This article was posted on Las Vegas Business Press on September 26, 2023.
John Etzell is the executive director of Boys Town Nevada.
Q: What are you reading?
A: Working with “Gen Z” by Santor Nishizaki and James DellaNeve. With many of our entry-level positions being filled by Gen Z, we really needed to continue to learn more about retaining this amazing group of employees!
Q: What is your favorite restaurant or place to take clients?
A: Echo and Rig as well as Snooze AM Eatery!
Q: How do you decompress after a long week?
A: I love jumping in a cold pool and swimming around for as long as I can stand it! From October to May the temps vary between 40-55, so it’s always refreshing! Otherwise, I am hiking with my three teenagers, wife and dog, as they can always humble me quickly!
Q: What do you do to workout?
A: I enjoy running, ultimate frisbee and spending time in the mountains or on the water.
Q: What is the biggest challenge facing Southern Nevada?
A: I think the biggest challenge facing Southern Nevada is balancing the needs of many sectors. As a nonprofit executive, I see Southern Nevada as a metropolitan area that’s still in it’s infancy. With the rapid population growth in the last 30 years, we are facing many solvable issues, and it will take a collective effort between the corporate, nonprofit and government sectors to work together to come up with creative, Nevada-specific ways to help all of our families be successful. Other major metro areas around the country have had 75-200 years to come up with ways to support all of the residents. We are learning our way through it now. It’s our obligation to come together to create a city that cares and recognizes that a rising tide lifts all ships, is critical to future economic growth and development. Education, health care, housing should be at the top of the list to focus on!