saltlakebusinessjournal.com
August 10, 2026 | Volume 4, Issue 30
$1.50
INSIDE EMERY COUNTY Nuclear developer gets state incentive Page 3 SALT LAKE COUNTY Coalition has plans for Great Salt Lake Page 5 SAN JUAN COUNTY Rare earth processor under construction Page 7
EARNINGS REPORT Pages 6 PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Page 13 BUSINESS CALENDAR Page 14
Sponsored by:
Already the home to significant nuclear energy activity, such as this EnergySolutions spent fuel burial site, Tooele County has been chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy as a finalist to host a federal Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus. The massive installation will be built in one of five states, including Utah. (Courtesy EnergySolutions)
DOE picks Utah as finalist to develop Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus in Tooele County John Rogers Salt Lake Business Journal
Driving Excellence Forward
Pages 8-9
From an initial list of 28 sites in 26 states, Utah has been selected as one of five potential hosts for a federal nuclear energy campus. Utah leaders have touted the proposal as potentially bringing billions of dollars in investment and thousands of jobs to the state. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus (NLIC) program is an initiative of the Trump administration to help restore the country’s domestic nuclear fuel supply chain. Utah’s choice was marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the state of Utah and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) establishing a framework for exploring the potential development of an NLIC in Tooele County. The DOE said the other states in the running for the campus are Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Idaho. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright also signed MOUs with the four other states. “I’m pleased to announce that after reviewing 28 applications from 26
states, the Energy Department has selected five initial contenders to further explore building Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses,” Wright said at the MOU signing. “These campuses will be massive generators of economic growth, create thousands of high-paying jobs, and be crucial to unleashing America’s nuclear renaissance.” The state and Tooele County jointly announced in March that they were responding to the federal invitation to apply and had identified a location in Tooele County as a potential site. Officials have not publicly announced a final site or detailed development plan. According to DOE projections, a campus could attract up to $50 billion in capital investment, generate as much as $10 billion in state and local tax revenue and create nearly 25,000 jobs. Those figures are estimates for a potential campus, not commitments for investment or employment made specifically to Utah. The proposed innovation campus would co-locate multiple steps of the nuclear lifecycle at one site, including enrichment, fuel fabrication, recycling and reprocessing of used nuclear fuel, and waste disposal. The concept aligns with Utah’s longterm energy strategy and commitment
YOUR #1 BUSINESS BANKING SOLUTION Get personalized guidance and premium business services at macu.com/business.
to power the homes and businesses in its communities with the safe, adequate, reliable, affordable, secure and clean energy they need, according to an official from the Utah Office of Energy Development (OED). Co-location would also provide a collaborative environment where government, industry and academia can work together to build the supply chain, workforce and jobs of the future. “America’s future depends on affordable, abundant energy,” said Gov. Spencer J. Cox. “Utah seeks to build a complete energy ecosystem, from fuel production and processing to advanced reactors and the technologies they power — creating new opportunities for innovation, investment and good-paying jobs. We’re doing it through responsible stewardship of the land and resources we’ve been entrusted with. We’re grateful to Secretary Wright for his leadership and partnership.” “This is an historic opportunity,” said Emy Lesofski, energy advisor to the governor and director of OED. “The economic and infrastructure benefits of hosting a campus like this are generational; we won’t see another project with similar benefits for decades. We see NUCLEAR page 2
Insured by NCUA Loans on approved credit. Membership required—based on eligibility.
2 | August 10, 2026
SALT LAKE BUSINESS JOURNAL
NUCLEAR
Women Tech Award honorees announced
recognize there is still work ahead, but Utah has the innovative spirit necessary to take on a project of this scale and to do it in a safe and responsible way that respects and protects Utahns and the environment we treasure. We look forward to continuing this process with our federal partners.” The MOU is one of several steps in selecting a final site to host the NLIC. Additional analysis, stakeholder engagement and future agreements will be required before any final decision is made. Utah officials said they would share future announcements and opportunities for public engagement as the federal review process continues. U.S. Sen. John Curtis praised Utah’s selection, describing it as an opportunity to strengthen the country’s domestic nuclear supply chain and create high-paying jobs. “Utah has earned a reputation as one of the nation’s leaders in advanced energy innovation, and today’s announcement is another vote of confidence in our state’s future,” Curtis said in a statement released by his office. Tooele County Council Chair Jared Hamner was quoted by the Tooele Transcript Bulletin at the time of the application in March, saying that the county’s existing nuclear-industry experience and infrastructure could make it a suitable host. “Hosting an innovation campus in Tooele would provide an opportunity to supercharge our economy by bringing long-term, high-paying jobs that will support Tooele families,” Hamner said. Environmental groups have raised concerns about expanding nuclear fuel processing and waste management in the state. In a statement on its website, HEAL Utah said that a campus could increase the amount and types of radioactive material transported to or stored in the state. The organization also raised questions about groundwater, air patterns, the Great Salt Lake, public health protections, and opportunities for residents to participate in decisions. The DOE has said campus activities may include reprocessing and final disposition of used nuclear fuel, but it has not specified which activities would be included at a Utah campus. The department has said each proposal would depend on state priorities, regional capabilities and future agreements. The DOE’s announcement of the finalists did not specify a date for announcing the final campus location.
The Women Tech Council has announced this year’s Women Tech Awards honorees. The awards recognize leaders advancing innovation and driving economic impact. The group will be honored at a special ceremony Sept. 17, 3-5 p.m., at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. “These remarkable women are leading the innovations transforming industries,” Women Tech Council said in making the announcement. The 2026 honorees are: • Alice Schwarze, head of research, Office of AI Policy, Utah Department of Commerce. • Alisha Garrett, chief enterprise strategy officer, Utah Transit Authority. • Amy Osmond Cook, co-founder and chief marketing officer, Fullcast. • Arpana Sinha, vice president, Goldman Sachs. • Becki Wright, CEO and founder, Proximity. • Brittany Woytko, thermal vacuum manager, Space Dynamics Laboratory. • Cara Baldwin, head of product operations and chief legal officer, Torus. • Carmen Kivisild, CEO and founder, Elnora AI Inc. • Christina Baum, vice president of digital transformation, Utah Valley University.
from page 1
• Crystal Anderson, vice president of product, operations and chief of staff, MX. • Katherina Holzhauser, founder and strategic advisor, Argosia Consulting. • Kristin Wihera, director of fund operations, Nucleus. • Lucy Andre, CEO, Stadler. • Mandi Fang, senior vice president of client operations and site leader, Cox Automotive. • Mattie Langford, director of data science, Entrata. • Michele Hollist, senior chemical engineer analyst, OxEon Energy. • Murium Iqbal, staff machine learning engineer, Shopify. • Nancy Fulda, associate professor of computer science, Brigham Young University. • Rasha Qudisat, chief engagement and effectiveness officer, Utah Valley University. • Sara Heath, vice president and senior manager of cybersecurity engineering, Zions Bancorporation. • Sarah Teofilo, chief information officer, ARUP Laboratories. • Tamara Moores Todd, chief health informatics officer and vice president of digital technology services, Intermountain Health. • Theresa O’Leary, chief information officer, CHG Healthcare. The Women Tech Council also announced its 2026 Women Tech Rising
Star honorees, for emerging leaders have fewer than 10 years in the technology workforce yet already creating meaningful impact through innovation, leadership and technical excellence. The Rising Star honorees are: • Amy Corvidae, senior AI engineer, Pattern • Elizabeth Christensen, data analyst, Swire Coca-Cola. • Grace Borges, software engineer, CHG Healthcare. • Haley Roberts, senior staff engineer, Experian/NeuroID. • Himani Madan, software engineer, Nice Systems Inc. • Ishpreet Kaur, senior machine learning engineer, Nice Systems Inc. • Jennifer Schroll, product design strategy lead, PassiveLogic. • Kaili Smith, senior vice president of marketing innovation, JobNimbus. • Paige Knudsen, co-founder and CEO, ReVroom. Over the coming weeks, the council will announce its Career Transformation honorees, for leaders powering reinvention and lifelong learning, and Student Pathway honorees, the next generation of innovators preparing to shape the future. The Distinguished Women Tech honorees will be revealed live on stage during the Sept. 17 celebration. Tickets to the event cost $175, with company sections (10 seats) available for $1,650. Details are at https://luma. com/lh71johv.
Six Utahns among regional Ernst & Young award winners
Six Utahns are regional winners in Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 awards program. A dozen people overall earned the Mountain West Awards for an area including Utah, Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. In its fifth decade, the program honors founders, entrepreneurs and CEOs driving innovation, growth and long-term value. A panel of past winners and business leaders judged candidates on entrepreneurial spirit, purpose-driven leadership, and measurable growth and impact. Utah recipients are: • Brian Beutler, Alianza, Pleasant Grove.
• Allyse Jackson, Beehive Meals, Layton. • Ryan Anderson, Filevine, Salt Lake City. • Kyle Freebairn, Frazil, Salt Lake City. • Brett Hopkins, Ken Garff Automotive Group, Salt Lake City. • Jeff Reynolds, Sensapure Flavors, Salt Lake City. “Six Utah leaders taking home regional honors is a strong showing for a state that’s become synonymous with Silicon Slopes’ momentum — spanning fintech, logistics, food, legal tech and consumer brands,” Ernst & Young said in announcing the winners.
The six Utahns join other regional winners advancing to the national Entrepreneur of the Year competition, with award winners announced at the Strategic Growth Forum in November. The national overall winner goes on to represent the U.S. at the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year Award event in May 2027. “These winners are founders reshaping their industries and redefining what it means to lead as entrepreneurs,” said Jim Wilson, EY partner and Entrepreneur of the Year Mountain West program co-director, noting their vision is building companies that create jobs and strengthen communities across the region.
