Industry Briefs 4-1-24

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.

ARTS

• The Bountiful Davis Art Center has hired Sarina Villareal Ehrgott as executive director. Ehrgott has over a decade of experience in not-for-profit cultural leadership, strategic branding, marketing, partnership development and community engagement. Ehrgott comes to BDAC after serving as director of marketing and brand at Salt Lake City’s Department of Cultural & Community Engagement, where she drove community engagement and arts support through initiatives for various divisions, including Arts & Museums, Multicultural Affairs, and the Historical Society. Her career also includes marketing and PR leadership positions at J•GO Gallery and the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art.

ASSOCIATIONS

• NACM Business Credit Services, based in Murray, has named Lisa L. Keller as president of the association. NACM Business Credit Services is an affiliate of the National Association of Credit Management and is an advocate for business credit and financial management professionals. It focuses on being the primary learning, knowledge, networking and an information resource for commercial creditors nationwide.

BANKING

• WebBank, a Salt Lake City-based industrial bank, has appointed Erik Cannon as senior vice president/chief operations officer. In his new role, he will continue to be responsible for due diligence and implementation and national partners. He also will assume leadership responsibility for the bank’s Strategic Partners Oversight department. Cannon joined WebBank in 2016 as vice president of due diligence and implementation, bringing years of experience in risk management, business development, operations, relationship management and leadership. During his tenure at WebBank, he has been senior vice president of due diligence and implementation and general manager of the bank’s Insurance Premium Finance subsidiary, National Partners.
• TAB Bank, Ogden, has promoted Terri Lins to chief credit officer. Lins succeeds Tyler Heap, now the company’s president. Lins will oversee all aspects of the bank’s credit risk, including the special assets, underwriting and credit administration groups. Lins has been with TAB Bank for more than a decade, most recently serving as senior vice president and senior credit officer. She also was director of corporate credit and a senior underwriter. Before joining TAB Bank, Lins was director of syndicated asset-based lending at Washington Mutual.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

• Utah is ranked No. 1 on a list of residents who have recently tapped into their savings or retirement funds or sold an asset in order to meet monthly spending needs, compiled by HelpAdvisor.com. Utah’s percentage is 32.8, equating to a total of 804,516. HelpAdvisor analyzed the most recent U.S. Census Bureau survey data, including responses from over 2.4 million Utah residents, to determine states’ percentages. The national rate is 26.1 percent. The lowest rate is in the District of Columbia, at 17.7 percent. The study shows 12.5 percent of Utah residents said they borrowed from friends and family to meet monthly spending needs, which is ninth-highest among states. The national rate is 11.5 percent D.C. is tops, at 19.4 percent. New Hampshire is last, at 6.3 percent. Details are at https://www.helpadvisor.com/retirement/household-savings-and-spending-study.
• Utah is ranked No. 9 on a Global Innovation Index, compiled by personal finance website WalletHub. It compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 25 metrics, with a data set ranging from the share of STEM professionals to research and development spending per capita. Utah is No. 1 for eighth-grade math and science performance; No. 9 for share of STEM professionals, projected STEM-job demand by 2030, and venture capital funding per capita; No. 11 for share of technology companies; No. 27 for R&D spending per capita; and No. 29 for share of science and engineering graduates aged 25-plus. The top-ranked area overall is the District of Columbia. The bottom-ranked state is Mississippi. Details are at https://wallethub.com/edu/most-innovative-states/31890.
• Utah is ranked No. 6 on a list of “Best States for Women Small-Business Owners,” compiled by Lendio. It analyzed seven metrics to determine the best states for women entrepreneurs, including factors such as share of employer businesses owned by women, percentage of female-owned businesses that earn a revenue of $1 million or more, percentage of patents filed by women, and growth in the number of women-owned small businesses. Data was collected from multiple sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. The top-ranked state is Washington. The bottom-ranked state is West Virginia. Details are at https://www.lendio.com/blog/best-states-for-women-small-business-owners/.
• Utah is ranked No. 25 on a list of “Best States to be a Cop,” compiled by WalletHub. It compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 30 indicators of police-friendliness, including median income for law-enforcement officers, police deaths per 1,000 officers, and state and local police-protection expenses per capita. On a breakout list, Utah was No. 47 for law enforcement officers per capita. The top-ranked state overall is California. The bottom-ranked state is Arkansas. Details are at https://wallethub.com/edu/best-states-to-be-a-cop/34669.
• Utah is ranked No. 14 on a list of “States Where Farms Use the Most Water,” compiled by LawnStarter. It compared the 50 states by the prevalence of irrigated agriculture, including total irrigated farm acres, share of irrigated farmland, and average water use per irrigated acre of farmland. It also considered the share of large irrigated farms (2,000-plus acres). Utah is No. 5 for average water use per irrigated acre of farmland, No. 15 for total irrigated farm acres, No. 28 for share of irrigated farms, and No. 36 for share of large farms out of total irrigated farms. The top-ranked state overall is California. The bottom-ranked state is West Virginia. Details are at https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/studies/states-where-farms-use-most-water/.

