K.J. Smith, it's never too late to find your passion

K.J. Smith, A Knack for Uncovering the Truth

 By Craig A. Ruark Early in life, K.J. Smith never dreamed that at the age of 59, she would become a licensed private investigator (PI) and the president of a full-service background investigation company. In 1971, Living in Portland, Oregon, Smith found herself in the position of having to raise two young children by herself.…

Mixing Family with Business 1

Mixing Family with Business

 By Craig A. Ruark The Cheese Board American Bistro & Catering Company has been a staple in Reno since 1981 and is a great example of a women-owned business. Debbie Branby started the Cheese Board from scratch (too use a cooking term) and over the next 36 years, built the restaurant and catering business into…

The Haus that Reed Built

The Haus that Reed Built

 By Craig A. Ruark From avocation to a flourishing business, that is the story behind Haus of Reed, a successful small business that produces custom furniture and accessories for big clients. Randi Reed had the vision for starting their business shortly after finding out that she was pregnant. Upon learning the news, her husband, Tim,…

Reno Re-imagined

Reno Re-Imagined

     by Corrine Casanova   Reno has a rich history of reinventing itself. Reno was born in 1868 as a railroad town—it became a city when the transcontinental railroad reached town. Shortly thereafter, the University of Nevada was founded in 1885. In the early 1900s, Reno turned divorce into a big business and became…

The Skinny on Two More Ballot Questions 8

The Skinny on Two More Ballot Questions

    by Corrine Casanova   Question 2, also known as the “pink tax” and Question 4, the Medical Patient Tax Relief Act will also be on the ballot this November. While neither of them are swirling in controversies like the energy choice and renewable energy initiatives in Questions 3 and 6, there are a…

Circle of Life Community Hospice

Circle of Life Community Hospice

    by Corrine Casanova   Recently I had coffee with Michelle Cagle who is an Administrator at Circle of Life Community Hospice in Reno. Michelle was happy to answer my questions.   What is hospice care? Hospice is a program for people in the advanced stages of a chronic or terminal illness who have…

Building Global Education with a Local Perspective

Building Global Education with a Local Perspective

   by Corrine Casanova   Dean Greg Mosier of the University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Business is proud of his part in building a legacy of globally competitive leaders. A year after becoming dean in 2007, he created the Nevada Global Business Program. This unique study abroad program has students traveling to London, Toronto,…

Wanted: Mentors for startup

Wanted: Mentors

   by Corrine Casanova StartUpNV, Nevada’s non-profit state-wide business incubator, is seeking mentors, founders and volunteers for newcomers in Nevada’s vibrant start-up community. They recently took over the reins of VMS, a Summit Venture Mentoring Service, from the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN). They are currently seeking the following: Member Companies / Founders…