August 10, 2026 | 3
SALT LAKE BUSINESS JOURNAL
Nuclear reactor development gets state incentive Brice Wallace Salt Lake Business Journal A company developing small nuclear reactors to generate electricity is getting a boost from the state. Valar Atomics Inc. recently was approved for a tax credit for up to $106.7 million over 10 years from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development for its project within the San Rafael Energy Research Lab near Orangeville in Emery County. According to GOED documents, the company’s capital investment in the Emery County project is estimated at nearly $1.3 billion. Valar’s “Ward 250” is a research reactor built for validating engineering and is being deployed under the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Pilot Program. Cory Gardner, head of commercial development for Valar, told the GOED board that the first reactor “is really intended to just tap the gas pedal a little bit” and that Valar’s ultimate goal is “to be here forever, turn on reactors forever — as many as we possibly can.” Nuclear energy startup Valar envisions standardized microreactors on centralized company “gigasites” that can directly power data centers, hydrogen production and synthetic fuels. Gardner said demand is strong, adding that “our customers need power yesterday.” Lance Soffe, GOED’s senior vice president of economic growth, said many of GOED’s corporate recruitment projects “are asking for a lot of energy … so we need as much energy generation as we can get.” Valar contends that only nuclear power “offers the combination of low cost, rapid timeline, and operational reliability necessary to power America’s technological and industrial renaissance.”
The Utah San Rafael Energy Lab near Orangeville in Emery County is the site for development of Valar Atomics’ Ward 250 test reactor. The project has been awarded an incentive from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development board. (Image from Utah Office of Energy Development website) Late last year, Valar completed experiments that validated the core physics and control systems that underpin Ward 250’s design. In June, the Ward 250 achieved full-power fueled criticality at the San Rafael lab — the first time a DOE-authorized advanced reactor has been built and operated outside of the national laboratory system. Also in June, Ward 250 generated electricity to power an Nvidia Blackwell, an architecture used in generative AI and accelerated computing. Valar said it was the first and only time that an advanced reactor has directly powered AI infrastructure and also the first time in history a startup generated nuclear power. Gardner told the GOED board that the first reactor, if fully fueled and powered, could produce 5 megawatts of electricity and a commercial unit could produce 25 MW. “It is our plan and intention and it’s part of why we’re making this [incentive] application, we’re going to build, install and
turn on additional reactors in this geography,” he said, adding that Valar is working to develop waterless architectures that pair nuclear generation with the power needs of AI computing. “We are going to start small,” he said. “We are hiring in, I would say, the ‘dozens’ range today for jobs, but eventually that will need to be hundreds….” The GOED incentive is tied to the creation of 275 jobs over 10 years, with those jobs paying an average of $137,567. Total wages for the jobs are estimated at nearly $337.9 million over 10 years, and new state tax revenue is projected at nearly $213.5 million during that time. “We chose Utah because Utah was open for business and is really at the forefront in the nation for advanced energy development,” Gardner said. “We want to continue to lean into the state and the county and that region of Utah in bringing additional nuclear energy to the area.” Jordan Leonard, Emery County com-
missioner, noted that the county is “an energy-producing county, and so we’re excited for this development.” “Our community is in support, and then the local job creation is a big deal,” he said. “I bet there’s a few dozen of our locals that work out at Valar and there’s more to come. So [with] that local job creation, there are people moving back to our communities that have those skills sets and we’re getting young families back into our communities.” “It’s an exciting time because I don’t think many of our citizens understand the demands and requirements that we need for energy,” said Carine Clark, chair of the GOED board. “It’s pretty exciting to have this incentive, and I think it’s just the very beginning of some of the most exciting energy work that we’ll be able to do.” 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. The state incentive was approved by the GOED board on July 9, yet nearly a month later, GOED had not issued or posted on its website a news release about the incentive. Last October, GOED (at the time known as the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity) did not issue a release about a pair of nuclear-energy incentives it approved for a California-based company’s subsidiary to build a plant in Utah County to manufacture equipment for uranium enrichment. The incentives for Utah Energy LLC, the subsidiary of General Matter Inc., are a tax credit of up to nearly $81 million over 20 years for a $1.64 billion project that ultimately would create 200 jobs, and a tax credit for up to $16 million over 20 years tied to the creation of 793 jobs in a $249 million project.
Murphy Door buys Idaho-based Merrill Hardwoods
Murphy Door, an Ogden-based manufacturer of bookcase doors, murphy beds and hidden-door furniture, has announced the acquisition of Merrill Hardwoods Division, a 30-yearold hardwood manufacturing company based in Rigby, Idaho. Merrill Hardwoods founder Kris Merrill was instrumental in designing and building the first Murphy Door products more than 13 years ago. Murphy Door will take over Merrill’s 22,500-square-foot facility in Rigby, in-
cluding its buildings, all manufacturing equipment and a team of approximately 10 employees, for $3.25 million through traditional financing. Merrill’s full staff will become Murphy Door employees, with plans to double headcount at the facility within 12 months, Murphy’s announcement said. The acquisition is expected to add approximately $5 million to Murphy Door’s top line over the next 12 months and opens new product categories, including floating shelves, stair risers,
SUNPRINTSOLUTIONS.COM
801-972-6120
DIRECT MAIL
veneered products, custom hardwood supply and furniture lines such as nightstands, dressers, armoires, vanities and kitchen cabinets. “Kris helped us build our very first product over a decade ago, so bringing MHD into the Murphy Door family feels less like an acquisition and more like coming home,” said Jeremy Barker, CEO of Murphy Door. “The equipment, expertise in hardwood processing and manufacturing, as well as the team they’ve built in Rigby over 30 years, is
exactly what we need to take Murphy Door into its next chapter.” Founded in 2012, Murphy Door offers a range of concealed door systems, including bookcase doors, mirror doors, pantry doors, wine rack doors and fully customizable hidden room products for residential, multifamily, hospitality and commercial applications. Murphy Door has major production facilities in Utah and Kentucky and sells direct-to-consumer and through select retail partners like Home Depot.
2 0 2 6 B E S T O F S TAT E W I N N E R F O R P R I N T I N G A N D P U B L I S H I N G
FULFILLMENT
PACKAGING
4 | August 10, 2026
SALT LAKE BUSINESS JOURNAL
Salt Lake Bees name Corina Nelson as team’s general manager Brice Wallace Salt Lake Business Journal Miller Sports & Entertainment has named Corina Nelson as general manager of the Salt Lake Bees. Nelson, who currently serves as vice president of baseball operations, will assume the role while continuing her current responsibilities with the organization. Nelson succeeds Ty Wardle, who will continue serving as executive vice president of Miller Sports & Entertainment and chief revenue officer, with executive oversight of the Bees and leadership of revenue and partnership strategy across all platform businesses. With the appointment, Nelson becomes the first female general manager under Miller Sports & Entertainment ownership. She becomes just the third individual to hold the position since Larry H. Miller purchased the team in 2005, following Wardle (2024-26) and Marc Amicone, who served as general nanager from 2005 to 2024. “I am incredibly honored and excited
Corina Nelson is the new general manager for the Salt Lake Bees after serving as vice president of baseball operations under former GM Ty Wardle. (Courtesy Miller Sports & Entertainment) for the opportunity to serve as the general manager of the Salt Lake Bees,” Nelson said in a release. “This organization has built something truly special, both on the field and throughout the community, and I am grateful for the opportunity to help
continue that momentum. I look forward to working alongside our talented staff, players, partners and fans as we continue to raise the standard for what the Salt Lake Bees can be.” Nelson brings more than two decades of
leadership experience within the Larry H. Miller organization to the role. She began her career with the company in 2005 as a team member with Mayan Restaurants before spending 17 years with Megaplex, where she advanced through leadership positions as a supervisor, department manager and general manager. “Corina has been an outstanding leader for our organization and has earned this opportunity through her dedication, vision and commitment to excellence,” Wardle said. “She has been instrumental in the growth of the Salt Lake Bees, and I’m excited to see her lead the club into its next chapter.” Since joining Miller Sports & Entertainment, Nelson has elevated the fan experience, strengthened community partnerships and supported the successful transition into the Bees’ new era at The Ballpark at America First Square in Downtown Daybreak. The company said her appointment “reflects the organization’s continued commitment to innovation, operational excellence and creating memorable experiences for fans throughout Utah.”
Cox names Barnes commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources Gov. Spencer J. Cox has appointed Jamie Barnes as the new commissioner of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, succeeding Joel Ferry. Barnes’ appointment is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate. Barnes is currently the Utah state forester and director of the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. The division administers forestry programs that support healthy forests, manages wildfire response on state and private lands and oversees the use and preservation of Utah’s sovereign lands. Barnes assumes her new role Aug. 31.
“Jamie Barnes understands that responsible stewardship requires strong relationships, practical solutions and a willingness to work through difficult issues,” said Cox. “She has earned the trust of partners across Utah and brings years of experience managing our forests, wildfire response and state lands. She is exceptionally prepared to lead the Department of Natural Resources and I am grateful she has agreed to serve.” During his tenure, Ferry helped secure record funding for the Great Salt Lake, negotiated agreements that secured significant water rights for the lake, helped
Presented by :
2026 TOPICS Ready to level up your business? Participate in hands-on workshops led by field experts and gain practical tools in... HR Sales Social Media Marketing And more! Leadership
REGISTER FOR AN UPCOMING SESSION TODAY!
Jamie Barnes legal sector, where she gained experience in criminal and civil law. Barnes holds a master’s degree in natural resources from the University of Idaho and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Weber State University.
Now
Mark your calendars for the 2026 Business Boot Camp series February 18 June 17 October 21
launch the governor’s Operation Gigawatt initiative and strengthened the management and protection of Utah’s natural resources for future generations, the release from the governor’s office said. “I’m grateful for Commissioner Ferry’s leadership and for the strong foundation he has built at the department,” said Barnes. “I appreciate the governor’s confidence in me and am honored by the opportunity to continue serving Utah. I look forward to working alongside the dedicated employees of the Department of Natural Resources and our partners across the state to responsibly manage the lands, water and natural resources Utahns depend on.” Before becoming division director, Barnes managed the division’s sovereign lands program. She has worked extensively with state, local and federal agencies, landowners and other stakeholders to develop solutions to complex natural resource and land management issues. Barnes joined the division in 2011 as a paralegal, focusing on complex legal matters. She began her career in the private
April 15 August 19 SCAN THE QR CODE FOR MORE INFORMATION
OPEN 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.
oline pumps, the store features QT Kitchens, with made-to-order meals, breakfast sandwiches, fresh pizza, hot dogs topped your way and grab-andgo options.
