Our Team

We employ the best-trained and most dynamic thinkers we can find. We then invest in their continued education and development, offering them a working environment where they are encouraged to excel and explore their ideas.

Jeremy Aguero
Principal

Jeremy Aguero is a principal analyst with Applied Analysis and has been with the firm since its inception in 1997. His areas of expertise include economic analysis, operational model development and fiscal impact analysis.

Jeremy attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he graduated with honors in 1997. During his last year of undergraduate course work, Jeremy took a position as an intern/analyst with Coopers and Lybrand, LLC's (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) Financial Advisory Services group. After spending eighteen months with Coopers, he left and began his tenure with Applied Analysis.

Jeremy's project history demonstrates a wide range of abilities. He has worked for clients in the private and public sectors, and undertaken projects of local, regional and national significance.

Education/Certifications

  • Bachelor's Degree – Hotel Administration
    University of Nevada, Las Vegas (1997)
  • Juris Doctorate
    William S. Boyd School of Law (2004)

Selected Memberships and Community Involvement

  • Opportunity Village
  • Nevada Child Seekers
  • R&R Charitable Foundation
  • Nevada Housing Stabilization Task Force

Sample of Project Experience

Selected to chair the Governor's Task Force on Tax Policy Technical Working Group. In doing so, served as the principal analyst for the Task Force and co-authored its 1,200-page report. The Task Force reviewed Nevada's economy and its fiscal system as well as developed a series of recommendations aimed at addressing the state's long-run revenue-expenditure imbalance. The Task Force's report has been called the most comprehensive study of Nevada's fiscal system in the State's history.

Prepared a review of the economic, fiscal, and social impacts that the hospitality industry has on the State of Nevada. This review included consideration of direct and indirect employment, wage, and output impacts. The project also required an in-depth analysis of Nevada's municipal revenue and expense structure. State, county, and local taxes were analyzed, and the hospitality industry's contribution estimated. Social impact factors reviewed included population growth, employment and unemployment, public service costs, social assistance programs, crime rate, and underage and problem gambling. In addition, the evolution of the gaming and hospitality industry, Nevada's regulatory structure, and current market indicators were also reviewed.

Obtained, analyzed and reported market-based data in support of filings required in the acquisition of the Mandalay Bay Reports by MGM MIRAGE. This included a review and analysis of supply and demand characteristics, an extensive inventory of existing and future development locally, regionally and nationally, and a comparative analysis of performance-based statistics.

Retained by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to review and analyze the economic impacts associated with its various operations and southern Nevada's tourism industry generally. Reports have included the impact of LVCVA operations on the community, visitors' tax contribution, major tax payments by hotel casino operations, advertising and marketing program return on investment analyses, fiscal contribution to school and road construction programs, the relative dependence of the economy on tourism activities, trends in international visitation and other similar topics. AA also prepares a quarterly national economic briefing and tracks sector trends on behalf of the LVCVA.

Developed and analyzed alternative property tax modifications on behalf of the Nevada State Legislature and Office of the Nevada Governor. Project included the compilation of parcel-level data (i.e., just over one million parcels) for Nevada's 17 counties and the development of an econometric model that allowed for real-time "what-if" scenario analysis. AA's model was used to compare and contrast the fiscal and economic impact of several hundred alternative proposals.

Retained by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada to review the reasonableness of the best and final offers submitted by Veolia Transportation and First Transit for fixed route services in southern Nevada. Analysis was used in the Regional Transportation Commission's determination in awarding the service contract valued at more than $600 million. Notably, AA was originally contacted by both Veolia Transportation and First Transit to analyze the reasonableness of the offers on their behalf. Both parties agreed to allow us to review the contract for the Regional Transportation Commission as an independent and objective third party.

Brian Gordon, CPA/ABV
Principal

Brian Gordon is a principal with Applied Analysis. His areas of expertise include economic analysis, market analysis, financial advisory services, business consulting, hospitality consulting and econometric modeling. Gordon attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he graduated with honors, obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting. He is also a certified public accountant (CPA) and a holder of the Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) credential by the American Institute of CPAs.

