Business Briefly June 26

AdvisorShares launches the Meidell Tactical Advantage ETF

AdvisorShares Investments, a sponsor of actively managed Exchange Traded Funds, launched the AdvisorShares Meidell Tactical Advantage ETF (NYSE: MATH) on Thursday, which is managed by American Wealth Management of Reno, Nevada.

The Meidell Tactical Advantage ETF offers advisers a broadly diversified portfolio that measures the velocity of change in value across asset classes to find the best risk-adjusted returns.

"We are very excited to launch MATH with AdvisorShares as we believe investment advisers and their clients will be excited about the strategy's focus on changes in the economy, and how assets should be allocated as these changes occur, all within an actively managed ETF," said Laif Meidell, portfolio manager of MATH.

"We manage MATH by measuring the velocity of change in the different asset classes, and then make investment allocations with the goal of providing positive risk adjusted returns and minimizing losses through tactical asset allocation," he said.

Noah Hamman, CEO and founder of AdvisorShares, agreed.

"We feel investors are seeking a professionally managed tactical strategy like MATH which enables the portfolio manager to evaluate, rank and select the mix of investments in given market conditions while remaining objective and unemotional. We're proud to add the Meidell Tactical Advantage ETF to our growing stable of unique ETFs," he said.

To request more information on AdvisorShares, contact Noah Hamman at 202-684-6383 or nh@advisor

shares.com.

PTA Nevada Congress receives $1,000 through The Allstate Foundation

Allstate agent Dennis Brinson has earned an Allstate Foundation "Agency Hands in the Community" award for outstanding commitment to community service. With this award comes a $1,000 grant from The Allstate Foundation to PTA Nevada Congress.

The program, which launched in 2003, recognizes Allstate agents' volunteerism within the community and provides financial support to organizations through The Allstate Foundation. Every Allstate agent who volunteers for a charitable organization in their community may qualify for this award.

"These grant funds will provide necessary resources to PTA Nevada Congress that it otherwise wouldn't have," Brinson said. "The experiences I've enjoyed working with PTA Nevada Congress have been life-changing. This organization truly improves the lives of those within our community and I'm proud to play a part."

Allstate agents who are honored with this award can serve nonprofit groups in many capacities - as volunteers, mentors, program partners and leaders. Organizations must qualify for tax-deductible contributions under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation. Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people's well-being and prosperity. With a focus on teen safe driving and building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, The Allstate Foundation also promotes safe and vital communities; tolerance, inclusion and diversity; and economic empowerment. For more information, visit www.allstate.com/foundation.

Christine Barger-Millard joins Coldwell Banker Best Sellers

Victoria Williams, broker/sales manager of Coldwell Banker Best Sellers in Carson City recently announced that Christine Barger-Millard has joined the Best Sellers team as a full-time salesperson.

Barger-Millard said she is looking forward to her affiliation with Coldwell Banker Best Sellers because of "the company's outstanding business philosophy and marketing approach."

Barger-Millard is a native Nevadan licensed as a Realtor since 1978, and specializes in single-family homes, multi-family, subdivisions and property management. She has been active with the Sierra Nevada Board of Realtors for many years teaching ethics and fair housing to new inductees to the board, as well as serving on the Professional Standards Committee for many years and has served as the State Professional Standards Chairman.

"Ethics, honesty and giving back to the community are of the upmost importance to me. I love selling real estate, and especially helping first-time home buyers through the process of acquiring their own home," she said.

In addition to her real estate career, she is married and has two grown children. Her volunteer activities include having been a Court Appointed Special Advocate for nine years and she serves as a volunteer at Kids and Horses, an equine therapy facility for disabled children.

Barger-Millard can be reached at her new office, Coldwell Banker Best Sellers, 123 W. Second St., Carson City, 775-883-8500 office, 771-1773 cell, or by email to christine@cbbestsellers.com.

Mountain States Super Lawyers recognizes Kaempfer Crowell Attorneys for 2011

Mountain States Super Lawyers has recognized five Kaempfer Crowell attorneys for 2011.

Peter Bernhard was named as a top attorney in business litigation; Chris Kaempfer and Bob Gronauer were named as top attorneys in land use/zoning; Mark Fiorentino was named a top attorney in government relations; and Jim Smyth was named a top attorney in construction litigation. Only five percent of lawyers in the state are named by Super Lawyers.

Mountain States Rising Stars has recognized five Kaempfer Crowell attorneys for 2011.

Tom Amick, Tabitha Fiddyment and Stephanie Allen were named as rising stars for land use/zoning; Sev Carlson was named rising star for energy & natural resources and Lisa Zastrow was named as a rising star for business litigation.

The selections for this esteemed list are made by the research team at Super Lawyers, which is a service of the Thomson Reuters, Legal division based in Eagan, Minn. Each year, the research team undertakes a rigorous multi-phase selection process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent evaluation of candidates by the attorney-led research staff, a peer review of candidates by practice area, and a good-standing and disciplinary check.

Kaempfer Crowell serves local, regional and national clients in the real estate development, hospitality, business, manufacturing, energy, water and utility industries.

With offices in Las Vegas, Reno and Carson City, Kaempfer Crowell's lawyers counsel top corporations, business owners and individuals.

No sale on motel note

An auction of a non-performing loan on a Carson City motel failed to bring a sale.

Auction.com had set a $100,000 starting bid on the non-performing loan secured by the 62-room Day's Inn at 3103 N. Carson St. The loan with an interest rate of 7.75 percent has a current balance of $520,957, Auction.com said.

The online auction ran for three days in early June.

- Northern Nevada Business Weekly

New BBB members

New BBB Accredited Businesses with the Better Business Bureau serving Northern Nevada and the Lake Tahoe Basin include:

Reno: A Beloved Friends Pet Crematory of Northern Nevada Inc., A Wiseman Handyman Service, Fig Tree Catering, James T. Uchytil Construction LLC, L & L Hawaiian Barbecue at 5150 Mae Anne Ave., Lelia's Scrubs, Nevada Glaze, Primary Impressions Inc. and South Reno Mower and Saw.

Sparks: 1st Call Mobile Repair & Tires. Winnemucca: Casinos Boston Terriers LLC.

Zephyr Cove: Country Fresh America Inc. and TSI Title & Escrow Inc.

Minden: Great Basin Gunsmithing.

Verdi: Otis Bay Ecological Consultants and Otis Bay Ecological Restoration Inc.

Fallon: Parsons Drilling Inc.

Wadsworth: Underground Video Technology Inc.

- Northern Nevada Business Weekly