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COMMUNICATIONS
- All West Communications, based in Kamas, has announced plans to expand its multi-gig fiber optic broadband, streaming TV service and digital phone solutions to the residents and businesses of Herriman. All West will fully fund the project. Engineering work has been completed and construction started in November.
CONTESTS
- Inspire In Utah, an initiative supporting women in the workplace, is accepting nominations from Utah-based companies for the 2024 “100 Companies Championing Women.” The designation program recognizes and highlights stories of 100 Utah companies offering family-friendly policies and practices, as well as women-specific initiatives known to impact the recruiting, hiring, retaining and advancing of women employees, managers and leaders. Applications will remain open until spring or until 100 companies are selected. Companies that received the designation in 2023 are not eligible to apply again. InUtah.org is an initiative of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. Details are at https://inutah.org/100-companies-application/.
- The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity is accepting nominations through Jan. 15 for the Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology. Established in 1987, the awards recognize distinguished service, significant achievements, and positive economic impact of individuals and companies in the field of science and technology. There are three award categories: academic/research, education (K-12) and industry (individual or company). Awards will be presented April 12 at the One Utah Summit at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. Details are at https://business.utah.gov/innovation/governors-science-medals/.
CORPORATE
- Merit Medical Systems Inc., a South Jordan-based manufacturer and marketer of proprietary medical devices, announced the pricing of $650 million aggregate principal amount of 3 percent convertible senior notes due 2029 in a private placement. Merit has granted the initial purchasers of the notes an option to purchase, during a 13-day period beginning on, and including, the date on which the notes are first issued, up to an additional $97.5 million aggregate principal amount of the notes on the same terms and conditions. The sale of the notes to the initial purchasers was expected to close on Dec. 8. The offering was upsized from the previously announced offering of $550 million aggregate principal amount of notes. Merit said it intends to use approximately $57.9 million of the net proceeds from the offering to pay the cost of capped call transactions. If the initial purchasers exercise their option to purchase additional notes, Merit expects to use a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the additional notes to enter into additional capped call transactions with the option counterparties. Merit intends to use the remaining net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes.
- Kizik, a Lindon-based footwear company, has announced the amendment of its credit facility with JPMorgan Chase. Kizik said the amended credit facility provides it with enhanced financial flexibility and positions the company for continued fast-paced growth into new distribution channels, including company-owned retail stores, U.S. wholesale and international markets. The amendment increases Kizik’s revolver capacity from $10 million to $25 million, with the potential to further expand to $50 million during the term of the agreement.
DIGITAL ASSETS
- Diamond Lake Minerals Inc., a Salt Lake City-based operating company specializing in digital assets and SEC-registered security tokens, has named Marty Pompadur as a strategic advisor. His experience includes being an attorney in Connecticut; spending 17 years at American Broadcasting Cos. Inc., including being the youngest member ever appointed to the ABC Inc board of directors; serving as president of Ziff Corp.; as chairman and CEO of RP Companies’ various private and public limited partnerships, operating television stations, radio stations and cable television systems; as executive vice president of News Corp. and later as president of News Corp. Eastern and Central Europe; as chairman of News Corp Europe; as a senior advisor to Oliver Wyman; and as global vice chairman of media and entertainment for Macquarie Capital. Pompadur is currently an investor, advisor and board member in several companies.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
- Utah’s year-over-year change in annual pay was 6.1 percent in November, according to payroll data released in ADP’s November National Employment Report. Utah’s median annual salary was $49,900 for workers who have stayed in their role for the past 12 months. Nationally, the year-over-year median change in annual pay was 5.6 percent, the slowest wage growth since September 2021. For those who switched jobs, median change in annual pay was 8.1 percent, the smallest year-over-year increase since June 2021. Montana’s growth of 7.7 percent led the nation.
