Utah an “expensive” place to watch World Cup Page 3
UNICORNS
UofU grads likely to start new businesses Page 4
OLYMPICS
Leadership changes made by organizers Page 10
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
Page 11
INDUSTRY BRIEFS
Pages 12-13
BUSINESS CALENDAR
Page 14
Now serving in Taylorsville
The Break sports bar and grill has opened its sixth location, at 5418 S. 1900 W., Taylorsville. The restaurant offers food and drinks, along with hosting regular games of Breaking Bingo and Texas Hold’em poker, plus lots of TVs to follow the sporting events of your choice. It’s open 7 days a week.
Phase 1 of The Point, initiated on June 29, spurs a period of visible growth for the development and ushers in a major change in the landscape for Utahns passing by on I-15.
“Within the next 30 days, people will begin to see substantial activity across the site,” said Kip Wadsworth, the Wadsworth Development Group’s CEO.
“What starts here, now, will set the standard for how the district grows over time, with room for housing, jobs, retail, restaurants, entertainment, healthcare, innovation, parks, trails and public gathering places.”
In attendance at the groundbreaking for Phase 1 were Wadsworth, Draper
City Mayor Troy Walker, University of Utah Health and University of Utah Health Sciences Executive Vice President Dr. Bob Carter, Mountain America Credit Union President and CEO Sterling Nielsen, Speaker of the Utah House Mike Schultz, President of the Utah Senate J. Stuart Adams, and Gov. Spencer Cox.
The Point is structured as a public–private partnership in which Utah taxpayers retain ownership of the land while collecting long-term lease payments, with $165 million in state investment leveraging $2.3 billion in private capital.
Partners of the Phase 1 build include Lincoln Property Co., Colmena Group and Wadsworth Development Group.
Phase 1 will cultivate 100 acres of the 600-acre planned project as its downtown district, including the following:
• Mountain America Event Center, a 5,200-seat multipurpose event center said to be “the largest of its kind in the South Salt Lake Valley.”
• Chroma, a Class A, 363-unit multifamily residential complex built over 42,000 square feet of retail space.
• The Promenade, a 2,000-foot walkable “people-focused main street” and heart of the development’s downtown.
• University of Utah healthcare campus, a 46-acre healthcare campus focused on specialized, research-informed care.
see THE POINT page 2
military use, according to an Army release.
The U.S. Army has selected Tooele Army Depot (TAD) in Utah as one of four bases in the U.S. where private companies will build and operate critical minerals processing plants on domestic military installations.
Under the Army’s Strategic Capital Initiatives program, the firms will process rare earth elements, graphite, boron and lithium.
REalloys Inc., a Boca Raton, Florida-based critical minerals and manufacturing company, will construct a rare earth separation facility at the TAD and production from the plant will be stockpiled on-site for
The deals between the Army and the plant owners are structured as enhanced use leases (EULs), which allow the Army to lease underutilized land to private partners without transferring ownership. The program is a first-of-its-kind initiative by the Trump administration to boost domestic production of key materials.
The Army said each of the targeted minerals have direct defense applications and that each of the chosen companies will design, finance, construct and run its own facility. Rather than paying cash rent, lessees are required to fund infrastructure improvements at their host installations and secure a decommissioning bond before work begins.
Development is expected to begin as early as 2027, with initial operating capability targeted for 2028. The new lease awards are the first time the Army has sited commercial mineral processing facilities on American military installations, the Army said. Previous EUL conditional awards include a $1.3 billion munitions facility built by Hanwha Defense USA at the Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas and data center agreements with global investment firm Carlyle at Fort Bliss, Texas, and Texas-based CyrusOne at Tooele County’s Dugway Proving Ground.
POINT from page 1
The University of Utah also announced at the event that it will serve as the official healthcare sponsor of The Point. Carter said the partnership will help connect a growing statewide network of facilities.
“Our Eccles Health Campus in West Valley is well underway. Our comprehensive cancer center in Vineyard is going up, and now U Health at The Point will serve as a link and an anchor to this new connected network, so that no matter where you live in Utah, you can have access to the world-class care that we’re known for.”
The full build-out of the project is estimated to support 46,000 jobs when completed.
Eighteen months after the dedication of Porter Rockwell Boulevard, Schultz said
“the foundation has been laid, literally and metaphorically” for this first phase, including several big moves like:
• 17,000 feet of sewer.
• 31,000 feet of storm drain infrastructure.
• 36,000 feet of water and irrigation lines.
• 54,000 feet of power conduit.
• 30,000 feet of communications infrastructure.
“This is so much bigger than just building some retail stores and some places for people to live,” Cox said. “This is thinking about the best of Utah and how we can move that forward for future generations.”
“We’ve been building underground for a long time, putting the infrastructure in, and now we get to go vertical.”
For more information, visit thepointutah.org.
Mountain America Credit Union has secured naming rights for a new event center that will be part of phase one at The Point.
“It’s located perfectly: right in Salt Lake County, right next to Utah County — vibrant communities that are really going to enjoy the concerts, family events and community events at Mountain America,” said Sterling Nielsen, Mountain America Credit Union’s president and CEO.
The event center will host a variety of events, including concerts, family and community events, as well as financial education programming and support for entrepreneurs. Leaders repeatedly framed The Point as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to build a community “for our kids and our grandkids.”
The Mountain America Event Center, planned in the first phase of The Point, will be “the largest of its kind in the South Salt Lake Valley.” (Photo courtesy The Point)
The South Valley Chamber has announced its 2026 Titan Award recipients: Andrea Kendell, president and CEO of Swire Coca-Cola; Fraser Bullock, president and executive chair of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games organizing committee; and Jim Olson, president of the Utah Jazz.
The chamber’s Titan Awards are its most prestigious honor, recognizing individuals who demonstrate long-term commitment, civic engagement and exceptional impact in Utah.
Recipients will be honored at the 17th annual Titan Awards ceremony Oct. 27 at The Grand America Hotel. More than
600 of Utah’s business leaders, community partners and local officials are expected to be invited to the ceremony.
“The Titan Awards celebrate more than accomplishment. They celebrate significance,” said Jay Francis, president and CEO of the South Valley Chamber, in a release. “They honor leaders whose vision, service and commitment to others create meaningful change and leave our community stronger for generations to come.”
“The Titan Awards have become a lasting tradition that reflects the very best of our community,” said Scott Westra, chairman of the South Valley Chamber
executive committee and senior vice president, chief financial officer of WCF Insurance. “Year after year, we are reminded of the extraordinary leaders and organizations who dedicate themselves to making a difference. We look forward to continuing this tradition of recognition.”
In addition to honoring the Titan Award recipients, the South Valley Chamber also will recognize its Small Business of the Year. This marks the fifth year of celebrating a local small business.
“The Titan Awards celebrate those who make an extraordinary impact on our community, and our Small Busi-
ness of the Year recipient is no exception,” said David Edmunds, co-chair of the South Valley Chamber small-business committee and founder of Salt Mine Productive Workspace. “Small businesses drive innovation, create opportunities and strengthen the fabric of our community. Their contributions deserve to be recognized and celebrated alongside the other outstanding leaders we honor.”
Notable past recipients include Sandi Hendry (2024), Abby Cox and Brandon Fugal (2023), Natalie Gochnour and Gary Herbert (2019), Benny Zippel (2016), Dieter F. Uchtdorf (2015), and Scott Anderson and Gail Miller (2009).
Other EUL developments recently announced with the Tooele Army Depot deal include Titan Mining building and operating a graphite purification facility at either Pine Bluff Arsenal or Anniston Army Depot in Alabama. EnergyX and Sydney, Australia-based Ioneer — the only nonU.S. company of the four involved — will develop a lithium facility and a boron plant, respectively.
“The ability to process critical minerals on U.S. soil is a national-defense priority required for munitions, missiles, sensors, batteries and the platforms our soldiers depend on,” Jeff Waksman, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment, said in a statement. “Leveraging our legal authorities and land, the U.S. Army is able to help nurture a critical minerals industrial base which equips and sustains America’s soldiers without putting any taxpayer dollars at risk.”
The Trump administration is racing to boost production of critical minerals on U.S. soil in an effort to reduce its dependency on imports, especially from China. The minerals are essential to a wide range of applications, including consumer electronics, automobiles and defense technologies.
Tooele Army Depot, sitting on 43,000 acres in Utah, will soon be the site of a rare earths processing plant, the Army announced recently. (Photo courtesy Tooele Army Depot/U.S. Department of War)
The plan to build mineral plants on Army bases was anticipated in March 2025 when Trump signed an executive order invoking emergency powers to boost critical minerals production capabilities.
REalloys, the company chosen to build the TAD plant, currently produces alloys at a plant in Ohio and works with the Saskatchewan Research Council in Canada to produce so-called heavy rare earths like terbium and dysprosium — both of which will be refined at TAD. Its new Utah plant will focus on rare earth minerals that are in high demand due to their use in heat-resistant magnets for defense and automobiles.
“REalloys is proud to stand alongside the U.S. Army to reclaim the heavy rare earth supply chain,” said REalloys CEO Lipi Sternheim. “This partnership represents a historic step for assuring these materials are domestically sourced and fully compliant for weapon system integration. We look forward to supporting the Army in such an important leadership initiative to enable warfighter readiness and the mission effectiveness of our future fighting force.”
REalloys raised $100 million in a private placement of common stock immediately following the Army announce -
ment of the TAD deal.
“This is proving the Secretary of the Army’s theory that we can operate in a different way that benefits both the Army and industry — as well as gets the Army the things that it needs critically on a timeline that would have been unthinkable 18 months ago,” said David Fitzgerald, deputy undersecretary of the Army. “We are very excited about the effort, and the engagement and support we’ve gotten from industry.”
“The Army remains committed to smart stewardship of its real property and the surrounding communities,” the Army’s release said. “[Lessees] are required to engage state and local authorities, assess local impact and propose comprehensive mitigation strategies.”
The Army said no construction will begin until rigorous environmental and regulatory reviews, including the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Air and Water acts and all required federal, state and local permits, are fully complete.
The selected sites were chosen to ensure compatibility with the ongoing missions of each host installation. Tooele Army Depot is an Army Joint Munitions Command post and serves as a storage site for war reserve and training ammunition. The depot stores, issues, receives, renovates, modifies, maintains and demilitarizes conventional munitions.
