Showcase spotlights faces of local business

One theme quickly emerged at the 11th annual Business Showcase recently - face time with real people.

In a small community like Carson Valley, that meant not only face time with business owners, but with neighbors, friends and family members.

"I think as a community, we can turn our economy around, whether the nation does or not," said Gardnerville resident Nancy Giles. "We all depend on each other."

Giles was representing one of more than 70 local businesses and organizations that occupied booth space at the fairgrounds. According to Bill Chernock, executive director of the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event, approximately 825 people showed up throughout the evening to visit participating businesses.

"I think in many ways it was the best showcase yet," Chernock said Friday. "The businesses that participated really did an outstanding job with their booths. Some of the things we did to encourage people to visit the booths worked out well. We got great participation from the sheriff and fire district. Generally, it was a great night. I think setting up the grand prize (laptop computer) to encourage people to visit all the booths really worked well and made that face-to-face interaction happen."

Giles was overseeing the booth for Whiskers & Paws Catering, which delivers Best Friend's Choice pet food products from Carson Valley to Washoe County. She said she's been in the business for 12 years, though it was only her second year at the business showcase.

"The economy has been difficult," she said. "But we continue to get new customers. Dogs and cats have to eat."

In light of the event's theme, "Doing business face-to-face," Giles said her own business slogan couldn't have been more apt.

"Old-fashioned service and old-fashioned value from our family to yours," she said.

Jim Bobula of Gardnerville knows something about old-fashioned service. He's been running Bobula's Septic Service out of the Valley since 1981. The company actually was founded by his father in Wisconsin in 1933.

"I had to educate myself here in the Valley," Bobula said. "And the old-timers and ranchers helped educate me."

Wife Jo Linda Bobula said business has been tough during the recession.

"It started in December 2008 - it was like someone turned off the phone," she said. "It's been very tough, but something we have to do is educate the public about the need to pump their septic tanks. Otherwise, they risk polluting the whole system and Nevada's ground water."

In a tight-knit community, Jo Linda Bobula said something as simple as striking up a conversation in a grocery store goes a long way in promoting business.

"I try to meet people everywhere I go," she said. "We're having a drawing here for a free septic pump just so we can meet people with septic tanks, so we can get to know them."

And the business showcase provides more than enough room for old-timers like Jim Bobula to mingle with newcomers. In fact, there were several new faces at the event this year.

"I think it's beneficial to have smaller businesses locally," said Johnson Lane resident Caren Gleave. "I like the person-to-person interaction."

It was the first year Caren and husband John Gleave participated in the showcase. They said it was a great chance to promote their small construction company, Gleave Construction, which specializes in excavation, grading, septic systems and other "dirt work."

The couple founded the business in 2004 after moving down from Lake Tahoe.

"We're actually doing a little better this year than the same time last year," John said. "It's encouraging because we're going into the building season."

John said he's kept his operation small but his service area wide.

"We were able to pull back when the economy got tight," he said. "We also do snow removal in the wintertime, which helps."

"John does most of the dirt work himself," Caren added. "He likes to meet people and give that personal touch to his work."

Such personal relationships are an important part of doing business in a small community, they said.

"Around here, you want a lot of references," John said.

Toogee Sielsch, manager of the new 1862 Restaurant and Saloon at David Walley's, knows the importance of word-of-mouth referrals.

"We're getting the word out that we're open, and people are coming around," he said. "Our customers come from all over. Some are resort guests, but we have a lot of locals, too."

On Thursday, 1862 head chef Mike Meza was giving locals a little taste of the menu in the form of wild boar sausage.

"Locals are a huge part of what drives us in the off times," said Sielsch. "Face-to-face business is really important, and that's why we're here."

The Business Showcase was sponsored by GE Energy, The Record-Courier, E Squared C, Carson Tahoe Regional Healthcare, NuSystems, McClain's Mobile Music & DJ Service, and Scolari's Food & Drug Company.