Company news information may be sent to brice.w@thecityjournals.com.
ASSOCIATIONS
• The South Valley Chamber of Commerce has named two of its leadership team members to new positions. Jayme Jensen is vice president-managing director and programs. Her responsibilities include organizing all annual chamber events, including the Titan Awards, Business Institute programs and Women in Business program, in addition to helping manage the day-to-day operations. Jensen had served as executive assistant to the president and CEO, Jay Francis, since joining the chamber in June 2021. Prior to her role with the chamber, she had more than 21 years of experience in human resources in the hospitality, industrial supply chain, transportation and technology industries. Cory Covington is the chamber’s vice president of business development. He is responsible for recruiting new businesses to join the chamber as members and sponsors. Covington has over 20 years of experience in business development, communications, and media and public relations. He joined the chamber as business development director in August 2023. Prior to joining the chamber, he worked for the Utah Jazz as a member of its media relations team and as a producer of the pre- and post-game shows for the television broadcasts of Jazz games. He also spent three years doing business development for my529, Utah’s college savings plan, where he worked with financial advisors in helping them invest their client assets. He graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in communications.
CONSTRUCTION
• Big-D Cos., a Salt Lake City-based group of contractors, has promoted Josh Lockhart to vice president of human resources. He joined the company as director of human resources in 2024. Lockhart holds a Master of Human Resources degree from Utah State University, a bachelor’s degree in business communication, and an associate degree in fire science technology. Big-D has more than 1,700 associates.
EDUCATION/TRAINING
• Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, Provo, has appointed Ericka P. Zimmerman as dean of the College of Health Sciences. She will oversee the College of Health Sciences’ academic programs, including physician assistant, counseling, nursing, the Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences, the Healthcare Leadership & Administration Certificate, and the Healthcare Professions Education Certificate. She will also provide oversight for Peaks, RMU’s continuing education department, as well as academic program assessment. Zimmerman has more than two decades of experience in health sciences education, academic leadership and clinical practice, along with a record of scholarship and innovation in the health sciences field. Zimmerman joins RMU from Western Carolina University, where she spent 10 years as director of the School of Health Sciences. Prior to her time at WCU, she spent 13 years at the University of Charleston (West Virginia) as an athletic trainer, faculty member, program director and department chair.
LAW
• Parker & McConkie Personal Injury Lawyers, Salt Lake City, has added Richard N.M. Lambert and Brent D. Ward as of counsel for the firm’s personal injury and civil rights practice. Lambert has more than five decades of litigation experience in state and federal courts. He began his career as a deputy district attorney in Ventura County, California, prosecuting major felony cases. He later served for more than 30 years as an assistant United States attorney for the District of Utah, holding senior leadership roles including criminal chief and senior litigation counsel. He also has remained committed to public service through pro bono representation, anti-discrimination and harassment training, and advocacy for victims of violent crime. He has also served in leadership roles with historical and community organizations, including as trustee and vice chairman of the Mormon Historic Sites Foundation. His education includes graduating from Brigham Young University. Ward is a veteran trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor with decades of high-level public service and litigation experience. He served as an assistant U.S. attorney before being appointed by President Ronald Reagan as U.S. attorney for the District of Utah, where he oversaw federal criminal and civil enforcement statewide. He later held senior leadership roles within the U.S. Department of Justice and in private practice, handling complex, high-stakes litigation involving fraud, public safety and civil rights. He also has served in leadership roles with bar organizations, task forces and community initiatives focused on accountability and justice. He is a graduate of the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law.
LOGISTICS
• Savage, a Midvale-based global supply chain company, has appointed Ben Bates as executive vice president and general counsel. Bates has more than 20 years of legal experience, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and commercial transactions. He joined Savage in 2012 and most recently served as vice president and deputy general counsel. During his tenure at Savage, Bates has led a series of strategic transactions for the business, advising the company’s executive leadership and board on acquisitions, joint ventures, financings and divestitures. Before joining Savage, Bates was a partner in the corporate and securities practice at Stoel Rives LLP and previously worked as a corporate and securities associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He also served as a foreign attorney in Tokyo, advising U.S. and Japanese companies on cross-border mergers, acquisitions and securities offerings. Bates earned a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from the University of Utah and a Juris Doctor from the UofU S.J. Quinney College of Law. Established in 1946, Savage owns and operates Bartlett, Energy & Mineral Services, Rail Services, Refinery Services and Texon. Its companies have more than 4,200 employees in nearly 200 locations across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Saudi Arabia.
MANUFACTURING
• The board of directors of Merit Medical Systems Inc., a South Jordan-based health care technology company, has appointed F. Ann Millner as chair of the board. She has served as a director of Merit since 2015 and as the lead independent director since July 2021. She previously served as the chair of Merit’s Governance and Sustainability Committee. Millner is a member of the Utah State Senate, to which she was elected in 2015. She served as the president of Weber State University from 2002 through 2012 and as the Regents Professor and professor of health administrative services at Weber State University from 2013 through 2025. She succeeds Fred P. Lampropoulos as board chair. He informed the board of his resignation as a director and chair of the board on Jan. 4, 2026. It followed the conclusion of his employment as executive chair of the board on Jan. 3 and his resignation as Merit’s president and CEO on Oct. 4. Lampropoulos and Merit have entered into a consulting agreement through March 31. He founded Merit 38 years ago.
• DoTerra, a Pleasant Grove-based essential oils and wellness solutions company, has appointed Steve Powell as executive vice president of innovation and advanced development, working at the company’s global headquarters. He will lead the company’s innovation and advanced development strategy, focusing on next-generation device platforms that integrate intelligent technology, personalization and wellness science. Powell has more than 25 years of experience building and scaling device platforms across health, beauty, sleep and IoT, including leadership roles at Nu Skin and Rodan+Fields, and innovations that have generated over $1 billion in global revenue. He most recently served as head of devices at Nu Skin.
RETAIL
• Contender Bicycles, a retailer of road, mountain and electric bikes and high-end cycling gear and apparel, has hired Mike Sayers as general manager. He will oversee retail, service and warehouse operations across Contender’s Salt Lake City and Park City locations. Sayers is a longtime bike industry veteran, having raced professionally; coached for USA Cycling; and worked in a range of industry roles, including consultant, bike fitter and store manager. A lifelong cyclist who worked his way to WorldTour professional, Sayers competed in Europe and the U.S., racing events such as Liège–Bastogne-Liège, the Tour of Flanders, the Philadelphia Classic, the U.S. National Championships, and the Tour of California. Following his time with the BMC Pro Team, Sayers moved into team leadership as assistant sports director with BMC, and later held senior coaching roles with USA Cycling, guiding top American riders to multiple Olympic Games and World Championships. His industry experience also includes roles with Speedplay; managing a Trek retail location; and operating his own consulting, coaching and bike fitting business.
• Sandy-based eHub, a company focused on carrier orchestration and fulfillment intelligence, has appointed Thomas Leishman as chief AI officer. He will lead eHub’s AI strategy, driving innovation across product, operations, customer experience and revenue growth. Leishman has more than two decades of experience in software engineering, data strategy and intelligent automation. His background includes leading research and development initiatives; building engineering teams; and architecting AI-powered systems for global companies across ecommerce logistics, home automation, benefits engagement and more.