Industry Briefs 11-6-23

Industry Briefs are provided as a free service to our readers. Company news information may be sent to brice.w@thecityjournals.com The submission deadline is one week before publication.

ASSOCIATIONS

• Cottonwood Heights has announced a partnership with the South Valley Chamber of Commerce. Cottonwood Heights said its businesses can look forward to a range of events and programs offered by the South Valley Chamber, including in a very active Women in Business program, member engagement lunches and events.
• The Utah Plumbing and Heating Contractors Association, an independent subcontractor association that represents the plumbing and HVAC industry in Utah, has announced the launch of the UPHCA Academy, an educational foundation established to further the plumbing trade in Utah. The academy ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house will take place Nov. 9, 9 a.m., at 2824 S. Redwood Road, West Valley City. The academy’s goal is to educate and train people in the trades, transforming individuals into a journeyman or master plumber without the cost of a university or college degree. Since the announcement of the upcoming opening of the academy in January, nearly 100 students have already enrolled from throughout Utah. Training will be online, day or night, with labs and hands-on training on-site. RSVPs for the event can be made by contacting contact@uphcaacademy.org or on the UPHCA Facebook page on the “Events” tab.

BANKING

• Zions Bank has added Sidni Shorter and Steve Starks to its Advisory Board. Shorter is CEO of the Utah Black Chamber of Commerce. Starks is CEO of the Larry H. Miller Co. The 20-member board meets quarterly with President and CEO Scott Anderson, Zions Bancorporation Chairman and CEO Harris Simmons and other bank executives to offer market and industry sector perspectives and guidance. Shorter is an entrepreneur, advocate and champion of diversity, equity and inclusion. She has served as CEO of the chamber since April 2022. Prior to that, she was CEO of a Louisiana-based finance and accounting firm. Starks leads the family investment firm that oversees the Miller family’s portfolio of businesses and investments. Prior to his time with the Larry H. Miller Co., he was the president of the Utah Jazz and Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment. Starks also serves as the governor’s Olympic and Paralympic Advisor and leads Big League Utah, the coalition aimed at bringing an MLB expansion team to Salt Lake City. He is the past chair of the Salt Lake Chamber Board of Directors, the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, and served on the Weber State University Board of Trustees. Zions Bank operates 121 full-service branches and nearly 200 ATMs throughout Utah, Idaho and Jackson, Wyoming. It is a division of Zions Bancorporation NA, which operates nearly 416 branch offices across 11 western states.
• Umpqua Bank, based in Oregon, has opened its first retail branch in Utah at 10757 S. River Front Parkway, Suite 275, South Jordan. It is the first retail presence since Umpqua Bank’s recent merger with Columbia Bank. Harper Fleming serves as branch manager of the new location. The team there has experience in consumer, small business, commercial and corporate, and wealth management services.

COMMUNICATIONS

• Comcast Corp. has opened a new Xfinity store at 240 N. Union Ave., L-110, at Station Park in Farmington. The 2,211-square-foot store features several product demonstration zones.

CONTESTS

• Applications are being accepted through Feb. 21 for the 2023-24 Utah Entrepreneur Challenge, a business-model competition for students at participating colleges and universities in Utah. A total of $100,000 in cash and prizes will be presented to the top 20 finalists. The competition provided by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah and sponsored by Zions Bank. Participating teams are judged by industry professionals, experienced entrepreneurs and community experts. Younger students, ages 14-18, are encouraged to complete in the High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge for a chance to win $30,000 in prizes and scholarships. Details are at https://lassonde.utah.edu/uec.

DIVIDENDS

• The board of directors of Zions Bancorporation NA, Salt Lake City, has declared a regular quarterly dividend of 41 cents per common share. The dividend is payable Nov. 16 to shareholders of record Nov. 9. The board also declared regular quarterly cash dividends on the company’s various perpetual preferred shares. The dividend for series A, G I and J are payable Dec. 15 to shareholders of record Dec. 1. Zions operates banks in 11 western states.

