BANKING

• Zions Bank has opened a Zions Premier Wealth Management Center at 180 N. University Ave., Suite 140, Provo. It is located in a new, 2,000 square foot space with its own entrance on the street level of the Zions Bank Financial Center. The lobby includes a 16-foot television screen featuring live broadcasts of financial news and current market information as well as free Wi-Fi. The center provides concierge-style service for those interested in a variety of wealth management tools, including investments, financial and estate planning, insurance services, private banking, trust services, retirement resources, online bond auctions and cash management solutions. 

• Utah Power Credit Union will be expanding its operations in Price by building a new branch office. To be located at 380 E. 100 N., the office will be a one-story, 4,500 square foot building that includes a training center to accommodate the training needs for the credit union’s three offices in Carbon and Emery counties. Utah Power Credit Union was established in 1935, and today serves more than 23,000 members and operates six offices in Utah and two Credit Union Service Centers, as PowerTrust, in Wyoming.

ENVIRONMENT

• Salt Lake Community College has acquired the Anemometer Loan Program (ALP). It will be administered by the College’s Energy Institute at the Larry H. Miller campus in Sandy. Previously a program of the Utah Office of Energy Development, ALP provides information to businesses, developers, farmers, ranchers and homeowners who want to determine if the wind on their property is sufficient to support wind power generation or if an investment might be better spent on other renewable technologies. Unlike solar power, which can be accurately estimated based on latitude and elevation, only a long-term wind study can determine how effective wind energy will be in any given area. ALP collects data to help assess the economic feasibility of installing a wind turbine for residential, commercial power supplementation or determine the potential for a site to be developed into a wind farm. For more information about the program or to apply, visit http://tinyurl.com/slcc-wind or contact Brandon Malman, at (801) 957-5405.

HEALTH CARE

• ActiveCare Inc., a Salt Lake City provider of telehealth and personal emergency response services, has obtained a contract with approximately 1,300 members through its wholly owned subsidiary 4G Biometrics. The new members will be assisted by ActiveCare’s CareCenter, which specializes in managing the chronic diseases of its members. ActiveCare’s CareSpecialists follow up with individual members using its proprietary and patented technologies ensuring the members’ compliance and assisting them to achieve the highest probability of wellness.

• Fit Stop Physical Therapy Clinic has opened at 51 S. Main St., Salt Lake City, inside The GYM at City Creek, a newest athletic club in the heart of the City Creek Center. The new outpatient clinic offers complete physical therapy, medical and industrial rehabilitation services. It will treat patients seeking rehabilitation care including post orthopedic surgeries, joint replacement, sports related injuries, pre and post surgical rehab and biomechanical analysis. Services also include treatments for arthritis, osteoporosis, patellofemoral syndrome, plantar fasciitis and neurological rehab including Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis.

HUMAN RESOURCES

• Robert F. Parenti will retire as president of the Utah Safety Council effective July 31. Parenti was hired as president of council in 1984.  His retirement will mark the conclusion of a career consisting of 38 years as a safety professional.  Under his direction, the Utah Safety Council has evolved from a nonprofit organization that provided a handful of traffic and occupational safety programs to a full service safety resource that provides a broad range of services. 

• Utah’s nonfarm wage and salaried job count for February 2012, as generated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), expanded by 2.5 percent compared against the employment level for February 2011. This is a 12-month increase of 30,100 jobs, and raises total wage and salary employment to 1,212,300. The seasonally-adjusted unemploy-ment rate — generated by BLS — is Utah’s other primary indicator of current labor market conditions and registers 5.7 percent. This rate is unchanged from last month. Approximately 76,400 Utahns are considered to be unemployed. The current United States unemployment rate, as compared to last month, remained unchanged at 8.3 percent.

• The U.S. Department of Labor notified the State of Utah recently that based on data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the three-month average total unemployment rate for Utah fell below the 6 percent threshold to remain “on” Tier III of the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program. As a result of the state’s 5.8 percent, three-month average total unemployment rate, the current maximum potential entitlement will decrease from 47 weeks to 34 weeks. The week ending April 7 will be the last week in which Utah EUC claimants can exhaust Tier II benefits and establish Tier III eligibility.  Under the phase-out provisions, claimants can continue to receive any remaining entitlement they have in Tier III after April 7, provided they are otherwise eligible.  

LAW

• The law firm of Durham Jones & Pinegar, with offices in Utah and Nevada, has promoted Melissa Smith to director of administration. Smith joined the firm in 2001 as an accountant and was promoted to director of finance in 2008. Prior to joining the firm, Smith spent six years as a financial analyst at the Associate’s Capital Bank. Smith is a member of the Utah chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators.  In her new position, Smith will have primary responsibility for all aspects of the operations of the firm in its four offices. Durham Jones & Pinegar has more than 80 lawyers and 75 support staff in offices in Salt Lake City, Ogden, St. George and Las Vegas.

• Gavin M. Reese, of counsel, has joined Ray Quinney & Nebeker’s Corporate Section. Previously, Reese was an associate at a regional firm in Salt Lake City. His practice focuses on general corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, business entity selection and formation and securities matters. He also counsels clients in a wide range of real estate matters, including negotiating and drafting purchase agreements, easement agreements and commercial and retail leases. Additionally, Reese assists clients with various projects related to the radio broadcasting industry, such as negotiating sales of FCC licenses and with radio-specific issues, such as radio broadcast agreements and transmitter site leases.

• The law firm of Kirton McConkie recently received The Office Building Project of the Year for 2011 by the Associated General Contractors of Utah for tenant improvements on the Kirton McConkie Building located at 50 E. South Temple, on the  north perimeter of City Creek Center. Identified on the award are Okland Construction as the builder, ZGF LLP as the architect, Rich Delamare as the project manager, Bob Petersen as the superintendent and Kirton McConkie as the owner.

