Niche Finder
If I had to give myself a title or occupation description after four decades of business activity in Las Vegas, I’d call myself an observational entrepreneur, a “niche finder.” With nearly every venture I’ve undertaken, my business partner Dan and I identified a niche in which we could do things better than they were currently being done. This mindset was easy to execute in a young, growing town like Las Vegas.
In the 1970s and ’80s, visionaries willing to go for it found Las Vegas to be a prime setting for fulfilling their entrepreneurial aspirations. I was the niche finder who pulled together the concept, funding, and implementation, while Dan was the best partner possible for any project, sharing ideas and duties and riding the wildest and most fun-filled roller coaster of life anyone could ever imagine.
When you can demonstrate a need in any area of industry, your job is to find a cure, believe you can implement it, raise the money to do so, form the team, and make it happen: a new business is born.
Generally, I took up to a year establishing a new venture, running it hands-on, day-to-day, and setting the standards for excellence, before preparing to move on. Moving on means freeing up your time to find the next challenge, which can only happen if you select the right management team to fill your shoes when you aren’t there. If the company could generate the revenues and profits set under my direct management, the right manager would take over the operation, doing no worse and hopefully better with the foundation I’d established.
Hard work, good decision-making, and some luck usually lead to success, financial rewards, and a sense of accomplishment that recharges your batteries and leaves you looking for the next niche to fill. It was always true, in my case.
Career Timeline
1952
1972-1974
Enlisted U.S. Marine Corps. Honorable discharge as E4, Corporal
1972-1974
1974-1979
Casino Dealer
1975-1976
Co-Founder and Co-Owner, The Art Shop, Las Vegas, Nevada
1975-1976
1975-2012
Realtor, GLVAR, Las Vegas, Nevada
1979-1990
Co-Owner, Suburban Lounge West*, Las Vegas, Nevada
1979-1990
1983-1991
Co-Owner, Suburban Lounge East*, Las Vegas, NV
1984-2008
Co-Founder and Co-Owner, Suburban Graphics, Inc.*, Las Vegas, NV
1984-2008
1984-1988
Founder and Co-Owner, Presidential Limousine Service*
1986-1987
Remodeled and reopened Spring Valley Car Wash, Arco AM/PM, Las Vegas, Nevada
1986-1987
1986-2014
Co-Founder and Co-Owner, Glass Supply, Inc.*, Las Vegas, Nevada
1992-1993
Co-Founder and Co-Owner, Bungee Fever, Las Vegas, Nevada
1992-1993
1993-2013
Co-Founder and Co-Owner, Castaways Casino/Alibi Casino*, Las Vegas, Nevada
1997-1999
Co-Founder and Co-Owner, Suburban Travel, Las Vegas, Nevada
1997-1999
2010-2015
Co-Owner, Planet Hyundai*, Las Vegas, Nevada
2012-2015
Co-Owner, Centennial Hyundai*, Las Vegas, Nevada
2012-2015
2014-2015
Co-Owner, Peninsula Auto Group,* Seaside, California
2016-Present
Board Member and Partner, Square Panda, Inc., Sunnyvale, California
2016-Present
2016-Present
Board Member, Walker Furniture, Las Vegas & Henderson, Nevada
2018-Present
Author
2018-Present
*Denotes prior businesses operated successfully and sold
Professional Affiliations
1983-1990
Board Member, Chairman. Las Vegas Tavern Owners Association; Nevada Licensed Beverage Association
1988-2005
Board Member, President, Marine Corps Support Council of Southern Nevada
1988-2005
1995-2005
Board Member, Lakes Homeowners Association
1997-1999
Founding Board Member, Nevada First Bank
1997-1999
2014-2015
Co-owner of Henderson Kia
2014-Present
Board Member, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Foundation
2014-Present
2015-Present
Board Member, President, Lakes Homeowners Association
