to lead Imagine’s media relations efforts. Serving as a critical component of public relations campaigns for local and national clients in industries across the board, Biernacinski’s experience includes local and national story pitching and coordination for print, TV, radio and online; award nominations; crisis communication; press conference coordination; legislative support; and more. A member of the American Copy Editors Society, she also serves as Imagine’s resident editor.

ALL 2014 INDUCTEES INCLUDE:

Women’s Hall of Fame Pioneer Award Inductee: Marlene Adrian, DPE, President, Women of Diversity Productions, Inc. Professor Emerita, University of Illinois at U-C.

Leadership Inductees are: Heather J. Allen, MD, FACP, medical oncologist for Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada; Dawn Metcalfe, CFO/VP, Nathan Adelson Hospice; Jennifer Cooper, communications director, NV Governor’s Office of Economic Development; Gigi Vega, VP and GM of Nobu Hotel Caesars Palace; Paige Candee, president, 10e Media.

Young Professional Leadership Inductees are: Patricia Lee. Esq, partner with Hutchinson & Steffen; Melissa Biernacinski, director of media relations, Imagine Communications; Tracy Skenandore, area director of marketing and public relations for Republic Service; Kathryn Joy Rineer, architect with Pugsley Simpson Coulter Architects; Jodi Tyson, government affairs director for Three Square Food Bank.

Minority Lifetime Achievement Inductee: Phyllis A. James, executive vice president – special counsel – litigation and chief diversity officer of MGM Resorts International.

Women in Entertainment & Media Inductee: Amie Jo Greer, TV producer/host/media, writer, and performer and Women’s Organization inductee, Women’s Leadership Council – United Way of Southern Nevada.

Established in 2000, Imagine Communications is a full-service marketing and communications firm that provides strategic business planning, public relations, advertising, video production, consulting and government affairs services to clients nationwide. The company’s 13-person team works with a diverse array of clients of all sizes and in industries across the board.

For more information, call 702-837-8996, visit www.weareimagine.com, follow the company on Facebook or Twitter, or check out the company blog or the company online newsroom.

May 1 Roadmap to Success to cover SEO for social media

Brian Mell to explain how to optimize social media marketing for search engines

HENDERSON, Nev. – Brian Mell, digital marketing manager at BannerView.com, will present “How to Go from SEO to SEOcial” as part of the Roadmap to Success workshop series from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 1, at the Henderson Business Resource Center Seminar Room, 112 S. Water St., near West Pacific Avenue in downtown Henderson.

Mell will discuss three main topics during his presentation: what search engines really want from social media; where to find and accumulate reliable media sources; and how to meet both SEO and social media requirements.

An expert at inbound online marketing and interactive media, Mell joined BannerView.com as a marketing coordinator overseeing collateral material in the company’s brand management efforts. Since then, he’s been promoted several times, today serving as the company’s digital marketing manager, a position that requires expertise in current technology trends and campaign development techniques that promote brand messages in the current social media-focused environment. Before joining BannerView.com, Mell served as a website developer at zZounds.com and trained at MicroTrain Technologies in Chicago.

The presentation is open to the public. Admission is free for members of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce and $25 for non-members. Walk-ins will be charged an additional $10. Those interested should RSVP online at hendersonchamber.com/events by Tuesday, April 29.

The Roadmap to Success Workshop Series covers all aspects of business critical for business owners to understand and properly execute to stay afloat, especially when times are tough. The series began in September and continues through May. It comprises 16 workshops covering topics including finance, human resources, law, marketing, and operations, sales and technology.

The workshop series is sponsored by the city of Henderson, Cox Communications and Prism Global Management Group LLC.

The Henderson Chamber of Commerce Foundation is a non-profit corporation organized to manage and distribute funds and resources to further the development of the community through activities that are exclusively charitable, scientific, or educational. The Foundation is responsible for the creation and success of both the Henderson Business Resource Center (a business incubator), and the Leadership Henderson program.

For more information about the Henderson Business Resource Center or the Roadmap to Success Series, visit hendersonchamber.com.

Boosting productivity next focus for Roadmap to Success workshop

Tony Brace to discuss leveraging teams and time management Apr. 17

HENDERSON, Nev. – Tony Brace, business coach at ActionCOACH, will present “The Keys to Higher Productivity and Higher Profitability” as part of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce’s Roadmap to Success workshop series from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 17, at the Henderson Business Resource Center seminar room, 112 S. Water St., near West Pacific Avenue in downtown Henderson.

Brace will discuss three main topics during his presentation: how business owners can more effectively measure time to massively increase productivity; how to better leverage a team dynamic to achieve greater results; and how to successfully execute “cycle of business” to achieve greater profitability.

Following a diverse entrepreneurial background with a wide range of organizations, Brace became a global ActionCOACH franchise recruitment officer in Las Vegas in July 2012. Through the course of his career, Brace has influenced tens of millions of dollars in sales for various companies and has also made a difference closer to home through his mentorship of at-risk inner city youth. Additionally, Brace’s coaching expertise helped his 12-year-old daughter reach the No. 8 ranking in the 800-meter run at the 2013 National Junior Olympics Track and Field Championships.

The presentation is open to the public. Admission is free for members of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce and $25 for non-members. Walk-ins will be charged an additional $10. Those interested should RSVP online at http://www.hendersonchamber.com/events by Tuesday, April 15.

The Roadmap to Success workshop series covers all aspects of business critical for business owners to understand and properly execute to stay afloat, especially when times are tough. The series began in September and continues through May. It comprises 16 workshops covering topics including finance, human resources, law, marketing, and operations, sales and technology.

The workshop series is sponsored by the city of Henderson, Cox Communications and Prism Global Management Group LLC.

The Henderson Chamber of Commerce Foundation is a non-profit corporation organized to manage and distribute funds and resources to further the development of the community through activities that are exclusively charitable, scientific, or educational. The Foundation is responsible for the creation and success of both the Henderson Business Resource Center (a business incubator), and the Leadership Henderson program.

For more information about the Henderson Business Resource Center or the Roadmap to Success Series, visit hendersonchamber.com.