EMERY COUNTY
Blue Castle nuke plant being revived Page 3
SALT LAKE COUNTY
Motorola plans major expansion
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UTAH COUNTY
Pleasant Grove bank launching new service
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INDUSTRY BRIEFS
Pages 12-13
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
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BUSINESS CALENDAR
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A note to readers of the Salt Lake Business Journal. We will not be publishing editions on the fifth Mondays of any month. So we will not have SLBJ editions on June 29, Aug. 31 or Nov. 30 of this year.
The University of Utah and its foundation, University of Utah Growth Capital Partners Foundation, have finalized an agreement with private equity firm Otro Capital to create a new for-profit entity to run athletics at the Salt Lake City school.
The leadership for the new business venture, to be called Crimson Brand Partners, was also announced.
The announcement of the agreement signing contained no financial details, but Otro is committing at least $100 million to the endeavor, according to sports business website Sportico, quoting “someone familiar with the agreement.”
The move to commit the future of UofU athletics to a private equity arrangement was announced six months ago by the university. At that time, the governing body was to be called Utah Brands & Entertainment, but the actual name announced earlier this month will be Crimson Brand Partners.
“When we met our trustees, we were
very clear that we felt in a lot of the headwinds that we’re dealing with in college athletics that we had a really innovative solution that could carry University of Utah into the future,” Mark Harlan, Utah athletic director, told the media on a conference call. “Is there a way that we could create a partnership, create the revenue needed to compete at the highest level without draining critical resources at the University of Utah? I think we’ve done that.”
The first CEO of Crimson Brand Partners will be Matt Webb, who previously created commercial platforms for the New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns and San Diego Padres. Otro was instrumental in bringing Webb to the new venture, the university said. Webb has been serving as a consultant to the UofU foundation since the partnership was first announced.
“What Crimson Brands has the opportunity to do is create lasting impact on court and on the field,” Webb said.
After spending his career in professional sports, Webb said he is pleased to be joining college athletics.
“Whether it’s coaching Little League
or attending an NFL game, witnessing athletes perform their craft is something we should cherish,” Webb said. “I love every aspect of it: the competition, the passion, the pageantry. It means so much to so many people and that is why I wanted to spend my career in sports. Crimson Brands is being built to operate at the level you’d expect from a top professional franchise — across media, sponsorships, ticketing and fan experience. Getting to lead that build is a rare opportunity, and it’s exactly the kind of challenge I came here for.”
Other hires for Crimson Brand Partners include chief commercial officer Alex Schulte, a 15-year sports business veteran with experience at the Kansas City Royals, New Orleans Saints, New Orleans Pelicans and NASCAR. Joel Adams, with ticket and premium sales experience with the NFL, NBA and MLB, will be the chief ticketing officer, and 20year finance and accounting veteran Garret Best will be the chief financial officer.
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Brice Wallace Salt Lake Business Journal
A Houston-based NASA spinoff company will build a manufacturing and research and development facility in Salt Lake County, resulting in 420 new jobs over the next decade.
Lunar Resources Inc. says the $85 million plant, occupying 100,000 square feet in its first phase, will likely be the largest in the U.S. dedicated to pulsed power to be used by the Army, Navy, Air Force and Missile Defense Agency.
The company focuses on pulsed power technologies and systems, a specialized form of electricity that involves extremely high-power pulses of energy in short bursts and can be used in defense, energy, power transmission and industrial power systems. Applications for the Helix Driver technology include those on Earth, in space and the moon.
“Our operations in Utah will primarily be focused on our defense technologies,” company CEO Elliot Carol told the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development board at its June meeting. The company was awarded a tax credit incentive tied to the creation of 100 high-paying jobs at the plant.
“Currently, there is massive organic and new demand for directed energy systems to face new threats, including drones, unmanned surface vehicles on the water, unmanned ground vehicles on the land, and to meet these threats, our armed services require new technologies and systems. Our unique Helix Driver power supply technology allows for directed energy systems to be reduced by almost an order of magnitude in size as well as cost.”
The company’s platforms are focused on drones, infantry soldiers, vessels and infrastructure, he said.
In a news release about the project, Carol said that “Utah offers an exceptional talent pool and a highly supportive business environment that partners with companies to help ensure mutual success. We look forward to building deep
This rendering of the planned Helix-1 manufacturing and research and development facility in Salt Lake County was shown during the Governor’s Office of Economic Development meeting this month. Lunar Resources Inc. CEO Elliot Carol said the rendering will be updated because the building will be larger than shown in this image. (GOED meeting screen capture)
roots here and continuing our mission to shape America’s next frontier on Earth and in space.”
The Salt Lake County facility, dubbed “Helix-1,” will be the nation’s largest factory of directed energy weapons, high-voltage capacitors and high-power magnetrons, Carol told the GOED board. The company’s defense offerings are touted as “a new era of directed-energy warfare.” It is working to commercialize Helix Driver technology across multiple global sectors, for use in space and on Earth.
The company says that unlike continuous power systems, which provide a steady flow of energy, pulsed power technologies release energy in intense, high-powered pulses, allowing for customizable energy delivery tailored to specific applications.
The company was founded in 2018, aimed at “enabling the U.S. to permanently inhabit the moon.” One website indicates the company has 23 employees.
The company is working on off-Earth extraction, space manufacturing and advanced technologies critical for space exploration and industrialization. It is developing electrochemical, metallurgical and electrical processes to extract oxygen, metals and water from lunar materials that are then transformed into raw and basic materials for component production and infrastructure construction.
The company’s contract work encompasses projects such as developing the oxygen extraction technologies, creating advanced welding techniques for orbital debris removal, designing in-space joining and manufacturing processes, and developing technologies for satellite servicing and spacecraft life extension.
The GOED board approved a tax credit incentive of up to $14.2 million over 10 years for the Helix-1 project. The 100 incentivized jobs will pay an average wage of $219,480. The project is expected to generate new total wages of about $188.3 million over 10 years and new state tax revenue of $47.3 million during that time.
“Thank you for what you’re doing for our country. …. We’re excited for your expansion here,” Jesse Turley, chairman of the GOED incentives committee, told Carol.
“Lunar Resources’ proposed expansion will help elevate Utah’s position as a leader in cutting-edge manufacturing and technologies,” Jefferson Moss, GOED commissioner, said in a prepared statement. “Their pioneering technology aligns with our future-focused mindset and will serve as a powerful economic catalyst. We are optimistic about how this groundbreaking work will create opportunities for Utahns for many years to come.” 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.
For the 35th year in a row, KeyBank employees teamed up for a day of service in several communities. The project brought 100 bank staff members to work with local nonprofit partners on eight projects along the Wasatch Front.
Local Neighbors Make the Difference Day Project locations included the Bountiful Community Food Pantry, Neighborhood House, Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai, Utah Community Action, and others.
In Utah, teammates joined thousands of colleagues across the country who receive paid time off to volunteer in the neighborhoods where they live and work. Neighbors Make the Difference Day honors KeyBank’s more than 200 years of service and reflects its ongoing commitment to strengthening communities, supporting neighbors, and mak -
ing a positive difference — together.
“Neighbors Make the Difference Day is one of the most meaningful days of the year for our teammates,” said Drew Yergensen, KeyBank Utah market president, in a release. “It’s an opportunity to give back to the communities we care so deeply about and to show up as neighbors — not just bankers. Communities thrive when volunteers unite and we’re proud to invest our time, talent and heart into Utah and help brighten lives in ways that truly matter.”
KeyBank teammates built playgrounds, painted homes, refreshed community gardens, cleaned up parks, and supported local organizations. At select sites, teammates also hosted financial education workshops to help neighbors build confidence and tools for their financial futures.
Neighbors Make the Difference Day
began in 1991, when a small group of KeyBank teammates in Alaska came together to volunteer in their community. Just two years later, the program expanded across the company, becom-
ing an official day of service. Today, it stands as one of the nation’s leading corporate volunteer initiatives and a powerful example of how collective action can strengthen communities.
John Rogers Salt Lake Business Journal
First proposed in 2007 but long dormant, the Blue Castle nuclear project near Green River in Emery County is being revived.
Blue Castle Holdings, a descendent of the original developers, has partnered with Fulcrum Point Holdings — founded by the owner of Hi-Tech Solutions, a company behind a separate Utah nuclear project — to form a joint venture to restart the project.
This time the plan is to develop the site using small modular reactors (SMRs). The two developers will partner with Holtec International to deploy pressurized water reactors on the site. In an email to Nuclear News, a Blue Castle spokesperson said the plan is to deploy two to four Holtec SMR-300 reactors that will generate 600 megawatts to 1,200 megawatts. The project is in the preliminary phase, with additional details on a timeline and opportunities for community input to follow, the email said.
The selection of SMRs is in contrast to plans from 2014, when a previous revival plan was announced. At that time, a memorandum of understanding between Blue Castle and Westinghouse Electric called for two AP1000 PWR reactors.
The original 3,000-megawatt plan has been heavily delayed over the years due to environmental, water-rights and siting challenges.
“Over the past 19 years, Blue Castle has laid the groundwork to de-risk a site for the deployment of nuclear power, creating significant value for future energy development that can serve energy demand
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manager Edward Castro Bennett said they have worked with the Blue Castle team for nearly two decades and continue to do so.
“Our community has always understood that southeast Utah has played a critical role in powering this state, and we believe Green River is well positioned to remain a vital part of Utah’s energy future as new technologies emerge,” Bennett said. “We appreciate the continued partnership with Blue Castle, Fulcrum Point, Emery County and the state of Utah, and we look forward to working together as this project advances through the next stages of development.”
across Utah and the surrounding region, as well as potential on-site, behind-the-meter opportunities for advanced technology applications,” said Blue Castle CEO Aaron Tilton in a statement. “We appreciate the collaborative effort with Emery County and the city of Green River to create high-value jobs and meaningful economic impact in rural Utah.”
Tilton said Blue Castle expects more than 2,500 jobs to be created during construction and “hundreds” of permanent full-time jobs at the operating plant.
Holtec said the SMR-300’s air-cooling technology is ideal in arid environments where water is scarce.
“The work by our partners to acquire sites for next-of-kind deployment in Utah is paramount to our Mountain West expansion strategy as part of [Utah’s] Operation Gigawatt,” Holtec President Rick Springman said in a statement. “Supply
Big 12 school has declined to participate in the credit line arrangement. In December, UofU President Taylor
chain development follows reactor deployments, making the advancement of this project crucial to downstream supply chain investments in the state across the nuclear ecosystem.”