EDUCATION

• The University of Utah has named Kurt Dirks as dean of the David Eccles School of Business. He begins July 1. Dirks is the Bank of America Professor of Managerial Leadership and director of the Bauer Leadership Center at Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis. He has more than 20 years of experience as a business school faculty member at public and private institutions, including serving as senior associate dean of programs at the Olin Business school, interim dean and acting provost of WashU. He serves as senior advisor to the chancellor of WashU. Rachel Hayes, a professor in accounting and faculty member at the UofU since 2005 has served as dean of the Eccles School since 2021. She has served in numerous roles in her department and college, including as the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Presidential Endowed Chair in Ethical Financial Reporting, and associate dean of faculty and research. After she finishes her term in June, she will take an administrative leave.

ENERGY

• Lumio, a Lehi-based company focused on the residential solar industry, has appointed Griffen Merrill as vice president of new-home builds. Prior to joining Lumio, Merrill served as the director of sales and business development at Sunrun.

GOVERNMENT

• The Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities has been approved for a $39 million loan for lead service line inventory and replacement throughout the city service area’s drinking water system. The 1.5 percent, low-interest loan and the principal forgiveness of more than $19 million will reduce the program cost, generating savings for ratepayers while improving the city’s drinking water system. The funding will be used to develop a five-year planning and construction project to replace lead service lines. Estimates for the replacement range from 9,402 to 14,457 lines. The loan originates from the federal contribution to the State Revolving Fund administered by the Drinking Water Board within the Utah Division of Drinking Water. SLCDPU is the first water utility in Utah to receive funding via the federal SRF for a lead service line program.
• A record $17.7 million in funding was approved to support the construction and preservation of affordable housing in Salt Lake City at the March 19 meeting of the board of directors for the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City. Funds from both the RDA and city’s Housing Stability Division have been allocated for the building of 14 projects that will result in 1,549 total residential units ranging in affordability and size. One of the projects will use the remaining $2.7 million from the RDA’s high opportunity fund. The other 13 projects will receive varying amounts of financial support, collectively using a total of $5.9 million in RDA funds and $9.1 million HUD HOME funds. A total of 430 units will be rented at rates affordable to those making 40 percent or less of the area median income as established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Only nine of the 1,549 total units will be rented at market rates. The 14 projects are Norbridge Court, 511 W. 200 S.; New City Plaza Apartments, 1966 S. 200 E.; 515 Tower Conversion Phase I, 515 E. 100 S.; 2nd South Apartments, 934-948 W. 200 S.; The Catherine Phase 1, 1881 W. North Temple; The Catherine Phase 2, 1881 W. North Temple; Citizens West 4, 515 W. 300 N.; Fairmont Heights, 2557 S. 1100 E.; Project Open 3, 529 W. 400 N.; Pharos Apartments, 915 W. 200 N.; Book Cliffs Lodge, 1159 S. West Temple; Liberty Corner, 1265 S. 300 W.; 9Ten West, 910 W. North Temple; and Alliance House 1805 Rebuild, 805 S. Main St.

HOSPITALITY

• LivAway Suites, a Salt Lake City-based economy extended-stay hotel company, has launched a new website (www.livawaysuites.com) and is accepting reservations for its first two hotel openings, in West Jordan and in Smyrna, Tennessee. In 2023, LivAway Suites broke ground on multiple sites around the country and established partnerships with property management system platform HotelKey and website developer and digital marketing agency Altos. Altos is the website’s lead designer, while HotelKey was pivotal in integrating LivAway’s PMS with the website, call center, and the other elements of technology offered to guests. The two new locations are set to open this summer.

INSURANCE

• Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah has hired Dr. Mike Woodruff as executive medical director. Woodruff will drive clinical strategies focused on improving healthcare access, affordability, access, quality and member experience. He also will oversee initiatives to promote provider partnerships, engage key employers in enhancing workforce well-being to manage healthcare costs, and support business growth. Woodruff previously was chief patient experience officer for Intermountain Health in Utah, Idaho and Nevada. His career has focused on standardizing clinical workflows, designing sustainable improvements, leading work in emergency medicine, clinical informatics and suicide prevention, in addition to clinical practice with Utah Emergency Physicians. Woodruff received his residency training in part at the University of Utah.
• Canal Insurance Co., a South Carolina-based company, has appointed Patrick J. Mullento its board of directors. Mullen is director of strategic capital partnerships at Arctaris Impact Investors, a Boston-based private equity firm, where he leads its Salt Lake City. With Arctaris, Mullen has responsibility for several core strategies related to the firm’s fundraising, investment underwriting, and capital structuring practices. Mullen previously was a co-founder and managing director of investing at Sorenson Impact and worked with the Sorenson Impact Foundation from 2010 to 2017. Mullen has also served Utah as chair of the Opportunity Zone Task Force and has served in board of director roles working with management to play an integral role in helping early-stage companies grow and prosper. He is the first fourth-generation family member to be appointed to the Canal Insurance Co. board. Mullen earned a B.S. in finance at Westminster College.

