Salt Lake Business Journal | September 7, 2026

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September 7, 2026 | Volume 4, Issue 33

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INSIDE CLEVELAND Dallis firm acquires Emery company Page 4 PARK CITY Film festival to premiere in October Page 6 WEST VALLEY CITY Chamber honors two state legislators Page 7

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Page 14 INDUSTRY BRIEFS Pages 16-17 BUSINESS CALENDAR Pages 18-19

Utah industrial banks hold almost 90 percent of industrial bank assets in the U.S., boasting 15 of the country’s 23 banks chartered in the category. (Salt Lake Business Journal graphic)

Utah’s industrial bank sector dominates U.S. — and it’s still growing John Rogers Salt Lake Business Journal

Our inaugural issue of Salt Lake Metropolitan is enclosed, the second of two new magazines coming to subscribers of the Salt Lake Business Journal.

Wheeler Machinery 75th Anniversary Spread Pages 10-11

Need to establish an industrial bank in the U.S.? Utah’s certainly the place to do it. At least that’s what an overwhelming majority of corporations that operate these specialized banking institutions have found. Of the 23 operating industrial banks in the U.S., 15 are headquartered in the Beehive State. These 15 banks sport almost 90 percent of the country’s industrial bank assets — in excess of $221 billion, according 2025 data from the Federal Register, the official daily journal of the United States federal government. Utah’s dominance in the industrial bank field will only grow. There are currently nine new industrial banks coming down the pike in the state — four of

which have received necessary approvals and are preparing to open and five more in the application process. Official opening dates are expected soon from corporate giants like Edward Jones Bank, General Motors Financial Bank and Ford Credit Bank. Among those awaiting approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the Utah Department of Financial Institutions are PayPal Bank, rent financing provider Flex and Swedish installment loan behemoth Klarna, whose application was filed in July. So, what’s behind Utah’s supremacy in the industrial bank arena? And why the sudden bull rush to establish more? This story goes back to the early part of the 20th century, when industrial loan corporations (ILC), as they were known then, sprung up as small lenders serving industrial workers who often couldn’t qualify for conventional bank loans.

These small firms were popular long before they became attractive to the General Motors and Goldman Sachs of the world and Utah had its share. In 1982, Congress made ILCs eligible for FDIC insurance under the Garn-St. Germain Act (Yeah, that Garn), making it legal for them to accept deposits. Four years later, Utah required all of its ILCs to obtain FDIC insurance but imposed a moratorium on new ILCs. This turned out to be enormously important when Congress rewrote bank-holding-company laws the following year. In 1987, Congress passed the Competitive Equality Banking Act (CEBA), which, among other things, ended a provision that allowed “nonbank companies” to own ILCs. But Congress carved out an exception for ILCs in states see BANK page 2

Companywide Qualtrics layoffs result from $6.75 billion acquisition in May John Rogers Salt Lake Business Journal In May, Provo-based Qualtrics closed on an acquisition it characterized as a “defining milestone” for the company. Now, the experience management software giant has announced sweeping layoffs that reflect duplication of positions within the two organizations that were built independently. The acquisition of Press Ganey Forsta, a South Bend, Indiana, experience management and data analytics company, was announced last fall and consummated in May for an announced price of $6.75 billion. In a memo to employees, obtained by

technology news website GeekWire, Qualtrics CEO Jason Maynard said the acquisition “meant making hard decisions about what the organization needed to operate and function as a single uniform team.” Qualtrics said the personnel cuts affected the whole company, including its dual headquarters in Provo and Seattle and at locations around the world where either of the two firms have operations. However, the company’s announcement did not specify how many people would lose jobs. Notice sent to Qualtrics employees mentioned the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, or WARN, the federal law requiring a 60-day notice of major layoffs, but at press time, neither the Utah nor

Washington WARN databases contained mention of the Qualtrics action. “Since the acquisition closed, we’ve gone function by function, team by team, to understand where we have overlap and determine what we needed to do to move forward as one company,” Maynard wrote in his memo, adding that cuts would be made based on the “structure of our combined organization: the roles we need, the capabilities we are building toward and where we have duplication.” Maynard was named CEO of Qualtrics in February, coming over from database and see QUALTRICS page 3

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BANK

from page 1 that, as of March 5, 1987, already had laws requiring ILCs to have FDIC insurance. That left Utah among the few states where a corporation not engaged in banking could own its own industrial bank. Without the exception, for example, a car maker that wanted to offer its own financing had to employ a third-party bank to make the loans. Without the nonbank exemption, to own an industrial bank, entire corporations would have to submit to the same FDIC and state regulatory scrutiny that banks do. Think what that would mean to Utah industrial bank owners like BMW Motors or Switzerland’s UBS AG and its 105,000 worldwide employees. In 1997, Utah lifted its moratorium on new ILC charters, allowed ILCs to use “bank” in their names and greatly expanded their traditional banking abilities. That put ILCs on a much more equal footing with conventional commercial banks. Utah renamed ILCs “industrial banks” in 2004. Under a Utah industrial bank charter, as an FDIC-insured institution it can accept deposits, make loans, participate in the federal payments system, issue credit and debit cards and offer banking products nationwide. The major difference from commercial banks is a prohibition on industrial banks offering “demand” deposits such as checking accounts. As Utah became the center of the U.S.

industrial-bank industry, the Beehive State was one of several states that benefited from the “nonbank” ownership exemption but seemed to be the only state to grasp the opportunity and take advantage of its federally granted edge. Other states fell under the CEBA grandfathered exemption. Today, neighboring Nevada has three industrial banks, including the Toyota Financial Savings Bank in Henderson and Harley-Davidson’s Eaglemark Savings Bank in Reno. California, which has slightly different laws than Utah, has three such banks but does not allow commercial ownership. Hawaii and Minnesota each have a single industrial bank. Although the non-bank ownership exemption is a major plus in Utah’s industrial bank dominance, it certainly isn’t the only factor. Because of its early foray into the arena, Utah has built an infrastructure conducive to success in the field. As the state regulates an overwhelming majority of the nation’s industrial bank assets, it calls on the decades of experience supervising such institutions. It has overseen FDIC-insured industrial banking for more than 35 years. “Utah attracts new banks because of its concentration of banking talent, culture of financial innovation and reputation for firm but fair supervision,” said Bryan Farnsworth, supervisor of industrial banks for the Utah Department of Financial Institutions (DFI). That creates something of a self-reinforcing ecosystem. DFI has experienced

examiners and banking professionals working in the sector. This is especially attractive and helpful for the fintechs and specialty-finance companies seeking to establish chartered banks in the state. And Utah’s industrial banks are not lightly regulated. They receive safety-and-soundness, consumer-compliance, Community Reinvestment Act, Anti-Money Laundering Act, cybersecurity and IT examinations, just like other FDIC-insured banks. “Utah’s industrial banks are state-chartered, FDIC-insured institutions subject to the same supervision and examinations as every other bank in the country,” said Farnsworth. “Obtaining a new charter and federal deposit insurance involves a rigorous application process with our department and the FDIC. Applicants must meet high regulatory standards to be approved.” So, who owns these local industrial banks and who are the applicants on the way into Utah? Far and away the largest is UBS Bank USA, owned by wealth management company UBS Group of Zurich, Switzerland. Its Utah banking activities include securities-backed lending, mortgages, deposits and other banking services for its clients. In its late 2025 call report, the detailed financial statement banks file with federal regulators, UBS listed assets in excess of $115 billion. Sallie Mae Bank uses its Utah operations for private student loans, education finance and other savings and

deposit products. Sallie Mae lists assets at about $30 billion. Optum Bank, owned by United Health Group, handles health savings accounts, health-benefit accounts, payment services and related deposits through its local bank, and BMW Bank of North America finances retail auto sales and leasing for its nationwide dealer network. Four very large, established companies have received approvals and will soon bring their banking operations to Utah. These include automobile makers Ford, GMC and Stellantis, the giant car company formed when French PSA Group and Italian-American Fiat Chrysler merged. Also waiting to open is wealth management leader Edward Jones Bank, which will provide cashsweep deposits and securities-based loans to its customers. Financial technology companies lead the group of recent applicants waiting for approvals. They include online payments company PayPal and rent financing provider Flex Bank. Industrial banks are also good contributors to Utah’s employment scene, according to figures compiled by the Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah. Its 2025 study found 2,547 people employed at these institutions, with total wages paid over $315 million and an average salary of $123,700. It’s not a new phenomenon but given a regulatory advantage and a long history of success, Utah’s industrial-bank sector isn’t merely surviving; it is thriving and expanding into a new generation of fintech and platform banking.

Chamber Dashboard: Utah economy continues to show underlying strength Utah economic indicators continue to show strength despite apparent weakness in several major industries, according to data published by the Utah Chamber in its monthly Roadmap to Prosperity Economic Dashboard, published for July. According to the dashboard, total employment in the state grew by 1.5 percent despite job count declines in four of Utah’s 11 major industries. The professional and business services sector expanded the most, growing 4.7 percent from June 2025 to June 2026. In total, Utah added more than 26,000 jobs in the past 12 months and ranked third-highest among states in percentage of employment change.

The Roadmap to Prosperity Economic Dashboard is published online monthly to keep business leaders abreast of Utah’s economy. It uses key data on the economic outlook and actionable context for decision-makers. “Utah added more than 26,000 jobs over the past year and ranked third-highest among states for job growth,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Utah Chamber. “That kind of strength is what keeps our economy resilient when the national picture stays mixed. It’s also a reminder to continue investing in our workforce and creating the opportunities that make Utah a place where people want to come and contribute.”

Other insights from the July dashboard include a report that headline inflation fell from 4.2 percent in May to 3.4 percent in July as energy prices eased. Ongoing volatility related to the Iran war threatens further reductions in inflation, the authors said. Over time, higher energy prices may feed into higher prices of other goods and services. Another interesting data point found year-to-date passenger traffic at Salt Lake City International Airport grew 2.2 percent relative to 2025. Through June, the airport served 14.3 million passengers, up from 14 million a year earlier. Utah’s travel industry continues to grow, in part due to increased airport capacity.

“Utah’s economy continues to show underlying strength, with employment growth in most sectors providing important sources of resilience,” said Natalie Gochnour, director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and associate dean at the David Eccles School of Business. “The broader economic picture remains uncertain with a variety of mixed signals. As the Fed holds steady, but questions linger, and oil prices rise and fall, I expect the U.S. and Utah economies to be fundamentally sound but to operate at a more measured pace.” The dashboard can be accessed at https://www.utchamber.com/roadmap-to-prosperity-dashboard/.

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QUALTRICS from page 1

cloud infrastructure company Oracle. In its press release announcing the cuts, Qualtrics said, “The job cuts mark a major shift for the company, which had grown aggressively over the past several years. Qualtrics, known for its customer and employee experience platforms, is now tightening its belt to ensure the newly acquired business fits smoothly into its existing structure.” Companies use the Qualtrics software platform to collect, analyze and adapt to feedback from customers and employees, a category of technology that it branded “experience management.” The Press Ganey Forsta acquisition added what Qualtrics depicted as the largest healthcare experience dataset in the industry. Its Forsta products competed directly with some Qualtrics offerings. This is not the first time Qualtrics employees have faced job cuts. Under previous CEO Zig Serafin, the company cut 780 jobs in late 2023 after it transitioned from public to private-equity ownership. Serafin blamed years of over-hiring for the down-

Provo’s Qualtrics has announced companywide layoffs as it works to absorb Press Ganey Forsta, a company it acquired in May for $6.75 billion. The company’s Provo headquarters is shown in this undated file photo. (Courtesy Qualtrics) sizing. Qualtrics had already cut 270 jobs earlier in 2023. Qualtrics was bought by private equity firm Silver Lake and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board in 2023 for $12.5 billion. Founders, led by current Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth owner Ryan Smith, sold the company to German multinational company SAP in 2019 for $8 billion. It went public for two years prior to the current ownership.

In the Qualtrics release, the company said that when firms make acquisitions of the magnitude of the May purchase of Press Ganey Forsta, “they often find overlapping roles in sales, marketing, human resources and administration. Qualtrics leadership determined that eliminating these duplicate positions was necessary to avoid inefficiencies and reduce costs.” The statement also cited industry pressure to become leaner.

“Over the past few years, many software companies expanded their headcount rapidly to meet pandemic-era demand,” the statement said. “Qualtrics is following a pattern seen across the sector, where workforce reduction has become a standard tool for maintaining profitability in a tougher economic climate.” The company mentioned reductions in its product development teams and its go-tomarket functions. It specifically cited Utah cuts in sales operations, customer success and internal support roles, including integration teams, finance and legal functions. Qualtrics said it was also consolidating its office space in some regions, “which suggests that remote and hybrid work arrangements will play a larger role going forward.” Qualtrics said it has adopted a “waitand-see” attitude to see if the restructuring pays off. “If the integration of the $6.75 billion acquisition goes smoothly, Qualtrics could emerge as a stronger, more profitable company,” it said. “For now, the focus is on execution and proving that the company can deliver value to both customers and shareholders in a challenging economic environment.”