The 19-year history: While the project appeared in some news outlets as early as 2007, Nuclear News first mentioned it in February 2009, back when Transition Power Development — the former name of Blue Castle Holdings — announced it.
The state of Utah granted the Blue Castle project water rights in 2012. But a lengthy court battle ensued with environmental group Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah over the water rights, ending in 2016 when the Utah Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Blue Castle Holdings.
Despite the delays, there remains local support for the nuclear construction project. In a statement, Green River city
and trademarks. Coaching, recruiting, scheduling, athlete support and private fundraising will stay with the university
According to the school’s announcement, the university will own a majority stake in the new company through its foun-
In May, Utah started laying off employees in its athletic department because of the pending takeover of the new entity. Harlan said many of those jobs will now be handled by Crimson Brand Partners, but that about 15 of the former UofU employees will be hired by the new firm, which is expected to grow to
Otro, based in New York City, was
The Green River site has previously undergone extensive technical and environmental analysis, including meteorological and seismic data collection, core boring, geophysical surveys, groundwater monitoring, ecological studies and bathymetry work, Blue Castle said. It also cites the existing water rights, access to the road and rail networks and multi-market transmission opportunities as positives for the plant’s development.
“Emery County has always been an energy-producing county, going back generations through coal and other industries that have powered Utah and supported our local economy,” said Emery County Commissioner Jordan Leonard. “This agreement represents an opportunity to continue our role as an energy leader while bringing new jobs, investment, and long-term opportunity to our county.”
Currently, no timeline has been announced for the project’s construction and completion, with Fulcrum Point promising details will be “forthcoming in the near future.”
launched in 2023 and has raised about $1.2 billion to date, including its first fund, a side-car pool and capital raised for portfolio company Alpine. It previously made three investments: in the Alpine F1 racing team, sports marketing agency Two Circles and event manager FlexWork Sports.
“This new company puts the University of Utah at the forefront of developing creative and strategic solutions to the financial challenges facing college athletics programs across the country,” said Taylor. “Utah will continue to lead out with unique and entrepreneurial ideas for keeping our Utes sports programs financially sustainable and foundational to the student experience.”
John Rogers Salt Lake Business Journal
The University of Utah is moving forward with plans to build a new medical campus in the south end of Salt Lake County. The site will be the school health system’s second remote hospital campus following the Eccles West Valley Health Campus and Eccles Hospital, currently under construction on 5600 West.
The university’s board of trustees has voted to authorize a land purchase agreement for a roughly 46-acre tract at “The Point,” a 600-acre innovation community being developed on state-owned land at the former site of the Utah State Prison in Draper. Currently in Phase 1, The Point is considered a prime commercial location along the Wasatch Front.
Trustees heard the proposal for the land purchase and campus development from Dr. Bob Carter, the university’s executive vice president for health sciences. Carter said UofU Health has been working for several months with the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority through the university’s real estate development team.
The tract to be purchased by the school has been appraised at $43,472,017, according to Carter’s presentation. The agreement calls for the purchase price to be at or near the appraisal.
“The idea here is to bring care closer to home for individuals who are in the southern part of Salt Lake Valley,” Carter told the board. “We know that growth is imperative because the state is growing, and the health system, likewise, has found significant demand from that region of this area.”
The board of trustees released a brief statement following the vote, promising further details at a later date.
“Today, the University of Utah board of trustees authorized the purchase of 46 acres of land intended for a proposed health campus at The Point,” the board’s statement read. “This strategic acquisition allows UofU Health to serve as the exclusive health care provider for this rapidly growing corridor. We look forward to sharing more details during a ceremonial signing of the Purchase and Sale Agreement on Thursday, June 25, at the Utah State Capitol Gold Room.”
Meeting shortly after the trustees’ meeting, the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority, the governing body of The Point, ratified the agreement, which also
designates University of Utah Health as the exclusive healthcare provider for the mixed-use community.
“With the expected population growth at The Point, both on our site of 600 acres and in surrounding communities, the need for a world-class facility to deliver healthcare services to Utahns is extremely important,” Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan, the land authority’s co-chair, said in a statement.
Plans discussed by UofU Health show the initial building at The Point as a 200,000 square-foot facility to serve as the base for a full-scale hospital and medical campus. Officials said the campus will expand over time to include inpatient hospital services, outpatient specialty clinics and other medical programs aligned with
the university’s mission of healthcare, education and workforce development.
The Point is being marketed as Utah’s “Innovation Community,” with housing, offices, research space, retail, entertainment and extensive open space centered around transit connections and a “River-to-Range” trail system. Planners envision a highly walkable district where residents, those entering the community for employment and visitors can access all services, businesses and amenities within a 15-minute walk. The University of Utah Health’s campus is intended to fit that model.
As the second of University of Utah remote healthcare campuses, it wouldn’t be a stretch to see final plans for The Point facility at full build-out to be similar to the West Valley campus currently underway. The university broke ground a year ago in West Valley and construction is just beginning with site work in progress. That facility will be an 800,000-square-foot health campus, including a 130-bed hospital, outpatient exam rooms, an emergency department, a walk-in urgent care clinic, specialty clinics and a helipad.
The West Valley timeline calls for outpatient clinics to open in 2028 and full inpatient hospital service to begin in late 2029 or early 2030. The UofU trustees are considering establishment of a temporary clinic to serve until the West Valley campus is complete.
University trustees did not disclose the financial details of the agreement with The Point, but money for the project is expected to come from a mixture of institutional investment funds, philanthropic donations and bonding retired by future clinical revenue.
The Women Tech Council has announced its annual Shatter List, which recognizes companies “shaping the future of Utah’s innovation economy.”
“As technology, AI, and workforce expectations continue to evolve, these organizations are setting the standard for what great leadership, culture, innovation and community impact look like,” WTC said.
Companies are being recognized in two categories. The “Community Choice” list consists of companies “people most want to work for right now.” Selected through input from a
panel of technology executives, founders, investors, industry influencers and ecosystem leaders, Community Choice companies are recognized for building strong cultures, creating meaningful career opportunities, attracting exceptional talent, and leading with vision in a rapidly changing economy. The second group is “Community Builders,” consisting of companies “helping build the ecosystem itself.”
“Community Builders are recognized for their long-term commitment to strengthening Utah’s technology community through mentorship, work -
force development, education initiatives, leadership engagement, industry collaboration, and investment in future talent,” WTC said.
“Their impact extends far beyond their own organizations. They help expand opportunity, elevate the industry, and strengthen the foundation that enables Utah’s innovation economy to continue growing.”
The Community Choice companies are Adobe, Anthropic, Awardco, BambooHR, CHG Healthcare, Cox Automotive, Intermountain Health, Leland, Lucid Software, Nvidia, O.C. Tanner,
OxEon Energy, Pattern, Rasa Legal, Recursion, SchoolAI, SeekWell, Traeger, University of Utah, Waystar and Zions Bancorporation.
The Community Builders companies are Adobe, Alianza, American Express, ARUP, Awardco, BambooHR, CHG Healthcare, Domo Inc., Entrata, EY, Fidelity Investments, Goldman Sachs, Intermountain Health, Lucid Software, Maschoff Brennan, Mountain America Credit Union, Myriad Genetics, Nice, Progressive Leasing, Swire Coca-Cola, Vivint, Workday and Zions Bancorporation.
StreamCaster MANET radios produced by Silvus Technologies supply connectivity for a wide range of drones for law enforcement, public safety and military missions. Motorola Solutions Inc. has announced plans to expand Silvus’ Salt Lake City manufacturing operations. (Courtesy Silvus Technologies)
StreamCaster MANET radios produced by Silvus Technologies are used for connectivity (high-fidelity, data, video and voice) to coordinate law enforcement, public safety and military teams. Silvus’ parent company, Motorola Solutions Inc., is expanding Silvus’ Salt Lake City manufacturing operations. (Courtesy Silvus Technologies)
Brice Wallace Salt Lake Business Journal
The Silvus Technologies business of Motorola Solutions Inc. will expand its manufacturing operations in Salt Lake City in a $97 million project.
The project in the city’s Northwest Quadrant will generate 200 new jobs. An incentive for 50 high-paying jobs was approved by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development board at a recent meeting.
Jim Companik, Motorola Solutions’ director of manufacturing, said the expansion will feature a 165,000-square-foot facility.
“The need for this [is] Silvus Technologies’ product line is expanding at a very fast rate, necessitating a large manufacturing expansion outside of their Los Angeles home,” Companik told the GOED board, adding that the growth will take place this year — “a tight timeline,” he said.
“We believe this project aligns with the state’s focus on both high-wage jobs and targeting industries like advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense,” he said.
Chicago-based Motorola Solutions specializes in communications, video security, access control and command center technology for public safety and enterprise customers, including land mobile radio, command center software and AI-enabled video security. It says its products lead to safer communities, safer schools, safer hospitals, safer businesses, and ultimately safer nations. It has clients in more than 100 countries and more than 23,000 employees worldwide.
Acquired last August for $4.4 billion, Silvus Technologies focuses on mobile ad hoc networks and wireless communication. Motorola said the Salt Lake project will enable it to meet the growing demand for advanced tactical networking solutions from
Silvus Technologies that are used in the military and public safety sectors, including its StreamCaster MANET radios.
“Today’s announcement represents an exciting milestone for our company,” Jack Molloy, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Motorola Solutions, said in a prepared statement. “Utah’s strong business climate provides an ideal environment for us to confidently expand our operations for Silvus Technologies and meet the growing demand for mission-critical communication solutions from our defense and public safety customers.”
The GOED-approved tax credit from the Economic Development Tax Increment Financing (EDTIF) program is for up to $830,359 over 10 years. The 50 incentivized jobs are expected to pay an average of $114,701. New state wages over a decade are projected to total more than $48 million. New state tax revenue is projected at $3.3 million during that time.
Lance Soffe, GOED’s senior vice president of economic growth, described the project to the GOED board as “a great project, bringing cutting-edge innovation, high-tech talent and the future of aerial public safety technology. This further cements Utah as a premier destination for aerospace and defense, drone, aerial companies and opportunities.”
GOED board member Vic Hockett commended the company’s leadership for their willingness to partner with educational institutions, from K-12 to tech colleges and higher education.