Wanna watch World Cup soccer matches on your streaming service? If you live in Utah, you are among the most expensive states to view games based on minimum wage pay.
A new Action Network analysis has found that Utah fans earning minimum wage face one of the toughest World Cup streaming burdens in the U.S. With the World Cup underway, the analysis shows where the cost of streaming the tournament hits minimum-wage workers hardest. For Utah, the local takeaway is clear: Watching every match could take a big -
ger bite out of a minimum-wage worker’s pay than almost anywhere else in the country.
Key Utah findings:
• Utah ranks No. 5 overall for the longest estimated work time needed to stream the World Cup.
• Minimum-wage workers in Utah need 5.93 hours to cover the full-tournament stream.
• That is 1.43 times the national average.
• Utah’s estimated total streaming cost is $42.97, based on a $40 streaming
baseline plus applicable tax.
• The state’s ranking is driven by its $7.25 minimum wage, which makes a national streaming price hit harder locally.
“For many Americans, following the World Cup is not just about finding the time to watch, but also about the cost of access,” the survey company said in a release. “A $40 stream may sound straightforward, but this analysis shows that affordability looks very different depending on where fans live and what they earn. By comparing streaming costs with minimum
wages in every state, the study highlights where watching the tournament takes the biggest bite out of a worker’s pay.” Action Network used a $40 full-tournament streaming baseline, added estimated state streaming tax where applicable, and divided the total by each state’s minimum hourly wage. Where a state has no higher minimum wage, the federal $7.25 rate was used.
The four highest states in the study were Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama and Texas. The national average was 4.14 hours.
Brice Wallace Salt Lake Business Journal
A mining and smelter project by an Australian company will lead to 400 new jobs split between Garfield County and either Cedar City or Iron County.
Trigg Minerals LLC, doing business as American Tungsten and Antimony Ltd., expects to invest $287.4 million over nine years on the project, which will involve mining, processing and concentrating antimony in Antimony, Utah, and producing pure antimony products at a planned new smelting facility in Iron County or Cedar City.
The project is being aided by a tax credit incentive of up to $16.5 million over nine years recently awarded by the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) board.
“This recognition from the state of Utah represents a major milestone for American Tungsten and Antimony and reinforces the strategic importance of establishing a secure, domestic supply chain for critical minerals in the United States,” said Andre Booyzen, Trigg managing director. “Our planned antimony tertiary refining facility and integrated mining and processing strategy are designed to support America’s growing demand for materials essential to defense, energy and advanced manufacturing.
“We are proud to be investing in rural Utah, creating high-quality jobs, and contributing to the long-term economic strength of Iron and Garfield counties and the wider region. This project reflects our commitment to responsible development, industrial innovation, and helping position the United
States as a leader in critical minerals independence at a time when supply chain security has never been more important.”
Trigg focuses on exploring and developing critical minerals, particularly antimony and gold, to support western supply chains. In addition to the Antimony Canyon Project in Garfield County, the company also has high-quality tungsten projects in Northern Utah and Northern Nevada, with a fully permitted tungsten mill at its Dutch Mountain project in Northern Utah.
Booyzen told the GOED board that the potential resource at Antimony could last as long as 20 or 30 years. The mine and smelter sites will have about 200 employees each. Pilot and small-scale mining could be happening by year-end or early 2027. Smelter construction should start next year and be finished by the end of 2028 or early 2029, he said. The projects will have very few unskilled workers, with supervisors, technicians, engineers and tradespeople accounting for most of the jobs, he said.
The company said demand for antimony and tungsten continues to rise due to their role in renewable energy, defense and hightech industries.
“This is, to me, a really, really exciting project,” Vic Hockett, a GOED board member, said during the board meeting. “The U.S. relies heavily on imports for antimony. Also, every single lead battery that we have in our vehicles relies on antimony. So it’s actually a very critical mineral.”
David Johnson, economic development director for Cedar City and Iron County, said antimony is also used in plastics, ceramics and glass.
“One of the things we’re really trying to
do in Iron County is create synergies with our manufacturing and our processes,” Johnson said. “For those that don’t know, Iron County has the largest collection of energy projects in the state, of solar panels — enough to power half the homes in the state. So, to have American Tungsten and Antimony here in Iron County is going to mean a lot in hopefully creating more synergies for some of our manufacturing processes.”
In a company news release, Johnson called the project a “generational shift” for the local workforce — “a game-changer for our local economy and the future of our residents” as it provides hundreds of families with stable, high-paying jobs.
The project is estimated to result in new total wages of nearly $231.9 million over nine years, with average wages of $77,031. New state tax revenue is estimated at $41.3 million during that time.
“We look forward to amazing things from Trigg and hopefully you’ll be back again soon for another incentive,” Jesse Turley, chairman of the GOED board’s incentives committee, told Booyzen after the incentive vote.
“Trigg Minerals’ expansion into Garfield and Iron counties is a monumental win for Utah that perfectly captures the essence of our strategic economic vision,” Jefferson Moss, GOED commissioner, said in a prepared statement. “By establishing the nation’s first modern antimony tertiary refining facility right here in our state, we are doing more than just creating 400 jobs in a rural Utah community; we are securing Utah’s position as a critical hub in the global supply chain for defense, renewable energy and technology. This project exemplifies
our commitment to diversifying rural economies and ensuring that Utah leads the way in domestic mineral security and industrial innovation.”
Ryan Starks, executive director of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, said EDCUtah is “honored to support ATAA as it addresses a critical gap in the U.S. domestic supply chain.”
“Utah is uniquely positioned to play a meaningful role in the production of critical minerals, and ATAA is helping lead the responsible development of antimony and tungsten resources,” Starks said. “We commend ATAA’s efforts to create high-quality jobs in rural Utah and to advance materials refining through clean, resource-conscious practices.”
Kaden Figgins, Garfield County director of planning and economic development, said the project “represents a significant opportunity for Garfield County and rural Utah as a whole.
“The development of domestic antimony production in Antimony Canyon highlights the strategic importance of our region’s natural resources while creating meaningful economic opportunities for local residents,” Figgins said. “We appreciate ATAA’s commitment to investing in rural communities and advancing responsible resource development that supports long-term economic resilience, job creation, and national supply chain security.”
GOED does not provide upfront cash incentives. Each year that an incentivized company meets the obligations in its contract with GOED, it will qualify to receive a portion of the new, additional state taxes the company paid to the state.
A unicorn company is defined as a privately held startup valued at $1 billion or more — and a degree from the University of Utah gives a graduate the best chance in the nation of founding such an enterprise.
That’s the conclusion of a study published by Stanford University Graduate School of Business professor Ilya Strebulaev.
In a study published in June, Strebulaev determined that University of Utah graduates are about 2.3 times as likely to build a unicorn as the average founder. That is a 131 percent increase, and the highest figure of any U.S. school in the research.
Strebulaev’ study looked only at founders who raise venture capital (VC) — money that professional investors put into young companies in exchange for an ownership stake.
“This recognition reflects what sets the University of Utah apart: We are a place where world-class research becomes real companies,” said UofU President Taylor Randall. “Our students and faculty don’t just study big ideas; they build them, and a Uni-
versity of Utah degree gives our graduates one of the strongest chances in the country to launch a company that lasts. We are proud of this distinction and focused on expanding the opportunities behind it.”
The ranking measured likelihood, not volume. It reflects how often a school’s graduates appear among unicorn founders compared with how often they appear among founders in general, rather than the total number of billion-dollar companies a school produces.
By that measure, the University of Utah finished ahead of a group of well-known research institutions. The University of California, San Francisco followed with 78 percent higher odds; Yale University with 68 percent; and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with 65 percent, according to the analysis.
Strebulaev is the David S. Lobel Professor of Private Equity and a professor of finance at the Stanford business school, where he founded and directs the Venture Capital Initiative, a research effort focused
on venture capital and innovation. He is the co-author of The Venture Mindset, a national bestseller.
In presenting the findings, Strebulaev drew a distinction between producing the most founders and producing the most successful ones. “Stanford and MIT produce the most unicorn founders. But the University of Utah gives you the best odds,” he wrote.
Strebulaev limited the ranking to schools tied to at least 10 unicorns, then ranked them by an “odds ratio,” a measure of how overrepresented a school’s graduates are among unicorn founders.
“The odds ratio adjusts for the fact that leading universities produce more VCbacked founders overall,” he wrote. “A high raw count and a high odds ratio are different things — and the schools that lead on one rarely lead on the other.”
“Great companies start with great founders, and helping students become those founders is at the heart of what we do at the University of Utah,” said Kurt Dirks, dean of the David Eccles School of Business at
the UofU. “Through entrepreneurship programs across campus, students can launch a new venture or accelerate their current company. This is part of our goal to fuel Utah’s economy.”
The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute is the leading resource for student entrepreneurs at the University of Utah. It provides grants, workshops, mentor opportunities and business incubators, among other resources, including the Lassonde Studios living-learning facility. The institute was founded in 2001 and will mark its 25th anniversary this year.
“At the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, entrepreneurship is something students experience, not just study,” said Scott Holley, executive director of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute. “We give them the space, mentorship, funding and community to bring their ideas to life. Seeing the University of Utah ranked No. 1 in the nation for these odds is a powerful signal to the next generation of founders: This is a place where you can start, build and grow a company.”
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Tom Haraldsen Salt Lake Business Journal
Sandy has a distinction that very few cities in the U.S. can boast about. It’s the home base for four professional sports teams. That was front and center when Mayor Monica Zoltanski met with other leaders at the fifth annual Sports Tourism Symposium held at America First Field on June 17.
Sponsored by Visit Salt Lake, the event brought together business and government leaders, along with Olympians and local athletes, to discuss both the present and future of major sporting events in the Salt Lake Valley.
“We’ve got the teams, we’ve got the land, and it’s exciting to see it coming together,” Zoltanski said. “A lot of the elements have positioned Sandy as the go-to city for sports investment.”
The Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth have created training facilities adjacent to the South Towne Mall, and both Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals play their home matches at America First Field.
As the mayor said, “We have long-range plans for roads, which will be equally important when the Salt Palace is shuttered for redevelopment for three years, and many events will be hosted at the Mountain America Conference Center. With a FrontRunner station, TRAX and UTA bus services, transportation to our city has never been better and never more important, and we’re meeting the need.”
Amanda Covington, chief corporate affairs officer for the Larry H. Miller Co., said her firm has studied strategic places in Sandy and the Cairns District for long-range plans.
