Industry Briefs are provided as a free service to our readers. Company news information may be sent to brice.w@thecityjournals.com. The submission deadline is one week before publication.

 

ASSISTANCE

• The Utah Minority Business Development Agency, whose MBDA Business Center is operated by The Mill at Salt Lake Community College in Sandy, is onboarding James Jackson III was director. Jackson founded the Utah Black Chamber in 2009. He stepped down as president and CEO in 2022 to focus on other projects and organizations to elevate Utah’s diverse community, including the Utah Small Business Alliance and career pathways for Utah’s diverse youth. Jackson is a bestselling author, speaker and trainer.

 

ASSOCIATIONS

• The Salt Lake Chamber has named Nathan R. Callister as its as chair of its Board of Governors for 2024-25 and Jeremy Hafen as incoming vice chair. Callister most recently served as the chamber’s vice chair and succeeds Gary Hoogeveen as chair. Hoogeveen, former president and CEO of Rocky Mountain Power, was called out of state to serve as president of Pilot Energy. Callister is executive vice president and head of Utah commercial banking at Wells Fargo. Callister has more than 20 years of experience in the banking industry. Prior to Wells Fargo, he served two years as head of commercial banking at Community Banks of Colorado and Hillcrest Bank. His education includes a bachelor’s degree in Russian from Brigham Young University. Hafen is president and CEO of Clyde Cos. Inc. He previously served as president of Sunroc, as president of Sunpro and as vice president of administrative services for Clyde Cos. Hafen joined the company in 2004. He is currently serving as the MTech chair of the board and previously served as the chair of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce. Hafen earned a master’s degree in accounting from Brigham Young University.

 

BANKING

• KeyBank has hired Miles Curley as a commercial banking relationship manager. He will work with new and existing clients to develop and maintain a trusted advisor relationship, based on knowledgeable consultation aligned to the clients’ business objectives and lifecycle. Curley has over 16 years of financial experience in commercial, retail and business banking. He holds an MBA from University of Phoenix and a bachelor’s degree from Utah Valley University.

 

COMMUNICATIONS

• Utah Broadband, a Draper-based Internet service provider in seven counties along the Wasatch Front and Wasatch Back, has appointed Abi Breur as marketing associate as it works to increase awareness and visibility in the Greater Salt Lake City/Park City region. Breur comes to UBB from Alpha-Lit Marquee Letters, a national promotional marketing company with an office in Salt Lake City, where she assisted with event coordination. She also served in a marketing position with Richmond American Homes. Breur’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Westminster University.
• Gabb, a company focused on safe technology for children and teens, recently held a grand opening for its new headquarters at 2701 N. Thanksgiving Way, Lehi. The company previously had temporary offices in both Provo and Lehi. The new 30,344-square-foot office space is the base for the 700 jobs Gabb has committed to bringing to Utah over the next 10 years.
• All West Communications, based in Kamas, has announced that 30,000 homes along the Wasatch Front are now connected to 8 gigabyte fiber Internet speeds as a result of the company’s fiber optic expansion project. The expansion prioritized growth in areas where community-wide fiber connectivity was needed, including Farmington, Tooele, Herriman and the Ogden area. In addition to Internet service available to strictly residential areas in Ogden, All West’s construction project features installation of mainline connections being expanded to mixed-use locations and commercial zones in the county, offering fiber Internet service to local businesses.

 

CONSTRUCTION

• Fortis Construction Inc., an employee-owned general contractor founded in 2003 in Portland, Oregon, has launched its Utah business unit with the opening of an office in Draper. Blain Grover will be the unit’s lead. He has nearly 30 years of operational and preconstruction expertise in progressive design-build, CM/GC and design-bid-build project delivery.

