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ACCOUNTING
- Tanner LLC, a Salt Lake City-based audit, tax, transaction advisory, technology, cybersecurity, strategic planning and leadership development company, has named Charley Shumway and Steve DeWidt as tax partners of the firm. Shumway has nearly 30 years of experience in tax and consulting services, specializing in multi-tiered partnerships, LLCs, private equity and venture capital-backed companies, and family-owned businesses. Before joining Tanner, he worked at a Big 4 accounting firm as well as smaller local and regional firms. He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Southern Utah University. DeWidt has nearly 13 years of public accounting experience, serving clients in industries such as technology, manufacturing, and life sciences. He has worked extensively on federal and state income tax compliance, merger and acquisition transactions, and international tax issues. At Tanner, he focuses on corporate tax and accounting for income taxes under ASC 740, serving clients ranging from large public companies to small private businesses. Prior to joining Tanner, DeWidt worked in the biotechnology and health care industries for more than eight years. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in molecular biology from Brigham Young University and a Master of Accounting degree with a tax emphasis from the University of Utah.
ASSOCIATIONS
- 47G Utah Aerospace & Defense has named Kori Ann Edwards as chief strategy officer. She will oversee the 47G Institute, which was established after last year’s merger between 47G and the Utah Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Initiative; will support the development of Project Alta, a 47G initiative that seeks to create a well-functioning transportation system in the air that connects seamlessly with Utah’s transportation system on the ground; and will serve as the organization’s legislative liaison, working closely with state legislators and members of Congress to advance policies that strengthen a thriving aerospace and defense ecosystem in Utah. A founding UAMMI board member, Edwards has over three decades of public and private-sector experience in economic development, strategic leadership, program development and stakeholder engagement. Most recently, she served as the managing director of strategic initiatives for the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. Prior to GOEO, Edwards worked for 20 years at Logistics Specialties Inc., including as senior vice president and chief operating officer. She serves on numerous executive boards and committees across Utah. Edwards earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science degree from Utah State University.
- The National Association for Catering and Events now has a chapter in Salt Lake City. The chapter will offer local professionals a community for networking, education and career development. It is dedicated to providing event planners, caterers, venues and other event professionals with access to the full range of NACE’s educational programs, resources and events. NACE was founded in 1958.
CONTESTS
- The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity’s Startup State Initiative is launching the “Get Started: Business Idea Challenge,” a monthly opportunity to bring early-stage business ideas to life. This challenge, in partnership with the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute and the University of Utah, aims to help entrepreneurs take their first big leap by presenting their concept and competing for non-equity funding. Open to all Utah residents 18 and older, the challenge awards up to $500 to help founders start or advance their businesses. Applications are due by the first Wednesday of each month, with live pitch events the third Wednesday monthly. Details are at https://startup.utah.gov/get-started/.
DATA
- Data Quality Co-op, a Salt Lake City-based independent first-party data quality clearinghouse, has hired Venu Bendapudi as head of sales, market research, and Katie Casavant as head of commercial. Bendapudi will spearhead sales strategies, develop key business plans, drive expansion efforts, and cultivate relationships with market research firms. He has more than 20 years of experience in the market research industry, including sales across business and consumer research in verticals including health care, media, retail, finance and IT. He began his market research operations career in India and quickly moved to work in sales. He has worked mostly in the United States but has also worked in Asia Pacific and Middle East markets, while based in Kuala Lumpur and Dubai. Casavant will lead commercial strategy, oversee go-to-market planning, and manage business development and customer relationships. She is a serial entrepreneur with a passion for building data, analytics and insights businesses to create incremental value and drive transformative growth. She began her career in behavioral data analytics, founded Cannondale Associates’ retail consulting practice in 2004, Kantar Shopcom in 2011 and Kantar Activate in 2017. She led the commercial transformation of Optimus Analytics, facilitating its successful exit and acquisition by Dynata in 2021. Casavant led Dynata’s global consulting and investing channel until 2024.
