CHAMBER'S 137TH ANNUAL MEETING
Brice Wallace
At what was supposed to be the organization’s 137th annual meeting, the Salt Lake Chamber instead recently gathered for a lovefest for Utah.
The state’s largest business organization doted on the Beehive State throughout the event, which had a theme of “Discover the Heart of the West,” featured heart shapes sprinkled throughout the event program and the stage background, and included a giant Valentine card.
Attendees were encouraged to write on the card about what they love about Utah. The scribblings pointed out the views, nature, the community, outdoor adventures, family, the University of Utah, dog life, national parks, mountains, the people, fall colors, snow, fishing, sunsets, fry sauce, “the grid system,” breweries, skiing, wildlife, camping and farmers.
“Because we get all four seasons … sometimes all in one day,” one comment said. Others summarized: “Everything” and “What is not to love?”
Derek Miller, the chamber’s president and CEO, recalled showing a Utah video to audiences during international trade missions, always eliciting “oohs” and “aahs.”
“And it always made me so happy to see people’s reaction to our state,” Miller said. “And then, every time, I would have this reaction that was surprising to me. … I would find myself thinking, ‘Look at that place! I wish I lived there!’ And then I would remind myself, ‘Oh wait. This is where I live, in this beautiful state.’”
Miller highlighted several chamber activities during the 2023-24 fiscal year, including the “Utah Rising” initiative that will provide a vision for long-term prosperity in the state, including addressing issues such as workforce development, housing affordability and innovation.
Those efforts, he said, are more than just strategic. “They are our love letter to Utah — to our children and our grandchildren,” he said.
Miller then mentioned his grandson, Owen, recently marking his first birthday.
“Utah Rising is my time capsule to him. … I’m sure it won’t be too long that he tells us what he loves about Utah. Utah Rising says, ‘We see you, and we’re preparing a future that is filled with opportunities, a thriving economy and a better quality of life,’” Miller said.
“We don’t need to wait 10 years to see that happen. We are building that future now. We are building it with intention, strategy and collaboration.”
Among other 2023-24 milestones are the introduction of the Fair Chance Hiring Guide, the solidification of the Diverse-Owned Business Accelerator, the Government Affairs Boot Camp, the Women’s Business Center of Utah, the Downtown Alliance, Utah’s winning bid for the 2034 Olympic Winter Games, and having the Economic Development Corporation of Utah join the chamber family.
The Salt Lake Chamber also celebrated a 90 percent passage rate for priority bills in the 2024 legislative session, with the bills tackling the housing shortage, preparing for growth, addressing water resources, creating regulations related to artificial intelligence, and strengthening the talent pipeline between education and business.
“As Utah’s leading business advocacy organization, the Salt Lake Chamber remains as committed as ever to championing the interests of businesses of every size, every industry and at every level. Utah’s success is due in large part because of those of you who are in this room today,” Miller said.
“The truth is, there are so many effective people, projects and organizations that make Utah a great place, it’s difficult to single out just a few.”
Miller cautioned the audience about the upcoming period of “significant political noise.”
“As partisan tides rise and fall, as the political pendulum swings back and forth, and regardless of the outcome of this or any other election, the business community, all of us, will continue to work together to ensure that Utah succeeds today, tomorrow and far into the future,” he said. “We will continue to set the example in our state of how to collaborate, how to respect differing opinions, and how to find meaningful solutions that ensure prosperity for everyone.”
The annual meeting also featured the presentation of the chamber’s annual awards:
- President’s Award in Excellence: KSL.com.
- Legacy Award: Jacobsen Construction Co.
- Fortitude Award: Delta Air Lines.
- Beehive Award: Sunroc.
- Opportunity Award: Alpha Coffee.
- Icon Award: Blendyd Studios.
- Trailblazer Award: Utah Rep. Tyler Clancy and Madison Keyser Williams of Utah Paperbox.
- Chamber Champions: Lucy Knight Andre, Stadler US; Dori Clark, Lagoon Corp.; TJ England, CR England-Global Transportation; Kimberly Flores, fulFILLed Lifestyle Co.; Kamea Johnson, Chosen Creative; and Lee Weech, Executech.