INVESTMENTS

• Image Studios, a franchisor of upscale, turnkey salon suites, has announced an investment from Texas-based MPK Equity Partners. The partnership positions the company to further expand and support its franchise base and strengthen its position as a leading brand within the franchise industry, Image said. Additional details of the investment were not disclosed. Founded in 2009, Image has 76 stores in 20 states and a pipeline of 220 stores in development. Harrington Park Advisors served as the exclusive financial advisor to Image.
• Rasa Legal, a provider of affordable criminal record clearance services, has received a $150,000 grant from the American Heart Association Social Impact Funds to support Rasa Legal’s efforts to invest in the health and well-being of communities in Arizona and Utah through its innovative criminal record clearance services. Support from the association’s Social Impact Funds will enable Rasa Legal to develop a new partnership platform, facilitating collaboration with employers, nonprofit organizations and government agencies. The platform will provide easy access to resources and financial support, empowering more individuals to pursue criminal record clearance and unlock opportunities for personal and professional growth.

NONPROFITS

• The Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation has announced a $850,000 challenge grant to increase mental health resources for Southern Utah University students. The matching gift is designed to inspire and encourage additional donations and partnerships to support mental health initiatives for all SUU students, whether on campus or online. With the grant and matching gifts, SUU students will have access to psychological and educational evaluations, biofeedback kits, training for suicide prevention, and third-party virtual counseling services. SUU currently works with TimelyCare, a third-party virtual counseling service vendor that serves colleges and universities all over the United States. TimelyCare provides SUU students, faculty and staff access to 24/7/365 mental virtual health care from anywhere in the United States, with no cost to visit. Since partnering with TimelyCare,1,623 students, faculty and staff have registered for the service, and 1,146 consultations and 982 counseling sessions have been held.
• Operation Smile, a nonprofit volunteer medical organization dedicated to providing cleft surgery and comprehensive care to those in need, will have its 12th annual Celebrity Ski & Smile Challengeon April 6 at the St. Regis deer Valley and Deer Valley Resort in Park City. Guests will ski alongside celebrities from TV, film and music while helping raise awareness for Operation Smile. The weekend’s festivities will culminate with a Winter Wonderland Gala, where Operation Smile will honor Kenny, Mimi and Skyler Griswold with the prestigious Founders Circle Award. Details are at www.operationsmile.org/parkcity.

OUTDOOR RECREATION

• Registration is open for the 2024 Utah Outdoor Recreation Summit, set for Aug. 27-28 at Ruby’s Inn at Bryce Canyon. The event is designed to strengthen outdoor recreation communities, boost the outdoor recreation economy, and enhance health and quality of life for Utahns. Activities include a kickoff dinner, a day of educational content, and several outdoor activities. The cost is $140 through April 30. Details are at https://utahoutdoorsummit.com/.

PHILANTHROPY

• Altabank, a division of Glacier Bank and with 25 retail banking locations from Preston, Idaho, to St. George, recently made a $5,800 donation to Cache Food Pantry. The inaugural donation marks the beginning of the business sponsorship of five local high school food pantries. The overall goal is to stock every school in the area with essential food supplies.
• Employees at three Ken Garff dealerships in Riverdale recently helped 50 teens from Common Thread’s program with breakfast, games and career conversation about the automotive world. The employees were from Ken Garff Honda Riverdale, Ken Garff GMC/Buick of Riverdale, and Ken Garff Nissan Riverdale. Each teen also received a $200 shopping spree at Target in Riverdale. Common Thread is a welcoming community for vulnerable teens ages 12 and older, offering events, mental health resources, and programs that empower teens and redefine futures. The event was part of Ken Garff’s “We’re ‘Hear’ for You” initiative.

PUBLIC LANDS

• A coalition of five tribal nations have collaborated with federal agencies to craft a management plan for their ancestral homelands and sacred sites on public lands. The five tribes of the Bears Ears Commission — Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Zuni Tribe, Hopi Tribe and the Navajo Nation — along with federal partners at the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, recently announced the release of the draft Resource Management Plan for the Bears Ears National Monument. The commission was established during the Obama administration, following the president’s proclamation that established Bears Ears as a national monument.

