www.thechambernv.orgSEPTEMBER 2014

MEMBERS

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IN THIS ISSUE:Business Case for Common Core

Upcoming Events

Wolf Pack Football

Offer for Chamber Members

Welcome NEW Members

Ribbon Cuttings

Leadership Reno Sparks THANK YOU

Let The Chamber be your partner for business. We deliver a strong return on your investment through a variety of resources and opportunities. With over 2,000 members, 200 volunteers and a full time staff of experts, we are the largest business organization in Northern Nevada. We advance your business through the power of connection, business referrals, discounts, regional promotion and sponsorship.

Take control and be heard As a business person, you know that free enterprise is the foundation of a strong economy and a prosperous society. At The Chamber, we advocate for public policies that help your business thrive. We realize that economic growth and job creation don’t “just happen” and that is why The Chamber’s results oriented, pro-business advocacy efforts are so important to your business and the future of our community.

Getting involved The Chamber offers a multitude of programs and committees that benefit our members as well as lead to growth within our business community. Join one of our councils and help shape policy, become an Ambassador and support new members or enroll in one of our many leadership classes and increase your knowledge and awareness of challenges facing our area. Let us help contribute to your personal and professional growth.

Networking Advancing your business through member to member connection, The Chamber hosts a variety of networking opportunities to help you gain that one-on-one advantage that help promote your business or product.

• Chamber Mixers • New Member Orientation • DIRECTIONS• Committee Participation • Biz Talk Blender • The Morning Spark • Membership Luncheons • Ribbon Cuttings (previously Biz Flash)

Marketing & Promotion Membership offers outstanding marketing opportunities to get your message out. Let other members know what makes your product or service unique through an array of opportunities.

• Directory Listing • Newsletter Advertising • Business Referral & Links on Website • Email New Member • Chamber Lobby • New Member Listings Promotion Advertising• Social Media • Member Events Calendar • Custom Publication New Member Promotion • Directory Listing Advertising• Sponsorships

Events & Sponsorship Looking to build your brand? Sponsoring a chamber event helps you reach a key business to business demographic and community leaders.

• Annual Golf Tournament • B.E.S.T. Kids Program • Monthly Luncheons• Chamber 101 • DIRECTIONS • Biz Talk Blender• Employer Healthcare Forum

This is Your Chamber! government updateThe Business Case for Common Core

Written by the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce

Reprinted with permission

Steering students towards success after graduation benefits everyone. Employers are able to depend on a well-educated workforce to maintain and grow their businesses, universities spend less money on remedial education, and individuals are smarter, more capable, more employable and will likely earn more. As job creators, employers and business leaders, we need to make sure that the students in today’s classrooms are prepared as tomorrow’s skilled workforce. Employers today are looking to the next generation of their workers, colleagues, suppliers and leaders. And those future workers are getting primed in the classrooms today. Ensuring that Nevada’s workforce is adequately prepared – for college, career and life beyond high school – is paramount to ensuring that Nevada has the workforce it needs to be competitive in the global economy. The steps the business community takes now towards economic diversification, industry development and startup innovation can only be sustained in the long term if the next generation of employees is prepared to enter the workforce. It all starts with academic standards in the classroom. That is why a set of standards known nationally as Common Core, and in Nevada called the Nevada Academic Content Standards, has been implemented to create a more rigorous academic experience in our public schools. Defined as a set of high-quality academic standards in mathematics and English language arts, Common Core Standards outline a series of clear, consistent guidelines for what a student should know and be able to execute in respective subjects at the end of each grade year. Its overall objectives are to ensure that U.S. high school students graduate with the knowledge and skill set necessary to succeed in college and career, create consistent learning goals across the U.S., and maintain and advance the nation’s place as a leader of innovation and growth in the competitive global economy. Forty-four states and the District of Columbia have adopted the Common Core Standards. “Nevada is raising its academic standards to help our students receive a world-class education and ensure all Nevadans are ready for success in the 21st Century,” says Dale Erquiaga, Superintendent of Public Instruction for Nevada. “Since 2011, our schools have been implementing new Nevada Academic Content Standards, which are the Nevada version of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts and mathematics.” The science standards were adopted by the State Board of Education in February of 2014, and will soon be taught across the state. Common Core Standards change what a student is expected to know at various stages of their academic advancement and also influences the methods