Peter Makowski, deputy director of business development for Salt Lake City, expressed the city’s support for Motorola’s “investment in our city and bringing quality jobs to Salt Lake.”
“We are excited to welcome this significant expansion of Motorola Solutions’ Sil-
vus Technologies operations to Utah,” Gov. Spencer Cox said in a prepared statement. “Utah has built a reputation for developing top talent and supporting companies that are advancing America’s security and technological leadership. Motorola Solutions’ investment will create high-quality jobs and strengthen Utah’s growing role in aerospace, defense and advanced communications manufacturing.”
In a prepared statement, Jefferson Moss, GOED commissioner, said the expansion is “a monumental win for Utah’s long-term economic strategy.”
“This expansion is a textbook example of our strategic framework for economic development in action,” he said. “We are proud to support Motorola Solutions’ continued growth that reinforces Utah’s rapid emergence as a premier destination for information technology, aerospace and defense, and advanced manufacturing industries.”
“We see an ideal opportunity in this expansion,” said Ben Hart, executive director of the Utah Inland Port Authority. “As Utah’s economy grows, logistics demands grow, and it’s imperative that we as a state come together to sustainably support this momentum in our supply chain. Motorola’s commitment to scaling in Salt Lake County further establishes Utah as a pivotal hub in global industry.”
“Motorola Solutions’ expansion reflects one of Salt Lake City’s greatest strengths: We are connected in every sense of the word,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “With the airport just minutes away, direct access to I-80 and I-15, and a dynamic downtown nearby, companies can grow here–and their teams can experience the restaurants, culture and outdoor access that make people proud to call Salt Lake City home.”
Molloy said the expansion would give
Motorola the ability to scale production for technologies “that serve some of the most demanding defense and public safety environments in the world. The Northwest Quadrant offers the kind of connectivity, workforce access and business-ready environment that supports our long-term growth.”
The UIPA incentive provides an annual assessed property tax differential rebate equivalent to 15 percent of the differential received by UIPA. The annual rebate is contingent on Motorola Solutions meeting all incentive requirements and the project’s continued operation within the area for its initial lifespan.
“This is exactly the type of project the Northwest Quadrant is positioned to support,” said Abby Osborne, chair of the UIPA board and chief of staff for the Utah House of Representatives. “Motorola Solutions is bringing together advanced manufacturing, defense technology and mission-critical communications in a location built for connection. With access to major highways, rail, air cargo and a strong regional workforce, this project reinforces Utah’s role as a place where companies can make, move and scale products that matter.”
Moss said the expansion is an example of Utah’s coordinated economic development strategy.
“Our EDTIF incentive allows us to strategically strengthen Utah’s economic foundation by focusing on industries that we believe will be vital for our future,” he said.
“We are confident that the success of Motorola Solutions will contribute to Utah’s success, and we are proud to support it.” GOED does not provide upfront cash incentives. Each year that an incentivized company meets the obligations in its contract with GOEO, it will qualify to receive a portion of the new, additional state taxes the company paid to the state.
Draper-based BambooHR, a platform for HR, payroll and benefits, has launched its BambooHR Broker Partner Program, an initiative designed to help benefits brokers extend their services to clients through modern HR technology and a high-touch support experience. The program is built to reinforce the broker’s role as an advisor while providing clients with the BambooHR platform. BambooHR supports brokers with implementation, technology and ongoing service, allowing brokers to maintain and strengthen their client relationships. “Brokers put their reputation on the line with every recommendation,” said Jonathan Leaf, chief revenue officer at BambooHR. “This program is designed to support that trust with a reliable implementation experience, dedicated expertise, and technology that delivers long-term value to their clients.” The program builds on BambooHR’s commitment to a more human-centered future of work, enabling better decisions, stronger cultures and more meaningful outcomes for employees, Leaf said.
Vanderhall North America LLC, a maker of electric vehicles, including the Brawley off-road series, has activated its BOSS 200 (Brawley Ownership Support System) program, a customer-first initiative created to support the company’s Vanderhall Brawley. The Provo-based company first introduced the program in February, but it made its public debut earlier this month. Customers enrolled in the program receive personalized digital welcome communications, with welcome packages arriving soon. “Brawley is an ambitious platform, and early customers gave us invaluable feedback,” said Kasey Evans, CEO of Vanderhall. “We made a conscious decision to listen first, make improvements, and then build a program that reflects what our customers need. This is a result of that process.” The program includes enhanced transferable warranty coverage, concierge-level support and ongoing communication about product updates and improvements, plus an additional 24 months of warranty coverage that began in February.
Lindon-based Trucordia, a nationwide insurance brokerage firm with over 5,000 team members, has announced the launch of Trucordia Go, an AI-enabled tool designed to help individuals explore options for auto and home insurance with speed, clarity and confidence, while retaining access to licensed insurance professionals. Trucordia Go offers answers on insurance questions, clear cost comparisons and ongoing insights. It can help people understand their options, identify coverage gaps and potential saving and evaluate when a change in their coverage is needed. “Technology has the power to simplify insurance choices, helping empower consumers with the information they need to make decisions,” said Felix Morgan, CEO of Trucordia. “With Trucordia Go, we merge the speed of technology along with our commitment to care to deliver a modern, client-focused insurance experience. The result is fast and conversational, with optional support from licensed insurance professionals.”
Vivint , a security and smart home company based in Lehi, has rolled out Homeview , touted as the company’s biggest app update ever. The app allows users to see the state of their homes — from locks to cameras to their HVAC system — with a single glance from anywhere in the world. HomeView is an interactive image interface that offers a snapshot view of a home’s alarm status, doors, windows, garages, locks, cameras, HVAC and more by mirroring real-time statuses and updates on an image designed to represent the user’s actual home.
For example, if the garage or front door is open, HomeView will show it as open. If your air conditioner is running, an animation over the HVAC system visually confirms that cooling is in progress. HomeView also includes quick-action buttons for instant control, delivering clearer visibility, faster response and 24/7 peace of mind, the company said.
“HomeView was built directly from customer feedback and rigorous user-experience analysis,” said Jim Nye, chief product officer at Vivint. “We heard clearly that managing a connected home shouldn’t require jumping between tabs or apps. HomeView brings security, energy and critical home insights together in one intuitive view, so customers can instantly understand what’s happening in their home and act with confidence.”
HomeView is now available to all Vivint customers, regardless of the system that is installed in their home. It also comes with an optional dark mode for reduced eye strain and enhanced visibility in low-light settings.
Traeger Inc., a Salt Lake City maker of wood pellet grills, has launched its new Irontop Series , an all-new “flat-top” griddle designed to deliver performance, engineering and quality at a new price point designed to bring flat-top cooking to more backyards. Traeger introduced its first outdoor griddle — the Flatrock series — in 2023. “Traeger’s mission is about more than cooking; it’s about creating memorable meals that bring more people together, in more backyards and around more tables,” said Jeremy Andrus , CEO of Traeger Grills. “With Irontop, we’re lowering the barrier to entry — not the bar — by infusing our innovations from Flatrock into a new class of griddles. It’s about welcoming more people into the Traegerhood and expanding what’s possible in their outdoor kitchens.” From flapjacks to fajitas, Irontop meets the moment with rapid heat-up times, precision control, even edge-to-edge heating, and durable construction, Andrus said.
Pattern Group Inc. , a Lehi-based platform for e-commerce brands, has been awarded a patent for generating a true return on advertisement sales value — True ROAS . The patent covers Pattern’s approach to analyzing advertising effectiveness by accounting for both short-term and long-term factors, giving brands a more accurate view of ad spend return. “This patent is the formalization of years of deep thinking about what it actually means for an ad to work for brands on e-commerce marketplaces and social platforms,” said Jason Wells , chief architect at Pattern. “True ROAS isn’t just a metric; it’s the truest measure of incrementality in advertising. When a brand spends a dollar, we can tell them more accurately what that dollar returned. Standard ROAs can’t do that, and that distinction is the difference between optimizing for noise and optimizing for growth that actually compounds.”
Salt Lake Citybased Filevine , a platform of legal documentation handling for law firms, has introduced its Legal Operating Intelligence System (LOIS) console , described as “AI that runs the modern law firm.” Unlike legal AI tools that only handle a single lawyer on a single task, the LOIS console empowers entire firms to run AI agents across every case matter. It writes results back into the firm’s system of record and then executes actions on the firm’s behalf. “The practice of law is not the practice of siloed tasks,” said Ryan Anderson , CEO and founder of Filevine. “For 10 years, we have watched lawyers get better tools, but tools do not run firms and tools do not win cases. We built the AI that does both.” LOIS uses information from more than 40 million legal matters to execute its law firm operational tasks.
Taking family to a Salt Lake Bees baseball game is a way to celebrate summer, and now the team has introduced Bumble & Friends. The new mascot family will help bring the team’s youth programs and community initiatives to life while creating new fan experiences at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan.
Joining the beloved Bees mascot, Bumble, are four new friends: Honey, Daysie, Jensen and Swiggy. Together, Bumble & Friends will serve as ambassadors for the Salt Lake Bees, Bees youth programs and community initiatives, creating memorable experiences for fans while inspiring the next generation of young baseball enthusiasts.
“Bumble has been creating lasting memories with Bees fans for years, and we are excited to expand that experience through Bumble & Friends,” Kim Brown, director of marketing for the Salt Lake Bees, said in a release. “Each character has a unique personality and story that reflects our community, and together they will help us connect with young fans in new ways at The Ballpark at America First Square.”
“A big part of our mission is creating experiences that bring families together and strengthen our connection to the communities we serve,” Ashley Havili, vice president of marketing for Miller Sports & Entertainment, said in a company release. “Bumble & Friends gives us an exciting platform to engage with children and families year-round, support our youth initiatives and continue building a fun, welcoming environment for fans across the state.”
Bumble & Friends will appear at all Tuesday, Friday and Saturday Bees home games, as well as making year-round appearances at schools, community events, youth programs and service projects across the state. Correlating plushies representing each Bumble & Friends character, as well as Bumble & Friends youth T-shirts, will be available for purchase both online and in the team store.
Here’s the roster:
Bumble – The Charismatic Leader.
The heart and soul of the Salt Lake Bees, Bumble has energized crowds and created unforgettable memories for generations of fans. Known for his big personality, endless enthusiasm and welcoming spirit, Bumble leads the mascot family by embodying the values of inclusion, integrity and fun.
