Nevada Means Business

Navigating Nevada OSHA, Workplace Safety & DIR Careers with Victoria Carreon

In this episode, Director Sanchez is joined by Victoria Carreon, the Administrator of the Division of Industrial Relations, to unpack the massive scope of her agency. Victoria explains that the primary objective of the Division of Industrial Relations is to put safety and health first by ensuring every Nevadan has a safe workplace. She breaks down the division's various branches, including the Safety Consultation and Training Section, which provides free and confidential safety training and on-site consultations for businesses. The conversation also covers the Mine Safety and Training section, which conducts annual inspections without monetary penalties to keep miners safe, and the Mechanical Compliance Section, which oversees roughly sixteen thousand elevators and twenty-five thousand boilers across the state. The duo dives into the regulatory landscape, detailing how Nevada OSHA enforces safety standards in high-risk industries like construction and casino resorts. Victoria shares insights into how the division actively engages stakeholders to develop new policies, such as the recently implemented heat regulations and upcoming rules for workers exposed to wildfire smoke. She also discusses her team's successful efforts to eliminate years-long administrative backlogs in the workers' compensation section by streamlining processes and reallocating staff resources. Victoria was also recently named the Nevada Department of Business and Industry’s 2025 Administrator of the Year, recognizing her leadership and commitment to workplace safety and operational excellence. Finally, Victoria highlights elite recognition programs like SHARP and the Voluntary Protection Program, which reward businesses that invest heavily in comprehensive safety management systems. For those interested in joining her growing team, she announces multiple job openings for OSHA safety specialists, industrial hygienists, and workers' compensation investigators, directing applicants to the state's online application portal. Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights into Nevada’s business and industrial sectors!

Inside Nevada’s Global Science Hub: Wildfires, AI & Water Solutions with Kumud Acharya

In this episode, Kris Sanchez welcomes Dr. Kumud Acharya, the President of the Desert Research Institute (DRI), to discuss the vital role the institute plays in solving environmental challenges across the state and around the globe. Dr. Acharya provides an inside look at how DRI’s team of over six hundred scientists and professionals conduct high-impact research on the intersection of human activity and the environment. He explains DRI’s critical work in monitoring the health of the Colorado River Basin and the innovative technologies being deployed to combat the increasing threat of wildfires, including the use of drone technology and sophisticated smoke modeling. The conversation also touches on the institute’s focus on the future, exploring how artificial intelligence is being integrated into scientific research to better predict and manage natural resources. Beyond the laboratory, Dr. Acharya shares DRI's commitment to building a sustainable scientific pipeline in Nevada by engaging with local high schools and community colleges. He details recent outreach efforts, such as hosting school principals to demonstrate how environmental science can become a rewarding career path for the next generation of Nevadans. This episode highlights why DRI is considered a "jewel" of the state, providing essential data and smart solutions that keep Nevada at the forefront of global environmental science. Be sure to subscribe to the channel for more interviews featuring the leaders driving Nevada’s economic and scientific growth!

The Future of Nevada Mining with Amanda Hilton

In this episode, Kris Sanchez is joined by Amanda Hilton, President of the Nevada Mining Association, to explore the rapidly evolving landscape of the mining industry. Amanda kicks things off by sharing her personal journey from starting as a staff accountant to becoming the General Manager of the Robinson Mine, Nevada's largest copper mine located in Ely. They dive into how the mining industry has completely transformed through cutting-edge technology, moving far beyond outdated stereotypes to deploying fully autonomous haul trucks that carry two hundred and forty tons of material and massive house-sized autonomous drills. Amanda breaks down Nevada's critical role on the global stage, noting that the state produces 70 percent of the United States' gold, houses the country's only lithium mine, and was recently named the number one mining jurisdiction in the world by the Fraser Institute. The conversation also tackles the harsh realities of the domestic supply chain, exploring how China's dominance in mineral processing and a 29-year average permitting process create massive hurdles for United States mineral independence. Finally, they discuss the incredible career opportunities currently available within the industry, which employs over 30,000 Nevadans with an average annual salary of $120,000. With 40 percent of the workforce nearing retirement age in the next five years, Amanda highlights the urgent need for a new generation of tech-savvy workers and dispels outdated myths by revealing that modern mining safety statistics are now comparable to the finance sector. Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more insights into Nevada's economic future!

Addressing Nevada's Affordable Housing Challenges with Steve Aichroth

In this episode, Kris Sanchez is joined by Steve Aichroth, the Administrator of the Nevada Housing Division, for a comprehensive discussion on the state's urgent efforts to tackle the affordable housing challenges. Steve breaks down the two main avenues the division utilizes to help residents: supporting direct homeownership and funding multifamily housing developments. He explains how the "Home Is Possible" program provides critical down payment assistance, allowing renters to transition into homeownership and begin building generational wealth. On the construction side, Steve details the highly complex process of using federal tax credits and tax-exempt bonds to subsidize large apartment projects and keep monthly rents affordable for low-income families. With Nevada currently facing a shortage of nearly 78,000 attainable housing units, the conversation highlights the massive legislative investments actively working to close that gap. Steve outlines the monumental impact of the Home Means Nevada initiative and the overwhelming bipartisan support for the Governor's Housing Access and Attainability Act (AB 540). This legislation specifically targets development and assistance across the affordability spectrum, including crucial funding for the often-overlooked "missing middle" workforce. The duo also explores the future of homebuilding, discussing how pending federal legislation like the 21st Century Road to Housing Act could revolutionize the use of manufactured and modular housing to rapidly increase the state's housing supply. Finally, Steve shares a powerful update on Windsor Park, a historic redlined community that was built over a sinking aquifer and left to deteriorate for decades. Thanks to dedicated state-backed efforts and recent legislation, new homes are officially under construction right now to safely relocate the displaced residents. Subscribe to the channel for more insights into Nevada's economic landscape and business future!

The Future of the Las Vegas Economy: Tourism, AI & Economic Forecasts with Andrew Woods

In this insightful episode, Kristopher sits down with Andrew Woods from the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, to discuss the current and future economic landscape of Southern Nevada. Andrew dives deep into the data behind the Southern Nevada Business Confidence Index and Las Vegas tourism, explaining how the city's reliance on discretionary spending makes it a leading indicator for the national economy. They explore the shifting demographics of visitors, the negative impact of rising costs and price gouging perceptions on domestic travel, and why convention attendance remains a crucial, stabilizing pillar for the Las Vegas Strip. Andrew also highlights shifting consumer habits, noting how national spending has heavily consolidated into budget-friendly giants like Amazon, Walmart, Costco, and TJ Maxx. The conversation then shifts to the future of the Nevada workforce, tackling the realities of the soft skills gap and how artificial intelligence might actually increase the overall demand for certain white-collar jobs by significantly improving efficiency. Andrew also shares his vision for economic diversification in Las Vegas, highlighting the explosive growth of the healthcare sector driven by an aging demographic of new residents, while making a strong case for bringing a massive, large-scale manufacturing gigafactory to Southern Nevada to truly transform the region. Finally, Andrew provides his expert economic forecast on whether the United States is heading into a recession, breaking down the warning signs of a cooling job market that is heavily reliant on healthcare growth. However, he balances this with an optimistic look at the incredible post-pandemic boom in local entrepreneurship that currently makes Nevada the third most entrepreneurial state in the country per capita. Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into the business world!