Distinguished Business of the Year Award Finalists Announced
Reno, Nev. (October 8, 2008) - - A diverse group of 20 northern Nevada companies are finalists for the Governor’s Industry Appreciation “Distinguished Business of the Year” Awards. For the first time, companies are being recognized in four categories including: community support, workforce/education, innovation and start-up, with five finalists in each group. Award winners will be announced at the 24th Annual Governor’s Industry Appreciation Awards on Thursday, November 6, 2008 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at John Ascuaga’s Nugget.
Finalists in the community support category are: Harrah’s Reno; McDonald Carano Wilson, LLP; NAI Alliance; Niotan, Inc.; and the Reno Gazette-Journal. Finalists in the workforce/education category include: Henry Schein, Inc.; Microsoft Licensing, GP; Niotan, Inc.; SilverSky Group, LLC; and the University of Phoenix. Finalists in the innovation category are: Applied Business Solutions, LLC; Niotan, Inc.; Ormat Technologies; Reno Gazette-Journal; and Tri-Property Resort. Finalists in the start-up category are: Hug Your Kids LLC; Image Base International; Northern Nevada Association of Professional Veterans; Schneider Logistics, Inc.; and Viega, LLC.
Finalists for the Distinguished Business of the Year Awards were determined based on a unique set of criteria for each category. The criteria includes a consideration of the company’s impact on the northern Nevada community and corporate citizenship. To qualify, all companies were required to be located and doing business in northern Nevada for a minimum of one year, with the exception of start up companies that needed to have been in business in the area for three years or less. Additionally, the company must represent an industry consistent with the mission for regional economic development focusing on business growth that offers skilled, high-paying jobs and opportunities for residents.
Also recognized at the Governor’s Industry Appreciation Awards are companies that are new to northern Nevada or have significantly expanded over the last year. Honoree companies that are new to the region include: Image Base International; Live Out Loud; Mariah Power, Inc.; PPG Industries, Inc.; Schneider Logistics, Inc.; Sun America Affordable Housing Partners; Thybar Corporation; and Viega North America.
Honoree companies that have expanded this past year are: Charles River Laboratories Inc.; Communications Installation Service; Enel North America; Gems TV; Henry Schein; Kuehne + Nagel; Microsoft Licensing, GP; Mitel; Newmont Mining Corporation – Phoenix Mine; Niotan, Inc.; OptiComp Corporation; Ormat Technologies; Pacific Coast Flange, Inc.; PetSmart DC41; The Penta Building Group; Trex Company; U.S. Ordnance, Inc.; and Universal Analyzers/Barben Analyzer Technology, LLC.
The Governor’s Industry Appreciation Awards is co-sponsored by the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) and the Northern Nevada Development Authority (NNDA) in cooperation with the Nevada Commission on Economic Development. The event began in 1984 to recognize new businesses in the region as well as existing companies that have experienced significant growth.
About EDAWN: EDAWN is a private, non-profit corporation founded by community leaders in 1982 to diversify the Greater Reno-Tahoe economy by recruiting, expanding and starting up quality companies that have a positive impact on the region’s quality of life. Reno was named the No. 1 Place for Doing Business in America 2005 by Inc. magazine. For more information on doing business in Greater Reno-Tahoe, visit www.edawn.org.
About NNDA: NNDA focuses on recruitment, retention, and expansion of business and industry in Carson City, Douglas, Lyon, and Storey counties. NNDA’s mission is to sustain and improve the economic vitality and quality of life in the region through partnerships with educational institutions, industrial organizations, governmental bodies and non-profit and for-profit groups in the communities of the Greater Reno-Tahoe region. For more information, visit www.nnda.org.
-###-