Honey – The Best Friend.
As Bumble’s trusted counterpart, Honey brings encouragement, positivity and friendship wherever she goes. A champion of inclusion and empowerment, Honey loves connecting with fans, organizing celebrations and making sure everyone feels part of the Bees family.
Daysie – The Lovable Pup.
Named after Downtown Daybreak, Daysie is a joyful Golden Doodle who represents the neighborhood spirit surrounding The Ballpark at America First Square. Sweet, bubbly and full of energy, she spreads kindness through every interaction, especially with young fans.
Survey finds men are twice as confident as women in asking for a pay raise
Men are almost twice as confident as women when it comes to asking for a pay increase, according to new research from Bank of Ireland.
As reported in Jeff Crilley’s The Rundown, a quarter of the people surveyed reported feeling confident asking for a raise, with 32 percent of men saying they feel confident versus 17 percent of women.
Then, in terms of personal confidence, men tend to report higher levels, with 80 percent saying they are confident in themselves compared with 64 percent of women.
The new Bank of Ireland research focused on national confidence levels across personal finances, employment and life goals.
Over half (51 percent) of people said they are confident about their personal financial situation over the next year, and 59 percent are comfortable discuss -
ing money with family or friends.
The research also reveals that people generally feel confident in themselves and their ability to reach personal goals, with men and older adults tending to report higher confidence levels than women and younger groups.
Financial confidence drops noticeably when people think about their long - term financial prospects or advocating for better pay, Bank of Ireland reported.
Only 30 percent feel confident they could change jobs for better money if needed, and 43 percent believe that employment levels will remain stable in 2026.
Confidence levels reduce when people consider potential future outcomes, with only 15 percent feeling confident that the world will be in a better place this time next year, compared with 64 percent who are not confident.
Jensen – The Sporty Prankster.
Named after renowned paleontologist Jim Jensen, who discovered the Utahraptor, Jensen is a playful and athletic dinosaur who keeps Bumble & Friends laughing with his creative antics and love of sports. Though he enjoys a little mischief, he’s always there to cheer on his teammates and fans.
Swiggy – The Ultimate Utah Original. Representing Utah’s unique culture and community spirit, Swiggy rounds out the mascot family with a fun-loving personality that celebrates local traditions while bringing fans together through shared experiences and unforgettable ballpark moments.
Capital Community Bank, headquartered in Pleasant Grove, has launched a new banking option for financial technology companies.
Quill Bank was created specifically to meet the needs of tech-forward financial companies seeking a brand backed by the parent bank’s regulatory, operational and relationship-banking expertise, CC Bank said in its announcement.
“Quill Bank is designed around the proposition that technology with a human touch ensures the best products and services are delivered to consumers in a safe and compliant manner,” CC Bank said. The name Quill is a reference to an antique writing instrument and reflects the bank’s intention to emphasize relationship-driven banking within a hightech digital fintech space. The brand will launch under the banner “Your fintech, our banking backbone.”
“The fintech space is driven by innova-
tion, but innovation without a solid banking backbone can be a liability,” said Andrew Cusick, CCBank’s chief business development officer. “Quill Bank exists because the fintechs we work with deserve a brand that reflects the institution standing behind them, one with tested experience, real relationships and knowhow. We’re delivering Quill to be the type of bank that makes fintech programs not just possible but credible.”
“We’ve always believed that banking done right is built on relationships and reputation. Quill Bank is our way of bringing that philosophy to the fintech sector,” added Mike Watson, CCBank’s CEO.
Quill Banks launch date is June 30, when the Quill.Bank website will go live.
Founded in 1993, CCBank is a community bank with branch offices in Salem, Provo, Orem, Pleasant Grove, Sandy, Spanish Fork and St. George.
Mitsui Chemicals has announced plans to acquire Salt Lake City-based Ultradent in a deal reported to be worth $900 million.
The deal will join Ultradent with Mitsui Chemicals America Inc., with headquarters in White Plains, New York, and Mitsui-owned dental products producer Kulzer of Hanau, Germany.
The companies said the combination would unite Mitsui Chemicals’ research and materials science capabilities with Ultradent’s clinical expertise and Kulzer’s experience in restorative dental workflows. According to the announcement, the organizations intend to create a platform that supports integrated clinical solutions, advanced workflows and dental professionals worldwide.
“We are very pleased to welcome Ultradent to the Mitsui Chemicals Group. This transaction represents an important step in advancing Mitsui Chemicals’ strategy,” said Hiromi Hayashida, business sector president for life and healthcare solutions at Mitsui Chemicals. “While the United States plays a key role as the world’s largest healthcare market, this partnership also builds on strong global foundations, including Europe. Together with Ultradent and Kulzer, we are creating a more integrated platform to better serve dental professionals and patients worldwide.”
Dirk Jeffs, president and CEO of Ultradent, said the companies share a focus on innovation and product development.
“Mitsui Chemicals brings deep scientific expertise and our shared commitment to innovation aligns with Ultradent’s values and vision,” Jeffs said. “We are excited about the opportunities this partnership creates to accelerate product development, expand our global reach, and continue delivering exceptional solutions to dental professionals and patients around the world.”
“This acquisition is meaningful for all parties because it brings together highly complementary strengths with a shared commitment to advancing dentistry,” Chris Holden, CEO at Kulzer said.
“For Mitsui Chemicals, it represents an important step in building a stronger global healthcare platform,” he said. “For Ultradent, it creates new opportunities to further expand its reach and innovation potential. For Kulzer, it strengthens our collective ability to deliver more comprehensive solutions and create greater value for dental professionals worldwide.”
According to the announcement, the companies expect the proposed combination to close following the formation of a new holding company, expected to take place in September. Mitsui Chemicals said that it intends to preserve Ultradent’s exist-
products manufacturer Ultradent, whose Salt
in this undated photo, is being purchased by
reported
ing culture, leadership team and organizational structure, emphasizing continuity for employees and customers.
Ultradent manufactures dental materials, devices and instruments and states that its vision is “to improve oral health globally.” Kulzer has operations in research, production, sales and marketing across 24 locations worldwide and employs more than
1,200 people. Mitsui Chemicals employs more than 17,000 people globally and produces materials used in industries including healthcare, automotive, electronics, packaging and environmental technologies.
The Mitsui announcement said further details of the acquisition would be released in coming months as the closing date approaches.
BambooHR, a human resources, payroll and benefits platform, has released a new study that says although business leaders are seeing productivity from using artificial intelligence, they often find it lacking in tangible value and being overhyped.
The research also found AI productivity coming at a cost to the workforce.
The “State of the Workforce 2026” report found that while 81 percent of leaders report a productivity increase, nearly half (49 percent) say AI has not delivered material usefulness. The productivity gains are borrowing against the human workforce, with 85 percent of workers reporting daily stress, 29 percent not making ends meet despite a full-time salary, and 81 percent considering leaving their careers entirely. The report identifies this organizational strain as “dignity debt.”
Based on surveys of more than 1,200 employees and business leaders across six major industries, the research found a widening disconnect between rising productivity expectations and the employee experience under them.
The report defines “dignity debt” as the compounding cost of treating people as a means to productivity rather than as the humans who make productivity possible.
“The opportunity in front of organizations isn’t to slow innovation down. It’s to make innovation more human, more transparent and more sustainable,” said Brad Rencher, CEO at BambooHR. “The companies that succeed in the next era of work will be the ones that pair productivity gains with trust, clarity and investment in their people.”
The report also found that organizations are increasingly pushing AI adoption into performance expectations before redesigning work around it. Fifty-seven percent of leaders say they would fire employees who refuse to adopt AI, while 39 percent of companies reduced headcount in the past year due to AI. Most leaders (74 percent) believe employees already have the skills needed for an AI-enabled workforce despite widespread employee reports of disruption and stress.
Despite rising uncertainty, workers were clear about what they want most from leadership: transparency. Nearly nine in 10 employees (89 percent) said they want greater transparency, honesty amidst uncertainty and visible leadership from executives.
The report found that while the underlying tension around AI, trust and workforce strain is widespread, its impact varies significantly by industry.
In the technology sector, 78 percent of leaders say the talent market is more competitive than it was two years ago, while 43 percent of tech workers say senior employees now spend more time reviewing AI-generated work than mentoring junior talent.
For healthcare workers, 65 percent report compassion fatigue, burnout or secondary traumatic stress as staffing shortages and patient-side AI use increase pressure on care teams. In the finance industry, 79 percent of leaders say undisclosed AI and data practices create reputational risk, yet only 57 percent proactively disclose AI involvement to
clients. Nearly half (49 percent) of food and beverage businesses replace more than half their workforce every year, with leaders increasingly treating turnover as a cost of operations.
In construction, 80 percent of leaders worry younger generations are not entering the trades fast enough to sustain the industry long term, while 90 percent of education leaders think AI use is negatively affecting student learning and 60 percent predict AI will leave students underprepared for professional environments.
The full BambooHR report can be accessed through the company’s website, www.bamboohr.com.
BambooHR conducted the research for the report using an online survey prepared by Method Research and distributed by RepData among 1,248 adults globally. The research included 926 fulltime salaried employees in the U.S. and 322 business leaders, including business owners and C-suite executives, at small and mid-sized organizations. Data was collected from March 24 to April 9.
Is there a good way to be fired? Probably not. But companies today seem hard at work at making the process as miserable as possible.
Massive five-figure firing events from Meta, Walmart and a frighteningly large number of other firms (here’s looking at you, Amazon, Citi and Target) are making front-page news. It’s a process I call “Loud Firing.”
But there’s another way to fire employees: “quiet firing.” That’s when employers don’t even whisper that workers are getting the ax. Instead, managers make jobs so unpleasant and unrewarding that employees will decide to quit on their own.
According to “Are You Being Quiet Fired? Here’s How to Spot the Signs,” an Alora Bopray article in USA Today, a 2025 HR Tech survey of more than 2,000 U.S. managers revealed that 53 percent of employers acknowledged using quiet-firing techniques.
That’s a lot of quiet.
I don’t want to worry you, but if your job is not absolutely perfect in every way, it’s not impossible that you are being quietly fired. Don’t freak out. Hush your mouth and I’ll fill you in on what to look for and listen to with Bopray’s “five clear signs of quiet firing.”