QuikTrip (QT) has opened its first Utah store at 1675 W. 12th Street in Marriott-Slaterville. It’s the first of several new locations the company plans to open in Utah over the next few months. In addition to its 16 gas-
Haus of Aesthetics, a Utah-based medical spa, has opened its third location at 8191 S. 700 E. in Sandy. The practice’s aesthetic and wellness services also have locations in Salt Lake City and Provo.
Want to see your business reported here? Send news or a release to nowopen@slbusinessjournal.com.
SALT LAKE BUSINESS JOURNAL
DOWN to TO BUSINESS Down Business
August 10, 2026 | 5
Is your business risk-taking calculated or reckless?
Back in the early 1980s, my job was to find ways to gain traction for Utah’s newest daily newspaper. The Daily Spectrum was breaking even financially and on the doorstep (pun intended) of becoming a significant force in the state’s publishing sector. As its publisher, I needed to find a little more oomph to push it over the top. Meanwhile, the St. George Marathon was on the same trajectory. Launched with just 57 runners about the same time as The Spectrum went daily, it was transitioning from a local fun run into a premier, high-profile destination event known for its fast, scenic downhill course. In the summer of 1982, I decided to hitch the newspaper’s wagon to the soaring marathon and signed a significant sponsorship agreement with Sherm Miller of the St. George Parks and Recreation Department. That year, the St. George Marathon surpassed Salt Lake City’s Deseret News Marathon in size, attracting over 1,500 runners. (The 2026 marathon has a cap of 6,000 participants). I thought a partnership was worth the risk. Our management team opted to go allin with the sponsorship and I sent a memo to the staff, encouraging participation. When no one stepped forward, we decided we’d take a chance and seek out someone on the team to “volunteer” to run. As Mark Marine tells the story, he had little choice when confronted in my office by a “half-dozen of his bosses.” With only a couple of months until the race, he was likely the only person at the paper already in decent enough shape to jump right into training and then survive the 26-mile,
385-yard ordeal. He was willing and did just that. Mark was the resident jock at The Spectrum. A football and baseball star at Judge JOHN Memorial High ROGERS School in Salt Lake, he had come to Dixie College on a baseball scholarship. He had married and stayed in St. George, eventually ending up as a manager in our circulation department — and catcher on the company softball team. In a time when the success of a daily newspaper depended on 12-year-old kids getting the morning edition on porches before school, Mark was the guy at our paper that made that happen. Always willing, Mark suggested he write a weekly column about his venture into long-distance running. The “Spectrum First Timer” was born. The task before him was arduous. Mark employed his friend and neighbor, legendary marathoner Debbie Zockol, as his mentor and trainer. Mark’s humor was second to none as he penned (with assistance from a newsroom full of helpers) a regular column about the preparation for his first (and, as it turned out, last) marathon. A platoon of Spectrum journalists and photographers were often seen following his training runs, and his carefully retooled accounts were accompanied by pictures of a struggling novice runner. The company printed T-shirts that read
“I’m a St. George Marathon First Timer, easily superior fighter at the county fair just like Mark Marine” and offered the had seriously injured Mark? shirts free of charge to anyone running Nearly every successful enterprise has the race for the first time. On race day, the achieved its stature by trying something blue-trimmed shirts were abundant. new — by taking risks. It’s a strategy that Well, Mark not only finished the race, is not only acceptable, it’s often the only but posted a respectable time. The risk way to get to the top. For your business, had paid off. that may be a new product launch, enThe next summer, the “First Timer” tering a new market or investing in new trained and fought in the traditional Washtechnology — like AI. ington County Fair boxing tournament. I But risk-taking must be done wisely. If bought him the mandatory silk shorts and driven by emotion, overconfidence or ina shimmering, embroidered robe, but his complete information, your risk is bound weight paired him with an experienced for failure. Base everything you do on rebrawler, and Mark search, careful lasted just a few planning and a rounds. But again, realistic underYes, risk-taking is inthe hype and goodstanding of the herently failure-prone. will that came to possible rewards the paper was worth and consequencOtherwise, it would be called any investment. es. It is unwise ‘sure-thing-taking.’” In 1984, the idea to gamble with a was to enter Mark company’s finanJim McMahon, as a first-time bull cial stability, repBYU and NFL quarterback rider in the annuutation or legal al Lions’ Dixie responsibilities Roundup rodeo. But our insurance carrier without thoroughly evaluating the potenstepped in, and the First Timer went back tial consequences. to wrestling 12-year-old paperboys who A business that never takes chances missed their delivery deadlines. may avoid losses, but it may also miss So, what do these fun stories have to do valuable opportunities for growth. Seek to with business? understand the difference between those When is it OK for a business to take a risks being calculated and reckless. risk? Were the “First Timer” promotions John Rogers is a 50-year veteran of Utah risky for a budding daily newspaper? media. He retired as managing editor of What if the marathon try had flopped? the Salt Lake Business Journal in 2025 Did we give Mark enough time to preand is now a part-time contributor to pare? What if he didn’t finish and became the paper. He can be reached at john.r@ an offense to serious runners? What if the thecityjournals.com.
“
American Conservation Coalition report proposes plan to refill Great Salt Lake
The American Conservation Coalition (ACC), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization involved in the conservative environmental movement, has published a new report outlining its plan of action to refill the Great Salt Lake. The report was authored by Shawn Regan, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and senior advisor to ACC. In February, President Donald Trump called for $1 billion to be allocated to Great Salt Lake restoration. The ACC is proposing ways to use the allocation. “If the United States can successfully
save the iconic landmark, it would be the first country to restore a declining saltwater lake,” the ACC said in introducing its study. “We have a Teddy Rooseveltian opportunity in front of us,” said ACC President Chris Barnard. “The Great Salt Lake is not only a valued part of our natural heritage but also deeply important for biodiversity, the local economy and human health. By prioritizing the restoration of the lake, our nation can set an example for the rest of the world in conservation efforts.” The report provides recommendations
for a potential $1 billion investment, presented through the lens of state leadership and market-based solutions. Recommendations include voluntary water leasing, agricultural partnerships, infrastructure improvements and supply augmentation through technology such as cloud seeding. The ACC said the effort should be stateled, not federally led, to ensure Utahns are at the center of the work. In May, ACC members in Utah partnered with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to host a restoration service
project at the Great Salt Lake and its surrounding trails. Volunteers focused on enhancing trail accessibility and removing invasive weed species, resulting in improved public access and enriched visitor experiences since the completion of the projects. Before the event, Gov. Spencer Cox addressed the group about the future of the Great Salt Lake and the significant efforts required for its restoration in the coming years. The full ACC report on the restoration of the Great Salt Lake can be found on the organization’s website at https://acc.eco.
6 | August 10, 2026
SALT LAKE BUSINESS JOURNAL
EARNINGS Roundup ROUNDUP Earnings The following are recent financial reports as posted by selected Utah corporations:
Extra Space Storage
Extra Space Storage Inc., based in Salt Lake City, reported funds from operations (FFO) attributable to common stockholders and unit holders of $457.3 million, or $2.07 per share, for the quarter ended June 30. That compares with $439.3 million, or $1.98 per share, for the year-earlier quarter. The company reported net income attributable to common stockholders of $263.5 million, or $1.25 per share, in the most recent quarter. That compares with $249.7 million, or $1.18 per share, for the same quarter a year earlier. Total same-store revenues in the most recent quarter was $690.2 million, up from $674.3 million a year earlier. Extra Space Storage is a real estate investment trust that owns and/or operates 4,410 self-storage stores in 42 states and Washington, D.C. It is the largest operator of self-storage properties in the United States. “Our operating systems and platform continue to optimize performance as we get deeper into the storage sector’s recovery,” Joe Margolis, CEO, said in announcing the results. “Core FFO growth of 4.9 percent for the quarter was driven by strong occupancy, improving store performance, and smart expense control — with meaningful contributions from our ancillary businesses, including third-party management and bridge lending. We are never satisfied with, and always seek to improve, our technology, systems, process and people, and it is gratifying to see that commitment reflected in our results.”
Zions
Zions Bancorporation NA, based in Salt Lake City, reported net earnings applicable to common shareholders of $452 million, or $3.05 per share, for the second quarter. That compares with $243 million, or $1.63 per share, for the same quarter a year earlier. Zions operates banks in 11 western states. “We’re very pleased with the quarterly results, as earnings per share, excluding net equity investment gains, increased 10 percent to $1.74, compared to $1.58 in the same period a year ago,” Harris H. Simmons, chairman and CEO, said in announcing the results. Simmons said the company was “particularly pleased” with the organic growth in customer-related noninterest income, which rose 11 percent over last year’s period, with particularly strong growth from capital markets activities, and solid growth in a variety of other categories. “While loan growth compared to last year’s quarter was modest at 3 percent, annualized linked-quarter growth was strong at 8 percent. Deposits grew 4 percent from last year and were seasonally lower compared to the first quarter.”
SkyWest
SkyWest Inc., based in St. George, reported net income of $100.7 million, or $2.54 per share, for the second quarter. That compares with $120.3 million, or $2.91 per share, for the same quarter a year earlier.
Revenue in the most recent quarter was $1.1 billion, up from $1 billion in the year-earlier quarter. The company said the results were hurt by higher fuel costs per gallon. SkyWest Inc. is the holding company for SkyWest Airlines Inc., SkyWest Charter LLC and SkyWest Leasing Inc. SkyWest Airlines has a fleet of approximately 500 aircraft connecting passengers to over 240 destinations throughout North America. “Our block hour production outlook remains solid, as we prepare to invest in owning and operating 34 more E175s through the end of 2028,” Chip Childs, president and CEO, said in announcing the results. “We believe that the fleet initiatives and investments we continue to make create long-term value and cash flow that benefits our people, our customers and our shareholders. I want to thank our team for their steady, good work through an unusually volatile quarter.”
