Freeman Expands Nevada Operations
Lisa Plummer -- Tradeshow Week, 10/31/2008 10:57:00 AM
While some companies are tightening their belts and scaling back, Freeman continues to expand its Nevada operations. The general service contractor soon will begin construction on a new warehouse and office space in Las Vegas, and has recently relocated its Reno, Nev., branch to a larger facility.
This fall, Freeman will begin work on a customized, 412,000 square foot warehouse and office facility that will allow the company to consolidate several facilities into one building. Located off Sunset Road and Rainbow Boulevard, construction on the new facility is due to be completed next fall. United Construction will be the local general contractor for the project.
“We have been fortunate to have experienced a 50-percent growth in the Western region during the past three years, and anticipate additional growth in the coming years for Freeman,” said Steve Hagstette, senior vice president for Freeman in Nevada. “We feel it is important to make the long-term investments in our company’s infrastructure.”
In addition, Freeman has added five acres of marshalling yard space to its local offices.
Meanwhile, up north, Freeman relocated its Reno branch from a 60,000 sq. ft. facility to a 90,000 sq. ft. facility in Sparks, Nev. According to the company, the larger space will enable the company to provide additional storage and production services for the Reno/Sparks convention industry. The branch serves not only the northern Nevada area, but also tradeshows and events in Salt Lake City and Sacramento, Calif.
Despite a souring economy and a challenging convention industry, Carrie Freeman Parsons, Freeman vice chair and CMO, said she also believes that investment in the future is key to Freeman’s continued growth, especially in Las Vegas.
“We have experienced significant growth in the Las Vegas marketplace for the past several years,” Parsons said. “We believe in the long-term health of the convention industry in Las Vegas and need a facility that will enable us to maintain our levels of service there in the future.”
After having opened its Las Vegas office in 1992, Freeman now produces more than 600 tradeshows and events annually in the local convention industry.
