Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 8

RENO CONTACT Lai ren Gisn 775-788-6326 BUSIXESSRGJ.COM TODATS BRIEFING Your connection to Northern Nevada business community STATE ECONOMY 8A THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 201 1 BysGiss 8 Statewide numbers rise on auto purchases; Washoe numbers fall again pattern going back to last spring. But February's 4.3 percent rise statewide from February 2010 was encouraging for the Nevada Legislature, which will get its final revenue projections for the fiscal 2011-13 budget from the Economic Forum on Monday. Compared with the Economic Forum's preliminary projections in December, the state General Fund portion of sales taxes has risen 2.8 percent through the first eight months of the current fiscal year, according to Wednesday's Department of Taxation report. "I think this says, in some ways, Nevada's economy seems to be growing again," said Elliott Parker, economist See TAXABLE SALES, 7A By Bill O'Driscoll bodriscollSrgj.com Taxable sales rose modestly statewide for an eighth straight month in February, the state reported Wednesday, offering signs of economic recovery in a key driver of revenue for state government Across Washoe County, February taxable sales fell compared with February 2010, continuing an off -again, on- HOSPITAL RECOGNIZED FOR BEST PRACTICES Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center will be recognized today for its dedication to providing quality health care during an educational program by Joint Commission Resources that airs live via webinar. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 18,000 health care organizations and programs in the U.S.

each year. Saint Mary's will be the featured hospital during the Joint Commission's educational program airing today, titled "Hospital Staff and Physician Competency." The program will be viewed by more than 4,500 health care workers nationally and is used as an educational tool and best practices case study. The video will highlight how Saint Mary's identified issues in competency and credentialing, how it initiated performance improvement projects to respond to these issues and the results of its efforts. REAL ESTATE Attorney purchases 92 Belvedere condos U.S. ECONOMY Bernanke sees risk in further steps to spur jobs i izs ENVIRONMENT VERIZON STORE LEED CERTIFIED The Verizon Wireless Communications Store in Reno is one of 41 Verizon Wireless retail stores nationwide to have received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification from the U.S.

Green Building Council. The LEED-certif ied store, 5000 Smithridge optimizes water and energy use, enhances indoor environmental quality and reduces waste through specifications, responsible procurement and construction practices, including Energy Star equipment, efficient lighting and HVAC systems, energy management and monitoring systems and low-flow plumbing fixtures. Staff reports PEOPLE ON THE MOVE KITCHEN PROMOTED TO PARTNER Attorney David Lonich bids on one of the 92 Belvedere condominiums he purchased at auction Wednesday in Reno. Lonich, of Santa Rosa, represents project developer Bijan Madjlessi of Belvedere LLC. photos andy barronrgj Shaw Engineering has announced that David Kitchen, professional engineer, has been named a partner for the firm.

Kitchen was formerly a project manager at Shaw Engineering. By Martin Crutsinger Associated Press WASHINGTON Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Wednesday that the Fed can't take additional steps to try to ease high unemployment without escalating inflation. If inflation were to accelerate, the Fed would have to raise rates to slow borrowing and spending and blunt price increases. Hiring might then slow. Bernanke is the first chairman in the Fed's 98-year history to begin holding regular news conferences.

The session, the first of three scheduled news conferences this year, is part of Bernanke's long-standing campaign to make the Fed more transparent and to cast himself as open and accessible. In fielding questions, he sketched a picture of an economy growing steadily but still weighed down by a prolonged period of unemployment, now at 8.8 percent. He acknowledged the pain that is causing, noting that around 45 percent of the unemployed have been without a job for six months or longer. "We know the consequences of that can be very distressing because people who are out of work for a long time, their skills tend to atrophy," Bernanke said. See BERNANKE, 7A A 1996 graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, Kitchen has more than 16 years of engineering experience serving clients throughout Northern Nevada.

He is a registered professional engineer in Nevada and California. mSUSS' 'ItJf ill vr. -iSffTiri Yiiiififi iMrr irTi i nr rt The Belvedere condominium project is in the north tower of the former Sundowner Hotel and Casino in downtown Reno. BUSINESS POLL QUESTION: What's your assessment of the new Siena Hotel Spa Casino VOTE: RGJ.comBusiness RESULTS: Saturday DATA SNAPSHOT Home prices fall The Standard Poor'sCase-Shiller home 20-city housing index fell one percent in January. Composite 20-city index Non-seasonally adjusted Jan.

