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ASSOCIATIONS
- ULI (Urban Land Institute) Utah has announced Josh Green and Blake Thomas as Community Outreach Committee co-chairs and Chad Thomas as its new Southern Utah liaison. Green and Blake Thomas succeed Kersten Swinyard and Jason Boal as committee co-chairs. Green has been working in real estate for nearly 20 years, starting in leasing and property management and then moving to multifamily appraisal and consulting, where he spent 11 years of his career with Western States Multifamily. In 2018, he shifted to residential development and joined C.W. Urban (now Cole West). He currently runs his own development shop, Alchemy Design+Development, and focuses on infill townhome communities. He is active as a real estate consultant and is an adjunct instructor in the University of Utah’s MRED program. Blake Thomas is the senior advisor for real estate and capital projects for Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. Prior to his appointment to this position, he served as the director of the Department of Community & Neighborhoods, which includes Building Services, Housing Stability, Planning, Real Estate Services, Transportation, and Youth & Family divisions. Prior to working for Salt Lake City, Thomas held various positions at Salt Lake County, including economic development director and executive director of the Salt Lake County Redevelopment Agency, and worked for the State of Utah’s Office of Energy Development, where he focused on renewable energy development and alternative transportation projects. He earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and a master’s degree in human dimensions of ecosystem science and management, both from Utah State University. Chad Thomas has over a decade of experience in public administration and economic development at roles in multiple cities and counties. That includes serving as vice president of economic development for Iredell County Economic Development Corp.; working for Provo and Layton cities in Utah; the town of Kilmarnock in Virginia; and the town of Davidson in North Carolina. His education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Communication degree (with a public relations emphasis) from Southern Utah University.
BANKING
- Chartway, a Virginia-based credit union with branches in Utah, Texas and Virginia, has announced that Chartway Ventures, its credit union service organization, has elected two new board members to its board of managers: Jennifer Addabbo, CEO and co-founder of Engage fi; and Samantha Paxson, CEO and founder of Power & Light Collaborative. Addabbo and Paxson succeed outgoing board members Sean Banerjee and Phil Olson. Engage fi is an 80-person consulting firm assisting financial institutions with strategic planning, technology selections, contract negotiations, and implementations. PLC is a strategic growth consultancy focused on bridging the gap between innovation and community-focused financial institutions. Paxson previously served as chief experience officer at Co-op Solutions (now Velera) and has expertise in digital transformation and strategic growth.
ENERGY
- Ionic Mineral Technologies, a Provo-based company focused on silicon-based battery materials, has appointed Ismail Yildirim as head of production. He will lead the scaling-up of Ionisil, Ionic’s halloysite-derived nano-silicon anode materials, while also commercializing its high-purity alumina (“boehmite”) that is part of next-generation battery applications and beyond. Yildirim has over 25 years of experience in industrial mineral processing and hydrometallurgical engineering. His career includes working at KaMin LLC, BASF Corp. and IMERYS. He holds multiple patents in kaolin purification, calcination and alumina silicate innovations.
INDOOR ENTERTAINMENT
- Sky Zone, a Provo-based indoor trampoline park and family entertainment franchise, has promoted Mike Revak, formerly president of Sky Zone Franchise Group, to chief operating officer and appointed Sherin Sakr as chief legal officer. As COO, Revak’s leadership will expand beyond franchise operations and development, overseeing all operations-related functions across the Sky Zone network of parks. Revak joined Sky Zone in 2011 as the chief operating officer of Rockin’ Jump, which later became part of the Sky Zone brand. Since then, he has held several leadership positions, including chief business officer, president of Sky Zone Franchise Group, and most recently president of Franchise. Sakr has nearly two decades of experience in franchising, including expertise spanning various industries, including food, real estate, personal services, and now active entertainment. Founded in 2004, Sky Zone owns, operates and franchises more than 265 parks.