Waystar
Waystar Holding Corp., with dual headquarters in Lehi and Kentucky, reported net income of $40.9 million, or 21 cents per share, for the second quarter ended June 30. That compares with $32.2 million, or 18 cents per share, for the same quarter a year earlier. Revenue in the most recent quarter totaled $319.7 million, up from $270.7 million in the year-earlier quarter. Waystar provides healthcare payment software. “Waystar delivered another solid quarter, driven by healthy demand, disciplined execution and growing provider adoption,” Matt Hawkins, CEO, said in announcing the results. “Our unique position connecting providers, payers, and patients — combined with the breadth of our platform, the scale of our data, and the accelerating impact of our AltitudeAI capabilities — helps clients improve performance and reinforces our confidence in the long-term opportunity ahead.”
Sportsman’s
Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings Inc., based in West Jordan, reported a net loss of $21.8 million, or 56 cents per share, for the fiscal first quarter ended May 2. That compares with $21.3 million, or 56 cents per share, in the same quarter a year earlier. Net sales totaled $256.1 million in the most recent quarter, compared with $249.1 million in the year-earlier quarter. Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings is an outdoor specialty retailer. “I’m pleased with our first-quarter performance, as same store sales increased 2.1 percent compared to last year, despite continued consumer economic pressure and higher fuel prices,” Paul Stone, president and CEO, said in announcing the results. “During the first quarter, we successfully executed our spring Range Days event, highlighting key products and leading brands across our personal protection and shooting sports categories. Combined with external event-driven demand, these efforts contributed to strong growth in hunting and shooting sports. “Our e-commerce business also delivered strong results this quarter, with sales increasing by over 6 per-
cent compared to last year. As part of our 2026 strategy, we continue to enhance the online shopping and website experience, and we are encouraged by the early results. Looking ahead, we remain focused on driving profitable growth, maintaining disciplined inventory management, and generating positive free cash flow to further strengthen our balance sheet through debt reduction.”
Franklin Covey
Franklin Covey Co., based in Salt Lake City, reported net income of $3 million, or 27 cents per share, for the fiscal third quarter ended May 31. That compares with a net loss of $1.4 million, or 11 cents per share, for the same quarter a year earlier. Revenue in the most recent quarter totaled $67.8 million, up from $67.1 million for the same quarter a year earlier. Franklin Covey is a leadership and organizational performance company. “We are pleased with the continued strong momentum particularly in Enterprise North America, which achieved 4 percent growth in invoiced amounts in the third quarter, or 6 percent year-todate, and where we achieved 18 percent growth in our deferred revenue balance year-over-year, and over 25 percent growth in our year-to-date services booking pace — all of which position us well for meaningful growth in fiscal 2027,” Paul Walker, president and CEO, said in announcing the results. “This marks our third consecutive quarter of invoiced growth in Enterprise North America, reflecting both the increasing strategic importance of what we do for our clients and the traction from the go-to-market transformation we implemented last year. “While we experienced an unexpected headwind in our Education business due to a last-minute state budget reduction that removed funding for a large state contract, the underlying strength of our business across both Enterprise North America and Education remains solid and we remain confident in our trajectory for meaningful growth in fiscal 2027 and beyond.”
Domo
Domo Inc., based in American Fork, reported a net loss of $14.2 million, or 33 cents per share, for the fiscal first quarter ended April 30. That compares with a loss of $18 million, or 45 cents per share, for the same quarter a year earlier. Revenue in the most recent quarter totaled $79.4 million, down from $80.1 million in the year-earlier quarter. Domo offers an AI and data products platform for companies. It recently announced plans to sell substantially all its assets and some of its liabilities to Progress Software Corp. in a $400 million deal. Massachusetts-based Progress makes infrastructure software for building, deploying and managing business applications.
FatPipe
FatPipe Inc., based in Salt Lake City, reported net income of $1.2 million, or 9 cents per share, for the fiscal first quarter ended June 30. That compares with $700,000, or 5 cents per share, for the same quarter a year earlier.
Revenue in the most recent quarter totaled $5.03 million, up from $3.9 million in the year-earlier quarter. FatPipe is focused on wide area network and single-stack cybersecurity solutions. “We continue to see opportunities as organizations place greater emphasis on network resilience, cybersecurity, and simplified infrastructure management,” Ragula Bhaskar, CEO, said in announcing the results. “Our focus remains on disciplined execution, expanding our channel relationships, growing our sales team, and increasing the contribution from recurring revenue.” ““Customers are increasingly looking for an integrated approach to networking, monitoring and security,” said Sanchaita Datta, president and CTO. “We continue to invest in our technology, centralized visibility, network monitoring and single-stack cybersecurity capabilities to help customers improve their network performance and security without adding unnecessary complexity.”
FinWise
FinWise Bancorp, based in Murray, reported net income of $2.1 million, or 15 cents per share, for the second quarter ended June 30. That compares with $4.1 million, or 29 cents per share, for the same quarter a year earlier. FinWise Bancorp is the parent company of FinWise Bank. The parent company reported that loan originations totaled $1.6 billion, compared to $1.7 billion for the quarter ended March 31, and $1.5 billion for the second quarter of the prior year. Net interest income was $28.7 million, compared to $28.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, and $14.7 million for the second quarter of the prior year. “Our second-quarter earnings of 15 cents per share were short of our expectations driven by higher provision expense on the loans where we retain credit risk,” Jim Noone, CEO, said in announcing the results. “The higher provision resulted primarily from losses incurred on sale of property collateralizing, and increased reserves on, classified loans. We will continue to empower our credit and compliance teams to identify and prune risk proactively as they did this quarter, reducing our non-performing loan balance by $12.1 million from $49.8 million last quarter to $37.7 million this quarter. “While we are actively managing risk in the portfolio, the business continues to make solid progress. We delivered $1.6 billion in originations from an increasingly diversified partner base. Tangible book value per share grew to $14.55 and we signed a new strategic program with a well-established prepaid card provider that will use a combination of our BIN Sponsorship and MoneyRails services. Our sales pipeline today is materially stronger, and potentially more meaningful to our bottom line. And our recently announced acquisition of the Tallied Technologies platform makes FinWise more competitive for new partners that require a broad product offering. Taken together, FinWise remains well positioned for sustained growth and firmly focused on translating that strength and momentum into lasting value for our shareholders.”
August 10, 2026 | 7
SALT LAKE BUSINESS JOURNAL
Heavy rare earth processing plant under construction in southeastern Utah John Rogers Salt Lake Business Journal Energy Fuels Inc., operator of the White Mesa Mill south of Blanding in San Juan County, has announced that it has begun construction on an expansion of the mill to enable the large-scale production of heavy rare earth oxides. The new products are used to produce rare earth metals, alloys and magnets essential to the automotive, robotics, data center, energy and defense industries. The White Mesa Mill is currently the only operating conventional ore-processing uranium mill in the United States. Energy Fuels said the expansion of the company’s existing light rare earth oxide production capacity to also produce heavy rare earth oxides is a critical step the company ramps up its integrated “mine-tomagnet” program. “Heavy rare earth production is a severe pinch point in North American and European permanent magnet supply chains,” said Ross Bhappu, president and CEO of Energy Fuels. “Given our ongoing success in piloting heavy rare earth oxides, we are now ready to advance to commercial-scale production. This is an exciting moment for Energy Fuels as we continue to build a fully integrated Western mine-to-magnet rare earth platform with proven commercial expertise at each step of the supply chain.”
Energy Fuels has begun an expansion of its White Mesa uranium mill near Blanding that will give it the capability of producing critical heavy rare earth oxides, currently available almost entirely from China. (Courtesy Energy Fuels Inc.) “The production of both light and heavy rare earth oxides is a key differentiator of Energy Fuels’ strategy to build an integrated rare earth supply chain that is expected to be completed upon the anticipated closing of our pending acquisitions of Australian Strategic Materials and Vacuumschmelze,” Bhappu added. Energy Fuels announced an agreement to buy the Australian and German companies earlier this year. The White Mesa facility currently has the capacity to produce up to 1,000 tons per year of light rare earth neodymium-praseodymium oxide. The planned expansion is designed to add the capacity
to produce up to approximately 20 tons of terbium, 120 tons of dysprosium, 140 tons of samarium, 20 tons of europium and 140 tons of gadolinium oxides per year. These are all considered heavy rare earth oxides. Terbium and dysprosium are added to most high-end rare earth permanent magnets to increase resistance to demagnetization and high-temperature performance, and to enable smaller, lighter, more powerful and more efficient electric motors. As much as 95 percent of the world’s supply of terbium and dysprosium is mined and processed in China. Even ores mined outside of China are processed there, giving China almost total control
of the world supply of those essential elements. In recent months, the Trump administration has launched initiatives to ramp up domestic mining and processing of rare earth minerals. Energy Fuels plans to complete the dysprosium and terbium circuits at the mill by the end of 2027, depending on market needs, with commissioning targeted for the fourth quarter. The samarium, europium and gadolinium circuits are expected to be completed by the end of 2028. The company expects government grants and loans to cover a large portion of the estimated $104 million construction cost. Energy Fuels had roughly $960 million in working capital at the end of March to fund the equity portion of the project. In June, Energy Fuels received a conditional commitment from the U.S. Office of Strategic Capital for a 20-year loan of up to $725 million. The financing would support the White Mesa expansion and a proposed American rare earth metals and alloy plant. Energy Fuels plans to further expand the White Mesa Mill in 2029 to increase overall capacity in anticipation of further demand for its output. Energy Fuels focuses its efforts on uranium, rare earth elements, heavy mineral sands, vanadium and medical isotopes. It also owns and operates several conventional and in-situ recovery uranium projects in the western United States.