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, Amanda Covington from the Larry H. Miller Company and Sandy Mayor Monica Zoltanski discussed sports in the city during the Sports Tourism Symposium on June 17, moderated by George Lantz from Victus Advisors. (Photo courtesy Visit Salt Lake/Rocko Menzyk)
“We’ve been working really closely with the mayor to understand her vision for the convention center and what’s happening here around sports tourism,” she said. “When you bring all of that together, this isn’t just about a 25-year vision; it’s a multi-generation vision for this community and the state. We’re ready to get started doing it together.”
“Investment in a community, sports or not sports, can really be a catalyst for additional development of a walkable community,” said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson. “They attract residents when there’s something going on and it’s managed in the right way. You look at this stadium, or developments around the IMAX Theatre or things that
Larry H. Miller built himself, and they serve as a catalyst for more growth, more development. So now we ask how this can be leveraged further, how we can double down on this international opportunity that’s before us now with the Olympics just a few years off. It’s not just about what’s coming to Utah or a sports competition — it’s about benefiting our residents and supporting the services we need.”
The convention center is almost always booked to capacity, and Wilson said she was surprised to learn that the economic impact locally for events exceeds $27 million annually. There are thoughts that the center might need to expand, even adding a large ballroom or something like
that in the future, though nothing is in the planning stages for that right now.
“It hosts all sorts of interesting events, and while we don’t want to bump a sales group that’s been coming there forever, I’d like to see more youth sport development events in the center. We need to become more intentional as we look at what we can do in that facility, and rather than more hot tub sales or gun shows, do more and more related to sports development. I think that’s really the direction we should be going.”
Zoltanski told the crowd she was surprised when a show from the horseshoe pitchers association met at the MACU Center last year.
“It brought in thousands of competitors from all over North America, many coming to Utah for the first time,” she recalled. “They loved the area, and the hotel rooms they booked and meals they purchased, it was secondary to the power of this community. It really transformed Sandy for the week that they were here, and I would love to have them back.”
She continued, “Sports competitions bring entire families. Those are so consistent with the values that we promote, and really have a positive impact overall on the community.”
The symposium had sessions on the evolution of RSL and the future of Utah soccer, why Salt Lake is becoming a destination for more women’s sports, and the road ahead to the 2034 Olympic Winter Games. Speakers included Olympians Kaysha Love, Casey Dawson and Jaelin Kauf; Real Salt Lake legend and U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame member Nick Rimando; and Utah Talons and Athletes Unlimited Softball League official Sarah Padove.
Rebecca Olds Salt Lake Business Journal
A recent panel on women in sports highlighted a connection between athletics and leadership: 94 percent of female executives played competitive sports before reaching leadership positions.
Sarah Padove, senior director of public affairs for the Athletes Unlimited Softball League, cited the figure during the Sports Tourism Symposium at America First Field in mid-June, though she did not identify the source.
The panel, one of several discussions hosted during the symposium, featured female athletes and sports leaders from across Utah. Alongside Padove, participants included Gillian Bower, senior vice president of high performance at U.S. Ski & Snowboard; Ashley Havili, vice president of marketing and merchandising at Miller Sports & Entertainment; and Courtney Thompson, Olympic athlete and head of pro integration and co-director of youth coach development at League One Volleyball.
Panelists agreed that female athletes benefit from strong support systems and
opportunities that help them reach their full potential.
“Their ability to participate in youth sports gives them a huge leg up in the career space,” said Bower. “If we get them into the university space, the likelihood they end up in a C-suite position is astronomically higher.”
Padove also stressed that the surge in women’s sports is “not a moment, it’s a movement,” pointing to long-standing talent now met with deeper investment, stronger commercial partnerships and expanded media coverage.
The conversation focused on how to continue this current momentum into
even more support for female athletes and at the same level as their male counterparts, particularly during the “critical” ages of 13 and 14, when many girls drop out of sports.
Panelists tied that dropout point to a broader visibility problem, noting that girls are less likely to stick with sports if they can’t see a professional or competitive future beyond high school. They pointed to Utah’s growing ecosystem of professional women’s teams and expanded media coverage as part of the larger solution, creating role models, clearer pathways into college and pro opportunities and a stronger case that sports can translate into future leadership and career success.
“Our girls are just starting to see that pathway,” Bower said.
Panelists said female athletes often become leaders not only in the workplace but also in their communities, where they inspire the next generation of athletes.
“Sport is probably one of the last unifying things in our community,” Havili said. “You can stand next to a stranger in a stadium and cheer for the same team, and it truly brings people together.”
Brice Wallace Salt Lake Business Journal
Utah is among states with the highest percentage of “A”-rated hospitals in a twice-a-year safety assessment.
Spring Hospital Safety Grades are from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit organization driving a movement for improvement in patient safety. The letter-grade system is based on general hospitals’ ability to protect patients from medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections.
Utah has the fourth-highest percentage of “A” hospitals, behind only Connecticut, Virginia and South Carolina and ahead of Montana, New Jersey, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina and California. Four states have no “A” hospitals: North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming.
Eight Utah hospitals received “straight-A” grades for maintaining an “A” mark for five or more consecutive Leapfrog reporting cycles. They include Intermountain Health’s Cedar City Hospital, LDS Hospital (Salt Lake City), McKay-Dee Hospital (Ogden), Park City Hospital, Spanish Fork Hospital, St. George Regional Hospital and Utah Valley Hospital (Provo), as well as Lakeview Hospital (Bountiful).
Utah hospitals with “A” grades are Holy Cross Hospital – Davis (Layton); Holy Cross Hospital Salt Lake; Intermountain Health’s American Fork Hospital, Intermountain Medical Center (Murray) and Riverton Hospital; and Mountain View Hospital (Payson).
Ten Utah hospitals received a “B” grade: Ashley Regional Medical Center (Vernal); Common Spirit – Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley (West Jordan); Holy Cross Hospital – Mountain Point (Lehi); Holy Cross Hospital – West Valley; Intermountain Health’s Alta View Hospital (Sandy), Layton Hospital and Logan Regional Hospital; Lone Peak Hospital (Draper); Ogden Regional Medical Center and St. Mark’s Hospital (Salt Lake City).
Two received “C” grades: Castleview Hospital (Price) and Timpanogos Regional Hospital (Orem).
Utah hospitals not graded are Bear River Valley Hospital (Tremonton), Brigham City Community Hospital, Cache Valley Hospital (North Logan), Mountain West Medical Center (Tooele), Orem Community Hospital, Primary Children’s Hospital – Salt Lake City and Sevier Valley Hospital (Richfield).
For this spring, due to a ruling by a federal court in South Florida, Leapfrog did not assign spring grades to 450 hospitals that did not participate in the 2024
or 2025 Leapfrog surveys. “Although the court ruling only applied to five hospitals, Leapfrog does not apply programmatic changes to individual hospitals because the Hospital Safety Grade is a national program,” the organization said, adding that it is reviewing the safety grade methodology with an expert panel to ensure that the grade program continues to be useful for consumers.
That group of 450 hospitals includes Uintah Basin Medical Center (Roosevelt) and University of Utah Hospital (Salt Lake City) in Utah.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade was launched in 2012 and focuses on hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections. Hospitals receive a letter grade from “A” through “F” based on up to 22 national safety measures drawn from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services data, the National Healthcare Safety Network and the Leapfrog Hospital Survey. The program’s methodology is peer-reviewed. Details are at www.hospitalsafetygrade.org.
Nationally, Leapfrog said, the springtime data shows significant improvement in 17 measures of errors and infections. This includes healthcare-associated infections, barcode medication administra-
tion, computerized physician order entry and five patient experience measures.
“The good news is that hospitals across the country are making meaningful strides in patient safety and helping save countless lives,” said Leah Binder, The Leapfrog Group’s president and CEO. “But not all hospitals are the same. That’s why it’s so important for people to consult safety grades and do their research when choosing a hospital.”
Medication errors are the most common type of error in hospitals, although the latest data suggest improvements in how hospitals prevent them. Healthcare-associated infections reached their peak in the fall of 2022 but average HAI scores have declined dramatically for four measures; central line-associated bloodstream infections (down 50 percent) catheter-associated urinary tract infections (down 45 percent), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (down 42 percent) and clostridium difficile (down 30 percent).
Similarly, patient experience scores were at their all-time lowest performance in fall 2023 but since then have all improved. Leapfrog reports on five patient experience measures that directly impact safety outcomes: nurse communication, doctor communication, staff responsiveness, communication about medicine, and discharge information.
One of the most painful conversations I have with leaders usually begins the same way.
A few years ago, I sat down with the founder of a rapidly growing company. Let’s call him John.
When John launched the business, one of his closest friends had been there from the beginning. The friend was loyal, hardworking and fully committed to the company’s success. During the startup years, he had worn multiple hats and solved countless problems.
As the company grew, John promoted him to chief operating officer. At the time, the decision felt obvious. After all, who could be more deserving?
Two years later, John was pacing in his office when I arrived. “Rich,” he said, “I don’t understand what’s happening.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“We’ve got more customers than ever. Revenue is growing. We’ve hired good people. But somehow everything feels harder than it should. Projects are slipping. Departments are pointing fingers at one another. Our best people seem frustrated. I’m constantly putting out fires.”
As we talked, a pattern began to emerge. His COO wasn’t a bad person. In fact, he was exactly the same loyal, hardworking individual he had always been.
The problem was that the skills required to launch a startup often differ marked-
ly from those required to scale an enterprise. Building systems, coordinating departments, establishing accountability and leading through complexity demand a different set of capabilities.
John had promoted an exceptional man into a role that did not fit his natural strengths. In essence, he was asking a square peg to fit into a round hole.
Both men were suffering. The company struggled, the COO became increasingly reactive, and John found himself carrying responsibilities that should have belonged elsewhere.
What made the situation painful was that everyone genuinely cared about one another. There were no villains — only a leadership decision driven more by loyalty and hope than by an objective assessment of the role and the competencies required to fulfill it.
Unfortunately, I have seen versions of this story repeated dozens of times throughout my career. After more than three decades of coaching leaders, I have become convinced that many organizational problems that appear to be issues of strategy, culture, communication or execution are, in fact, talent-placement problems in disguise.
One reason this problem occurs so frequently is that leaders often evaluate people before evaluating roles. They begin with someone they know, trust and admire, and then try to determine where that person fits within the organization.
