Building Utah

I’m Derek Miller, and this is Speaking on Business. Shawn Newell is Vice President of Business Development at Industrial Supply and one of Utah’s most effective networkers – bringing people together and mentoring the next generation of business leaders. Today, he has a special message for all of us. SHAWN NEWELL I’m passionate about Utah and I’ve dedicated my professional career to connecting dots – to bringing people together. In Utah we work and grow as communities. We meet challenges head on, and we become strengthened through the experience. This model has helped see us through the coronavirus pandemic, and while I would like to say it’s behind us, we still need to achieve herd immunity. And it’s important we do this before fall, when there’s a possibility for another surge. To avoid that, the Utah Department of Health has a goal of vaccinating at least 70% of Utahns age 18 or older by July 4th. That’s Independence Day, and it’s right around the corner. But we can do this! Already 63% of us ha

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Jorge Fierro came to Utah homeless and unable to speak English, and here he built successful businesses on a delicious recipe from his mother and a desire to feed new friends. He’s here today with a special message. JORGE FIERRO Utah is special. In my career, I have experienced many challenges! But I have also miracles and a spirit to this community that sustained my dreams -- the same spirit that is seeing us through the coronavirus. We have come a long way, but we need to finish our journey to once-and-for-all put COVID-19 behind us. And we can do this. Sixty-three percent of us, age 18-and-older, have been vaccinated. To help achieve immunity in our community, we have the goal of getting 70 percent vaccinated by July 4th. That’s just a few days away, so I am asking my fellow business leaders to encourage those who work for you to protect themselves, those they love, and your business. Give them time off. Maybe provide an incentive. Host a “pop-up”

I’m Derek Miller, and this is Speaking on Business. Keith McMullin is CEO of Deseret Management Corporation and a former chairman of the Board of Governors of the Salt Lake Chamber. Today, he’s here with an important message for all Utahns. KEITH McMULLIN Adversity is formative but never permanent. It is part of Utah’s rich legacy, building individuals and families emboldened by what they have endured and strengthening communities through courage and service. We have seen this throughout the coronavirus where Utah has been a model of what’s possible -- focusing on protecting health while keeping our economy open. Together, we’ve come close to prevailing over one of the most devasting pandemics in our nation’s history. Now, we need to “Bring It Home!” We need to avoid a possible resurgence of COVID-19 in the fall, and to do this the State has set the goal to have 70% of us over the age of 18 vaccinated by July 4th. We can do this! Currently, 63% have already received the vaccination, and the Salt Lake

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Dr. Donna Milavetz is a mother, physician, business leader, regional vice president of Steward Healthcare Network, and incoming vice chair of the Salt Lake Chamber. With that expertise and focus on our community, she has an important message for all of us. DONNA MILAVETZ My top priority is health, and I have been impressed by the way Utah has led the nation in so many ways throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Now, we need to see this challenge through. We need to beat COVID-19 completely, achieving herd community and protecting those we love. To do this, the State has set the goal to get 70 percent of those 18-and-older vaccinated by July 4th. What a special holiday it can be this year. The spirit of Independence will be twice as sweet. Already 63 percent of us – our friends and family -- have received the vaccination. It’s safe. It’s effective. And it’s essential to achieve immunity. We have come so far, and we are so close. Please join us now to “

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Cyd Tetro is the CEO of Brandless and president of the Women Tech Council. And she’s here with an important message. CYD TETRO We are so close! And with your help, we can “Bring It Home!” Feels good getting back on our feet. We’ve had heartbreak and challenges, but Utah has prevailed throughout the coronavirus, finding that balance between protecting health and keeping our economy open. No other state has fared as well, and now we have the opportunity to put COVID-19 behind us. But we cannot do it without your help. At the moment, 63 percent of Utahns, 18-years and older, have been vaccinated. But to begin achieving herd immunity, we need to reach 70 percent, and the goal is to do just that by July 4th – Independence Day! Just seven percent of our friends, family members, and employees need to have the time and opportunity to receive a vaccination. So, I am calling on fellow employers to join our effort to “Bring It Home.” You can facilitate access to v