Utah joins feds, California in suit against Hims & Hers The office of the Utah Attorney General has announced that the state, including the Utah Department of Commerce’s Division of Consumer Protection, has joined in a lawsuit against a San Francisco company, claiming the firm charged consumers for subscriptions they never authorized and mishandled their private health data which was shared with advertisers without consent. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the state of California are also plaintiffs in the action. The suit was filed in federal court for the Northern District of California against Hims & Hers Health Inc. and alleges the company violated the Utah Consumer Sales Practices Act, along with several
California and federal statutes. Hims & Hers is an online telehealth platform that connects patients with medical providers for remote consultations and direct-to-consumer prescription treatments. The company primarily treats sexual health, hair loss, mental health and weight loss. The complaint alleges that Hims & Hers promoted a “free consult” that ultimately led consumers to be enrolled in recurring prescription subscriptions based solely on an online intake form, without proper consent or prior consultation with a healthcare provider. When consumers attempted to cancel their subscriptions, Hims & Hers forced them through a convoluted process that obscured the cancellation option, forcing them through multi-
ple survey screens and making it difficult to exit the service, the complaint alleges. In addition to these deceptive practices, Hims & Hers is accused of breaching its promises concerning privacy. The company assured consumers that their health information would remain “private and secure,” yet it subsequently shared sensitive data with third-party advertisers, including Meta and Snap. “Hims promised a free consult and secure care. What Utahns actually got was a subscription trap and their most personal health data shipped to advertisers,” said Utah Attorney General Derek Brown. “We’re not letting Hims profit off broken promises — that’s why we’re taking them to court.” “We will not stand idly by while com-
panies exploit consumers’ trust. Hims & Hers not only failed to uphold their promises but also jeopardized the privacy of Utahns who believed their private health information was secure,” said Margaret Woolley Busse, commissioner of the Utah Department of Commerce. “This lawsuit is a clear message: Deceptive practices will not be tolerated in Utah.” The action seeks not only a permanent injunction against Hims & Hers, but also restitution for affected consumers, civil penalties and the disgorgement of profits obtained through the alleged unlawful practices. Utahns affected by Hims & Hers practices can file a complaint at consumerprotection.utah.gov.
8 | August 10, 2026
SALT LAKE BUSINESS JOURNAL
SALT LAKE BUSINESS JOURNAL
August 10, 2026 | 9
10 | August 10, 2026
SALT LAKE BUSINESS JOURNAL
Redemption Bank names Ackley its new CEO Redemption Bank, which opened last September as the nation’s newest Black-owned bank, has named Jan Allen Ackley as its first CEO. The bank is the first black-owned bank headquartered in the Mountain West. Executive Chairman Ashley Bell has led the bank since its acquisition of Holladay Bank and Trust last year. Ackley assumes leadership as the bank expands commercial banking services, launches digital banking and introduces Bank King Card, a first-of-its-kind banking platform that expands economic opportunity while supporting mothers and children working to move from poverty to possibility. Joining Redemption as chief credit officer in October 2025, Ackley has helped build the institution through the transition following the acquisition. As CEO, he will oversee the bank’s commercial banking strategy, lending operations and continued national expansion. “Building Redemption Bank required challenging assumptions about who could own a bank and what a bank could accomplish,” Bell said. “The next era of banking will belong to institutions that combine disciplined commercial banking with innovation and an unwavering commitment to serving customers. Jan has spent nearly four decades helping businesses grow, managing risk and
building lasting relationships. He is the right leader to guide Redemption into that future.” Ackley joined Redemption after serving as chief credit officer at Milestone Bank. He began his banking career at Comerica Bank and has spent nearly four decades in commercial banking and corporate finance. His experience spans mergers and acquisitions, asset-based lending, equipment finance, accounts receivable factoring and commercial real estate. Throughout his career, Ackley has worked with businesses in all 50 states, helping companies secure capital, strengthen cash flow and finance growth. “Our responsibility is straightforward,” Ackley said. “We earn customers’ trust by making sound lending decisions, delivering exceptional banking services and helping businesses grow. That’s how great banks are built, and that’s how Redemption will continue creating opportunity for the customers and communities we serve.” Ackley is a 12-year veteran of the United States Air Force and Ohio Air National Guard, where he served as a training specialist in a communications squadron. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with concentrations in finance and economics from Ohio State University. Ackley and his wife DeAnn have five children and eight grandchildren and reside in Salt Lake City.
Allison Jackson and Brooklyn Sadler prepare dough for Crumbl cookies at the new location at 350 S. 500 West, Bountiful.
Crumbl opens new location, same famous cookies Becky Ginos The City Journals Madison Southwick and Maegan Hymas have always wanted to find a way to work together, so when the opportunity came up to own the Bountiful and Centerville Crumbl bakeries, along with their husbands Dallin Southwick and Mark Hymas, they jumped at the chance. Along with the new ownership, they changed locations from Bountiful Main Street to 350 S. 500 W., Bountiful. “The old location was built almost 10 years ago,” said Madison. “The way the cookie business has changed over time, it didn’t fit the needs anymore. We’re just excited to go to a new spot where we could build it out in the most ideal way and freshen things up for the community.” They’re planning on offering sodas as well, Madison said. “So we had to accommodate for a whole new layout.” The two women said nothing brings their family closer than cookies and working together. “Between us and our family, we’re a party of over 36 nieces, nephews and great grandkids,” said Maegan. “When we’re together, we like to eat and visit, and cookies just make it sweeter.” “My husband Mark and I bought some Crumbl bakeries out of state,” she said. “So this one here in Bountiful is extra-sweet for us because it’s our own family-owned Crumbl. So we’re not totally new to Crumbl but to this area we are.” The Crumbl location will be offering a variety of sodas, said Madison. “You can get plain sodas or you can get all the customization flavors and creamers if you want, so we’ll have endless options.” She said they’re going to stick to the cookies everyone knows. “That’s the great thing about Crumbl, is people who move out of state can order the same cookies there as they can here, which is comforting.” “Our cookie line changes every week,” said Maegan. “We do have four flavors that we offer every week consistently but then six that do change, and we have different themed weeks, which are fun. So we offer
Lauren Jackson and her son Bennett and daughter Ellie enjoy cookies at the Crumbl open house. (Photos by Becky Ginos/The City Journals) the consistency that you can get the same stuff but also the uniqueness of changing out six different cookies every week.” Maegan said Crumbl has also upgraded its original chocolate chip cookie. “It’s gotten great reviews. It’s got dark chocolate and milk chocolate together. We also sell minis, so if the big ones don’t suit you, they can start with the minis.” “We have an open kitchen concept,” said Madison. “When you walk in, you see the mixers. You see the tables where they’re balling out the dough and they’re pulling out ingredients and decorating them. Nothing is kept behind closed doors. We bake everything fresh.” There are no premade cookie mixes or brownie mixes, she said. “Fresh eggs, cream, butter and sugar. Incredible recipes. We’ve got these amazing bakers that are learning how to learn these new recipes every week. Thank you to the community for giving us a chance.”
August 10, 2026 | 11
SALT LAKE BUSINESS JOURNAL
Utah ranked top state in the nation for fourth straight year John Rogers Salt Lake Business Journal Despite what CNBC said about Utah in its recent ranking of the states, U.S. News & World Report still thinks the Beehive State is pretty great. For the fourth year in a row, Utah has been named at the top of the news magazine’s 2026 Best States rankings. “Utah continues to stand among America’s very best, building on a record of economic strength, innovation and fiscal stability,” said a release from the Utah Senate recognizing the honor. “This year’s top overall ranking underscores the strong foundation built by the people of Utah, sound fiscal policies, a thriving business community and strong families and communities.” “Utah’s strength has always come from the people of Utah and their vision to look beyond today and build for tomorrow,” said Senate President J. Stuart Adams. “Being recognized as the nation’s best state for a fourth consecutive year reflects our enduring values and the sound policies that have expanded opportunity, encouraged innovation and strengthened communities. We are proud of what Utahns have built together, and we remain committed to making our state the best place to live, work and raise a family.” The 2026 rankings evaluated all 50 states to capture how they best serve their citizens across a range of categories, including healthcare, education, economy, infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, crime and
U.S. News & World Report has put Utah at the top of its 2026 Best States listing for the fourth straight year. (Adobe Stock photo) corrections and natural environment. “The U.S. News & World Report Best States rankings serve as a critical tool for understanding what drives long-term success in states across the country,” said Eric Gertler, U.S. News executive chairman and CEO. “These rankings objectively evaluate performance, identify opportunities for improvement and ways to learn from the successes of other states. By translating data into actionable insights, the rankings help policymakers, business leaders and residents make informed decisions to improve their lives.” “Being named the No. 1 state is an honor, but what matters most is what that ranking represents: hardworking people,
strong families and neighbors who look out for one another,” said Gov. Spencer Cox. “Utah’s success has never been about government. It comes from Utahns who serve, build, innovate and invest in the future. I’m grateful to everyone who helps make our state the best place to live, work and raise a family.” Utah retained the nation’s No. 1 overall ranking for 2026, while South Dakota climbed six places to place second. Minnesota, North Dakota and Nebraska round out the top five. The results show a strong geographic concentration among states in the Mountain West, Upper Midwest and Sun Belt. Four of the five highest-ranked states are in
the Mountain West or Upper Midwest, reflecting what Gertler described as a broader shift in economic and population growth. “States in the Midwest and South generally moved up the rankings, while several Northeastern states fell substantially, showing how human and financial capital are actively migrating away from highcost areas into more affordable regions,” Gertler told Fox News Digital. Utah’s fourth consecutive first-place finish was built on consistently high scores across several areas rather than dominance in every category. The state placed among the Top 10 in five of the report’s eight major categories. Utah ranked second in both the economy and fiscal stability and fourth in infrastructure. Gertler said the state’s steady performance across multiple measures kept it ahead of rapidly improving competitors. “Utah’s No. 1 ranking comes down to consistency,” he said, citing its economy; fiscal position; education system; and young, expanding workforce. The state’s overall victory came despite ranking 48th in natural environment, illustrating how a weak performance in one area did not prevent a strong overall result. It was environmental concerns, including poor air quality, that placed Utah as the sixth-worst state to live in in the recent CNBC rankings. Utah remained the most consistently successful state across the rankings, while the rise of South Dakota and North Dakota strengthened the Midwest’s position among the nation’s highest-performing regions.