Exceptional leaders reverse the process. They first define the outcomes a role must deliver, and the competencies required to achieve them. Only then do they evaluate candidates.
The distinction changes everything. When leaders start with the person, emotions often drive the decision. When they start with the role, objectivity has a chance to prevail.
Over the years, I have seen organizations spend hundreds of thousands of dollars — and occasionally millions — recovering from leadership appointments made on the basis of loyalty, friendship, family relationships or hope rather than demonstrated capability.
Trust, character and shared values matter. So does competency. The most successful organizations require both.
One of the defining characteristics of exceptional leaders is their willingness to make difficult decisions when the evidence requires it.
That does not mean treating people harshly. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Great leaders treat people with dignity, compassion and respect. But they also recognize that placing someone in a role where they cannot succeed is unfair to the individual, the team and the organization.
Sometimes the answer is coaching, training or repositioning someone into a role better suited to their strengths. Sometimes it requires a leadership transition.
None of these decisions is easy. All of them require courage.
The Coach’s Perspective
When leaders ask me what drives sustainable organizational success, my answer is consistent: Clear vision, effective strategy, strong execution and a healthy culture all matter. But none of those can be fully realized without the right people in the right roles.
Leadership is ultimately the art of aligning talent with purpose. When that alignment exists, organizations gain momentum. When it does not, even the best strategies struggle to survive.
The good news in John’s story is that he eventually made the difficult decision. His friend remained with the company, but in a role better suited to his strengths.
Within months, organizational friction declined, accountability improved and the business regained momentum.
Nothing changed about the quality of the people involved. What changed was alignment.
The next time your organization encounters persistent friction, ask yourself a simple question: Do we truly have the right people in the right roles?
The answer may reveal the most important leadership decision you need to make.
Great leadership is not about finding perfect people. It is about helping good people find roles where both they and the organization can succeed.
Richard Tyson is the founder of CEObuilder, co-founder of PACER Leadership, and author of Align & Execute: It’s All About the Money … But It’s Not! He helps leaders align purpose, people and performance through his PACER leadership models and The Leadership Architect framework.
Twenty-five Wasatch County businesses have been selected to receive funding through the Wasatch County Small Business Microgrant Program, a $90,000 business assistance initiative funded through the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development and administered by Heber Valley Tourism and Economic Development.
The competitive program provides up to $5,000 in matching funds to support projects that help businesses expand services, improve operational efficiency, increase capacity, create jobs, and strengthen the local economy.
“We were impressed by the quality of applications and the innovative projects proposed by businesses throughout Wasatch County,” said Dallin Koecher, executive director of Heber Valley Tourism, Economic Development and Chamber of Commerce. “These investments will help local businesses grow, better serve customers, and continue contributing to the economic vitality of our community.”
Applications were reviewed and scored by the Wasatch County Economic
Opportunity Advisory Board using criteria including business expansion potential, job creation, project feasibility, and the applicant’s financial investment in the project. The review panel included representatives from Wasatch County, Heber City, Midway City and local business leaders. The following businesses were selected to receive funding (in alphabetical order):
Bowman Excavation & Landscape, Day ’N Nite Bistro, Everything Green, Friendly Health Co., Griego Hospitality LLC-Salt & Thyme, Heber Valley Artisan Cheese, Heber Valley Brewing Co., Herlove Jewelry, Hidden Peak Provisions, Highland Property Management, Impact Photography, inForm Architecture, Laurel’s Custom Framing, Massage Mahal, Mountain MerMade Quilt & Fashion Boutique, Mountain Wellness Bar, Park West Landscaping and Design, Ranch Farms, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Cafe, Sun Peak Transportation, The Intentional Crescent, The Pizza Yard, The Pretzel Connection, Uintah Fireplace & Design, and Xquisite Homes.
There’s nothing wrong with taking a vacation.
Of course, the reality of moving yourself, your family and your 200-pound carry-on can be challenging, not to mention that in 2026, the price of one week at a fancy-schmancy hotel, a mildly infested Airbnb, a tiny trailer or a teeny tent can wreck your budget for the 51 weeks that remain.
The scent of mountain air wafting through your sinuses or the rhythms of the waves tickling your toes on the beach make it all worthwhile. You’ll return to work rested and ready to excel.
No, it’s not the vacation that’s the problem. The problem is the period that comes immediately before the vacation, when you have to work like a crazy person to dot all the T’s and cross all the I’s, all to ensure that nothing could possibly go wrong the moment you step out the door.
Or so I was reminded by “Why Must We Work So Hard Before Vacation?” a far-from-relaxing Joe Pinsker article in The Atlantic
As Pinsker observes, “People can work so intensely in the period leading up to being offline that they need, well, a vacation to recover from it.”
The need to double- and triple-up on your workload before vacation is felt with the most intensity by the kind of
weirdo who believes that the work they do is actually important. Without their “secret sauce,” they tell themselves — and everyone else who will listen — plans will floun-
der and decisions will not be made. Therefore, it is essential that they take on “the time-consuming work of explaining to others how to handle everything when they’re out.”
For you, this will not be a problem. Everyone knows how you work. Any project you receive is put off as long as possible, while you spend your time looking for some sucker to pin it on when the project blows up.
This doesn’t lighten your pre-vacation schedule. You will still have to work extra-hard to leave behind a list of people to blame.
Another rationale for pre-vacation workaholism is the “completist impulse.” This is the feeling lurking in the brains of some poor souls that says that “people must work first to be deserving of leisure.” Hopefully, you disabused yourself of this philosophy within the first 24 hours of employment.
One solution to the hell-week-beforethe-vacation-week syndrome is contingent on managers who “can be open about taking vacation themselves, emphasizing that rest is vital.” Exactly why you will feel better about your week at the Yemen Holiday Inn, knowing that the boss is flying on a private jet to a private yacht to frolic with Zuck, Jeff and Sergey, I’m not sure. (On the positive side, it is worth whatever effort is required to learn your boss’ schedule. If they’re out of the office and you’re in, that’s a free vacation.)
The Pinsker article we are discussing was originally published in 2022 and while it’s only been four years, the world has changed since those halcyon days. How do I know? There is absolutely no mention of AI.
AI changes everything.
In 2026, you don’t have to work extra-hard to make sure everything goes right while you’re on vacation. Instead, you have to work extra-hard to make sure everything goes wrong. A corporate disaster of monumental proportions — that’s what you want to happen the moment you walk out the door.
How else will management know that no amount of tokens spent on that spiffy new AI software will cut it without the presence of a human person — specifically, you?
I recommend spending your last weeks before vacation loading up on new assignments, the more challenging the better. Commit to increasing sales, streamlining product development and galvanizing marketing. Most important of all, take on the mission-critical job of bringing soft serve to the company cafeteria. Set totally unreasonable completion dates for all your projects and enlist the most incompetent of your team members to work with you.
Phew!
Only then will you be able to sit in the sun on your choice of mountain aerie or talcum-powder beach and think about the colossal meltdown that’s engulfing your office in your absence. You’ll know that when you come back to work, your job will be there and a certain smart-aleck AI chatbot that thinks it’s so smart, won’t.
Best of all, you have 52 weeks before the pre-vacation nightmare starts again. In the meantime, you’ll not only be tan, but secure.
Bob Goldman was an advertising executive at a Fortune 500 company. He offers a virtual shoulder to cry on at info@ creators.com.
Copyright 2026 Creators Syndicate Inc.
The Organizing Committee for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games has announced a series of organizational changes as it continues to evolve on its journey towards the Games. The key changes were confirmed by the Organizing Committee Board at its June 16 virtual meeting.
Abby Osborne
Abby Osborne has been named vice president of impact, engagement and enterprise operations for the 2034 Organizing Committee and will join Utah 2034 on Aug. 1. Osborne currently serves as chief of staff for the Utah House of Representatives, a role she has held since 2019, where she has been a key architect of organizational strategy and an advisor to state leadership on some of Utah’s most significant policy and operational priorities. She brings nearly 25 years of leadership experience spanning government, business, infrastructure, and public affairs. In ac -
cordance with the Organizing Committee’s bylaws, Osborne will relinquish her board membership as she joins Utah 2034 full time.
Darren Hughes
Darren Hughes, who has served as vice president of operations and planning for the Organizing Committee since its inception in early 2025, has adopted the role of vice president of Games delivery. Hughes is one of the most experienced leaders in Olympic and Paralympic sport, having worked on over 20 major international events, including every Winter Games since 2002.
“Since launching the organizing committee, we have continually evaluated how our team is structured to best support our work in preparing for the 2034 Winter Games,” said CEO Brad Wilson in a release. “Both Abby and Darren will bring great value to our organizational structure and will each play a vital role for Utah 2034 over the
next seven-and-a-half years.”
Osborne will lead Utah 2034’s impact, engagement and enterprise operations portfolio, helping shape the long-term legacy of the Games while building the organizational capacity required to deliver them. She will oversee the Organizing Committee’s sustainability, impact and legacy initiatives, as well as communications, government and community relations, youth and education programs, and enterprise operations. Osborne will be responsible for developing and scaling many of the functions that support the Organizing Committee’s day-to-day work, growing a team that will encompass thousands of staff and volunteers by the time the Games arrive in 2034.
Hughes will focus his efforts on leading all aspects of Games planning and delivery.
As a part of the evolution of the Organizing Committee, Vice President of Development and Athlete Relations Catherine Raney Norman has decided to conclude her tenure with the Organizing Committee.
“Serving the Olympic and Paralympic movement and helping bring the Games back to Utah has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Raney Norman. “This work has always been deeply personal to me because at its center are the athletes, their families, and the belief that sport can create hope, connection and lasting impact within our communities. I’m incredibly proud of what we built together, from the vision of Podium34 to creating new opportunities to support athletes and their families through an athletes’ families program.”
Letai
Two-time Olympic short track speed skater Julie Letai has been named to the new role of athlete experience coordinator. Letai earned a spot on the national team in 2019, competing in Beijing and Milano Cortina. A recent graduate of the University of Utah, Letai will draw on her background as an Olympian and recent academic success to support the Organizing Committee’s planning and ensure athlete engagement. A Massachusetts native, Letai has been based in Utah for many years, training as an athlete at the Utah Olympic Oval.