LAW
- Buchalter has hired Jeremy Adamson as a shareholder in its Salt Lake City office. He is chair of the Labor & Employment practice in Utah, bringing experience in commercial disputes, employment law and regulatory matters. Adamson represents clients in a wide range of disputes, from initial proceedings through trial. His commercial litigation experience includes breach of fiduciary duty claims, fraud, shareholder rights disputes, and breach of contract matters. He also counsels employers on compliance with federal and state employment laws and defends against class actions, PAGA claims and wrongful termination cases. Adamson also has regulatory experience, including defending clients in Federal Trade Commission and Securities and Exchange Commission investigations.
RECOGNITIONS
- Five Utahns have been named to the “2025 Female Founders 500” list, a list compiled by media company Inc. The eighth annual list highlights “the nation’s top business leaders who challenge the status quo to tackle some of the world’s biggest problems.” The honored Utahns are Allyse Jackson, Beehive Meals; Jenny Ahlstrom, HealthTree Foundation; Jenny Grobert, BookSmarts Accounting & Bookkeeping; Shea McGee, Studio McGee; and Tai Christensen, Arrive Home. McGee and Christensen are labeled as “trailblazers” breaking down barriers in male-dominated fields, Jackson a “brand architect,” Grobert a “power broker” and Ahlstrom a “wellness warrior.” Each year, Inc. editors review thousands of applications highlighting female founders and applicants through three rounds of judging, looking specifically at an entrepreneur’s accomplishments in the past year. Criteria include quantifiable metrics such as revenue, sales, revenue growth, funding and audience size. Inc. also looks for qualitative metrics, including social media momentum and stories of impact. Applicants are additionally evaluated through the program’s advisory board.
- Ducks Unlimited, a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats, has announced the recipients of the 2025 Wetland Conservation Achievement Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to North America’s wetlands and waterfowl conservation and restoration. The awards were presented at the 90th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. The recipients' list includes Joel Ferry, executive director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources since June 2022. He has been a leader in advancing wetland and waterfowl conservation in Utah. A fifth-generation farmer from Corinne, Ferry has a ranch that includes floodplain wetlands where his family has made habitat improvements, including wetland enhancement and invasive species removal. He also served as a Utah House representative.
RESTAURANTS
- Konala, an Idaho-based fast-food brand, has secured a five-unit franchise deal in Salt Lake City. New franchisee Tyson Adams, with a home base in Spokane, Washington, has a background in multi-unit operations. He previously served as a district manager overseeing Jersey Mike’s locations. He and his team are working on real estate selection, with the first Salt Lake City location expected to open soon. Konala was founded in 2023.
SERVICES
- John and Tim Larsen recently took over ownership of Spherion Staffing & Recruiting’s offices in Layton, Ogden, Orem, Salt Lake City and Taylorsville. They succeed Ron Zarbock, who dedicated 18 years to supporting the local workforce by connecting businesses with top talent and helping job seekers find meaningful employment opportunities. Zarbock remains a Spherion franchisee in Boise, Idaho, and will support them in the transition. John Larsen’s career includes entrepreneurial ventures focused on technology and HR solutions, as well as executive leadership at Ford Motor Co., where he developed programs to optimize talent and align resources with the business’s needs. Tim Larsen’s background in finance and operations includes more than 16 years working with manufacturing and light industrial companies. Spherion will continue to focus on both general and professional staffing, offering temporary, temp-to-hire and direct-hire services. The company will maintain a strong emphasis on light industrial roles while also expanding its presence in professional recruitment.
TECHNOLOGY
- Uplevyl, a Texas-based female-forward technology platform, has launched UP, a social platform designed to amplify women’s voices and create meaningful connections in the digital space. Among those involved is Jacki Zehner, who will become chief engagement officer. Zehner was the youngest woman and first female trader to become a partner at Goldman Sachs in 1996. She went on to co-found Women Moving Millions, a membership organization that has collectively committed over $1 billion to improve the lives of women and girls. She also founded SheMoney, a Park City-based company dedicated to advancing women’s financial wellness through community, content and consulting.