- Five Utah cities are in the top 25 of a list of “Best Places to Live Out West,” compiled by Livability.com, in partnership with Applied Geographic Solutions. The list of best small and mid-sized communities is based on research into relocation trends, economic variables and factors that influence the quality of life. It considered more than 2,000 U.S. cities with populations between 75,000 and 500,000. Per Livability’s emphasis on affordability, only cities with a median home value of $500,000 or less were included in the final ranking Utah cities on the list are No. 2 Sandy, No. 7 Salt Lake City, No. 9 Orem, No. 21 Provo and No. 23 St. George. The top-ranked city overall is Broomfield, Colorado. Details are at https://livability.com/topics/where-to-live-now/top-25-best-places-to-live-out-west/.
- Utah is ranked No. 43 on a list of “Best States for Remote Getaways,” compiled by Window Gnome. It compared the states based on four categories, considering access to remote vacation rentals, guest ratings, average nightly rates, and the number of outdoor attractions. Utah was No. 26 for access, No. 29 for quality, No. 47 for cost and No. 41 for outdoor-friendliness. The top-ranked state overall is Tennessee. The bottom-ranked state is New Jersey. Details are at https://windowgnome.com/blog/studies/best-states-remote-vacations/#rankings.
- Utah is ranked No. 5 on a list of states where Christmas regifting or selling unwanted presents is common, compiled by DodoBurd.com. Fifty-three percent of surveyed Utahns acknowledged regifting. DodoBurd.com studied the national overall and local size of each state’s regifting economy during the holidays. It found that nationally, the exchange is worth $17 billion. Nationally, 43 percent of respondents admitted to having sold or regifted a present they had received, at an average value of $123. Utah’s regifting is worth $217 million. California’s regifting is worth $2 billion. Delaware’s is $17 million. Eighth-three percent of Rhode Islanders are regifters. Details are at https://dodoburd.com/regifting.
- Utah families are expected to spend 14 hours together on festive activities this holiday season, tied with Rhode Island for the most of any state, according to a survey by Gunther Volkswagen Daytona Beach. Utahns’ shared activities include, in order, holiday movie marathons, viewing Christmas lights, baking cookies, ice skating, hosting or attending parties, choosing and collecting a Christmas tree, attending religious services, attending markets and volunteering. Details are at https://www.gunthervwdaytona.com/festive-frolics.htm.
- Honey-glazed Utah turkey with wild rice stuffing has been voted Utah’s “top alternative Christmas dish,” according to a poll by recipe website MissWish.com revealing each state’s top three choices for a modern Christmas meal. Utah’s other top choices were funeral potatoes with a modern twist (topped with a crispy, aged cheddar crust), and trout amandine with almond crust. Details are at https://misswish.com/modern-christmas-dishes.
- Utah adults are expected to drink an average of five spiked eggnogs this holiday season, according to a study by WealthofGeeks.com. That equates to more than 10 million during the season. The U.S. is expected to consumer 1.2 billion, an average of six per person. The highest average is in Vermont, at 19. Details are at https://wealthofgeeks.com/eggnog-consumption-america/.
- Utah is ranked No. 6 on a list of states with the most expensive car repairs, compiled by FINN. The average repair costs, including parts and labor, is $401.65. The top-ranked state is Connecticut, at $418.37. Details are at https://www.finn.com/en-US/campaign/worst-states-car-breakdown.
- Salt Lake Cityis ranked No. 12 on a list of top holiday destinations for a flexcation, compiled by CoworkingCafe. It analyzed more than 400 locations across the U.S. and compared them on metrics such as the number of leisure establishments and restaurants, regional price parity to determine affordability, and the number of coworking spaces available in each location. Also in the top 100 are No. 52 Ogden, No. 88 Lehi and No. 96 St. George. Salt Lake City was No. 17 for highest number of of leisure establishments, No. 19 for number of restaurants, and No. 20 for coworking spaces per 10,000 residents. The top-ranked location is Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Details are at https://www.coworkingcafe.com/blog/best-holiday-destinations-for-remote-workers/.