Utah tourism generated $13.7 billion in visitor spending, supported 167,200 jobs in 2025 Tourism spending reached a record $13.7 billion in Utah in 2015, according to a new report from the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. The report also found that roughly one in 10 jobs statewide were supported by the industry that year, the latest for which complete data are available. The state also benefited from the generation of $1.6 billion in direct state and local tax revenue from tourism. The record numbers are despite visitation, air travel and other indicators softening following the sizable industry growth of the post-pandemic years. “Utah’s tourism economy demonstrated considerable resilience in 2025,” said Jennifer Leaver, senior tourism analyst at the Gardner Institute. “While some of the headline visitation measures declined, visitor spending, employment and tax generation remained strong, suggesting that Utah’s tourism industry is moving into a more normal-

ized environment rather than a broadbased downturn.” “Visitor spending directly funds essential quality-of-life investments for Utahns, from our local education systems to our roads and world-class trails,” said Natalie Randall, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism. “Our record economic impact is a testament to the staying power of Utah’s tourism industry. Consistency, strong partnerships and statewide collaboration are key to navigating challenges and ensuring the visitor economy continues to serve every Utahn.” Among the key findings from the report are the following: Spending: Visitor spending increased 0.6 percent from 2024 after adjusting for inflation, while leisure travel accounted for more than 92 percent of total visitor spending. Nonresident visitors continued to dominate Utah’s tourism economy, with domestic and

international nonresident spending exceeding resident visitor spending by more than four-to-one. Jobs: The travel and tourism industry directly generated approximately 107,500 jobs in 2025 and supported another 59,700 jobs through indirect and induced economic effects. Together, these jobs represent approximately one in every 10 Utah jobs. Tax Revenue: Visitors generated $1.6 billion in direct state and local tax revenue in 2025. When including indirect and induced economic effects, the total estimated tax impact rises to $2.7 billion. The figures underscore that tourism’s impact extends well beyond hotels, restaurants and attractions to communities and businesses throughout the state. Accommodations: Nominal transient room tax revenue increased 2.8 percent statewide in 2025, although it remained relatively flat (up 0.2 percent) after adjusting

for inflation. Statewide hotel occupancy declined to 64 percent and inflation-adjusted average daily rates fell 0.8 percent. Shortterm rental supply continued to expand even as occupancy weakened during the middle of the year. National and State Parks: Utah’s national parks recorded 10.6 million visits in 2025, down 4.5 percent, while state parks recorded 12.2 million visits, down 5.8 percent. Skier Days: A historic low-snow ski season drove a sharp decline in skier days. Utah recorded 4.8 million skier days during the 2025-26 season, a 26.5 percent year-over drop. Skier spending also fell 17.8 percent to $2.1 billion. Despite fewer visits, spending per skier reached a record $392, indicating that visitors who came to Utah spent more money per trip. The full report can be accessed through the Gardner Institute website at gardner. utah.edu.

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Utah part of $12.2 billion settlement with Meta over child safety practices

Utah has joined a coalition of 46 states in a $12.2 billion settlement with Meta Platforms Inc. that will force sweeping changes to how Instagram and Facebook are built for children and teens. The agreement must still be ratified by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, which is overseeing the suit. When in place, the action will rank among the largest consumer protection settlements in U.S. history — rivaled only by the Big Tobacco settlements of the 1990s. Utah officials say it marks the most far-reaching action taken by the government to make social media safer for young people. The agreement resolves claims brought by Utah, 46 other states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands. Those claims alleged that Meta designed Instagram with addictive features, knowingly exposed young users to serious mental health harms and misled the public about the safety of its platforms. Utah is expected to receive $212 million of the massive sum in $20 million increments over the next decade. The settlement guarantees the plaintiff states $12.2 billion. States could receive up to $17.1 billion if Snap, TikTok and YouTube agree to substantially similar

injunctive terms as Meta. Utah could receive up to $301 million if industry leaders similarly settle. “More than three years ago, I said that without strong action, social media companies would not make the changes necessary to protect our children,” said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox in a statement. “Today’s historic settlement proves both the urgency of that warning and what determined state action can accomplish. These unprecedented reforms will help protect millions of children, and they make clear that Meta could have chosen to implement these changes and protect children all along. We will hold Meta to every promise it has made, and we will continue fighting to ensure every platform puts the well-being of children ahead of profit.” “For the first time, Meta must put kids’ safety ahead of its business model. After negotiations with Meta, we secured a settlement that delivers consequential and enforceable changes,” said Utah Attorney General Derek Brown. “This gives Utah families a leg up in protecting their kids from harmful content and compulsive habits with Instagram and Facebook. We will continue to use all legal tools available to us to protect kids online.” The settlement requires Meta to imple-

Utah jobless rate stays steady at 3.6 percent Utah’s jobless rate was flat from June to July following a tenth-of-a-percentage-point drop from May to June, according to figures released by the Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS). July’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate came in at 3.6 percent, meaning about 64,800 Utahns are unemployed. Meanwhile, the national rate dropped another tenth of a percentage point in July, following the same drop from May to June. The national unemployment rate was reported at 4.1 percent by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Utah’s nonfarm payroll employment for July increased an estimated 1.4 percent over the past 12 months, with the state’s economy adding a cumulative 25,200 jobs since July 2025. Utah’s current job count stands at 1,778,300. “Utah’s labor market continues to show resilience through robust job growth and low unemployment,” said

Ben Crabb, chief economist with DWS. “Even as constrained hiring rates and slowing labor force growth present clear headwinds, employers across major industrial sectors continue to expand payrolls.” Utah’s July private-sector employment recorded a year-over-year expansion of 1.9 percent, a 28,900-job increase. Eight of the 10 major private-sector industry groups posted net year-over-year job gains. The overall gains were led by professional and business services (up 11,400 jobs), education and health services (up 5,900 jobs) and construction (up 4,300 jobs). Information (down 2,000 jobs) and natural resources (down 300 jobs) experienced the largest year-over-year job losses. Additional information and analysis on Utah’s employment situation, including county-by-county statistics, are available at the DWS website, jobs. utah.gov.

ment a series of safety features on Instagram and Facebook, including “robust” age assurance measures to more effectively verify the age of young users. The deal requires Meta to impose a combined two-hour daily time limit across Instagram and Facebook for kids, with mandatory “productive pause” breaks after 15, 60 and 90 minutes of continuous use, in effect for five years, and dropping to 60 minutes per platform for 10 years if Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube adopt comparable terms. Meta must also implement “nighttime blocks” restricting children’s access from midnight to 6 a.m. The social platforms are restricted from sending push notifications to children on school-year weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and late at night. Also required are age-appropriate content controls, with stronger safeguards against bullying and content promoting eating disorders, suicide and self-harm. Meta will also implement stronger, more user-friendly parental controls, and put limits on social-comparison features linked to poor youth mental health, including beauty filters and visible “like” counts. The new restrictions will be regularly monitored by an independent auditor and by states that are a party to the settlement.

“Today’s landmark settlement holds Meta accountable for the incalculable harm their platforms have inflicted on our kids. It’s a crucial step in ensuring that children’s safety and mental well-being are prioritized over profit,” said Margaret Woolley Busse, commissioner of the Utah Department of Commerce. “We will vigilantly enforce these reforms to create a safer online environment for Utah’s teens and kids.” On Oct. 24, 2023, the Utah Department of Commerce’s Division of Consumer Protection, represented by the attorney general, filed its complaint against Meta. The suit was joined by the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Dallas firm acquires Conductive Group of Emery County Principal Mineral, a Dallas-based producer of materials for the electronics, aerospace, defense and energy industries, has acquired Conductive Group, an advanced materials manufacturer located in Cleveland, Emery County. Founded in 1984, Conductive Group specializes in electrically conductive composite technologies and electromagnetic interference shielding solutions. It manufactures protective enclosures like Faraday cases and Faraday structures. Principal Mineral was founded in 2024 and employs roughly 1,300 people across its 10 facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. Principal Mineral said the acquisition expands its portfolio across the “advanced materials stack that underpins America’s electronics industrial base, from electrodeposited copper foil and copper-clad laminates to the structural composites and shielding systems that protect mission-critical platforms.”

“Principal Mineral is building the strategic materials platform that enables global competitiveness and the innovative technologies we will depend on for decades to come,” said Adam Johnson, the firm’s CEO. “Conductive Group brings proven technology embedded in some of the most advanced communications and electronics systems. This acquisition is another important step in our strategy to ensure a trusted and resilient supply chain for our most vital applications.” “Conductive has spent decades developing high-performance shielding and composite technologies that solve real challenges for the aerospace and telecommunications industries across a variety of important end uses,” said Wes Spurlock, chief operating officer of Principal Mineral. “We’re committed to scaling that capability to give our customers confidence that their most valuable assets are backed by a resilient and secure supply chain.”

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SLC Olympic organizers form Education Committee The Organizing Committee for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games has announced the formation of its Utah 2034 Education Committee. The 16-person advisory committee brings together leaders from education, business, nonprofit and sport who share a commitment to empowering Utah’s next generation. The committee will provide strategic guidance, foster partnerships and develop statewide initiatives that connect students and educators to the opportunities created along the road to 2034. Its mission includes the launch of a statewide classroom education program. “A key vision point for Utah 2034 is to elevate communities,” said Utah 2034 President and Executive Chair Fraser Bullock in a release. “Our Utah 2034 Education Committee brings together a diverse group of leaders who can guide us in impacting youth through classroom programs across the entire state, serving as a model for others to showcase the power of education and sport.” One of the key missions of the Education Committee is to oversee a statewide education strategy that uses the excitement and values of the Olympic and

Paralympic movement to strengthen student literacy, increase school attendance, and track measurable student outcomes. The Education Committee will be chaired by Amy Garff. The Robert H. and Katharine B. Garff Foundation is a founding captain in Utah 2034’s innovative Podium34 program. As a pioneering captain in the Podium34 program, the family’s Ken Garff for Good foundation, which has provided pathways to education for Utah students for more than 20 years, will be providing leadership in developing educational tools to bring Olympic and Paralympic values into Utah classrooms. Utah’s past state superintendent of public instruction, Syd Dickson, will serve as the committee’s vice chair. Olympic champion Nathan Chen, a Utah native, will serve in an athlete role. “The Garff family has long been a believer in the power of education. Amy’s leadership of the Education Committee is a good example of how Podium34 can translate philanthropic participation into tangible statewide impact,” said Utah 2034 CEO Brad Wilson, who sits on the committee. “In our inaugural meeting, it was remarkable to see the interchange between educators from across the state,

and how everyone was joined in a common mission.” “The formation of the Education Committee is an important milestone as we begin building the educational legacy of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” said Garff. “By bringing together passionate leaders from across the state, we’re creating opportunities for students to engage with the values of the Olympic and Paralympic movement in meaningful ways that will extend well beyond the Games.” During its inaugural meeting July 29 at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, committee members were introduced to the vision and strategic priorities for education, and participated in collaborative discussions with Olympians, Paralympians and school district superintendents. The objective is to identify opportunities to integrate Olympic and Paralympic values into education and establish measurable goals for long-term impact. Utah 2034 Education Committee Chair: Amy Garff (president, Ken Garff Philanthropies) Vice Chair: Syd Dickson (past Utah state superintendent of public instruction)

Organizing Committee: Brad Wilson (CEO, Utah 2034) Mindy Benson (president, Southern Utah University; Utah 2034 board member) Doug Bowser (past president, Nintendo of America; Hasbro board member) Nathan Chen (figure skating gold medalist) Andy Cooley (vice president of technology services, Kornerstone) Lexi Cunningham (executive director, Utah School Superintendents Association) Sheri Dew (executive vice president, Deseret Management Corp.) Kathi Garff (chair, Robert H. and Katharine B. Garff Foundation) Molly Hart (superintendent, Utah State Board of Education) Geoff Landward (commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education) Alisa Olsen (elementary school teacher, Nibley Elementary, Cache County School District) Andrea Seminario (principal, Northwest Middle School, Salt Lake School District) Erin Trenbeath-Murray (president, Ken Garff for Good)

Nationwide fast-casual salad chain opens first Utah location Sept. 8

Sweetgreen, a publicly traded chain of 286 fast-casual salad restaurants, will open its first Utah location Sept. 8 in Sugar House. The restaurant’s menu features salads, bowls, wraps and protein plates, and vegetables cooked with extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil. Nic Jammet, chief concept officer for Sweetgreen, said Utah’s been part of the company’s growth plan for some time. “We try to grow city by city in a thoughtful way rather than rushing it, and every time we took a closer look at Salt Lake City, the case just kept getting stronger,” he said. “This is one of the most outdoor-oriented, health-forward communities in the country; people are training for ultra-marathons through mountains, they’re up Emigration Canyon before work, and they already expect a lot from their food. “And Sugar House felt like the right place to start. It’s walkable, it’s got a great local business scene, and it has that everyday neighborhood feel we look for when we’re opening our first restaurant in a new state. We didn’t want to just land in Utah; we wanted to feel like part of the neighborhood from Day 1.” Jammet said that even in the highly

competitive Salt Lake City food market, Sweetgreen has a formula that sets it apart. “Our menu is harder to copy: food that’s craveable and chef-driven, while still being made from scratch in the restaurant every day. We’re constantly thinking about flavor and collaborating with chefs to bring new ideas to the menu, from seasonal dishes to warm bowls, wraps and protein plates — not just salads,” he said. “We also have real relationships with the local farmers and growers behind our ingredients, with a source board in every restaurant so guests can see exactly where their food came from. In Salt Lake City, that includes a partnership with Nicholas & Co., a fourth-generation, family-owned foodservice distributor helping bring those ingredients into the Sugar House restaurant.” Sweetgreen’s menu goes beyond salad, as guests can also build a warm bowl, protein plate or wrap, with everything customizable, including the greens, toppings, dressing and proteins. “Sugar House opens with guest favorites like the Harvest Bowl and Crispy Rice Bowl, plus proteins like the Caramelized

Sweetgreen brings its fast-casual menu selections to a new location in Sugar House. (Courtesy Sweetgreen) Garlic Steak, and our newest menu innovations, an expanded lineup of wraps and the all-new Omega Glow, a permanent addition built around Miso Glazed Salmon and a miso sesame ginger dressing,” he said. The kids’ menu is built the same way, with smaller sizes and kid-friendly favorites and beverage choices. The kids’ menu is built the same way as the rest of the menu : real ingredi-

ents, nothing complicated. Think Ranchy Chicken+Rice, Little Harvest, a Mini Mezze plate, and kid-friendly beverage choices. It just makes it easy for parents to get their kids something they’ll actually eat without having to build it themselves. Sweetgreen is considering other possible Utah locations in the future, but Jammet said the focus now is on the Sugar House location at 2188 Highland Drive.

