Take advantage of the unique opportunities for continued education, professional growth, certifications, and a network of colleagues and friends that a NPI membership can provide.
Though Jon Ralston has been digging up the dirt about Nevada politics and business for more than two decades, he hails from Buffalo, N.Y. Ralston holds a B.A. in English from Cornell University and a M.A. in journalism from University of Michigan. Shortly after his 1983 graduation, he came to Sin City as the night police reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, later covering general assignment and county government before becoming a political reporter in 1986.
Ralston wrote for the Las Vegas Review-Journal for 15 years, the last seven as a freelance columnist.
In 1999, the Greenspun Media Group purchased his political newsletter The Ralston Report. Ralston currently publishes The Ralston Report on-line via RalstonFlash.com, a daily e-mail newsletter containing insider political and business information.
Weekly columns authored by the prolific pundit can also be found within the pages of In Business Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Sun. In addition to the print media, he is a frequent guest commentator on Las Vegas' CBS affiliate, Channel 8.
Ralston is also the host of "Face to Face," a political discussion program.
Awards garnered by Ralston include: Nevada State Press Association's Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year in 1986, Best Columnist of the Year in 1991 and 1992 and Best Non-Staff Columnist in 2000, 2001 and 2003. In 1996, Ralston was named one of Clark County's "Top 40 Under 40" by the Las Vegas Business Press.
In 2000, Ralston was named as an Influential Businessman in Southern Nevada by In Business Las Vegas.
Robert J. Nahabit, C.P.M.
Nahabit & Associates, Inc.
As a business representative of your organization, you have influence over daily business decisions. Whether you are responsible for purchasing decisions, selling price, or terms of a contract, your decisions will reflect upon you personally as well as your organization.
You must be constantly aware of the temptations presented to you (whether overtly or covertly), and rise above them. If you want to be a success in business (and in life), your business behavior must be above reproach and suspicion. It is a matter of choice, YOUR CHOICE.
No doubt, your company has an Ethics Policy to which you are to be held responsible. But, we believe that any company which simply has an Ethics Policy in a file somewhere, and asks its employees to review and sign it once a year, is remiss in their real responsibilities.
Learn the four basic elements that must be in place at any organization to make your Ethics Policy not only meaningful, but also enforceable. Most companies fall flat in this area. Don't wait - and find out too late! The good news is that we are here to help.
There are two backbones to our seminar: ISM's Principles and Standards of Purchasing Practice, and Good Solid Common Sense coming from the practical experience of our team (having more than 100 years of combined purchasing experience) that helped us assemble the contents of our presentation. Very practical info!
Punam Mathur
Vice President, Human Resources
NV Energy
Prior to joining NV Energy, Ms. Mathur was Senior Vice President, Corporate Diversity and Community Affairs and a Corporate Officer of MGM MIRAGE, a gaming entertainment company. She was Vice President of Corporate Diversity and Community Affairs of MGM MIRAGE from 2000-2005, and Director of Government Affairs and Community Relations for Mirage Resorts from 1996-2000. Prior to that she held various positions with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce between 1990 and 1996, including Director of Marketing, Vice President of Marketing and Senior Vice President of Government Affairs. Ms. Mathur is Chairwoman of the Board of Three Square, a not-for-profit organization, and Executive Committee Co-Chair of NV Partnership for Inclusive Education. She serves on the UNLV Presidents Task Force on Diversity, Nevada State Colleges Diversity council and as a Board Member on the National Minority Supplier Development Council.
Tim Schneider
Tough times don’t last but great leaders do. Lean Times Requires Great Leadership examines and explore the connection between organizations that survive and thrive during difficult times and the quality of their leadership. There are no mysteries here. The companies with the best leadership win.
Two primary dynamics are the focus of Lean Times Require Great Leadership. Those dynamics are the tough times themselves and the recovery from tough times. Difficult and lean times are no excuse for bunkering down or a trench mentality. They are an opportunity for great leadership to shine and earn their stripes. It is about being decisive, connecting with your team and looking at your organization in a different and more critical manner.
Sharon Hauht, CPSM, C.P.M.
Are you afraid of bid protests? Are you afraid of dealing with the media? Learn why bidders protest and how you can take preventative measures to avoid protests. When you get a bid protest, learn what steps to take resolve the protest and what to do when a protest cannot be resolved. Get a call from a reporter on one of your projects asking questions? Know how to react and what to do when a reporter calls. This session will give you some hints for dealing with those unpleasant situations which are inevitable.
