Business News & Notes

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The Carson City Chamber of Commerce's new television show, Community Conversations, will come to the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 6:30 p.m. The program will allow members of the public to participate in discussions about community issues in a talk-show format. The program will be shown live on cable channel 10/210, with repeats at noon on Jan. 28 and 11 a.m. on Jan. 31.

Grady Holdridge and Kerry Lau have been hired to assist with sales and marketing at FASTSIGNS, a sign and graphics center with locations in Reno and Carson City.

Holdridge has more than 20 years experience in areas of sales, marketing and business management.


Lau has four years of prior experience in areas of sign and banner sales, design and production.

In order to help consumers find businesses they can trust, the Better Business Bureau is replacing its old system of rating a business as either "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory." Local businesses will now receive a letter grade " from A+ to F " reflecting how the business measures up to BBB standards.


BBB provides reports on more than four million businesses, all online and free of charge at www.bbb.org.

Edward Jones, financial advisers Mary and Vince Caporale host a Coffee Club at 9 a.m. Thursday at Joanie's Creekside Cafe, 1795 E. College Parkway. "What Keeps You Up at Night" will be the topic of discussion. The public is invited, reservations are required. For reservations and information, call 883-1444.

NVEnergy and Nevadaworks are conducting a comprehensive analysis of the labor market in Western Nevada.


"For this analysis to succeed, we need the help of employers throughout the region," said Tom Fitzgerald, CEO of Nevadaworks "We are asking that employers watch for and complete the confidential survey that will be mailed to them. The responses will form a critical foundation of research into the depth, quality, and cost of the area's labor force."


The surveys are being conducted by Wadley-Donovan GrowthTech of Springfield, NJ and Younger Associates of Jackson, TN.


For more information contact Tom Fitzgerald at 284-1340 or tom@nevadaworks.com.

A partnership of Northern Nevada organizations and businesses will conduct a Business Survival Workshop on noon to 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, and 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

The workshop will at the University of Nevada, Reno, Continuing Education Building, 1041 No. Virginia St.


Admission is free, but registration is required. Space is limited. Register through the UNR Extended Studies Web site at www.extendedstudies.unr.edu.


Registrants should select "Business Survival Workshop" under the heading "Upcoming Professional Development Courses and Programs."


"We know that many local businesses are having a very difficult time in this recession," said Judy Haar, president of the Reno Chapter of SCORE. "We believe that this workshop will provide valuable information that can help them work through the downturn."


The workshop will consist of presentations, led by experienced professionals, and breakout sessions on surviving the current economic environment. The topics include:


- Controlling and Reducing Expenses and Cash Management: "Tight financial management for tight times"


- Marketing strategies for these recessionary times: "Marketing for survival"


- Developing Key Relationships: "Developing and using relationships to increase your business"


- Availability of financing: "Keeping the financial pump primed"


- Workforce planning: "Maintaining and increasing productivity"


- Preparing for eventual recovery: "Being viable when recovery arrives"


Sponsoring and participants include: SCORE, Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce, Sparks Chamber and Hispanic Business Network; UNR Extended Studies; College of Business, University of Nevada; Northern Nevada Business Weekly, Nevada Small Business Development Center; Nevada Microenterprise Initiative; US Small Business Administration; Nevada State Bank; and, Heritage Bank.

Jan. 26: Our Changing Community, A Look to the Future, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Carson Nugget. Admission $75. Call 882-1565.

Jan. 30: Ribbon cutting, Amber Room at Dopplegangers, 6-8 p.m.

Feb. 3: Chamber Breakfast Club, Nevada State Museum, 7:30 a.m. Cost $5.

Feb. 4: Ribbon cutting and grand opening, Salon Chocolat, corner of Proctor and Curry streets, 5-8 p.m.