Economic developers welcome consultants

Consultants help their customers make more money.

One of the ways that some companies can make more money is through relocation to someplace with a better business climate.

And that's why the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada and the economic development arm of Sierra Pacific Power are putting a bunch of energy into wooing consultants who will be in Reno for a conference next week.

More than 300 business consultants are expected to attend Consultants' Confab 2003 sponsored by the nonprofit Institute of Management Consultants, a national group.

This will be the 25th year the group has conducted its autumn schmoozefest in Reno, but it marks the first time the economic development agencies have made a major commitment.

"These consultants work with companies.

They look at expansion issues.

They look at bottom-line issues," said Stan Thomas, the director of business planning and growth for Sierra Pacific Power.

"We want to make a big splash and get their attention."

It doesn't hurt, Thomas said, that many of the consultants come from California a state targeted by Nevada's economic developers in recent months.

They'll get northern Nevada's message at an opening breakfast, where Thomas and Chuck Alvey, the president and chief executive officer of EDAWN, will provide tips on how consultants can work with economic development agencies to improve their clients' bottom line.

EDAWN and Sierra Pacific also will host a reception for the consultants at the new Nevada Museum of Art.

Reno Mayor Bob Cashell will welcome the group, the first time a mayor has appeared at the group's meeting.

While it's unusual for economic developers to be this closely involved with a meeting of a professional group, Alvey said EDAWN would look at more linkages if the right opportunities arose.

The Consultants' Confab, headquartered at the Silver Legacy, runs from Oct.

26 through Oct.

28.

The programs focus on tactics consultants can use to increase income ranging from publication of business books to establishing themselves as industry gurus.