Gordon has performed numerous highest and best use analyses, market feasibility studies and market analyses for various developers and commercial real estate firms. He is the principal author of the Las Vegas Quarterly Market Reports covering the office, industrial, retail, apartment and vacant land markets. Gordon also heads up SalesTraq, the firm's residential research firm. He also provides consultative services in a wide range of industries in both the private and public sectors. Gordon is actively involved in the community and participates in a number of trade associations and non-profit organizations. Gordon is also a governor-appointed member of the Nevada Economic Forum.

Education/Certifications

  • Bachelor of Science, Business Administration – Accounting
    University of Nevada, Las Vegas (1992)
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
    State of Nevada (1999 to Present)
  • Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV)
    American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (2014 to Present)

Selected Memberships and Community Involvement

  • Southern Nevada Home Builders Association, Board of Directors
  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
  • National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP)
  • Nevada Economic Forum

Sample of Project Experience

Retained by the Las Vegas Stadium Authority to staff the organization responsible for oversight of the $2.0-billion Allegiant Stadium. Primary responsibilities include managing and staffing periodic board meetings, monitoring and reporting on room tax revenues supporting the repayment of bonds, reviewing and authorizing the release of funding for the development of the stadium and a number of other administrative and management functions.

Retained by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada to staff and manage the organization?s Transportation Resource Advisory Committee (TRAC). Primary responsibilities include coordinating periodic public meetings, assisting in the development of meeting programming, coordination among the 30-plus committee membership, conducting necessary market research and analysis in support of the committee?s goals and objectives and other organizational functions.

In 2012, completed the negotiation and consummation of the acquisition of SalesTraq, a Las Vegas-based residential research company and the operator of SalesTraq.com. Assumed responsibility for the operations of the 20-year-old firm, which includes overall management, research, and reporting. In 2013, completed the negotiation and consummation of the acquisition of SalesTraq New Mexico, an Albuquerque-based residential research company.

From 2006 to 2014, retained by MGM Resorts International/CityCenter to evaluate supply-demand conditions in the Las Vegas high-rise residential and hotel-condominium market. Analyses include recurring reporting on inventory, availability, pricing, amenities, homeowner association dues and other key performance measures.

From 2006 to present, retained as the Executive Director of the Las Vegas Perspective, an annual research publication and industry event. The publication is known as the most comprehensive research publication in southern Nevada with content covering demographics, community, business and industry, real estate, retail and tourism. The Las Vegas Perspective?s research also includes a community-wide survey of residents to gauge consumer sentiment about the economy.

From 2008 to present, retained by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to evaluate the economic and fiscal impacts of their business operations and incremental visitation to Nevada. The analysis focused on employment, wages and economic output, as well as the evaluation of the direct, indirect and induced impacts. As part of the analysis, led a team of researchers to conduct intercept surveys of Las Vegas visitors to gauge a number of factors, including spending habits on rooms, food, beverage, entertainment, sightseeing, shopping and other activities while visiting the area. In addition, analyses have been performed in a number of domestic and international markets to evaluate the impact of special events.

From 2009 to 2016, retained by a locals-oriented gaming operator to evaluate supply and demand conditions within the Las Vegas gaming market, along with assessment of local economic conditions. Analyses focused on key demand indicators, including population, employment and personal income.

Retained by MGM Resorts International to evaluate the economic and fiscal impacts of a proposed 20,000-seat arena on the Las Vegas Strip (now known as T-Mobile Arena). Analyses focused on the employment, wages and output of the operations and visitors to the southern Nevada market. Fiscal impacts focused on a wide range of revenue sources, including property taxes, sales and use taxes, gaming percentage fees and modified business taxes.

Appointed by the Eighth Judicial District Court in Clark County, Nevada as an interim manager of a limited liability company. Responsibilities include management of the operations, including all financial matters.

Alyson Bettelman
Director

Alyson Bettelman provides technical assistance, guidance and oversight for the firm's litigation support services and dispute analysis group. Rejoining the firm in 2022, Bettelman was previously part of the Applied Analysis team from 2008 to 2015, where she rose to a director role. She subsequently joined MGM Resorts as a Senior Executive Associate to the Office of the President. While at MGM, Bettelman conducted research and analysis related to new developments, entertainment and events, and construction/design processes. Prior to initially joining the firm, Bettelman worked for PwC's dispute analysis and external audit groups for nearly five years. Bettelman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business and has been a Certified Public Accountant and Accredited in Business Valuation.

