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ASSOCIATIONS
• BioUtah has opened new offices in the Price Real Estate building at 230 E. South Temple, Suite 100, Salt Lake City. BioUtah said the new space will allow it to raise the visibility of BioUtah, better serve its members, and continue to advance Utah’s life sciences industry.
CONSTRUCTION
• HNTB Corp., an employee-owned engineering and architecture firm, has hired Kevin Farley as a senior project manager at its Salt Lake City office. A 30-year industry veteran, Farley has diverse infrastructure experience, including with the Utah Department of Transportation’s first multidiscipline model-based design and construction project. He manages design-bid-build, construction management and general contracting, as well as bus rapid transit projects. He also leads business development and marketing, and supports projects for the Utah Department of Transportation, Utah Transit Authority and the Salt Lake City International Airport.
CONTESTS
• Pluralsight Inc., a Farmington-based enterprise technology skills platform company, is accepting submissions through June 23 for its second annual “Create the Future” Awards, which recognize organizations and individuals “who are creating technology-based innovations that will change the future.” The Create the Future Awards provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs and startups to pitch their technology solution or service for a chance to secure funding. This year, participants may enter to compete in one of two categories: Tech for Good and Disruptive Tech. A winner from each category will be named and announced from the main stage of Pluralsight Live on Aug. 29. The winner of Tech for Good will receive $50,000 while the winner of Disruptive Tech will receive a $50,000 investment from Pluralsight co-founder and CEO Aaron Skonnard. Details are at https://www.pluralsight.com/live/pitch.
DIVIDENDS
• The board of directors of SkyWest Inc., St. George, has declared a quarterly dividend of 12 cents per share. The dividend will be paid July 5 to shareholders of record June 28.
EDUCATION/TRAINING
• Weber State University will break ground May 22 at 4 p.m. for its new Computer & Automotive Engineering Building at WSU Davis, 2750 University Park Blvd., Layton. The 50,000-square-foot, $20 million building will help the College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology (EAST) accommodate growth. For the past five years, Weber State has led state institutions in awarding engineering and computer science degrees. In addition to providing a location for computer science and software engineering courses, the building will be the new home of the automotive technology program. GSBS Architects designed the building and R&O Construction has been awarded the contract. Construction is expected to be complete in summer 2020.
FINANCE
• Mountain West Small Business Finance, a Salt Lake City-based certified development company serving Utah, Wyoming and the surrounding counties of the Mountain West states, has promoted Kimberly Holley to AVP-loan officer. She will have oversight for all community advantage and economic revolving loan funds. Holley has been with MWSBF for 12 years in commercial lending, banking, credit analysis and business development. She most recently served as the SBA Community Advantage loan officer and an underwriter of both 7a and 504 loans. She graduated from Utah Valley University’s paralegal program in 2008 and has prior experience in the residential lending and retail sales industries.
GOVERNMENT
• Americans for Prosperity-Utah (AFP-UT) has released its 2019 legislative scorecard, which tracks lawmakers votes on key issues raised during session. The grassroots group scored over 40 bills and tallied nearly 4,000 votes to put together the look at how lawmakers voted on legislation. AFP-UT supported and scored lawmaker votes on key policies such as the “Clean Slate” bill, several occupational licensing reforms, legislation to address burdensome red tape, the extending of constitutional protections for electronic data, and reforms to prevent future tax increases. Top scorers this session include Rep. Kim Coleman, Rep. Marc Roberts, and Sen. Lincoln Filmore. Details are at https://utahscorecard.com/.
HEALTHCARE
• Gold Cross Ambulance, Salt Lake City has hired Matt Elson as director of communications. He will oversee and manage the company’s statewide communications and operations center. Elson began his career in public safety as a part-time firefighter for the Bountiful City Fire Department and then worked for Gold Cross Ambulance from 1989-1995 as a part-time EMT and dispatcher. During his time at Gold Cross, he earned a bachelor of science in psychology and certificate in criminology from the University of Utah. In 1995, he departed Gold Cross to accept a position as a police officer for the West Valley City Police Department and served in many positions. In 2016, he was promoted to deputy chief of police and commanded the Strategic Operations Bureau. Elson retired from the police department at the end of January 2019 after more than 23 years of service to West Valley City.
