Industry Briefs 11-18-24

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ASSOCIATIONS

• The Women’s Business Center of Utah celebrated its 2023-24 by noting several statistics and activities. They include receiving one-time state legislative funding that allowed for an expanded WBCUtah team; the team coordinating a special outreach project that resulted in a substantial increase in capacity, women served and impact; the launch of a new WBCUtah Online Academy, which featured 14 self-paced courses for business owners; implementation of new digital platforms, improving both efficiency and client experience; the creation of 13 new Women’s Business Centers, in partnership with rural chambers of commerce statewide; support of over 292 new business starts, having clients in 27 of Utah’s 29 counties and serving 1,534 business owners. Over 1,300 jobs were created, with over $160 million in revenue across clients, it said. WBCUtah is a nonprofit organization funded in part through a cooperative agreement between the Salt Lake Chamber and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
• The Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau has debuted the Mountainkind Card, a local gift card that can be redeemed exclusively at Park City partner businesses. In partnership with Yiftee and powered by Mastercard, the Mountainkind Card aims to keep dollars local and drive direct revenue to chamber partners. The digital gift card reduces plastic waste, streamlines delivery and will be “tap to pay”-compatible within 2-3 months. Customers who purchase a Mountainkind Card valued between $25 and $200 will receive an additional 50 percent bonus on their original amount. The promotion will continue until the bonus pool is fully claimed. Additionally, businesses can purchase Mountainkind Cards for no fee, perfect for use as package incentives, employee rewards, holiday gifts and more. Details are at parkcitychamber.com/mountainkind-card/.

DIVIDENDS

• The board of directors of Clarus Corp., based in Salt Lake City, has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 2.5 cents per share. The dividend will be paid Nov. 27 to stockholders of record Nov. 18. The company designs and develops equipment and lifestyle products for outdoor enthusiasts.
• The board of directors of Provo-based Nu Skin Enterprises Inc. has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 6 cents per share. The dividend is payable Dec. 11 for shareholders of record Nov. 29. Nu Skin Enterprises Inc. is a family of companies, including Nu Skin and its investment arm, Rhyz Inc., that operates in the direct-sales beauty and wellness arena in nearly 50 markets worldwide. 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• The Economic Development Corporation of Utah has announced that Tom Morgan of Zions Bank will serve as the new chair of its Board of Trustees. He succeeds Judd Cook, vice president and general manager of Enbridge Gas Utah, Wyoming and Idaho, who served as board chair for EDCUtah’s 2023-24 fiscal year. Morgan has served on the board since 2017, most recently as chairman of the finance committee and member of the executive committee. He serves as director and executive vice president of retail, business banking and omni-channel banking at Zions First National Bank. He has held several leadership roles over the course of 35 years working at Zions. He also has served on the board of trustees of several large corporations, including Intermountain Healthcare and Select Health, and as the chairman of the Utah State Charter School Board. The EDCUtah Board of Trustees also welcomes four new members: Jake Boyer of Boyer Co., Mayor Garth Green of Cedar City, Brad Holmes of the Larry H. Miller Co. and Jeff Palmer of Layton Construction. Fiscal year 2025 officer appointments approved by EDCUtah board members are Jason Hill of Rio Tinto as the board’s private-sector vice chair; Mayor Dirk Burton of West Jordan as the board’s public-sector vice chair; Dan Richards of Select Health as board treasurer; and Cook as board secretary.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

• Herriman is Utah’s No. 1 boomtown, according to a study by GOBankingRates. It analyzed U.S. census data for all 50 states to determine population and income changes since 2014. Among the statistics GOBanking Rates cited for Herriman are a 54.8 percent change in population (30,279) since 2014, for a total of 55,301; a 38.8 percent change in per-capita income, to $37,331; a 61.1 percent change in the number of occupied housing units, to 9,818; and a 63.5 percent change in the number of owner-occupied housing units, to 8,305. Details are at https://www.gobankingrates.com/money/economy/biggest-boomtowns-every-state/.
• Utah is ranked as the fourth-worst state for hobby farms on a list compiled by Lawn Love. It compared the 48 contiguous U.S. states based on four farm-forward categories, including looking at average yard size, number of growing days, and legislation impacting hobby farmers like rainwater harvesting laws. The best state for hobby farms is Kentucky. The worst is Oregon. Details are at https://lawnlove.com/blog/best-states-for-hobby-farms/.
• Three Utah locations are named on a list of “top romantic fall getaways,” compiled by DatingAdvice. They are, in order, Park City, Moab and Torrey. DatingAdvice asked 3,000 couples nationwide to name the most romantic fall destinations, based on their experiences. The top-ranked U.S. destination overall is Bar Harbor, Maine. Details are at https://www.datingadvice.com/studies/the-most-romantic-fall-getaway-destinations.