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CHAMBER BOARD

OFFICERS:

Jim McClenahan -Chairman of the Board

UNR College of Business

Tim Ruffin - Past ChairColliers International

Sarah Sommers - Chair ElectSolutions At Work

Danny DeLaRosa - TreasurerUnited Federal Credit Union

Dennis McGovern- Business Advocacy

Legends at Sparks Marina

Todd Wilson - LeadershipBenefit Resource Group

Stephen Ascuaga

Len Stevens - Executive Director

The Chamber

BOARD MEMBERS:

Mike HixFirst Independent Bank

Alan OliveNorthern Nevada Medical

Center

Josh BartellaMicrosoft

Bill HughesPeppermill

Lisa Speth-JonesWells Fargo

Chris BosseRenown

Cheri HillSage International Inc.

Pete CopelandGreat Reno Balloon Race

Brad WoodringNV Energy

Larry HuntBayer Properties, LLC

Kris WellsAT&T

Gina BrooksThe Glenn Group

Doug KnuthUNR Athletics

Abbi WhitakerThe Abbi Agency

Tammy Cantrelle-SmithMountain America Credit Union

Kimberly KuntzNoble Studios

Tim CrowleyNevada Mining Association

John MaherReno-Gazette Journal

Audrey DamonteAltus Insurance

Pedro MartinezWashoe County School District

Estella GutierrezTruckee Meadows

Community College

Helen LidholmSaint Mary’s

Regional Medical Center

LIAISONS:

Joe Bozsik - Young Professionals NetworkUNR College of Engineering

Mark Tulman - AmbassadorsNevada Association

of Employers

Tina Iftiger - Reno Tahoe Airport Authority

Steve Anderson- EDAWNRBC Wealth Management

Linda Meissen - Realtors Association

PrudentialSierra Nevada Properties

Ziad Rashdan - ASUN UNR

Darrell Plummer - WINSierra Nevada Properties

CHAMBER STAFF:

Len Stevens -Executive Director

Tray Abney - Director of

Government Relations

Joy Heuer -Community & Member Information Manager

Jennifer Jones -Finance Manager,

Administration

Susan Robinson -Events Coordinator

Leslie Masterpool -Programs Coordinator

Sandy Ammerman -Membership Relations

Varney Padgett - Membership Sales

Laurie Pettyjohn -Membership Sales

message from the executive director775-636-9550 | www.thechambernv.org

I hope that you all had a great summer! A couple of weeks ago we had a fantastic speaker, Cheri Hill, discuss the “Laws of Connectivity” and how to maximize your connections. This topic dealt with

our ability to connect with our peers in both a professional and personal environment. One of the Chamber’s primary goals is to connect members with other members. We offer a variety of opportunities to connect with your fellow members. One of these opportunities will be available to members at the beginning of January. We are now working on our 2015 Connection publication which is a membership & relocation guide. This guide, in print version, will provide exposure for your business to approximately 6,000 businesses in Northern Nevada. If you are not yet a member of The Chamber, now is your chance to take advantage of this exposure as well as all the other benefits of being a member! By joining The Chamber, you become a member of the largest business organization in our area. We invite you to visit our website (TheChamberNV.org) to see the many benefits, events and programs The Chamber provides to members. You can also call (775) 636-9550 and a Chamber representative will assist you. Thank you to all current members of The Chamber and remember to update your membership information with us so it is accurate for the 2015 directory. I look forward to seeing you at a Chamber event!

