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Rob Sabo

Stories by Rob

Snell & Wilmer find new home

The Reno office of legal firm Snell & Wilmer will be making a big splash for its 15th anniversary of serving clients in Northern Nevada.

Newtron plants flags in Northern Nevada

Baton Rouge-based design-build electrical contractor Newtron made its first foray into Northern Nevada to work on construction of Tesla’s Gigafactory at Tahoe Reno Industrial Center.

New developments in healthcare in Northern Nevada

Anyone who has driven freeways in greater Reno-Sparks knows Washoe County’s population has grown. Between 2020 and 2030, the total population in Washoe County is expected to increase by 17 percent, or nearly 92,000 new residents.

Outlook: Q & A with area business leaders

Northern Nevada was hit exceptionally hard when the Great Recession hit in the late 2000s. It took just a few years for many parts of the country to dig out from that unprecedented economic turmoil, but Northern Nevada’s economy remained tepid well into the start of the next decade.

Lodging options at TRI Center expanding

The opening of a new Courtyard by Marriott extended stay hotel inside the footprint of Tahoe Reno Industrial Center helps increase lodging options at the massive industrial park, but Storey County officials say even more housing options are needed.

Local entrepreneurs acquire The Virgil on Wells Avenue

Reno entrepreneurs and restaurateurs Colin and MaryBeth Smith recently added to their portfolio of businesses with the acquisition of The Virgil events center.

Fernley warehouse dedicates space for business development effort

An empty industrial warehouse in Fernley could become ground zero for business development and workforce training in Northern Nevada.

Gaston Wilkerson merges with NAI Alliance

When Don Wilkerson, president and chief executive officer of Gaston Wilkerson Management Group, decided after 33 years that it was time to step away from the day-to-day duties of running a business, there was only one option he considered for taking over his company’s property management responsibilities.

Stericycle expects Northern Nevada facility to be online in a year

Jim Ferguson, senior vice president of engineering with Stericycle of Bannockburn, Ill., said the company’s new hospital, medical and infectious waste incineration facility at Tahoe Reno Industrial Center is the 35-year-old company’s flagship incineration operations.

After more than 38 years at the helm of Miles Construction, Bill Miles steps away

Bill Miles’ construction career began more than four decades ago, and after more than 38 years at the helm of Miles Construction, the 70-year-old has stepped away from his day-to-day duties in order to focus on other interests.

Edwards climbing a new mountain with Brass Tap

Brian Edwards knows a little bit about beer — good beer, that is.

Lyten picks Northern Nevada to build lithium sulfur battery manufacturing gigafactory

Nevada’s arid climate and proximity to a potential lithium supply chain are primary reasons why San Jose-based Lyten chose Northern Nevada for its planned lithium sulfur battery manufacturing gigafactory, said Celina Mikolajczak, Lyten’s chief battery technology officer.

Busy summer an economic boon

Anyone who has driven by a packed casino parking lot in August knows how busy the peak of special events season is in Northern Nevada.

NDOT starts work on I-80 in west Reno

The $55 million project to widen, resurface and improve more than a mile of the interstate began in late September and is expected to continue through mid 2026.

Lithium in the Silver State

Construction of Nevada’s next big mine is well underway near the town of Orovada in Humboldt County.

Pre-leasing interest spurs industrial build

In a time where many industrial developers are postponing plans for new construction, Tolles Development Co., is pushing forward with a new speculative building at Tahoe Reno Industrial Center.

Greater Nevada Credit Union’s cannabis banking program a game-changer for dispensaries

When medical cannabis became legal in the state of Nevada in July 2015, handling cash from pot sales was akin to a fantastical Hollywood script due to regulations that made the cannabis industry a cash-only business.

Sales show resilience of Reno office market

Two recent office property sales in Reno’s financial hilltop district further demonstrate the continued strength of Northern Nevada’s economy.

Reno Startup Week runs Sept. 16-20

When Reno resident Allison Greene attended the inaugural Reno Startup Week in 2023, all she had was a concept and some optimism.

Investment sales expected to remain stagnant until mid- to late-2025

Investment sales in Greater Reno-Sparks typically average about $600 million per quarter among all classes of commercial real estate. However, the high cost of capital, along with more stringent equity requirements for obtaining commercial financing, has slashed deal volume in the Truckee Meadows.

High interest rates: Despite rates, Northern Nevada economy strong

The high interest rate environment of the past few years has led to some big changes in regional construction lending. Local banking executives told NNBW that as interest rates spiked and the cost of borrowing increased, they began to more closely scrutinize potential construction projects, along with the developer’s track record. Oftentimes, they added, regional developers have been required to put much more skin into a project than in the past in order to obtain construction loans.

Experts talk need for increased domestic lithium production

Current global demand for lithium is about 1 million tons per year, a number that’s expected to triple by 2030.

Two bridges on Arlington Avenue are set to be replaced starting in May 2025

Summer 2025 will look a lot different than the last 100 years at Wingfield Park in Reno.

Housing outlook: Inventory, prices up in the region

Home sales across Northern Nevada remain relatively flat due to high interest rates, but median prices continue to creep upward.

Monin Americas’ Spanish Springs facility reduces transit time by half

If you’ve ordered a specialty coffee, smoothie or blended drink anywhere in the West recently, chances are it was flavored with a syrup made at Monin Americas’ western region production facility in Spanish Springs.

