“California is anti-business,” asserts Matthew Szuhaj, director at Deloitte Consulting in the San Francisco Bay area. “There are a host of things the state could do to improve its business climate, but the economy is not hemorrhaging. There is still a robust eco-system for innovation. Consider that the amount of venture capital invested in California today is greater than all other states combined.”
Talk of California’s tarnished appeal eludes Ryan Black. The SoCal native never looked beyond his San Clemente roots when seeking a corporate headquarters for Sambazon, the fruit juice company he and his brother cofounded in 2000. “Southern California is a beautiful place,” he states. “I travel around the world. I think where we live is a little crowded, but I wouldn’t trade it. It’s wonderful.”
Nevada (No. 8)
The fastest-growing state for nearly two decades before the Great Recession, Nevada more recently has led the country in per capita job losses, shedding 200,000 during the downturn. The state still depends heavily on gambling and tourism, which employs one out of four workers. State GDP growth lags the national average, and April’s 8.5 percent unemployment rate was higher than every state but Rhode Island. Favorable cross-sector hiring news in early spring offered Nevadans some encouragement; signs of a construction industry rebound are evident. Nevada’s tax burden ranks 42nd out of the 50 states and is No. 3 in the Tax Foundation’s Business Tax Climate Index.
“Nevada doesn’t have a corporate income tax and that makes a huge difference,” says site selection consultant Deane Foote. Still, this fall, a margin tax initiative imposing a two percent revenue tax comes to a vote, which “a lot of business owners will watch carefully,” says Mike PeQueen, principal of Hightower Advisors in Las Vegas. Nevada spends at least $33.4 million per year on incentive programs, predominantly sales tax refunds, exemptions and other discounts, according to The New York Times. New legislation allocates incentives to movie production, targeting Southern California’s cluster.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