ENERGY

• American Battery Factory, a Lehi-based emerging battery manufacturer, has broken ground on a 2 million-square-foot gigafactory in Tucson, Arizona, which will become the company’s global headquarters. The expansion will have an estimated 1,000 jobs, $1.2 billion in capital investment and $3.1 billion in economic impact to Arizona, the company said. The company said it plans to have the headquarters, research and development center and the initial factory module built by 2025.
• IHI Power Services Corp., based in California, and Sunnyside Cogeneration Associates, based in Sunnyside in Carbon County, have announced an agreement for IPSC to provide operations and maintenance and asset management services for Sunnyside Power Plant, a 51-megawatt waste coal-fired power generation facility in Sunnyside that opened in 1993. IPSC provides service to nearly 50 facilities and 15 gigawatts under its management.

HEALTHCARE

• Sentient, a Park City-based aesthetic medical device provider, has appointed Brian Kirk as chief marketing officer and Jennifer Redmond as chief revenue officer. Kirk is charged with elevating Sentient’s marketing investment to support the success of Tixel by Sentient and Sentient Sculpt while advancing the Confidence Assured service, financing and warranty offerings. Kirk has more than two decades of experience in branding and marketing, including serving as vice president of marketing at Built Brands LLC. He also conceived and implemented a marketing and brand campaign infrastructure at Purple Innovation LLC and held senior marketing positions at ROKA and Skullcandy Inc. Redmond will be charged with leading the revenue growth functions for the company. She has experience in national sales leadership, marketing and KOL relationship development from more than 18 years in medical aesthetics, including at Endo Aesthetics. She played a role in the strategic planning and execution for the launch of Qwo. Her experience also includes serving as national sales director for Merz Aesthetics.

HOSPITALITY

• Lodging Dynamics Hospitality Group, a Provo-based hotel management company, has appointed Brian Ehrlich as vice president of business development. Ehrlich has over 20 years of hospitality experience, working with premium-brand hotels and resorts in major markets throughout the United States. He served as vice president and head of acquisitions for the western states at Kimpton Hotels and Resorts. Ehrlich also has investment experience as an owner, executive or advisor with several hotel private equity portfolios. As a principal, chief investment officer or advisor, he has been instrumental in acquiring or developing portfolio assets valued at $3 billion. While serving as chief investment officer for hotels at Ensemble Investments, He oversaw their expansion in crucial East and West Coast markets.

NONPROFITS

• The Unicity Make Life Better Foundation, the Provo-based giving arm of Unicity International, has donated 332 pregnant goats to Syrian families this year, benefiting more than 754 individuals. This initiative aims to transform lives and foster resilience among Syrian refugees in Jordan. Many families who have fled their homes during the Syrian civil war rely on goat herding, a revered and skillful profession deeply ingrained in the culture. Through longtime partner Lifting Hands International and the “Gather for Goats” initiative, the foundation provided those families with resilient, desert-ready Shami goats, which ensure a sustainable food source through milk, cheese and yogurt. Many recipients can feed their families and sell the surplus goat products, the foundation said.

OUTDOOR RECREATION

• Utah’s ski resorts have announced their opening dates for the 2023-24 winter season. The dates are subject to change. The planned opening dates are Nov. 10 for Brian Head; Nov. 17 for Alta, Park City Mountain, Solitude Mountain Resort and Woodward Park City; Nov. 24 for Snowbasin Resort; Dec. 2 for Deer Valley Resort, Nordic Valley and Sundance Mountain Resort; and Dec. 15 for Eagle Point Resort. Opening dates have yet to be determined for Beaver Mountain, Cherry Peak, Powder Mountain and Snowbird.
• The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation is bringing back the Utah Children’s Outdoor Recreation and Education grant to provide high-quality, outdoor-focused learning experiences to youth ages 6-18 in Utah. The funding aims to teach youth the physical skills that can make outdoor recreation part of a healthy and active lifestyle. UCORE complements the state’s Every Kid Outdoors Initiative. The grant cycle dates end Dec. 4. The early review deadline is Nov. 17. Eligible applicants include educational institutions, local governments, tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, and state and federal governments. Grant awards are for up to $15,000, with a suggested 20 percent matching requirement. Details are at recreation.utah.gov/utah-children-outdoor-rec-and-education/recreation.utah.gov/utah-children-outdoor-rec-and-education/.