DIRECT SALES
- Young Living Essential Oils LC, a Lehi-based company focused on essential oils and wellness products, in February will launch Wyld Notes, a sister company designed to complement and enhance Young Living’s network marketing model. Wyld Notes has introduced a collection of five fragrances, paired with a first-of-its-kind affiliate program. Young Living said the move is not a shift away from its direct-selling roots but instead an additional tool to expand its reach and re-engage with a broader audience.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
- Utah is ranked No. 40 on a list of “best states for entrepreneurs” in 2025, compiled by Simplify LLC. The state fell from No. 9 in the 2024 study. Simplify LLC analyzed six categories of data from the Census Bureau, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Tax Foundation and U.S. Senate. Utah ranked No. 15 for maximum corporate tax rate (5 percent), No. 51 for new business growth, down 21.7 percent, No. 32 for consumer spending growth (1.9 percent), No. 31 for regional inflation (22 percent), No. 12 for job creation rate (16.89) and No. 33 for net migration of educated workers (down 10,937). The top-ranked state overall is Washington. The worst-ranked state is Alabama. Details are at https://www.simplifyllc.com/best-and-worst-states-for-entrepreneurs-2025/.
- Only 0.22 percent of homes in Salt Lake City are affordable for the average buyer, according to a study by NetCredit. It used U.S. Bank’s affordability metric, which is housing payments costing no more than 28 percent of household income, as the basis of the study. Salt Lake City is ranked No. 14 the lowest figure. Nine of the 100 largest cities in the U.S. have zero houses listed on Zillo that are affordable on 28 percent of their local average incomes. The highest figure was Toledo, Ohio, at 53 percent. Details are at https://www.netcredit.com/blog/how-much-house-can-i-afford/.
- Workers in Utah who had stayed in their job for at least 12 months saw their wages increase 4.8 percent year-over-year in December, according to the ADP Pay Insights report. ADP also found the median annual salary in Utah in December was $52,600. Nationally, the median annual pay for job-stayers in December increased slightly to $59,400, while the median annual wage growth slowed to 4.6 percent, the slowest pace of gains since July 2021. Nationally, wage growth for job-changers declined to 7.1 percent. Details are at https://payinsights.adp.com/.
- Jan. 8 was the most optimal day for submitting a speculative resume in Utah, according to a study by Resume.io, based on a survey of hiring managers. Nationally, the prime day was Jan. 13. The time was Jan. 14 in the biggest states, California and New York. It was Jan. 10 in Colorado and Indiana and Jan. 17 in Nebraska. Details are at https://resume.io/blog/optimal-day-to-submit-resume-study.
- Four Utah bars in Salt Lake City are ranked on a list of the top spots for “Dry January mocktails,” or non-alcoholic drinks, compiled via a survey by Wealth of Geeks. They are No. 55 Citizens Cocktails & Kitchen, No. 84 Back Door on Edison, No. 154 Tavernacle Social Club, and No. 223 Bar X. The top-ranked location overall is Garage in Austin, Texas. Details are at https://wealthofgeeks.com/bars-dry-january-mocktails/.
ENERGY
- Savage, a Salt Lake City-based privately held provider of supply chain infrastructure and solutions, has announced plans to develop a new crude-by-rail transload terminal to connect supply chains for transporting Uinta Basin crude oil from wellheads to refinery markets across North America. The new terminal, near Wellington in Carbon County, will unload Uinta Basin yellow and black wax crude from tanker trucks into two heated tanks. The crude will then be loaded into unit trains of insulated rail cars, via two rail loops, for delivery to end-market destinations. The terminalis located with connections to both Union Pacific and BNSFrailroads. The company has completed the purchase of 277 acres of land zoned for heavy industrial use and obtained necessary permits to start operations. The terminal engineering and design have been completed and the company is working with the railroads to obtain final design approval. The terminal will be developed within the Utah Inland Port Authority’s Castle Country Project Area. Savage’s transload network has more than 50 transload terminals across North America.