I’m Derek Miller, and this is Speaking on Business. Scott Anderson is president and CEO of Zions Bank, one of Utah’s oldest and most revered financial institutions, and he’s here today with an important message for all of us. SCOTT ANDERSON At Zions Bank, we processed 16,000 Paycheck Protection Loans to help businesses keep their doors open and income flowing to employees and their families. We will never forget those uncertain days and the contributions of so many. Some believe the coronavirus is behind us, but that’s far from the truth. According to the Utah Department of Health, we need 70 percent of Utahn’s 18-and-older to be vaccinated by July 4th to achieve community immunity and avoid a possible resurgence in the fall. To achieve this, employers can lead by example and facilitate access to vaccinations that are available at hundreds of locations across the state. They can host a “pop up” vaccination site at their business or provide incentives for employees who get vaccinated. These and ot

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Weber Basin Water Conservancy District serves five counties in northern Utah with water types ranging from agricultural irrigation to drinking water. Tage Flint, CEO of Weber Basin Water Conservancy District is here to tell us more about the district’s innovative service to Utahns. TAGE FLINT At Weber Basin Water, we serve over 700,000 northern Utahns from a complex system of large reservoirs, pipelines, wells, hydropower stations, and treatment plants. We lead the state in implementing new secondary water meter technology. The district oversees the collection of hourly usage data from over 12,000 secondary water meters. This data is seamlessly communicated back to our customers through utilization of an in-house developed customer portal. These types of innovative approaches will ensure efficient use of our finite water supplies which are critical to Utah’s future. Weber Basin Water completed its new Water Efficiency Research Center in Layton, Utah. Open 8 am t

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Financial institutions are the cornerstone of our economy, in Salt Lake City and across the world. Mark Herman of U.S. Bank is here to discuss how the bank is dedicated to helping its customers and our community succeed today and in the years to come. MARK HERMAN U.S. Bank is both a national and a local bank in Salt Lake. We’ve long had a connection to Salt Lake City and surrounding Utah communities– and we’re deeply committed to helping our friends and neighbors succeed here through innovative banking products, digital tools and human connection. It’s our responsibility as bankers to help the communities we serve by helping local and regional companies stay strong and healthy. We recently launched the U.S. Bank Access Commitment, which is designed to help build wealth while redefining how we meet the needs of diverse communities. Part of this commitment includes the U.S. Bank Access Fund, which will support more than 30,000 women of color-owned microbusiness own

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Kaddas Enterprises is a leader in wildlife and asset protection and an innovator in the manufacturing of thermoformed parts. Natalie Kaddas, president and CEO of Kaddas Enterprises, is here to tell us about her company’s innovations and recent expansion. NATALIE KADDAS At Kaddas Enterprises, we have been creating innovations in thermoforming since 1966. We are a second generation, family-owned business. In the last three years, we have tripled our revenues and have continued to be a global leader in thermoform plastic manufacturing. Our vision at Kaddas Enterprises is to offer global innovative solutions in industrial and commercial polymers, while being responsible for the manufacturing of plastic products. We are committed to our customers by delivering high quality solutions through the dedication and talent of our team. Our latest protective sustainable product manufactured at Kaddas is used to avoid power outages caused by animals and protect birds of prey

With over 40 offices in 14 states, Eide Bailly offers an extensive range of services for a large range of industries, including construction, dealerships, financial institutions, healthcare and many more. Ted Hill, partner at Eide Bailly, is here to tell us more. TED HILL Eide Bailly is a top 25 CPA and consulting firm helping the middle market grow and thrive. We’ll work with you to imagine what’s possible and bring that vision to life – when you’re planning in an ever-changing environment, navigating complex compliance requirements, optimizing operations, investing in digital transformation, and simply asking what comes next. We provide over 44,000 clients across the nation with our core services of audit & assurance and tax, as well as our expanded services, including accounting services, cost segregation, employee benefits, health care reform, and wealth management. With a focus on the future for our clients, we are also experts in business outsourcing, cybersecurity, technology consulting, data analyt

