Type of Business: Art Museum
Based In: Reno, Nevada
Hails From: Santa Monica, California
Years Co. has been in Nevada: 90
Years with Co. in Nevada: 14
Employees with Co.: 70+
“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”
What was your first job?
At 14 years old I landed a busboy job at a popular steak and seafood restaurant. This led to eight years of multi-tasking restaurant work – primarily as a waiter while I attended high school, college and graduate school.
What career advice would you give to your teenage self?
You can do anything, but not everything.
Who in your life has been instrumental to your success?
Darby – my wife of 38 years; Richard Koshalek, Founding Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles; Angus McBain, founder and principal of McBain, Rose Partners – a boutique investment banking firm in Los Angeles.
What work project are you excited about happening in the next few months?
Our triennial Art + Environment Season of Land Art exhibitions and virtual presentations is coming up. This flagship program connects us with the larger world. In the next few weeks stories will appear in the Wall Street Journal, PBS NewsHour, The New York Times, ARTnews, etc.
What is your motto?
“It’s not good enough to be the best – you must be the only.” Also, I like this one by UCLA basketball coach legend John Wooden: “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”
If you had to live in another country for a year, which would you choose?
Milan, Italy. I’ve been to this great city many times and gravitate towards its large, metropolitan scale, energy, design, fashion and cultural values, extraordinary cuisine, and close proximity to many wonderful cities in the region.
What would be the title of your autobiography?
I Did It Our Way (I’ve always enjoyed teamwork)
What is your favorite thing about living in Nevada?
I have fully embraced being a Nevadan which includes the northern, southern and eastern parts of our state. Although large geographically, we are a small community. I’ve made hundreds of close friends and developed many fine business relationships throughout. Where else can you say, “I’m friends with the governor”?