His previous roles with Fortis include Oregon business unit lead and lead of Fortis’ preconstruction team in Portland. Prior to Fortis, Grover worked 11 years for Skanska USA, building in its Oregon operation. Fortis has promoted Cameron Hein to senior project manager, an operational leadership role in the Utah business unit. He will oversee the growth and performance of project teams, client service and ensuring operational excellence on Fortis projects. Hein has over a decade expertise leading over $1.5 billion in data center projects and large campus teams. He has also worked on Fortis higher education, K-12 and commercial projects in Utah, New Mexico and Oregon. Nathan Herrell rejoins Fortis as general superintendent for the Utah business unit. He will lead all Utah field supervision professionals in their execution of operational excellence, development and talent acquisition. Herrell has worked nearly a decade in the Utah construction industry, leading the region’s largest data center projects. He has over 30 years of career experience, including working on projects in New Mexico; Texas; Oregon; Washington; and Ontario, Canada. Creggan Wagstaff joins Fortis as preconstruction manager for the Utah business unit. He will lead Fortis’s preconstruction team and efforts in Utah providing innovative estimating and budget solutions for client facility projects, value engineering, estimating, constructability and design team support. Wagstaff previously served as director of preconstruction for Bonneville Builders, as a senior estimator for Big-D Construction and in project engineering for McCarthy Building Cos. He also serves as an adjunct instructor at Utah Valley University in the construction management degree program. He earned a Master of Business Administration and a bachelor’s degree in construction management, both from Utah Valley University.

• Clyde Companies, an Orem-based agency supporting seven subsidiary organizations in the construction, building materials and insurance industries, has appointed Michelle Hill as chief human resource officer. Hill’s background includes leadership at WTW, where she collaborated with Fortune 500 executives to create innovative solutions in healthcare administration and led large-scale implementation projects.

 

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

• Seventeen percent of Utah couples have a formal prenuptial agreement in place, according to a study by TurboDebt. That is above the national average of 13 percent. The highest percentage is in Massachusetts, at 19 percent. The lowest is in Missouri, at 5 percent. Details are at https://www.turbodebt.com/divorce-debt/prenup-survey.
• An estimated 5,174 Utah couples will not be marrying this summer because they have poor credit, according to a study BadCredit.org. The highest percentage of couples in that situation is in Delaware, which will have an estimated 4,444 weddings called off because of financial barriers. The lowest is in Arkansas, which still will have 2,132 postponed. Among those in Utah, 61 percent said they hoped to get married in 2025, and 29 percent said they intend to wed within the next three years. Forty percent of couples surveyed said the postponement had strengthened their relationships. However, 28 percent admitted that delays led to tensions, and 7 percent even reconsidered their relationships due to the financial strain. Details are at https://www.badcredit.org/studies/financial-constraints-impact-weddings-across-america/.
• Only 8 percent of surveyed Utah women indicate they would exclusively date men with substantial salaries and model looks, according to DatingNews.com. It surveyed women nationwide to determine dating standards, specifically asking them whether they would consider dating men earning less than six figures or those deemed below average in terms of attractiveness. On average, 17 percent of women nationwide said they would not entertain such prospects. The figure was highest in New York, at 41 percent. The lowest was in Alaska, at 5 percent. In Utah, women rank these attributes most attractive in a man: (ranked in order) a great personality, a substantial salary, good looks, living in an expensive property, having their own Wikipedia page, and ownership of a private plan. Details are at https://www.datingnews.com/industry-trends/survey-reveals-highest-dating-standards/.
• Utah is ranked No. 30 on a list of states with economies with the most racial equality, compiled by WalletHub. It compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across eight key metrics, including looking at the difference between white and black Americans in areas such as annual income, unemployment rate and homeownership rate. The state with the most racial equality is Alaska. The area with the least is the District of Columbia. Details are at https://wallethub.com/edu/state-economies-with-most-racial-equality/75810/.
• Downtown Heber City is ranked No. 12 on a survey of “hidden gem nightlife spots,” compiled by Wealth of Geeks. It cited the area’s “mix of historic charm and vibrant nightlife options. Melvin’s Public House offers a welcoming atmosphere with craft beers and good food, and Heber Valley Brewing Company provides a relaxed setting with local brews and live music.” The top hidden gem for nightlife nationally is Sawtelle Japantown in Los Angeles. Details are at https://wealthofgeeks.com/americas-most-underrated-nightlife-neighborhoods/.
• The average Utah family spends seven hours and 27 minutes of quality time together each week, according to a study by Backyard Oasis. That is 73 percent more time together than six years ago. The national average is six hours and 17 minutes, an amount up nearly two hours. The highest average is eight hours and 30 minutes in North Dakota. The least is in West Virginia, at four hours and 30 minutes. Details are at https://backyardoas.com/blogs/news/how-much-time-do-families-spend-together-each-week.
• Lehi, at No. 169, is the highest-ranked Utah location on a list of “Best Cities for Single Dads,” compiled by LawnStarter. It compared the 500 biggest U.S. cities based on eight categories, including considering parent-friendly state policies; affordability of housing and child care services; and access to resources such as child care, healthcare, yard size and playground access. The top-ranked city is Newton, Massachusetts. The bottom-ranked city is Pharr, Texas. Details are at https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/studies/best-cities-single-dads/.

