In response to the megadrought impacting the Colorado River Basin and declining water levels at Lake Mead, the federal government declared a Tier 2 water shortage for 2023, reducing Southern Nevada’s water supply by 8 billion gallons this year. Southern Nevada’s commitment to water conservation and its investment in critical infrastructure have prepared the community for the water supply reduction.
To further ensure the community’s sustainability and economic security, the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and its member agencies are implementing additional conservation measures that comprise all sectors of the community.
The measures include limiting residential pools to 600 sq. ft. surface area and prohibiting new homes and developments from installing grass landscaping and/or spray irrigation.
The City of Henderson and Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) adjusted water rates so all residential customers receive the same amount of water at each water rate tier. Additionally, LVVWD implemented an excessive use charge to encourage the largest residential water users to conserve.
In the business sector, the measures include reducing golf course water budgets, prohibiting new golf courses, and banning any new water features, including on the Las Vegas Strip.
SNWA also worked with NAIOP and business leaders to eliminate the use of evaporative cooling in new construction projects that apply for building permits after September 1, 2023. Evaporative cooling is Southern Nevada’s second largest water use after landscape irrigation, and other non-evaporative cooling technologies exist for a more water sustainable approach for future building designs.
Additionally, SNWA continues to implement Nevada’s non-functional grass law that requires the replacement of all decorative grass at commercial, multi-family residential and homeowners associations by the end of 2026.
For more information about how your business can be part of the conservation solution, visit snwa.com.
/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/CREDA-formerly-naiop-header-logo_157x80.png00NAIOP Southern Nevada/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/CREDA-formerly-naiop-header-logo_157x80.pngNAIOP Southern Nevada2023-02-06 09:48:142023-02-06 09:48:14New conservation measures include all sectors of the community, protect water supply
NAIOP Southern Nevada has announced its newly elected officers and directors for 2023, led by President Reed Gottesman.
Gottesman, senior vice president and Las Vegas regional manager for Schnitzer Properties, has been with the company for more than 15 years. He manages a regional team of 50 seasoned real estate professionals, 1,900 tenants and about 11 million square feet of multi-tenant industrial, retail and office space in the Las Vegas area. Before joining Schnitzer Properties in 2008 as assistant vice president of operations, Gottesman was an industrial broker in the South Bay port market of Los Angeles with CBRE. He began his professional career on Wall Street as a NASDAQ market maker in 1997 with Deutsche Bank Capital Markets. He has volunteered hundreds of hours to NAIOP Southern Nevada, serving on the executive board of directors and chairing the programs committee, as well as serving as the committee’s board liaison.
NAIOP Southern Nevada’s 2023 Board of Directors includes the following officers:
President – Reed Gottesman, Schnitzer Properties
President Elect – Cassie Catania-Hsu, CBRE
Treasurer – Cassie Catania-Hsu, CBRE ;
Secretary – Julie Cleaver, The Howard Hughes Corporation;
Immediate Past President – Hayim Mizrachi, MDL Group;
NAIOP’s directors for 2023 include:
• Lisa Brady, Prologis
• Shani Coleman, Clark County Economic Development
• Phillip Dunning, Panattoni Development Company
• Matt Hoyt, LaPour
• Marianna Hunnicutt, Kimley-Horn
• Venessa McEvoy, Cushman & Wakefield
• Steve Neiger, Colliers International
• Michael Newman, Compass Development
• John Restrepo, RCG Economics
• David Strickland, Thomas & Mack Co.
• Dan Tuntland, DJT Real Estate
• Katrina Bruce, NAIOP Southern Nevada Chapter Executive
Las Vegas is the Fight Capital of the world. Boxing’s earliest days in Las Vegas were in the 1950’s with a bout between heavyweights Archie Moore and Nino Valdes held in front of 6,000 fans sitting on wooden chairs at Cashman Field. Fast forward to present day, the UFC is consistently breaking attendance records at T-Mobile Arena and attracting media buys from around the world.
Being born and raised in Las Vegas, I was a fight fan. At the beginning of every fight, you hear the referee give the fighters the same instructions.
“Let’s have a clean fight. Obey my instructions and protect yourself at all times.”
Floyd Mayweather is perhaps the most famous fighter connected to Las Vegas. September 17, 2011, he challenged Victor Ortiz for the WBS Welterweight title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The fight started in the usual way. The national anthem was sung by Jasmine Villegas. Ortiz made his way into the ring. Mayweather was escorted to the ring with rapper 50 Cent by his side. The referee gave those famous instructions. The bell rang. The fight would end in the most peculiar way.
Here is the entry from Wikipedia about the fight.
Mayweather controlled the fight from round one to three. But in the fourth round, Ortiz hit Mayweather in the face with an apparently intentional headbutt. Referee Joe Cortez immediately called timeout and penalized Ortiz a point for the foul.
Ortiz, acknowledging his wrongdoing, hugged and kissed Mayweather in the corner. Cortez motioned the fighters back together to resume the fight. The fighters touched gloves. Then, with the referee looking away from Mayweather, and as the fighters separated from the hug, Mayweather caught Ortiz with a left hook. Ortiz was stunned by the punch and, still not raising his hands to defend himself, was hit again with a flush right to the face.
Ortiz dropped to the canvas and was unable to beat the count.
Ringside commentators were trying to make sense of what we all saw. “Ortiz was apologizing, and Mayweather was punching,” one said. “It was legal,” the other replied.
When Mayweather was accused with sucker punching Ortiz, he replied simply, “in the ring, you have to protect yourself at all times.”
Isn’t that interesting?!