Education/Certifications

  • Bachelor of Science, Business Administration – Major in Accounting
    Ohio State University (2003)
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
    State of California (2007 to Present, currently inactive)
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
    State of Nevada (2008 to Present, currently inactive)
  • Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV)
    American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (Since 2014, not current and inactive)

Selected Memberships and Community Involvement

  • Nevada Governor's COVID-19 Response, Relief and Recovery Task Force (May 2020 - June 2021); COVID Trace App subcommittee member
  • Classroom volunteer, weekly – Clark County School District (August 2021 - present)
  • HOA Board Member/Treasurer (March 2021 - present)

Jonathan Birds
Director of Operations

Jon Birds is the director of operations at Applied Analysis. Jon is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he earned a bachelor's and master's degree in Criminal Justice. During his time with the firm, he has worked on a variety of projects including economic impact analyses, market analyses and fiscal and economic models. Additionally, he has assisted with a number of litigation support projects and served in a support staff capacity for public bodies. He has also developed several reports on a wide range of special topics to serve the needs of clients. Jon's areas of expertise include data science and visualization, analyzing geospatial data, report writing and generating presentations.

Education/Certifications

  • Master of Arts – Criminal Justice
    University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • Bachelor of Arts – Criminal Justice
    University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • Doctoral Candidate – Public Affairs
    University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Sample of Project Experience

Assigned to generate a comprehensive report on the cannabis industry in Nevada. Analyses contained in the report included disaggregating statewide sales, evaluating industry operations on a per dispensary basis in Southern Nevada and comparing Nevada's industry performance to other legal cannabis markets using comparison markets.

Developed a consensus forecast for the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA) at the organization's outlook event, VISTA 2022. Generating the forecast involved coordinating with industry experts across Southern Nevada to record individual forecasts and assist in developing the corresponding printed deliverable and accompanying presentation for the event.

Generated an economic impact estimate for a graduating class for an institution of higher education. The analysis included estimating the labor income earned by a class of graduates as well as the corresponding total economic activity generated and jobs supported through direct, indirect and induced impacts. In addition to providing a deliverable describing the results of the analysis, a dynamic model was provided to the client, which could be used to readily evaluate variable inputs to the graduating class scenario in the analysis.

Brian Haynes
Senior Manager

Brian Haynes is a senior manager at Applied Analysis. His areas of expertise include research, analysis, econometric modeling and writing projects that capitalize on the breadth of skills developed at Applied Analysis and during his career as a news reporter and data journalist.

Haynes joined the firm in 2015 after 16 years as a journalist for newspapers across the country, including 11 years at the Las Vegas Review-Journal. During his time as a journalist, Haynes developed deep knowledge about the criminal justice system and local government while reporting on and writing about significant news events. Along with his refined writing and editing skills, Haynes has extensive experience in data handling and analysis using Excel, Access, SQL and GIS mapping tools.

During his time at Applied Analysis, Haynes has handled projects across a wide variety of subject areas for both public- and private-sector clients, including staffing responsibilities for the Las Vegas Stadium Authority, market analyses and site evaluations for gaming and health care companies, and revenue analyses and financial modeling for various public agencies in Nevada.

Education/Certifications

  • Bachelor of Arts – Journalism
    Indiana University (1996)

Sample of Project Experience


  • From 2016 to present, served as lead staff for the Las Vegas Stadium Authority, the public entity created to oversee the development and operation of Allegiant Stadium. Manages all aspects of agency administration, research and planning, including overseeing public meeting operations, managing internal and external reporting requirements and directing the public budgeting process and other finance-related activities.


  • From 2015 to 2016, provided staffing services for the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee, the governor?s blue-ribbon panel that studied the infrastructure needs of the region?s tourism industry. The year-long committee concluded its work by recommending that the State of Nevada move forward to provide funding for an NFL stadium, the expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center and the hiring of additional police officers in Southern Nevada.


  • In 2017, developed a model for a Las Vegas-based housing nonprofit that projected the need for additional affordable housing inventory in Southern Nevada. The model relied on regional housing, demographic and income data to project the gap between the supply of affordable housing in comparison to the demand among middle-income households that could be priced out by market trends.


  • In 2019, developed a revenue-impact model to analyze alternative property tax modifications on behalf of the Nevada State Legislature and Office of the Nevada Governor. Project included the compilation of parcel-level data for over 1 million properties across Nevada's 17 counties and analyzing potential revenue impacts based on real-time what-if scenarios. AA's model was used to compare and contrast the fiscal and economic impact of several hundred alternative proposals.