Draper golfer wins exemption into PGA event at Black Desert Brice Wallace Salt Lake Business Journal
Bowen Mauss holds the trophy after winning the Utah State Amateur golf title, earning him an exemption for the Bank of Utah PGA event. (Courtesy Bank of Utah)
The PGA Tour’s Bank of Utah Championship has awarded a sponsor exemption to Bowen Mauss, the 2026 Utah State Amateur Championship winner. Mauss, a native of Draper and a graduate of Corner Canyon High School who will be a sophomore at Arizona State University this fall, defended his title and won the championship for the second consecutive year. Mauss defeated Cameron Crawford 9 & 7 and won the title on the 29th hole of the match. He became the first repeat winner of the event since Preston Summerhays in 2018 and 2019. With the exemption for winning the state amateur, Mauss will play in the Bank of Utah Championship for the second time. He played in the 2024 event as a sponsor exemption. The Bank of Utah Championship will bring PGA Tour
stars to Black Desert Resort for the third straight year Oct. 1-4. Earlier this year, Bank of Utah and the Utah Golf Association announced a strategic partnership that positions the bank as the “Official Banking Partner of the Utah Golf Association,” with the Bank of Utah Championship serving as a platform for elevating Utah golfers and the sport statewide. “We’re proud to see our partnership with the Utah Golf Association create opportunities for the state’s top golfers,” said Benjamin F. Browning, CEO of Bank of Utah, in a release. “We’re excited to welcome Bowen to the Bank of Utah Championship and watch him represent Utah while competing against the world’s best on the PGA Tour stage at Black Desert Resort.” “Congratulations to Bowen on an outstanding performance to capture the Utah State Amateur Championship,” said Easton Folster, executive director of the
Small Business Loans My Utah is where small businesses thrive, and where my bank helps big opportunities unfold! sbaloans@bankofutah.com | (801) 409-5126
www.bankofutah.com/sba-loans
Scan To Get Started
Utah Golf Association, in a release. “He played so well this week and is deserving of the opportunity to play in the Bank of Utah Championship in October. Our partnership with the Bank of Utah provides an environment for elevating golf across Utah while creating stronger connections between our players, championships and the PGA Tour stage. We will be thrilled to watch Bowen compete against some of the best professionals in the world.” In addition to the tournament exemption, Bank of Utah serves as the presenting partner of the Utah Golf Association’s player recognition programs, including Champion of the Month and Player of the Week. These awards celebrate the achievements of local golfers all year long, allowing Bank of Utah and the Utah Golf Association to share the stories of talented players across the state. Tickets for the 2026 Bank of Utah Championship are on sale at BankofUtahChampionship.com.
12 | August 10, 2026
SALT LAKE BUSINESS JOURNAL
More Utah insurers cover TMS treatment for teens Peri Kinder The City Journals As a growing number of teens struggle with depression, some insurance companies are now providing coverage for transcranial magnetic stimulation, a technique proving to be more effective than antidepressant medications. While the FDA initially approved TMS treatment for teens 15 and older in 2024, increased insurance coverage will allow doctors to help their younger patients in a meaningful way. “It has been remarkable to see people of all ages find relief from depression and begin to enjoy life after treatment with TMS,” said Dr. Tom Rayner, a psychiatrist with NeuroHealth. “It has also been rewarding to watch them get better without the many debilitating side effects that medications can bring.” NeuroHealth in South Jordan (10437 S. Temple Drive, Suite 200) uses the NeuroStar TMS non-drug therapy to treat adult patients. As insurers expand TMS coverage to include teens dealing with depression, Rayner hopes to see young patients find lasting results. TMS uses a magnetic pulse to activate neurons, increasing activity in the brain area to improve symptoms of depression. It is a noninvasive procedure, similar to an MRI. Many patients see results in less than one month of treatment. Rayner said the treatment is safe, with
Insurance coverage expands to include TMS treatment for teens. TMS is a noninvasive therapy that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the area of the brain that controls mood. (Courtesy NeuroHealth) almost no side effects. Compared to the weight gain, sedation, fatigue, nausea and diarrhea that commonly occur with antidepressant use, TMS patients might experience a mild to moderate headache during the first few sessions as the brain gets accustomed to the stimulation. “Rates of depression and anxiety have increased among all ages, especially among teenagers and youth,” Rayner said.
“TMS is specifically indicated for teens and other individuals suffering from major depressive disorder, a condition that contributes to sad or irritable moods, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, poor energy, poor motivation, poor sleep and appetite, loss of hope and even suicidal ideation.” Insurers that now allow adolescent TMS treatment in Utah are United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, BCBS Federal Employee
Plan, Regence BCBS and Select Health. Other insurance companies are currently holding reviews, evaluations and evidence assessments to determine if their TMS coverage will be expanded to teens. The health policy team at NeuroStar, a manufacturer and developer of TMS technology, continues to educate insurers across the country that have not yet added adolescent TMS coverage. NeuroStar officials said while they can’t provide a specific timeline for expansion, discussions are ongoing and progress is being made. “Adolescent coverage has already been added to several policies as a direct result of the health policy team’s advocacy efforts,” said NeuroStar Practice Development Manager Jessica Brown. “Some insurers initially expressed hesitancy or indicated they would not move forward with coverage; however, with continued engagement and presentation of clinical evidence, decisions have evolved over time.” Approval can’t come quickly enough for families of teens dealing with depression, but Rayner is pleased that insurance companies are seeing the benefits of TMS and providing assistance to cover the treatment. He advises parents to be proactive in getting their teen into treatment, whether that’s TMS or counseling. “Don’t wait,” he said. “Get help immediately. TMS, medications or therapy all work more effectively earlier in the course of illness. The longer the treatment is delayed, the more difficult it is to get good treatment responses.”
Roth named CEO of South Jordan’s Purgo Scientific
South Jordan-based Purgo Scientific and its veterinary subsidiary, Vetlen, have announced the appointment of Dr. Cherice Roth as CEO. “Roth steps into the role at a pivotal moment as the company scales its innovative refillable therapeutic delivery platform across both veterinary and human medicine,” the company said in its announcement release. Roth brings more than a decade of clinical, industry and executive leadership to Purgo Scientific. A DVM graduate of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medi-
cine with master’s degrees in biochemistry and business administration, she has served in senior roles, including chief veterinary officer of digital pet health for Mars Veterinary Health, lead medical advisor for KeraVet Bio and chief medical officer at Fuzzy. She co-developed the Virtual Care University and MyPetDoc and is listed as an inventor on multiple U.S. patent applications for technologies that expand animal access to care. She is the author of two children’s books championing STEM and veterinary medicine, as well as a textbook on veterinary virtual care and telemedicine.
“Cherice is exactly the leader this company needs at this stage of our growth,” said Mike Benjamin, chairman of the board of Purgo Scientific. “She has spent her entire career turning bold ideas into real-world solutions, and she has an extraordinary gift for seeing a gap in the industry, finding the answer and delivering it. Her vision for accessible, high-quality care aligns perfectly with our mission to provide high-concentration, localized therapies. We could not be more excited to welcome her to the helm.” “Purgo Scientific is one of the most
exciting platforms in animal health and I could not be prouder to lead this team forward,” said Roth. “The ability to provide sustained, targeted and localized therapies that are easily modified has long eluded the tools veterinarians have on their shelves. Our technology changes that. I have always believed that every patient deserves the highest quality of care, and that great science should make its way from the lab into the exam room in the most practical way possible. That is exactly what we are going to deliver.”
HELPING YOU WIN AT
KING OF THE HILL . THE CASE TV620B The CASE TV620B is the strongest compact track loader ever built. And it’s just the start. We’ve got the machine for any kind of job, big or small. Check out our entire compact track loader lineup at CaseCE.com or talk to your dealer. UTAH SALT LAKE CITY 4343 Century Dr. Salt Lake City, UT 84123 Phone: 801-262-5761
LOGAN 453 N 1000 West Logan, UT 84321 Phone: 435-752-1533
NEW MEXICO
COLORADO
ALBUQUERQUE 6301 Edith Blvd. NE. Albuquerque, NM 87107 Phone: 505-433-2246
DURANGO 1097 Hwy 3 Durango, CO 81301 Phone: 970-247-0522
SPRINGVILLE 1350 S. 2000 West Springville, UT 84663 Phone: 801-794-1463 CLIFTON 549 32nd Rd. Clifton, CO 81520 Phone: 970-434-7363
CEDAR CITY 482 N. Main St. Cedar City, UT 84720 Phone: 435-586-4406
©2023 Century Equipment Company. All rights reserved. CASE is a trademark registered in the United States and many other countries, owned by or licensed to CNH Industrial N.V., its subsidiaries or affiliates.
August 10, 2026 | 13
SALT LAKE BUSINESS JOURNAL
PEOPLE on ON THE People the MOVE Move “People on the Move” information should be submitted at saltlakebusinessjournal. com/people-on-the-move. Submissions are for subscribers only.
GOVERNMENT
• Gov. Spencer J. Cox has appointed Jamie Barnes as commissioner of the Utah Department of Natural Resources. Stepping into the role Aug. 31, Barnes succeeds Joel Ferry, who has led the department since June 2022. Barnes has served as Utah state Jamie Barnes forester and director of the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands since August 2021. The division administers forestry programs that support healthy forests, manages wildfire response on state and private lands, and oversees the use and preservation of Utah’s sovereign lands. Before becoming division director, Barnes managed the division’s sovereign lands program, working to develop solutions to complex natural resource and land management issues. Barnes joined the division in 2011 as a paralegal, focusing on complex legal matters. She began her career in the private legal sector, where she gained experience in criminal and civil law. Barnes’ education includes a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Weber State University. • Gov. Spencer J. Cox has appointed Alex Peterson as senior advisor and director of the Utah Office of Families. Pe-
terson succeeds Aimee Winder Newton, who had led the office since its creation in 2022. Peterson will begin her service Sept. 8. She has experience in public policy, strategic development and child protection, Alex Peterson most recently serving as director of strategic development and impact at The Policy Project. She currently serves as the organization’s board chair and policy advisor, with a particular focus on child sexual abuse prevention. Peterson began her career working in Congress before serving as national director of donor relations and personal aide to Ann Romney during Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign. After returning to Utah in 2015, she led corporate relations at doTerra International and volunteered as a researcher and data analyst with the Utah Women & Leadership Project. Created in 2022, the Office of Families advances policies that support parents, protect children and strengthen marriages and families.
