Industry Briefs 12-1-23

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

• 47G, an organization that convenes, promotes and advocates for aerospace and defense companies and formerly known as the Utah Aerospace and Defense Association, has named Clark Cahoon as vice president of cyber and digital transformation. His responsibilities include lading 47G’s strategic initiatives to keep Utah at the forefront of transformative cyber, digital and artificial intelligence innovations. He will collaborate with public- and private-sector stakeholders to advocate for favorable policies and regulations that support industry priorities and will represent Utah’s industry in regional, national and international collaborations. Cahoon most recently was senior technology and innovation advisor for Salt Lake City. Before that, he worked in the Utah’s Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity as life science industry director and Technology Commercialization and Innovation Program fund manager. He also was an international trade specialist at World Trade Center Utah. Cahoon earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Brigham Young University-Hawaii.

BANKING

• Chartway, a Virginia-based credit union with branches in Utah, Texas and Virginia, has promoted Jace White to vice president of talent acquisition and engagement. He will be responsible for developing internal and external recruitment strategies and overseeing enterprise programs that support the culture, increase team member engagement, and develop talent at all levels. White began with Chartway in 1999 as a part-time teller and advanced to various roles across multiple departments, from retail banking to lending. He joined the HR/training department in 2005. White earned a degree in business administration from Dixie State University.

CONSTRUCTION

• Mortenson, a real estate development and construction firm, has opened its renovated Salt Lake City office at 324 S. State St. Mortenson Project Manager Andrew Long and Superintendent Chris Turnbull led the 12,800-square-foot office renovation. The space includes collaboration areas, an innovation lab, individual workspaces, a wellness room and retreat rooms. GSBS Architects served as the architecture partner on the project, which involved several trade partners, including KCG Services, a women-owned drywall company, and Select Specialties, a women-owned specialties contractor. Renovation of the overall building continues. Built in 1911, it was originally the location of the Auerbach’s Department Store. It is now a five-story, multi-tenant office space.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

• “Chaotic working” is the phase that best encapsulates 2023 for the Utah workforce, according to a survey by USDictionary.com. The phrase is epitomized by a situation where as soon as a person completes one task, three more pop up. The No. 2 most-apt phrase for Utahns is “shift shock,” referring to a job that seemed like a perfect match in the interview, but now feels like a blind date gone wrong. “Bare minimum Mondays” was the third-most-popular, in which everyone mutually agrees to coast through the day on autopilot. No. 4 in Utah is “career cushioning,” essentially the strategic hoarding of skills, contacts and side gigs in case a job becomes vulnerable or the worker wants to consider other opportunities. “Boomerang employee,” No. 5 in Utah, involves workers quickly zipping back to their old jobs. No. 6 is “quiet cutting,” in which an old job is gone but the worker has been given a new one.
• The average Utah video game player is “intellectually curious,” according to a study of personality traits by Guide Strats, a digital strategy guide library for all types of video games. It was able to map out people’s varied personality traits based on their video game preferences. The study shows that Utahns are drawn to games that challenge players to think deeply and explore complex themes. Utah was one of 32 states with the “intellectually curious” trait. Residents in 10 states are defined as seeking adrenaline thrills. Those in three states were identified as being most competitive, two states lean toward games fostering social ties, and three states favor relaxation-type games. Details are at https://guidestrats.com/usa-states-gaming-dna/.

EDUCATION/TRAINING

• The Partners for Innovation, Ventures, Outreach & Technology (PIVOT) Center at the University of Utah has changed its name to the Technology Licensing Office. The office has operated under several names, starting in 1965 as the Product and Patent Development Office before changing to the Tech Transfer Office in 1986, Tech Commercialization Office in 2006, Technology & Venture Commercialization Office in 2013 and the PIVOT Center in 2020. The office said the new name “reflects our commitment to our faculty and a focus on protecting and licensing intellectual property at the University of Utah.”
• Southern Utah University has announced a partnership with Hustle 2.0, a second-chance rehabilitation curriculum for incarcerated individuals. Hustle 2.0 is used in more than 500 jails and prisons across the U.S. Individuals need to complete the three Hustle 2.0 program modules, and following their release would then be eligible to receive three SUU credits for having completed the program through SUU’s School of Business and Community and Workforce Development. Hustle 2.0’s mission is to maximize the potential of people whose lives are affected by incarceration.
• The Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah and the UofU’s David Eccles School of Business have announced they have awarded over $1.5 million in scholarships and tuition waivers to over 140 student entrepreneurs for the 2023-24 academic year. Those involved include undergraduate and graduate students who come from many different majors across campus. The majority of the students receiving scholarships serve as student leaders. They manage a broad variety of institute programs, ranging from workshops and mentor sessions to a makerspace and high school outreach program. Many of the scholarships for graduate students were awarded to founders in the Master of Business Creation program, which helps founders grow their startups with personalized mentorship, applied curriculum, access to funding and more.

