Takeaways A Podcast About Learning From The Wisdom Of Others

John Tippins is the founder and CEO of Northcap, a real estate firm deeply woven into the transformation of downtown Las Vegas. With nearly two decades of experience and over $2 billion in completed transactions, John has become more than a broker—he’s a steward of shaping the City of Las Vegas. In this episode, we follow his rise from humble beginnings to real estate trailblazer, the mentors who shaped his mindset, and how a single lunch meeting turned into $700 million in business. John’s story is one of grit, relationships, vision—and a relentless commitment to being of service.

***Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of domestic violence, including strangulation and survivor experiences. Listener discretion is advised. As the CEO of SafeNest, Nevada’s largest nonprofit dedicated to ending domestic violence, Liz Ortenburger has transformed a struggling organization into a multifaceted force of hope and healing. What began as a $3.7 million nonprofit teetering on financial uncertainty has grown under her leadership into a robust, mission-driven enterprise — one that blends compassion with smart business acumen.

Breakfast Program May 22, 2025 Program Speakers Marc Badain, President, Athletics Todd Bishop, Vice President, CAA ICON Nick Tomasino, Chief Construction Officer, LVXP Moderator: Nate Jacobs, LEED AP BD+C, Vice President, McCarthy Companies, Inc. Sponsored by: Cox Business

From entrepreneurial success to transforming thousands of lives on the streets, Tiger Todd’s journey is anything but ordinary. A self-taught philosopher, teacher, and social innovator, Tiger’s life pivoted when he stepped into a Las Vegas park nearly 30 years ago—armed with curiosity, and compassion. What followed became a decades-long mission to unravel and reverse the root causes of American homelessness.

NAIOP April 2025 - Breakfast Program  The participants included: Guy Martin, President, Martin-Harris Construction Frank Marretti, Founder, G2 Capital Development John Restrepo, Principal, RCG Economics, LLC   Moderator: Steve Neiger, CCIM, Principal, CAST This program was sponsored by American Nevada Realty

Amalie Zinsser doesn’t just build communities — she lives and breathes them. From pioneering coworking spaces across the Western U.S. to connecting the dots between culture, place, and purpose, Amalie has found her calling in helping people belong. On this episode of Takeaways, Amalie shares her unlikely journey from harvesting organs scene to spearheading Kiln’s expansion in Las Vegas — and her powerful philosophy that business works best when people are happy.

March Breakfast Program: Fast Lane to the Future: Transportation, Infrastructure & Growth. Panelists included: Asha Jones, VP of Public Affairs, Brightline West David Swallow, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Regional Transportation of Southern Nevada (RTC) Tracy Larkin Thomason, P.E.,Director, Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) Moderator: James Bristow, P.E., Managing Member, Midnight Sun Consulting This program was sponsored by Schnitzer Properties

February Breakfast Program, Strip Hospitality: What makes a winning hand? Tonia Chafetz, Vice President of Leasing and Retail Operations, Caesars Entertainment Alex Dixon, Chief Executive Officer, Resorts World Michael Hirschfeld, BLVD Project Leasing, Vice Chairman, JLL Moderator: Deana Marcello, Executive Vice President | Las Vegas, Colliers Sponsored By: City of North Las Vegas

Tom Thomas is the Managing Partner of Thomas & Mack Co., an investment and commercial real estate development company. In addition, he serves as an Area Seventy of the LDS Church where he oversees the resources of the Church in the greater Clark County area and into Arizona.

Cassie and Adi Mor are the husband-and-wife duo behind The Mor Group, a full-service Real Estate brokerage that specializes in residential Property Management and Investments. In an industry known for tough negotiations and strict contracts, they’ve carved out a space where relationships come first and positive energy is non negotiable. Strap in for this episode. It’s full of fun and candor!

The participants included: Jeff LaPour, Principal, LaPour Jess Molasky, Chief Operating Officer, Ovation Development Stan Wasserkrug, Principal, InterCapital Asset Management Moderator: Megan McInerney, Associate Vice President | Las Vegas Office Division Colliers This program was sponsored by Martin Harris Construction

Victor Fuchs came to the United States from Ukraine by way of Italy, thanks to funds from the Jewish Federation. Today is the President of Helix Electric, the country’s second-largest non-union electrical contractor. Escaping the anti-semitism of the post-WWII Soviet Union, he and his parents came to this country with next to nothing, a funny spelling last name, and the determination to have a better future.