MANUFACTURING

• Mity-Lite Inc., an Orem-based manufacturer of durable lightweight banquet, meeting and event furniture, has promoted Brandon Ross to vice president of sales. Ross has been with Mity-Lite for 15 years, most recently running the Global Accounts sales operation, where he is credited with increasing the manufacturer’s market share and doubling profitability. A top producer since joining Mity-Lite, Ross has created many of Mity-Lite’s sales strategies over the years and in 2011 implemented the first Mity-Lite Manufacturer’s Representative program. In his new role, Ross will be responsible for leading Mity-Lite’s entire sales function and joins the company’s executive committee.

MEDIA/MARKETING

• The Summit Group, a Salt Lake City firm that was founded in a hotel room as a one-person public relations company but has blossomed into a full-service communications agency, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The firm now has 72 employees and a national reach. Major clients include SelectHealth, SUBWAY Restaurants in 31 markets, Mountain America Credit Union, Time Warner, EnergySolutions, Costa Via, Nonpareil, T-Mobile in 26 markets, Jones Waldo, Extra Space Storage, Morris Murdock Travel, Les Schwab and MGIS Companies. The company has earned numerous awards; its SUBWAY Markets have won Best Large Market of the Year and Best Small Market of the Year awards.

REAL ESTATE

• The Salt Lake City office of CBRE has been selected by Taco Bell franchisee Mark Peterson of DDO-Utah LLC for site selection for several new restaurants in Utah. The Mexican-style, quick service restaurant chain will open a 2,500 square foot store in Payson in May, and several more stores are expected to be announced soon, including one in Herriman, where Peterson already purchased land for a new location. It has been more than 10 years since Taco Bell has opened a new location in Utah. 

• Ivory Homes has launched a video contest in conjunction with its new tagline, “Love Matters.” Participants have 60 seconds or less to tell why they love Ivory Homes. The top five contestants will receive new, third-generation iPads, while the grand prize winner will be awarded an additional $1,000. The contest will be broadcast on YouTube and Ivory’s Facebook page. The initial qualifying round ends April 6. For more information, visit iloveivory.com.

• Commerce Real Estate Solutions, an independently owned and operated member of the Cushman & Wakefield Alliance, has opened a new full-service office in Boise. It is the 10th office for the commercial real estate brokerage firm, and the second to open in the Intermountain West this year. The office will house 23 professionals (15 agents, four staff and four property managers).

RESTAURANTS

• Tuscany restaurant in Holladay will be offering a set price Easter brunch from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Easter Sunday, April 8. Included in the buffet selections will be prime rib, ham carving stations, made-to-order omelets, a duo of eggs Benedict (smoked salmon and traditional), “power waffles,” seafood platters, fresh fruit and an assortment of pastries. Cost is $39 per person for adults, $18 for children age 12 and under. Dinner will be served on Easter evening from 5 to 8:30 p.m. featuring items from Chef Adam Vicker’s evening menu in addition to specials. Reservations are highly recommended.

RETAIL

• ProStop Convenience Stores launched its third c-store with the opening of its newest location in Riverton on March 27. The store is located at 1977 W. 12600 S. Developed in partnership between the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies and Solutions Operation Management, the ProStop Convenience Store concept integrates a shopping experience with enhanced fueling options designed to meet the needs of high performance enthusiasts and weekend warriors. The design of the store interior prominently showcases the popular sports and entertainment properties of the Larry H. Miller Group, including the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake Bees and Miller Motorsports Park. A wall of flat-screen televisions displays highlights from each of these exciting properties as well as the latest in sports action.

SPORTS/RECREATION

• Ski Utah, Eider, Rossignol and Ski La Parva, Chile, have launched the “Endless Winter” Sweepstakes on the Ski Utah Yeti Facebook page. The sweepstakes features a grand prize of “Powder Turns in August.” Visitors to the Ski Utah Yeti Facebook page through April 20 will have the chance to enter to win an all-expense-paid ski vacation for two people to La Parva, Chile. The grand prize is valued at $8,500 and includes a week of ski-in/ski-out lodging, lift tickets, rentals and airfare for two. Contest entrants can also get the chance to win additional prizes by Rossignol and Eider. The contest’s first week was last week. This week (March 30 through April 6), the winner will receive a Telluride jacket by Eider. Contestants who enter at any point during the sweepstakes are automatically entered in the Chile trip sweepstakes. Details are at http://www.facebook.com/skiutahyeti/app_364041783617057.

TRAVEL/TOURISM

• Visit Salt Lake (VSL) recognized Melanie Reed as recipient of the sixth annual Dianne Nelson Binger Scholarship at its annual meeting last month. The scholarship honors VSL’s former president and CEO and her legacy to the Salt Lake hospitality community. The scholarship is bestowed annually to a female student at the University of Utah in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism of the College of Health. Originally from Alaska, Reed’s parents instilled in her a sense of adventure and creativity for exploring the world. By age 18, she had traveled to Mexico, Thailand, Malaysia, the Caribbean, Australia and many of the lower 48 states.

• Members of the Utah Board of Tourism Development have approved increasing the cap on Cooperative Marketing awards from $175,000 to $225,000. Single or multiple applications from nonprofit tourism entities are due bu June 21 and must not exceed the capped amount for each organization. Twenty percent or $1.8 million of the $9 million Tourism Marketing Performance Fund (TMPF) is set aside for the Cooperative Marketing program, which is designed to leverage state and tourism partner funding to attract out-of-state visitors to increase tourism expenditures. Information on the Cooperative Marketing program can be found online at http://travel.utah.gov/cooperative_mktg/co-opmktg.htm or with Kelly Day at (801) 538-1727 or kday@utah.gov.