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Park City Film Festival to debut Oct. 23 Tom Haraldsen Salt Lake Business Journal In 1978, the Utah/U.S. Film Festival was held for the first time in Salt Lake City. It moved to Park City in 1981, transitioning into the legendary Sundance Film Festival. But Sundance is gone now, moved to Colorado starting next January, and now a new fest for independent filmmakers is set to begin. The Park City Film Festival will kick off its inaugural year Oct. 23, running for three days and showing films in the legendary Jim Sante Auditorium at the Park City library. It’s the same venue where many Sundance films have been shown for years, and the focus will be on independent film and emerging creative voices. “This festival, like our organization, Park City Film, was created because of our love for independent film,” said Katy Wang, executive director. “We’ve shown films there once a quarter as an organization because the community

has loved it, so when we heard SFF was leaving, and we’d had such an amazing response from the community for our events, we knew film is just embedded into the fabric of Park City.” Organizers announced the lineup for the festival in late August. It will begin Oct. 23 with Utah filmmaker JJ Gerber’s documentary “The Life We Leave.” Gerber is an Emmy-nominated producer who grew up in Park City. He has spent more than 15 years working on narrative and documentary films and is making

his directorial debut with “The Life We Leave.” The film became an audience darling at its world premiere at South by Southwest (SXSW), according to Wang. The eight other curated documentary and narrative films include: “Adam’s Apple” | Amy Jenkins | USA Documentary “Brian” | Will Ropp | USA Narrative “Frank & Louis” | Petra Volpe | UK & Switzerland Narrative “Next Life” | Drake Doremus | UK Narrative

“Teeth to the Wind” | Ben Knight & Drew Smith | USA Documentary “The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony” | Habiba Nosheen | Pakistan Documentary “The Last Critic” | Matty Wishnow | USA Documentary “Zetjune” | Alex Camilleri | Malta Narrative The festival will also include panel discussions and post-screening Q&As. “We see this as an opportunity to really expand our programming,” Wang said. “We’re not going to be Sundance. We’re starting at a responsible size and building from there. And we’re thinking about how we can help our community during a different time of year, October, which is shoulder season for our restaurants and hotels. It’s been fantastic to see the response we’re getting from filmmakers and we’re excited that independent filmmaking still exists in Park City.” Tickets and passes are on sale now at parkcityfilm.org/festival.

Utah’s first Juice It Up coming to Herriman on Sept. 15 Tom Haraldsen Salt Lake Business Journal One of the nation’s leading chains of smoothie, superfruit bowls and raw juices is expanding into Utah, set to open its first location in Herriman on Sept 15. Juice It Up has entered into a multi-unit development agreement with husband-and-wife franchise partners Aaron and Nancy Osmond. Utah is the eighth state in the company’s plans for nationwide expansion, and Aaron Osmond said the company’s brand is exactly what he and Nancy were looking to bring to their community. “We wanted to be part of a great franchise to introduce into the Herriman and South Jordan areas,” he said. “We investigated many different brands and thoroughly researched the Juice It Up team. The thing that impressed us most about them was their 30 years of franchising history, and their 150-plus sites across the West Coast, in Arizona and in Texas. We wanted to bring this quality brand and its great products to Utah.” The Osmonds plan to debut the brand in Herriman at Copper View Plaza, at 5101 W. Miller Crossing Drive, with additional Utah locations expected to follow. The company currently has 30 new locations in its development pipeline.

Juice It Up specializes in smoothies, acai bowls and juices. (Courtesy Juice It Up) “Juice It Up stood out because it brings together convenience, flavor and better-for-you options in a way we believe fits perfectly with the active, family-centered communities we serve,” Aaron Osmond said. He is a former member of the Utah Senate and a well-known business leader, while Nancy Osmond is a registered nurse with a background in nutrition and wellness. “As a nurse, I have always cared deeply about helping people make simple, positive choices that support their health and energy,” Nancy Osmond said in a company release. “We are excited to bring Juice It Up to Utah be-

cause it gives families, students, athletes and busy professionals access to smoothies, bowls and juices that are both convenient and enjoyable. For us, this is more than opening restaurants; it is about bringing a brand we believe in to communities we love.” Juice It Up was among the first national brands to introduce acai bowls to mainstream audiences back in 2001. “It’s a full smoothies, juices and bowls type of menu, and we’re excited to bring a ‘better for you’ solution to the market,” Aaron Osmond said. “It wasn’t just about finding a franchise to partner with. We wanted to bring something to our community that we can be proud of, something that families want and need, and is a better choice from a meal replacement perspective.” He said Herriman has struggled in the past in attracting commercial resources, including with restaurant options and choices for residents. “The demographics in our area show there’s a lot of adults working in their households,” he said, “and they need great food choices for their families to be readily available. Juice It Up is a great food option, a great source for protein, for fiber, and for juices and juice shots that can help everyone power their day. The flavors are phenomenal and the demand for these choices is huge.” He said the new location will employ 16 to 20 people once it’s open. Information on the company and its menu is posted on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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Leader calls for Salt Lake Chamber to remain a ‘beacon’ Brice Wallace Salt Lake Business Journal The leader of the Salt Lake Chamber recently issued a challenge to have the organization continue to be a source of inspiration for Utahns. During the chamber’s annual meeting, Derek Miller, president and CEO, used the event theme of “A Beacon of Opportunity” to encourage the chamber and its members to illuminate opportunities, navigate challenges and guide the state forward. Speaking at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, Miller told the audience that lighthouses use a special lens that keeps the light from scattering but instead produces “a powerful single beam that helps to guide and to help.” “We’re here together in a similar fashion,” he said. “Like the lighthouse lens, we magnify our individual lights into a single, collective, powerful beacon.” Miller called upon everyone to get involved, noting that lighthouses do not build themselves. “Someone chose the spot, hauled the stone, crafted the lens, established the light and climbed the stairs every single night. The lighthouse keeper did it for ships they would never see, protecting people they would never meet. “That, my friends, is the work in front of us. You are the lighthouse keeper of the Utah economy. That is the work of the chamber: the services, the initiatives, the work of your businesses, your employees and our communities.” The future has “tremendous opportunities,” he said, because the foundation that the chamber has built through advocacy, partnerships and a shared commitment to excellence “positions us to meet whatever challenges and opportunities await.”

Attendees at the Salt Lake Chamber’s recent annual meeting get a chance to learn about the Argentine black and white tegu at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium prior to the start of the event. (Brice Wallace/Salt Lake Business Journal) “We’re not just sustaining Utah’s economic success,” he said. “We are collectively shaping a future where businesses can thrive, communities can flourish and individuals can achieve their highest aspirations.” Miller also urged unity in a world full of conflicting sentiments. “You all may have noticed that there is an interesting debate going on in our country right now. It’s a debate that asks you to pick sides,” he said. “Are you for business or are you for people? Are you for employers or are you for employees? I want to state plainly that this is a false choice, and Utah is the proof. You are the proof, because the businesses that make a significant impact in our state are also the ones who succeed alongside their employees and their communities. “That is the Utah model, because in

Utah, we know that prosperity is not a zero-sum game. We believe in helping each other, in lifting each other, and paving a better way for those that come behind.” The annual gathering also included noting the chamber’s achievements during the past year, including by organizations in the chamber family: the Downtown Alliance, the Women’s Business Center of Utah, Utah Community Builders and the Economic Development Corporation of Utah. The chamber also saw all of its priority legislation passed during the Legislature’s general session and continued the “Utah Rising” initiative with its newest iteration. The chamber, Utah’s largest and longest-serving business association, also used the event to release its annual report and honor individuals and organizations that have shown exceptional support for

its mission. The chamber’s annual award recipients are: • President’s Award for Excellence (honoring an individual selected by the president and CEO): Brian Steed, vice president for government and external relations, Utah State University, and principal advisor, Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air at Utah State University. • Utah Rising Award (honoring an organization advancing the goals of Utah Rising): Clark and Christine Ivory Foundation. • Legacy Award (honoring a long-standing business in Utah): Wasatch Electric. • Fortitude Award (honoring a corporate business in Utah): America First Credit Union. • Beehive Award (honoring an organization that helps build the community through volunteerism): Utah Food Bank. • Opportunity Award (honoring a small business in Utah): Avalanche Studios. • Icon Award (honoring a woman-owned business in Utah): Bossible. • Trailblazer Award (honoring a “rising star” in the community): Kylee Spjut, senior public relations manager, Penna Powers. • Chamber Champions (honoring exceptional chamber volunteers): Alicia Gleed, community building officer, The Road Home; Andrew Gruber, executive director, Wasatch Front Regional Council; Tom Jacobson, attorney at law, Thomas N. Jacobson Law Offices; Amanda Morton, vice president of relationship development, Cyprus Credit Union; and Cory Robinson, market manager, America First Credit Union. Details about the award recipients are at https://slchamber.com/events-programs/ signature-events/annual-meeting/.

Harper, Escamilla honored at ChamberWest gala Tom Haraldsen Salt Lake Business Journal Longtime Utah state Sen. Wayne Harper was inducted into the ChamberWest Hall of Fame during its annual awards gala Aug. 27. The event at the Viridian Event Center in West Jordan served as celebration of the chamber’s 65th anniversary. Harper was saluted for his many years of service in the Legislature, first in the House of Representatives for 16 years before his election as a state senator in 2012. He currently represents Senate District 16 that includes West Jordan and Taylorsville, and is also president pro tempore in the Utah Senate. He is the 10th inductee into the Hall of Fame since its inception in 2017. State Sen. Luz Escamilla was honored

as Legislator of the Year. She has served in the Senate since 2008 and is minority leader. She represents Senate District 10 that includes West Valley City and Magna. The chamber also presented a number of awards. Business of the Year went to Granger Medical Center. The Small Business of Year award was presented to Good Day Catering of West Jordan. Embassy Suites West Valley was named the Best Place to Work. The Volunteer of the Year award was given to Stephen Smith, associate vice president of regional project area development at the Utah Inland Port Authority. Former KUTV meteorologist Sterling Poulson served as the event’s master of ceremonies, with music provided by ensemble Sapphire After Dark and vocalist B Murphy. The organization was founded in 1961 as the Granger-Hunter Chamber of Com-

merce. It was created to serve the agricultural and rapidly growing suburban communities west of the Jordan River. As unincorporated county areas transformed into formalized municipalities, the chamber expanded its geographic scope. It was eventually renamed the West Valley-Taylorsville-Kearns Chamber of Commerce to mirror regional growth. It changed its name to ChamberWest in 2001. Today it represents over 5,000 businesses in West Valley City, West Jordan, Taylorsville, Kearns and Magna.

Former KUTV meteorologist Sterling Poulson served as master of ceremonies at the ChamberWest anniversary gala Aug. 27. (Courtesy ChamberWest)

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USU, Brigham City, Hi Tech Solutions take next step to develop nuclear campus Officials have taken the next step in the establishment of a nuclear energy innovation campus in Brigham City. Late last month, Utah State University, Brigham City Corp. and Hi Tech Solutions LLC signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to evaluate, plan and advance a collaborative technical training, certification and research and development campus in the Box Elder County city. The proposed campus will serve as a regional hub dedicated to education, workforce training and innovation in the advanced nuclear energy, national defense and nuclear technology sectors. “By aligning academic rigor with industry demand, the initiative aims to boost the local economy, strengthen national energy resilience and secure high-quality career pathways for students and skilled tradespeople,” USU said in a release. “This partnership reflects Utah State’s land-grant mission and our responsibility to help meet the evolving needs of our state,” said USU President Brad Mortensen. “Working alongside Brigham City and Hi Tech Solutions, we have an opportunity to explore new approaches to technical training and research that prepare students for high-demand careers, support economic growth, and strengthen Utah’s leadership in energy and national defense.” The signatories to the MOU said nuclear energy and defense supply chains are rapidly expanding, driving an urgent regional and national demand for specialized talent. The envisioned campus will address this gap by offering a centralized environment for professional certification and technical trades and equipping workers with advanced skills tailored to nuclear operations, quality assurance and advanced manufacturing. The campus will also host applied research and testing, providing industry-sponsored simulation laboratories, equipment testing and validation opportunities. A core pillar of the new agreement is a focus on support for military veterans and transitioning service members. The campus will actively design credentialing, ap-

Utah State University President Brad Mortensen addresses a crowd at a ceremony marking the signing of a memorandum of understanding among the school, Brigham City and Hi Tech Solutions for the establishment of a nuclear energy innovation campus in Box Elder County. (Courtesy Utah State University) prenticeship and workforce transition programs that leverage veterans’ technical military experience. This targeted pathway will rapidly prepare them for careers in nuclear engineering support, plant operations, maintenance and safety critical to national security, the agreement says. Under the framework of the MOU, the three entities will divide operational and planning responsibilities to ensure the project’s long-term viability. USU will provide academic leadership, curriculum development, faculty expertise, research capabilities and administration of credentialing and degree programs, while also providing a long-term ground lease of the designated property. Brigham City will support site master planning, infrastructure coordination, regional economic development initiatives and local permitting processes. Hi Tech Solutions will serve as the master developer responsible for financing, developing and coordinating sub-development, along with providing industry expertise, equipment, technology resources and internship or employment pathways.

Eide Bailly relocating to downtown SLC

Accounting and business advisory firm Eide Bailly is moving into a new office location at the 650 Main building in Salt Lake City. The 21,248-square-foot leased space will provide improved accessibility for employees and clients while supporting Eide Bailly’s long-term operational goals. “Securing our new downtown Salt Lake City office was a major milestone for our company,” said Paul Skeen, Utah market leader for Eide Bailly. “The team at Colliers provided a deep understanding of the market and strategic guidance throughout the process, giving us confidence at every step. We’re thrilled with the outcome and excited about what this new space means for our future growth.” The Colliers team advising Eide Bailly on site selection and lease negotiations included Vic Galanis, Travis Yates and Alisha Knapp. “We were proud to guide Eide Bailly through every stage of the transaction, from site selection to lease negotiation,”

said Yates, vice president at Colliers. “Our goal in every assignment is to align real estate strategy with a client’s longterm business objectives. For Eide Bailly, that meant identifying a workplace environment that supports growth, enhances the client experience and creates long-term value for employees. The decision also reflects a broader flight to quality across the office market, as occupiers continue prioritizing highly connected environments with strong amenity offerings and elevated workplace experiences.” Developed by Patrinely, 650 Main is a 10-story, 327,000-square-foot office tower positioned within one of downtown Salt Lake City’s most active mixed-use growth corridors. The property offers direct access to Interstate 15 and the adjacent 600 South TRAX station and includes conferencing infrastructure, indoor-outdoor fitness amenities, collaborative gathering areas and structured parking. It is LEED Gold and WiredScore Platinum certified.