GOVERNMENT

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced that the University of Utah is among recipients of grant funding to support pollution prevention practices in communities. Under the grant program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the UofU’s Department of Chemical Engineering will receive $350,000 to assist businesses in reducing the use of hazardous chemicals, water consumption and air emissions for a cleaner, safer and more sustainable environment. In collaboration with the Utah Department of Energy’s Intermountain Industrial Assessment Center, it will provide technical assistance, resources and training in pollution prevention strategies. In all, the EPA announced 48 selectees across the country that will collectively receive nearly $19 million in grants to support states, tribal nations and U.S. territories in providing technical assistance to businesses to develop and adopt pollution prevention practices in local communities. From 2011 to 2022, EPA’s pollution prevention program issued over 500 grants totaling more than $54 million.
• Salt Lake County’s Office of Regional Development is accepting public comment through Nov. 25 for the H2Oquirrh Visioning Plan, which aims to enhance recreational opportunities and preserve the natural beauty of the Oquirrh region. The plan offers a roadmap to create balanced access to outdoor activities while ensuring the region’s open spaces remain protected. The plan and the opportunity to comment are at slco.to/H2Oquirrh.
• The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Natural Resources Revenue has disbursed $16.45 billion in revenues generated in fiscal year 2024 from energy production on federal and tribal onshore lands, and federal offshore areas. The amount includes $93.74 million in Utah, placing it No. 6 among states. New Mexico had the largest amount, at $2.88 billion. The disbursements provide funds for states and tribes to pursue a variety of goals, from the planning, construction and maintenance of public facilities to conservation goals, including irrigation and hydropower projects, historic preservation initiatives, and efforts to protect public lands.

MANUFACTURING

• Kizik, a Lindon-based hands-free footwear company, has appointed Andreas Harlow as senior vice president of design. He most recently served as vice president of global footwear creative director for Jordan Brand. Harlow’s experience includes two decades at Nike Inc., leading design teams spanning its footwear products.

NONPROFITS

• Civica, a Lehi-based nonprofit dedicated to bringing lower-cost generic medicines to U.S. consumers, has appointed Todd Shellenberger as president of the Civica Foundation. Shellenberger joins the foundation from Hackensack Meridian Health–Riverview Medical Center Foundation, where he served as executive director. Prior to that, he served as vice president of Development at Make-A-Wish America and served in leadership roles at Make-A-Wish New Jersey and Notre Dame High School.
• Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake Area has expanded its service area to include Davis County, in addition to Salt Lake and Tooele counties. Formerly known as Salt Lake Valley Habitat for Humanity, it provides affordable homeownership to families throughout the Greater Wasatch Front. Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake Area also recently celebrated the 15-year anniversary of the Salt Lake Valley ReStore, which sells new and gently used building materials, furniture, appliances and home goods, with all proceeds going toward building affordable housing.

REAL ESTATE

• JB Matteson Inc., a San Francisco Bay Area-based private real estate investment manager, has acquired Patriot Pointe Townhomes, a Class A townhome community in North Ogden, in an off-market transaction. It is JB Matteson’s first Salt Lake City-area acquisition. Completed in 2024, the property consists of 129 townhomes. Construction to add a clubhouse and gym facility will begin soon and was negotiated as part of the acquisition. Dennis Williams of Northmarq arranged acquisition financing with a life insurance company. Sage Shepard and Brandon Goodman of Colliers brokered the transaction.