- Salt Lake City is ranked No. 21 on a list of “Best Cities to Own a Fireplace,” compiled by HVAC Gnome. It compared the 500 biggest U.S. cities based on four categories and considered access to fireplace services, chimney sweepers, firewood suppliers and cold wave risk. Also in top 200 are No. 114 Sandy, No. 136 Ogden, No. 169 West Jordan, No. 174 West Valley City and No. 194 St. George. The top-ranked city overall is New York City. The No. 500 city is 500 Westminster, California. Details are at https://hvacgnome.com/blog/studies/best-cities-to-own-fireplace/#rankings.
- Salt Lake City is ranked No. 48 on a list of “Best Cities for Hot Tub Lovers,” compiled by Pool Gnome. It compared the 500 biggest U.S. cities based on seven metrics, such as the number of hot tub dealers, average utility bills, and periods of extreme cold. Other Utah cities in the top 100 are No. 61 St. George, No. 62 Sandy, No. 66 Lehi and No. 91 Layton. The top-ranked location is Colorado Springs, Colorado. The bottom-ranked location is Edinburg, Texas. Details are at https://poolgnome.com/blog/studies/best-cities-hot-tub-lovers/#rankings.
- Utah is ranked No. 34 on a list of places with the physically strongest people in the U.S., compiled by Lift Vault, an online resource for powerlifting, bodybuilding and strength training. It analyzed data provided by Open Powerlifting focusing on three main powerlifting categories for the top 10 lifters in each state. The Utah average for squat was 526 pounds; the average bench press, 337 pounds; and the average deadlift, 573 pounds. The data reveal the strongest men and women in the U.S. reside in Texas. Details are at https://liftvault.com/strongest-states/.
EDUCATION/TRAINING
- The Mill Entrepreneurship Center at Salt Lake Community College is accepting applications for the Startup Training Resources to Inspire Veteran Entrepreneurship program at www.utahvbrc.org/strive. In conjunction with Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families, the Mill Entrepreneurship Center and Utah Veteran Business Resource Center is only one of a handful of institutions in the country offering veterans the STRIVE program. IVMF entrepreneur programs have trained over 80,000 veterans by leveraging the skills, resources and infrastructure of higher education institutions.
FOODS
- Farmstead Bakery has purchased a 5,000-square-foot warehouse in Leeds. The company currently has a 1,000-square-foot kitchen. The new facility will be able to supply four to five Farmstead locations. The company plans to hire 25-30 people for the warehouse. The new baking home is scheduled to be finished by March or April. In connection with the expansion, the company will introduce FS Coffee Co., a coffee shop in St. George that will offer roasted coffee for future Farmstead locations, as well as pastries, breakfast items, sandwiches and Mediterranean-inspired salads.
GOVERNMENT
- The Utah Department of Workforce Services has appointed Rebecca Banner as a deputy director. Banner succeeds Nate McDonald, who is departing Workforce Services for a role in the private sector. Banner has more than 23 years of experience in public service working in management, policy, training and operations related to child care, homelessness, housing, refugees and workforce development. She started her career at Workforce Services as an employment counselor in the Workforce Development Division and later worked in the Housing and Community Development Division. Banner has served as the director of the Office of Child Care since December 2020. Banner earned a Bachelor of Science in family and human development at Utah State University.
- The Salt Lake City Council has voted to approve Affordable Housing Incentives zoning changes to encourage affordable housing construction in the city. The amendments would provide incentives for developers that include affordable homes in their projects. Qualifying projects may receive incentives such as increased density, modifications to zoning codes, allowing additional height in specific districts, reduced parking requirements, diverse housing types, and streamlined planning processes. The council also voted to create a new form-based zone and apply it to the Fleet Block, the city’s former fleet facility. The Fleet Block has become a center for artistic expression and memorialization amid calls for social justice and police reform. The city’s discussions about redeveloping the 10-acre block have been ongoing since the relocation of the city’s fleet maintenance facility over a decade ago. The city plans to redevelop the block into an asset featuring affordable housing, commercial spaces and a new public square intended to promote reflection and memorialization in a part of the city that lacks green space.