  • From 2015 to present, retained by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to review and analyze the economic impacts associated with its various operations and Southern Nevada's tourism industry. Reports have included the impact of LVCVA operations on the community, visitors' tax contributions, advertising and marketing program return on investment analyses, the relative dependence of the economy on tourism activities, trends in international visitation and other similar topics.

Melanie Swick
Senior Manager

Melanie Swick is a senior manager at Applied Analysis who has been with the firm since early 2015. She began her career at Applied Analysis as an intern, and she was quickly promoted to an analyst position where she continued to expand her knowledge and develop her research and analytical skillset. Swick's work experience includes a broad range of activities, including economic analysis, primary research, gaming-related research, real estate analysis, public policy analysis, database maintenance, website management and dispute analysis. Prior to Applied Analysis, Swick earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she was also on the dean's list throughout her college career.

Swick has a broad range of services and areas of expertise that include the tracking and compilation of data, the preparation of various analyses, conducting focus groups and surveys, acting as lead analyst on committee meetings and a number of other assignments. Swick is also the lead analyst of the firm's commercial market reporting for the office, retail and industrial market activity. She also works on the firm's sister companies, Discovery Nevada, MyResearcher and SalesTraq.

Education/Certifications

  • Bachelor of Science – Mathematics
    University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Selected Memberships and Community Involvement

  • National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP)

Sample of Project Experience

From 2015 to 2016, retained by the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee (SNTIC) to act as a key analyst to the committee. Created by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval in July 2015, the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee brought together key community leaders and stakeholders to identify and prioritize tourism improvement projects in southern Nevada and explore potential funding mechanisms to support new tourism-related initiatives. After holding 16 meetings over a period of 15 months, the committee forwarded a series of recommendations to the Governor. Among the committee's five recommendations was a proposal to raise additional revenue through the room tax in Clark County to fund construction of an NFL stadium project, which became law in October 2016 when the Nevada State Legislature passed Senate Bill 1. The bill established the Las Vegas Stadium Authority and enabled the funding, legal framework and oversight mechanisms to build a new NFL stadium in southern Nevada.

From 2015 to the present, Swick has served as a research analyst (now lead analyst) and has been directly involved in the preparation of quarterly tracking and reporting for the commercial office, industrial, retail and vacant land markets in Southern Nevada.

From 2016 to present, retained by the Las Vegas Stadium Authority to provide assistance as an analyst and staff.

From 2016 to present, retained by Nevada Mining Association to conduct an annual review and analysis of the role of Nevada's mining industry. The analysis focuses on employment, wages and economic output, as well as the evaluation of the direct, indirect and induced impacts. The results are then published and presented at the association's annual convention. Mineral data is also tracked and monitored on the company's data portal, which was developed by the firm.

From 2017 to present, retained by LVGEA to perform ad hoc research including developing and updating LVGEA's online data portal, creating monthly newsletters and tracking community investments. In 2018, gathered and analyzed data relative to the sports and entertainment industry in Southern Nevada to develop the economic impacts associated with it. The Sports & Entertainment Outlook was published in November 2018 and highlighted the key components of Southern Nevada's fastest-growing industry.

From 2017 to present, retained by the Nevada Resort Association to gather and analyze data relative to the state's gaming industry. The data is then presented in a comprehensive Fact Book that details not only the industry's economic and fiscal impacts, but also the industry's social impacts through volunteer hours and charitable giving. The data is then updated and presented on the company's website.

From 2017 to present, retained by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to evaluate the economic and fiscal impacts of their business operations and incremental visitation to Nevada, Florida, Australia and other locations worldwide. The analyses focused on employment, wages and economic output, as well as the evaluation of the direct, indirect and induced impacts. As part of the analysis, led a team of researchers to conduct intercept surveys of Las Vegas visitors to gauge a number of factors, including spending habits on rooms, food, beverage, entertainment, sightseeing, shopping and other activities while visiting the area.

In 2018, retained by the Southern Nevada Sporting Event Committee (SNSEC) as the primary analyst responsible for analysis and project management of the committee. On April 17, 2018, Governor Brian Sandoval signed Executive Order 2018-7, establishing the Southern Nevada Sporting Event Committee to identify potential sporting events and associated activities to host in Southern Nevada, and evaluate the potential costs and benefits associated with each event. The final report and recommendations were presented in December 2018.