Len StevensExecutive Director, The Chamber

Thank you to our 2014 Corporate Sponsors for your involvement and support of The Chamber.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4RIBBON CUTTING - Dragonfly Media5-7pm @ 430 Stoker Ave., Suite 101FREE

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9MORNING SPARK - Website Design (see page 4 for details)7:30-9am @ 449 S. Virginia St., First Floor Members: $5; Nonmembers: $25Please RSVP - Register online at thechambernv.org

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12LEADERSHIP RENO SPARKS — 30 Year Anniversary Gala6-9pm @ Wilbur D. May Museum, 1595 N. Sierra St.$35 per ticket; Sponsorship starts @ $100Please RSVP - Register online at thechambernv.org

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16RIBBON CUTTING - Integrity Staffing Solutions5:30-7pm @ 135 N. Sierra St., Suite BFREE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17MEMBERSHIP LUNCH - Educate Yourself on the Implications of the Margin Tax11:30am-1pm @ Atlantis Casino Members: $25; Nonmembers: $45 Please RSVP - Register online at thechambernv.org

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18PUBLIC POLICY FORUM - Common Core — Speaker State Superintendent Dale Erquiaga7:30-9am @ The Chamber, 449 S. Virginia, First Floor FREE; Please RSVP - Register online at thechambernv.org

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25BIZTALK BLENDER - (see page 3 for details)5-7pm @ iMortgage, 6005 Plumas, Ste 100 Members: $15; Nonmembers: $35Please RSVP - Register online at thechambernv.org

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30RIBBON CUTTING - MarkUBiz5-6:15pm @ 1300 Marietta Way #103, SparksFREE

Before any event, please check the events calendar at www.thechambernv.org for any possible additions or last minute changes.

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2 CHAMBER CONNECTION | SEPTEMBER 2014

CHAMBER MEMBER SPECIAL OFFER2014 WOLF PACK FOOTBALL

HOW TO ORDER:Go to NevadaWolfPack.com/promo

and enter in promo code: CHAMBER14

Saturday, October 4th, 7:30 PM

NEVADA vs. BOISE STATE

For questions or more information please contact:

Meredith Montoya at (775) 682-6905 or mmontoya@unr.edu

PRICES: Field Reserved..................$41 (regular price $46)

Plaza Reserved.................$24 (regular price $31)

ACT NOW! - This offer is only available to active members of The Chamber - Only 200 tickets available at the discounted rate

GAME DETAILS: - Homecoming 2014 - Limited free parking available - Post-game fireworks

3CHAMBER CONNECTION | SEPTEMBER 2014rib

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ABM SecuritySteve Cader • (916) 614-9571

800 Howell Ave. • Sacramento, CA 95825

AIM - Associated Insurance ManagersJulie Morin • (775) 827-1400

7025 Longley Ln., Ste. 60 • Reno, NV 89511

Electra Barresi - Individual Membership(775) 200-3518

10845 Serratina Dr. • Reno, NV 89521

Emeritus Senior LivingDwight Aalgaard • (775) 828-50003105 Plumas St. • Reno, NV 89509

IntelliSourceScott Snyder • (303) 692-1100

5190 Neil Rd., #435 • Reno, NV 89502

iUnlimited investigative serviceChris Champlin • (877) 254-7075

200 S. Virginia St., 8th Fl. • Reno, NV 89501

LendClearArjun Dhingra • (866) 514-9477

5595 Kietzke Ln, Suite 116 • Reno, NV 89511

Piedmont Truss & Lumber, Inc.Shane Chapman • (775) 358-9900

8355 Double R Blvd., #B • Reno, NV 89511

Smart & FinalBlanca Rodriguez • (775) 322-7905365 E. Plumb Ln. • Reno, NV 89502

Twain Financial PartnersDanny Sandbrink • (314) 300-4135

1324 Washington Ave., Ste 200Saint Louis, MO 63103

Virginia Street Antique Mall, LLCLisa Youell Jeanney • (775) 324-41411251 S. Virginia St. • Reno, NV 89502

White Knight Real Estate - Angela Nagner(775) 287-6775

184 Dailey • Reno, NV 89506

YPJames Smith • (775) 850-1900515 Double Eagle Ct., Ste 200

Reno, NV 89521

newmembers

JU

LY

@ the employer healthcare

workplace culture change

forum October 16, 2014 Doors Open at 7:00AM

Grand Sierra Resort

Announcing Northern Nevada’s Healthiest Places to Work! Sponsored by .