- Gov. Spencer J. Cox has named Steve Waldrip as his senior advisor for housing strategy and innovation, a new position dedicated to developing a statewide strategic housing plan and leading efforts to increase housing stock and housing innovation in the state. Cox’s fiscal year 2025 budget recommendations include a goal of building 35,000 new starter homes by 2028. Waldrip has experience in real estate development, law and government operations in public and private partnerships. For the past 11 years, he has been a partner and co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Homes Fund, which focuses on providing working professionals in the middle class with homeownership opportunities. Waldrip also serves on the boards of United Way Northern Utah and Ogden Valley Land Trust. He served as chair of the Utah Commission on Housing Affordability, and continues to serve on that commission. A former state legislator, Waldrip served in the Utah House representing District 8 from 2019 to 2022. Waldrip also previously oversaw leasing and new development for the Business Depot Ogden project. And managed construction and development of 250,000 square feet of commercial/office buildings. Waldrip’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in English from Brigham Young University and a law degree from the University of Utah.
- The Salt Lake City Council recently approved a $90,000 Economic Development Loan Fund loan for Ocean City Seafood Market. Working with the Business Development division of the Department of Economic Development, Ocean City Seafood Market received the loan to assist with purchasing a rooftop solar array and working capital for its new location. Ocean City Seafood Market opened in 2014 and specializes in Asian foods, international foods and seafood. After nine years in business at its current location, it is opening a new location at 1701 S. State St. The EDLF program aims to stimulate business development and expansion, create employment opportunities, encourage private investment, promote economic development, and enhance neighborhood vitality and commercial enterprise in Salt Lake City by making loans available to businesses.
HEALTHCARE
- Valley Behavioral Health, a provider of mental health services, has opened a group home, Valley Oaks, in Millcreek. It is designed to cater to adult male-identifying clients with serious mental illness, a history of homelessness or unstable housing, and who require assistance with independent living skills. The new group home features 29 beds, 24/7 care and support with on-site staff, and three meals each day. The facility also provides medication management services to ensure clients receive the necessary treatment for their mental health conditions.
HOSPITALITY
- Lodging Dynamics Hospitality Group, a Provo-based hotel management company, has been appointed to manage the Canopy by Hilton Scottsdale Old Town in Scottsdale, Arizona. The hotel is in the historic district of Old Town Scottsdale and is adjacent to Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. It is a seven-story hotel with 177 guest rooms, a rooftop pool and bar, a restaurant and available meeting space.
INVESTMENTS
- Tower Arch Capital LP, a Salt Lake City-based investment firm, has announced the closing of Tower Arch Partners III LP and its parallel investment entity, collectively known as Fund III, with $750 million of capital commitments. Fund III closed at its hard cap in a single closing and was substantially oversubscribed, the company said. The fund’s investors include current and former management team members, foundations, diversified financial institutions, university endowments, and family investment offices. Tower Arch Capital professionals are significant investors personally and remain, collectively, the largest investor across all three funds. Shannon Advisors acted as placement agent, and Ropes & Gray acted as legal counsel. With the closing of Fund III, Tower Arch now has $1.6 billion of assets under management across its three funds along with investor and management co-investments. Fund III’s investment focus will continue to be in the lower middle market. Most of the platform companies targeted by Tower Arch have EBITDA between $5 million and $30 million, with smaller add-on acquisitions sought for existing portfolio companies. Tower Arch Capital also announced that it has formed S&N Infrastructure Services LLC in partnership with Allen Powelland the S&N leadership team, to complete the recapitalization of N&S Construction Inc., doing business as S&N Communications. Founded in 1974 and headquartered in Virginia, S&N and its subsidiaries operate from 12 offices across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. S&N provides turnkey maintenance, repair, upgrade and installation services for communications and electric utilities infrastructure. It recently broadened its suite of services to include underground facility locating. S&N’s customers consist of national, regional, and local fiber and telecom providers, electric utilities, technology companies, and municipalities. Terms of the transaction were undisclosed. Financing for the transaction was provided by Zions Bank, UMB Bank and Carter Bank & Trust. Advisors for Tower Arch Capital included Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and BDO USA LLP. Advisors for S&N included J. Lee Lloyd LLC, Smith Leonard PLLC and Tuggle Duggins PA.