“I’m so inspired by the opportunity to contribute to the Olympic movement in a completely new way,” said Letai. “I hope my previous experiences as an Olympic athlete will help shape the 2034 Winter Games into the most rewarding experience it can be for athletes, their friends and families. The organization has already shown me a lot of support, and I’m excited about the goals and priorities we’ve set in these beginning stages of planning.”
A coalition of Summit County organizations, including Deer Valley Resort, Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau, Summit County, Park City Municipal, Park City Community Foundation and Recycle Utah, have announced the completion of a Zero Waste Event Resource Guide.
The first-of-its-kind tool is designed to help event organizers throughout Summit County meaningfully reduce waste, improve recycling, and divert food waste at special events.
“Special events are a vital part of what makes Park City and Summit County such a vibrant destination, and they’re also an opportunity to demonstrate our shared values around sustainability,” said Morgan Mingle, sustainable tour-
ism director at the Park City Chamber/ Bureau, in a release.
The guide, which was initiated by Deer Valley Resort and made possible through a Sustainable Tourism Grant from the Park City Chamber/Bureau, offers practical, actionable guidance for event planners at all scales. It covers steps related to waste stream evaluation, waste station setup, material and signage best practices, vendor procurement guidelines, volunteer training, communication strategies, and measurement frameworks to track progress over time.
“As Deer Valley explored ways to strengthen waste diversion efforts at events across the resort, we recognized a broader inconsistency in how waste
diversion is approached at local events,” said Hannah Tyler, Vice president of resort planning at Deer Valley Resort, in a release. “We saw an opportunity not only to improve our own practices, but also to create a practical resource for the community by using our events as a case study.”
Deer Valley engaged Honeycomb Strategies, a sustainability consulting firm, to lead the development of the plan. In 2025, Honeycomb Strategies attended two signature events at Deer Valley — the FIS Ski World Cup and Beer Fest — to establish a baseline for waste diversion at the resort and identify opportunities for improvement. The firm also engaged the city, county, Recycle Utah and Park City Community
Foundation’s Zero Food Waste team to understand how waste diversion is currently considered across a wide range of events in Summit County.
Event organizers can access resources and guidance for Zero Waste Events from the following:
• Recycle Utah: Borrow zero waste station bins and signage.
• Green Business Program: Provide hands-on support for events in implementing the guides recommendations, including help certifying events as green events.
The Zero Waste Event Resource Guide is now available to event organizers throughout Summit County. To access the resource guide, visit parkcitychamber.com/events/.
Company news information may be sent to brice.w@thecityjournals.com.
• Altabank, based in American Fork, has appointed Jerry Bregg and Fred Titensor to its board of directors. The appointments follow the impending retirement of current board member Doug Swenson, whose term will end Dec. 31. Bregg is a partner at Whittet Advisory and has over 30 years of experience in corporate governance, financial reporting, enterprise risk and capital markets transactions. His career includes time with Big Four accounting firms and public companies. He is board chair for the School of Accounting Advisory Board at the Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah, and a member of the Audit Committee and treasurer of the NACD Utah Chapter. Titensor is co-owner and General Manager of Valley Implement Co., a multi-location farm equipment dealership serving Utah and Idaho. He has been with Valley Implement since 1999, during which time he has led all aspects of operations across two states, and maintained key manufacturer relationships with the largest equipment manufacturers in the industry. Titensor has a long history of public service, including service on the Idaho Governor’s Economic Advisory Council (2024-28), and the Preston (Idaho) Planning and Zoning Commission (2020-30). He earned a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University.
• Bank of Utah, based in Ogden, has appointed Lane Deason as branch manager and Joseph Valle as banking manager of its new Spanish Fork branch. Deason will help clients explore financial options and connect them with lending, business and specialty banking solutions. He has nearly a decade of experience in financial services, including eight years as a mortgage loan originator and one year as a banker at Bank of Utah. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Western Governors University. Valle will lead daily branch operations and support clients with their accounts, transactions and everyday banking needs. He has five years of banking experience and expertise in relationship management, consumer lending, private banking and business development. Bank of Utah has 18 full-service branches.
as senior vice president, overseeing commercial construction and term debt financing. He has more than two decades of experience structuring complex financing solutions, with expertise that spans construction lending, stabilized asset financing and long-term capital strategies. Prior to Columbia, he managed a portfolio of commercial real estate projects as senior relationship manager and senior vice president at WaFd Bank. Previously, he held regional leadership roles at Hillcrest Bank, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo. Griffin will lead the region’s home builder finance team as senior relationship manager. He has served as an advisor to builders navigating dynamic market conditions for more than 25 years, providing innovative capital solutions that support growth across residential development platforms. He joins Columbia from Mechanics Bank, where he oversaw the Idaho market as vice president, relationship manager and managed the bank’s underwriting staff as vice president, construction underwriter manager. Previously, he held roles at Home Federal Bank, First Horizon Bank and Far West Bank. Columbia Bank has offices in Utah and eight other states. It is the principal subsidiary of Columbia Banking System Inc.
• The Utah Board of Higher Education has appointed Lisa Moon as interim president of Bridgerland Technical College, headquartered in Logan with a satellite campus in Brigham City. Moon, who currently serves as executive vice president and chief instructional officer at BTECH, assumed the new role July 1. She succeeds K. Chad Campbell, who retired after more than four decades in Utah’s technical education system, including 11 years as president of BTECH. Moon has 26 years of experience in technical education, holding a variety of teaching and leadership positions in many areas, including health sciences, instructional programs, student services, accreditation, facilities planning, and development. She also served as chair of the Utah System of Higher Education Chief Instructional Officers and is actively involved in the Cache Valley Chamber of Commerce board of directors and Legislative Affairs Committee, the Cache Valley Hospital Board of Trustees, the Northern Utah Chamber Coalition, and the K-16 Alliance. Moon earned a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Utah and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Weber State University. Before being involved in nursing education, Moon worked in quality assurance and leadership at several Utah hospitals and home care agencies.
frastructure that delivers reliable power, reduces costs, improves resilience and supports rising electricity demand. Its full-stack platform integrates battery and inertial-based storage, AI-powered management, cybersecurity and long-term operations and maintenance across utilities, manufacturers, and commercial and industrial facilities. Before founding Torus, Walkingshaw was focused on human-centered product design. As an EMT, he identified a need for safer patient transport, leading him to establish Paraslyde, which was later acquired by Stryker Medical. His entrepreneurial journey continued with the creation of Brightface. Its fitness app, Cycleface, was acquired by Strava. Walkingshaw also established a human-centered product development team at Tanner Labs at O.C. Tanner. Later, he served as the chief experience officer at Pluralsight. He is the co-author of Product Leadership
• DiscGenics Inc., a Salt Lake Citybased late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on degenerative diseases of the spine, has appointed Chad Falciani to its board of directors. Falciani is a healthcare entrepreneur, investor and business leader and is the founder and chairman of Curiteva, a medical technology company focused on transformative biomaterials, inhouse manufacturing, and an innovative platform of orthopedic implants. During his career, Falciani has developed expertise across a range of industries, including banking, finance, medtech, biologics and aerospace. He has served on numerous corporate and advisory boards, and has led through mergers and acquisitions, capital formation, operational expansion and commercialization efforts.
• CenExel, a Draper-based clinical research site network, has appointed Bethany Sensenig as chief financial officer and head of strategy. She will oversee the company’s financial strategy, planning and accounting functions. Sensenig has nearly three decades of experience as a biopharmaceutical executive, with leadership spanning finance, corporate strategy and operations. She has held senior leadership roles across both commercial-stage and clinical-stage organizations. She most recently served as CFO and head of operations at Radius Health, where she played a key role in scaling the PE-backed business and leading commercial and financial growth.
• Columbia Bank, based in Tacoma, Washington, has formed a Salt Lake Citybased commercial real estate team led by Steve Strong and David Griffin. The $66 billion regional bank entered the Utah market in 2022. Strong joins Columbia
• Gov. Spencer Cox has appointed Nate Walkingshaw to the Governor’s Office of Economic Development’s Economic Opportunity Board. Walkingshaw is the founder and chief executive officer of Torus, an energy storage and management company that designs, engineers and manufactures distributed mesh energy in-
• The Nucleus Institute, which convenes, educates and funds innovation in Utah, has appointed Val Peterson as chair of its board of directors. Peterson has military, academic, legislative and innovation district experience, having served simultaneously as a Utah House representative, brigadier general in the Utah National Guard, and vice presi-
dent of administration and strategic relations at Utah Valley University. He has been involved with Falcon Hill Aerospace Research Park at Hill Air Force Base and has spent his career at the intersection of public policy, higher education and strategic growth.
• Biomerics, a Salt Lake City-based contract manufacturer for the interventional medical device market, has appointed Kristin Mason as chief financial officer. She will provide executive leadership for Biomerics’ global finance organization, including financial planning and analysis, accounting, treasury, financial reporting, tax, audit, banking and capital strategy. She will partner closely with the executive leadership team to strengthen financial capabilities, support disciplined execution and help position the company for continued long-term growth. Mason joins Biomerics following an extensive career leading finance organizations across complex global businesses. She succeeds the team of internal finance leaders who have collectively guided the finance function over the past several months.
• Sunwest Bank Charitable Foundation, based in Sandy, has appointed Nathaniel Scott as executive director. He will guide the organization’s strategic vision, deepen domestic and global partnerships, and expand the reach and impact of Hovde Homes worldwide. Scott has more than 15 years of leadership experience at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), where he directed complex, multi-country initiatives across Latin America, Africa and Asia. His career has focused on expanding economic opportunity, strengthening community resilience, and building systems to serve vulnerable populations. Scott has led large technical teams, managed multimillion-dollar development portfolios, and forged public-private partnerships to drive sustainable, locally led solutions. He has experience collaborating with governments, nonprofits and community organizations to advance equity and improve the lives of those most at risk. Prior to joining Sunwest, Scott founded Meetinghouse Consulting, where he launched blended finance mechanisms that attracted early-stage impact investors and empowered local entrepreneurs in underserved regions. He previously served as the director for the Sustainable Ecosystems & Economic Development office for USAID in Bogota, Colombia, leading USAID’s largest technical office in Latin America. Over his career, he has held multiple leadership positions at USAID across several countries worldwide. Founded in 1969, Sunwest Bank has over $4 billion in assets and offices in Utah and five other states.
Company news information may be sent to brice.w@thecityjournals.com.