INVESTMENTS

• Biolexis Therapeutics Inc., an American Fork-based, privately held, clinical-stage drug discovery company, has close a $10 million Series A funding round. The investment was led by Clarke Capital. Biolexis said the funding will advance its development pipeline, which includes a range of metabolic drug candidates.

LAW

• Holland & Hart has added six attorneys as associates at its Salt Lake City office. Alyssa Campbell helps clients in the energy and natural resources industries navigate routine and complex environmental regulatory and litigation issues. She assists clients with the preparation and response to state and federal regulations, with particular attention to CERCLA, RCRA, the Clean Air Act, and state environmental regulations. Additionally, she provides assistance with addressing environmental quality concerns, navigating permitting obstacles and defending project approvals and operations. Campbell earned her J.D. from the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law. Zara Guinard supports clients throughout the lifecycle of real estate and finance transactions. She assists clients in commercial and multi-family real estate transactions, as well as commercial leasing, lending, development and affordable housing. Guinard also performs due diligence related to real estate transactions, including title commitment and survey review. Guinard earned her J.D. from the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law. Lindsay Manning advises emerging and established companies on mergers and acquisitions, corporate financings and other strategic transactions. She provides support to privately held and publicly traded companies across a range of industries through all stages of the business life cycle, from entity selection and formation to financing and capitalization. Manning earned a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and her J.D. from BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School. Clayton Hadlock counsels businesses on a range of employment and commercial disputes, including workforce compliance issues, from hiring through termination. When disputes cannot be resolved through negotiation or mediation, Hadlock represents clients before state and federal agencies and courts. He also litigates business disputes on a wide spectrum of operational, contractual, and other commercial issues. Before joining Holland & Hart, he worked as a litigation associate at a firm in Salt Lake City. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and his J.D. from BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School. Sarah Hafen collaborates with clients to provide direction and counsel through all phases of the litigation process. She handles cases in state and federal courts involving breach of contract, partnership disputes, intellectual property, real estate disputes, insurance coverage, employment disputes, and other business-related issues. Prior to joining Holland & Hart, Hafen was an associate attorney at the Salt Lake City office of a full-service regional law firm. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and her J.D. from BYU’s J. Reuben Clark Law School. Megan Miller Inouye assists high-net-worth clients in developing and maintaining estate plans. Inouye advises fiduciaries and beneficiaries on the administration of estates and trusts, including compliance with tax and non-tax obligations. She evaluates federal income, estate, and gift tax implications to devise beneficial tax strategies and coordinates with in-house CPAs to prepare necessary tax filings. Prior to joining Holland & Hart, she was an associate attorney at a boutique wealth and estate planning firm in Austin, Texas. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the BYU Marriott School of Business and her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.
• Parsons Behle & Latimer has added several associate attorneys at its Salt Lake City office. Corey J. Hunter is a member of the Employment & Labor and Litigation practice teams. He advises employers regarding complex federal and state employment law issues and represents employers in litigating employment-related disputes. Prior to law school, he advised various Utah employers on human resources issues while completing his undergraduate degree in human resource management at Brigham Young University. He earned his law degree at the BYU J. Reuben Clark Law School. Alexander Sun Chang is a bankruptcy and estates associate attorney focused on helping individuals and corporations through commercial and trust litigation. His practice also has an emphasis on navigating complex asset protection trusts and legal issues surrounding the use of generative artificial intelligence. He graduated from the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law. Chuck F. Rasmussen Goodwin is a member of the firm’s litigation team. In his practice, he focuses on representing businesses and individuals in complex litigation before state and federal courts in a variety of matters. Goodwin earned his J.D. from the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law. Anna M. Paseman is on the firm’s litigation team. Her practice focuses on representing businesses and individuals in complex litigation before state and federal courts. Paseman earned her J.D. from the UofU’s S.J. Quinney College of Law and has a certificate in environmental and natural resource law.

NONPROFITS

• EyeCare4Kids, a Salt Lake City-based nonprofit providing eye care to underserved communities around the world, has opened a vision clinic at Kalimoni Mission Hospital in Kenya, Africa. Thanks to donations of individuals and corporations, EyeCare4Kids helped to build a new hospital wing and donated examination equipment, ensuring access to high-quality eye care for local children and communities.