- Culmination Bio, a St. George-based company building a disease-agnostic patient data intelligence platform, has announced a $10 million investment from Merck Global Health Innovation Fund and Amgen Ventures. A spinoff from Intermountain Health, Culmination Bio maintains exclusive rights to a physical library and cloud-based data lake covering over 40 years of de-identified patient electronic health records and biospecimen data. It enables biopharmaceutical companies to gain insights critical to facilitating diagnostic and therapeutic development. Culmination Bio said the funding will allow it to further develop its exclusive intelligence platform and expand its commercial growth.
- RxCell, a Park City-based company focused on cellular therapeutics for age-related diseases, has announced a $4.6 million investment commitment from DMR Global Venture LLC and Regenosis. RxCell said it is preparing for a $15 million second capital raise in the current quarter. The latter fundraise is designed to secure necessary resources to propel the company forward through its promising investigational new drug) application testing and process.
LAW
- Holland & Hart LLP has elected 23 partners, including Andy LeMieux in Salt Lake City. LeMieux represents developers, lenders and investors in commercial real estate transactions. He regularly serves as lead and local real estate counsel to clients who develop, finance, purchase and sell renewable energy projects in Texas, New Mexico, Utah and beyond. He also represents clients involved in multifamily housing projects. His education includes a bachelor of arts degree in economics from Brigham Young University.
LOGISTICS
- The Utah Inland Port Authority has announced the departure of two board members: Mike Schultz, speaker of the Utah House of Representatives, and Miles Hansen, former CEO of the World Trade Center Utah. Schultz’ departure was effective immediately. Hansen’s service will conclude Jan. 9. Hansen was the first chair of the board after its post-2022 reorganization. The board will welcome new members at its next meeting.
NONPROFITS
- The Ryan Seacrest Foundation has opened a broadcast studio for patients at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. The goal of the foundation is to contribute positively to the healing process for children and their families while in the hospital. The Salt Lake studio is the foundation’s 14th nationwide. The hospital will use a closed-circuit TV system to allow caregivers and young patients to host segments and participate in call-in programs with other patients in the hospital. The Seacrest Studio will enhance those capabilities, allowing more children to take part in the broadcast and give them state-of-the-art equipment to create content. Radio and TV star Ryan Seacrest is chairman and founder of the nonprofit Ryan Seacrest Foundation.
- The National Ability Center, a Park City-based nonprofit that provides adaptive recreation and outdoor adventures for individuals, families and groups with disabilities, has named Rob Umstead as alpine ski head coach. Umstead has 30 years of coaching experience and 40 years of overall experience being an athlete. Umstead was introduced to adaptive skiing when watching a sit skier compete in Taos, New Mexico. He moved to Park City in 2006 to work with the Park City Ski Team. He took interest in the National Ability Center and got involved on the hiring committee for his predecessor, Erik Leirfallom, now the para sports director for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard team.
OUTDOOR PRODUCTS
- ArgentaWorks, a Park City-based ski and snowboard goggle company, has officially launched. Its initial offerings include the Tuscarora, which features a toric lens that maximizes field of view and is engineered to fit snugly on helmets. Each pair of goggles comes with two interchangeable lenses (sunny and low-light). Other products include mix-and-match goggle straps and multi-use neck gaiters. Argentaworks was founded by Garen Riedel.
