Industry Briefs 10-14-24

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 nonprofit Utah Arts Alliance has selected The Gateway in Salt Lake City as the new location for Dreamscapes Utah’s Immersive Art Experience. It had been at The Shops at South Town in Sandy for two years. The alliance said it is “re-imagining what Dreamscapes will look like, what stories will be told, what art will be showcased, and how to continue supporting artists.” The costs of the move, rebuild and associated costs are likely to exceed $200,000, and it is accepting financial help from the community.

BANKING

• Sunwest Bank, a Sandy-based commercial bank, has hired Mike McKean as senior vice president and director of treasury and payments. He will lead the bank’s deposit growth, payments strategy and sales across multiple states and divisions. Prior to joining Sunwest Bank, McKean spent four years at Umpqua Bank. He also spent eight years at USBank and 12 years at JPMorganChase. He started his career at First USA/Paymentech. He is a member of the board of directors for Wespay, a payments association, and also served as a city councilman for Plain City. McKean attended Weber State University and University of Phoenix, studying business administration.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

• Salt Lake City is ranked No. 12 in the 2024 “Scoring Tech Talent” report, compiled by CBRE. Salt Lake rose four positions from a year ago. CBRE produces the annual analysis of labor market conditions, costs and quality in North America for highly skilled tech workers. The report covers 75 North American markets, ranks the top 50 tech markets in the U.S. and Canada and outlines tech talent labor market trends amid economic shifts and increased remote hiring. The top-ranked area is the San Francisco Bay Area. Details are at https://www.cbre.com/insights/books/scoring-tech-talent-2024.
• Utahns are prepared to work six hours and 33 minutes of overtime per week to be completely free of financial obligations, according to a survey by CardRates.com. The national average is six hours and 25 minutes. The highest number is in South Dakota, at 13 hours. The lowest is in Vermont, at two hours and 40 minutes. Details are at https://www.cardrates.com/studies/americans-prepared-to-pay-off-debt-by-working-overtime/.
• Roofer is Utah’s least desired job (based on safety issues), according to a survey by Tradesafe. Other listed jobs in Utah are (in order) meatpacker, skyscraper window cleaner, steel worker, power line worker, oil rig worker and electrician. Details are at https://trdsf.com/blogs/news/least-desired-jobs-in-america.
• Lehi is included on a list of the “Seven Best Towns in the West to Celebration Halloween,” compiled by AAA. It notes that Baird Manor has one of the best Halloween displays statewide, with residents projecting scenes from Halloween movies over the entire house each evening. It also mentions Ashton Gardens hosting its annual Scarecrow Festival, and the Lehi Legacy Center putting on “Halloween Comes to Life,” an all-ages night of games, trick-or-treating and a Halloween-themed movie.

EDUCATION

• The University of Utah is ranked No. 8 among universities for undergraduate entrepreneurship for 2025 by U.S. News & World Report. The UofU also was No. 5 among public schools. The entrepreneurship program at the Eccles School of Business is provided in partnership between the Department of Entrepreneurship & Strategy and the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute. In related rankings issued earlier this year, U.S. News & World Reportranked the MBA program at the Eccles School No. 12 for entrepreneurship overall (No. 5 among public schools) in 2024.
• The U.S. Department of Education has notified the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools that it is receiving a $44 million grant to expand high-quality charter schools in Utah. UAPCS will administer this grant over five years to develop new charter schools and to help existing charter schools open new campuses. The federal grant is part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Charter School Program. State-level applicants compete for a share of the annual $440 million Congress has appropriated for the CSP. Strict federal rules govern how new charter schools may use these funds. For example, new schools and new campuses can hire a director; rent office space; and get the training, technology, software and supplies new charter schools need.
• Fifty-two students are enrolled for fall 2024 in the Master of Business Creation program, which is provided by the Department of Entrepreneurship & Strategy in partnership with the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business. They will be accelerating their startup companies in the program for entrepreneurs with help from personalized mentoring, applied curriculum, access to grants for their business and more. Thirty who started 26 companies and are from eight states are enrolling in MBC Online, a virtual, flexible option that spans three semesters. Twenty-two of the founders who started 21 companies are enrolling in MBC In-Person, a full-time option that spans two semesters. Some of the startups have more than one founder in the program.

EVENTS

• The Central Wasatch Commission, an inter-governmental entity that seeks to engage the public, build consensus, and coordinate action in the Central Wasatch Mountains, has announced it will host the Central Wasatch Symposium on Jan. 9-10, 2025, at Millcreek City Hall. The conference-style event will bring together the various interests and stakeholders in the Central Wasatch for two days of expert panels, interactive workshops and networking. Terry Tempest Williams, author and environmentalist, will provide the keynote address about the unique qualities of the Central Wasatch Mountains, and her personal tie to the Central Wasatch. A standard entry ticket includes attendance for both days of the event and costs $50. Details are at https://cwc.utah.gov/central-wasatch-symposium/.