PHILANTHROPY

• The Miller family and the Larry H. Miller organization provided a Thanksgiving meal to people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in Salt Lake City. It is the 25th year for the Thanksgiving meal and community service event. Attendees also had the opportunity to connect with community partners who provided dental cleanings, hygiene kits, mental health services and more, free of charge. Hundreds of volunteers gathered at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City and served 2,000 Thanksgiving meals. Volunteers included leaders and employees across the Larry H. Miller organization, First Lady Abby Cox, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and county employees, and staff from Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s office. Community partners and the services they provided included Clean Slate Utah, record expungement resources; The Period Project, menstrual hygiene kits; Fourth Street Clinic, healthcare, mental health services and resources; The Humane Society of Utah, pet sitting and resources; The Leonardo, children’s activities; Salt Lake City Public Library, children’s activities; The Rescue Mission of Salt Lake, community resources; Salt Lake County Health Department, vaccinations; Bicycle Collective, bike check and tune-ups; the Salt Lake City Mission, clothing items; United Way 211, community resources; the University of Utah’s Driving Out Diabetes Initiative, screenings for diabetes and wellness resources; UTA, complimentary transit passes; University of Utah School of Dentistry, dental services; Volunteers of America, Utah, community resources and nearly 150 haircuts; and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, hygiene kits.

RECOGNITIONS

• The Utah Manufacturers Association recently honored companies and individuals who made a significant contribution to the industry over the past year. Manufacturer of the Year honorees are Alta Racks (bike racks), Five Star Airport Alliance (airport baggage conveyor), Bonneville Aluminum Clearfield (extruded aluminum products), and USANA Health Sciences (advanced, science-based nutritional products. Award recipients for Manufacturing Company Culture are Kaddas Enterprises (electrical grid components), Saraya USA Inc. (food manufacturing), Minky Couture (blankets) and Procter & Gamble Paper Products Co. (consumer paper products). Award recipients for Manufacturing Leader of the Year are Jason Glade, CEO, Taffy Town Inc.; Jerry Frisch, president, Wasatch Container; Gregg Robison, CEO, RAM Aviation; and Josh Trammel, plant manager, Summit Hill Foods/Southeastern Mills. Recipients of the Women in Manufacturing awards are Shawna Wichtoski, CFO, Five Star Airport Alliance Inc.; Mofan Sanderson, QC manager, Saraya USA; Shelby Willoughby, plant manager, Kimberly Clark; and Angela Abel, plant manager, Autoliv. Award recipients for Environmental Stewardship are Coldsweep Inc. (surface preparation), Wasatch Container (eco-friendly boxes, crates and foam packaging), West Liberty Foods (meat food products cooperative) and Rio Tinto (ores and metals). Those receiving Honorable Mention for Manufacturing Company Culture are Paramount Machine and Post Consumer Brands. Those receiving Honorable Mention for Manufacturing Leader of the Year are Kerry Gunter, co-founder of K-Safety Inc.; Brad Robeson, owner and president of Clean Machine LLC; and Clint Murray, president of Prime Machine Inc. Those receiving Honorable Mention for Women in Manufacturing are SalsaQueen Zapata, CEO and founder, Salsa Queen; Tina Hazlett, CEO, CVO and founder, Spectrum Recruiting Solutions; and Mallorie Harker, program manager, Weir Minerals. Receiving Honorable Mention for Environmental Stewardship are Eco Green Equipment and Autoliv.
• The Davis Chamber of Commerce has announced that Jan Williams, founder, president and artistic director at The HopeBox Theater, is the 2024 Athena Award recipient. She also is the owner/director of Showstopper Productions, a performing arts academy for children, and part-owner of Bright Star Academy preschool in Layton. The four-time cancer survivor has been a producer, director, choreographer, musical director, set designer and costume designer for shows since 2008.

RESTAURANTS

• Egg Break, a concept specializing in curated breakfast sandwiches, has opened in the Commonwealth District at 193 W. 2100 S., Salt Lake City. Founded by Clay Beck and Chad Rigby, Egg Break will offer a twist on some classic breakfast sandwiches, biscuits, swirled cinnamon, sugar coffee cake, coffee and a juice bar. Beck is owner of Egg Break. Rigby is executive chef.
• Hash Kitchen, based in Arizona, has opened a location at 264 E. 12300 S., Draper. It is the company’s first Utah location and the first outside of Arizona. The brunch-only concept will have a Utah-exclusive offering of a “Build-Your-Own Donut Bar.” Created in 2015, the brand was purchased in 2021 by Utah-based private equity firm Savory Fund.