• HCVT, a Los Angeles-based public accounting firm, has opened a new location at 3401 N. Thanksgiving Way, Suite 260, Lehi. It is the company’s third Utah location. Leading the new office is Douglas H. Andersen, state and local tax partner at HCVT and Brigham Young University alum. Previously, he worked at the firm’s Long Beach, California, office. He joined HCVT in 2020 after leading Deloitte’s multi-state tax practice in the Pacific Northwest. He has experience in the tech space, having previously served as Deloitte’s national technology industry sector leader for multistate taxes and as a tax director at Expedia. The company also has hired Jennifer Maroney as a manager. She is the former alumni director of the BYU Marriott School of Accountancy. HCVT currently employs 20 in Utah. Additional talent will be hired at all experience levels as opportunities present. Founded in 1991, HCVT provides tax, advisory and business management services to public and closely held companies; high-net-worth individuals and families as well as their related entities; and family offices. The firm also provides audit and assurance services to privately held companies and employee benefit plan sponsors.
• Bank of Utah, based in Ogden, will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house to celebrate the opening of a new branch on July 29 at 1279 N. Canyon Creek Parkway, Spanish Fork. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m., followed by an open house until 5:30 p.m. Community members, local business leaders and residents are invited to attend, tour the branch, meet the team and learn more about the financial services available through Bank of Utah, which has 18 full-service branches.
• Nominations are being accepted for ChamberWest’s 2026 Gala Awards Each year, the chamber recognizes finalists across four categories, with three finalists in each. Winners will be an-
nounced at the gala later this year. The four categories are Small Business of the Year (fewer than 50 employees), Business of the Year (typically over 50 employees), Best Place to Work and Volunteer of the Year. Details are available by emailing the chamber at chamber@ chamberwest.org.
• Nominations are being accepted until July 15 for the 2026 Innovation Awards, to be presented by the Nucleus Institute and Utah Business on Sept. 2 at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City. Anyone can submit a nomination, with no fee required. Nominations may be made at https://www. utahbusiness.com/innovation-awards/.
• The Adobe campus in Lehi is Utah’s “Most Desirable Office to Work From,” according to a survey by Resume.io. The campus is ranked No. 102 on the national list. The company asked people which company workplaces they would most like to work from if location were no object. Respondents were asked to judge the workplace itself, rather than salary, perks, company culture or employer reputation. The other Utah site on the list is No. 111 Ancestry headquarters in Lehi. The top-ranked location nationally is the Bloomberg headquarters in New York City. Details are at https://resume.io/blog/office-envy-report-2026.
• One-third of Utah workers say they have “no confidence” that their employers will protect them from AI replacement, according to a survey by Careerminds, a global workforce solutions provider. Eighty-three percent of Utah workers say the federal government should step in with a law explicitly protecting employees from being replaced by AI. Nationally, 82 percent of those surveyed want obligations attached to any AI rollout that puts jobs at risk, saying companies should be required to offer retraining. Sixty-four percent say they suspect AI has influenced a decision about their job, whether hiring, promotion, scheduling or performance evaluation. Eighty-four percent say employers should be legally required to disclose any use of AI in hiring, promotions or evaluations, while 32 percent fear being quietly replaced by AI. Twenty-eight percent believe it’s very likely they will be replaced by AI in the next five years, while another 14 percent think it’s somewhat likely. On the other side of the spectrum, 38 percent say it’s not very likely, and 20 percent are confident it’s not likely at all. Details are available at https://careerminds.com/ blog/ai-protection-report.
• Utah is ranked No. 5 among states for electric vehicles, according to an
analysis by StorageCafe. Utah is ranked No. 10 for EV adoption, No. 3 for multicar ownership capacity, No. 11 for EV infrastructure, No. 2 for cost and affordability, No. 22 for policy and incentives, No. 37 for environmental context, No. 29 for lifestyle and climate fit, and No. 13 for interest and awareness. The study shows that Utah has 14.6 percent of multifamily buildings with EV chargers, above the 9 percent national average. Overall, California tops the list of states; it accounts for nearly one-third of all U.S. electric vehicles. Details are at https://www. storagecafe.com/blog/states-leading-evadoption-2026/.
• Two-thirds of Utah families are rethinking their summer road trips because of fuel costs, according to a survey by RV Windshield Replacement, a national network of RV auto glass professionals. The survey results suggest that Utah families are not necessarily giving up on summer adventures, but many are shrinking them, simplifying them, or keeping them closer to home. Sixty-eight percent of surveyed Utahns say they are more likely to take a shorter, in-state road trip this summer because of gasoline prices. Forty-seven percent high gas prices would make them more likely to invite another family or relatives along to share costs, and 86 percent say they believe the classic long-distance American road trip is becoming less affordable for ordinary families. Asked which phrase best describes their family’s road trip plans this summer, 26 percent said, “Same trip, tighter budget.” The survey also indicated that gas prices would need to reach $5.30 per gallon before many families would scrap their summer road trip plans altogether. Details are at https://www. rvwindshieldreplacement.com/surveybest-family-friendly-budget-road-tripssummer-2026.php.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced $3.5 million in Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup grants to accelerate the cleanup of polluted sites in Utah. The Utah Department of Environmental Quality will receive a $2 million Assessment Grant and Salt Lake County will receive a $1.5 million Assessment Grant to conduct brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments and community outreach. The DEQ grant will focus on a variety of priority sites, while the county’s will focus on three priority sites to identify if contamination is present at the sites prior to redevelopment. EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and, once these grants are awarded, will have
provided over $3 billion in grant funding to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse.
• Intermountain Health Layton Hospital has completed a new mammography suite that will expand access to high-quality, advanced breast cancer screening for the Davis County community. The suite will offer both screening and diagnostic mammograms, as well as the addition of ultrasound procedures specifically designed to enhance the detection of breast cancer. If necessary, patients can follow through with biopsies at Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden.
• Sera Prognostics Inc., a Salt Lake City-based health diagnostics company focused on precision pregnancy care, is participating in a multi-institutional research program that was awarded up to $10.4 million by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to develop a novel point-ofcare diagnostic test designed to improve the safety of labor and delivery. The award, part of ARPA-H’s Making Obstetrics Care Smart (MOCS) program, supports a collaboration led by researchers at the University of California San Diego, alongside Sera Prognostics and Allegro MicroSystems. The program aims to develop new technologies that enable more precise, data-driven decision-making during childbirth. The research team is working to develop a diagnostic approach that can assess the risk of low fetal oxygen levels (a condition known as fetal hypoxia) from a small maternal blood sample. The goal is to provide clinicians with timely, objective information to help guide intervention decisions and improve outcomes. As part of the collaboration, Sera will contribute its expertise in protein biomarker discovery and validation, supporting efforts to identify and evaluate biomarker signatures that may indicate placental dysfunction, fetal stress or hypoxia risk.
• CaseWorthy Inc., a West Valley City-based case management platform provider for nonprofit and government organizations, has secured a majority growth investment from Rubicon Technology Partners, a Colorado-based private equity firm specializing in middle-market B2B software and services investments. The amount was not disclosed. CaseWorthy said the investment will allow it to accelerate product innovation, including the continued development of its AI capabilities; deepen
integrations across the human services ecosystem; and pursue acquisitions. CaseWorthy’s technology platform allows organizations to gain a single source of truth, reduced duplication, stronger compliance, and real-time insights that enable proactive, whole-person support. Moelis & Co. LLC acted as the exclusive financial advisor to CaseWorthy.
• The Mindshare Institute, a Salt Lake City-based nonprofit organization addressing challenges facing the healthcare system, has launched the Mindshare Leadership Council, a national forum convening senior leaders from healthcare delivery, academia, technology, venture capital and industry to accelerate collaborative, market-based solutions to healthcare’s most persistent challenges. The institute’s Health Care Utility is a nonprofit business, funded and governed by coalitions of stakeholders, with the foundational purpose of helping patients gain easier and more affordable access to care and solving market failures. The MLC brings together senior executives, researchers and innovators who provide insight, influence and strategic guidance to help shape the institute’s direction, and support market-based change at national scale. Members of the MLC include Rob Allen, president and CEO of Intermountain Health; David Banks, president and CEO of AdventHealth; Eduardo Conrado, president and CEO of Ascension; Leemore Dafny, economist and professor at Harvard Business School; Carter Dredge, president of the Mindshare Institute; Laura Kaiser, president and CEO of SSM Health; David Langstaff, former executive vice president at the Aspen Institute; Tom Lee, chief medical officer of Press Ganey and editor-in-chief of NEJM Catalyst; Dan Liljenquist, chief strategy officer of Intermountain Health; Amy Perry, president and CEO of Banner Health; and Greg Yap, partner at Menlo Ventures. The Mindshare Institute will continue convening the MLC, with a focus on innovation, shared learning, and the development of scalable solutions that strengthen trust, improve affordability, and address persistent challenges across healthcare.
• A new partnership will fund projects to improve off-highway vehicle (OHV) access and riding areas across the United States. The Foundation for America’s Public Lands, the charitable partner of the Bureau of Land Management, and Polaris, a global company focused on powersports, are providing grants to support OHV recreation access, safety and the riding experience on BLM-managed public lands. Many of the first-round investments will support projects in Utah. The impact will be over $200,000 of cumulative impact for OHV projects on BLM lands in Utah. Funding for the projects will go toward new and additional wayfinding signage, as well as trail maintenance and repairs to help support safety, access and continued use of those OHV spaces. The projects are the Cricket Mountains OHV Trail System, with riders being able to find their way across the entire trail system with a full signage overhaul, including installing new directional markers, trail maps and informational signs; the Greater Three Peaks OHV Riding Area, with about 4,800 feet of fencing around “the cra-
ter” reducing safety hazards from dense informal routes and irregular terrain; the Tusher Tunnel, Uranium Arch and Bartlett Alcove, with updated signage, parking improvements and site maintenance across three BLM Moab locations that will improve the visitor experience; and Fivemile Pass Recreation Area, with restroom repairs and new kiosks at seven staging areas.
• Greenix Pest Control, an Orembased residential and commercial premium pest control provider, has announced its third annual donation of $5,000 to LymeDisease.org in recognition of Lyme Disease Awareness Month. The contribution brings Greenix’s total giving to the organization to approximately $15,000 since the partnership began in 2023. LymeDisease.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about Lyme disease, supporting patients and families affected by the illness, and advancing research toward better diagnosis, treatment and prevention. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 476,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year, a number that continues to rise as tick populations expand into new regions. Throughout the past three years, Greenix has amplified its support beyond financial donation through a multi-channel awareness campaign. This includes co-branded social media content developed in collaboration with LymeDisease.org, targeted email communications educating customers on tick prevention and the signs of Lyme disease, and service-focused messaging highlighting the role professional tick control plays in reducing exposure risk for families and pets.
