GOED replaces three board members

Gov. Spencer Cox has nominated three new members to serve on the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) board: Tanner Ainge, Kira Slawson and Geri Gamber.

They succeed departing members Mel Lavitt, Peter Mouskondis and Margaret (Margo) Jacobs.

Ainge is the founder and managing partner at Ainge Advisory, a reserve JAG officer in the Utah National Guard, and has served as a Utah County commissioner. A resident of Utah County, he has been an active private equity and venture capital investor throughout his career and worked as a mergers and acquisitions attorney. He earned a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Brigham Young University and a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law.

Slawson is an attorney at Blackburn & Stoll LC, specializing in telecommunications law, commercial transactions and general employment law. Slawson lives in Salt Lake County. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from San Diego State University and a J.D. from the University of Utah’s College of Law.

Gamber, a resident of Carbon County, is executive director at Southeastern Utah Association of Local Governments and has served on many regional economic development boards to help facilitate diversification and growth throughout Utah. She holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

Lavitt was appointed to the GOED board in 2005, serving as chair from 2011-17 and as Incentives Committee chair from 2017 to the present. Lavitt is a senior advisor at Needham & Co.

Mouskondis was appointed to the board in 2009. He is the owner, president and CEO of Nicholas & Co.

Jacobs was appointed to the board in 2013. Jacobs currently serves on the Sundance Utah Leadership Council.

All three departing members will be leaving their positions on the GOED Incentives Committee. A new chair will be named during the board’s meeting April 8.

“Our board frequently meets, serving in an advisory capacity and focused on supporting Gov. Cox’s economic priorities, including providing economic opportunity to Utahns,” said Dan Hemmert, GOED’s executive director. “We gratefully recognize the service of Mel Lavitt, Peter Mouskondis, and Margaret Jacobs, and with equal enthusiasm welcome our three new board members and look forward to their unique contributions to the state.”

The GOED board consists of 15 members appointed to four-year terms by the governor with the Senate’s advice and consent. No more than eight members are from one political party, with membership representing diverse state regions. The board promotes and encourages economic opportunity for all Utahns and the commercial, financial, industrial, agricultural and civic welfare of the state. Board members also advise office staff on the development, attraction, retention and expansion of businesses, industries and commerce within Utah.