From 2018 to 2019, retained by Impact NV to gather and analyze data to be presented in the company's State of Sustainability Report for Southern Nevada. The report highlighted key indicators in each of Impact NV's Pillars of Sustainability: Economy, Health, Nature, Built Environment, Energy, Community, Social Equity and Transportation. Swick then worked with Impact NV to develop a new interactive data portal that would house and display this data in real-time.

From 2020 to present, retained by City of Henderson Parks and Recreation Department to perform an economic and fiscal analysis of the department's tournament events. The analysis focused on employment, wages and economic output, as well as the evaluation of the direct, indirect and induced impacts from out-of-town events. As part of the analysis, an impact calculator was created that could be used to estimate the impact of any potential event for the City.

From 2020 to present, retained by Moonridge Group to conduct the company's annual corporate giving survey. The survey results are then used to create the Nevada Corporate Giving Report. Nevada is one of the only states in the nation who publishes this timely and important information which is used by institutions nationwide to model best practices in the corporate giving climate.

Rebeca Ibarra
Project Manager

Rebeca Ibarra, a project manager at Applied Analysis, has worked with the firm since 2020. Her work experience spans a broad range of activities for multiple industries and includes economic and fiscal research and analysis, litigation support, economic modeling, website management and writing and administering surveys. Ibarra specializes in running economic impact analyses using IMPLAN and preparing analyses for clients based on identified needs or project goals. She has also assisted in research and analysis associated with proposed economic and tax implications during legislative sessions. Before joining Applied Analysis, Ibarra earned her Master's in Business Administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she also completed a bachelor's and master's program in biology and biochemistry, respectively.

Education/Certifications

  • Master of Business Administration – Healthcare Management
    University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • Master of Science – Biochemistry
    University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • Bachelor of Science – Biological Sciences, with a minor in Psychology
    University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Sample of Project Experience

From 2020 to present, retained by Nevada Mining Association to conduct an annual review and analysis of the role of Nevada's mining industry. The analysis focuses on employment, wages and economic output, as well as the evaluation of the direct, indirect and induced impacts. The results are then published and presented at the association's annual convention. Additional ad hoc research requests are made throughout the year to assist the association in policy analysis, legislative requests and other endeavors.

Retained by stakeholders to conduct a systematic review of Nevada's current fiscal system. The project included fiscal modeling and a policy presentation that examined major revenue sources such as gross gaming tax, sales and use tax, property tax, commerce tax and modified business tax to identify long-term structural challenges. In addition to a historical review, the impact of COVID-19 was studied, and possible strategies for fiscal restructuring were presented.

Retained by NV Energy to review and analyze the economic, fiscal and social impacts associated with the Greenlink Nevada Transmission Initiative infrastructure enhancement being built in northern and southern Nevada. The report focused on economic and fiscal effects generated as a result of the construction and operation of the energy infrastructure enhancement and the potential social implications created for businesses, employees, and gross domestic product due to insufficient energy supply. Applied Analysis' report was included in the company's application to the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada in 2020.

Retained by a multi-state healthcare system to evaluate potential legislative strategies needed to create an economically viable and financially feasible children's hospital in Nevada. The completed report included an analysis of Nevada's current healthcare reimbursement system and a model outlining proposed adjustments and policy alternatives that would be necessary for a children's hospital to achieve financial stability in the state.

Retained by a Nevada mining company to create an effective tax matrix for major industries in the state. The analysis included broad-based and industry-specific taxes paid by major industries in Nevada compared to various financial metrics including revenue, earnings before tax and net income and on a per employee basis.

Ashley Herrera
Project Manager

Ashley Herrera is a project manager at Applied Analysis. Her areas of expertise include market analysis related to real estate development, while acting as lead researcher on projects. Recently, Herrera has been the primary researcher and project manager for the Las Vegas Perspective, a comprehensive annual publication covering various segments of the southern Nevada market. Herrera is also an active member and co-creator of an investment group for women. Herrera has had columns published in the In Business Las Vegas.