• Cole West, a Centerville-based real estate development company, has celebrated the grand opening of theMadison, a new 176-unit multifamily community at 1500 W. 300 S., Syracuse. Leasing has begun for 165 apartments and 11 single-family homes available for rent. The homes feature 2,250 square feet of living space with four bedrooms and two-andhalf bathrooms. The apartments offer 13 different floor plans ranging from 820 to 1,506 square feet, one to three bedrooms, and one to two bathrooms. Residents will have access to a multitude of on-site amenities, including pickleball courts, tot-lot, gas grilling area, a pool, a community clubhouse and fitness center, a dog park and additional outdoor space.
• Hamlet Homes, a Murray-based builder of townhomes and single-family homes in Utah and Idaho, has put the final touches on its two tiny homes at The Other Side Village, a community of tiny homes that former homeless Utahns now call home. Phase One includes 60 homes. HomeAid is one of the largest contributors of The Village, with 11 homes completed now through the network of its building partners. All businesses in the community will be staffed by the residents of the village. Since the company’s founding in 1995, Hamlet has built over 5,000 homes in 80 communities.
• The Utah Chamber has recognized four legislators as 2026 Free Enterprise Champions for advancing principles of free enterprise during the 2026 general
legislative session. Honorees were recognized at a ceremony at the Utah Capitol for their partnership with the chamber in supporting policies that strengthen Utah’s economy and communities. The ceremony also featured special recognition of Dick Garlish, president of Rocky Mountain Power, a chamber member whose leadership exemplifies these same values. The honored legislators are Sens. Scott Sandall and Evan Vickers and Reps. Doug Owens and Karen Peterson. During the general session, lawmakers introduced more than 1,000 bills, passed over 540 pieces of legislation and appropriated a $31.63 billion budget. The Utah Chamber tracked and monitored 260 business-related bills and secured a 100 percent success rate on its 17 priority bills.
• Utah has received a Shovel Award for the 16th time from Area Development for its success in job creation and economic impact. Each year, Area Development recognizes states that stand out for their ability to attract high-impact economic development projects. It evaluates the top projects based on job creation, capital investment, industry diversity, and each state’s overall economic strategy. Utah’s 2026 Silver Shovel, the publication said, is “built on medical technology, aerospace, and food processing — a combination that reflects the state’s ability to compete across very different industrial sectors.” Among the developments are Stryker, with $615 million and 862 medical technology jobs in Salt Lake County; AeroVironment adding 526 aerospace jobs in Salt Lake City; and Bridor, with $277 million and 400 food processing positions to the same market.
• Vince Witt , an 11th-grade entrepreneur from Wasatch School District, took first place in a recent Invest Nest Regional , earning $20,000 to grow his business, Vince’s Turf and Landscaping The inspiration for Vince’s business came from his father, Joe Witt, a Heber Valley homebuilder who taught him how to work with his hands and appreciate the value of hard work. Joe Witt died earlier this year in an avalanche while snowmobiling. Invest Nest is a regional entrepreneurship program that encourages high school students to create and develop their own business ideas and present them to a panel of judges. Each year, students compete at the district level, where winners receive $10,000 and advance to regional, where the top team earns $20,000. Top students from across Utah and Idaho advanced after winning district competitions. Eight finalists pitched their ideas on stage at iHub in Provo in the regional competition. Second place and $12,500 went to Abril and Santiago Cuevas , owners of Le Negrita Empanadas , an Argentinian empanada business (Madison School District). Third place and $7,500 went to Luke Livsey of Forge Fit , a cut-resistant apparel brand for construction workers, woodworking and metal-work enthusiasts (Davis School District). Other finalist companies are HSR Adapters (affordable digiscoping tools), Jefferson School District; Bin Bros Services (bin cleaning and yard services), Duchesne School District; APEX Lead Systems (AI-powered receptionist tools), Provo School District; Westward Fuel (on-site fuel delivery), Cache County School District; and Uptown Vintage (vintage clothing resale), Nebo School District.
• Houston TX Hot Chicken, a Las Vegas-based brand of Lehi-based, restaurant-focused private equity firm Savory Fund, is expanding internationally for the first time through a master franchise agreement with PizzaExpress. The deal will bring three HHC locations to the United Kingdom in 2026, with plans to scale to 50 locations over the next three years. Overall, HHC, founded in 2021, has more than 100 franchise units sold, with locations in Utah and eight other states. Founded in 1965, PizzaExpress has nearly 500 locations in the U.K. and Ireland and more than 100 international sites across 14 territories.
• Three Utah-based student-members of Virginia-based Chartway Credit Union were recently awarded Chartway’s 2026 Directors’ Memorial Scholarships. This year, 13 student-members were selected in total. Each recipient received a $4,000 scholarship, for a total of $52,000 awarded. Utah recipients are Aerin Call, Brigham Young University, studying business management; Lucy Christensen, BYU, studying nursing; and Naomi Lopez, Marriott School of Business at BYU, studying finance. Since its inception in 1989, the scholarship has awarded more than $680,000 to members pursuing their academic and professional goals. Recipients are selected based on financial need, academic or program performance, community involvement, an essay submission, and a letter of recommendation. Chartway Credit Union has members in Utah, Virginia and Texas. In addition to the Directors’ Memorial Scholarship, Chartway supports student success through financial wellness resources, student-focused products and services, a paid summer internship program, and annual support that includes $10,000 in ESL (English as a second language) scholarships for students at Salt Lake Community College.
• Havenpark Communities, an Orem-based owner and operator of manufactured home communities, has announced today that its Education Success Program has awarded 196 total scholarships since its inception. For the 2026-27 academic year, Havenpark expects approximately 120 students to receive scholarship support, including 50 new recipients from 26 Havenpark communities in 12 states. The list includes David Chavez of Heber City. In all, Havenpark will disburse $409,000 in scholarship funding during the 2026-27 academic year, including $249,000 in continued support for previous scholarship recipients. Since 2021, Havenpark has awarded 196 scholarships through the program. In addition to scholarship funding, the program provides students with one-on-one mentoring and access to online learning resources designed to help them persist and succeed throughout their academic journeys. To be considered, students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and confirmation of full-time or part-time enrollment at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university, community college or vocational-technical school in the United States for the 2026-27 academic year. Recipients must also live in a Havenpark community or have a parent or guardian who resides in one. Awards are transferable from a two-year program to a fouryear program.
Information about upcoming events may be sent to brice.w@thecityjournals.com.
July 6, 9-10 a.m.
“Coffee Chat with the CEO,” a Park City Bureau/Chamber event featuring an opportunity to talk with Jennifer Wesselhoff, chamber/bureau CEO. Location is Park City Chamber, 1850 Sidewinder Drive, Suite 300, Park City. Free and open to the public. No reservations required. Details are at https://www.parkcitychamber.com/events/.
July 6, 1-4 p.m.
2026 Roundtable Discussion with U.S. Sen. John Curtis, a Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce event with topics affecting the community, including data centers, updates on Proposition 69 and the Vesper project in Provo Canyon. Location is Provo Marriott, 101 W. 100 N., Provo. Free for members. Details are at thechamber.org.
July 7, 10-11:30 a.m.
“Business 101: Essential Steps for New Entrepreneurs,” a Women’s Business Center of Utah event that takes place online. Free. Details are at wbcutah.org.
July 8
Small Business & Faculty Mixer, organized by the Utah Aerospace Hub and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Hub within the Office of the Vice President for Research at the University of Utah, coordinated with Nucleus Grow. Event will bring to campus local small-business representatives interested in teaming with University of Utah faculty to ideate and develop strong proposals in the areas of aerospace, advanced manufacturing, AI and security, critical minerals and quantum technologies. Details are at https://utah.sjc1.qualtrics. com/jfe/form/SV_204JMroRGwc4dAa.
July 8, 10 a.m.
“Marketing Playbook: Social Media 101: Building and Maintaining a Business Social Media Presence,” a Women’s Business Center of Utah event that takes place online. Free. Details are at wbcutah.org.
July 8, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Women in Leadership, presented by the Mountain West, South Jordan and West Jordan chambers of commerce. Topic is “Branding, Part 2.” Location is Legacy Retirement, 1617 W. Temple Lane, South Jordan. Details are at https:// sj-chamber.org/.
July 8, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
“Chamber Connections,” a Davis Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Davis Chamber of Commerce, 450 S. Simmons Way, Suite 220, Kaysville. Free. No RSVP required. Chamber membership required for continued attendance. Details are at davischamberofcommerce.com.
July 8, 5-7 p.m.
“Business After Hours,” an Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Pioneer Days Grounds, 668 17th St., Ogden. Free for members and first-time guests, $35 for nonmembers. Details are at ogdenweberchamber.com.
July 9, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Utah Statewide Virtual Job Fair. Open to all job seekers, with priority ser-
vice to veterans, military members and spouses. Details for job-seekers are at jobs.utah.gov. Job fair prep workshop available the day before at 10 a.m.-1 p.m. No cost to employers.
July 9, 1-3 p.m.
“Work & Life Balance: How Successful Women Make It Work,” a South Valley Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Kiln, 1895 E. Rodeo Walk Drive, Suite B200, Holladay. Cost is $35. Details are at southvalleychamber.com.
July 14, 9-10:30 a.m.
“Better Your Business” Breakfast Seminar, with the theme “Performance Management that Works,” presented by the Utah Department of Workforce Services. Location is Mountainland Technical College Payson Campus, 993 S. 1950 W., Payson. Details are at thepointchamber.com.
July 15, noon-1 p.m.
“Walkable Wednesday,” a ULI (Urban Land Institute) Utah event. Location is Salt Lake Crossing, 470 W. 200 N., Salt Lake City. Details are at https://utah.uli. org/events-2.
July 15, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Business Alliance, a Davis Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Boondocks Fun Center, 525 Deseret Drive, Kaysville. No RSVP needed. Free. Lunch available for purchase. Details are at davischamberofcommerce.com.
July 16, 9-11 a.m.