The new office location for Eide Bailly in downtown Salt Lake City. (Courtesy Colliers)

September 7, 2026 | 9

SALT LAKE BUSINESS JOURNAL

DOWN to TO BUSINESS Down Business

Just don’t refer to me as zyr: On the horns of the pronoun dilemma

Much of modern written correspondence — emails, letters (I know, what’s a letter?), memos, reports and proposals — now include a notation of the author’s “preferred pronouns.” The traditional he/him/his and she/her/hers still dominate the things I see daily and I assume those who do not list a preference are OK with tradition. But in a nod to the LGBTQ+ community, a whole new way of using and thinking about pronouns has emerged. Traditional pronouns are now switched around to match gender identity. Bespoke neopronouns have emerged — ze/zir/zirs, xe/xem/xyr and even fae/faer and thon/ thons. Some folks prefer no pronouns at all: “Just call me by my name.” A fair number of correspondence writers have taken to using they/them/their as favored pronouns. I like that one — but more on that later. A recent New York Times survey of 40,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and undecided youth in the U.S. found that a full 25 percent exclusively use pronouns other than she/her and he/him. A recent post on X from the Human Rights Campaign, which claims to be the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, suggested that we should all begin conversations with “Hi, my pronouns are _____. What are yours?” Gender ideologues tell us that asking for, giving our and using preferred pro-

nouns is inclusive to nonbinary or transgender folks. Falling short of that may even constitute violence and oppression, they say. JOHN If this sounds ROGERS confusing and makes you uncomfortable for reasons you find difficult to explain, you’re not alone. At the risk of swimming against the flow, I think being subjected to constant rituals of pronoun exchanges would become silly or annoying at best, and exhausting and servile at worst. This column won’t evolve into a discussion of gender ideology. That’s for another day. But suffice it to say that I don’t believe that if you select she, her and hers as your preferred pronouns that you necessarily have to embrace the social roles and stereotypes of femininity. Nor, if you choose to be referred to as he or him, should you have to hunt deer in October or understand the intricacies of the box-and-one defense. Now, let’s get back to they/them/their. In 1960s high school English, Mrs. Syphus taught a hard and fast rule: If a person’s gender was unknown or irrelevant, the masculine pronoun was the default: • “A student should hand in his paper

on Friday.” • “If someone calls, tell him I’ll return the call.” • “Every employee should do his best.” Convention held that “he” could refer to a person of either sex. I tried to use “him or her” or “his or hers” (“A student should hand in his or her paper by Friday”) but Mrs. Syphus would mark that as “unnecessarily cumbersome.” Note: Many languages assign gender to nouns and both genders to single possessive adjectives. For example, both “his paper” and “her paper” both translate to “son papier” in French — papier is masculine and son is the masculine possessive adjective. (I know — too much grammar.) Then along came the late 1960s and the 1970s. With them came the feminist movement and the campaign to pass and ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. Using he/him/his as the default generic pronoun began to be seen as implying that the typical, important or default person was male. Those who wrote about feminist issues and style authorities, such as the AP and UPI style books, increasingly encouraged alternative usage. Remember, I said I liked they/them/ their? So did the 1970s and beyond. The singular “they” and its derivatives, them and their, became the dominant solution to default masculine pronouns in contemporary American English and is now

accepted by major dictionaries and style guides: • “A student should hand in their paper by Friday.” • “If someone calls, tell them I’ll return the call.” • “Every employee should do their best.” Rewriting the sentence in the plural — in journalism we call that a “writearound” — is also widely used: • “Students should hand in their papers.” One interesting wrinkle to the unknown gender conundrum: The singular “they” isn’t really a product of the pronoun revolution. It has been used in English for centuries when referring to an individual whose gender was not known or unspecified: “They left their lunch untouched.” The uproar over pronouns is unlikely to go away anytime soon, but to date, asking people their pronouns is like asking your cat if it prefers to be called Whiskers or Fluffy. You’re trying to be polite, but they still just stare at you like you owe them food.

John Rogers is a 50-year veteran of Utah media. He retired as managing editor of the Salt Lake Business Journal in 2025 and is now a part-time contributor to the paper. He can be reached at john.r@thecityjournals.com.

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SALT LAKE BUSINESS JOURNAL

WHEELER MACHINERY - B

75 YEARS OF WHEELER MACHINERY HELPING BUILD THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST From the roads we travel and the communities we call home to the mines, power systems, and infrastructure that keep our economy moving, Wheeler Machinery has spent 75 years supporting the people who build our world. When J.K. Wheeler and Walter Kershaw formed the Wheeler-Kershaw Company in 1951, they could hardly have imagined the impact their partnership would have across Utah and the Intermountain West. What began as a machinery dealership has grown into one of the region’s most respected equipment and power solutions providers, supporting industries that shape everyday life. The company would later become Wheeler Machinery Co. in 1957, laying the foundation for decades of growth, innovation, and customer partnership. Yet Wheeler’s story reaches even further back. The company’s roots trace to the earliest Caterpillar dealerships in the Intermountain West. In 1926, dealer Herbert Landes established one of the first Caterpillar dealerships in the region, with Jesse Wheeler joining as a partner shortly thereafter. By 1929, J.K. Wheeler was selling equipment across a vast western territory from downtown Salt Lake City, helping introduce machinery that would transform agriculture, construction, mining, and transportation throughout the West. As Utah grew, Wheeler grew alongside it. Generation after generation, the company expanded its capabilities, workforce, and geographic reach. New facilities, expanded service operations, and a deepening relationship with Caterpillar allowed Wheeler to become a trusted resource for customers tackling some of the region’s most demanding projects. Leadership transitions, including the stewardship of the Wheeler and Campbell families, preserved the company’s culture while positioning it for the opportunities of a changing industry. Today, Wheeler operates 15 locations and employs nearly 1,000 people. More importantly, the company remains deeply connected to the communities it serves, with 85 percent of Utah residents located within 30 minutes of a Wheeler facility and 95 percent within an hour.

September 7, 2026 | 11

SALT LAKE BUSINESS JOURNAL

BUILT FOR GENERATIONS SUPPORTING THE INDUSTRIES THAT BUILD OUR WORLD Wheeler’s success has always been measured by the success of its customers. Over the past 75 years, the company has supplied more than 35,000 machines throughout Utah, helping build highways, neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, industrial facilities, and critical infrastructure. Behind every machine stands an organization dedicated to uptime, reliability, and customer success, including more than 400 certified technicians, 211 service bays, and one of the largest parts and service networks in the region.

The company’s influence reaches well beyond construction. Wheeler currently supports 22 mining operations throughout its territory, serving both surface and underground mines producing copper, gold, iron, coal, phosphate, and aggregate materials. These operations provide resources that fuel economic development while creating jobs and opportunities across the state. In power and energy, Wheeler helps customers keep critical facilities running. From hospitals and universities to government facilities and data centers, the company’s turnkey power solutions provide dependable energy systems designed to meet the growing needs of a modern economy. As technology continues to reshape industries, reliable power infrastructure has never been more important. Rental solutions, advanced technology offerings, equipment financing, and specialized divisions such as SITECH Intermountain, Solutions Financial Services, and Reliabl have expanded Wheeler’s ability to serve customers at every stage of equipment ownership and operation.

LOOKING FORWARD: THE NEXT 75 YEARS While Wheeler is proud of its history, the company’s focus remains firmly on the future. That future is visible in the company’s newest investments, including its state-of-the-art Spanish Fork facility. Designed with sustainability and long-term growth in mind, the campus features a 500-kilowatt solar array with 995 high-efficiency panels expected to generate approximately 840,000 kilowatt-hours annually. Its advanced water recycling system will conserve an estimated five million gallons of water each year. Innovation also extends to technology Wheeler provides customers every day. The company’s Fluid Analysis Lab processes hundreds of samples daily and generates more than 100,000 reports annually, helping customers predict failures before they occur and maximize equipment life. Advanced equipment monitoring and software solutions transform machine data into actionable business intelligence, enabling customers to make smarter operational decisions. The future of Wheeler is powered by people as much as technology. Employee development has long been central to the company’s culture. Thousands of training courses are completed annually, ensuring team members are equipped to support increasingly sophisticated equipment and customer needs. At the same time, Wheeler continues to expand opportunities across a broader and more diverse workforce. Women now represent approximately 25 percent of Wheeler’s workforce, significantly higher than many traditional construction and equipment industry benchmarks. Careers in leadership, technology, operations, engineering, sales, and technical services continue to create new pathways for future generations.

Today, Wheeler is part of Campbell Companies, a family of nine businesses serving the construction, mining, power, and energy sectors with more than 1,300 employees. Together, they share a commitment to continuous improvement, customer success, and operational excellence. Seventy-five years after its founding, the core mission remains unchanged. Wheeler exists to support the people who build our world. The machines have changed. The technology has evolved. The industries have grown. But the commitment to customers, employees, and the communities Wheeler serves remains as strong as ever.

For 75 years, Wheeler Machinery has helped build the Intermountain West. The next chapter is already underway.

12 | September 7, 2026

NEWS ROUNDUP News Roundup New York City firm acquires SLC-based Nexus Power Madison River Capital (MRC), a lower middle market private equity firm, has announced its acquisition of Nexus Power, a Salt Lake City manufacturer representative and provider of design, engineering, procurement and project management services for power systems. MRC is based in New York City. An MRC release said the investment will support Nexus Power’s geographic expansion, targeted acquisitions in design engineering and team growth, as the company capitalizes on accelerating demand for power infrastructure across data centers, utilities and industrial end-markets. Nexus administration and the employee team will stay in place. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Nexus Power serves customers across government, utilities, data centers, mining, oil and gas and semiconductor manufacturing sectors. The company operates through two segments: a commissions business, generating revenue under territory agreements with tier-one manufacturers, and a solutions business, managing end-to-end coordination of low-to-high-voltage gear, engineering partners and delivery logistics. Nexus Power is the exclusive manufacturer rep-

resentative for companies such as ABB, Hitachi and approximately 20 other electrical equipment manufacturers. “This partnership with Madison River Capital marks an important milestone for Nexus Power,” said Pete Jones, president and CEO of Nexus Power. “We have built a business that is differentiated across our manufacturer relationships, our technical depth and our ability to deliver end-to-end solutions. This investment gives us the capital and strategic support to scale faster than we could on our own.” “Nexus Power has demonstrated exactly the kind of execution in a sector with strong tailwinds that we look for in our portfolio companies,” said David Wittels, managing partner of Madison River Capital. “Pete and his team have built a business with a strong team, loyal customers across the value chain, a unique approach to the market, and a clear path to continued scale. We know how critical it is to have the right technical and commercial capabilities in place to serve this market and have high conviction in what Nexus Power has built and in the opportunity ahead of them. We are excited to partner with them as they enter this next stage of growth.”

Hobble Creek Business Park acquired by Newport Newport National Corp. has completed the acquisition of Hobble Creek Business Park, a 31.6-acre, multi-building industrial park located in Springville. Sundance Bay, a Salt Lake City-based real estate operator and investment firm, provided the acquisition financing and construction financing for the subsequent buildings. Hobble Creek Business Park currently comprises approximately 260,000 square feet of industrial space across three buildings and is 98 percent leased, with only two 6,720-square-foot bays remaining available. Newport plans to begin construction on two additional buildings totaling approximately 140,000 square feet in late summer, with an additional 90,000 square feet planned within the next 24 months. At full buildout, the park will encompass approximately 500,000 square feet across six buildings. “Hobble Creek Business Park is ex-

actly the type of asset Newport looks for: a well-located, high-quality industrial property in a dynamic growth market with significant value-add potential through new construction,” said Scott Brusseau, president of Newport National Corp., in a release. “Demand in Utah County for modern small-bay buildings with dock-high doors, ample clear heights, and grade-level doors is exceptionally strong, and with the park already 98 percent leased, we are excited to move forward with our expansion plans and deliver best-in-class facilities for tenants in this market.” The planned new construction will feature modern, build-to-suit and speculative industrial buildings designed to meet the growing demand from a range of industrial users in the region. Newport will oversee all development, leasing and property management activities at the park.

New SLCC NexStep trainings announced Salt Lake Community College has announced two new sessions to its SLCC NexStep Leader Workshop Series calendar: “Practical Skills for Powerful Presentations” and “Project Management Fundamentals.” The comprehensive, full-day (8 a.m.4 p.m.) on-campus trainings take place at the SLCC Westpointe Training & Education Center, located at 1060 N. Flyer Way (near the Salt Lake City Airport). A complimentary lunch is included with registration. Companies with 10 or more participants can have any workshop brought directly to their location. For these customized private sessions, both half-day and full-day formats are available.

Current 2026 NexStep Leader Workshop Schedule “Practical Skills for Powerful Presentations” Sept. 16, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. “Project Management Fundamentals” Oct. 14, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Exclusive 40 percent Subsidy for For-Profit Businesses: If an organization is a for-profit business, it may qualify for the SLCC Custom Fit Program. This program applies a 40 percent subsidy to your registration, reducing the cost from $275 to $165 per person. Registration information is available at the NexStep Leader Workshop Series portal.