MANUFACTURING
• Biomerics, a Salt Lake City-based contract manufacturer serving the interventional medical device market, has appointed Lokram Natarajan as senior vice president of quality. Natarajan will lead Biomerics’ global quality organization, supporting the company’s growth through operational excellence, regulatory leadership and customer-focused
quality systems across its global manufacturing operations. Natarajan has more than three decades of executive leadership experience across the global medical device industry. His Lokram experience spans qualNatarajan ity systems, operational excellence, supplier quality and organizational transformation across complex global manufacturing networks. Prior to joining Biomerics, Natarajan held executive leadership positions with global medical device organizations, most notably Stryker, where he was responsible for enterprise quality strategy, operational excellence, regulatory compliance and organizational transformation. He has led initiatives focused on harmonizing quality systems across multiple manufacturing sites, strengthening cross-functional collaboration, optimizing resource utilization, and creating cultures centered on continuous improvement and accountability. • ThermoWorks, an American Forkbased company that produces professional-grade temperature and measurement tools to commercial kitchens, food processors, restaurants, competition teams and home cooks, has hired Jeremy Yoder as culinary editor. Yoder Jeremy Yoder will help ThermoWorks
develop original culinary content, educational resources, recipes, product testing and practical guidance to help cooks. He will collaborate with the company’s culinary, product, creative and marketing teams. Yoder is the founder and host of “Mad Scientist BBQ,” an educational barbecue platform exploring the techniques, traditions and science of live-fire cooking.
TECHNOLOGY
• Waystar, a provider of healthcare payment software and with dual headquarters in Lehi and Kentucky, has appointed Alpana Wegner as chief financial officer. Wegner succeeds Steve Oreskovich, who has served as CFO for the past eight years and will be transiAlpana Wegner tioning from the role for personal reasons. He will remain with the company as an advisor to support a seamless transition through June 15, 2027. Wegner has more than 25 years of finance and operational leadership experience, including as CFO at several Steve Oreskovich publicly traded companies. Most recently, she served as CFO of Integral Ad Science. She previously served as CFO of Secureworks and Benefitfocus. Earlier in her career, she held senior finance leadership roles at Blackbaud.
BOOK YOUR EVENT IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES
Call today or vist FatCatsFun.com (801)-627-4992
BLUFFDALE
CLINTON
SARATOGA SPRINGS
14 | August 10, 2026
SALT LAKE BUSINESS JOURNAL
CALENDAR Calendar Information about upcoming events may be sent to brice.w@thecityjournals.com.
Aug. 10, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
“Women Rising Leadership Conference,” a Women Leaders Association event featuring keynote presentations and panel discussions. Event takes place online. Cost is $29. Registration can be completed at Eventbrite.com.
Aug. 11, 7:10-9 a.m.
Sandy emPower Breakfast, a South Valley Chamber of Commerce networking event. Speaker Michael Westover will discuss “Build It to Last: Why Every Business Owner Should Plan Their Exit from Day 1.” Location is Legends Pub & Grill-Southtown, 10631 S. Holiday Park Drive, Sandy. Early-bird cost is $29. Details are at southvalleychamber.com.
Aug. 11, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Professional Growth Series Luncheon, a ChamberWest event. Details to be announced at chamberwest.com.
Aug. 12, 9-10 a.m.
“Global Gateway: Mexico,” a World Trade Center Utah event. Presenters Gabriel Lozano and Guillermo Sanchez Chao, attorneys from Greenberg Traurig’s Mexico City office, will discuss opportunities and challenges associated with nearshoring, the legal environment for inbound investment, and Mexico’s continued appeal to companies seeking access to North American markets. Location is Greenberg Traurig, 222 S. Main St., Salt Lake City. Free, but registration is required. Details are at https://luma.com/ripj8gsz.
Aug. 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Women in Leadership, presented by the Mountain West, South Jordan and West Jordan chambers of commerce. Theme is “Brand Camp: Build a Brand People Remember.” Location is Utah Disaster Kleenup, 13081 S. Minuteman Drive, Draper. Details are at https:// sj-chamber.org/.
Aug. 12, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
“Chamber Connections,” a Davis Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Davis Chamber of Commerce, 450 S. Simmons Way, Suite 220, Kaysville. Free. No RSVP required. Chamber membership required for continued attendance. Details are at davischamberofcommerce.com.
Aug. 12, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
“Point Of Leadership,” a Point of the Mountain Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Duncan Aviation, 262 S. 3800 W., Provo. Cost is $25 for members, $30 for nonmembers. Details are at thepointchamber.com.
Aug. 12, noon-1 p.m.
“Lunch and Learn: Powering Your Business: Exploring Energy Strategies and Opportunities in Utah,” presented by the Park City Green Business Program. Discussions will focus on the role that renewable energy can play as one of many strategies businesses can use to understand, reduce and transform the energy used in their day-to-day operations. Experts from Vote Solar, Summit County and U-Crew will discuss the benefits, share success stories, and highlight ways businesses can become more involved in clean and renewable energy initiatives. Featured speakers include Creed McCord, program engineer at U-Crew; Kate Bowman, regulatory director at Vote Solar; and Emily Quinton, Summit County sustainability director and secretary of the Utah Renewable Communities Board. Location is Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau, 1850 Sidewinder Drive, Suite 200, Park City. Details are at https://parkcitygreen.org/events/.
Aug. 12, 4-6 p.m.
“Deep Tech Converge,” a Nucleus event that is a gathering of founders, researchers, investors, innovators and industry leaders for tacos, treats, connections and networking. Location is Lehi Kiln 2, 1850 W. Ashley Blvd., Suite 500, Lehi. Details are at https://luma.com/jajbwt7f.
Aug. 12, 5-7 p.m.
“Business After Hours,” an Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Stewart Stadium at Weber State University, 3870 Stadium Way, Ogden. Details are at ogdenweberchamber.com.
Aug. 12, 6-7:30 p.m.
“Online Marketing Fundamentals,” a Small Business Development Center event that takes place online. Details are at https://clients.utahsbdc.org/ events.aspx.
Aug. 13, 7:30 a.m.-noon
Housing Summit 2026, a ULI (Urban Land Institute) Utah event where public and private sector leaders come together to tackle housing issues. Keynote speaker is Jay Parsons, rental housing economist, advisor and speaker. Location is Little America Hotel, 500 S. Main St., Salt Lake City. Cost ranges from $125 to $155 for members and $170 to $275 for nonmembers. Details are at https://utah. uli.org/events-2.
Aug. 13, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Women in Business Annual Roundtable Event, a Davis Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Texas Roadhouse, 685 S. Ring Road, Layton. Cost is $25 for members, $35 for non-
members. Details are at davischamberofcommerce.com.
Aug. 13, 6-8 p.m.
“Business Essentials,” a Small Business Development Center event that takes place online. Details are at https://clients. utahsbdc.org/events.aspx.
Aug. 18, 9-11 a.m.
Investor Workshop, a 47G event. Theme is “Own Your Brand: LinkedIn Strategies & Executive Presence.” Presenter John Moore, vice president of marketing and brand at 47G, will share practical LinkedIn strategies to increase visibility, strengthen a personal and company brand, and grow meaningful professional connections. Representatives of Silvester & Co. will discuss how executive presence can build credibility, inspire confidence, and elevate their professional impact. Location is Cottonwood Heights (register to see the address). Event is exclusive to 47G investors (formerly known as members). Details are at https://luma. com/0d7v0gvb.
Aug. 18, 11:30 a.m.
“AI: 1 Technology, 3 Perspectives,” a ChamberWest Professional Development Series event. Speakers are Stephenie Lyon, business development representative, Stratus HR; Hassan Ali, CEO, Datasan Labs; and Jason Kidman, CEO and president, Vigilant IT. Location is TownePlace Suites Salt Lake CityWest Valley, 5473 High Market Drive, West Valley City. Cost is $30 for chamber members and $40 for nonmembers through Aug. 13; $40 for members and $50 for nonmembers thereafter. Details are at chamberwest.com.
Aug. 19, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Chamber Golf Classic, an Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce event. Check-in and breakfast begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start and 1 p.m. lunch and awards presentation. Location is Mount Ogden Golf Course, 1787 Constitution Way, Ogden. Cost is $250 for individuals, $1,000 per foursome. Details are at ogdenweberchamber.com.
Aug. 19, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Business Boot Camp, a South Valley Chamber of Commerce event. Instructor Brandon Allen, founder of New Work Revolution and facilitator at University of Utah Professional Education, will discuss “Beyond Conflict Management: Creating a Culture of Trust Through Integrity and Self-Awareness.” Location is Salt Mine Productive Workspace, 7984 S. 1300 E., Sandy. Cost is $35 for members, $55 for nonmembers. Details are at southvalleychamber.com.
Aug. 19, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Business Alliance, a Davis Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Boondocks Fun Center, 525 Deseret Drive, Kaysville. No RSVP needed. Free. Lunch available for purchase. Details are at davischamberofcommerce.com.
Aug. 19, noon-1 p.m.
“Grant Hunting for Small-Business Owners,” a Women’s Business Center of Utah “Solve the Business Puzzle” event. Speaker Sara Day, program manager of training and outreach for the Utah Microloan Fund, will discuss where to look for grants, how to filter out the noise, and what makes an opportunity worth your time. Event takes place online. Details are at wbcutah.org.
Aug. 19, 4-6 p.m.
Annual Summer Mixer, a South Salt Lake Women in Business event. Location is Salt Lake Culinary Education, 2233 S. 300 E., Salt Lake City. Cost is $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers. Everyone is welcome. Details are at sslchamber.com.
Aug. 19, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Tax Planning Clinic, a Small Business Development Center event that takes place online. Details are at https://clients. utahsbdc.org/events.aspx.
Aug. 19, 6-8 p.m.
Marketing Clinic, a Small Business Development Center event that takes place online. Details are at https://clients. utahsbdc.org/events.aspx.
Aug. 20-22
“The Story Forge,” presented by Cinema & Television Workshops & Seminars and Elite Global Management. Event is a first-of-its-kind immersive summit designed to help aspiring writers, actors, filmmakers and storytellers take the next step in their entertainment careers. Presenters include writer, producer and director Dean Devlin (“Independence Day,” “Leverage: Redemption,” “The Ark”), screenwriter Nancy Schilbe (“The Pitt”) and actor and producer Glenn Morshower (“The Resident,” “Bloodline”). Event includes panels and seminars, hands-on workshops, educational sessions, networking opportunities with leading industry professionals, and interactive sessions with guest speakers. Location is DoubleTree by Hilton at the Salt Lake City Airport, 5151 Wiley Post Way, Salt Lake City. Cost is $650 for a VIP concierge pass, $399 for a three-day pass, $299 for a student discount pass. Details and tickets are available at www. storyforge3000.com.