PARTNERSHIPS

• The Utah Jazz and Black Desert Resort have announced a partnership designed to expand opportunities for athletes, fans and Utah residents. The partnership aims to engage new and existing fans through exclusive benefits, private lounges, cohesive content and special packages. The venture includes the rebranding of the LGCY Club at Delta Center to the Black Desert Club and Black Desert Resort branding through the Delta Center. Plans are underway to elevate the Utah Jazz experience at Black Desert Resort, with details to be shared in the coming weeks.
• Revel Media Group, a Kaysville-based company focused on innovative marketing initiatives, has announced a partnership with Absen Inc., a company focused on direct-view LED solutions. Revel said the partnership aims to produce marketing opportunities and a wave of LED innovations. Revel said the companies will champion each other’s products and services, with a specific focus on elevating the presence of Absen’s products within covered professional, minor league, and Division I and II college sporting venues. Revel specializes in digital signage, LED installation and cloud-based content creation and delivery. Absen Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Absen, an LED display manufacturer based in Orlando, Florida.
• Myriad Genetics, a Salt Lake City-based genetic testing and precision medicine company, and Qiagen, based in The Netherlands, have announced a collaboration agreement to develop companion diagnostic tests in the field of cancer. The partnership aims to deliver innovative services and products to pharmaceutical companies, enabling the development and commercialization of proprietary cancer tests for the U.S. clinical market, and providing distributable companion diagnostic test kits for the global market. Qiagen provides solutions that enable customers to gain molecular insights from samples containing the building blocks of life.

PHILANTHROPY

• Young Living Essential Oils, Lehi, and the D. Gary Young, Young Living Foundation recently observed Hope for Justice’s Anti-Slavery Week by sharing its supply chain efforts to address, mitigate and prevent risks of modern slavery and labor trafficking through the Slave-Free Alliance. Along with a $10,000 donation to Hope for Justice via its membership of the Slave-Free Alliance, the foundation and other participants will share information on how to recognize signs of modern slavery and how to help stop it. Slave-Free Alliance is a social enterprise owned by Hope for Justice and offers consultancy services, technology solutions and a membership program for global anti-trafficking.

REAL ESTATE

• Lincoln Property Co., a global real estate firm, has purchased 201 Commerce Center Building 6, a Class A distribution facility in Salt Lake City. Financial terms were not disclosed. The building totals 307,940 square feet on 17.9 acres. It is 100 percent leased to four tenants. CBRE National Partners arranged the sale. CBRE’s Rebecca Perlmutter, Brett Hartzell, Tom Dischmann, Matt McAfee, Darla Longo, Barbara Perrier, Joe Cesta, Paige Morgan, Michael Longo and Eric Cox represented the seller.
• Crescent Communities has had the official grand opening of Novel Daybreak, a multifamily rental community at 10678 S. Lake Run Road, South Jordan. It features 400 luxury residences and a Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee and Social that is open to both residents and the public. Novel Daybreak will include a central hub and gathering place named “The Hive,” a private resident coffee lounge, the fitness center, a coworking lounge, and work-from-home micro-offices. It also includes the “Field House,” an indoor-outdoor sports-themed lounge with arcade games; a gear-share lounge; a repair shop for kayaks, bikes and scooters; and a pet and bike wash. “Pipestem Park” is a festival plaza equipped for food trucks and events, a sand volleyball court and hammocks, and a pet park. Design partners include Craine Architecture and CID Design Group. The general contractor is Kier Construction. MAA provided construction financing.