Gendron to succeed Olsen as CEO at Stein Eriksen The board of directors of Stein Eriksen Management Corp. has chosen Greg Gendron, the organization’s current chief administrative officer, to serve as its next CEO. Gendron succeeds Russ Olsen, who will retire as the company’s president and CEO on Aug 1. Olsen concludes a 40-year career that has seen the Eriksen organization, now known as Stein Collection, develop into a premier luxury hospitality organization. “We are deeply grateful for Russ’s unwavering commitment to Stein Collection and for the leadership he has provided over the past 40 years,” said Dennis Suskind, president of the board of directors of Stein Collection. “His vision, integrity and dedication to excellence have shaped not only our organization, but also the luxury hospitality experience in Deer Valley. Because of Russ’s leadership, Stein Collection has become synonymous with exceptional service, and his legacy will continue to influence our organization for generations to come.” During Olsen’s tenure, Stein Eriksen Lodge evolved from a luxury condominium hotel into a Forbes 5-Star, multi-property hospitality company generating more than $100 million in annual revenue and earning international recognition as the World’s Best Ski Hotel. Under his leadership, Stein Collection expanded to include Stein Eriksen Lodge, Stein Eriksen Residences, The Chateaux Deer Valley, The Residences at The

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Locally Veteran owned and operated since 1953

Chateaux, Stein Eriksen Estates, Luxury Homes by Stein Collection and Stein Eriksen Realty Group. “Greg has been an integral member of our leadership team for more than 17 years,” Suskind said. “He understands our culture, shares our commitment to exceptional service, and possesses the strategic vision necessary to guide Stein Collection into its next chapter. We are confident he will build upon our strong foundation while positioning the organization to capitalize on future opportunities, including the 2034 Olympic Winter Games and the continued evolution of luxury hospitality, all while remaining true to the values and vision established by Stein Eriksen.” Dan Bullert, with 30 years at the company, will continue as chief operating officer. “Together, they will lead Stein Collection through its next phase of growth while preserving the culture of excellence that has defined the organization for decades,” the board said in its announcement. Olsen will remain actively involved following his retirement, serving as a senior advisor and consultant to the board and executive leadership team through December 2027. Norwegian Olympic gold medalist and legendary skier Stein Eriksen, along with partner Edgar Stern, the founder of Deer Valley Resort, opened the Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City in 1982.

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Utah joining other state efforts on robocall crackdown

Utah Attorney General Derek Brown and 48 other attorneys general have called on the Federal Communications Commission to strengthen rules that would cut off scammers’ access to the legitimate telephone numbers they use to reach their victims. Americans received approximately 29.6 billion scam robocalls and texts in 2025, a 16 percent increase over the previous year, and lost nearly $2 billion to phone scams. Utah phone numbers alone receive roughly 20 million robocalls every month, according to the YouMail Robocall Index. Scammers once relied on illegally “spoofing” other people’s phone numbers to make calls appear to come from a legitimate company or government agency. After the federal government and state attorneys general cracked down on spoofing, scammers shifted tactics: They now purchase legitimate phone numbers and use them to make robocalls. While most legitimate businesses use the same number for years, scammers cycle through millions of brand-new numbers to evade spam filters. “Every Utahn deserves to know that when their phone rings, they can trust that the person on the other end is who they say they are,” Brown said in a release from his office. “Scammers buy real phone numbers, use them until spam filters catch on, and then just buy new ones. We’re calling on the FCC to make it harder for scammers to get their

hands on real phone numbers in the first place.” The Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force first asked the FCC to address the issue in 2021, and coalition members are now responding to the FCC’s proposed rules. In addition to the steps the FCC is already taking, the attorneys general are asking the federal government to: • Require every company authorized to purchase and resell phone numbers in North America to meet stronger certification requirements and disclose how, and to whom, they assign numbers. • Require these companies to submit regular reports on the sale and use of numbers, so law enforcement can trace illegal robocalls to their source and hold every company in the call path accountable. • Require anyone applying for phone numbers to certify they will not use them to make illegal robocalls. • Block the sale of phone numbers to buyers not connected to a real calling or texting service. • Prohibit “number cycling,” in which an entity buys numbers in bulk and rotates through them, sometimes using each only once, to evade tools that flag robocall numbers. • Restrict the offering of trial numbers that scammers exploit to harm consumers. Utah is joined in signing the letter by 48 other attorneys general.

Work-from-home numbers down but still significant for certain jobs Many thousands of Utah workers went home to work when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, with the total nearly tripling between 2019 and 2021. And although many have gone back to the office, remote work remains a defining feature of the state’s labor market for certain industries. Those are the findings of a new research brief from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah. The study found that from a peak of 327,000 people working at home in 2021, 278,000 were still there in 2024. “Utah’s work-from-home landscape is no longer defined by the broad pandemic shift to remote work,” said Heidi Prior, senior policy analyst at the Gardner Institute and lead author of the brief. “The data show certain Utahns continue working from home, including information workers, self-employed Utahns, higher earners and college-educated workers, while working from home declined sharply for other groups after 2021.” According to the research, in 2024, Utah ranked ninth nationally for its share of home-based workers. Four other western states ranked among the top 10 that same year: Colorado (second), Oregon (third), Washington (fourth) and Arizona (fifth). Among Utah’s most populated counties, Utah (17.7 percent), Davis (17.5 percent), Salt Lake (16.3 percent), Washington (15.7 percent) and Tooele (15.6 percent) counties reported the highest work-from-home rates.

Nearly 40 percent of Utahns employed in the information industry worked from home in 2024, the highest rate of any industry. Professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste management services followed at 33.3 percent. The finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing sector showed a 32.3 percent work-from-home rate. Fewer than one in 10 government workers in Utah worked from home in 2024, with the rate falling dramatically from 28.2 percent in 2021 to 9.8 percent in 2024. In contrast to declines among private-sector and government workers, self-employed Utahns discovered they didn’t need to be in an office and the number of those working from home rose from 19.8 percent in 2021 to 29 percent in 2024. In 2024, 23.1 percent of Utah workers with bachelor’s degrees or higher worked from home, compared with 5.8 percent of workers without high school diplomas. Workers earning $75,000 or more also worked from home at higher rates than lower earners. About 17 percent of employed Utah women worked from home, compared to 14.4 percent of employed Utah men. The research brief uses U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data to examine how Utah’s home-based workforce has changed by geography, industry, occupation, demographics, education and earnings. The full report can be accessed through the Gardner website at gardner.utah.edu.

Salt Lake Metropolitan magazine makes debut A new magazine from the team at the Salt Lake Business Journal makes its debut in this week’s edition. Salt Lake Metropolitan is a brand-new city lifestyle publication showcasing the best of life along the Wasatch Front. It’s filled with feature stories about travel, pursuits, dining suggestions, Utah traditions and so much more. It will be published four times a year, joining with our fellow publications of Wasatch Living and Executive Life Magazine as part of the City Journals family. Each magazine is included with your annual print subscription to the Salt Lake Business Journal.

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PEOPLE on ON THE People the MOVE Move “People on the Move” information should be submitted at brice.w@thecityjournals. com. Submissions are for subscribers only.

ADVOCACY

• Americans for Prosperity-Utah (AFPUT) has announced that Heather Andrews will reprise her previous role as state director as the grassroots organization prepares for the general election and 2027 legislative session. Andrews held the role from 2016 to 2023, where she led the chapter to legislative wins on tax reform, occupational licensing, free speech and education freedom. Before rejoining AFP-UT, Andrews served as AFP’s western regional director. Andrews’ career in political advocacy spans more than a decade. AFP works on long-term solutions to the country’s biggest problems.

BANKING

• Zions Bank, based in Salt Lake City, has hired Todd Allen as executive vice president and director of private banking. Allen has 20 years of private banking and wealth management experience. He previously served as market executive and executive director at Morgan Stanley Private Bank Todd Allen for its western region and has held senior leadership roles with Merrill Lynch and Wells Fargo. Allen earned his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University. • Bank of Utah, based in Ogden, has appointed Austin Bills as treasury management officer and named Brooks Rose as banking manager at its new Lehi branch. Based in Salt Lake City, Bills will work with businesses to support commercial clients with tailored treasury management soluAustin Bills tions that address cash flow, payments, liquidity and risk management. As a strategic advisor, he will deliver financial solutions de-

signed to help businesses operate more efficiently. Bills has 12 years of experience in merchant services, treasury management offerings and strategic cash flow planning. Before joining Bank of Utah, he spent nearBrooks Rose ly seven years as merchant program manager at Mountain America Credit Union. He previously served as a treasury management relationship advisor and merchant team lead at Zions Bank. Rose will lead daily branch operations and support clients with their accounts, transactions and everyday banking needs. He has four years of experience in the financial services industry, with a background in banking, wealth management and business development. Most recently, Rose served as the banking manager at Bank of Utah’s Provo branch. Before joining Bank of Utah, Rose was a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch. He also worked at Bank of America as a relationship manager and business owner specialist, later advancing to senior banker. Rose began his career as an account executive at SpotOn, partnering with smalland medium-sized business owners across the Salt Lake City area to help manage and grow their operations.

HEALTHCARE

• Sera Prognostics Inc., a Salt Lake City-based company focused on improving maternal and neonatal health by providing pregnancy biomarker information to doctors and patients, has appointed Scott Gleason as chief financial officer. Gleason has more than 25 years of healthcare, diagnosScott Gleason tics and capital markets experience, most recently serving as vice president of investor relations and treasury at Neogen Corp. He previously served as CFO of LarmorBio and NX Prenatal and served as interim CFO of OraSure Technologies. Prior to OraSure, he

led corporate strategy and investor relations at Myriad Genetics. Sera also announced that Austin Aerts, who has served as CFO since June 2023, will transition to an advisory capacity focused on strategic initiatives and ensuring continuity. Since joining the company in 2017, he has held a series of finance leadership positions and played a pivotal part in guiding Sera through its successful initial public offering and transition to the public markets. • Evoq Bio, a Salt Lake City-based nanoscience company that engineers novel nanoparticles for the life, material and textile science industries, has hired Dale Christensen as chief science officer. He will help lead the effort to advance the company’s EVQ-218, an investigational inhaled antimicroDale bial therapeutic. ChrisChristensen tensen has more than 25 years of therapeutic research and development experience, with particular expertise in pulmonary drug development, IND-enabling toxicology and safety studies, regulatory strategy, CRO management and clinical development. His experience includes advancing inhaled pulmonary therapeutics into human clinical trials, including Phase 2 development.

HOSPITALITY

• Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City has appointed David Valencia as general manager. Valencia has over 20 years of hospitality experience, including 15 years within IHG’s Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio. His career began as a bellman and has included serving as interim general manager at both Kimpton RiverPlace Portland and Kimpton Pittman Dallas; as hotel manager on the pre-opening team at InterContinental San Antonio Riverwalk; and at properties including InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown, InterContinental San Francisco and InterContinental Mark Hopkins. Kimpton Hotel Monaco Salt Lake City, housed in the historic Continental Bank building since 1999, features 225 guestrooms and suites.

MANUFACTURING

• Merit Medical Systems Inc., a South Jordan-based manufacturer of healthcare technology, has hired Sheri Lewis as executive vice president of global operations. Lewis has three decades of experience across global operations, manufacturing and supply chain management. She previously held Sheri Lewis senior roles at SkinHealth Systems Inc., Avantor, Medtronic and Honeywell, leading global manufacturing, distribution, logistics, supply chain, quality, regulatory, environmental health and safety, and operational excellence functions across large, complex organizations. Neil Peterson will move into the role of senior advisor, where he will help ensure a smooth transition through March 5, 2027. Neil Peterson At that time, he will complete his service to Merit after more than 32 years with the company. Peterson has most recently served as chief operating officer, responsible for the company’s global operations. In that position, he was responsible for oversight of all operations at Merit’s headquarters facilities in South Jordan.

MULTIPLE INDUSTRIES

• Security National Financial Corp., based in Murray, has hired Alissa Neufeld

as chief legal officer. Neufeld joins the company from LifeVantage Corp., where she served as general counsel and corporate secretary. Her legal career began with a state judicial internship at age 19 and continued with a clerkship on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, followed by corporate and mergers and acquisitions work at a national law firm. She has since held multiple in-house counsel roles, building and leading legal and compliance departments. Founded in 1965, Security National Financial operates through three business segments: life insurance, cemetery/mortuary and mortgages.

RETAIL

• Smith’s Food & Drug, a Salt Lake City-based grocer, has named Jordan Poff as vice president of merchandising. Poff previously was vice president of retail operations. He joined the company in 2005 as a courtesy clerk in the Cincinnati/Dayton division. Over the next 15 years, he progressed Jordan Poff through various store, district and division roles of increasing responsibility. During the pandemic, he was selected to lead the total company’s rapidly expanding e-commerce operations. He was promoted to director of e-commerce experience and operations in 2020 and vice president of retail operations and e-commerce operations in 2022. In early 2025, Poff joined the Smith’s division as vice president of operations.

TECHNOLOGY

• Netcraft, based in England and with regional North American operations in Lehi, has added Darren Lee to its board of directors. Netcraft provides online brand protection and digital risk management. Lee has decades of experience building, scaling and expanding enterprise technology and cyberseDarren Lee curity businesses, including more than 14 years scaling Proofpoint, where he helped transform the company into a preeminent cybersecurity brand. Lee joined Proofpoint following acquisition of NextPage, an information governance company where he served as CEO. • Sirion, a Lehi-based company focused on AI-native contract lifecycle management, has appointed Matt Grill as chief customer officer and Josy Palackal as senior vice president of professional services. Grill will lead Sirion’s new Global Customer Experience Matt Grill organization, bringing professional services, customer success, global support, operations, and tools and automation together as one operating system for the customer lifecycle. Grill has more than 20 years of experience building and scaling Josy Palackal customer-facing organizations. He has led global teams of more than 1,400 people through turnarounds, carve-outs and operating model transformations. Palackal will lead professional services and play a key role in standardizing delivery frameworks and embedding best practices that enable consistent, high-quality outcomes across every customer engagement. He has experience simplifying implementations, accelerating time-to-value, and continuously making improvements for customers.