PowerHouse joins data center rush in region

Northern Nevada’s emergence as a haven for data center development recently took another step forward with the announcement from PowerHouse Data Centers to develop a 900,000-square-foot shell facility on 49 acres at Tahoe Reno Industrial Center.

Extended stay flag finds its plot in Reno

Echo Suites Extended Stay by Wyndham is one of the fastest-growing hotel brands in the U.S. and Canada, and the flag will open its first property in Reno in the summer of 2025.

Basin Street seeing high occupancy in Reno office space

Home offices may still be the preferred working location for many Northern Nevada professionals, but for those who want to work in an office, downtown Reno is proving the place to be.

CapRock makes its mark on Northern Nevada

Since 2017, CapRock Partners has acquired, entitled or developed more than 5 million square feet of industrial property in Southern Nevada. Reno-Sparks had long been a target market for the company, though, as it continues its expansion plans.

Reno land broker opens Northern Nevada office for Land Advisors Organization

Reno land broker Mark Krueger has been able to order off the senior menu for quite some time now, but contrary to the rumor mill, Krueger is definitely not contemplating retirement.

Mohr Capital, Standard Real Estate Investments to start work on building in North Valleys

Big box industrial development in Northern Nevada has slowed to a snail’s pace compared to the frenetic activity of the past few years, but industrial developers still see opportunities to build smaller warehouse spaces that can be divisible to smaller industrial tenants.

Renewable energy projects on books in Northern Nevada

Completion of NV Energy’s Greenlink West power transmission line from Southern Nevada to the Fort Churchill substation near Yerington will allow for additional solar and renewable energy development in Northern Nevada.

Five years in, DA Builders setting foundation for future

When Dan Angelesco founded DA Builders five years ago, he couldn’t help feeling a bit like Rudy Ruettiger, the undersized walk-on at Notre Dame who made the Fighting Irish practice squad on sheer determination and grit.

Distribution center opens windows to West Coast for Marvin

Darrin Peterson started his career at window and door manufacturer Marvin in 1986 as a part-time laborer before becoming a full-time dockhand a few years later.

Port of Nevada ‘huge opportunity for Northern Nevada’

The developer of the Port of Nevada says the inland port east of Fernley not only alleviates routine shipping delays along Interstate 80 but also allows substantially more goods to flow into Northern Nevada from the Port of Oakland.

Truckee-Tahoe Lumber Co. and Design Center acquires NVO Construction

Andrew Cross began working at Truckee-Tahoe Lumber Co. and Design Center back in 2006 as a yard laborer.

Air races land in New Mexico

Roswell has long been ground zero for ufology tourism, but the city of nearly 50,000 residents and seat of Chaves County in southeastern New Mexico will soon be known for more than crashed extraterrestrial vehicles, alien corpses, and cover-up conspiracy theories.

Tide flowing into Spanish Springs

After years of work to find the right location, the owners of the Flowing Tide Pub are finally bringing their tavern concept to the burgeoning and underserved Spanish Springs market.

Industry Focus: After 3 generations, Reyman Bros. still bringing value to their work

When Gatlon Reyman, preconstruction manager at Reyman Bros. Construction, was in high school, he decided to enter a speech and debate competition. Although his initial attempts fell flat, he persevered — and eventually won his first debate.

Industry Focus: Public-private partnership bringing College of Business to reality

Steel has topped out on the new front door to University of Nevada, Reno. The College of Business building going up at UNR’s Mathewson Gateway District celebrated in late April its topping out ceremony, with the last piece of structural steel flown into place by crane.

Industry Focus: Construction slows, but normalized market conditions returns

The days of hoarding hundreds of rolls of toilet paper are long gone, and that resetting of consumer demand after the pandemic is creating fundamental shifts on Northern Nevada’s industrial market.

Leggera Development bringing 83-unit townhomes to Spanish Springs

Las Vegas-based Leggera Development will break ground in early May on an 83-unit townhome project that’s at the front door of the master-planned Five Ridges development off Highland Ranch Parkway in Spanish Springs.

Powerhouse Reno law firm celebrates 75 years

McDonald Carano employs 75 in Reno, including 26 attorneys, as well as another 65 people in its Las Vegas office, which opened in 1982. The firm also has an office in Carson City.

After 30 years, Bully’s sold to Vegas businessman

Jo Lown took control of the business near the end of 2009 when Bully’s was 14 days into chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

Panasonic Energy and Truckee Meadows Community College unveil advanced manufacturing center in Reno

66 lithium-ion battery cells per second. 5.5 million per day. 2 billion per year.

Dennis Banks Construction preparing for the next 40 years

Longtime Reno general contractor Dennis Banks is approaching retirement age for some people, but Banks isn’t quite ready to begin writing the final chapters of his lengthy construction career.

Plumb Lane retail site under development by Industrial Realty Group

Los Angeles-based developer Industrial Realty Group is adding to the redevelopment of the greater Midtown area with a new 4,500 square feet retail building on East Plumb Lane.

Trying to ease the north Reno gridlock

There was a time when drivers could get almost anywhere in Reno-Sparks in about 20 minutes. Those days are well in the rearview, however.

Western Turf growing in new home

The Great Recession that began in 2008, followed by a drought year in 2009, almost spelled the end for Western Turf.

Dunlap develops storage, shipping for weapons

John Dunlap, founder of venture studio D4 Media, said the late February launch of Dunlap Gun Storage stemmed in large part from a plethora of inquiries from firearms owners for responsible storage of their guns.

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