In this episode of Takeaways, we’re doing something a little different. This installment is a replay of the inaugural episode of Through The Door: An Insider’s Perspective on Running a Business, hosted by Megan Comfort, Executive Vice President and Small Business Manager at Nevada State Bank. I had the honor of being Megan’s very first guest, and together, we explored the lessons I’ve learned from the ground up — from starting cold as a rookie broker to leading MDL Group as CEO today.

Richard Camarota has been cooking nearly his whole life. In the post-COVID era, he’s gone from the back of the kitchen to the front of the house, opening a line of high-end restaurants that’s shaken up the Vegas scene. He’s the Operations Director and Managing Partner for McClain Kamarota Hospitality, alongside James Beard and award-winning Chef Shawn McClain. Some of their restaurants include Bala inside The Sahara, Libertine Social inside the Mandalay Bay, Wineaux with Master Sommelier Nick Hetzel, and more.

What’s New and Exciting in Southern Nevada Economic Development? Speakers included: Shani Coleman, Director of Economic Development, Clark County Jared Smith, Director of Economic Development and Tourism, City of Henderson Moderator:Cassie Catania-Hsu, NAIOP Southern Nevada President, Managing Director CBRE Sponsor Southern Nevada Water Authority.

Kevin Burke is the CEO of Burke Construction and a Partner at Matter Real Estate Group. He’s a champion of higher education and a dedicated volunteer with decades of experience in leadership. Kevin was born in Kansas and graduated from Kansas State University with a mechanical engineering degree. From early hands-on experiences in nuclear power projects to working for Procter & Gamble, his career showcases a dynamic blend of engineering and leadership in high-stakes environments. Today, he navigates two high-profile companies while maintaining a strong sense of community, particularly through his extensive volunteer work.

The Vision of LANDing a deal in Las Vegas The participants included: K Roohani, Owner, Seven Valleys Realty & Construction Scott Bleazard, Land Acquisition, VP, KB Home – Las Vegas Chris Armstrong, Executive Vice President, Olympia Companies Moderator: Owen Sherwood, VP, Commercial Sales Manager Fidelity Title – National Commercial Services This program was sponsored by Carpenter Sellers Del Gatto Architects

Guy Martin started his career in construction the summer he turned 13. Working with his dad, Frank Martin, he grew up watching him work hard and build things really well. He always knew that he wanted to run the company one day, and today, he is the President of Martin-Harris Construction. The 48-year-old company employs over 300 people in Nevada and builds everything except for single-family detached residential and on-strip hospitality. His Christian faith serves as the foundation not just for his life, but his corporate success. Kindness, gratitude, love and faith are the backbone of Guy’s drive to build community, lead future generations, and do more with what he was given. With a forty-year career in general construction under his belt, Guy worked his way up through “every department but accounting.” Now that he runs the place, his business plan is simple: have fun, make money, and the order is important.

NAIOP August 2024 - Breakfast Program Commercial Real Estate and AI: Meeting the New Demands Missy Young, Senior Fellow and Former Chief Information Officer, Switch Q&A, Hayim Mizrachi, CCIM, CEO | Broker | Principal, MDL Group Sponsored By: American Nevada Company

Deryk Engelland hardly needs an introduction as one of the original Las Vegas Golden Knights Misfits, playing from 2017-2020. On the ice he is known for his tough fighting skills. Off the ice he is known as one of the nicest people you can meet. His current title is Special Assistant to the owner of the Golden Knights. His community work has his heart, and is the heart of our community.  In the wake of October 1, Deryk and wife Melissa created Engelland’s Heroes, a foundation raising money for underserved communities and first responders across the Las Vegas Valley. Over time, his work has molded into the Vegas Golden Knights Alumni Foundation which is focused on supporting first responders, underserved youth and the undernourished.