Michael Scott Davidson
Senior Analyst

Michael Scott Davidson is a senior analyst at Applied Analysis. He joined the firm in early 2024, after working as a journalist in Southern Nevada since 2016. He most recently served as data editor at the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper.

Michael's research has served as the backbone for award-winning news coverage on topics including affordable housing, COVID-19 and traffic safety. He has experience analyzing data in Excel, QGIS and the R programming language.

Michael is a graduate of the University of Florida, where he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism. He is currently working toward a master's degree in data analytics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Cecelia DiMino
Senior Analyst

Cecelia DiMino is a senior analyst at Applied Analysis. She joined the company in August 2023. Cecelia is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied Computational Linguistics. She was the Principal Investigator of an IRB-reviewed research protocol which brought her to rural Peruvian Amazonia to assist a critically endangered language, Iquito. She was also the winner of multiple social innovation competitions and part of the 2017 Clinton Global Initiative University Cohort, a year-round program that helps develop the next generation of leaders and social entrepreneurs. She also attends UNLV's William S. Boyd Law School part-time in the evenings where her focus is economic development. Cecelia's areas of interest include Excel, qualitative and quantitative analysis, using geospatial data to tell a story, report writing and creating presentations.

Justin Hacker
Senior Analyst

Justin Hacker is a senior analyst at Applied Analysis. Hacker earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in management with concentrated studies in economic and statistics from the University of Missouri, Columbia. His work experience and research areas include market analyses, gaming-related research, recurring real estate analysis, survey research and economic presentations. He is also responsible for covering the retail and industrial commercial markets, generating recurring economic reports, managing the MyResearcher data portal and updating the company's active database of ongoing construction projects throughout the Las Vegas Valley. He is experienced in the use of Microsoft Office products as well as statistical and research packages such as QGIS, IMPLAN, R, SPSS and SAS.

Education/Certifications

  • Bachelor of Arts in Management, Concentration in Economics and Statistics
    University of Missouri, Columbia (2017)

Sample of Project Experience

From 2017 to present, recurring tracking and analysis of the industrial and retail markets in the Las Vegas valley as part of maintaining a dataset on the commercial markets dating back to 2002. The quarterly reports that are released by Applied Analysis include analyses of the latest trends including vacancy rates, tenant relocation, construction tracking as well as adding overall market insight.

From 2019 to present, serving as member of the staff to the Las Vegas Stadium Authority board. The Las Vegas Stadium Authority is responsible for the ownership of Allegiant Stadium with roles including owning and overseeing the stadium and land, managing the coverage waterfall revenue distribution, managing the stadium capital improvement fund and related expenditures along with regular communications with the public.

From 2019 to present, retained by locals-oriented gaming operator to evaluate current supply and demand conditions with the Las Vegas gaming market as well as general economic outlook. Analyses focused on key demand indicators, including population, employment and personal income.

From 2017 to present, retained by a number of local businesses and organizations to create easily digestible economic presentations that focus on the key trends within the Las Vegas Valley. Presentations include analyses on population growth, employment, residential real estate, commercial real estate, personal spending, Las Vegas' construction pipeline and tourism.

From 2018 to present, retained by Las Vegas Realtors (LVR) to provide recurring monthly analyses on the latest metrics in the single-family and condominium/townhouse real estate markets. Regular reports include tracking median price, sales volumes, sales times and effective inventory.

Sandra Smith
Senior Analyst

Sandra Smith, a senior analyst at Applied Analysis, joined the firm in 2022. Following her graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Idaho, Smith went on to earn her MBA with concentrations in Healthcare Administration and New Venture Management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. During her undergraduate studies she worked with a team of students on economic impact reports for entities in varied industries throughout Idaho. During her graduate studies she worked with colleagues to build two potential start-ups to the pre-seed and seed-funding stages. Her background experience includes literature review, economic impact analysis, process improvement, and market analysis. Prior to joining Applied Analysis she worked at a boutique property management company, which provided active experience in real estate and process improvement. Since joining Applied Analysis, Smith has continued to grow her skill set to include more data analytics and research skills in addition to learning geospatial analysis.

