SNC, ITS win annual EDAWN awards

How to pick up one of those trophies that the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada awards to the best small company and best large company in the region each year:

* Provide great jobs maybe with average wages over $40,000 a year.

* Stay closely involved with education, maybe through internships and partnerships at the University of Nevada, Reno, or sponsorships of numerous events at local schools.

* Provide a benefits package that wows your employees maybe 100 percent paid dental, medical and vision and a 100 percent match of 401(k) contributions.

* Make highly complex products it doesn't hurt if they're used by the military in Iraq or provide service that astounds your customers.

Those are some of the attributes brought to the table by Sierra Nevada Corp., honored as EDAWN's large company of the year, and ITS Logistics, which was honored as the small company of the year.

Jeff Lynch, a founder of Sparks-based ITS along with Darryl Bader and Dan Allen, said the pay and benefits package for its 45 employees isn't a cost, but instead is viewed as an integral part of the company's success.

"Good people drive good service," he explained.

The company's employees earn average pay of more than $40,000 a year, have an extensive package of companypaid medical and retirement benefits and are given paid time off to participate in charitable affairs.

ITS was nominated for the award by one of its vendors, and Lynch said that might reflect one of the company's core beliefs: "We value a vendor as much as we value a customer."

And while Lynch acknowledged it may sound old-fashioned, he said the company's desire to put God and family first is one of the foundations of its success.

Sierra Nevada Corp., which employs 200 at its Sparks headquarters and 450 company-wide, plays a role in the economic diversification that is among the goals of EDAWN.

SNC, a defense electronics company, provides equipment used by the Navy, Air Force, Army and national intelligence agencies.

Some of its landing systems are in use by U.S.

forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

While the SNC's equipment is used worldwide, its employees stay closely involved with their hometown.

They participate in events such as blood drives and March of Dimes, volunteer time for "school-to-work" programs, help interns from UNR and are active in organizations such as chambers