No. 1: Exclusion from Meetings. No one likes meetings, which is why
everyone feels a wave of relief when they learn a meeting took place, where they could have been invited, but weren’t. If this happens once or twice, it’s a gift. Thrice or more, and it’s what Adler University Associate Professor Jason Walker calls a “serious red flag.”
There are a number of ways to respond to a meeting that’s going on without your presence. If meeting rooms in your company are behind glass, and you catch the participants in flagrante delicto, let everyone know that you expect to be included. Smush your puss against the glass and lick your disapproval for all to see.
“Guess you forgot to invite me,” you say after taking a seat at the conference table. Don’t forget to grab a doughnut. You deserve it.
No. 2: Shifting Responsibilities.
If you’re suddenly given new responsibilities, it could mean that management has finally discovered how capable you are. It could also mean they’re counting on you to resign in the face of an impossible workload. Alternatively, the qui-
et-quitting process could include shifting your responsibilities to someone else, leaving you with nothing to do.
Either way, the company is counting on your sterling character to make you quit, rather than fail at an impossible task or flail at a meaningless one. Your job is to prove them wrong. Show that you’re perfectly willing to get paid to do nothing. Heck, your manager has been doing it for years.
No. 3: Support Diminishes.
Having your manager reduce their involvement in your work is a positive for most of us, but be on the lookout for more subtle and sinister quiet-quitting techniques. For example, think it’s a coincidence that your favorite color of Sharpie is no longer available in the supply closet? No way!
You could either buy your own darn Sharpies or quit. In this case, I say quit. Any company that would deny you the basic human right to a magenta Sharpie is pure evil.
No. 4: Development Stops.
Have your one-on-ones become oneon-zeros? When you ask about your future career path, does your manager natter on about nothing? Is the time between promotions measured in decades and your raises counted in pennies?
If your company has written you off,
the hope is that you will write them off and quit. Don’t give them the satisfaction. Hang on as long as you can. You can always get ridiculously rich writing a business humor column.
No. 5: Policy-Driven Quiet Firing. Make no mistake, the increasing number of companies implementing an RTO (return-to-office policy) are clearly executing a quiet-quitting strategy. It will get worse once all those happier-at-home workers have bailed.
Expect an RTR (return-to-residence) policy to follow. Prepare to tie yourself to your Aeron chair and refuse to budge. Kicking you out of your calm, peaceful office and making you spend all day in your messy, hectic home is truly sadistic.
Remember, if you are a target of quiet quitting, make a ruckus. Attend every meeting. Talk to the people in power. Refuse meaningless assignments with minimal support. In short, make yourself so noisy and so noticed that no one in management will have the guts to shush you out the door. It’s our mantra for 2026. Don’t get fired. Get loud!
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.
Becky Ginos The City Journals
There’s a new face on the Davis Chamber of Commerce leadership team. Rebekah Lowe has come aboard as the new director of business development.
Lowe has been involved with the chamber for more than five years and brings a wealth of experience with her.
“I’ve been on committees with the chamber for the last several years,” said Lowe. “I’ve been a Lakesider for probably four or five years and then I’ve been on the Women in Business Executive Committee for about three years.”
Lowe said she has been working in a volunteer role. “I saw an opportunity come up when their previous director of business development took another opportunity at another company. I saw the chamber was hiring and I just knew that I would love it. I just feel like it’s a really good fit.”
Lowe grew up in Kaysville. “I’ve been in Davis County almost my whole life, just a few years outside for college. After I first got married, I lived in Salt Lake and Murray, but I got back to Davis County as soon as I could because I just love Davis County. I’ve lived in Woods Cross for about 23 years now.”
In 2013, Lowe had a setback when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. “I went through the full treatment: surgeries, chemo, radiation, everything.”
Lowe talks very openly about it. “I have worked very closely with the American Cancer Society and helped with fundraising. I try to increase awareness about it because I was only 34 when I was diagnosed and that was quite young.”
Several other family members have also gone through cancer, she said. “A sister just older than me, we’ve both gone through breast cancer and we’re quite close in our relationship, and she and I started holding a charity ball fundraising event to raise money for making strides for the American Cancer Society.”
Lowe said it’s their way of celebrating life. “You’ve got to live while you’re living. It’s a way to give back to others that are going through similar experiences.”
For the past 20 years, Lowe said she’s been in outside sales. “My longest tenure was with UPS,” she said. “I worked with UPS for 17 years but about 10 of that was in sales. I’ve worked for small companies and large corporations. I just really fell in love with the chamber and their mission and helping connect the businesses to the community and to each other.”
Lowe said people have told her that she has a gift for helping people feel comfortable and at ease. “People just open up to me and I think that’s been a natural way for me to be in roles like this. I like being with people and this is a way I can do that and feel like I’m making a difference.”
Her primary role will be to increase new membership, she said. “I’ll be working with businesses to join the chamber and help them get involved and communicate the value of the chamber to them as an organization and help support any of the chamber events.”
Lowe also oversees the Lakesider group. “That’s our ambassador group that attends ribbon-cuttings and just helps get the word out to the community about new members. I’m also over
our two networking groups that meet as well. So our Business Alliance and Chamber Connections, I help oversee those with our committee chairs and make sure that those are running smoothly and that members have a good experience.”
Lowe lives life to the fullest and brings that energy to the chamber.
“We’re so excited to have Rebekah on
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.
Furniture Row has introduced the Joybird gallery inside its store at 54 W. Ikea Way, Draper. A new way for shoppers to experience the popular online-only furniture brand, Joybird is known for its modern design, bold color and custom upholstery options. Shoppers in the Salt Lake area can now explore the curated Joybird gallery featuring select Joybird pieces that they can sit in, feel, and compare in-person before purchasing,
Jordanelle Ridge has announced the grand opening of its new deli and cafe at the Jordanelle Ridge Barn, located at 2013 Coyote Canyon Parkway in Heber City. Designed as a
our team,” said Davis Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Angie Osguthorpe. “She’s the whole package. She has experience, organizational skills and community connection skills.” She loves working with businesses, said Osguthorpe. “She connects with them on a professional and personal level. She’s a joy to work with. She always comes in happy.”
central gathering place for dining, recreation and community connection, the new space offers a menu of casual cafe favorites, including artisanal sandwiches, fresh salads and specialty coffee beverages.
D1 Training , a leading fitness enrichment concept utilizing the five core tenets of athletic-based training, has opened a new location at 681 South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan. The new group fitness facility employs a sports-science backed training regimen led by certified trainers to help people of all ages achieve their sport and fitness goals.
Want to see your business reported here? Send news or a release to nowopen@ slbusinessjournal.com.
Elite Equipment Rentals, a Roosevelt-based provider of specialized equipment rentals and services, has acquired ISG Inc. and ISG Rents, a Mechanicsville, Virginia-based provider of equipment distribution and rental services in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Elite said the move marks a significant step in its continued national expansion, strengthening its geographic footprint and enhancing its ability to serve customers with greater speed, availability and localized support.
“With ISG’s strong regional presence, built over more than 40 years of service to municipalities and contractors across Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and beyond, Elite will expand both its rental and parts and service capabilities, delivering increased fleet availability and improved responsiveness to customers across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast markets,” a release concerning the deal said.
Elite Equipment Rentals provides equipment rentals, parts and service, supporting customers across a range of industries with operations nationwide and a growing network of service locations in addition to its Roosevelt headquarters.
“This acquisition represents a trans -
formational step forward for Elite as we continue to grow our national footprint. The combination of Elite Equipment and ISG will diversify our geographic footprint, vendor partners and customer base while meaningfully enhancing the combined offerings,” said Chris Chapman, CEO of Elite Equipment Rentals. “ISG has built an outstanding reputation with a loyal customer base, and we are excited to build on that foundation, bringing expanded resources, enhanced service capabilities and additional equipment solutions to customers across the region.”
“Joining forces with Elite is an exciting next chapter for ISG and for the customers we’ve served for over four decades,” said Ben Jones, president of ISG. “This partnership brings greater resources and expanded capabilities to our team and our customers, while preserving the local relationships and expertise that have always defined who we are.”
ISG will continue to operate under its existing brand in the near term, with plans to integrate into the Elite platform over time. This approach ensures continuity for customers and employees while enabling a seamless transition and long-term growth, Elite said.
Becklar, an Ogden-based critical event monitoring company, has acquired Legacy Security Services Inc., a wholesale monitoring provider headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina.
With nearly 2 million subscribers across North America, Becklar provides emergency response for home security systems, fire protection and medical emergency alarms.
Legacy Security Services has been a wholesale partner to security dealers since its founding in 2007 by the Few and Brown families. Legacy provides central station services, workforce safety and remote video technology, with a second location in Denham Springs, Louisiana.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the outstanding Legacy team and their valued dealer partners to the Becklar family,” said Justin Bailey, president of Becklar Monitoring. “Legacy’s culture of consistently delivering a high level of service, building relationships of trust and offering forward-thinking solutions aligns perfectly with our own. These exceptional qualities are among the countless reasons we’re immensely enthusias-
tic about this new chapter together.”
“This acquisition represents a pivotal and transformative next step for Legacy,” said Jeff Few, Legacy’s CEO. “Becklar’s undisputed leadership in monitoring and connected safety services, paired with its investment in cutting-edge technology, automation and industry-leading scalable infrastructure, makes it a desirable long-term partner for our team and dealers. Together, we will seek to unlock the industry’s greatest capabilities, maximize resiliency and deliver the most innovative solutions to help our dealers achieve unprecedented growth.”
Bailey said the acquisition will give Becklar new channels for recurring monthly revenue growth and expand its service offerings, adding video remote guarding, personal emergency response systems and workforce safety solutions. The merger will also provide improved facility, signal path and people redundancy for Becklar’s nine monitoring centers across the U.S. and Canada.
Legacy Security will transition to the Becklar brand while maintaining the same team of employees.
Medallion Bank names Haley to replace Poulton as CEO
Medallion Bank, a Salt Lake City bank specializing in consumer loans for the purchase of recreational vehicles, boats and home improvements, has announced that bank president Justin Haley will become CEO, replacing retiring CEO Donald Poulton, who will join the bank’s board of directors and become chair of its risk committee. Poulton will retire as CEO on June 30.
“Don has been an exceptional leader and steward of Medallion Bank,” said Andrew Murstein, president and CEO of Medallion Financial Corp., the bank’s parent company. “We are grateful for his many contributions and, in his new role as chair of the risk committee, for enhancing the continued oversight of the bank’s stellar risk management and first-in-class regulatory compliance framework.”