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Massachusetts firm acquires EnviroServe in $470 million deal

EnviroServe, a national provider of environmental and waste management services based in Sandy, is being acquired by Norwell, Massachusetts-based Clean Harbors Inc. Expected to close in later this year, the deal is for a reported $470 million in cash. EnviroServe is owned by an affiliate of One Rock Capital Partners LLC of New York City. Founded in 1990, EnviroServe serves nearly 2,500 customers through a network of 40 locations. Its national footprint is supported by operating permits in 48 states, which include 18 10-day waste transfer facilities, several solidification facilities and railcar cleaning locations. Its services include remediation, rail services, industrial cleaning and emergency response, as well as hazardous and non-hazardous waste transportation and processing. “EnviroServe is an ideal acquisition for us, given its national footprint, permitted locations and recurring revenue,” said Eric Gerstenberg, co-CEO of Clean Harbors. “The addition of EnviroServe’s strategically located, 10-day transfer facilities further strengthen our Technical Services business and support increased throughput across our disposal and recycling portfolio. We envision meaningful cross-selling opportunities as their customers will now have direct access to our industry-leading network and broad suite of environmental and industrial services. At the same time, EnviroServe’s emergency response assets and rail cleaning facilities will enhance our Field Services business.” On an adjusted basis, EnviroServe is expected to generate annual adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) of approximately $27 million on approximately $250 million of revenues. Clean Harbors expects the acquisition to gen-

erate sizable cost synergies of approximately $25 million that will be realized over the first two years. Clean Harbors said it will fund the acquisition through available cash and the issuance of additional debt financing. “Clean Harbors’ resources, innovation and commitment to service will enhance our ability to deliver leading recycling and waste management services to our customers,” said Andy Peyton, CEO of EnviroServe. “At the same time, this transaction provides an opportunity for our team members to become part of one of the world’s largest and most successful environmental services companies.” “Culturally, we see a great fit with our organization. EnviroServe prides itself on being a responsible environmental steward, with a commitment to operating not only safely, but sustainably, said Mike Battles, co-CEO of Clean Harbors. “Their customer tenure speaks to their service quality, and their safety principles mirror ours. This acquisition will offer career-enhancing opportunities for EnviroServe employees, and we look forward to welcoming them into the Clean Harbors’ family.” “Clean Harbors’ resources, innovation and commitment to service will enhance our ability to deliver leading recycling and waste management services to our customers,” Peyton added. “At the same time, this transaction provides an opportunity for our team members to become part of one of the world’s largest and most successful environmental services companies.” Clean Harbors’ customer base spans a number of industries, including chemical, manufacturing and refining, as well as numerous government agencies. Founded in 1980, it operates in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and India.

New SLC program will help small businesses pay for property damage

Salt Lake City has launched its new Business Stabilization Program, created to help small businesses cover the cost of repairs after property damage. The federally funded program will reimburse small businesses on the West Side and Ballpark neighborhoods and in parts of downtown for expenses like broken windows, damaged doors, locks, lights and other kinds of property damage. “Our local businesses are part of what makes a neighborhood feel connected, active and cared for. When one of them is dealing with vandalism or an unexpected repair, we want them to know the city is in their corner,” said Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “Supporting our small businesses means paying attention to the challenges they’re facing and finding practical ways to help.” The city has opened applications for the grants at link.slc.gov/repairs. Awards are up to $3,500 per year per property. To qualify, an independently owned business must be within the program’s target area and have three locations or fewer, no more than 50 full-time equivalent employees and an active Salt Lake

City business license. Damages must have occurred no more than 120 days prior to the application and applicants must have already repaired the damage to receive reimbursement. “While working with local business owners through the Neighborhood Business Improvement program, we noticed a lack of resources to address minor property damage,” said Shyann Hugoe, community development grant administrator for the city. “Vandalism can place a lot of stress on small-business owners. That’s why we launched the Business Stabilization Program, which provides support for those smaller, unexpected repair needs.” The application will remain open until funds run out, or Feb. 1, 2027. Salt Lake City also offers other kinds of support to small-business owners. The Neighborhood Business Improvement Program awards up to $50,000 for facade work such as murals, accessibility upgrades and code repairs for businesses in 10 lower-income neighborhoods. Details for the additional programs can be found on the city’s website, slc.gov.

Weber State now offering non-classroom learning options

Weber State University is providing ways for students to translate real-world experience into academic progress. Through Prior Learning Assessment, a process that allows students to earn college credit for knowledge gained outside of the classroom, Wildcats can reduce the cost of their education and earn a degree faster. In the 2024-25 academic year, 3,400 WSU students took advantage of PLA to earn more than 27,280 credits, an increase of more than 1,300 credits from the year prior. That’s an estimated tuition savings of $7,224,538. “This is a great way to recognize the valuable professional experiences that many of our students bring to their educational journey,” said Molly Sween, Department of Criminal Justice chair, in a release. “Our department recognizes the time and money that goes into college, and we hope this leads to more efficient degree paths for students.” The criminal justice department was recently recognized as a Prior Learning Champion, an award given by WSU’s Division of Online & Continuing Education to programs that remove barriers for students through credit for prior learning. Students studying criminal justice have four tests, called challenge exams, they can take to demonstrate competency and earn credit for required classes. To qualify, they must have at least three consecutive years of full-time employment in a criminal justice-related profession within the past five years. In addition to criminal justice, departments with PLA options include automotive technology, computer science, dance, music, world languages and cultures, re-

habilitation sciences, radiologic sciences, nursing, and respiratory therapy — and the university is continually evaluating other areas where students can demonstrate existing competency. “We have learners at Weber State who come from varied backgrounds, and we want to allow them to incorporate some of that life experience into their university education,” said Lani Shepard, assistant registrar for records operations. Military training, successfully completing Peace Officer Standards and Training, and proficiency in a foreign language may also qualify students for credit. Standardized tests — such as Advanced Placement exams, ACT or SAT — also present opportunities for students to earn college credit. In 2024-25, 833 students earned credit through AP exams, and 1,492 students earned credit for required math or English courses based on their ACT or SAT scores. WSU has also expanded the number of pathways from regional partner schools, including Ogden-Weber and Davis technical colleges. This means more students can earn a certificate from a partner institution and easily continue their education at WSU without losing credits or repeating coursework. In 2024-25, WSU awarded 8,299 credit hours to students from qualifying technical colleges, helping them gain the necessary credentials for rewarding jobs in fields such as automotive technology, nursing and more. “These efforts contribute to retention and persistence to graduation,” Shepard said. “And it shows students that we recognize what they bring and see them as a whole person here, not just a number.”

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INDUSTRY BRIEFS Industry Briefs Company news information may be sent to brice.w@thecityjournals.com.

BANKING

• Columbia Bank, a subsidiary of Columbia Banking Systems Inc., has opened an office at 13947 Minuteman Drive, Suite 175, Draper. It is managed by retail branch manager Matt Quinney, who previously led Columbia’s South Jordan branch, which was transitioned to the enhanced Draper location. The 14,000-square-foot commercial and retailing banking branch is the first of three new locations planned in the Salt Lake City metro area this year. Columbia Bank entered the market in 2022. It has offices in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington.

CONSTRUCTION

• Willmeng Construction, based in Arizona, and the Davis School District officially celebrated the completion of the Burton Elementary School expansion and renovation project in Kaysville with a community ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the start of the school year. The project broke ground in January and delivers safety enhancements and modern learning environments to the campus. The 7,820-square-foot project, the school’s seventh addition, features a new administrative office suite, a redesigned secure vestibule, and a clearly identifiable main entrance aimed at improving accessibility and security. Infrastructure improvements were also a priority, including seismic roof upgrades, aging HVAC unit replacements, and a modernized fire alarm system. A standout feature is the newly redone courtyard and outdoor classroom. They were originally in the project plans but removed to stay on budget; however, funding donated by Willmeng ensured it was completed. The project team included MHTN Architects.

DIVIDENDS

• The board of directors of Extra Space Storage Inc., based in Salt Lake City, has declared a third-quarter 2025 dividend of $1.62 per share on the common stock of the company. The dividend is payable Sept. 30 to stockholders of record Sept. 15. Extra Space is a real estate investment trust that owns and/or operates 4,179 self-storage properties. It is the largest operator of self-storage properties in the United States.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

• Grocery Outlet Bargain Market is the discount chain that Utahns want most to open in the state, according to a poll by Lenspricer.com. It was followed by No. 2 Price Rite Marketplace and No. 3. Lidl. Details are at https://lenspricer.com/news/budget-retail-chains-peoplewant-study. • Price is Utah’s “most envied place for first-time homebuyers,” according to a survey by PortlandRealEstate.com. It asked a group of prospective first-time buyers to identify the location in their state they most envy as a place to buy their first home. Price was followed by No. 2 Logan and No. 3 Kearns. Details are at https://www.portlandrealestate. com/blog/starter-home-survey/.

ENERGY

• Deployable Energy Ltd. and Energy Development (formerly the Utah Office of Energy Development) recently signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a non-binding framework for co-

operation and information exchange to jointly explore the feasibility of siting Unity nuclear batteries in Utah. Deployable designs and manufactures compact, transportable nuclear microreactors. The MOU is viewed as an important step in advancing research, development and commercial deployment of Deployable’s Unity nuclear battery, a 1 MWe (megawatt electrical) factory-built plug-andplay power system that fits inside a standard 20-foot shipping container.

EVENTS

• The BioUtah Life Sciences Summit 2026 will take place Nov. 11, 8:30 a.m.5 p.m., at Hilton Salt Lake City Center, 255 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City. Details will be announced at https://bioutah. growthzoneapp.com/eventscalendar. • The 50th annual Women & Business Conference and Athena Awards Luncheon, a Salt Lake Chamber event, will take place Nov. 11 at the Grand America Hotel, 555 S. Main St., Salt Lake City. The Athena Award recipient is Sandi Sumner Hendry, founder and CEO of Minky Couture. The event will feature a keynote address and presentation of the Athena and Pathfinder awards. Details will be announced at slchamber.com. • The 2026 Growth & Prosperity Summit, a Utah Valley Chamber event, will take place Nov. 12, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., at Utah Valley University’s Sorensen Center, 800 W. University Parkway, Orem. It will feature keynote speakers and panels that will discuss Utah County’s biggest challenges and opportunities. Details are at thechamber.org. • The 2026 Fall Conference, a ChamberWest event, will take place Nov. 10, 7:15 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center, 1355 W. 3100 S., West Valley City. The theme is “Strength of the West.” Keynote speakers are Robert Spendlove, senior vice president and senior economist at Zions Bank, and Utah Rep. Jeff Burton. The event also will feature breakout sessions. Details are at chamberwest.com. • The Zero Gravity Summit, a 47G event, will take place Oct. 28-29 at the Salt Palace Convention Center, 100 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City. It is the flagship event of Utah’s first-ever Hard Tech Week, taking place Oct. 26-30. The summit will gather builders, investors, policymakers and innovators to shape the future of aerospace, defense and hard tech. Details are at https://www.47g.org/events. • The 2026 Women Empowered Leadership Conference, an Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce event, will take place Oct. 27, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Ogden Eccles Conference Center, 2415 Washington Blvd., Ogden. Details are at ogdenweberchamber.com. • The 2026 “Women in the Money” Financial Empowerment Conference will take place Oct. 22-23 at the Salt Palace Convention Center, 100 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City. Presented by Marlo M. Oaks, Utah state treasurer, and the Utah Financial Empowerment Coalition, it will feature speakers and workshops. Details are at womeninthemoney.org. • The 2026 “Trends” Conference, a ULI (Urban Land Institute) Utah event, will take place Oct. 20, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City, 170 S. West Temple., Salt Lake City. It will explore what’s next in Utah real estate and beyond. Details are at https:// utah.uli.org/events-2. • The Utah Tourism Conference, presented by the Utah Tourism Industry Association, will take place Oct. 13-16 at the

Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, 1702 Glencoe Mountain Way, Park City. Details are at https://www.utahtourismconference.com/. • The fifth annual Northern Utah Manufacturing Excellence (NUME) Conference, takes place Sept. 30, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Cache County Event Center, 490 S. 500 W., Logan. It is presented by Utah Industry Partners, Northern Utah Manufacturing Excellence, Utah MEP, Cache Valley Chamber of Commerce and Bridgerland Technical College and designed for manufactures in Cache, Box Elder, Weber, Morgan and Davis counties. Details are at https://numeconference.com/. • A pair of Statewide Manufacturing Roadshow events take place Sept. 17, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., in Logan and Sept. 24, 1011 a.m., online. They are presented by the U.S. Small Business Administration Utah District Office, in co-sponsorship with the Utah Manufacturers Association and 47G. Details are at Eventbrite.com. • The Mountain West Buildings & Facilities Management Trade Show & Conference takes place Sept. 24, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at the Mountain America Expo Center, 9575 S. State St., Sandy. It will feature companies displaying products and services necessary for the operation, management, maintenance and renovation of buildings and facilities in the Salt Lake City region and beyond. Details are at https://mwbfm.net/. • The Women Tech Awards, a Women Tech Council event, will take place Sept. 17, 3-5 p.m., at the Grand America Hotel, 555 S. Main St., Salt Lake City. Details are at https://luma.com/lh71johv. • The 2026 Get Healthy Utah Annual Event takes place Sept. 16, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., at Millcreek Common, 1354 E. Chambers Ave., Millcreek. It will explore strategies for building healthier communities and advancing active living, healthy food access and mental well-being strategies across Utah. Details are at https://gethealthyutah.org/events/.

