Building Utah

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Did you know that the Federal Reserve—our nation’s central bank—has an office in Salt Lake City? Becky Potts, Vice President, Regional Executive at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s Salt Lake City branch, gives us a better understanding of The Fed and its work today. BECKY POTTS Here at the San Francisco Fed’s Salt Lake City branch, we build active relationships with area business and community leaders to gain a broad picture of the economic conditions in our region. This helps to ensure that what’s happening at the local level is reflected in our national monetary policymaking process. We always strive to be a community engaged bank that learns from and reflects the communities we serve. We believe opportunity is not a luxury—it’s a necessity that should be accessible to everyone. To that end, we are using our tools and responsibilities to help create an inclusive economy, in which all people can fully contribute their talents and skills—regardless of t

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. University of Utah Health delivers care to the people of Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and parts of Colorado and Nevada. It also trains the majority of Utah's physicians, nurses and other health care professionals. Lori Williams is here to tell us about their program. LORI WILLIAMS University of Utah Health has over 20,000 faculty and staff, as well as five hospitals, and eleven community health centers which serve the people of Utah and beyond. We are continually improving individual and community health and quality of life by focusing on excellence in patient care, education, and research. Each is vital to our mission and makes the others stronger. We're proud of our accomplishments. U.S. News and World Report named us as having the Number One hospital in Utah and we’ve been recognized as a Top Performer for High Quality Care by those that evaluate the nation’s health care systems. Earlier this year Forbes named University of Utah Health as one of the best emp

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. On November 19th at the Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon, the Salt Lake Chamber will recognize business and community leaders from across the state. One of our supporters is Mountain America Credit Union, and here’s Senior Vice President of Public Relations Sharlene Wells to tell us about what they’re doing. SHARLENE WELLS As the eleventh largest credit union in the country, Mountain America Credit Union spans six states… and this year was named one of the fifty fastest growing companies in Utah – not bad for an 85-year-old credit union! All proving that Mountain America is setting the bar higher every day, to serve our members better. For example, we recently launched a Spanish-language initiative in many branches. Our Value Analyzer tool has saved Mountain America members over $280 million dollars. And this year, we were ranked the number-one credit union to work for in the country. And that matters to us because when we take care of our

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. In 2015, Utah legislators passed legislation that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation – while also protecting individual religious beliefs and religious institutions. Now working to expand business opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community is Liz Pitts with the Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber. LIZ PITTS The Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce was founded in 2012. We are a diversity Chamber which provides service throughout Utah. Our business owners seek to promote and grow their businesses in an inclusive group of like-minded people. Membership allows the opportunity to become certified as an LGBT Business Enterprise, if your firm is more than 51% LGBT owned and operated, the fees are waived for your certification. As we are an affiliate chamber of the National LGBT Chamber—our certifying body. We invite you to join us for our breakfasts every third Thursday and our Taste of Success virtual lunches. And, if you belong to your company’s Pride Employee Resource G

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Over 152,000 people are now working in Utah’s high-tech industry and, Utah’s tech-related employment is expected to grow more than any other state this year. Here to give us the inside scoop is Paul Ahlstrom, the founder of TechBuzz News. PAUL AHLSTROM Utah’s high-tech industry began in 1965 when David Evans left UC Berkley and founded the computer science department at the University of Utah. Today, Salt Lake City residents boast more high-tech degrees per capita than many other major cities, and Utah is home to the well-known companies like Angel Studios, Ancestry.com, Owlet Baby Care and many more. TechBuzz News shines the spotlight on important things happening in the Utah startup community. Come to TechBuzz.news to read about recent stories such as the three-part series on Utah’s Polynesian tech entrepreneurs or the recent investment by Brandon Fugal into resurrecting the woolly mammoth. Yes, you heard that correctly. Or, specific news on Utah’s tech firms.

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. In 1956, Les Olson, the father of twelve young children, gave up a secure job to create his own company. His grandson, Troy Olson, joins us with an update on that company. TROY OLSON Since 1956, the Les Olson Company has empowered organizations across Utah and Nevada with the technology needed to help increase productivity and gain a competitive edge. Over the past 60 years our family business has become one of Utah’s largest office technology dealers, known today for superior service. Many know us as a copier company, but now we’re also a leader in IT Services. Over the past decade we’ve helped clients of all sizes through our Outsourced IT. For some we manage everything, while for others we simply assist their in-house team. We also aid those with one-off projects – so if your firm needs IT expertise, just let us know. As technology evolves our team of friendly, qualified professionals are committed to evolving with it all while helping our custome

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Governor Cox recently announced that Utah will receive at least 765 Afghan refugees. Aden Batar, himself a refugee from Sudan, is now leading the efforts for Utah’s Catholic Community Services to assist these individuals, and he’s here to talk about what we can do to help. ADEN BATAR Since 1945, Catholic Community Services of Utah has been empowering people along the Wasatch Front to reach self-sufficiency. We do so through two departments—Migration and Refugee Services and Basic Needs. Basic Needs operates in both Salt Lake City and Ogden, helping those impacted by homelessness and food insecurity. Our Migration and Refugee Services department is now preparing to help those from Afghanistan. Governor Cox has announced that the US State Department has approved Utah to receive 765 Afghan refugees. The resettlement support we have received from the community has been a reminder of our state’s willingness to band together to provide help and create hope for the