- Sky Quarry Inc., a Woods Cross-based integrated energy solutions company focused on waste asphalt shingle recycling, has received permission to operate and maintain a fractionation facility at the Eagle Springs Refinery in Nevada, a key component of the company’s plan to expand the capabilities of its Foreland Refinery. The operational permit from the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management is for a 40-acre right-of-way on public lands at the Eagle Springs Refinery. The term extends through Dec. 31, 2055, a 30-year period from the effective date. The company said the refurbishment of the Foreland Refinery, along with the Fractional Facility, will allow Sky Quarry to capitalize on emerging market opportunities created by the closure of the Phillips 66 refinery in late 2025. The Phillips 66 refinery is responsible for 8 percent of California’s gasoline supply. The Foreland Refinery will operate with Sky Quarry’s PR Spring hydrocarbon extraction facility in Utah to refine sustainably produced oil. With PR Spring’s operations projected to commence in 2025, production is expected to reach up to 1 million barrels of sustainable oil annually.
GOVERNMENT
- The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity has produced comprehensive community profiles for every county in Utah. The profiles provide detailed analysis of Utah and its 29 counties, showcasing each county’s unique strengths and resources to inform community selection decisions. Communities can utilize these profiles to identify gaps and view their competitive advantages as they market themselves to site selectors. Profiles also can be used internally, helping communities discover data gaps through GOEO-sponsored information and reports that provide a dive into specific areas. Interested businesses can use the profiles to gain insights into labor force characteristics during site selection searches. The profiles are available at business.utah.gov under the “About” section of the home page.
- The Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City has changed its name to the Salt Lake City Community Reinvestment Agency. The move, it said, reflects its mission to “reinvest in and uplift Salt Lake City’s communities through projects that create meaningful and lasting benefits for all residents” and also aligns with Utah state statute.
- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced over $140 million in funding to 836 existing grantees through the Family Self Sufficiency Program. The awards will fund 1,537 service coordinator positions across the country. Utah and four other states received a total of $3.3 million in funding. Funding in Utah is for housing authorities in Salt Lake City, $194,492; Ogden, $79,112; Salt Lake County, $312,752; Utah County, $56,215; Provo, $136,692; St. George, $20,570; and Tooele County, $73,469. The FSS program provides grants to public housing agencies and multifamily property owners to support the salary of program coordinators. The coordinators assist participating families to capitalize on their housing assistance by connecting them with training and services to improve their economic self-sufficiency. The FSS program is offered to families in HUD-assisted housing.
- The Salt Lake County Office of Regional Development has been awarded a $2 million grant under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to expand the Healthy Homes Production program. The funding will empower the county to address significant health and safety hazards in homes. The Housing and Community Development team within Salt Lake County spearheaded the application process. The county’s grant is part of HUD’s broader announcement of more than $226 million in funding distributed to state, county, city and tribal governments, as well as nonprofit organizations.
HOUSING
- Salt Lake City officials and community leaders have celebrated the opening of the city’s newest affordable housing development, at 144 S. 500 E. The 144 South apartments will provide 110 affordable studio and one-bedroom units for residents earning at or below 60 percent of the area median income. The six-story building also offers amenities that include a co-working business center, clubhouse, fitness facility, outdoor deck, dog wash, bike storage room, and a 420-square-foot retail space in the main lobby. The development was made possible through a $1.7 million loan from the RDA’s Housing Development Loan Program, which provides critical financial assistance to affordable housing initiatives. The 144 South team, selected through a competitive process, led the project in collaboration with the Utah Housing Corp., Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust Co., the Olene Walker Housing Loan Fund, Salt Lake County, JZW Architectsand Kier Construction Co. The property will be managed by EMG Management, which manages thousands of affordable housing units in Utah.
- Bridge21 Park City is accepting applications for residency. Bridge21 was founded by a group of parents and professionals concerned with the lack of options for neurodiverse people as they transition into adulthood. Construction on the house will finish in March 2025 at Silver Creek village, and Bridge21 plans to expand into a scattered network of homes, allowing for a broader range of housing options.
INDOOR ENTERTAINMENT
- Urban Air Adventure Park, an indoor adventure park brand that is part of Unleashed Brands, has completed a lease for a new location in Fort Union. It is projected to open this year. Spanning over 40,000 square feet, the park will feature attractions including Sky Rider, slides, air court, ropes course, climbing walls, dodgeball, trampolines and more. It will employ about 70. Urban Air Adventure Park has more than 350 parks open or under development.