Christian Breton
Analyst

Christian Breton is an analyst at Applied Analysis and brings valuable skills and fresh perspectives to the team since joining in early-2024. A recent graduate from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he earned a degree in Management Information Systems. During his time at university, Christian gained hands-on experience through an internship, where he focused on maintaining data repositories and developing SQL-based databases. Proficient in Python, SQL, and IBM SPSS Modeler, he possesses a versatile toolkit for data analysis. Eager to contribute, Christian is committed to leveraging technology and data-driven insights for strategic solutions. His background in Management Information Systems equips him to make a significant impact on the firm's mission and Nevada's economic landscape.

Logan Gallaway
Analyst

Logan Gallaway is an analyst with Applied Analysis. His specializations include wide-ranging economic analysis, market analysis, spatial analysis, data analysis and report generation. Gallaway graduated summa cum laude from Fordham University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a minor in Philosophy. He is well versed in Microsoft Office, QGIS and R studio.

Prior to working at Applied Analysis, Gallaway obtained broad experience through a series of internships, ranging from assisting engineers retrofit a coal powerplant in Kentucky to working in a boutique investment and advisory firm in China. Since joining Applied Analysis, Gallaway's work has primarily focused upon urban economics, education economics, macroeconomics, local tax policy and market research, particularly relating to real estate. He has completed work for local municipal and county-level entities, regional banking institutions and nationally-recognized property developers and EMS service providers.

Education/Certifications

  • Bachelor of Arts – Economics with a Minor in Philosophy
    Fordham University (2020)

Sample of Project Experience

Retained by the City of Elko and Elko County to perform an analysis regarding the fiscal impacts of prospective county-level and city-level property tax rate changes. The analysis included an extensive review of Nevada Revised Statutes to ensure statutory compliance as well as modeling demographic shifts and tax implications under a variety of tax-change scenarios.

Retained by the City of Henderson to perform a number of longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses pertaining to the city's labor markets and demographic makeup as well as educational outcomes and expenditures within the city's boundaries. Educational analyses focused on K-12 proficiency rates, graduation rates, college readiness metrics and school-specific capital and operational expenditures, while labor market and demographic studies focused upon analyzing workforce education levels, employment categories, location quotients and other relevant data.

Authored recurring monthly economic briefings on behalf of Nevada State Bank. The briefings reported on key economic indicators for Nevada's economy and featured a deep dive into novel macroeconomics trends occurring every month. Previous reports focused upon Nevada-centric analyses of the 2020 Decennial Census results, the cumulative effect of pandemic-era extended unemployment benefits, the state's labor force participation rate and other timely trends.

Retained by a nationally-recognized property developer to perform a real estate market analysis of the Las Vegas area and generate an interactive zip code and property parameter-specific return-on-investment model. The analysis was performed with zip code-specific data relating to land costs, rental rates, and household dynamics. Results were reported for various attached products, detached products as well as apartment offerings. The results of the analysis informed and powered a fully interactive return-on-investment model, which allowed for simultaneous individual and bulk return-on-investment calculations.

Retained by the Clark County School District to perform an analysis relative to teacher compensation rates. The analysis focused upon comparing teacher total compensation rates and its component parts, i.e. wages and benefits, in Nevada and Clark County against rates for their respective peers across the broader United States. The analysis controlled for the effects of regional cost-of-living differences and ranked peer jurisdictions by compensation-type on a per teacher and per pupil basis.

Jacqueline Gold
Analyst

Jacqueline Gold is an Analyst at Applied Analysis. She joined the company in July 2023 after graduating from Texas A&M University. At Texas A&M, she majored in International Studies with a focus on Commerce and minored in Economics and History. During her time at university, Jacqueline interned in Madrid, Spain, working as an Investor Relations intern for a micro-finance firm serving female entrepreneurs in Latin America. Her experience in Madrid inspired her capstone thesis, which explored the potential role of micro-finance in Mexico’s current macroeconomic environment. Jacqueline also served as a teaching assistant for Principles of Macroeconomics and Economic Development at Texas A&M. Jacqueline is excited to be part of the Applied Analysis team, where she can contribute to Nevada’s vibrant and growing economy.

Issac Hernandez
Analyst

Issac Hernandez is an analyst at Applied Analysis. He joined the firm in 2023. Hernandez graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics. During his time as an undergraduate, he had the privilege of serving as the Student Body President and held positions in the UNLV Economics Club. Prior to joining Applied Analysis, Hernandez obtained considerable experience through work as a Policy Researcher at Brookings Mountain West and the Lincy Institute in Las Vegas ranging from legislative tracking to publishing on significant topics such as Economic Development and Workforce, Elections and Governance, and Health. He researched projects on Rainy Day Funds, Payday Loans, Household Food Security and Bipartisanship in the Mountain West. Hernandez’s research experience includes public policy, market, and comparative analysis. Since joining Applied Analysis, Hernandez continues to utilize his skills in data analytics and research to provide meaningful data-driven insights for the betterment of our community.