 

ENERGY

• Complete Solaria Inc., a Lehi-based company focused on solar technology, service and installation, has appointed Daniel Foley as chief financial officer. Foley’s career features over 25 years of financial experience, including in financial planning and analysis, investor relations, treasury and corporate finance. He has worked in both public and private companies, including as an investment analyst at Bear Stearns early in his career. Foley’s education includes a B.S. in economics from the University of Utah.

 

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

• The Suazo Business Center, Utah’s Latino business and entrepreneurship center, has named Lorena Riffo-Jenson as its new board chair. She succeeds Anthony Mirabile, a managing director at Goldman Sachs, who served on the center’s board for 16 years, including six years as chair. Riffo-Jenson is director of economic development at Salt Lake City Corp. She has more than 25 years of experience in the public and private sectors. Founded in 2002, the Suazo Business Center provides bilingual consulting, training, workshops and capital access.

 

EVENTS

• The American Jump Rope National Championship will take place June 25-29 at the Real Salt Lake Training Academy and Facility, 14787 S. Academy Parkway, Herriman. Hosted by the American Jump Rope Federation, this event marks Utah’s first national jump rope tournament. Approximately 1,900 attendees are expected, generating an estimated $1.2 million in direct visitor spending. Tickets are $10 per day during the competition June 25-28 and $20 for the finals June 29 and are available online.

 

FRANCHISING

• Five Star Franchising, a Springville-based home services franchise company, has named Wanda Hoegren as vice president of operations for Gotcha Covered, a custom window treatment brand. In her new role, Hoegren oversees day-to-day operations for the brand across the U.S. and Canada. Hoegren has more than 30 years of experience, including more than 20 years of leadership experience in franchise operations.

 

HOSPITALITY

• LivAway Suites, Salt Lake City, has broken ground on a hotel in Draper, making the Salt Lake City metro area the first with multi-hotel market for the company. The Draper location is adjacent to The Point development and will have access to Bangerter Highway and Interstate 15. LivAway had has seven groundbreakings over the past 11 months and has plans to break ground on 10 more locations nationally over the next six months.

 

INDOOR ENTERTAINMENT

• Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres and Larry H. Miller Real Estate have announced they will convert the Water Gardens Theatres at 912 W. Garden Drive, Pleasant Grove, into a Megaplex all-luxury-seating theater. Construction is scheduled to begin in August with a grand opening celebration slated before the upcoming holiday season. The renovation will temporarily close the current Cinema 6. Megaplex Theatres currently operates 15 locations throughout Utah and southern Nevada.

 

INVESTMENTS

• Canary Speech, a Provo-based voice biomarker health tech company, has raised $13 million in Series A funding. The round was led by Cortes Capital (Love’s Private Equity), with participation from Sorenson Communications, SMK and Hackensack Meridian Health. The company said it intends to use the funds to expand its team to support growth driven by advancements in artificial intelligence and the healthcare industry’s demand for more advanced tools. Canary Speech uses real-time patented vocal analysis to screen for mental health and neurological disorders.
• Powered By MRP, a Park City-based aesthetics device company, has announced a Series A investment round led by Utah-based growth equity firms Aries Capital Partners and Swell Collective. Other participants included Broadhaven Capital Partners, Jeff Lee and Chris Koh. Financial terms were not disclosed. As part of the transaction, Jason Reading, partner at Aries Capital Partners, and Alex Daines, principal at Swell Collective, will be joining the Powered By MRP board of directors.

 

OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT

• Jellystone Park, in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment, have opened Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort Zion in Hurricane. The 53-acre luxury camping and glamping RV resort features a water zone, which includes two swimming pools, multiple giant water slides, a splashground with kiddie slides, and a lazy river; a man-made lake with a beach and floating obstacle course; a jumping pillow; playground; gem mining; sports courts and games; and an outdoor theater. The camp-resort is being developed by Hurricane entrepreneur Scott Nielson, who previously owned one of the region’s largest RV dealerships. Details are at https://zionutahjellystonepark.com.