RECOGNITIONS

• The BYU Management Society, Salt Lake Chapter, will honor Derek Miller at its 31st annual Distinguished Utahn Gala on May 16, 6-8:30 p.m., at the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City. Miller is president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance. The event includes a reception at 6 p.m., followed by the gala starting at 6:30 p.m. Details are at byums.byu.edu/us-salt-lake.
• PassiveLogic, a Holladay-based creator of a platform for generative autonomy, has won an iF Design Award for its Hive Autonomous Platform. Organized by iF International Forum Design GmbH, the world’s oldest independent design organization based in Hannover, Germany, this year’s competition featured nearly 11,000 entries submitted from 72 countries. The awards program honors design achievements in all disciplines: product, packaging, communication and service design, architecture and interior architecture, as well as professional concept, user experience and user interface. The Hive platform, the first autonomous management system in the world, won in the Service Design discipline in the Industrial Productivity category.
• Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile in Kanab is among the “Greatest Hotels Ever,” a list compiled by travel magazine Fifty Grande. It selected 50 hotels from a list of nominations by readers. Hotels had to meet two criteria to secure a nomination: being located in the United States and needing to average a rate of under $350 per night. Details are at www.fiftygrande.com.
• Powder Baby Dry Shampoo, a student startup from Brigham Young University that sells healthy and non-aerosol dry shampoo in five colors, won the $30,000 Simon Gibson Grand Prize and first place in the 2024 Utah Entrepreneur Challenge at a final awards and showcase event at University of Utah. The statewide business-model competition is managed by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, an interdisciplinary division of the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah, and sponsored by Zions Bank. The final event featured the best collegiate entrepreneurs in Utah competing for more than $100,000 in cash and prizes. Powder Baby Dry Shampoo also won the $1,000 People’s Choice Award speed pitch. Other top winners included Iso Retractor, a team from Ensign College with a dental retractor with suction slots, which won second place and $10,000; and Spot Parking, a team from Brigham Young University and University of Utah that automates and streamlines parking enforcement, which won third place and $7,500. Bigman Outdoor Seasonings of Snow College earned the $2,000 Bootstrap award. Judge Awards were presented to Velocity Boards of Utah State University ($2,000); The Port Studio of Snow College ($2,000); Brokie Studios of Neumont College of Computer Science ($4,000); Mystery Escape Studio of Southern Utah University ($1,500); Minnow of Utah Valley University ($1,500); Stelle of Neumont College of Computer Science ($1,000); Iso Retractor ($1,500); Gourmet Grazing of Salt Lake Community College ($1,500); and Honey Haven of Utah Valley University ($1,000). Bleeped of Utah State University won the $1,000 People’s Choice Online Vote. All finalist teams won $500 and $1,000 Master of Business Creation scholarships. Other competing teams were Alchemy Herbal Tea, Salt Lake Community College; Conscious, University of Utah; GeoTechnical Rock Lab, University of Utah; Hannah Camille Events, Weber State University; NexHub, Southern Utah University; Noda, Ensign College; Red Rock Consulting, NIL Advertisement, Utah Tech University; and Smarter Cattle, Utah Tech.

RESTAURANTS

• River Path Landing, a mixed-use development in St. George, has signed a lease agreement with the mac and cheese franchise Roni’s Mac Bar to open a restaurant at 1449 E George Washington Parkway. Scheduled to open this summer, the location will offer both dine-in and drive-through options. Listing agents Brandon Price and Dan Bertelson of NAI Excel represented the landlord, working closely with Wes Davis, also of NAI Excel, who represented the tenant. River Path Landing will offer a mix of dining, retail, and recreational opportunities.

RETAIL

• Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings Inc., a West Jordan-based outdoor specialty retailer, has named Krischelle Tennessen as chief human resources officer and Michael Simpson as chief information officer. Tennessen will oversee company culture, HR strategy and processes, and talent development. She has nearly 30 years of human resources experience, most recently serving as chief human resources officer with The Joint Chiropractic and from 2019 to 2022 served as senior vice president of human resources for Five Below. She also previously served as chief human resources officer at Marvin Windows and Doors from 2016 to 2019 and spent nearly 10 years in roles at Walmart Inc and started her career at Target, where during her 12-year tenure she held positions in HR, store operations and project management. Simpson will be responsible for all areas of technology for the organization. He has over 20 years of leadership experience in tech and software development, including 15 years of experience in retail. Prior to joining the company, he served in various technology leadership roles at Target Corp. and from 2013 to 2016 he was vice president of engineering at Backcountry.com/ He also spent three years as a retail systems architect and manager at REI.

SENIOR LIVING

• Abbington Senior Living Community is now open at 782 S. 1450 E., St. George. It offers independent, assisted living and memory care, with nearly 100 living spaces. The Abbington is operated by Abbington Senior Living Corp., a family-owned, Utah-based company with more than 20 years of experience in senior living. The corporation also operates Abbington facilities in Murray, Layton and Lehi, plus a new facility in Gilbert, Arizona.