HOSPITALITY/FOOD SERVICE
• Deer Valley Resort, Park City, has hired James “Jamo” O’Reilly as director of lodging operations. He succeeds Kim McClelland, who retired. As the director of lodging operations, O’Reilly will oversee all operations for over 450 residences managed by Deer Valley Resort Lodging and Reservations, including 10 homeowners’ associations. O’Reilly has nearly 30 years of experience in Utah’s ski industry. He began his career as a housekeeper at Alta’s Rustler Lodge in 1989 and has since managed luxury properties including The Sky Lodge, Deer Valley Club and Black Diamond Lodge. He graduated with both his bachelor of science and Masters of Business Administration from the University of Utah.
INTERNATIONAL
• The deadline to register for a government trade mission to Hong Kong and Japan is May 31. Gov. Gary Herbert, World Trade Center Utah and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development are organizing the trade mission, set for Sept. 13-21. Delegates seeking business opportunities in Asia will receive access to companies, government agencies and officials in the market, with a focus on opportunities in the outdoor, life sciences and financial services industries. Details are at https://wtcutah.com/trade-missions/hong-kong-japan-trade-mission-2019/.
INVESTMENT
• Hall Venture Partners (HVP), Provo, has announced that managing partners David Hall, Derek Weber, Matt Van Dyke and David Kunz have closed its first round of $10 million of the Hall Opportunity Fund 1 after receiving some clarification regarding Opportunity Zones in the United States from the Treasury Department. Provo has an opportunity zone in which Hall Venture Partners has established Hall Labs, which HVP will leverage to target growth companies for fund consideration. With the new funding, HVP plans to help 20-plus companies grow from early-stage companies to growth stage.
MANUFACTURING
• Uncharted Supply Co., a Park City-based maker of emergency preparedness products, has hired Jordan Parise as director of sales and Ryan Heuser as head of creative. Parise spent several seasons playing for the American Hockey League overseas and later began a career in medical sales in addition to private hockey coaching with his brother, NHL player Zach Parise. Heuser, who is based in Boise, began his career in consumer goods as the head of public relations at Mossimo before creating accessories company Paul Frank.
MILESTONES
• Airbnb, a community-driven hospitality company, announced that the Salt Lake City Airbnb host community earned $274,000 and welcomed more than 2,700 guest arrivals during college commencement week, based on company booking data for May 1-4.
NONPROFITS
• Jared King and Jeff Davis have been named new members of Philippines Humanitarian, based in Salt Lake City. Davis is the CEO and co-founder of Saratoga Trading Co. and The Ready Store. He has experience and expertise in all areas of business management, with a primary focus on sales and marketing. He has a bachelor’s in Spanish from Brigham Young University and completed master’s coursework in Hispanic linguistics. King is a senior program manager in the engineering department of Instructure. He has expertise in business operations, process analysis and establishment, global project planning and execution. He earned a degree in computer science from Utah Valley University and experience from companies and institutions including Adobe Systems Inc., the LDS Church and Novell Inc. The board provides leadership for carrying out nonprofit Philippine Humanitarian’s mission to end the cycle of poverty in the most destitute areas of the Philippines by providing children with the means to get an education.
PHILANTHROPY
• RC Willey, South Salt Lake, has announced it will donate $87,000 as part of its 87th anniversary, with $87,000 in merchandise going to 87 individuals and organizations. Six of the first 12 recipients are in Utah. The “87 Years Strong — Caring in Your Community” merchandise giveaway allows individuals and charitable groups to be nominated by friends or family members online at rcwilley.com or in stores. Winners are selected locally by RC Willey management and will receive the award in the form of a $1,000 RC Willey gift card. Awards will be presented every two weeks until July 20. Each store will award seven winners and the RC Willey corporate office will award three winners.
• Norwegian Cruise Line recently awarded cruises to 30 educators and more than $100,000 to their schools as part of its “Giving Joy” campaign that rewards teachers who inspire students and bring joy into the classroom. The group included Rachelle Jodie Durrant from Uintah High School in Vernal.