PARTNERSHIPS
- Fiji Airways and JetBlue have announced an interline partnership. The agreement means guests can purchase fares on both airlines on the one ticket. Fiji Airways said the partnership will allow it to extend its service to the East Coast, Utah and Florida.
- The One Utah Health Collaborativehas announced a partnership with Envision Utahto understand the core values and priorities related to healthcare that are held by healthcare professionals, employers and patients. The project will help define focus, methods and goals for the collaborative’s vision of affordable healthcare that improves the quality of life for all. The research will be conducted in two phases. Qualitative research beginning this month will involve in-depth listening and research sessions with healthcare leaders, healthcare professionals, employers and patients from within the state. A quantitative online scientific survey among Utah residents in early 2024 will establish a hierarchy of priorities, values orientations and other important data broken down across demographic segments within the current healthcare system.
- Carketa, a Lehi-based company offering a vehicle dealership decision intelligence system, has announced a partnership with ProGuard Warranty to bring Carketa’s inventory management tools to ProGuard dealers. ProGuard serves thousands of dealers across the nation with vehicle protection products. As part of the partnership, ProGuard’s dealer consultants across the U.S. will confer with dealers on their inventory challenges and how Carketa can help them unlock higher inventory turns to increase back-end profits.
- ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, and Medicover have partnered to produce a new companion diagnostic, and thereby a new gene therapy, more accessible to patients in the European Union. ARUP, in close collaboration with BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., developed AAV5 DetectCDx, a companion diagnostic that aids in the selection of adult patients with severe hemophilia A who are eligible for treatment with Roctavian, a new gene therapy developed by BioMarin. To facilitate access to the test in Europe, BioMarin and ARUP have partnered with Medicover, which provides diagnostic and healthcare services in Europe, to perform the testing at one of their facilities located in Germany for all countries in Europe.
PHILANTHROPY
- KeyBank has awarded a $100,000 grant to Utah Food Bank to expand the organization’s Culturally Responsive Food Project. The project allows the organization to identify, track and distribute culturally familiar foods to communities in need throughout Salt Lake County communities, and eventually statewide. The grant will aid Utah Food Bank’s efforts in scaling the project to food pantries throughout Salt Lake County, which includes purchasing additional food items and technology to manage inventories. The program expansion also includes conducting additional surveys to create a Utah-specific culturally relevant foods list.
RECOGNITIONS
- RainFocus, a Lehi-based provider of an event marketing platform, was recognized as “Best Conference Technology (Over 10,000 Attendees)” at the 2023 Event Technology Awards in London. In its 11th year, the awards recognize the achievements of companies delivering digital and technological solutions to the events industry.
- Peak Alarm Co., Salt Lake City, has been recognized as Dealer of the Year by Security Dealer Magazine. Peak is a family-owned business focused on security products and services for more than 50 years. It estimates an annual revenue of $30.5 million. The company has six branch offices in Utah and nearby states, nearly 400 employees, and 17,000 customers.
- Leavitt Group Insurance Advisors and GBS Benefits, both Leavitt Group agencies, has been named recipients of the third annual Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards for 2023 by Mployer Advisor, a platform for employers to research, review, and evaluate insurance advisors. The award program evaluates brokers based on breadth and depth of experience across employer industries, sizes, insurance products and employer reviews. The 2023 winners are in the top 5 percent of brokerages nationwide. Mployer Advisor considered historical data, online reviews, their M Score rating, and demonstrated business experience, among others.
- Packsize, a Salt Lake City-based company focused on sustainable, right-sized, on-demand packaging, has been awarded 2023 Top Software & Tech by Food LogisticsandSupply & Demand Chain Executive for its X5 product. X5 is a fully automated erected box system and platform available for the e-commerce industry. The award spotlights the top software and technology solutions in the supply chain space, for the Warehouse Automation category. Food Logistics covers the movement of products through the global cold food supply chain. Supply & Demand Chain Executive covers the entire global supply chain.