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. We are all immersed in a community and depend upon businesses to create an attractive, safe and comfortable place to live. Lance Bullen, CEO of Colmena Group, is here to discuss the impact of his real estate development and investment company on the communities in Utah. LANCE BULLEN Colmena Group’s mission is to build a legacy of quality, long-lasting communities. We accomplish that daily by investing in various real estate asset classes throughout the intermountain west, including multifamily, assisted living, commercial office, student housing, research parks, retail, hotel, industrial warehouses, and mixed-use properties. Since its beginning, Colmena has developed, co-developed and invested in real estate projects that built a current portfolio value of more than $1.6 Billion. At Colmena Group, we believe real estate is more than a piece of land, a building, or a good investment. It’s the foundation for building community. That’s why we look for opportunities

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Selu is a Utah-based company looking to make the Earth’s natural resources of water, air, food, land and energy available for everyone. Jake Hammock, CEO and co-founder of Selu, is here to tell us more. JAKE HAMMOCK At Selu, our vision is to create more agribusinesses. With more growers producing crops for less costs, we can secure our food supply chain and grow in areas we never thought possible. Today, a vast majority of agribusinesses struggle to provide climate control indoor growing facilities at low energy costs. This challenge has forced growers to primarily produce crops where electricity costs are low, contributing to a global food and crop security problem with fewer producers and higher costs crops. Selu brings the opportunity to remove the costly climate control barriers and high utility costs for growers. Our Selu Oasis technology is designed to co-generate onsite power and water, CO2 fertilize crops, and conduct heating and cooling from one system. W

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Not many companies can say they got their start shipping PopTarts and breakfast cereal overseas, but that’s what happened in the early days for Global Access. President and founder, Chris Boyle, is here to tell us more. CHRIS BOYLE As a computer software engineer, I spent six years living and working in Tokyo and finding it hard to get many products I missed from home. After returning to Utah in 1996 I decided to see if I could solve that problem for my many expatriate friends still living abroad. That was the birth of Global Access. Over the years Global Access has thrived and now employs over 150 people in three states and four countries and is an important part of Utah’s thriving international trade and business community. We provide technology and logistics solutions that integrate into our customers ecommerce platforms, allowing them to calculate duties and taxes, shipping costs, and all other fees associated with selling overseas. Our cloud-based technologi

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Stoel Rives is a national law firm with one of the largest business law practices in Utah. Matt Durham, a partner in the Salt Lake office, is here to tell us how Stoel Rives is continuing to support clients through the COVID crisis. MATTHEW DURHAM Stoel Rives has been a trusted partner to Utah businesses for nearly 30 years. We provide legal services for corporate, mergers and acquisitions, environmental and natural resources, intellectual property, commercial litigation, real estate and labor and employment. Last year, companies around the world experienced unprecedented disruptions and uncertainties that put their business at risk. Our labor and employment group helped companies of all sizes successfully address complex issues, including maintaining workforces during the pandemic shutdown and differentiating work-from-home and in-person employees on a non-discriminatory basis. We also helped clients benefit from COVID-relief programs, such as the Cares Act and

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. With 17 distribution entities on six continents, the PMI Foods group sources, sells, and distributes globally roughly 2.5 billion pounds of protein annually. Darin Parker of PMI Foods is here to tell us about his perspective on how an inland port will add value to Utah’s economy. DARIN PARKER We have been talking about the economic benefits of having an inland port in Utah for a few years now. Being the crossroads of the West, Salt Lake City sits on the intersection of Interstates 80 and 15. We have a new international airport and an extensive railway system. Interstate shipping is already happening across Utah’s transportation infrastructure, and, frankly, we aren’t capitalizing on it. An inland port with export, import, and customs clearance and inspection capabilities will create new jobs and attract new businesses to Utah. We need to think big. With all the federal spending on infrastructure in the State, we need our leaders to invest some of those dollars i