RECOGNITIONS

• The Utah Manufacturers Association has announced its annual award recipients. Five winners were named in each category based on company size: small (one to 50 employees), mid (51-100), medium (101-250), large (251-500) and Mega (500-plus). These awards were from nominations. A new category was voted on by the UMA executive team. Winners in the Company Culture category are United Radio, Tovala, Cottonwood Cabinets, Hydro Extrusions and Nucor Steel. Winners in the Environmental Stewardship category are Coldsweep, Wasatch Container, Hydro Extrusions, Chromaloxand Autoliv. Winners in the Leader of the Year category are Jeff Carver, Five Star Airport Alliance; Kari Kovar, Cottonwood Cabinets; Alexander Dorofeev, Lakanto; Lupko Koetje, Nuskin; and Adam Zewe, Nucor Steel. Winners in the Women In Manufacturing category are Jhoane Robinson, Cedar Bear Naturales; Jenean Goodsell, Paramount Machine; Vicki Denter and Amanda Parizo, Smith Optics; Lindsay Hogu, Whitney Harris, Breanna Price, Laurie Wickey, Jansyn Johnston, Jessica Atherley, Yulie Rivera and Lori Bradfield, RAM Aviation, Space & Defense; and Box Elder Women’s Network, Procter & Gamble. Winners in the Manufacturer of the Year category are Pure Manufacturing, Weigh Safe, USANA, Bonnell Aluminum and BZI Steel. Winners in the “UMA Chosen” category are Associate Partner of the Year, Spectrum Staffing Solutions; Manufacturing Partner of the Year, Compass Minerals; Community Partner of the Year, Petersen Inc.; Manufacturing Innovation Award, Halia Theraputics; and Rising Star Award, Aja Goodsell, Paramount Machine.
• The Women’s Business Center of Utah’s annual report spotlights four clients and recognizes recipients of its 2023-24 and 2024-25 Entrepreneur of the Year awards, which honors clients who have demonstrated exceptional resilience, entrepreneurial spirit, and engagement with WBCUtah’s programs. The clients are Debbie Broderick, Utah Pagan Market; Faith Dickey, Elevate Outdoors; Shay Densley, Hopes Haven; and Lizz Davis, Lizz Davis Music. The 2023-24 Entrepreneur of the Year Award recipients are Northern Office, Becca Hoffman, BH Brand Co.; and Southern Office: Gregan Gibson, Greetings by Gregan. The 2024-25 Entrepreneur of the Year Award recipients are Southern Office, Seana Johnson, CraftConUSA; and Northern Office, Malavika Deo, Deolicious & Spice Symphony. WBCUtah is a nonprofit organization funded in part through a cooperative agreement between the Salt Lake Chamber and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
• Adrianne Day has been named on a list of the “10 Most Influential Women in Tech in 2024” by Entrepreneurial Outlook. Day is senior vice president of engineering and data intelligence at Myriad Genetics, based in Salt Lake City. Her early career was in the U.S. Army as a linguist and intelligence analyst. She led a major cybersecurity overhaul in her role at the U.S. Army Futures Command, Aviation and Missile Center. At the U.S. Army Contracting Command, she led the development of a governance model that significantly cut IT expenditures while enhancing operational transparency.
• Davis Technical College recently marked its 25th anniversary by honoring organizations for their commitment to changing students’ lives. The honorees are the 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 the Division of Facilities Construction and Management, President’s Award. The foundation supports technical education through scholarships, equipment and financial resources. Since 1999, it has awarded over 5,000 scholarships totaling over $3 million, with an additional $1 million in in-kind donations from industry partners.
• Meadows Bank, based in Las Vegas, announced it ranked as Utah’s No. 2 Small Business Administration 504 lender for fiscal year 2024, ended Sept. 30, by the SBA. It also ranked 16th nationally and No. 1 in Nevada as a 504 lender for the fiscal year. The bank said its commitment to the SBA programs has resulted in millions of dollars in financing for small businesses across various industries. Meadows Bank has $1.2 billion in assets, with branches in Nevada and Arizona and loan productions offices in California, Oregon and Utah.
• The Torus Nova Spin, produced by Torus, a South Salt Lake-based company focused on advanced energy storage solutions, has been named one of the Best Inventions of 2024 by Time. The annual list celebrates 200 innovations worldwide that are transforming how people live, work and engage with technology. Each product was evaluated based on originality, efficacy, ambition and impact. The Torus product offers a breakthrough in flywheel energy storage systems (FESS) technology, offering efficient and sustainable solutions for grid stability and backup power. Unlike traditional batteries, which rely on chemical reactions, the Torus Nova Spin stores energy mechanically by spinning a rotor at high speeds.
• BambooHR, a Draper-based company offering a human resource platform, has announced the winners of the HR Experience Maker Awards. They were presented during the company’s annual Customer Day and celebrate exceptional efforts of HR professionals and BambooHR users in shaping the future of their organizations. Recipients are Business Growth, Deborah Hilscher, director of people and culture at Knickerbocker Group; Career Growth/Advocate, Kelly Heath, head of people at Gupta Media; Employee Experience, Nicole Picton, director of people and culture at Ottawa Tourism; Heart & Soul, Emilie Farnir, HR manager at Kolibri Games; Strategic Leadership, Susan Podolsky, director of people and culture at Forum Asset Management; and Problem Solving, Michelle Snyder, vice president of team development at Touchstone Capital.