OUTDOOR RECREATION
- Ticaboo Lodge & Offshore Marina Inc., also known as North Lake Powell, has promoted Ray Golden from general manager to president He will oversee all aspects of the resort’s operations, including strategic planning, business development, and guest services. Ray and Amy Golden, with over 30 years in the outdoor adventure industry, began their journey in West Virginia’s whitewater rafting business, later establishing their own company in Costa Rica. They moved to Maine and then the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where they opened their first bait & tackle store, eventually expanding to charter fishing and marina operations in Savannah, Georgia. In 2016, they joined Ticaboo Lodge to develop the adventure operations and oversee the company rebranding to North Lake Powell.
PARTNERSHIPS
- Survivor Healthcare, a Salt Lake City-based specialty provider of primary supportive care for cancer patients, has announced a strategic partnership with Utah Cancer Specialists, Utah’s largest community-based oncology and hematology practice. This partnership enables UCS oncologists to connect their patients with primary care providers specializing in cancer care from the point of diagnosis. Through the collaboration, cancer patients will receive primary care services that address the most common health-related illnesses that accompany cancer treatment, such as anxiety, fatigue, chronic pain, and cognitive decline.
PHILANTHROPY
- Lifting Hands International has rallied the Utah community to provide critical, emergency relief to those impacted by the Southern California fires. Volunteers and donors came together at LHI’s Humanitarian Aid Warehouse in American Fork to assemble and send supplies to support the victims. LHI’s Emergency Response Program has mobilized to provide resources to those displaced by the fires. Volunteers have worked quickly to pack blankets, hygiene items, food, water, N-95 masks, and other essentials to be sent to the affected areas. Donations of money or items can be dropped off directly at the warehouse in American Fork or at any one of more than 60 drop-off points throughout the state. Details are at www.LiftingHandsInternational.org/needs-list or www.lhi.org/emergency-response.
- Rydalch Electric Inc., a Commonwealth company based in Salt Lake City, through its Commonwealth Cares initiative, has donated $25,000 to the Mountain West Chapter of Breakthrough T1D, formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Breakthrough T1D strives to enhance everyday life for those with Type 1 diabetes while driving toward cures. Jacob Hancock, a project engineer for Rydalch Electric, nominated Breakthrough T1D for the Commonwealth Cares initiative due to his personal experience with T1D and the organization.
RECOGNITIONS
- The Central Utah Correctional Facility in Gunnison has again earned accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. The CUCF health care staff received the reaccreditation after demonstrating 100 percent compliance with NCCHC’s nationally recognized standards of care for correctional health services in prisons. CUCF was last accredited in 2019 and has maintained that accreditation while going through this process. To maintain NCCHC accreditation, CUCF underwent rigorous professional assessments in April and a follow-up in October.
RETAIL
- Swig, a Lehi-based beverage brand, has named Todd Smith as chief commercial officer. Smith has nearly 20 years of restaurant business experience, starting at Yum Brands in brand management and continuing to roles with KFC, Wendy’s, Sonic and Cafe Rio, plus serving as president of Sonic Drive-In. Smith also served as an independent director on the board of directors for Potbelly Sandwich Works. Established in 2010, Swig finished 2024 with over 100 stores in 14 states.
- Radiant Waxing, a waxing brand providing hair removal services, has signed its largest development agreement to date. The 15-unit deal in Utah has been secured with HenHouse Holdings, a roll-up platform in the beauty and wellness franchising ecosystem co-led by Stef Fisher-Sample and Rilee Buttars. Fisher-Sample, CEO of HenHouse Holdings, has over 17 years of experience as a multi-brand franchisee, having owned and operated brands including Taco Bell and Massage Envy. Buttars, the COO, co-founded a fintech/HR tech startup. HenHouse Holdings has purchased five existing Radiant Waxing salons and plans to develop the other 10 salons throughout Utah. Financial terms were not disclosed. Radiant Waxing is owned by Radiant Waxing Franchise LLC and is part of the WellBiz Brands portfolio of beauty and wellness brands. Colorado-based WellBiz Brands now has nearly 900 locations across all of its portfolio brands.