“I am pleased to be leaving Medallion Bank in highly capable hands,” said Poulton. “Justin has been instrumental in building Medallion Bank’s consumer lending platforms over the past 14 years, drawing on more than 30 years of broader banking experience. His leadership, market knowledge, and commitment to excellence position him exceptionally well to lead Medallion Bank into its next chapter of growth. I look forward to sup-
porting the bank in my role as risk committee chair and remain confident in the bank’s long-term prospects.”
Haley has been with Medallion Bank for 14 years, most recently overseeing day-to-day operations, strategic initiatives and business development. His deep knowledge of the bank’s lending platforms, regulatory relationships and operational infrastructure positions him to continue the bank’s trajectory of disciplined growth and profitability, Medallion Financial said in its announcement.
“We have a strong team at Medallion Bank, and I am grateful for the confidence placed in me by the board and by Don,” said Haley. “Medallion Bank has grown into a premier specialty finance lender with quality assets, strong capital ratios and best-in-class performance metrics. We expect to build on this foundation by continuing our growth in home improvement and recreation lending, expanding our fintech strategic partnerships, and delivering sustained, longterm value to both the bank’s and Medallion Financial Corp.’s shareholders.”
In addition to its consumer loan business, Medallion Bank provides loan origination services to fintech strategic partners. It is a Utah-chartered, FDIC-insured industrial bank.
new
Enbridge Gas has announced the appointment of Heidi Bredenholler-Prasad as president of Enbridge Gas Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. Bredenholler-Prasad assumed her new role on June 7.
Enbridge is the natural gas utility that was formerly Dominion Energy, and prior to that, Questar, and is a descendent of Mountain Fuel Supply in Utah. It serves more than 1.2 million customers across Utah, Wyoming and Idaho.
Bredenholler-Prasad brings experience leading large-scale energy infrastructure development, working with large industrial and commercial customers and advancing strategic growth initiatives across North America.
“As this region continues to grow, En-
bridge Gas is focused on meeting the evolving energy needs, affordably, reliably and safely, and supporting households, businesses and long-term economic competitiveness,” said Bredenholler-Prasad. “Our commitment is ensuring that our energy infrastructure keeps pace with the growth and demand, especially when it’s most needed. We are laser-focused on keeping our rates affordable. I’m looking forward to capturing new opportunities and collaborating with business, municipal and commercial partners.”
Enbridge Gas is owned by Enbridge, a North American energy transportation and distribution company based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with U.S. headquarters in Houston.
Company news information may be sent to brice.w@thecityjournals.com.
Main Street in Helper is the downtown district that Utahns most want to be “brought back to life,” according to a survey by financial media company MarketBeat. (Tom Haraldsen, Salt Lake Business Journal)
• The National Federation of Independent Business in Utah has given 54 of the Utah Legislature’s 104 lawmakers perfect scores for the 2025-26 session. The group includes 16 senators and 38 representatives, based on their support of Main Street positions on eight issues. Except for one with a 20 percent voting record, no senator or representative had less than a 57 percent score. NFIB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan and member-driven association founded in 1943.
• Three Utah cities are on a list for having the “most trusted business owners,” compiled by business financing company Advance Funds Network and based on a survey. They are Brigham City (No. 86 nationally), Cedar City (No. 108) and Heber City (No. 137). The top location nationally is Greeneville, Tennessee. Details are at https://advancefundsnetwork.com/howmany-small-business-owners-still-relyon-handshake-deals-2026-survey/.
• Main Street in Helper is the downtown district that Utahns most want to be “brought back to life,” according to a survey by financial media company MarketBeat . It is followed by Main Street in Price . When asked what they would most like to see return to historic downtowns, respondents were most likely to point to diners, cafes and restaurants (24 percent), followed by live music/entertainment venues and farmers’ markets/street fairs (both at 19 percent). Twenty-two percent of Utah respondents said many Main Streets in the state are in need of a serious comeback.
• Utah is ranked No. 20 on a list of “best states for an affordable summer road trip” in 2026, based on an analysis by Dunhill Travel Deal , a source for travel deal discovery. It compared gasoline prices, hotel costs, everyday expenses, road quality, and access to attractions across the lower 48 states. On June 1, the average price of regular gasoline in Utah was $4.54, which was the eighth-highest in the country. On that date, the average hotel nightly rate in Utah was $133. Arkansas led the overall rankings, while Wyoming was last. Details are at https://www.dunhilltraveldeals.com/blog/best-states-affordablesummer-road-trip.
• Thirty-six percent of Utah families are buying less fruit and vegetables on each shopping trip, according to a survey by Advance America . The
national average is 34 percent. A little more than half of those surveyed say their overall diet is less healthy than it was two to three years ago. On average, Utah families say they are now spending an extra $28.60 per month just on fruit and vegetables, which is 11 percent more than at the same time last year. People in North Dakota report spending $99 more per month, up 38 percent.
• Lawn care prices average $58.53 per mow in Utah , according to a study by LawnStarter . The national average is $53.59. The highest is $78.15 in Vermont. The lowest is $45.08 in Arizona. The price of an average mow nationally (adjusted for property size) increased by 6.6 percent between 2024 and 2025. Average annual spending is $407, for eight months. The highest level is $576 in Orlando, Florida, for 11 months. Details are at https://www.lawnstarter. com/blog/studies/lawn-care-costs/.
• 47G , the state’s aerospace and defense organization, in partnership with Utah Tech Week and the Nucleus Institute , has announced “Hard Tech Week,” scheduled for Oct. 26-30 at sites across Utah. It will feature demos, warehouse and headquarters tours, plus a behind-the-scenes look at companies and innovations that are rooted in complex physical hardware and deep scientific breakthroughs that are shaping aerospace, defense and manufacturing in an effort to strengthen national security. The flagship event will be 47G’s Zero Gravity Summit, set for Oct. 28-29 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City. Details will be announced at https://www.47g. org/hard-tech-week.
• Chem-Dry , a carpet and upholstery cleaning service that uses the power of carbonation for cleaning, is undergoing a transfer in ownership of one of its Utah franchise locations: Larson’s Chem-Dry . The carpet cleaning service is part of the BELFOR Franchise Group family of brands. The franchise location is now owned and operated by brothers Emmitt and Chandler Stevens . Emmitt Stevens has a background in business finance and marketing, and Chandler Stevens has a landscaping background and was an apprentice at Stevens Family Chem-Dry, which has been owned and operated by their father, Shon, for the past 15 years. Shon Stevens will serve as their lead advisor. Founded in 1977, Chem-Dry has over 3,000 franchisees and over 1,000 locations in 25 countries.
• Swig , a Lehi-based beverage brand, has signed a multi-unit franchise agreement with operators Alex and Alan Knox to bring the brand to Colorado Springs, Colorado. The 10-unit deal will mark Swig’s entry into that state. The first location is expected to open by the end of 2026. Founded in 2010 in St. George, Swig now has more than 150 locations across 16 states.
• The Governor’s Office of Economic Development board has changed the company name on an economic development incentive awarded in January. The incentive is now for LS Electric Utah Inc. It had been awarded to MCM Engineering II Inc., a switchgear
manufacturer, to grow manufacturing and product development and to add 250 jobs over the next decade in a $168 million expansion project in Enoch in Iron County. All other elements of the incentive award remain intact. MCM has been in Enoch since 2009. Since 2020, it has been a part of LS Electric America, a subsidiary of South Korea-based LS Electric Co. Ltd.
• GlobalMed Logistix , an Atlanta-based logistics partner to the medical device industry, has announced it will open a new facility in Salt Lake City, establishing a bi-coastal distribution and logistics network purpose-built for the medtech industry. The 75,000-squarefoot facility will open in October in the Raceway Commerce Center near Salt Lake City International Airport. It will support medtech manufacturers with specialized services, including inventory management, order fulfillment, surgical tray and kit assembly, warehousing, reverse logistics, quality control, and tissue storage and distribution. The move marks GMLx’s first major expansion since becoming a standalone company earlier this year with the backing of healthcare investor Water Street Healthcare Partners.
• Pmtbox , an Orem-based enterprise commerce platform built to unify payments, risk and data for merchants, has announced $15 million in seed funding, led by Tandem Ventures , with participation from Element Ventures; Cynosure Investment Partners; and Aaron Skonnard , founder and CEO of Pluralsight. Pmtbox already serves approximately 1,300 customers. The company says it will use the funds to build an ECP that replaces today’s fragmented web of vendors, tools and siloed data streams with a unified view of payments, risk and data for merchants. Supplemental to expanding the company’s commerce architecture, the funding will be used to expand its engineering, risk and enterprise teams while accelerating enterprise go-to-market efforts across verticals where commerce complexity is highest. Joining the Pmtbox board of directors is Alex Bean , founding partner at Tandem Ventures, while Nick Thomas , founder of Finicity, also joins as an independent director.
• The Mindshare Institute , a Murray-based investment and development platform focused on addressing market failures in the healthcare industry, and the Missouri Hospital Association have announced a new collaborative development partnership. MHA is a nonprofit membership organization with 135 member hospitals and health systems. Under the partnership, MHA will provide a capital commitment and collaborate with the Mindshare Institute in a structured process to identify priority market failures, build new mission-driv -
en businesses, and establish additional healthcare utilities. The utilities are nonprofit, nonstock corporations designed to deliver essential products and services at the lowest sustainable cost, advancing innovative solutions to the complex challenges facing healthcare delivery.
• Co-Diagnostics Inc. , a Salt Lake City-based molecular diagnostics company, has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with its longstanding partner in Mexico for the Co-Dx PCR point-of-care platform, including the PCR Pro instrument and associated test kits. It advances the company’s strategy to expand its commercialization network and footprint in Latin America ahead of the platform’s market launch, which remains subject to applicable regulatory review and authorization. The company said it has generated over $18 million in revenue through sales of its Logix Smart PCR tests and clinical lab testing equipment since 2020 with that distribution partner. The agreement establishes the distributor as having exclusive distribution rights for the Co-Dx PCR platform in Mexico, and extends the existing agreement for an additional five years.
• Frazil , a Salt Lake City-based slush brand, has announced a new partnership with the Frisco RoughRiders , becoming the team’s official slush for the current season. The RoughRiders are a Texas League minor league baseball team and the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. The partnership will winclude product sampling, giveaways, and in-game promotions featured across select games. Financial terms were not disclosed. Frazil operates over 50,000 machines across convenience stores, movie theaters, QSRs/LSRs, amusement parks, water parks, stadiums, and family entertainment centers nationwide.