October 2, 2014 5:00PM to 6:30PM The Chamber

a healthy bite of Reno mixer

In Partnership

The BizTalk Blender® takes business networking to a whole new level by attracting the decision making management of a diverse workforce within Nevada. It also assists The Chamber in welcoming new members, and assists in retaining existing members. Having top management present, allows the possibility of generating revenue for your organization.

Price Members: $15.00

Non Members: $35.00

Table sponsor: $150.00

Information

Date: Thursday, September 25, 2014

Time: 5:30PM to 7:00PM

Location: iMortgage

6005 Plumas St #100 Reno

BizTalk BlenderBizTalk BlenderBizTalk Blender

Price Chamber Members: $5.00

Non Chamber Members: $25.00

Information Dates & Topics: Tuesday, September 9 – Website Design (Judy Haar & Bobby Jenkins)

Tuesday, October 7 – Customer Service (David Stipech, GM KUNR) Tuesday, November 4 – Panel with business speakers

Time: 7:30amto 9:00am

Location: The Chamber 449 S. Virginia St. Reno, NV

Morning Spark is a business development & training program designed for professionals and business owners on the go! Morning Spark, featuring SCORE, will bring highly acclaimed speakers to share the latest business trends, training and development with Chamber Members.

Morning SparkMorning SparkMorning Spark

4 CHAMBER CONNECTION | SEPTEMBER 2014

GOVERNMENT UPDATE -- continued from page 1

that are used to teach subject material. It aims to set a realistic baseline for student achievement and give teachers and parents more opportunities to recognize areas of improvement before they become major gaps that could seriously hinder a student’s progress. School districts continue to have power over determining their own curriculum. “Districts continue to develop their own curricula, and classroom teachers will tailor instruction to the new standards and the needs of their students,” Erquiaga says. State Senator Joyce Woodhouse (D), chairwoman of the Nevada Senate Committee on Education and a former program administrator for the Clark County School District with a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and educational administration, believes that the content standards represent a major improvement. “I believe the Nevada Academic Content Standards are more rigorous than our previous standards and are designed to prepare students for college and careers,” Woodhouse says. “Students, through classroom instruction and experiences provided by their highly qualified teachers, will understand the content and processes involved in their English language arts and mathematics curricula.” “A lot has changed since we were kids,” says President of the State Board of Education and well-known education advocate and philanthropist Elaine Wynn. “To succeed in today’s world, our children require skills and experience to think critically, communicate effectively and accomplish real-world achievements.” She believes that the new standards will help students achieve those goals and give them increased opportunities by improving the quality of education they receive. “Our more rigorous Academic Content Standards (based on Common Core) are raising the bar for what kids will learn and know at every grade level. We have been at it for a while. The Blue Ribbon Task Force on Education, which I co-chaired with [Nevada System of Higher Education] Chancellor Dan Klaich almost five years ago, developed a blueprint for education reform that included a recommendation to adopt the Common Core State Standards,” Wynn says. The campaign to educate students, peers, and community stakeholders about the new standards and their implementation is known as Nevada Ready! Wynn believes that the Common Core standards are the best way to equip students properly and prepare them to be a part of a highly educated workforce. Erquiaga agrees with Wynn’s assessment. “New academic standards, along with high quality and well-supported educators, have the potential to transform outcomes for Nevada students and for our state,” he says. “Nevada’s new standards are expected to drastically reduce the need for remedial classes. The standards will also strengthen the state’s workforce and economy as more students graduate from high school ready to succeed in a new economy.” They are not alone in their support of the new standards. A 2010 review of state-based standards done by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, an education-focused think tank, found that the Common Core Standards were “clearly superior” to standards found in Nevada, which received a “C” grade along with 32 other states for math and reading. Common Core Standards were found to be clearer and more rigorous than the pre-existing standards. Las Vegas is a community well-known for its growing population, and many of the students who are now enrolled in Clark County schools did not begin their education locally. Common Core Standards are especially important in areas of the country (like Southern Nevada) that are more prone to transiency and transplanted residents, as it regiments the type of materials students are expected to know and when they are

