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AGRICULTURE
• Gov. Spencer Cox on May 15 signed an executive order declaring a 30-day state of emergency in Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Iron, Juab, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, Utah and Weber counties due to crop losses caused by freezing temperatures. The order will remain in effect for 30 days unless extended by the Legislature. Freezing temperatures on April 3, 4, 17 and 18 damaged crop production in affected areas, with weather stations recording temperatures below 26 degrees Fahrenheit for more than eight hours. Apricots, sweet and tart cherries, plums, peaches, pears and apples suffered between 95 percent and 100 percent loss. Wheat and alfalfa producers in these counties are also experiencing production losses. The freeze is expected to affect agricultural producers, consumers, local markets and the seasonal workforce that relies on the annual harvest.
ASSOCIATIONS
• NAIOP Utah, the state’s professional association of commercial real estate developers, owners and investors, has named Braden Moore as president of the Utah chapter, effective in June. Moore is vice president and project executive at Big-D Construction, based in Salt Lake City. As chapter president, Moore will lead the NAIOP Utah board of directors and work to advance the association’s mission of promoting responsible commercial real estate development across the state. Under his leadership, the chapter will place a strong emphasis on legislative advocacy, championing policies that support a healthy commercial real estate environment in Utah, as well as deepening the chapter’s commitment to community impact and meaningful engagement across the industry. Moore has more than 20 years of construction industry experience, having begun his career in the field as a laborer and carpenter apprentice. He rose through the ranks at Big-D Construction, serving as national project development director before being promoted to vice president of the Salt Lake City Group in 2023. Moore has been an active member of the NAIOP Utah board.
CONSTRUCTION
• Okland Construction, a Salt Lake City-based, family-owned, privately held general contractor, is expanding its ownership structure to include its team members through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Bill Okland, CEO, said the change “is about strengthening that foundation, not replacing it. The people who have helped us grow now have the opportunity to share in that success.” Under the new structure, Okland will remain family-led, with its leadership team, operations and long-term strategy unchanged. The partial ESOP introduces a way for team members to participate in the company’s future through a company-funded ownership benefit designed to build long-term value over time. The ESOP is designed as a long-term retirement benefit, complementing existing compensation and benefits while reinforcing the company’s commitment to its team and culture. Founded in 1918, Okland has a team of more than 1,300 professionals delivering complex projects in healthcare, advanced technology, sports, higher education and commercial development across the Southwest and Mountain West.
CORPORATE
• 401GO, a fintech company focused on the retirement industry, recently celebrated the grand opening of its new 36,030-square-foot campus at Towne Ridge Center’s Tower 1 at 9680 State St., Sandy. The move represents a six-fold increase in physical footprint from the company’s previous 6,000-square-foot office. The new headquarters serves as a central hub for the company’s mission to provide seamless, tech-forward retirement solutions to its current, and growing, list of over 6,000 clients nationwide. The new headquarters features expanded workspaces, wellness and mother’s rooms, collaborative areas, and spaces to recharge. The company recently closed a $33 million Series B funding round and surpassed the 100-employee milestone.
DIVIDENDS
• The board of directors of Extra Space Storage Inc., based in Salt Lake City, has declared a second-quarter 2026 dividend of $1.62 per share on the common stock of the company. The dividend is payable June 30 to stockholders of record June 15. The company is a self-managed real estate investment trust that owns and/or operates 4,344 self-storage properties, which comprise approximately 3 million units. It is the largest operator of self-storage properties in the United States.
• The board of directors of Zions Bancorporation NA has declared a regular quarterly dividend of 45 cents per common share. The dividend is payable May 21 to shareholders of record May 14. The board also declared the regular quarterly cash dividend on the company’s Series A perpetual preferred shares. The cash dividends on the preferred shares are payable June 15 to shareholders of record June 1. The board also has authorized share repurchases of up to $225 million of the company’s common stock for the remainder of 2026, which would bring the full-year share repurchase target to $300 million. The timing and amounts of any such actions will depend on market conditions, regulatory requirements, and other factors or uncertainties and may be updated at the discretion of the board. Zions operates banks in 11 western states.
HEALTHCARE
• Gold Cross Ambulance, a Salt Lake City-based company offering emergency response services in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado, has received national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS). Gold Cross received a perfect score during the process, demonstrating its commitment and devotion to patient care and safety. The accreditation places Gold Cross Ambulance Service in the top 1 percent of ambulance services in the country. Gold Cross is the only ambulance provider in the state to achieve the national distinction. The ambulance provider serves Salt Lake, Uintah, Utah, Washington and Iron counties. In addition, it offers assistance to neighboring states when requested. Gold Cross is the only ambulance provider in the state to achieve the national distinction. The process of accreditation includes a comprehensive self-assessment over several months and an independent outside review of the entire operation. Once achieved, the three-year accreditation is considered a “gold standard” among modern emergency medical service providers and often exceeds the standards established by state or local regulations. Now in its 58th year, Gold Cross Ambulance provides basic life support, paramedic, critical care, neonatal, bariatric, event management standby, mass casualty care and 911 services.