 

PARTNERSHIPS

• Davis Technical College and Rasa, a legal technology company, have announced a partnership aimed at providing support to justice-impacted students. The collaboration is the first of its kind and aims to help students navigate the complexities of past criminal records, allowing them a fair chance at employment and professional licensure after graduation. All current and former Davis Tech students will receive free access to Rasa’s eligibility tool, which can tell students what is on their criminal record, and whether it is eligible for expungement. The tool will also use information reported by the student to connect them to fair chance employment opportunities and other community resources.
• Domo, an American Fork-based company offering a data experience platform, has partnered with phData, an AI and data analytics consulting company to help users simplify data management and get actionable intelligence faster with the Snowflake AI Data Cloud and Domo. PhData relies on Domo’s platform to provide real-time data to all employees, which empowers informed decision-making and drives business impact.

 

PHILANTHROPY

• D.L. Evans Bank has announced the first round of donations for the 2024 Employee Directed Donation Initiative. The initiative gives D.L. Evans Bank employees an opportunity to nominate their favorite nonprofit organizations in Idaho and Utah. Each organization will receive a $2,500 donation from the bank plus a 5 percent bonus that will be added in the name of the employee who submitted the application, for a total of $2,625 each. The list includes Cache Community Food Pantry, Catholic Community Services of Utah, Fourth Street Clinic, Habitat for Humanity Northern Utah and Tabitha’s Way.

 

REAL ESTATE

• Convexity Properties, a real estate investment firm, has opened The Worthington Residences at 275 S. 200 E., Salt Lake City. The building includes a penthouse collection on the 30th and 31st floors; a fitness center; a heated pool and spa; a steam room and sauna; and an exterior deck with fire pits, grills and outdoor TVs.

 

RECOGNITIONS

• Weave, a Lehi-based company offering an experience platform for small and medium-sized healthcare practices, recently earned a 2024 Excellence in Customer Service Award for Transformation of the Year from Business Intelligence Group. The award recognizes those who are supporting their customers and those who are developing the tools to help others find success. Awards were given out to consultants, outsource partners and technology providers for superior performances in the past 12 months.

 

RESTAURANTS

• FiiZ Drinks has opened a location at 820 S. Main St., Cedar City. Founded in 2014, the soda shop company has over 50 locations in Utah and nearly 70 in 10 states.

 

SERVICES

• Awardco, a Lehi-based company focused on employee recognition and awards solutions, has hired Amy Poll Butler as vice president of people operations. She has over a decade of leadership experience in diverse HR roles. Prior to joining Awardco, most recently serving five years at Qualtrics, ultimately leading their global benefits team. She also led HR initiatives as head of people operations at Route. She earned a degree in community health and administration from Utah Valley University.

 

SUPPLEMENTS

• Trace, a Salt Lake City-based provider of trace mineral-based supplements, has appointed Linnette Reindel as chief marketing officer. Reindel will oversee all aspects of the soon-to-debut company rebrand to Trace, formerly Trace Minerals, while continuing to grow the company’s global recognition through strategic partnerships, portfolio expansion, wellness expert programs, clinical trials and educational campaigns. Prior to Trace, Reindel led the strategic efforts for a range of global consumer brands, including as vice president of U.S. and Canada at Tupperware and president at JAFRA Cosmetics International, in addition to running her own sales and marketing consulting business, Linnette Reindel & Co. LLC.

 

TECHNOLOGY

• Inside Real Estate, a Murray-based real estate software company, has hired Chris Black as chief financial officer. Black has more than 20 years of CFO experience with publicly traded and private equity backed companies.

 

TRANSPORTATION

• SkyShare, a private aviation firm with offices in Salt Lake City and Ogden, has added three executives: Harry Mitchelas vice president of operations, Greg Johnsonas vice president of business development, and Jason Bercan as director of charter sales. Mitchel has already played a role in building upon SkyShare’s FAA Part-135 Certificate. His three-plus decades of experience in the industry includes serving as chief operating officer at Airshare in Kansas City for over seven years and vice president of Baker Aviation in Fort Worth, Texas. He has more than 6,800 hours as an ATP pilot. Another pilot, Johnson has more than 20 years of private aviation experience, with expertise in aircraft management and charter, FBO operations, and aircraft sales and acquisitions. He previously served as senior vice president at a super-mid and large-cabin aircraft operator. Jason Bercan, a pilot with over 20 years of private aviation experience, transitions from vice president of sales at Verijet. He also had extensive involvement and sales experience in fractional operations in Ohio and Florida. Founded in 2009, SkyShare offers services including fractional ownership, aircraft management, brokerage, charter and FBO operations.