NAIOP Southern Nevada is “in the ring” of commercial real estate development. Like any industry we have to protect ourselves at all times. NAIOP Southern Nevada does this through our volunteer government affairs committee chaired by Steve Neiger and with the help of our chosen lobbyists Argentum Partners guided by Jon Leleu and Kerrie Kramer.
For the rest of this article I am going to pass the pen to Jon Leleu to talk about what we’re focused on protecting ourselves from and how we go about protecting our industry.
By Jon Leleu
Although we may trust in our numbers, in our deals, and in our relationships, the development industry must always triple-check, make inquiries, and fully understand when decisions are made that affect our projects.
2022 was a non-legislative year and yet we found ourselves protecting from several issues.
Proposal and near adoption of a moratorium on evaporative cooling;
Adoption of the international energy conservation code, and creation of a code committee;
Adoption of the IFC by City of Las Vegas and Henderson, though the rest of the municipalities in the region have differing fire codes;
Legislative modifications to the tax code and enabling municipalities to implement policies such as linkage fees.
While Ortiz may be upset at Floyd’s tactics, the result of Ortiz finding himself on the canvas, could have, and should have, been expected.
So, too goes the world of NAIOP’s Government Affairs committee. While the professionals who attend these meetings and participate in the process have many relationships and a good understanding of the system or process, circumstances can change, throwing what we all knew as true, to be turned upside down.
As I “entered the ring” of politics a couple decades ago my mentor told me; always tell the truth, always do the right thing, and always, always, always be the smartest person in the room. That last part – being the smartest – is the same as “protect yourself at all times.”
Having the foresight to pick up the phone and ask questions, to think of different creative angles and have conversations with those individuals, helps prevent an unseen hook and an unfortunate fall to the canvas.
We’re going into a legislative year in 2023. Issues that we have successfully protected against will remerge in the same or even different forms.
Our “ring” grew dramatically this year and our bandwidth as a volunteer association has been stretched. We’d love to have more participation in the Government Affairs committee. Even if it means just picking up the phone to make a needed call.
Please consider joining. Those interested can email Chair Steve Neiger to be added to the meetings schedule.
NAIOP’s Developing Leaders Institute (DLI) committee is pleased to announce its Class of 2023. DLI is a 12-month curriculum of leadership and real estate training taught by the leading professionals from the Southern Nevada real estate and development industry. The interest in this program was phenomenal and the selection process was extremely competitive. Included in this year’s program is a group of 21 young professionals who have distinguished themselves as future leaders of the industry.
DLI Supporter level sponsorships are welcomed at $500. If you’d like to become a supporter, please contact me or click here for the commitment form.
Please make sure to congratulate our newest class as you come to know them!
Name: Kris Fisher Title: Western Division Business Development Manager Company: Universal Engineering Sciences # years in the industry: 1 1/2
Where are you originally from and how long have you lived in Las Vegas. I’m originally from Orange County, CA. I came to Las Vegas in August of 1998 to go to school and play football at UNLV.
What has NAIOP provided you that has helped you grow professionally or personally? I have met plenty of wonderful people that are truly passionate about the growth and sustainability of our Las Vegas community, and I’m very grateful for that.
What has been your favorite experience or story that happened at NAIOP event? I think the topics at the monthly breakfasts are fantastic! The panelists are generally very influential members in their categories and I’ve really come away from there with a lot of useful information.
Who have you met at a NAIOP event that has influenced you or that you have become close friends with? I have met a lot of great people at these events but one in particular stands out, Mr. Tito Tiberti. His family legacy is well known in this community and it has been great to talk to him about the history of Las Vegas and some of the significant events that have helped change the course of the city, as well as just getting to know him better.
What do you want your legacy to be in the Southern Nevada community? Having raised children here, I’d love to be able to look back and know that my company had a lasting impact on the tremendous growth and transformation of Las Vegas from a small city in the desert, to a major metropolis on the West Coast.
FALL In Love With Giving! With the fall season upon us, The NAIOP Community Service Committee is gearing up for the holiday season with several exciting events and donation opportunities in the upcoming months- We Need Your Support!!
The committee has been in high gear this summer and just completed two successful drives for Communities in Schools and Hollingsworth Elementary. We were able to raise over $600 in online donations for Communities in Schools that will assist graduating high school students offset the cost of college application fees, as well as heaps of gently used business attire for these students. In addition, the group was able to collect 5,643 total school supplies and $3,200 for the Hollingsworth Elementary Back to School Drive. Your generous donations will assist students and teachers this school year and beyond.
Switching gears for October, our committee will be focused on gathering donations for the upcoming Helping Hands Food Drive at our October 20th Breakfast Program. Helping Hands is a non-profit whose mission is to improve the quality of life for senior citizens and their families. We are asking all members to pull out any unwanted, unused non-perishable, canned/ dried goods, pastas, snacks, and paper items from their pantry for donation! More detail on the drive is to come. Be on the lookout in your email!
Coming into the winter months, the committee will be partnering with Communities in Schools and Vegas Youth Ambassadors for our Thanksgiving Family Meal Collection and Delivery. This is an annual committee event with committee members creating baskets full of food and donations from our companies. Communities in Schools selects our families to help each year to provide their Thanksgiving meals and stock their pantries for weeks to come. Reach out to a committee member for ways to donate.
We are always looking for new members to join the committee! Contact any committee member for information about our past or upcoming events. With your support, our efforts will continue to make a meaningful impact in the Las Vegas community!
/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/CREDA-formerly-naiop-header-logo_157x80.png00NAIOP Southern Nevada/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/CREDA-formerly-naiop-header-logo_157x80.pngNAIOP Southern Nevada2022-10-05 08:59:282022-10-05 09:01:22Update on Possible New Construction Delays