INTERNATIONAL
• World Trade Center Utah, a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to accelerate growth for Utah companies through a global network, programs and services, has announced the appointment of Nate Callister to its board of directors. Callister is president and CEO of Zions Bank and an executive vice president of Zions Bancorporation, based in Salt Lake City. He has more than 25 years of commercial banking leadership experience, including serving as head of commercial and corporate banking at Zions. He has served in many community leadership roles, including as board chair of the Salt Lake Chamber. Founded in Utah in 1873, Zions Bank operates 95 full-service branches in Utah and 26 branches in Idaho and Wyoming.
INVESTMENTS
• Govineer Solutions, a Provo-based provider of mission-critical software and payments solutions for local governments, has announced a growth investment from TA Associates, a Boston-based global private equity firm. The amount was not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions. Upon completion of the transaction, Peterson Partners, based in Salt Lake City, will fully exit its stake in Govineer, while the existing Govineer management team and employees will retain a meaningful ownership position in the business. The investment will support Govineer’s evolution into an AI-powered operating system for local government entities. Govineer’s platform of businesses today serve more than 2,300 towns, municipalities, and special districts across 43 states.
PARTNERSHIPS
• Doba, a Salt Lake City-based dropshipping platform, has announced a partnership with “.store” to provide Doba members with a free one-year professional domain, helping entrepreneurs using AI tools launch branded storefronts and establish a stronger identity beyond third-party marketplaces. Doba said that by combining product sourcing, AI-powered store setup and access to a professional retail-focused domain, Doba is making it easier for merchants to move from simply listing products to building brands of their own. Through the new offering, Doba members can source products from Doba’s network of verified suppliers, launch a storefront quickly with Doba’s AI Store Builder and Shopify integration, secure a professional “.store” domain to strengthen brand identity, and begin building direct customer relationships through an owned online presence.
RECOGNITIONS
• The Nucleus Institute recently hosted the 2026 Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology awards ceremony at the Utah State Capitol. Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson presented medals to four individuals whose contributions to K-12 education, research, industry and government have made a lasting impact on Utah and beyond. Recipients are Teresa Hislop (K-12 Education), D. Kip Solomon (Academia/Research), Jennifer Hwu (Industry) and Jed Hancock (Government). Hislop is a 30-year educator devoted to experiential STEM learning, including organizing immersive field experiences that bring science to life in unforgettable ways and by serving as a generous colleague and mentor. Hislop teaches eighth-grade science at the Ogden Preparatory Academy. She received degrees from Brigham Young University and the University of Utah. Solomon is a hydrologist who has pioneered novel methods to understand water. Currently the Francis Brown Endowed Chair in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Utah, he has developed innovative methods for determining groundwater age and invented water sampling technologies used internationally. His education includes degrees in geology and geological engineering from the University of Utah. Hwu is co-founder, president and CEO of InnoSys Inc.; has pushed the boundaries of high-frequency power amplifiers for space, telecommunications, aerospace, avionics and terrestrial applications; and is a pioneer in extreme environment electronics. She has led numerous research and development projects for the Department of Defense/War, Department of Energy, NASA and other agencies, resulting in products that are designed and manufactured at InnoSys’s facility in Salt Lake City. She also is a former tenured professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Utah. Hancock is president of the Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory, with a background in electrical engineering and optical science. Under his leadership, SDL developed the camera suite for NASA’s Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission, the first U.S. mission to return samples from an asteroid to Earth. Since 2021, SDL has grown from approximately 800 employees to more than 1,300 today, with revenues increasing to over $354 million in 2025.
RESTAURANTS
• Konala, a fast-food franchise serving high-protein bowls, will have its grand opening event at 210 W. Cougar Blvd. (1230 N.), Provo, at a former Arby’s building on May 28, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Set to open this summer, the new store is owned and operated by Tyson Adams, along with his parents, Melanie and Laird. Adams has years of restaurant leadership experience, from launching his own food truck to earning Jersey Mike’s Manager of the Year honors in Washington state. Konala was founded in 2023.
• Village Baker, based in Salt Lake City, is expanding beyond Utah as part of its evolution as a franchise concept, targeting growth in western and southern markets, including Idaho, Arizona (Phoenix), Colorado and Texas. Founded in 1994, the brand currently operates eight locations, including one corporate store. It is a fast-casual, from-scratch bakery café specializing in sandwiches, soups, salads, pizza and baked goods.
RETAIL
• Holladay Hills, a 58-acre mixed-use development on the east bench of Salt Lake City, is welcoming several new tenants: including Kiln, Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay, Magnolia Bakery, The Sicilian Butcher, Sploot Veterinary Care and more. This will be the first Magnolia Bakery franchise in the United States, and Sploot Veterinary Care will debut its first Utah location, with both expected to open by the end of May. The Sicilian Butcher will also mark its first location in the state. Bobby’s Burgers and Kiln have recently opened. Kiln, a flex office and coworking community, has opened a 52,000-square-foot workspace and lifestyle hub. Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay features a fully made-to-order menu, including “Crunchified” burgers. Magnolia Bakery is a New York-based bakery known for its classic American desserts. The Sicilian Butcher, Craft Meatballs and Charcuterie Bar offers a choose-your-own meatball and build-your-own charcuterie board experience. It has seven locations across Arizona, Texas and Tennessee. Sploot Veterinary Care will be opening its first Utah clinic, combining primary and urgent care services under one roof and being open 365 days a year. Holladay Hills is a joint venture among Woodbury Corp., Millrock Capital LLC and Ball Ventures.