Jeff Curtis Nicki

One Successful Entrepreneur’s Advice: Nevada’s a Great Place to Start a Company

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When Curtis Gregory moved to Western Nevada ten years ago, his company, Glass with a Twist, was little more than a startup. In fact, he ran it out of his condo in San Diego. After 12 years in the military as a fighter pilot, Curtis felt ready for a change.

He knew that Glass with a Twist filled a niche that other companies who customize in memorabilia could not. Instead of focusing on a wide variety of memorabilia for personalization, Curtis positioned his company as the glassware experts. This strategy has paid off in huge ways.

Today, Curtis boasts 50 employees, and he fills orders for a variety of individual customers, vendors, and companies. Along the way, he’s also learned firsthand why Reno is such a great place to start a company.

A Great Place to Start a Company

Although Curtis didn’t come to Reno expressly to grow his business, he’s been impressed by Northern Nevada’s entrepreneur-friendly climate.

“I’ve coincidentally ended up in a good place to grow a business. Some advantageous things about Reno for entrepreneurs include no state income tax and the ease with which I’ve found employees. I did much of my employee buildup from 2010 to 2013 and was pleased to find many available people to meet and bring into the company.”

A Great Place for Millennials

While some companies struggle to attract and keep millennials, Curtis has no such problem. His employee demographic proves young with many college-aged workers.

It doesn’t hurt that Reno boasts a tier-one university, the University of Nevada, Reno. Its proximity is reflected in the varied talents of those employed by Glass with a Twist.

According to Nicki Mosbacher, customer service manager at Glass with a Twist, “It’s a youthful workplace that’s more laid back. There’s lots of cool talent up here.”

Nicki lists the degrees of various workers: English majors, math majors, communications majors, anthropology majors, and more. Besides attracting a youthful set of well-educated employees, the company also boasts a low turnover rate.

While this may be a byproduct of the dog-friendly workplace and the arcade in the breakroom, the respectful company culture that Curtis has fostered underscores worker satisfaction, too.

Jeff Van Epps, the company’s graphics manager, received his degree in math from UNR. When it comes to working with Curtis, he agrees with Nicki, “I’m very happy here and can’t imagine leaving.”

Curtis skiing with daughterEndless Outdoor Activities

Besides a favorable business climate and great workers, Curtis loves the lifestyle he leads in Reno. When asked which activities he likes to do in Reno and its environs, his list is long: skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and paddle boarding.

“For me, life in Reno is about the area itself and what it offers in terms of recreation and affordable housing. No commute. There’s space, less traffic, and you can buy a house for a reasonable amount of money.”

Where the Action Happens

Nicki loves Reno’s proximity to Tahoe, Truckee, and her hometown of Sacramento. “My husband and I do a lot of hiking and snowshoeing during the winter. My husband’s a big snowboarder, and I dabble in it a bit. I like to be at all of the lakes around here—Boca, Tahoe, Pyramid. It’s amazing all of the things that are here.”

She loves extreme hiking in the Sierra Nevadas as well as cycling from Mayberry to Idlewild Park or strolling along the Riverwalk. “Reno’s gotten so nice and artsy. It’s cool to live here and attend the Rib Cookoff, Hot August Nights, ArtTown, and so many other events. It’s booming here.”

A Great Place to Live and Work

Raised in Las Vegas, Jeff loves the outdoor activities that Reno affords, too. From basketball to flag football to soccer, he hits the fields whenever he can. When he’s not involved in a team sport, he finds time to visit the mountains. “I love hiking and have been to the top of Mount Rose multiple times.”

When he wants to decompress after a long day at work or catch some brews and a game with friends, he enjoys Reno’s trendy local haunts. “I enjoy happy hour at Twisted Fork and the cool vibe at BeerNV.”

A Great Place for Entrepreneurs

As Curtis has found, Northern Nevada’s a great place to start a company. Minimal taxes make it a perfect place for entrepreneurs as do its affordable housing and proximity to other West Coast cities. UNR’s tier-one status ensures a ready supply of educated, motivated workers, too.

Curtis and his employees have also learned that for those who love leading an active lifestyle filled with outdoor activities, there’s no better place to be.

Ready to learn more about the advantages of starting your own business in Nevada? Let’s talk! Contact us today to find out why Western Nevada’s the place to be.

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