- Havenpark Communities, an Orem-based operator and developer of manufactured home communities across the country, has received Multi-Housing News’ first-of-its-kind Humanitarian Award for the company’s “Education Success Program.” In its third year, the program offers financial support, mentoring and other education initiatives to increase education access and opportunity for residents. Havenpark has awarded academic scholarships to more than 50 residents across the country. The program pledges at least $500,000 annually in financial assistance for residents and includes mentoring and guidance for current and prospective students navigating the higher education application, financial aid and course selection processes.
- O.C. Tanner, a Salt Lake City-based company focused on strengthening organizational culture through employee recognition, has been named by the Toyota Production System Support Centeras a “showcase company” for its excellence in the Toyota Production System model. TSSC selected O.C. Tanner due to its manufacturing know-how and culture where team members are empowered to drive continuous improvement. TSSC, a not-for-profit corporation affiliated with Toyota Motor North America with the mission of strengthening manufacturing in North America, has recognized only four organizations as showcase companies. For several years, TSSC advised and worked with O.C. Tanner to improve flow of products in a way that made it easier for team members and leaders to see opportunities for improvement.
RETAIL
- Outlets at Traverse Mountain, Lehi, has opened a holiday market and gingerbread village featuring a 30-foot-tall gingerbread-inspired tower. The holiday market is hosted by Market Lane, a pop-up market that brings local small shops together to promote and sell their handmade, curated goods. More than 65 vendors will be at this year’s market. There are new vendors each weekend offering jewelry, home décor, clothing, toys, art, treats and more. Market Lane is open every weekend beginning through Dec. 23. Gingerbread Village is open through Dec. 31.
SERVICES
- DFPG Investments, a Sandy-based independent wealth management firm, has launched Diversify Advisor Network as part of its long-term growth strategy to offer advisors expanded affiliation options. The firm also announced the recent recruitment of three firms representing more than $560 million in total client assets, bringing Diversify’s assets to $5.8 billion. The network will eventually comprise three affiliation solutions designed to provide advisors with choice and flexibility to grow their businesses: DFPG Investments, a full-service independent broker-dealer, with expertise in alternative investments, providing broker-dealer-based solutions for advisors of Diversify; Diversify Advisory Services, an independent RIA platform that provides institutional quality services and resources to independent investment advisors; and Diversify Wealth Management. DFPG recently had three new practices join the firm over the past few weeks: INPAC Wealth Solutions, a Honolulu-based enterprise with $325 million in total client assets; KLK Capital Managementof Los Angeles, an independent RIA with $141 million in total client assets; and Michael Collins, a California-based advisor with $100 million in total client assets.
TECHNOLOGY
- Pluralsight, a Draper-based technology workforce development company, has appointed Lisa Luscap as chief marketing officer. She will be responsible for leading all aspects of Pluralsight’s marketing, including brand and communications, global demand generation, field marketing, product marketing and marketing operations. She previously was interim CMO and, prior to that, senior vice president of digital marketing and self-service. Luscap joined the Pluralsight team in early 2023 with more than 20 years of marketing experience in the tech industry at organizations, including Snowflake, Dolby Laboratories, VMware, and HP. Prior to working with Pluralsight, Lisa led a global marketing team during Snowflake’s IPO.
TRANSPORTATION
- Pilot Travel Centers LLC, based in Tennessee, has completed more than 100 remodels under its New Horizons initiative, including the recently overhauled Flying J travel center in Salt Lake City. The center welcomed television personalities The Diesel Brothers, travel-influencer family The Jurgys, local officials and school district leaders for a day of music, games and giveaways. The celebration included a ribbon-cutting and $20,000 check presentation to West High School’s Health Clinic. Pilot has more than 870 Pilot, Flying J and One9 locations in 44 states and six Canadian provinces.