Thomas barely catches breath in moving to Wade from utility

Stan Thomas'workday last Wednesday speaks volumes about the pace of industrial development in northern Nevada: Thomas left his old job at Sierra Pacific Power after working a half day, drove eight tenths of a mile to his new office at Wade Development and was fielding calls from brokers and potential clients scouting industrial property by mid-afternoon.

"The timing was perfect," said Thomas,who left a position as manager of economic development for the Reno-based utility to become vice president and sales marketing in the commercial division ofWade Development.

In his new job, Thomas will oversee sales in Wade's Nevada Pacific Industrial Park at Fernley as well as commercial and industrial sales at the company's Dayton Valley master planned community in Lyon County.

Grant Sims, previously an economic development executive at Sierra Pacific Power,will succeed Thomas as manager of the utility's economic development unit.

A utility spokeswoman said the company remains committed to attraction of new jobs to the region.

Thomas has been a key player in the region's economic development efforts since he joined Sierra Pacific Power 11 years ago.He's worked closely with executives of the Economic Development Authority ofWestern Nevada to develop relationships nationwide with companies and site-selection consultants looking to develop new locations.

He knows the pipeline is full of potential industrial projects that will land at Wade Development properties as well as other industrial developments in the region.

"There's enough out there to keep us hopping for the rest of the year,"Thomas said.

"There's just a lot going on."

The industrial and commercial marketing for Wade Development previously was among the jobs handled by Patty Wade Snyder, the company's president, but the company's decision last year to join forces with Lakemont Communities added to her executive responsibilities.

Thomas said his parting from Sierra Power was amicable.

"The power company has been extremely supportive of economic development,"he said.

"But I needed a new challenge."

Before joining the utility, Thomas had worked in management positions with United Parcel Service for a decade.

He cut his teeth in economic development at UPS as he had responsibility for attracting industrial and distribution companies to property that UPS developed around its Sparks hub.