HOSPITALITY

• Avari, a Park City-based vacation rental management company, has officially launched with more than 5,500 homes across 24 markets and seven states. It has homes in Utah in Moab, Heber City, Cottonwood Canyons, Park City and Salt Lake City. The 700-employee company was formed in late 2025 following the acquisition of management rights for 24 former Vacasa markets. Avari officially assumed management earlier this year with an established operational foundation already in place. Avari is led by Ashley Horsley, president and chief operating officer. Horsley previously served as CEO at 360Blue, a luxury vacaAshley Horsley tion rental manager in Florida. More recently, she co-founded and served as president and chief commercial officer at Key Data, a vacation rental industry’s business intelligence and benchmarking platform. Avari aims to evolve vacation rental management by applying a more thoughtful, high-touch approach to the guest and homeowner experience.

PHILANTHROPY

• The Promontory Foundation has awarded a total of $500,000 in grants to 45 nonprofits serving the Wasatch Back. This record sum will fund the largest number of annual nonprofit recipients in the foundation’s 20-year history. Members of Promontory, a pri-

vate community in Park City, raised the funds during the community’s annual fundraising event in July. The foundation is also establishing an endowment to ensure it is sustainable and well positioned to support local nonprofits and charitable organizations in the future. This year, the Promontory Foundation board and member committee selected People’s Health Clinic to receive the $50,000 Promontory Promise Grant. The People’s Health Clinic has provided healthcare to uninsured individuals and families in Summit and Wasatch counties. It also partners with several local nonprofits to provide needed services where possible. Since its inception in 2006, the Promontory Foundation has awarded over $4 million in grants to local nonprofits, and with the matching grant dollars, that equates to just over $11 million in local impact. Promontory is a 7,200-acre recreational, private mountain community consisting of 1,924 homesites, with 1,050 homes built. There are approximately 1,190 members of the private Promontory Club. • Summit Creek, a luxury residential community in the foothills of Woodland Hills, and Trevi Homes, a Utah-based homebuilder, have donated $30,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Utah County (HFHUC), supporting the construction of two new homes for local families in Pleasant Grove. The action will provide affordable, zero-interest homeownership to a pair of families. Wall-raising took place in July, with completion targeted for spring 2027. They will be the fifth and sixth Habitat homes in the Pleasant Grove neighborhood. Since 1991, HFHUC has partnered with families to build strength, stability and self-reliance through affordable homeownership and critical home repairs. Its Orem ReStore supports these programs. • Bank of Utah representatives recently presented Ronald McDonald House with a $1,000 check during a ceremony at its new branch at 2292 W. 1930 N., Lehi. Ronald McDonald House is an independent, nonprofit organization that cares for families when they have children who are ill or injured. Through a global network of over 250 independently operated chapters in more than 60 countries and regions, it surrounds families with the resources, services and support they need. In Utah County, the organization hosts a Ronald McDonald Family Room at Primary Children’s Hospital in Lehi. Bank of Utah employees will impact Lehi and the surrounding communities by volunteering and supporting local causes, with a focus being the bank’s Financial Literacy for Utah Teens initiative, part of the bank’s title sponsorship of the Bank of Utah Championship at Black Desert Resort. Developed in partnership with The Policy Project and the PGA Tour, the program will introduce financial education at 86 teen centers statewide, including Utah Military Academy in Lehi. These centers provide safe spaces and essential services, including counseling, tutoring and basic needs support for youth facing homelessness or economic hardship. The initiative is expected to help more than 15,000 Utah students build independence and create pathways toward longterm stability.

RECOGNITIONS

• Seven Utah companies are on a list of Best Employers for Women in 2026, compiled by Forbes, in partnership with

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INDUSTRY BRIEFS Industry Briefs market research firm Statista. The ninth annual ranking is based primarily on survey responses from more than 146,000 women working for companies that employ at least 1,000 people in the United States. On the list are No. 153 Myriad Genetics, Salt Lake City; No. 233 Sorenson Communications, Salt Lake City; No. 425 Entrata, Lehi; No. 526 CHG Healthcare Services, Midvale; No. 557 Harmons, West Valley City; No. 590 SelectHealth, Murray; and No. 616 1-800 Contacts, Draper. • Chartway Credit Union, based in Virginia and with members in Utah, Virginia and Texas, has been named one of the 2026 Best Credit Unions to Work For by American Banker. It is the sixth consecutive year the organization has earned the national distinction. The annual awards program, established by Best Companies Group — a research firm that surveys companies to provide valuable feedback on recruitment and retention — was created to identify, recognize and honor the best employers based on workplace culture and business influence. Credit unions from across the United States entered the two-part survey process to determine Best Credit Unions to Work For. The first part, which accounts for 25 percent of the total evaluation, consisted of evaluating each nominated credit union’s workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. The second part, which makes up the remaining 75 percent, consisted of an employee survey to measure employee experience. To be eligible, participating credit unions must employ a minimum of 15 team members and have been in business for at least one year. • Scorpion, a Salt Lake City-based provider of digital marketing and technology solutions for businesses, has won the Lead Management Innovation Award in the 2026 MarTech Breakthrough Awards. The awards program attracted more than 4,000 nominations from companies worldwide.

TECHNOLOGY

• Searchable, a United Kingdom-based answer engine optimization (AEO) startup, has expanded by opening an office in Salt Lake City. It is the company’s second U.S. office opening in seven months, following the launch of its New York base in January. Founded in London Tony Posselli and New York in December, Searchable offers an AI visibility and agentic marketing platform designed to help brands understand, track and improve how they appear across AI-led search. The Salt Lake City office

includes Tony Posselli as head of sales and Preston Boling as a founding GTM hire after their previous employer, Scrunch, was sold to Sitecore for a reported $225 million. Both will lead SearchPreston Boling able’s U.S. go-to-market from the new office, which opened in August at The Gateway in Salt Lake City.

TOURISM

• The Utah Office of Tourism recently awarded more than $3.3 million in Tier 1 and nearly $650,000 in Tier 2 cooperative marketing grants designed to help Utah counties, destination marketing organizations, nonprofit attractions and events, federally recognized tribes and municipalities amplify their tourism advertising efforts and attract out-of-state visitors. The funds were approved by the Utah Board of Travel Development. Recipients are Beaver County Travel Council, $115,300; Ballet West, $27,474; Box Elder County Government, $81,500; Blanding City, $6,700; Cache Valley Visitors Bureau, $93,600; Brian Head Town, $66,606; Carbon County Office of Tourism, $143,300; Casino Star Theater Foundation, $8,880; Daggett County, $41,200; Days of ’47 Rodeo, $25,000; Discover Davis, $181,600; Friends of the Moab Folk Festival, $4,012; Emery County Office of Tourism, $38,500; Heber Historic Railroad, $38,060; Garfield County Office of Tourism, $176,400; Joe’s Valley Fest, $8,880; Grand County Government, $161,000; Kayenta Arts Foundation, $14,946; Greater Zion Convention & Tourism, $126,000; Kimball Art Center, $53,284; Heber Valley Office of Tourism, $156,000; Moab Museum, $3,600; Juab County Tourism & Travel, $97,900; Moab Music Festival, $15,080; Kane County Office of Tourism & Film, $157,200; National Ability Center, $51,698; Morgan County, $56,700; Ogden Valley Adaptive Sports, $9,952; Park City Chamber/ CVB, $154,500; Ogden’s George S Eccles Dinosaur Park, $6,898; Piute County Government, $33,900; Park City Historical Society, $21,786; San Juan Office Visitor Services, $162,400; SUU Shakespeare Festival, $64,506; Sevier County, $160,800; Sportsman for Fish and Wildlife, $50,406; Ski Utah, $179,500; Thanksgiving Point, $12,528; Tooele County, $122,500; Tuacahn Center for the Performing Arts, $64,506; Uintah County Travel & Tourism, $174,900; Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theater, $36,380; Utah Valley VB, $174,900; Utah Symphony & Opera, $24,500; Visit Cedar City/Brian Head, $138,400; Weber Cultural Legacy Foundation, $11,156; Visit Ogden, $182,200; Visit Salt Lake, $126,100; and Wayne County Office of Tourism, $97,600.

Swedish banking giant Klarna submits applications to establish Utah bank

Klarna, a global digital bank and flexible payments provider, has announced it has submitted applications to the Utah Department of Financial Institutions and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) to establish Klarna Bank USA, a proposed Utah-chartered industrial bank. Klarna has operated as a licensed bank in Europe since 2017 and serves U.S. customers through partner banks, such as Salt Lake City-based WebBank. Since 2019, Klarna has made more than $91.3 billion in loans through those banks to 30 million Americans. Hundreds of thousands of U.S. businesses also use Klarna services. “Banking is built on trust,” said Sebastian Siemiatkowski, co-founder and CEO of Klarna. “We’ve seen firsthand the appetite for a fairer, more transparent approach in the U.S., and our own banking license is the natural next step, giving customers tools to borrow responsibly and build financial confidence, while bringing greater competition, innovation and choice to consumers and merchants alike.” If regulators give it the green light, Klarna Bank USA would be a wholly owned subsidiary of Klarna Inc., chartered in Utah and insured by the FDIC, with its own independent board, gover-

nance and internal controls. The charter would let Klarna bring its existing banking operations in-house, strengthening reliability across payments, savings, credit and merchant services, and supporting sustainable growth, the bank said in its announcement. Gary Harding has been named president and CEO of Klarna Bank USA. Harding brings over a decade of C-suite leadership across the U.S. financial sector, having served as chairman and CEO of Milestone Bank and president and CEO of Prime Alliance Bank. Klarna said it will work closely with regulators throughout the application process, consistent with its long-standing commitment to regulatory engagement, to deliver a modern, transparent banking experience for Americans. Klarna is a major player in the “buy now, pay later” banking model. It has over 119 million global active Klarna users and makes 3.4 million transactions per day. Klarna serves customers of firms like Uber, H&M, Saks, Sephora, Macy’s, Ikea, Expedia Group, Nike and Airbnb. It employs about 4,000 people worldwide. Klarna is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the stock symbol KLAR.

Orem’s Fishbowl Inventory acquires Tampa-based Repfabric

Orem-based Fishbowl Inventory, an AI-powered inventory and manufacturing management platform, has acquired Repfabric, a commission management platform built for manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, distributors and wholesalers. Repfabric is based in Tampa, Florida. “For most small manufacturers, reps and distributors, sales and operations still run on disconnected systems,” Fishbowl said in its announcement. “The new, combined platform of Fishbowl and Repfabric closes the gap by spanning customer relationship, sales pipeline and commission management through inventory, warehousing, purchasing and order fulfillment. Every order moves through one system: entered once, visible in real time to sales and operations alike, from the first customer conversation to final delivery.” “Repfabric is an outstanding platform that understands the unique needs and challenges of manufacturers and sales organizations,” said Chris Porch, CEO of Fishbowl Inventory. “Bringing our companies together will create new opportu-

nities to help customers streamline operations, improve visibility and grow more efficiently over the long term.” “We’re excited to join the Fishbowl team and deliver enhanced value to our customers,” said John Mitchell, president and founder of Repfabric. “Our shared commitment to serving manufacturers, manufacturer reps, distributors and their sales teams makes this a natural fit. Together, we’ll invest in innovation while giving customers a connected view, from sales all the way to inventory management and fulfillment.” “Fishbowl has built a strong platform for growth, and this acquisition is a natural next step in that strategy,” said Ron Nayot, chairman of the board of Fishbowl Inventory. “Repfabric’s team and technology are a strong complement to Fishbowl’s, and we’re glad to support both organizations as they bring this combined vision to life for customers.” Founded in 2021, Fishbowl Inventory is a portfolio company of Diversis Capital of Los Angeles and employs about 225 people in its Utah operation.

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CALENDAR Calendar Information about upcoming events may be sent to brice.w@thecityjournals.com.

Sept. 11, 7:30 a.m.

Advanced Manufacturing Network Meeting, a 47G event for investors. Register to receive address. Details are available at https://luma.com/47G_Utah.

Golf Tournament, a South Valley Chamber of Commerce event. Check-in and breakfast begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. Location is Glenmoor Golf Club, 9800 S. 4800 S., South Jordan. Details are at southvalleychamber.com.

Sept. 8, 5:30-7 p.m.

Sept. 11, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Sept. 8, 1-3:30 p.m.

“Buzz, Build & Brew After Hours,” a Women’s Business Center of Utah event. Location is The Neighborhood Hive, 2065 E. 2100 S., Salt Lake City. Free. Details are at wbcutah.org.

Sept. 9, 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.

Sept. 9, noon-2 p.m.

WBCUtah Loan Bootcamp, a Women’s Business Center of Utah event helping attendees understand what lenders look for and prepare to pursue financing confidently. The four-session bootcamp runs through Sept. 30. Event is designed for business owners who have at least two years in business, generate consistent revenue and have a clear growth opportunity. Free. Details are at wbcutah.org.

Sept. 9, 5-7 p.m.

“Business After Hours,” an Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce event. Location is 215 25th St., Ogden. Free for members and first-time guests, $35 for nonmembers. Details are at ogdenweberchamber.com.

Sept. 9, 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.

Sept. 10-11

Golf Tournament, a South Valley Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Glenmoor Golf Club, 9800 S. 4800 W., South Jordan. Details are at southvalleychamber.com.

Sept. 10, 9-10:30 a.m.

“Sweets & Strategies,” a Women’s Business Center of Utah event. Location is Roots Coffee, 51 N. 100 W., Payson. Free. Details are at wbcutah.org.

Sept. 10, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Women in Business Lunch, a Davis Chamber of Commerce event featuring a female legislator panel: Rep. Melissa Garff Ballard; Rep. Karianne Lisonbee; and Tami Tran, Kaysville mayor and state senate candidate. Location is Davis Technical College Allied Health Building, 435 S. Simmons Way, Kaysville. Cost is $25 for members, $35 for nonmembers. Details are at davischamberofcommerce.com.

Sept. 10, 5:30 p.m.

Community Hike, a BioHive Women in Tech & Science (WITS) event. Register to see address. Details are at https://luma. com/biohive-a5p9.

Sept. 10, 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.

Stacked Summit, a Silicon Slopes event about AI, cybersecurity, SaaS and data analytics delivering practical, real-world insights on navigating today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape. Tracks are AI, cybersecurity, data, systems, builders and SaaS. Location is Salt Lake Community College. Cost is $95. Details to be announced.