• D.L. Evans Bank , based in Idaho, has announced the first round of donations for the 2026 Employee Directed Donation Initiative . The program gives D.L. Evans Bank employees an opportunity to nominate their favorite nonprofit organizations in Idaho and Utah. Each organization will receive a donation from the bank plus a 5 percent bonus that will be added in the name of the employee who submitted the application. The list includes the Davis Education Foundation (nominated by Jordan Harrison, vice president senior commercial loan officer and branch manager at the Layton branch) and Taylorsville High School’s Wellness Center and Food Pantry (nominated by Sam Taylor, vice president branch manager at the Murray branch).
• Newport National Corp., a real estate development and management company with offices in Carlsbad, California and Salt Lake City, has completed the acquisition of Hobble Creek Business Park, a 31.6-acre, multi-building industrial park in Springville. Sundance Bay, a Salt Lake City-based real estate operator and investment firm, provided the acquisition financing and construction financing for the subsequent buildings. Hobble Creek Business Park currently comprises approximately 260,000 square feet of industrial space across
Company news information may be sent to brice.w@thecityjournals.com.
• Universal Technical Institute, the automotive/diesel, skilled trades, electrical and energy education division of Arizona-based Universal Technical Institute Inc., has named John Balderree as president of its new Salt Lake City campus. Most recently, Balderree held senior roles at BYU Pathway Worldwide, where he led student services and experience initiatives focused on expanding access and improving outcomes. He previously held leadership roles at Western Governors University, as well as earlier roles with UTI and DeVry Education Group focused on admissions, operations and student retention. Scheduled to open in 2027, UTI-Salt Lake City will occupy nearly 113,000 square feet at River Point Plaza at 1553 W. 9000 S., West Jordan. The campus has capacity to serve more than 3,000 students and will offer programs in aviation maintenance technology; automotive and diesel; electrical and industrial maintenance technology; electrical, electronics and industrial technology; electrical, robotics and automation; HVACR; and welding. Universal
Technical Institute Inc. plans to open multiple campuses annually between 2026 and 2029. It was founded in 1965 and has two divisions: UTI and Concorde Career Colleges. The UTI division operates 16 campuses. Concorde operates across 18 campuses in eight states and online.
• The University of Utah’s school of medicine has selected Dr. David B. Larson as its next radiology chair. He takes over Sept. 14. He succeeds interventional radiologist Dr. Charles Ray Jr., who has filled in as interim chair following the resignation of previous leader Dr. Satoshi Minoshima in September. Larsons most recently has served as director of the radiology AI lab, among other roles, at Stanford University. The pediatric radiologist by training and Utah native also previously was executive vice chair and acting chair of Stanford’s Department of Radiology. He first joined Stanford in 2013.
• Sundance Mountain Resort has announced two new staff members to lead and manage its on-site Mountain Veteran Program (MVP): Christine Russ as executive director and Peter Parker as program manager. Sundance is the home
base for MVP, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering wounded and injured veterans through healing, connection and purpose-driven mountain experiences. Russ has experience in military leadership, logistics and service as a former U.S. Army officer. After years of leading teams and supporting missions around the world, she now continues her commitment to service through creating transformative outdoor experiences that help injured veterans reconnect, build confidence, and rediscover purpose. Parker’s background is in leadership, program development and team management. He will help design and deliver meaningful experiences that support veterans through connection, healing and community. MVP provides cost-free, immersive experiences for wounded and injured veterans and a guest through adaptive recreation, wellness practices, creative expression, and opportunities to build community. MVP officially launched its inaugural winter season in February. Summer programming, beginning this month, has expanded, with
three buildings and is 98 percent leased. Newport plans to begin construction on two additional buildings totaling approximately 140,000 square feet in late summer, with an additional 90,000 square feet planned within the next 24 months. At full buildout, the park will encompass approximately 500,000 square feet across six buildings. The planned construction will feature modern, build-to-suit and speculative industrial buildings designed to meet the growing demand from a wide range of industrial users in the region. Newport will oversee all development, leasing, and property management activities at the park.
• Richmond American Homes of Utah Inc. , a subsidiary of Sekisui House U.S. Inc., will have the grand opening for prospective homebuyers at Geneva Estates on June 27, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at 2443 W. 1100 N., Provo. It offers five floor plans for two-story homes. The Richmond American Homes companies operate in Utah and 13 other states.
RECREATION
• Utah City , a 700-acre development in Vineyard, has debuted its new Racquet Club. Flagborough , the developer of Utah City, teamed with Los Angeles-based LVBL on the facility, which features two tennis courts, four padel courts, and six pickleball courts. The LVBL Utah City experience includes adult clinics that blend development with high-energy group play; private lessons tailored to individual growth
and performance; kids camps focused on movement, confidence and long-term fundamentals; and open play sessions designed for constant rotation, competi tion and community.
• Chicken Salad Chick , a fast-casu al chicken salad restaurant, has opened its first Utah location at 2093 W. Pleas ant Grove Blvd., Pleasant Grove. It of fers in-restaurant dining, take-out, third-party delivery, and catering op tions. It is led by father-son owners and operators Michael and Rylan Mills , in their first franchise venture. They make up half of their franchise group, MV&R Legacy Partners LLC , alongside their sons-in-law and brothers-in-law, Tom my Richardson and Trent Valentine The group plans to develop six restau rants in Utah County and another seven in Arizona, which Richardson and Val entine will oversee starting next year. Chicken Salad Chick has more than 335 restaurants across 23 states.
• Jordanelle Ridge , a mas ter-planned community in Heber City, has held the grand opening for its new deli and café. The Barn & Café is at 2013 Coyote Canyon Parkway in He ber City. It offers a menu of casual cafe favorites, including artisanal sandwich es, salads and specialty coffee bever ages. Jordanelle Ridge is a 10,000-acre master plan community adjacent to the Jordanelle Reservoir.
activities such as fly fishing, white-water rafting, wellness experiences, horseback riding, ziplining and other immersive mountain experiences.
• Promontory, a private mountain community in Park City, has appointed Phelix Gardner as chef de cuisine of Sage, the club’s Italian restaurant inside The Hills clubhouse. Gardner has more than 30 years of culinary and hospitality experience. He began his culinary career in Orlando, Florida, where he honed his craft at Walt Disney World and the Peabody Orlando. He also served as executive chef and partner of Salt Lake City’s Pago Restaurant Group, helped pioneer the state’s farm-to-table movement, and oversaw concepts including Pago and the Spanish-inspired Finca, while leading the launches of East Liberty Tap House and Emigration Café. His experience also includes leadership positions at Stanza Italian Bistro, Current Fish & Oyster and the Grand America Hotel. Promontory is a 7,200-acre recreational, private mountain community with 1,924 total homesites (1,047 homes built). The private Promontory Club has approximately 1,155 members.
The conflict with Iran continues, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and 20 percent of the world’s energy supply has been constrained for more than 90 days. At the outset of this conflict, May 15 was often stated as the “pain point” when higher energy prices would begin cutting into economic activity.
Inflation data have pushed higher, with core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) now at 3.3 percent — well above the Fed target of 2 percent. Despite having experienced months of this oil shock, our economy has held up quite well.
Consumption and overall economic activity are reasonably strong, and 2026 is off to a fine start, from a market perspective, with the S&P now posting an 11.25 percent gain year-to-date through May.
Both the energy and equity markets are reflecting an expectation that the Strait will be open relatively soon, assuming that both oil and inflation will be falling throughout the back half of 2026.
Gas prices and interest rates rising Throughout May, negotiations with Iran stumbled forward, and it became clear inflation was being pressured upward by elevated energy costs. Most inflation data pushed higher during May, as the energy inputs finally began to raise broad prices higher. Of course, gasoline prices had already increased sharply, with national average prices jumping above $4.50 per gallon in early May.
Higher energy and inflation data naturally spiked interest rates throughout May. The 10-year Treasury note hit a cyclical high of 4.67 percent midmonth, reflecting rising uncertainty about inflation (and long-term deficit problems).
Toward month-end, Iran-U.S. negotiations took a positive turn, and both oil and interest rates began to fall. The drop in both variables is a welcome sign — but meaningful progress toward re-opening the Strait must be made soon or these variables could resume their upward momentum.
U.S. economy continues to advance
Despite the significant geopolitical and economic uncertainties, both the U.S. economy and equity markets continued to advance in May. Household consumption appears to be holding up well, with additional economic thrust being provided by the remarkable capital expenditure (capex) boom from the AI buildout.
Consumption is likely being bolstered by the wealth effect. Household net worth (as a percentage of discretionary income) is at all-time highs due to phenomenal gains in housing and equity prices over the last 10 to 15 years. This additional wealth likely helps maintain consumption patterns, even
during times of conflict, showing that the K-shaped economy continues unabated.
First-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) was revised lower, but only slightly below our long-term trend growth rate of 2 percent. Most forecasters expect the remainder of 2026 to bring normal 2 percent growth, despite the issues with the Iran conflict. This hammers home the reality that the U.S. is much less energy dependent than we’ve ever been.
Mid-month, we witnessed one of the best earnings seasons in history. In aggregate, S&P 500 earnings grew nearly 28 percent. Profit margins expanded to all-time highs above 13 percent, and the outlook for both margins and earnings remains optimistic. Consequently, the market spiked sharply, with the S&P 500 rising 5.25 percent for the month (11.25 percent YTD).
The labor market has been a consistent worry over the past year, with job creation nearly non-existent. However, in May, we received our third positive report for payroll growth for 2026. Job creation appears to have moved back up to more normal levels, at around 125,000 jobs per month. If sustained, this trend would indicate the labor market has recovered from a long period of unacceptably low job creation.
Certain measures of consumer sentiment continue to worsen, with some surveys showing readings at or near all-time lows. This reflects the fatigue settling in on
the average household, as they struggle to keep up with cost-of-living increases that are eating up most of their discretionary income. As inflation increases spending at a faster rate than wages can grow, savings rates have fallen sharply. The U.S. savings rate is now at 2.7 percent, one of its lowest readings in history.