FOOD

• Life Cider, a beverage company with manufacturing in Salt Lake City, has appointed Shawn Wells as chief science officer. He will leverage his background in formulation, biochemistry and clinical nutrition to provide insights and innovation. Wells is an ingredient expert, formulator, chief clinical dietitian, sports nutritionist and bestselling author of the health optimization book The Energy Formula. Wells is the founder and CEO of the consulting firm Zone Halo Formulations.
• Dentric Estate, a 20-acre site in the Kamas Valley, has announced its first dry mountain cider production season. The ciders are expected to be on store shelves by mid-2025. Dendric Estate also will offer a 4,200-square-foot tasting space available to accommodate intimate weddings, business functions and private gatherings. Groundbreaking for the space will take place later this year, with its public opening slated for the fall harvest season of 2025. The company was founded by Brendan and Carly Coyle. Brendan Coyle has years of spirits experience from his role as master distiller of Park City’s High West Distillery.

GOVERNMENT

• Salt Lake City has opened more funding for community’s Arts, Culture, and Entertainment (ACE) events in 2025. The increased funding totaling $300,000 is for community-organized celebrations. Grant applications are being accepted through Nov. 1 for the ACE Fund for 2025. The annual grant program is designed to support neighborhood and community events in Salt Lake City, with awards ranging from $500 to $10,000. In 2024, the fund supported 126 community celebrations. An information session about the fund and the application process will take place Oct. 23, 6-7 p.m., at the Downtown Main Library, Conference Room A, 210 E. 400 S., Salt Lake City. Details are at slc.gov/mayor/ace-fund.

HEALTH CARE

• Recursion, a Salt Lake City-based clinical-stage techbio company, has hired Erica Fox as chief people and impact officer. Fox most recently was chief people officer at Primeri.ai. Before that, she spent 15 years at Google leading various strategic people initiatives, including global onboarding, learning and development, annual strategic and operational planning, and resource management for the global people operations.
• Wasatch BioLabs LLC, a research and development and clinical services laboratory, has announced a move from Heber City through a consolidation of several Utah County locations into a new 19,636-square-foot space in Pleasant Grove. The company signed a lease with St. John Properties, Inc. at Valley Grove, a 130-acre mixed-use business community. It will take occupancy at 2315 W. 700 S. in early 2025. The company currently has approximately 30 employees but expects to increase its workforce to approximately 50 following its relocation and expansion. Jarrod Hunt of Colliers International represented the landlord and Josh Smith of Colliers International represented the tenant in this transaction. Financial terms were not disclosed.
• HealthEquity Inc., a Draper-based health savings account and consumer-directed benefits administration company, has launched its new HealthEquity Community Foundation. Dedicated to building health care literacy and confidence in communities across the United States, the foundation will focus initially on providing grants to nonprofit charitable organizations. In its first year, the HealthEquity Community Foundation has committed to providing grants to charitable nonprofit organizations whose work is focused on one or more of four focus areas: health and medicine, financial education and literacy, mental health and crisis support, and basic human needs.
• SINTX Technologies Inc., a Salt Lake City-based ceramics company that develops and commercializes materials, components and technologies for medical and technical applications, has promoted Ryan Bock to chief technology officer and Ann Kutsch to president of SINTX Technology Assessment and Transfer, a subsidiary of SINTX. Bock has been with SINTX since 2008, where he has played a role in driving the company’s research and development efforts, as well as advancing partnerships in the biomedical and industrial sectors. Kutsch has been instrumental in developing and overseeing various research and technology transfer initiatives within SINTX TA&T.
• Wellnest, a fertility clinic, will launch its Assisted Reproductive Technology services center in early 2025 at 1491 E. Ridgeline Drive, South Ogden, serving as a center for comprehensive fertility solutions with a lab on-site. The Ogden location is the first of several clinics being planned in secondary markets across the U.S. where people have little to no access to fertility care. Wellnest’s medical team is led by Dr. Nastaran Foyouzi, a specialist in reproductive endocrinology and medical genetics, and chief medical officer is Dr. Nicole Noyes, a reproductive endocrinologist with more than 30 years of experience.