Sept. 14, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

2026 Chamber Golf Classic, a Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Riverside Country Club, 2701 N. University Ave., Provo. Details are at thechamber.org.

Sept. 16, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

2026 Get Healthy Utah Annual Event, bringing together leaders from across the state to explore strategies for building healthier communities and advancing active living, healthy food access and mental well-being strategies across Utah. Theme is “Momentum.” Location is Millcreek Common, 1354 E. Chambers Ave., Millcreek. Cost is $70, $50 for nonprofits, with add-ons available. Details are at https://gethealthyutah.org/events/.

Sept. 16, 8-9:30 a.m.

“Breaking Barriers Over Bagels,” a ULI (Urban Land Institute) Utah event with the theme “Creative Placemaking: How Art and Culture are Shaping Salt Lake City.” Panelists are Kevin Perry (moderator), COO, strategy, design and operations, Struck; Brooke Smart, illustrator, Brooke Smart Illustration; Kate Ithurralde, art in public places manager, Salt Lake County; Soonju Kwon, architect, GSBS Architects; and Tessa Arneson, founder, Maven District. Location is Parsons Behle & Latimer, 201 S. Main St., Suite 1800, Salt Lake City. Costs range from $10 to $20. Details are at https://utah.uli.org/events-2.

Sept. 16, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

National Science Foundation SBIR/ STTR Hybrid Workshop, presented by Nucleus Events and designed to help Utah innovators navigate the National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Location is Kiln, 2701 N. Thanksgiving Point Way, Suite 100, Lehi. Event also takes place online. Free. Details are at https:// luma.com/cq2n43pt.

Sept. 16, 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.

Sept. 16, 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.

Sept. 16, 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.

Sept. 17, 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Relationship Marketing Workshop, an Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce event. Speaker is Rita Mattson, a business program instructor at Ogden-Weber Technical College. Location is the Ogden-Weber Chamber, 2380 Washington Blvd., Ogden. Free. Details are at ogdenweberchamber.com.

for You.” Location is Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek, 75 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City. Cost is $40 for members and $60 for nonmembers before Sept. 15, $50 for members and $70 for nonmembers thereafter. Details are at slchamber. com.

Sept. 22, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

“Employer Tax Workshop,” a Small Business Development Center event. Location is Salt Lake SBDC at Salt Lake Community College. Cost is $24. Details are at https://clients.utahsbdc.org/events.aspx.

“The Future of Utah: Innovative Development Districts Redefining the Wasatch Front,” a ULI (Urban Land Institute) Utah event. Speakers are Sam Elder, senior vice president of public finance, D.A. Davidson & Co.; and Brad Holmes, Larry H. Miller Real Estate. Location is 95 State at City Creek, 95 State St., Salt Lake City. Cost ranges from $25 to $55. Details are at https://utah.uli.org/events-2.

Sept. 17, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Sept. 22, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Sept. 17, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Statewide Manufacturing Roadshow, presented by the U.S. Small Business Administration Utah District Office, in co-sponsorship with the Utah Manufacturers Association and 47G. Event connects Utah manufacturers with capital, technology and growth opportunities and is designed for manufacturers, supply chain vendors, machine shops and small-business owners across all industries seeking capital and expansion support. Location in Logan to be announced. Free (registration is required). Online “Roadshow” event takes Sept. 24, 10-11 a.m. Registration can be completed at Eventbrite.com.

Sept. 17, 3-5 p.m.

Women Tech Awards, a Women Tech Council event. Discussions will focus on how AI is reshaping organizations, breakthrough technologies that are moving from concept to market, healthcare that is being reinvented, cybersecurity that is evolving, and how leaders are navigating one of the fastest-moving periods in technology history. Location is Grand America Hotel, 555 S. Main St., Salt Lake City. Cost is $175 for individual tickets, $1,650 for a company section (10 seats). Details are at https://luma.com/lh71johv.

Sept. 17, 5-7 p.m.

Professional Development Series, a ChamberWest event titled “Beyond the Headlines: The Reality of Public Safety on the West Side.” Speakers are Levi Hughes, chief of police, Kearns; Kent Stokes, deputy chief of police, West Valley City; Jeremy Robertson, chief of police, West Jordan, and Brady Cottam, chief of police, Taylorsville. Location is Element Event Center, 5658 Cougar Lane, Kearns. Details are at chamberwest.com.

Sept. 22, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Women in Business, a South Valley Chamber of Commerce event. Location to be announced. Cost is $23 for members, $35 for nonmembers. Details are at southvalleychamber.com.

Sept. 22, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Women in Business, an Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce event. Speaker Charli Osborne of Action Recovery Group will discuss “Mental Health, Burnout Prevention & Sustainable Success.” Location is Jeremiah’s Lodge & Garden, 1329 W. 12th St., Marriott-Slaterville. Cost is $25 for members and first-time guests, $35 for nonmembers. Registration deadline is Sept. 15 at noon. Details are at ogdenweberchamber.com.

“Business After Hours,” a Salt Lake Chamber event. Location is Minky Couture, 551 Depot Drive, Ogden. Free for members and $30 for nonmembers until Sept. 10, $20 for members and $40 for nonmembers thereafter. Details are at slchamber.com.

Sept. 23-24.

Sept. 17, 5:30-7 p.m.

Sept. 23, 8 a.m.-noon

Member BBQ, a BioUtah event. Location is the Gateway/Hidden Gem Patio, 41 S. Rio Grande, Salt Lake City. Details are at https://bioutah.growthzoneapp.com/ eventscalendar.

Sept. 17, 6:30-8 p.m.

“How to Start a Business 101,” a Small Business Development Center event. Location is Orem/Provo SBDC at Utah Valley University. Details are at https://clients.utahsbdc.org/events.aspx.

Sept. 18, 8:30-10 a.m.

“Friday Connections Speed Networking,” a multi-chamber event. Location is Utah Trucking Association, 4181 W. 2100 S., West Valley City. Details are at chamberwest.com.

Sept. 22, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Business Women’s Forum. Presenter Emily Griesing, owner and chief strategy officer at Bossible, will discuss “Beyond the Profile: Making LinkedIn Work

Worksite Wellness Specialist Certificate Course, a Utah Worksite Wellness Council event. Location is Viridian Event Center, 8030 S. 1825 W., West Jordan. Cost is $1,125. Details are at hello@utahworksitewellness.org. “Scaling Workshop,” a Small Business Development Center event. Speakers Lynette Williams and Jay Elliot will discuss “Core Excellence to Market Dominance: AI, Systems & Repeatable Growth.” Location is The Mill Entrepreneurship Center at Salt Lake Community College. Cost is $49. Details are at https://clients.utahsbdc.org/events.aspx.

Sept. 23, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Women in Business “Nine and Dine,” a ChamberWest event. Location is The Ridge Golf Club, 5055 S. Westridge Blvd. (5600 West), West Valley City. Details to be announced at chamberwest.com.

Sept. 23, 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.

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SALT LAKE BUSINESS JOURNAL

Calendar CALENDAR

Sept. 23, noon-1 p.m.

“Walkable Wednesday,” a ULI (Urban Land Institute) Utah event focused on Montaire Student Living, a new two-site student living project in the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City. Location is Montaire Student Living, 1132 E. Ashton Ave., Salt Lake City. Free for members, $20 for nonmembers. Details are at https://utah.uli.org/events-2.

Sept. 23, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

“Speed Mentoring,” a BioHive Women in Tech & Science (WITS) event. Location is Nelson Labs, 6280 S. Redwood Road, Salt Lake City. Details are at https://luma.com/biohive-gw5n.

Sept. 23, 5-6:30 p.m.

“Connect After Hours,” a South Valley Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Ikea, 67 W. Ikea Way, Draper. Cost is $15 for members, $25 for nonmembers. Details are at southvalleychamber.com.

Sept. 23, 5-6 p.m.

Legal Workshop (in English and Spanish), a Small Business Development Center event. Location is Orem/Provo SBDC at Utah Valley University. Details are at https://clients.utahsbdc.org/events. aspx.

Sept. 23, 6-7:30 p.m.

“Facebook/Instagram Ads: Create and Manage Ads like a Pro,” a Small Business Development Center event that takes place online. Details are at https:// clients.utahsbdc.org/events.aspx.

Sept. 24, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Mountain West Buildings & Facilities Management Trade Show & Conference, featuring companies displaying products and services necessary for the operation, management, maintenance and renovation of buildings and facilities in the Salt Lake City region and beyond. Location is Mountain America Expo Center, 9575 S. State St., Sandy. Free (18 and older only). Details are at https://mwbfm.net/.

Sept. 24, 10-11 a.m.

Statewide Manufacturing Roadshow, presented by the U.S. Small Business Administration Utah District Office, in co-sponsorship with the Utah Manufacturers Association and 47G. “Access to Capital Webinar” takes place online. Free and open to the public (registration is required). In-person “Roadshow” event takes place Sept. 17, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., in Logan. Registration can be completed at Eventbrite.com.

Sept. 24, 5-7 p.m.

“Business After Hours Mixer,” a Park City Chamber/Bureau event, in partnership with the Women’s Inspired Network. Location is Shake Shack, 6699 Landmark Drive, Suite K110, Park City. Free for members, $25 for nonmembers. Details are at https://uk.eventsforce.net/ parkcity/125/register.

Sept. 24, 6-7:30 p.m.

“AI Productivity and Marketing Workshop,” a Small Business Development Center event that takes place online. Details are at https://clients.utahsbdc.org/ events.aspx.

Sept. 24, 6-9 p.m.

Business Awards Banquet, a Davis Chamber of Commerce event. Location is Davis Conference Center and Hilton Gar-

PUBLIC NOTICES

den Inn, 1651 N. 700 W., Layton. Details to be announced at davischamberofcommerce.com.

Sept. 25, 8 a.m.-noon

Golf Classic, a South Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce event that is a nine-hole, four-person scramble format tournament. Check-in and breakfast begin at 8:30 a.m., with shotgun start at 9 a.m. Location is Glendale Golf Course, 1630 W. 2100 S., Salt Lake City. Cost is $125 per person, $240 for a twosome and $450 for a foursome. Details are at sslchamber.com.

Sept. 29, 9-11:30 a.m.

Crossroads Business Expo & Crosstalks, an Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce event. Expo runs 9-11:30 a.m. Lunch is 11 a.m.-noon. Crosstalks are noon-2 p.m. Location is Union Station in Ogden. Expo is free. Crosstalks (including lunch) is $60 for members, $70 for nonmembers. Details are at ogdenweberchamber.com.

Sept. 30, 8-11:30 a.m.

“Connection Cures Loneliness: Building Belonging at Work,” presented by Utah Community Builders, a Salt Lake Chamber program, and part of the Workplace Mental Health & Well-Being Series. Location is CHG Healthcare headquarters, 7259 S. Bingham Junction Blvd., Midvale. Cost is $70 for members and $95 for nonmembers until Aug. 31; $95 for members and $120 for nonmembers thereafter. Details are at slchamber.com.

Sept. 30, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Fifth Annual Northern Utah Manufacturing Excellence (NUME) Conference, presented by Utah Industry Partners, Northern Utah Manufacturing Excellence, Utah MEP, Cache Valley Chamber of Commerce and Bridgerland Technical College and designed for manufactures in Cache, Box Elder, Weber, Morgan and Davis counties. Keynote speaker Matthew Wardle, owner of JD Machine, will discuss “Thrive: It’s Up to Us to Build the Workforce.” Location is Cache County Event Center, 490 S. 500 W., Logan. Cost is $199. Follow-up activities Oct. 1, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., are factory tours in those counties. Details are at https://numeconference.com/.

Oct. 1, 8-11:30 a.m.

“Connection Cures Loneliness: Building Belonging at Work,” part of the Salt Lake Chamber’s Mental Health & Well-Being Series. Location is Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, 2890 E. Cottonwood Parkway, Cottonwood Heights. Cost until Sept. 17 is $70 for members and $95 for nonmembers, $95 for members and $120 for nonmembers thereafter. Details are at slchamber.com.

Oct. 1, 9-10:30 a.m.

“Sweets & Strategies,” a Women’s Business Center of Utah event. Location is Roots Coffee, 774 S. 300 W., Salt Lake City. Free. Details are at wbcutah.org.

Oct. 6, 9-11 a.m.

“Pay The IRS Less Without Going to Jail,” a Small Business Development Center event that takes place online. Cost is $19. Details are at https://clients.utahsbdc. org/events.aspx.

Oct. 6, noon-1 p.m.

“Bites & Insights,” a ULI (Urban Land Institute) Utah event. Location is Hunt Electric Technology Building, 1811 S. Alexander St., Salt Lake City. Free. Details are at https://utah.uli.org/events-2.

CAREERS SENIOR AUTOMATION ENGINEER Castlight Health, Inc. in Sandy, UT seeks Sr. Automation Engineer. Responsible for designing and implementing robust test automation strategies & solutions using Selenium, Appium, and Rest Assured. Telecommuting permitted for this position. $182,500 / yr. Email resume to: immigration@mosaichealth.com. Must include job code 83830 in reply. EOE.

DATA ENGINEER Castlight Health, Inc. in Sandy, UT seeks Data Engineer. Responsible for Data Discovery by analyzing data values and data patterns to identify the relationships that link disparate data elements into logical units of information, or “business objects” (such as customer, patient or claim). Telecommuting allowed for this position. $152,500.00 - $178,968.00 / year. Email resume to: immigration@mosaichealth.com. Must specify job code 92825 in reply. EOE.

SENIOR BACKEND JAVA ENGINEER Castlight Health, Inc. in Sandy, UT seeks Senior Backend Java Engineer. Responsible for designing, developing and implementing high performance, scalable distributed application services using Java and Spring framework. Telecommuting allowed for this position. $170,000 - $179,968 / year. Email resume to: immigration@mosaic health.com. Must specify job code 85854 in reply. EOE.

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