May economic summary and our outlook
The U.S. economy continues to hold steady at or near our normal growth rate of 2 percent. The closing of the Strait and the spike in oil prices and inflation have not, thus far, severely hampered either the economy or markets. The stock market is riding a powerful surge of earnings growth, spurred by huge hyperscaler profits and an AI capex boom.
Economic and market optimism is clearly contingent on the Strait re-opening, bringing oil and inflation down in the back half of the year. If these prove to be false hopes, then growth and earnings forecasts will be revised downward. We are cautiously optimistic that political realities will necessitate a resolution to the conflict, and that current market assumptions will become reality. Market returns have already been surprisingly robust for 2026, but we foresee modest additional gains throughout the remainder of the year.
Eric Kelley is the chief investment officer at UMB Bank
The American worker is too mentally drained to even look for a new job
According to a new poll on the Glassdoor website, more than half of U.S. workers (53 percent) of the 1,300 professionals they surveyed say they’ve paused their job search. Why? To protect their mental health.
It’s a figure that captures something economists rarely quantify: the exhaustion tax. The psychic cost of a labor market that demands constant hustle while delivering, for many, almost nothing in return.
Glassdoor explains the reason: The structural backdrop helps explain why. Then-Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell gave the condition a name last September: the “low-hire, low-fire” economy. The St. Louis Fed has since quantified it: As of late 2025, the hiring rate had fallen to 3.3 percent — just 0.5 percentage points above the all-time low recorded during the depths of the Great Recession in June 2009.
The firing rate, meanwhile, sat at a historically low 1.1 percent. Workers aren’t stupid. They know that there’s nowhere to go right now.
According to Glassdoor, most employers don’t recognize the signs of employee burnout. They can include the following:
1. Chronic exhaustion that sleep doesn’t fix.
2. Growing cynicism or detachment from work.
3. Small tasks suddenly feel overwhelming.
4. Irritability and emotional volatility.
5. Loss of motivation or professional pride.
6. Physical symptoms with no clear medical cause.
7. Withdrawal from colleagues or work activities.
Despite the pressure of having to feel
like you’re “always on,” resting isn’t quitting, according to Stacia Doss, senior manager of content strategy and optimization for Glassdoor. She writes that “it’s part of staying effective. As we approach what’s normally considered the ‘ease of summer’ and with Mental Health Awareness Month upon us, the healthiest job search strategy right now may be the one with boundaries. We’re exploring what it means to engage in a ‘paced job search,’ a sustainable approach that keeps you visible without overextending yourself, preserving the focus, confidence and follow-through you need to land the right role.”
Gen Z workers are finding the job hunt to be significantly more challenging than millennials did, according to Fortune magazine, as they face longer search timelines and higher rejection rates. But the reality
is that it’s not just young workers who are feeling the strain; job search fatigue is hitting everyone hard.
“One of the biggest signs of exhaustion is noticing a lack of emotional regulation — you’re more irritable, more anxious and more frustrated,” said Jade Walters, TEDx speaker and founder of The Ninth Semester. “It can start to reflect on your applications and how you’re showing up in interviews, or you can start comparing yourself to others. You have to set boundaries, because if you keep chugging through and you’re feeling burnt-out, you’re just going to keep hitting a wall.”
Walters writes that knowing when to pause is as important as knowing how to keep going. “Remember: Pausing isn’t the same as stopping. It’s about regulating your emotions so you can return stronger.”
Soltis Investment Advisors, a St. George-based a registered investment adviser firm with approximately $14 billion of client assets, has announced the acquisition of Artifex Financial Group, a financial planning and wealth management firm based in Dayton, Ohio.
Founded in 2007 by Doug Kinsey and Darren Harp, Artifex advises more than $325 million in client assets and serves over 300 client households and local businesses. Soltis said the team brings a planning-first approach and disciplined investment philosophy, working with cli-
ents to support confident, long-term decision-making. The firm also offers active investment management, business consulting and tax and accounting services.
“At Soltis, we look for partners who share our belief that great wealth management starts with trusted relationships,” said Clark Taylor, CEO of Soltis. “I’m thrilled to welcome the Artifex team to the Soltis platform. This will enable us to strengthen our support in the Midwest, with Artifex’s clients continuing to work with the advisors they trust while gaining access to the broader plan-
ning and operational resources of Soltis.”
Kinsey and Harp will maintain active leadership roles within the organization, leveraging a combined 50-plus years of experience to help expand Soltis’ Midwest presence through existing client relationships and industry expertise.
“Since Artifex’s founding, our focus has been helping clients navigate complex financial decisions through thoughtful planning and disciplined investing,” said Kinsey. “This partnership with Soltis allows us to continue serving our clients while giving them access to a deeper
investment team and expanded planning resources.”
“Doug and I built Artifex on a shared commitment to client relationships, trust and long-term stewardship,” said Harp. “With Soltis, we are thrilled to continue to support our clients while helping to expand the firm’s presence and growth across the Midwest.”
Soltis provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management services to individuals and families, as well as retirement plan sponsor services.
Information about upcoming events may be sent to brice.w@thecityjournals.com.
June 23-24
StartFEST, a Silicon Slopes event. Location is Mountain America Event Center at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, 12033 S. Lone Peak Parkway, Draper. Cost is $50, with proceeds funding Start School, Silicon Slopes’ free entrepreneurship program. Details are at www.siliconslopes.com/events/.
June 23-25
“Travel, Gear & Adventure Show,” presented by the Travel Goods Association and bringing together top brands, innovators, retailers, creators, media and adventurers to explore the future of travel gear, outdoor equipment and adventurous experiences. Location is the Salt Palace Convention Center, 90 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City. Details are at https://travelgoods.org/ events/145338.
June 23, 10-11 a.m.
“Ready to Rise: USBCI Qualifications & Preparation,” presented by the Women’s Business Center of Utah and Utah Small Business Credit Initiative (USBCI) and focusing on how to access low-interest funding for a business. Class will review the requirements for qualifying for a USBCI loan, covering both federal and state underwriting guidelines. It will also provide a brief overview of the required documents and how to prepare to work with banks and lenders to successfully secure funding. Speakers are Jennifer Curtis, Governor’s Office of Economic Development USBCI consultant and loan processor, and Rafaela Eguiguren, GOED USBCI program specialist. Event takes place online. Free. Details are at wbcutah.org.
June 23, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Women in Business, an Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce event. Speaker Anna Davidson of the Ogden City Police Department will discuss “Raising Your Voice for Others and Yourself.” Location is Jeremiah’s Lodge & Garden, 1329 W. 12th St., Marriott-Slaterville. Cost is $25 for members and first-time guests, $35 for nonmembers. Details are at ogdenweberchamber.com.
June 23, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Women in Business Summer Social, a South Valley Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Market Street Grill, 2985 E. Cottonwood Parkway, Cottonwood Heights. Cost is $23 for members, $35 for nonmembers. Details are at southvalleychamber.com.
June 23, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Professional Development Series, a ChamberWest event. Speaker Shawn Richards, CEO and founder of Blue Sky Business Consulting, will discuss “Aligning Generations, Seizing Results: Embracing the Opportunity of a Multi-Generational Workforce.” Location is Hampton Inn West Jordan, 3923 W. Center Park Drive, West Jordan. Details are at chamberwest.com.
June 23, 2-3 p.m.
“The Most Important Conversation on Women’s Health,” an Ember Women event. Speaker Heather Darling of Fika Infusion will discuss hormones, perimenopause, menopause and the many ways these changes impact ener-
gy, sleep, mood, focus, weight and overall well-being. Location is Kiln, 1895 E. Rodeo Walk Drive, Suite B200, Holladay. Cost is $35. Details are at https:// www.ember-women.com/event-details/ most-important-conversation-on-womens-health.
June 24, 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. Details are at davischamberofcommerce. com.
June 24, 3-5 p.m.
“Timberwood Creek: Hybrid Mass Timber Housing Tour,” providing an in-depth look at Timberwood Creek, a permanent supportive housing project in Layton, funded and developed by Davis Behavioral Health. The project features a hybrid structural system combining mass timber — including cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor panels and glue-laminated timber (glulam) beams — with light-frame wood walls and steel framing. Location is 850 S. Main St., Layton. Cost is $20. Participants are asked to bring their own PPE as limited quantities will be available on-site. Registration can be completed at Eventbrite.com.
June 24, 5-6 p.m.
Legal Workshop (in English and Spanish), a Small Business Development Center event. Location is Orem/Provo SBDC at Utah Valley University. Details are at https://clients.utahsbdc.org/events. aspx.
June 24, 5-6:30 p.m.
“Connect After Hours,” a South Valley Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Premier Pickleball Club, 5163 Denali Park Drive, Herriman. Cost is $15 for members, $25 for nonmembers. Details are at southvalleychamber.com.
June 24, 6-7 p.m.
“Facebook/Instagram Ads: Create and Manage Ads Like a Pro,” a Small Business Development Center event that takes place online. Details are at https:// clients.utahsbdc.org/events.aspx.
June 25, 6-7 p.m.
Intellectual Property Clinic, a Small Business Development Center event that takes place online. Details are at https://clients.utahsbdc.org/events. aspx.
June 26, 6:30 a.m.
Golf Tournament, a South Valley Chamber of Commerce event. Check-in and breakfast begin at 6:30 p.m. Shotgun start is at 7:30 a.m. Lunch program, auction and other activities begin at 12:30 p.m. Location is Old Mill Golf Course, 6080 Wasatch Blvd., Holladay. Details are at www.southvalleychamber.com/ svcgolf/.
June 30-July 2
Western Governors’ Association Annual Meeting, featuring keynote addresses and panel discussions. Meeting will serve as the capstone of Gov. Spencer Cox’s WGA chair initiative titled “Energy Superabundance: Unlocking Prosperity in the West,” which will officially conclude with the release of a special policy report featuring federal recommendations to bolster the nation’s energy production, transmission and storage. Location
is Deer Valley. Details are at https://web. cvent.com/event/a59720f8-4416-4240bdc2-d21565203cf8/summary.
June 30, 6:30 p.m.
“Big Hat” Award Ceremony, honoring Col. Daniel L. and Joy Cornelius, a Top of Utah Military Affairs event recognizing their contributions and in conjunction with the Hill Air Force Base’s farewell celebration. Location is Skaggs Gallery (Museum), 7961 Cottonwood St., Building 1955, Hill Air Force Base. Details are at ogdenweberchamber.com.
July 1, 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 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 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, 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 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 first-time 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, 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 davischamberof commerce.com.