NONPROFITS

• The Utah Housing Preservation Fund has announced a $2 million investment from Milestone Bank, a Utah-headquartered industrial bank. UHPF said the money will enable it to continue its work in preserving and expanding access to affordable housing for Utah’s most vulnerable populations.
• Registration has opened for Utah Food Bank’s 19th annual Utah Human Race, set for Thanksgiving morning (Nov. 28) in Sandy. Every registration fee and sponsorship dollar benefits Utah Food Bank’s mission of fighting hunger statewide. Utah Food Bank is looking forward to seeing close to 4,000 participants. Participation is open to individuals of all ages and abilities, offering both 5K and 10K options. The registration fees are $30 for the 5K and $35 for the 10K and includes a race shirt. A $5 discount is available through Oct. 31. There will be no same-day registration or timing chips available, and online registration closes on Nov. 26. Details are at www.UtahHumanRace.org.
• The congregation at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Centerville closed its gift shop, The Ark & Olive Branch. The gift shop began over 40 years ago as an interfaith effort between the Bountiful Community Church and the ECOR, to raise funds for outreach organizations such as The Bountiful Food Pantry, The Rescue Mission of Salt Lake City and, more recently, the Center for Homeless Teens at Woods Cross and Bountiful High School. The current caretaker of the gift shop, Linda Besselievre, said the number of customers has shrunk because many religious gifts can be bought online.

PARTNERSHIPS

• A recent collaboration among Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals and Comcast NBCUniversal+Xfinity called “Game On: Tech Meets Soccer” was designed to provide an unforgettable and inspiring experience for youth from Comcast’s nonprofit partner organizations in Utah. Attendees got a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of sports technology, exploring how cutting-edge innovations are revolutionizing the game. The event aimed to ignite a passion for careers in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, encouraging the next generation to consider future pathways in sports technology. Youth participants from across Utah engaged directly with professional soccer players and got a better understanding the role technology plays in training, strategy and game-day operations.

REAL ESTATE

• Miracle Mile, a California-based investment and asset management firm, has announced an off-market acquisition of Madison Towns on 40th, a townhome development in South Ogden. Financial terms were not disclosed. As part of the acquisition, Mecca Property Management, based in Cottonwood Heights, will provide property management services.
• Homebuilder Lennar has expanded into St. George with La Spazio, with 98 single- and two-story homes within the masterplanned community of Divario, located southwest of the Sunbrook Golf Course. Sales for La Spazio are anticipated to begin in December, with prices starting in the $600,000s.

RECOGNITIONS

• The Salt Palace Convention Center recently received the Best Convention Center Southwest (Gold) Award from the 2024 Stella Awards, a program of Northstar Meetings Group. A total of 248 organizations globally were recognized for outstanding achievements in quality service and innovation for meeting and event professionals. The Stella Awards honor excellence across key industry segments: hotels, convention and conference centers, airlines, cruise lines, DMOs/CVBs and DMCs. This year’s winners were selected from more than 8,000 votes and 1,001 nominations. After nominations closed, finalists in each category were determined by meeting planners during an open voting period. Winners were then selected by an expert panel of judges overseen by the editors of Northstar Meetings Group’s leading brands, Meetings & Conventions and Successful Meetings. The Salt Palace is owned by Salt Lake County and managed by ASM Global.
• Tanner LLC, a Salt Lake City-based firm providing audit, tax and a suite of advisory services, has been named to Inside Public Accounting’s Best of the Best Accounting Firms for 2024. Each year, IPA names 75 Best of the Best CPA firms, including 60 firms over $10 million in net revenue, 10 under $10 million and five Canadian firms. To select these outstanding firms, IPA applies a proprietary scoring formula of more than 35 metrics to the 600+ firms that participate in the IPA Practice Management Survey.
• The Davis Technical College Foundation recently honored several organizations for their commitment to changing students’ lives, at its annual Life-Changer Luncheon. The honorees are Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, Haven J. Barlow Legacy Award; Renishaw, Industry Partner Award; Snow College, Education Partner Award; Kaysville City, Community Advocate Award; and Division of Facilities Construction and Management, President’s Award. In the 2023-24 school year, Davis Tech awarded 381 awards to students totaling $272,934 from funds raised by the foundation.

SCHOLARSHIPS

• Western Governors University, based in Salt Lake City, has created a new $10 million scholarship fund called “Heartbeat of Healthcare” to support its registered nurse students joining the redesigned Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the bridge Master of Science in Nursing program at the Michael O. Leavitt School of Health. The investment, running through June 2025, aims to advance access to the university’s nursing program and address the demand for more baccalaureate and graduate nurses for improved patient care.

TECHNOLOGY

• 401GO, a Sandy-based fintech startup in the 401(k) industry, has appointed Joseph Marullo as chief of staff. Marullo’s has experienced in the military, finance and business intelligence, including as an intelligence officer for the U.S. Army while on active duty from 2004 to 2012 and serving in the U.S. Army Reserves for an additional six years.
• Cricut Inc., a South Jordan-based company focused on technology for DIY consumers, has added Heidi Zak as an independent member of its board of directors and a member of its audit committee. Zak has over 20 years of experience in the consumer and retail sector, specializing in e-commerce and direct-to-consumer, marketing, strategy and new business development. She current serves as a co-founder and CEO of ThirdLove. She also worked at Google, Aeropostale, McKinsey and Bank of America.