TUESDAY
Aug. 18 PROFESSIONAL ment Develop SERIES Event Sponsor
Location Sponsor
PROFESSIONAL th Grow SERIES
11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Stephanie Lyon
Business Development Representative, Stratus HR
AI:
Hassan Ali CEO, Datasan Labs
1 Technology, 3 Perspectives
Jason Kidman CEO & President, Vigilant I.T.
TownePlace Suites Salt Lake City – West Valley 5473 High Market Dr, West Valley City
REGISTER by calling the ChamberWest office at 801-977-8755 or online at ChamberWest.com
August 10, 2026 | 15
SALT LAKE BUSINESS JOURNAL
PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE The following described property will be sold at public auction to the highest bidder at the Bountiful Courthouse, 805 South Main Street, Bountiful, Utah 84010, on September 15, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. of said day, for the purpose of foreclosing a trust deed originally recorded on November 25, 2024, as Entry No. 3596520, in Book 8634, at Pages 523-527, in the office of the Davis County Recorder, State of Utah, executed by CLARK SPENCER, as trustor, in favor of THE WILDE FAMILY TRUST DATED APRIL 7, 2008 AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERE- TO, as beneficiary, covering the following real property purported to be located in DA- VIS COUNTY at 1059 East Arlington Way, Bountiful, Utah 84010 (the undersigned dis- claims liability for any error in the address), and more particularly described as: LOT 17, OAKRIDGE MANOR SUBDIVISION, PLAT B, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF AS RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE DAVIS COUNTY RECORDER. TAX PARCEL NO.: 05-0520017. Together with all the improvements now or hereafter erected on the property, and
all easements, appurtenances, and fixtures now or hereafter a part of the property. The estimated total debt as of August 14, 2026 is $527,710.93 plus interest, costs and fees as allowed by the terms of the note and deed of trust. The current beneficiary of the trust deed is THE WILDE FAMILY TRUST DATED APRIL 7, 2008 AND ANY AMEND- MENTS THERETO, and the record owners of the property as of the recording of the notice of default are: CLARK SPENCER and MARY BRECK MITCHELL. JEREMY EVELAND is the duly appointed Successor Trustee under the trust deed pursuant to a Substitution of Trustee recorded on April 30, 2026, as Entry No. 3666039, in Book 8985, at Page 613, in the office of the Davis County Recorder. The Notice of Default and Election to Sell was recorded on April 30, 2026, as Entry No. 3666040, in Book 8985, at Pages 614-615, in the office of the Davis County Recorder. The sale is subject to bankruptcy filing, payoff, reinstatement or any other circumstance that would affect the validity of the sale. If any such circum- stance exists, the sale shall be void, the successful bidder’s funds returned and the trustee and current beneficiary shall
not be liable to the successful bidder for any damage. Bidders must tender to the trustee a $20,000.00 deposit two weeks prior to the sale to be a qualified bidder and the balance of the purchase price by 12:00 p.m. the day following the sale. The deposit must be in the form of a cashier’s check or bank official check payable to Eveland & Associ- ates, PLLC IOLTA. The balance must be in the form of a wire to Eveland & Associates, PLLC IOLTA. Cash payments are not ac- cepted. A trustee’s deed will be delivered to the successful bidder within seven business days after receipt of the amount bid. Dated: August 4, 2026. Jeremy Eveland, Successor Trustee 17 North State Street Lindon, UT 84042 Phone: (801) 613-1472 FOR QUESTIONS, CALL (801) 613-1472, Regular Business Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Mountain Time. THIS COMMUNICATION IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT, AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Publishing: 8/10/2026, 8/17/2026, 8/24/2026
Three Utah aerospace/defense metros high in national rankings Utah has three metro areas on a list of “2026 Best Places for Aerospace & Defense,” compiled by Global Location Strategies, a site selection and incentive negotiation firm serving manufacturing and industrial companies. Ogden comes in at No. 2 in the rankings, behind only Wichita, Kansas. Salt Lake City/Murray is No. 4 and Provo/Orem/Lehi is No. 12. The only other state to have multiple locations in the top 12 is Indiana, with the No. 10 and No. 11 spots. Logan (Utah/Idaho) is No. 33 overall and St. George is No. 232, the only other Utah cities in the rankings. Other metro areas in the top 10 are No. 3 Dayton/Kettering/Beavercreek, Ohio; No. 5 Huntsville, Alabama; No. 6 Palm Bay/ Melbourne/Titusville, Florida; No. 7 Grand Rapids/Wyoming/Kentwood, Michigan; No. 8 Phoenix/Mesa/Chandler, Arizona; No. 9 Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington, Texas; and No. 10 Indianapolis/Carmel/Greenwood, Indiana. In the report’s Southwest region, Ogden is No. 1, followed by No. 2 Salt Lake City/ Murray; No. 3 Phoenix; No. 4 Provo/Orem/ Lehi; and No. 5 Denver/Aurora/Centennial, Colorado. In the Northwest region, Lo-
gan is ranked No. 2, behind only Seattle/ Tacoma/Bellevue, Washington. The GLS report focuses on aerospace, missile, space, propulsion, and defense electronics manufacturing. While some trends apply to the wider defense industry, areas like naval shipbuilding, military vehicles, and munitions are not covered in the report because they have different workforce, supply chain and location needs, even if some broader trends may still impact those sectors, GLS said. The A&D manufacturing sector includes companies that design, build, test and maintain aircraft, engines, aerospace parts, missile systems, space vehicles, propulsion systems, and advanced defense electronics like navigation and control systems. “These industries support both commercial and defense needs and depend on specialized engineering, manufacturing and supply chain skills,” the report states. The ranking descriptions include: • “Ogden stands out as a top A&D metro with a strong ecosystem and business environment, thanks to its strong defense ecosystem and competitive business environment. Ogden is a standout metro. “Hill Air Force Base plays a key role,
serving as a major hub for aircraft sustainment, logistics, and defense operations. For decades, it has driven aerospace and defense investment across northern Utah. Hill Air Force Base has helped build a strong base of engineering, technical, and advanced manufacturing talent in Ogden. It has also attracted many defense contractors, suppliers, and specialized manufacturers. “This industry concentration gives companies access to skilled workers, reliable suppliers and deep defense expertise. Ogden’s business climate is also highly competitive, with a favorable tax structure and business-friendly regulations. Ogden also offers competitive costs for labor, utilities and industrial space. “For aerospace and defense manufacturers, the region’s strong ecosystem, skilled workforce, supportive policies and cost control make it an attractive place for longterm investment, growth and scaling up production. • “Salt Lake City/Murray is quickly becoming a top spot for A&D investment. The area offers a well-educated workforce, a growing aerospace community, and a business-friendly environment. “Utah has a long history with the de-
fense sector thanks to Hill Air Force Base, but now the Salt Lake City region is also known for advanced manufacturing, engineering and technology industries that support both aerospace and defense. The area’s main strengths are its skilled workforce and solid infrastructure. Many engineers, technical experts, and manufacturing workers are trained by the University of Utah and supported by a growing network of aerospace, defense, and tech companies along the Wasatch Front. “The business climate is also attractive, with competitive taxes, business-friendly rules and high workforce participation. For businesses, these advantages mean access to skilled workers, a growing network of suppliers, and supportive policies, all at a slightly higher cost than the national average. “The region’s strong transportation network makes it easy to reach western U.S. markets and national supply chains. Labor and space costs are a bit higher than in some other markets, but lower utility costs help balance out expenses. Overall, Salt Lake City/Murray offers the talent, innovation and business environment needed for longterm growth in aerospace and defense.”
Well-known housing analyst retiring after 50-plus years
Jim Wood
A longtime expert and sage of Utah’s housing industry has retired after more than a half-century of service. Jim Wood, Ivory-Boyer Senior Fellow at the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and David Eccles School of Business, joined the Eccles School’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research as a research analyst in the early 1970s. He served for nearly three decades as a senior research analyst and the bureau’s director from 2002 to 2015. Since 2015, he has served as Ivory-Boyer Senior Fellow at the institute, where his work has continued to inform decision-makers. His work includes over 100 research articles, including major studies on affordable housing programs and funding in Utah, the state’s housing market, Salt Lake County apartment and real estate conditions, housing cost burdens for se-
nior renters, and the effects of rapidly rising prices on housing affordability. With a distinctive beard and calm voice, he often presented his findings at public appearances along the Wasatch Front. “Jim Wood represents the very best of the Gardner Institute and the University of Utah,” said Natalie Gochnour, director of the Gardner Institute. “For more than 50 years, Jim has elevated public discourse with careful research, sound judgment and uncommon kindness. He is a true scholar, mentor and gentleman. I am deeply grateful for his service, his friendship, and the enduring example he has set for us all.” “Few individuals leave a legacy as enduring as Jim Wood’s,” said Kurt Dirks, dean of the Eccles School. “He is one of the state’s most trusted voices on the housing and construction industry and has informed countless decisions that have
strengthened our state. As he retires after a remarkable half-century of service, we express our profound gratitude for his contributions and celebrate the lasting impact he leaves on the University of Utah, the Eccles School and the people of Utah.” The institute said Wood’s research helped shape the state’s understanding of housing affordability, residential construction cycles, apartment markets, homelessness, foreclosure trends, and the broader relationship between economic growth and quality of life. “In retirement, Jim leaves a legacy of rigorous scholarship, public-minded leadership, and generous mentorship,” the institute said. “His decades of work have strengthened Utah’s economic research infrastructure and provided decision-makers with objective, data-driven insight during periods of extraordinary growth and change.”
16 | August 10, 2026
SALT LAKE BUSINESS JOURNAL
At Cottonwood Commercial Title, we help you through the most complex commercial real estate transactions. Trust Cottonwood Title to be your steadfast guide.
C O T T O N W O O D C O M M E R C I A LT I T L E . C O M