2000100 Developer's lawyer pays $1.9 million Staff reports The lawyer for the developer of downtown Reno condominiums converted from rooms in the former Sundowner Hotel and Casino on Wednesday purchased 92 of the condos for nearly $2 million at auction, after his client was delinquent in paying nearly $800,000 in taxes to the county. David Lonich, of Santa Rosa, purchased most of the condos for minimum bids. Few bid against him. Lonich is the attorney for Bijan Madjlessi of Belvedere LLC, who planned on selling the condos in the Sundowner's north tower. The project's failure was blamed on the collapse of the downtown condo market.

Washoe County Treasurer Tammi Davis said the buyer would receive a quit claim deed that would wipe away any financial obligations that had been attached to the property. Following the auction, 150 139.27 Lonich declined to comment. The most expensive condo purchased was $45,000. The least expensive was $12,000. In all, Lonich spent more than $1.96 million.

Washoe County put the condos at auction after Belvedere LLC was delinquent in paying $788,000 in property taxes during a four-year period, Davis said. The county also will turn over $143,610 to the city of Reno, which is owed taxes for a special property assessment district to help pay for the railroad trench project. Belvedere LLC purchased the Sundowner, 450 N. Arlington for $7.89 million in 2006, according to Washoe County assessor records. The condos originally were priced at $170,000 to $850,000.

Lonich has until 5 p.m. today to pay for all the condos, Davis said. Another 80 condos in the north tower are owned by individuals and are not part of the sale. Madjlessi also controls the company that owns the casino building on Fourth Street, and he sold the 14-story hotel tower above it to Mountain Air Enterprises, controlled by investor Steve Scarpa. Both men live in Marin County.

144 142 140 "We can't achieve a sustainable recovery without keeping inflation under control." BEN BERNANKE Federal Reserve chairman 138 TT 1 "I I I FMAMJJASONDJ 2010 2011 'Standan Poor's is temporarily using non-seasonally adjusted figures because the surge in foreclosures appears to have magnified the seasonal factors hi SAP's computer model, making them less reliable. SOURCE: Standard Poorls A INSIGHT: ON THE JOB Hardwood Flooring Clearance Turn criticism into constructive feedback fr Mir i i Unfortunately, criticism is a part of the working world: The boss criticizes the way you handled a client. A co-worker criticizes your contribution to a FVi-- 8m 8pm I Sat-1 Sam fcpm "Sum IOjm fcpm Examples of our great deals: 19C sq-ftlil! from 990 First Quality Oak Laminate Flooring (with warranty! 38" Prefiniahed Real Exotic Hardwood (15 yr warranty report. Even the lunch delivery person criticizes you for not having correct change. You may respond to these" criticisms with angry thoughts, defending yourself in your 12mm Laminate FREE 3mm attached pad (15mm) (30 yr warranty) 1.89 sq.ft.

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The problem is that because so many workers have been burned by unfair criticism, they avoid any feedback at all, a habit that can hurt careers, Rosenberg said. If employees don't know what the boss likes and dislikes about their performance, they can make themselves vulnerable to being ousted from their jobs. She said it's key that workers learn how to better handle criticism, and use techniques to direct it in a way that benefits their careers. By understanding how to ask for more specific information when critical comments are made, Rosenberg said workers can glean where they need to direct their energies instead of just becoming emotional and unproductive. "It's perfectly normal to get angry when someone criticizes you," Rosenberg said.

"But you've got to keep your feelings inside. Just keep telling yourself that the person criticizing you is not in your shoes, and the person is just offering his or her opinion. Tell yourself that you're trying your best." Once you acknowledge your feelings, then you can move on, try to track down exactly what's bugging the boss about your performance, figure out how you can correct it, and learn from it, she said. That's why learning to listen to criticism not avoiding it is so important, she said. "If something is bothering the boss, you've got to find out what it is," she said.

"That's why it's so important that you ask questions, trying to narrow down exactly what is the problem. Don't let the boss talk about past issues, because there's nothing you can do about that. Keep him focused on what must be done in the future." Rosenberg, author of "From Rage See BRUZZESE, 7A 33 I Anita Bruzzese I AUin-atock wSO year warranty 50C qJi.orl MACWOOO F1OCMCi one-of-a-kind deals at your local (ton Spclal Financing! 9728 Virginia Street, Reno, NV (775) 851-4949 head agamst what you believe are unfair and mean-spirited remarks. In many cases, you're right to try to defend yourself criticisms at work often are off-target and nasty. "Criticism is not a motivational technique.

It does not teach or show you how to correct or change ii' aip a on? SOLD OH A nitST COME. TOtST SERVED MSI8. While supplies last. Odd lots sold as is. Product availability and prices are subject to change without notice.

Sale ends 312011. mm.