RECOGNITIONS

• The Ken Garff Automotive Group has received the A. Scott Anderson Ally award from the Women’s Leadership Institute for its efforts in promoting equality and diversity within the workplace. As a second-year participant in WLI’s ElevateHER Challenge, Ken Garff Automotive pledges to elevate the stature of women’s leadership, including increasing retention rates for women, addressing the gender pay gap, supporting women who run for political office, and adding women to boards and committees. With a goal of having 30 percent of team members be women, Ken Garff has implemented several initiatives aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion, including leadership development programs for women, flexible working schedules, and a mentorship program that pairs female employees with executive mentors. Salt Lake City-based Garff Enterprises, the parent company of Ken Garff Automotive Group, has more than 5,000 employees at 65 dealerships in eight states.
• The U.S. Economic Development Administration has named UAMMI’s “Advanced Manufacturing of Critical Materials Strategy Development Consortium” as an EDA Tech Hub Strategy Development Award recipient. Since October of last year, and at the request of the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, the Utah Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Initiative has been working to grow the ecosystem to support the advanced manufacturing of batteries and critical materials. UAMMI applied for a Strategy Development Award within the EDA Tech Hub Program. EDA received nearly 400 Tech Hubs applications and awarded 31 designations and 29 strategy development grants. Strategy development grants are planning awards for the next round of Phase 1 designations, which could lead Phase 2 funding opportunity up to $75 million.
• CBC Mortgage Agency, a South Jordan-based Native American wholly owned and federally chartered housing finance agency, has announced the recipients of its first-ever Kani Award, which recognizes the company’s correspondent lending partners for their work in advancing homeownership by providing mortgages to low-to-moderate income (LMI) minority and first-time homebuyers. Winners of the Kani Award were selected based on their share of mortgages sold to LMI borrowers during 2022. The award recipients are Cardinal Financial Co., Everett Financial, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp., Nova Home Loans and Paramount Residential Mortgage Group Inc. To be eligible for the Kani Award, lenders must be active correspondents with at least $20 million in loan volume during the past year and currently use Chenoa Fund programs. CBC Mortgage Agency operates the Chenoa Fund down payment assistance program that enables first-time and existing homebuyers to access assistance for up to 5 percent of their home price.
• The Owala FreeSip water bottle, from Trove Brands LLC of Lehi, and the Utah Bionic Leg recently were named to a list of “Best Inventions of 2023” by Time. The list included 200 innovations. To compile the list, Time solicited nominations from editors and correspondents around the world, and through an online application process, paying special attention to growing fields—such as AI, green energy, and sustainability. They then then evaluated each contender on a number of factors, including originality, efficacy, ambition and impact. The Owala FreeSip bottle features a patented sip-or-swig spout; an easy, push-button open lid; and an integrated carry loop that doubles as a lock. The Utah Bionic Leg was created by Tommaso Lenzi, an assistant professor at the University of Utah, and his team with the goal of making its movement closer to that of a natural leg and knee. The leg is undergoing more testing and needs FDA approval, but the team has partnered with prosthetics leader Ottobock to help bring it to the public.
• Sunwest Bank, Sandy, has been named a “Top Workplace in Idaho” by TopWorkplaces.com. The award recognizes the bank for its culture and employee feedback evaluated by independent third-party survey group, Energage. Top Workplaces USA celebrates organizations with 150 or more employees that have built great cultures. Winners of the Top Workplaces USA list are chosen based solely on employee feedback gathered through an employee engagement survey. Founded in 1969, Sunwest is a privately held commercial bank with operations in California, Arizona, Idaho and Utah.

RETAIL

• American Freight, an Ohio-based retailer offering furniture, mattresses and appliances, has expanded into Utah with the opening of four new stores in the Salt Lake City metro area. The first store, occupying 23,000 square feet, will have a grand opening Nov. 10-12 at 4113 Riverdale Road, Ogden. Additional store openings in Layton, Orem and Logan, will follow. American Freight has more than 370 locations across 40 states.

SUPPLY CHAIN

• Savage, a Midvale-based global provider of supply chain infrastructure and solutions, has named Jeff Olsen as a member of its board of directors. Olsen is president and CEO of Boart Longyear, a Salt Lake City-based provider of drilling services, drilling equipment and performance tooling and technology platform. Olsen was appointed president and CEO in 2016 after serving as chief financial officer since 2014. Before joining Boart Longyear, he served as chief commercial officer for Rio Tinto’s Iron and Titanium business since 2010. Prior to that, he was CFO for Rio Tinto Minerals for approximately five years and CFO for Rio Tinto Borax for approximately four years. He held other financial roles at Rio Tinto. His experience also includes financial roles at General Chemical Corp. and Xerox Corp. Olsen’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Utah.

TECHNOLOGY

• Tech9, a Lehi-based custom software development company, has named Nate Richard as chief revenue officer. He will oversee the company’s revenue growth and business development strategy. Richard most recently led go-to-market efforts at DataBased. Prior to that, he held leadership roles at Qualtrics and Vivint.

TRANSPORTATION

• The Salt Lake City Department of Airports and Delta Air Lines recently unveiled the final 13 gates on Concourse A-East along with 11 concessions. It marked the completion of Phase 2 of The New SLC. Among representatives of the new concessions at the event were Milan Patel, owner of OHM Concessions and operator of The Blue Iguana; Wow Bao and Protein Bar & Kitchen; Kris and Ed Primosic, local owners of The Blue Iguana; and Stacy Maxell, owner/operator of Millcreek Coffee Roasters.