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Supporting and giving back to our communities are crucial for us to come together to thrive. Brayden Jessen of SentryWest Insurance is here to discuss the impact of his company’s work to help communities throughout Utah. BRAYDEN JESSEN As an insurance brokerage serving businesses and residences, we seek to provide security and peace of mind to our clients. We do this by working to protect and preserve what our clients work so hard to build. We know when we are successful at attracting, supporting and developing great employees, those employees take great care of our valued clients. One way we support our employees and our communities is through our charitable giving program. Our employees nominate local charities that are near and dear to their hearts. Those employees then have the opportunity to present and share the great work their selected charity does for the community in quarterly meetings with their coworkers. During the unique challenges of the past year,

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. During the pandemic, many businesses responded with foresight, which has engineered a strong rebound for our economy. Colliers International, a commercial real estate and investment company, is one of these businesses. Colliers chairman Brandon Fugal is here to explain what they’re doing. BRANDON FUGAL To use a quote from Benjamin Franklin, “Out of adversity comes opportunity.” As the leading commercial real estate company in Utah, Colliers has been proud to work with clients and partners to navigate many challenges by implementing creative solutions that kept business moving forward during challenging times. Due to our collective efforts, the future offers more opportunity and potential than ever before. Colliers is at the forefront of shaping industry trends and addressing topics such as smart growth, master industry real estate planning, logistics and regional distribution. Utah’s economy is leading the nation pre- and post-pandemic, which means opportunities

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Recruiting Connection is a full-service recruiting firm with nearly 100 years combined experience in the search industry. Marilyn Beck, founder and CEO of Recruiting Connection, is here to tell us about how her firm connects top businesses with the most talented candidates in the market. MARILYN BECK Since Recruiting Connection was founded in 2003, we have been able to impact both the local Utah market, and national markets, by placing thousands of candidates with over 500 Utah companies. Our competitive advantages include: our proprietary recruiting practices that we call “The RC Way,” our vast network, and our incredible team of experienced recruiters. We are in the business of truly changing the trajectory of the companies we work with, and we get to change the lives of candidates in the process. Because of our intense desire to deliver for our clients, Recruiting Connection is the only search firm in Utah recognized on the Forbes list of America’s Best Recruit

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Room Here is a non-profit organization that focuses less on mental health and more on mental fitness. Room Here’s co-founder, Rachel Treglown, is here to tell us how her non-profit company is helping to build healthier minds at work. RACHEL TREGLOWN Utah adults are ranked second to last in the nation for having good mental health, and it’s no secret the Covid-19 pandemic has made it even more difficult. Mental fitness is just as critical as physical fitness. Room Here champions mental fitness at work to create healthier individuals, families, and communities. We invite companies and individuals to join the Room Here mental fitness movement and sign our free pledge at Roomhere.org. Those that sign the pledge, or our Roomies as we love to call them, choose to focus on mental fitness and speak out to normalize the conversation. One hundred organizations have signed the pledge so far, and we’re now working with their leadership teams to help measure their company cul

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Once again, Salt Lake City will host Open Streets to help support businesses, strengthen our economy, and welcome people back to the heart of our community. Dee Brewer, head of the Downtown Alliance, is here to tell us how you can participate. DEE BREWER Open Streets is an invitation to enjoy 150 restaurants and bars and more than 100 local and downtown-only retailers. Main Street from 400 South to South Temple will be Closed to cars and open to pedestrians every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from Noon to Midnight, beginning May 27. Businesses will be extending their service areas onto the sidewalks for more outdoor dining and shopping, and a mix of musicians, buskers and artists will bring a spirit of creativity and celebration on Main Street, from Exchange Place to the City Creek. The opening weekend of Open Streets will be augmented by the Salt Lake City Arts Council’s Busker Fest, featuring 30 nightly performances on Main, Regent Street, Gallivan and Exchan