In November, Mark Brown took over as CEO of Miracle Flights, which flies sick children and their families to specialists and hospitals across the country. This month, the charitable organization — which began 31 years ago in Las Vegas — will make its 100,000th flight.
What is the best business advice you’ve received?
My father, who once owned a newspaper in Las Vegas called The Valley Times, told me to never forget that companies are made up of people; there is no mystical power that makes up a company. Focus on treating your employees well and be respectful to them and it will pay huge dividends.
John Goolsby, the former CEO of the Howard Hughes Corp., taught me the importance of giving back to the community.
In the time I worked for Frank Fertitta III, I learned that no matter how big the project is, details matter.
My former partner at R&R Advertising, Billy Vassiliadis, taught me the art of compromise, and (former Gov.) Kenny Guinn taught me to always leave something on the table for the other person.
If you could change one thing about Southern Nevada, what would it be?
I would create a fair tax mechanism to increase teacher pay with appropriate accountability measures for performance. Next to the parents, teachers are on the front line in shaping our next generation, and they are woefully underpaid and undervalued.
What’s the biggest issue facing Southern Nevada?
Besides the obvious infrastructure issues that we deal with such as traffic, water, etc., I am concerned about the legalization of recreational marijuana and what this means for our employers.
I strongly support the medical-marijuana industry because I have seen firsthand the benefits for certain patients. I certainly don’t care what people do in their private lives, but I used to own an ad agency, and there was a definite drop in productivity in the afternoon — and it wasn’t because the creative department was having pizza for lunch. Employers are going to have serious issues to address when recreational marijuana is legalized.
What has been your most exciting professional project to date?
It is a long list, but working with the Howard Hughes Corp. and helping to expand the development of Summerlin is at the top. People forget that it was a huge political battle at the time to move that project forward. Additionally, I am proud of the work I did with Vassiliadis on a number of campaigns to help get school bonds passed, which cleared the path for building more schools.
What was it about Miracle Flights that made you want to work for the company?
Every day has a purpose. Having the opportunity to help sick children in Las Vegas — and all over the country — on a daily basis is good for my soul and I definitely need the good karma. In just a short time with this organization, I have met some amazing people who want to help this organization grow and evolve.
Talk about your past philanthropic efforts.
Over the past 25 years, I have volunteered for dozens of organizations and raised millions of dollars for various causes. I served as chairman of the YMCA, which remains one of the most effective nonprofits in Las Vegas. In my time with the Howard Hughes Corp., it was particularly rewarding to help large numbers of charitable organizations grow to help turn Las Vegas into a community that people wanted to move to.
What are your plans for Miracle Flights?
A key priority is raising awareness, which will in turn help us fly more children. We are launching an innovative national awareness campaign called “FlyIt4ward,” where people challenge their friends to make a donation via paper airplanes made from $1 — or even $100 — bills. The object is to call out a friend on social media to match your donation and therefore “fly it forward.” People can get involved by going to flyit4ward.org.
What are you reading right now?
I mainly read books on history, political leaders, business books and health. I am in the middle of a health book, “Primal Endurance,” by Mark Sisson, and a political biography, “Lyndon Johnson and The American Dream,” by Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Describe your management style.
I surround myself with smart and motivated people and I lay out my goals and expectations to them, then I get out of their way. As long as they don’t violate my main rule of “No surprises,” we’re good.
Where do you see your company in 10 years?
I want to see Miracle Flights get to our 200,000th flight in 10 years. We can do that by continuing to hire top-quality people and broadening our network of volunteer and financial support.
What is your dream job, outside of your current field?
My dream as a child was to be a major league pitcher, but unfortunately my 39-mph fastball did not take me very far.
If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be and why?
Belize — gorgeous beaches, safe and a great tax haven.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Earlier in my career, when I was fighting the battles, I wasn’t always as kind and gracious as I could have been. I would do it differently today.
What is something that people might not know about you?
I have profound hearing loss in my right ear. Hearing loss is an invisible condition; we cannot see hearing loss, only its effects. Because the presence of a hearing loss is not visible, people can get branded as aloof and can become very isolated.
Whom do you admire?
It’s a long list, but I definitely admire my mother, who came to Las Vegas in 1961 from another country and figured out a way to raise a family in strange surroundings. I also admire my kids as I watch them navigate through the early stages of adulthood. And, I cannot help but admire the families and children we help every day. They face daunting challenges and meet them head-on with amazing courage that leaves me in awe.