RECOGNITIONS
• Two companies and one individual were honored last week during the 13th annual Utah Economic Summit with 2019 Utah Economic Summit Awards. The award for Utah Business Person of the Year was presented to Crystal Call Maggelet, president and CEO of FJ Management Inc. The award is presented to “an outstanding Utah businessperson for their contributions to Utah’s economy, workforce and quality of life. The Utah International Business of the Year is Qualtrics. It is presented “to a successful Utah business that delivers products or services to the global marketplace and elevates Utah’s status as a global hub for business and innovation.” The Utah Business of the Year is Pluralsight. The award is presented “to an exemplary Utah business for noteworthy accomplishments and serving as an economic trendsetter and leader.”
• England Logistics, a Salt Lake City-based freight brokerage firm, has been ranked No. 16 on Transport Topics’ list of the Top Freight Brokerage Firms in 2019. This is the company’s 15th consecutive year of recognition in the rankings. Transport Topics is a news publication with 80 years of experience covering the trucking and freight transportation industries. These annual rankings are determined by a company’s net revenue for the most recent 12-month period.
RETAIL
• Overstock.com Inc., Salt Lake City, has appointed Dave Nielsen to president of Overstock.com’s retail business, a position recently held by CEO and founder Patrick M. Byrne. Nielsen will transition his role as chief sourcing and operations officer to Ron Hilton, former vice president of sourcing. Nielsen will lead the company’s marketing, algorithms, customer, digital, technology, sourcing and operations organizations. Before leaving Overstock to assume the role of CEO at Global Access, Nielsen spent six years with Overstock, rising to the position of co-president and leading the company’s marketing, merchandising and supply chain operations. He also held leadership roles with Payless ShoeSource Inc. and Old Town Imports LLC. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business management with an emphasis in marketing from Brigham Young University. Hilton is responsible for overseeing the sourcing, merchandising, partner and category management, and supply chain teams. He joined Overstock in 2009 as the home and garden merchandising manager and has held several leadership roles in the merchandising organization since then. He left Overstock in 2015 to become president at Endygo, a global sales and logistics firm specializing in e-commerce and drop-shipping delivery, and returned to Overstock in 2016 as vice president of sourcing. Prior to working at Overstock, Hilton was vice president of marketing for Furniture Warehouse. Overstock also announced several adjustments to its board of directors. Kirthi Kalyanam served out the end of his three-year commitment to the board and will now fully devote his time to the completion of a book on retailing. Saum Noursalehi is also stepping down from the board to take a position on the tZERO board of directors, maintaining his role as CEO of tZERO. There are no immediate plans to fill those positions. The tZERO board was also reconstituted with the following directors: Jonathan Johnson, chairman; Noursalehi; Chris Campbell; and Bruce Fenton.
• U-Haul Company of Utah Inc. has announced that Sojo Self Storage, 10901 S. Jordan Gateway, South Jordan, has signed on as a U-Haul neighborhood dealer. It will offer U-Haul trucks and moving supplies.
RURAL UTAH
• The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) board, at its May meeting, endorsed two Rural Fast Track grants. HSE1 LLC (Eagle Stop North), of Panguitch in Garfield County, was endorsed for a $50,000 grant to help the company pay for a restaurants expansion that will allow it to open a self-serve yogurt franchise. The $125,000 project is expected to result in one new full-time position. The company has been in business six years and has seven employees. Full Circle LLC (Summit Inn Pizza), of Garden City in Rich County, was endorsed for a $22,500 grant for a building expansion and new equipment to accommodate dine-in options for the restaurant. The $45,000 project is expected to result in one new full-time position. The company has been in business three years and has two employees. The grants had previously been approved by the Governor’s Rural Partnership Board.
SPORTS
• Live Like Sam and LiveLikeSam.org have partnered with the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation to collaborate and commit joint resources toward a shared vision of improving youth development in sport. Live Like Sam is a nonprofit organization offering programs creating educational platforms with personal development-based curriculum, build strong community partnerships to provide youth with volunteer opportunities, and award merit and need-based scholarships. The partnership will benefit both organizations as the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation will provide Live Like Sam a statewide distribution platform from which to promote its mission, curriculum and philanthropy, while Live Like Sam will provide the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation and the sport clubs it oversees access to its curriculum.