Mike Ballard is a partner Ascent Multifamily Accounting and has worked in the real estate industry for almost 30 years. At Ascent, Mike leads the Consulting Practice, where he advises clients on improve operations and profitability as well as using tax credits and deductions to improve returns on their projects. Mike was a founding member of the board of the Lied Institute for Real Estate Studies at UNLV and also helped with the formation of the local NAIOP and Construction Financial Management Association chapters. In 2010, Mike was named one of the “Top 20 Visionaries” in Nevada by Nevada Business magazine. Mike is known for his excellent contacts with business, government and real estate executives throughout the West. Mike has served on the boards of several for-profit companies and not-for-profit organizations. He has helped start three banks and served on the board of Black Mountain Community Bank.