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. With Utah’s economy enjoying record high employment levels, finding the right employees can be challenging. Paul Ahlstrom, co-founded IsoTalent, explains why many companies are turning to his firm for help in hiring topflight candidates. PAUL AHLSTROM Utah’s economy is booming, and our unemployment rate is 2.6 percent. That is great for employees, but for companies looking to hire, that can make it difficult to find people with the right talent, skill, experience, and the right values to fill important positions. At IsoTalent, we created a better way to align the interests of our clients with the recruiters and job seekers. First, instead of charging 20 to 40 percent of the candidate salary, we charge by the hour, like an accountant, which results in a 50 to 70 percent savings compared to our competitors. Second, we give all the stakeholders visibility and transparency at each step of the recruiting process. That’s why employers “in search of talent” turn to us at

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Utah’s construction industry is a closely watched indicator of our state’s economic recovery from the COVID crisis. With that in mind, we’re thrilled today to welcome Gary Ellis, president and CEO of Jacobsen Construction, to share why Utah’s builders see strong signs of economic growth. GARY ELLIS Builders have a far-reaching influence on Utah’s economic vitality. With all that we purchase, builders impact supply chains, small businesses, as well as community growth and development. We’re happy to report all signs point to a continued vigorous economic recovery for Utah next year, with a strong pipeline of projects that will re-shape our communities. Many plans put on hold last year are now moving full steam ahead, and Utah’s construction workforce is now larger than ever with 121,000 skilled employees. Those in the construction industry are in high demand as we create exciting new spaces where life happens — the places where Utahns live, work, play, and worshi

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. For generations, marketing and advertising have been the key to growth for every successful company. But over the last several years the world has changed and so has advertising. Here to shed more light on the subject is Dave Thomas, CEO of ThomasArts. DAVE THOMAS The world is so much different than when I first got into the business 40 years ago. Today, data management, digital and social have turned the marketing industry upside down. Although the platforms have changed, consumers still make decisions based largely on emotion. That’s why our team at TA ThomasARTS strives to create heartfelt connections between our clients and customers, and we do so across all media platforms. We analyze consumer behavior and then craft advertising that resonates. In the end, we know it’s the advertising sizzle that sells the steak! So, when you walk into any of our offices -- from New York and Washington DC to Utah and the West Coast -- you will find over 300 profession

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Improving your mental health or overcoming addiction can be difficult, especially in the era of Covid. Fortunately, a suite of award-winning wellness apps – developed in Utah – are now helping individuals all over the world. Clay Olsen, the CEO of Impact Suite is here with more. CLAY OLSEN A few years ago I co-founded a youth movement called “Fight the New Drug” which is dedicated to raising awareness on the harmful effects of pornography using science, facts and personal accounts. We've traveled the world speaking to neuroscientists and recovery experts. Through that experience, it led me to seek new ways to help people facing mental health and addiction issues. That process led my team and I to begin working to develop a series of apps to help people find deeper healing and recovery from behavioral and mental health challenges. To create positive change, we now have four award-winning wellness apps that you can anonymously download for free at impactsuite.co

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. The National Association of Realtors recently named Salt Lake City as a top 10 market for commercial real estate. That makes sense – Utah’s unemployment rate is now at 2.7%, and workers need places to work. Here to tell us more is Barb Johnson with CBRE. BARB JOHNSON Utah’s economy is vibrant and that can put pressure on businesses that need to expand. That’s where CBRE comes in. We’re a global commercial real estate company. In fact, CBRE is the largest commercial real estate services firm in the world, with more than 100,000 employees in offices spread across more than 100 countries. I work as a First Vice President specializing in office occupier services; in short, I help companies find office, land, and lab space. Working with the world’s largest commercial real estate firm comes with its advantages—like having access to the most robust services and technology platform in the industry. This is paramount to the work we do at CBRE, because we don’t

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Utah’s African American community grew the most of any minority group last year. To help meet mental health needs we are fortunate to have a group of counselors uniquely qualified to provide a safe place for healing. Dr. Kimberly Applewhite is one of those experts. DR. KIMBERLY APPLEWHITE The Black Clinicians are a collective of Black mental health and medical professionals who seek to tackle the mental health disparities in the BIPOC communities of Utah and beyond by making culturally relevant mental health resources and expertise more accessible to the people who need it most. BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and it may not surprise you that many communities of color, and Black Americans in particular, are only half as likely to receive mental health treatment than White Americans. Untreated mental health conditions can lead to worsening physical health conditions and interfere with quality of life. The Black Clinicians go into minority