Jack Magee
Analyst

Jack Magee is an analyst at Applied Analysis. He joined the firm in 2023 after completing a Master of Arts in Economics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. As a graduate student he worked as a research assistant for the Center of Business and Economic Research, conducting research on a variety of topics including local economic trends, urban development, and renewable energy. His interests include economic research and analysis, statistical modeling, and data analytics. A life-long Las Vegas resident, Jack is enthusiastic about contributing to the Nevada community.

Ben Saham
Analyst

Ben Saham is an analyst at Applied Analysis. He joined the firm in 2022. A product of the Nevada System of Higher Education, Saham earned his associate's degree in Business at the College of Southern Nevada, then went on to earn his bachelor's in Political Science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. During his undergraduate studies, he interned abroad in the country of Israel working as a government employee for the Ministry of Environmental Protection. There, he researched projects such as the feasibility of energy from waste plants to create more sustainable energy sources for the country as a whole. Saham's research experience includes market, public policy and tax analysis as well as survey writing and administration. Prior to joining Applied Analysis, Saham also interned for a United States Senator.

As someone who was born and raised in Las Vegas, Saham looks forward to serving and bettering the Las Vegas community in an impactful, quantifiable way as Applied Analysis has done for over 25 years.

Rachel Semmler
Creative Director

Rachel Semmler is the creative director for Applied Analysis, where she is responsible for day-to-day operations of the graphic and web design studio. She provides print design, display advertising, brochure development, publication layout and design, website design and multimedia development.

Prior to joining Applied Analysis, Rachel served as graphic designer for Robert Half Technologies in Las Vegas, where she designed and produced collateral materials, special events materials and displays for PBS&J, an engineering firm. Before relocating to Las Vegas, Rachel worked for a medical publication company in the New York City area and a design firm in Manhattan that specialized in wayfinding systems. Ms. Semmler earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design with an Art History minor from The College of Saint Rose in Albany, N.Y.

Education/Certifications

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts – Graphic Design
    College of Saint Rose (2003)
  • Certification in Infographic Design
    HOW Design University (2016)

Selected Memberships and Community Involvement

  • American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA)
  • Graphic Artists Guild

Sample of Project Experience

Responsibilities include the conceptualization, planning and execution of print and web projects as well as overseeing the design department and scheduling of deliverables.

  • Periodical print reports such as the annual Las Vegas Perspective and semi-annual Nevada Resort Association's Nevada Gaming Fact Book

  • One-off print reports such as the University of Nevada - Reno's (UNR) Economic Impact Report and The Regional Transportation Commission's (RTC) Transportation Investment Business Plan (TIBP)

  • Website development and maintenance, including content management systems (CMS) for sites such as Nevada Resort Association and Las Vegas Stadium Authority

  • Planning and creation of full data portals, such as Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) and Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA)

  • Data widgets for use within existing client websites such as the Nevada Mining Association

James Whittaker
Database Analyst

James Whittaker is a database analyst at Applied Analysis with expertise in the design, development and maintenance of complex Access and SQL databases. In addition, Whittaker is responsible for data collection, integration and analysis within the firm's various research divisions. He has over 20 years of experience utilizing his IT and computer skills, having worked in various administrative and freelance capacities for firms across the nation. Whittaker holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from Roosevelt University and has completed numerous technology training programs and certification courses throughout his career.

Debbie Poser
Executive Assistant

Debbie Poser is an executive assistant with Applied Analysis where her responsibilities include providing support to the firm's principals, maintaining the executive calendars, coordinating meetings, making travel arrangements, assisting with billing administration, and offering excellent customer service to each of our valuable clients.

Prior to joining Applied Analysis, Ms. Poser was employed as an administrative assistant for CTX Mortgage Company - a division of Centex Homes, where she provided support to three senior executives in a high volume mortgage lending office. Ms. Poser earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

In addition to the key team members identified here, Applied Analysis has a number of other professionals and contractors.