Go Utah, EDCUtah have new leadership

Brice Wallace

Leadership changes have been announced for both the state agency and a contracted organization that are responsible for corporate recruitment and retention in Utah.

Gov. Spencer Cox has appointed Ryan Starks as executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (Go Utah) and the Economic Development Corporation of Utah has announced{mprestriction ids="1,3"} the appointment of Scott Cuthbertson as chief executive officer, effective Jan. 26.

Cox also has named Brad Bonham as Go Utah’s first-ever entrepreneur-in-residence.

Starks succeeds Dan Hemmert as Go Utah’s executive director. Hemmert was named to the post by then-Gov.-elect Cox in December 2020. Cuthbertson succeeds Theresa A. Foxley, who has served as EDCUtah’s CEO since 2017.

“Go Utah can play an integral role in catalyzing economic growth in all areas of the state by augmenting Utah’s targeted industries,” Starks said. “In this new role, I hope to fulfill Gov. Cox’s vision of helping Utah become the nation’s premier state for startups, entrepreneurship and innovation.”

Cox called Starks “a proven leader and dedicated public servant who has been instrumental in helping businesses thrive in our state as well as expand around the globe. I look forward to working with him in building Utah’s reputation as ‘the start-up state.’”

Starks has been serving as managing director of growth and innovation at Go Utah, overseeing business expansion programs and partnerships, rural economic development, international trade and diplomacy, and Utah’s targeted industries initiative. He helped establish the Utah Immigration Assistance Center, the Utah Broadband Center, and the $69 million Utah Small Business Credit Initiative.

Previously, Starks has worked for the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) in Washington, D.C.; as the executive director of the Heber Valley Chamber of Commerce and economic development office in Wasatch County; and as the founding director of the Wasatch Center for Advanced Professional Studies, a workforce partnership between students and industry. He also taught as an adjunct professor of management for 10 years in the Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business.

Starks earned a bachelor’s degree from Weber State University, where he served as student body president, and a Master of Public Administration degree from BYU. He later earned a certificate in economic development from the University of Oklahoma and recently completed the entrepreneurship and innovation program at Harvard University.

Cuthbertson will lead EDCUtah, a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1987 that focuses on quality job growth and increased capital investment in the state. EDCUtah is a statewide economic development organization specializing in corporate recruitment, economic research, site selector marketing and community development. A partner of Go Utah for corporate recruitment, EDCUtah is supported by state government, local governments, and organizations from the private sector.

“I am so excited to join the talented team at EDCUtah and to build upon the organization’s momentum,” Cuthbertson said. “The opportunity to lead such an important and reputable organization, and to help serve Utah, is incredibly compelling. I can’t wait to work with the team, investors and community to help Utah’s economy soar.”

“On behalf of EDCUtah’s Board of Trustees, I am thrilled to welcome Scott Cuthbertson to EDCUtah as its next president and CEO,” said Gary Hoogeveen, president of Rocky Mountain Power and chair of EDCUtah’s Board of Trustees. “Scott has had a distinguished career in management consulting, finance and development.

“Scott’s background, combined with his keen intellect, grasp of EDCUtah’s potential, and his desire to work in the service of a compelling mission make him the ideal candidate to lead EDCUtah into its next great chapter. We also thank our outgoing CEO, Theresa Foxley, for her work in building EDCUtah’s reputation as a smart, collaborative, best-in-class organization that plays a critical role in strengthening Utah’s economy.”

Cuthbertson’s experience includes serving as a director and practice lead with PwC and most recently serving as the chief operating officer and deputy executive director of the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and master’s degrees from both Georgetown University and Oxford University.

“I am enormously grateful for the opportunity to have led EDCUtah for the last six years, and I am delighted Scott has accepted the Board of Trustees’ offer to serve in this role going forward,” Foxley said. “Having worked with Scott on matters related to The Point, I am supremely confident in Scott’s ability to lead EDCUtah to great new heights. He has the perfect trifecta of experience in consulting, finance and state development, all of which he will draw upon to be successful.”

In Bonham’s newly created role, he will advise on entrepreneurship education, culture and resources within the state and make recommendations on how to enhance the state’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.

“I’m extremely grateful to Gov. Cox for this opportunity and I look forward to sharing what I’ve learned as an entrepreneur, investor and businessman in this new capacity,” Bonham said. “Utah is well known as the best state for business, and together we’ll make Utah the best state for startups, too.”

“Brad Bonham epitomizes what makes Utah so special: an enterprising spirit, a strong work ethic and a commitment to give back to the community,” Cox said. “I’m grateful he’s willing to share his experience and ideas to benefit entrepreneurs throughout the state.”

Bonham is an entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist and community leader. He is the founder and a board member of Utah-based Walker Edison, a ready-to-assemble furniture company with customers worldwide. Bonham is currently the CEO of BONCO, a family of companies that invest in promising startups, private equity and real estate. Bonham began his entrepreneurial career by buying and selling automotive wheels and watches while in college.

Bonham has served on the board of Go Utah, World Trade Center Utah, Salt Lake Chamber and Make-A-Wish Utah. Through the Bonham Family Foundation, Bonham supports numerous nonprofits that alleviate poverty and provide care for underserved populations.

Bonham attended the University of Utah, studying economics, and is currently continuing his education through Harvard Business School.

Hemmert left Go Utah in December. His LinkedIn profile indicates he is a partner at Hemmco LLC. The Orem-based organization primarily operates in the design services industry. Before joining Go Utah, Hemmert was a businessman and Utah state senator.

Prior to joining EDCUtah as president and CEO, Foxley was a senior leader at what was then known as the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development, now Go Utah. Earlier in her career, she was a business and finance attorney in the Salt Lake office of Ballard Spahr.

Renewable energy developer rPlus Energies announced in December that Foxley would become its chief of staff.

The announcement about Starks and Bonham is among several changes that have happened at Go Utah in recent weeks. New managing directors include Pete Codella, managing director of business services; Kamron Dalton, managing director of operations; Kori Ann Edwards, managing director of strategic initiatives; and Jim Grover, managing director of incentives and grants.

Tony Young is now Go Utah’s director of communications, succeeding Codella; Jason Marden is director of finance, succeeding Dalton; Laraib Sial is director of compliance, succeeding Grover; and Dalton succeeds Edwards as managing director of operations.{/mprestriction}