The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (Go Utah) has announced the award recipients for the 2022 One Utah Summit scheduled for May 10 at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. The affair will be hosted by Gov. Spencer J. Cox.
The awards recognize individuals and companies that have made long-time significant contributions to Utah’s economic development, local communities and industries. Recipients of the awards live and work full-time in Utah and have supported the local economy for five years or more.
“We’re beyond excited to announce this year’s award recipients for the 2022 One Utah Summit,” said Cox. “These awards are going to companies and individuals who are making a lasting impact in our state. On behalf of the state of Utah, I want to congratulate all of the award recipients and wish them the best as they continue to help make Utah a better place.”
The 2022 awards are:
Utah Businessperson of the Year: Davis Smith, the founder and CEO of Cotopaxi, an outdoor gear and active lifestyle brand with a social mission.
Utah Business of the Year: HealthEquity in Draper was founded in 2002 by Dr. Stephen Neeleman. He said his vision was to repair the fractured relationship between patients and their physicians and to help more people obtain quality health insurance by re-introducing consumerism to the industry.
Utah International Business of the Year (presented in conjunction with World Trade Center Utah.): Walker Edison, an e-commerce manufacturer of ready-to-assemble home furnishings, was founded in 2006 by Brad and Scott Bonham with a vision to break the mold and help people “live outside the box.”
Cameron Russell Williams Rising Impact Award (co-sponsored by the Cameron Russell Williams Foundation, the award honors a black business and technology entrepreneur): Gladymir Philippe, founder and CEO of Kado Inc., a platform that helps college graduates find their first job.
Utah Energy Pioneer Award-Individual: Craig Wagstaff, recently retired as Dominion Energy’s senior vice president and general manager of the Western Division. His leadership led to lasting industry partnerships, including between Dominion and Smithfield Foods, to develop the nation’s largest renewable natural gas project through a network of hog farms.
Utah Energy Pioneer Award-Business: Rio Tinto Kennecott, a fully integrated mining operation in the Salt Lake County’s Bingham Canyon mine producing minerals such as copper and tellurium.
Utah Energy Pioneer Award-Community: Emery County Commission. The commission has a vision for stabilizing Emery County’s energy economy. One of the commission’s noteworthy projects is the San Rafael Energy Research Center that is on track to be a national leader in medical isotope production, molten salt technology and nuclear energy.
Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology-K-12 Education: Kelli Booth, executive director of the Northern Utah Academy for Math Engineering and Science.
Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology-Academia/Research: Bruce Gale, professor and chair of mechanical engineering and adjunct professor in bioengineering, electrical and computer engineering and materials science and engineering at the University of Utah.
Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology-Industry: Christopher Gibson, co-founder and CEO of Recursion, a UofU spinoff based in Salt Lake City with the mission to decode biology and industrialize drug discovery.