expected to know it across districts, counties and even states. A high school junior who moves from New Mexico will not have to repeat American History because of discordant state standards; he or she will be taught similar material at similar times throughout their education. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which formally backed the adoption of Common Core Standards, notes on its website, BusinessForCore.com, that students in the United States are lagging behind other students in developed economies. U.S. students rank 17th in reading literacy, 21st in science, and 26th in math according to the site. The shortfall extends beyond the national scope into the local, as the U.S. Chamber also predicts that by 2020, 62 percent of jobs in Nevada will require some postsecondary education credential, but only 28 percent of adults in the state currently have a postsecondary credential. This leaves a critical gap in workforce needs and poses a real threat to our economy. The higher guidelines Common Core Standards bring to public schools will help close the skills gap that will make a substantial difference in the United States’ place in the global economy. Some of the most vocal criticism of the standards come from individuals who oppose a standardization of subject matter across the states, but advocates are quick to point out that adoption of Common Core Standards is voluntary, even arguing that because the standards are focused, it allows even greater innovation at local levels to teach complex ideas and topics to students. Common Core Standards are the brainchild of individual state governors who sought to tackle declining test scores relative to other industrialized nations. In an Op-Ed piece published in the Cincinnati Enquirer in July 2014, Gary Standafer, a former classroom teacher who has worked in textbook publishing and test development, notes that the standards weren’t designed by bureaucrats. He points out that the standards were authored “by scholars who represent the best base of knowledge of how students learn and what they need to know in order to be prepared for college and careers.” Standafer writes that the standards “are research-based and represent what is known about learning progressions and how students’ mathematical knowledge and skills develop over time,” citing that the standards for science and English language arts are likewise rooted in educational research. Brian McAnallen, vice president of government affairs at the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce, believes the academic standards are pivotal to improving the education and workforce in Southern Nevada and closing the skills gap. “The Metro Chamber fully supports the Common Core Standards,” he says. “They are a key component of the work we are doing to improve the schools in Southern Nevada and make our community a more attractive place to live and do business. We are working with state and local stakeholders to make sure they know the Metro Chamber supports the new standards.” Erquiaga believes the backing of community organizations like the Metro Chamber is an important part of the new standards implementation and success. “It is critical that educators have the support of their communities to implement these new standards successfully. Nevada Ready! aims to build public awareness and engagement regarding key issues impacting Nevada education,” he explains. “As business and civic leaders, your support is critical if our local schools are to reach even greater heights than before.” Learn more about Common Core and the Nevada Ready! Campaign by visiting nevadaready.gov on the web, @NevadaReady on Twitter and on the Nevada Ready! Facebook page. You can also find out more information at BusinessForCore.com.

© 2014 Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce

Mobilizing to Clothe our Community!Mobilizing to Clothe our Community!Mobilizing to Clothe our Community!Leadership Reno SparksLeadership Reno SparksLeadership Reno Sparks30 Years of Brilliance:30 Years of Brilliance:30 Years of Brilliance:

With your help we raised over $13,000 for theGood Shepherd’s Clothes Closet 2014 Chamber Leadership Project

Thank you to the following Sponsors:

Thank you to the following Table Sponsors:

Thank you to our Event Partners:

Lumos & Associates, Inc. • NVHS Class of 2004 California Transplant Donor Network/ Donate Life Nevada

Applied Staffing/Applied Business Solutions • United Federal Credit UnionKaempfer, Crowell, Renshaw, Gronauer & Fiorentino • Nevada Insurance Agency

Northern Nevada Medical Center – Kristi Eash • Smith-Jones Family

THANK YOU!

Leadership Reno Sparks is a program of The Chamber. Visit www.leadershipreno.com for project details and sponsorship opportunities. Donations are tax deductible through The Chamber Education Fund Tax Id 88-0423054.