“The Canvas of Becoming,” an Ember Women event. Location is Kiln, 1895 E. Rodeo Walk Drive, Suite B200, Holladay. Cost is $35. Details are at southvalleychamber.com.
July 16, 9-10:30 a.m.
“Buzz, Build & Brew,” a Women’s Business Center of Utah event. Location is The Neighborhood Hive, 2065 E. 2100 S., Salt Lake City. Free. Details are at wbcutah.org.
July 20, 6:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Golf Tournament, a Davis Chamber of Commerce event. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m., followed by tee time of 7:30 a.m. Location is Valley View Golf Course, 2501 E. Gentile St., Layton. Details are at davischamberofcommerce.com.
July 21, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
National Institutes of Health SBIR/ STTR Hybrid Workshop, presented by Nucleus Events and focused on navigating the NIH funding process and preparing a competitive Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) proposal. Location is Kiln, 2701 N. Thanksgiving Way, Suite 100, Lehi. Virtual option also available. Details are at https://luma. com/8y7jtnbo.
July 22, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
“Chamber Connections,” a Davis Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Davis Chamber of Commerce, 450 S. Simmons Way, Suite 220, Kaysville. Free. No RSVP required. Chamber membership required for continued attendance. Details are at davischamberofcommerce.com.
July 28, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Business Women’s Forum 2026, with the theme “Leading Through the
Storm: How Women Leaders Navigate Challenge and Change.” Location is Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek, 75 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City. Cost is $40 for members and $60 for nonmembers through July 21, $50 for members and $70 for nonmembers after July 21. Details are at slchamber.com.
July 28, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Women in Business, an Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce event. Speaker Christina Myers of Myers Mortuary will discuss “Turning ‘What If’ Into ‘Why Not?’” Location is Jeremiah’s Lodge & Garden, 1329 W. 12th St., Marriott-Slaterville. Cost is $25 for members and firsttime guests, $35 for nonmembers. Registration deadline is July 21 at noon. Details are at ogdenweberchamber.com.
July 30, 9-10 a.m.
“Global Business Briefing,” hosted by the Salt Lake Chamber and World Trade Center Utah and focusing on Australia, with insights into current market dynamics, emerging opportunities, and how Utah companies can engage. Event takes place online. Free (registration is required). Details are at slchamber.com.
Aug. 4-6
One Utah Summit, presented by Southern Utah University, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the Utah Inland Port Authority and the Utah Department of Natural Resources. Location is Southern Utah University’s America First Event Center in Cedar City. Cost is $250. Details are at https://oneutahsummit.utah.gov/.
Aug. 4, 9-10 a.m.
“Bites & Insights Breakfast,” a ULI (Urban Land Institute) Utah event. Location is Hunt Electric Technology Building, 1811 Alexander St., Salt Lake City. Details are at https://utah.uli.org/events-2.
Aug. 4, 10-11:30 a.m.
“Business 101: Essential Steps for New Entrepreneurs,” a Women’s Business Center of Utah event that takes place online. Free. Details are at wbcutah.org.
Aug. 4, noon-1:30 p.m.
“Starting Your Business 101,” a Small Business Development Center event that takes place online via Zoom. Details are at https://clients.utahsbdc.org/ events.aspx.
Aug. 5, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Business Alliance, a Davis Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Boondocks Fun Center, 525 Deseret Drive, Kaysville. No RSVP needed. Free. Lunch available for purchase. Details are at davischamberofcommerce.com.
Aug. 6, 9-10:30 a.m.
“Sweets & Strategies,” a Women’s Business Center of Utah event. Location is Roots Coffee, 774 S. 300 W., Salt Lake City. Free. Details are at wbcutah.org.
Aug. 6, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Business Women’s Forum featuring its inaugural service project in partnership with The Road Home. Location is Connie Crosby Family Resource Center, 529 W. 9th Ave., Midvale. Details are at slchamber.com.
Aug. 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Women in Leadership, presented by the Mountain West, South Jordan
and West Jordan chambers of commerce. Theme is “Brand Camp: Build a Brand People Remember.” Location is Utah Disaster Kleenup, 13081 S. Minuteman Drive, Draper. Details are at https:// sj-chamber.org/.
Aug. 12, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
“Chamber Connections,” a Davis Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Davis Chamber of Commerce, 450 S. Simmons Way, Suite 220, Kaysville. Free. No RSVP required. Chamber membership required for continued attendance. Details are at davischamberofcommerce.com.
Aug. 12, 5-7 p.m.
“Business After Hours,” an Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Stewart Stadium at Weber State University, 3870 Stadium Way, Ogden. Details are at ogdenweberchamber.com.
Aug. 13, 7:30 a.m.-noon
Housing Summit 2026, a ULI (Urban Land Institute) Utah event where public and private sector leaders come together to tackle housing issues. Keynote speaker is Jay Parsons, rental housing economist, advisor and speaker. Location is Little America Hotel, 500 S. Main St., Salt Lake City. Cost until July 10 ranges from $90 to $115 for members and $120 to $210 for nonmembers. Cost from July 10 through Aug. 12 ranges from $125 to $205 for members and $170 to $275 for nonmembers. Details are at https://utah.uli.org/events-2.
Aug. 13, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Women in Business Lunch, a Davis Chamber of Commerce event. Location to be announced. Cost is $25 for members, $35 for nonmembers. Details are at davischamberofcommerce.com.
Aug. 19, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Golf Tournament , an Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce event. Check-in and breakfast begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start and 1 p.m. lunch and awards presentation. Location is Mount Ogden Golf Course, 1787 Constitution Way, Ogden. Cost is $250 for individuals, $1,000 per foursome. Details are at ogdenweberchamber.com.
Aug. 19, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Business Boot Camp, a South Valley Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Salt Mine Productive Workspace, 7984 S. 1300 E., Sandy. Cost is $35 for members, $55 for nonmembers. Details are at southvalleychamber.com.
Aug. 19, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Business Alliance, a Davis Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Boondocks Fun Center, 525 Deseret Drive, Kaysville. No RSVP needed. Free. Lunch available for purchase. Details are at davischamberofcommerce.com.
Aug. 19, noon-1 p.m.
“Grant Hunting for Small-Business Owners,” a Women’s Business Center of Utah “Solve the Business Puzzle” event. Speaker Sara Day, program manager of training and outreach for the Utah Microloan Fund, will discuss where to look for grants, how to filter out the noise, and what makes an opportunity worth your time. Event takes place online. Details are at wbcutah.org.
After a couple of months of steady unemployment data — both March and April saw 3.8 percent joblessness in Utah — the rate dropped slightly in May to 3.7 percent, according to data released by the Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS).
Utah currently has about 67,900 out of the job market.
Meanwhile, the national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.3 percent, according to a release from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington, D.C.
Utah’s nonfarm payroll employment for May increased an estimated 1 percent over the past 12 months, with the state’s economy adding a cumulative 16,900 jobs since May 2025. The number of state residents currently employed stands at 1,790,100.
“The latest data confirms Utah’s economic foundation remains secure, with broad sectoral growth,” said Ben Crabb,
chief economist with DWS. “While the unemployment rate remains low, a declining labor force participation rate and an increase in underemployment suggest not all labor resources are being fully utilized.”
Utah’s May private-sector employment has recorded a year-over-year expansion of 1.2 percent, or a 17,800-job increase. Seven of the 10 major private-sector industry groups posted net year-over-year job gains. The overall gains are led by professional and business services (up 7,100 jobs), education and health services (up 6,800 jobs), and leisure and hospitality (up 2,400 jobs).
Information services (off 1,100 jobs), manufacturing (down 1,000 jobs) and natural resources (down 500 jobs) experienced the largest year-over-year job losses.
Additional information and analysis on Utah’s employment situation, including county-by-county statistics, are available at the DWS website, jobs.utah.gov.
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A new feature in the Salt Lake Business Journal is this list of new businesses that have opened or plan to open shortly in our area.
Nomad Eatery has opened its doors in Downtown Daybreak, at 5446 W. Center Field Drive. It’s right next to The Ballpark at America First Square. Owner/chef Holly Cloyd operates the Nomad East restaurant in downtown Salt Lake City, and joins a number of eateries in that area of South Jordan.
The Utah City Racquet Club began operation on June 13 at 100 W. Bend St., Vineyard. The facility fea-
tures outdoor pickleball, tennis and padel courts, one of the only outdoor padel courts and the only LVBL activation in Utah.
Crumbl has reopened its store in Bountiful, now under new ownership. Partners are Madison and Dallin Southwick, along with Maegan and Mark Hymas. The store is located at 350 W. 500 S.
Want to see your business reported here? Send news or a release to nowopen@ slbusinessjournal.com.
Salt Lake City International Airport workers walk between terminals in this undated photo. Research from employee experience platform Blink found that Salt Lake airport employees are the happiest among those at the nation’s 50 busiest airports.
The rating is based on employees’ job and salary satisfaction, employee sentiment, passenger satisfaction and operational stress. The city’s airport workers had an overall score of 88.7, backed by a standout job satisfaction score and a strong salary satisfaction rating.
Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Honolulu International and Portland International round out the top five.
(Photo courtesy Blink)
Cache Employment Services, LLC seek a Staff Accountant in American Fork, UT to assist in Month-End Close process. Assist in managing annual audit. To
Senior Software Engineer @ Finicity Corporation (Holladay, UT) F/T Prtcpte in the implmntn of nw systms, dvlop strtgc thnkng & dvlp prcs, tls, & frmwrks to hlp ensr efctvns acrs tms. Pln & exct mntnc, upgrds, & mgrtns actvts indffrnt envrnmnts as Dv, Stg, &Prd. Reqs a Bchlr’s deg or frgn eqvlnt in Info Systms, Inf Tech, Comp Scnc or Engg, Elctrncs, or rltd & 6 yrs of progressively responsible experience in jb offrd or as a Dvps Engr, Cld Eng, Sit Relblty Eng, Tec Ld, Prjct Mngr, or rltd. Qlfyng exp mst incld at lst 6 yrs wth ech of the flwng: AWS cloud services provider; VPC (NAT Gateways, Internet Gateways, Routing Tables, Subnets); EC2 (Autoscaling groups, launch configurations, spot instances, reserved instances, volumes, and different types of load balancers); And must include 4 years of experience with the following: Kubernetes; Infrastructure as Code Experience (Cloud formation, Terraform); Programming methodologies: Python, Bash, Go, or similar. Emplyr
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