RETAIL

• Walmart recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and event at the Walmart Supercenter store at 989 S. 900 W., Riverdale, following a major remodel. The changes include a new pharmacy, an updated vision center, new lighting and signage throughout the store, expanded deli and merchandise offerings, and an expanded and relocated online grocery pickup and delivery area. The celebration event included check presentations of $1,500 to Sleep in Heavenly Peace-Syracuse Chapter, $1,500 to the Utah Veterans Alliance, $2,500 to the Brielles Faith Foundation and $1,500 to Shop with a Cop.
• The Utah’s Own Holiday Shoppes at Millcreek Common has returned for the 2024 holiday season. It features Utah’s Own products from over 40 local farmers and food artisans. It is open every day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Smith’s Food & Drug has opened a new Marketplace store at 4582 S. Pioneer Road, St. George, within the SunRiver Community. The 123,000-square-foot, $35 million, multi-department store will offer groceries, apparel, beauty and personal care and household goods, and it features a floral department, drive-through pharmacy, online grocery pickup, a Starbucks with indoor and outdoor seating, and an on-site Smith’s Fuel Center. The store has 250 employees. Since 1989, Smith’s has invested $110 million to build and renovate four stores in St. George and Cedar City.

SPACE

• An experiment of Hillcrest High School students is aboard the International Space Station. The 10th-graders’ experiment was launched to the ISS from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 5 when SpaceX’s 31st commercial resupply services mission took flight. The experiment will explore how well two types of nematodes infect an insect host in microgravity. Entomopathogenic nematodes are parasites that kill their insect hosts using symbiotic bacteria in their guts. The eco-friendly worms are used widely in agricultural pest control and may be a practical solution to control insect pests when growing crops in space. The ISS mission includes 39 student-led projects as part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program, an ISS National Laboratory educational partner program aiming to equip the next generation of scientists and engineers by integrating the scientific research process into the classroom. For this mission, SSEP received nearly 1,900 proposals, and a review board selected the top experiment from each community to launch into space.

SPORTS

• The board of directors of USA Climbing, the national governing body for competitive climbing in the United States, has voted unanimously to pursue a partnership with Momentum to operate its National Training Center. The NTC will be in Salt Lake City and house the headquarters for USA Climbing; host large-scale events; and provide a variety of training spaces, climbing terrain and other resources to strengthen the development of competitive climbers from across the country.

TECHNOLOGY

• Health Catalyst Inc., a Salt Lake City-based provider of data and analytics technology and services to healthcare organizations, has appointed Jill Hoggard Green as a member of its board of directors and a member of its compensation committee, effective Dec. 1. Hoggard Green has 39 years of healthcare experience, including serving as CEO of The Queen’s Health Systems. Before joining The Queen’s Health Systems as CEO in 2019, she served as president of Mission Hospital and served as chief operating officer of Mission Health in Asheville, North Carolina, from 2011 until it was acquired by HCA Healthcare in February 2019. Before that, she served as COO of the Oregon Region of Peace Health. She also spent more than 15 years at Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City. A registered nurse, Hoggard Green also has experience with oncology, bone marrow transplant units and hospice programs at hospitals, ambulatory and home health services in Utah, Oregon and North Carolina.