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Success in the workplace comes through hard work, wise decisions, meeting and exceeding customer expectations. But mental health issues can sometimes interfere. James Hadlock founded BluNovus to help companies support their employees, and he’s here to tell us how. JAMES HADLOCK At Blunovus, we know 87% of managers have reported they or members of their team have experienced at least one mental health challenge over the past year. To increase retention, productivity, and workplace well-being, it’s more important than ever to build strong employee relationships and take a preventative approach to mental health on a cultural level. As a human connection company, Blunovus understands that people need people, that’s why we provide employees—and their loved ones—with 24/7 mental health support and the resources needed to help heal. We help organizations level-up their leadership and support their people through manager training certifications and executive coach

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Utah’s economy is continuing to outperform the rest of the country, and our employment rate hit near record highs at 97.4 percent in July. That’s great news, but there is a flip side for Utah companies. Here to tell us more is Nate McDonald with Utah’s Department of Workforces Services. NATE MCDONALD Our historically low unemployment rate reflects strong economic growth, but it also presents challenges for employers seeking to hire quality employees. At the Utah Department of Workforce Services, we’re here to help Utah businesses meet their workforce needs. One of the best ways to establish a pipeline of qualified talent is to use training programs, like apprenticeships, internships, or on-the-job training. These programs allow employees to start working right away, while building the skills to thrive in the field long-term. Our workforce development specialists can help Utah’s employers and those needing work find a training program that is a good match for

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. You may be surprised that many of the displays and packaging you see in stores are made right here in Utah by the American Packaging Group. Owner Jeff Tiede is here to share their story. JEFF TIEDE The great people at American Packaging Group are problem solvers in product packaging. We create paper-based renewable packaging into colorful, strong, attractive, eye-catching and form-functioning retail and wholesale boxes and pouches – everything from cosmetic and cake boxes to the stand-up floor displays to the brown box that you get your TV in. But, we can do even more. Under APG's contract packaging program, we assist customers in the formulation, mixing, filling, and package assembly needed to get products to market. With multiple facilities, American Packaging Group is proud of our country, and promote buying in the USA. With this in mind, we’re pleased to report that a major customer of ours – one that went overseas years ago based on price – has returne

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Education is vital to Utah’s economic future and a key part of that success is Westminster College, which Princeton Review calls one of the best in the nation. Tamara Stevenson, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, is here to share their story. TAMARA STEVENSON Westminster College is an amazing place with more than 50 undergraduate areas of study and 13 graduate programs in five academic schools -- from business, nursing, and public health -- to education, the sciences, arts, and humanities. A key to that success is our commitment to a welcoming and inclusive learning and working environment. Westminster’s students, faculty and staff collaborate to cultivate a culture of creativity, critical thinking, and global responsibility while promoting respect for differences. Westminster College practices inclusive excellence in our curriculum and programs. We connect to our power of place as an institution of higher learning – a place anchored in leade

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Utah has a strong, well-educated, hard-working and vibrant workforce, and we want to make sure that everyone in Utah feels welcome and wanted. Meligha Garfield is here to share what the University of Utah is doing. MELIGHA GARFIELD The Black Cultural Center at the University of Utah opened up in February of 2019, and I was hired as the Center's director a few months later. It’s been a great experience working with people who’ve grown up in Utah, as well as those who’ve just arrived. The Black Cultural Center seeks to holistically enrich, support, and advocate for faculty, staff, and students through Black-centered research, culturally affirming educational initiatives, and service. We use a Pan-African lens in our outreach – which is just a fancy way of saying that are focused on creating a sense of brotherhood, sisterhood, and collaboration among all people of African descent in Utah. Our goal is to create a sense of belonging for black students, with the

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Utah is famous for many things, including our fast-growing technology companies. Among those at the cutting-edge is Totem Technologies, which started in Weber County in 2005. Here to tell us more about what they’re doing is CEO Alli Bey. ALLI BEY Compliant cybersecurity can seem cost prohibitive for most small businesses. It is our mission at Totem Technologies to ensure small businesses affordably get and then stay compliant with everchanging cybersecurity regulations. Our world has changed significantly over the past two decades, especially when it comes to data protection. As we all know, “cybersecurity” is now a buzz word around all aspects of business – costing the global economy over $1 trillion last year alone. That’s because our adversaries have turned stealing intellectual property and other personal digital information into a marketable commodity. Whether you’re a government contractor, healthcare provider, or anyone entrusted with private informati

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Park City Mountain, the largest ski resort in the United States, is located in the heart of Park City, only a 35-minute drive from Salt Lake International Airport. Sherry Weaver with Park City and Keystone Resorts is here to tell us about the offerings guests can experience at Park City Mountain. SHERRY WEAVER At Park City Mountain we believe location is everything. When you’re planning your next social or corporate event, we invite you to explore one of the most iconic destinations in the West—right in your own backyard. Bustling with activities year around, Park City Mountain offers luxurious accommodations, more than 15,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, taking full advantage of fresh mountain air and spectacular views of the Wasatch Back. That’s all on top of the world class skiing and snowboarding accessible with your Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass. Our passion for the mountains and for our communities is in the DNA of all our employees at Park City Mount