By Erin Wenglekowski
June 19, 2006

During the Conference of Mayors 74th Annual Meeting in Las Vegas June 3 mayors and members of the Mayors’ Business Council came together to discuss doing business in Las Vegas as well as best practices for establishing a business friendly city.

The focus of discussion was on Las Vegas, America’s fastest growing city. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, Chair of the Mayors’ Business Council, and his dynamic team shared their strategies and best practices that has made Las Vegas the fastest growing and most profitable city in which to work and do business. Panelists included business leaders, as well as Las Vegas city officials each sharing their successes.

While moderating the breakfast, Goodman pointed to the importance of having an “engaged and diverse business council to attract development, and maintain cities’ competitiveness.” He thanked the Mayors’ Business Council for their “commitment to developing new partnerships with cities and promoting innovation,” both highlighted in the Las Vegas panel discussion.

Conference President Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill provided opening remarks discussing the importance of the nation’s metro economies. O’Neill pointed out in 2004 U.S. metros exceeded 86 percent of our nation’s Gross Domestic Product and for the first time exceeded $10 trillion of economic activity. She then emphasized the importance of mayors and the private sector working closely to keep and attract business, build a stronger workforce, and stay competitive in the global economy.

Conference Executive Director Tom Cochran greeted mayors and business leaders, underlining the importance of entrepreneurial mayors “walking every step of the way with business.” He also recognized the China Association of Mayors delegation composed of mayors, local officials, and business leaders all from different cities in China. He remarked on the Conference’s strong, seven year relationship with the China Association of Mayors, and the intent to continue to work closely with them in the future.

Breakfast sponsor, Dan McCarthy, President and CEO, Black & Veatch Water, followed with greetings highlighting Black & Veatch and Kansas City’s “Rain Garden” initiative. McCarthy defined a rain garden as “a green solution to an escalating environmental problem,” including flooding and storm water run-off. He emphasized that these environmental happenings carry surface pollutants and contaminates to a city’s storm sewers and waterways. He affirmed rain gardens aide in filtering those pollutants safely and easily benefiting the environment as well as the city and its constituents. McCarthy suggested cities look at the success Kansas City has had with this new program and consider initiating their own.

After McCarthy’s greetings, the new 2006 – 2007 Mayors’ Business Council Steering Committee was announced by Preston V. Lee, Director of Corporate Relations and Housing Outreach, Freddie Mac; the returning Co-Chair of the Mayor’s Business Council Steering Committee. The new Co-Chair, Lynn Cutler, Senior Policy Advisor, Holland & Knight LLP, was announced, and Stephanie D. Nellons, Senior Vice President, Connect – CTY, The NTI Group, Inc., was then presented with an award of outstanding service for serving as Co-Chair of the Mayors’ Business Council Steering Committee.

The Mayors and Business Leaders Breakfast was sponsored by primary sponsor, Black & Veatch and supporting sponsor, Discovery Networks.