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ARTS
• The Gateway in Salt Lake City has a pair of new art installations. One is a crosswalk design at the 100 South intersection and featuring lemons for summer flavor. The other is “Color Rain,” which features hundreds of colorful ribbons floating above Restaurant Row. Color Rain is on display for a limited time at the south end of the shopping center. The Gateway continues to support local artists by giving them a platform to showcase their works in various shop windows.
BANKING
• TAB Bank, based in Ogden, has closed a $4 million asset-based lending and $2.5 million equipment loan with HydroEdge Solutions, a Pennsylvania-based water transfer and fluid management services provider for the energy industry. TAB Bank structured the deal as an accounts receivable-only ABL facility, with an initial funding of $4.4 million composed of both ABL and new equipment funding lines. The capital will allow HydroEdge Solutions to expand its operations, furthering its commitment to efficiency, safety and sustainability. HydroEdge specializes in delivering fluid management solutions, ensuring the seamless transfer of fluids from the source to the destination without leaks, interruptions or incidents. The company’s services include automation, trucking and water transfer.
CONTESTS
• The Salt Lake Chamber is accepting nominations until 5 p.m. June 20 for the Athena Leadership Award and Pathfinder Awards, which will be presented in November at the 225 Women & Business Conference and Athena Awards Luncheon. The Athena Leadership Award recognizes accomplished individuals who actively support women in attaining professional excellence and leadership skills. The Pathfinder Award is given to business and community leaders who “create new paths” and promote the development and recognition of women in business. Nominations may be made at https://slchamber.chambermaster.com/eventregistration/register/15662.
ECONOMIC INDICATORS
• The King’s English Bookshop in Salt Lake City is Utah’s “most popular small business,” according to a survey conducted by business financing company Advance Funds Network, which asked which small businesses people would be willing to drive more than an hour to reach. Coming in second was Caputo’s Market & Deli in Salt Lake City. Details are at https://advancefundsnetwork.com/devoted-drives-survey-uncovers-the-nations-most-visited-small-businesses/.
• Utah is ranked No. 9 on a list of “best states for older workers,” compiled by Seniorly. It analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census Bureau and the Federation of Tax Administrators related to median income, income tax, remote work, labor force participation, business growth rate, and age-related workplace discrimination. Utah is No. 4 for median household income, at $67,374; tied for 11th for older adults in the labor force, at 32.5 percent; and No. 13 for older workers working remotely, at 18.9 percent. The top state for older workers is Washington. The worst is Mississippi. Details are at https://www.seniorly.com/resource-center/seniorly-news/best-states-for-older-workers-2025.
• Bryce Canyon National Park is Utah’s most popular park to visit during National Park Week, according to a survey of travelers by Gunther Volvo Coconut Creek. Bryce Canyon was ranked No. 19 overall. Other Utah parks on the list are No. 36 Zion National Park, No. 122 Dead Horse Point State Park, and No. 192 Goblin Valley State Park. The top-ranked location overall is Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. Details are at https://www.gunthervolvocars.net/park-pursuits.htm.
EDUCATION/TRAINING
• The Saras AI Institute, a Salt Lake City-based AI-exclusive, fully online, degree-granting higher education institute, is offering a new course called “Powers of AI,” an eight-week, beginner-friendly, online course designed for working adults who want to explore artificial intelligence. The course costs $99 and offers a self-paced curriculum that covers AI concepts such as machine learning, neural networks, generative AI, prompt engineering and more. No coding or math experience is required. The course can provide credit toward a certificate in AI or a degree. The course is taught via weekly live Zoom sessions. Participants will receive a certificate of completion, and those who earn an A or B in the course may apply the experience as the first three credits toward Saras’ 18-month AI associate degree. Enrollment is underway for the May 26 session. Details are at https://www.sarasai.org/lp/us/powers-of-ai.
• Nightingale College, a Salt Lake City-based nursing education institution, has announced that its LPN-to-RN Bridge Program has been named the No. 1 Licensed Practical Nurse-to-Registered Nurse program in Utah for 2025 by PracticalNursing.org, an authority in nursing-education rankings. In its announcement, PracticalNursing.org praised Nightingale’s program for excelling in curriculum quality, faculty expertise, flexibility and licensure exam readiness. PracticalNursing.org evaluates programs using accreditation and NCLEX pass rates, affordability, student support services, and career-advancement outcomes.
EXPANSIONS
• Pinnacle Mergers & Acquisitions, an auto dealership brokerage firm, has announced the sale of Ocean Honda of San Juan Capistrano in Orange County, California, by Victory Automotive Group to Jerry Seiner Auto Group, which operates dealerships across Utah and Nevada. It now will operate under the name Jerry Seiner Honda. Financial terms were not disclosed. This transaction marks Jerry Seiner Auto Group’s first acquisition in California and its first Honda dealership. Pinnacle represented Victory Automotive Group in the transaction.
PHILANTHROPY
• Associates and managers from 12 Walmart stores recently provided 36 faculty members at Roots Charter School in West Valley City with teacher appreciation baskets, and students were given Easter baskets containing candy and toys. The baskets were filled with water bottles, pens, markers, gloves, seed packets, candy, candles and more.
REAL ESTATE
• HF Sinclair has signed a 40,367-square-foot lease at The 324, a landmark redevelopment at the corner of 300 South and State Street in downtown Salt Lake City. The long-term lease is on the top floor of the five-story office building, which is owned and operated by Mortenson Properties and Hamilton Partners. Originally built in 1911, The 324 was recently renovated. The lease announcement was made by JLL, whose Jami Marsh and Amanda Lawson represented the landlord, with CBRE representing HF Sinclair.
RECOGNITIONS
• The Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce has announced that the “Big Hat Award” recipient this year is Col. Michael “Drifter” Gette, who has been the 388th Fighter Wing commander at Hill Air Force Base since June 2023. The award is presented by the Top of Utah Military Affairs Committee. Gette will be honored during a May 29 event, although details have yet to be determined. Gette assumed command of the base’s F-35A Lightning II flying unit after serving as the vice commander of the 388th Fighter Wing for two years. He has been in the Air Force for 26 years. Before joining the 388th, he served as the chief of NORAD’s Future Operations Division at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.
• A team called Aloe earned the $20,000 grand prize at the 15th Annual Bench to Bedside competition hosted by the University of Utah’s Center for Medical Innovation. Developed by students from the University of Utah and Brigham Young University, Aloe uses machine learning to detect asymptomatic rotator cuff tears early, aiming to prevent reinjury and improve long-term outcomes. This year’s competition involved 31 teams with over 600 attendees. A total of 140 student competitors participated, representing more than 30 academic disciplines and six universities (UofU, BYU, Utah Valley University, Northeastern Ohio Medical University, Montana State University and the National University of Singapore). In addition to Aloe’s grand prize, $60,000 in milestone funding was awarded to 10 other award winners. Over the academic year, teams collaborate with healthcare professionals and industry leaders to develop and prototype new medical technologies while building strategies for regulatory approval and market adoption. Sponsored by the Crocker Catalyst Foundation and University of Utah Health, the Bench to Bedside program has provided over $1.5 million in funding since 2012.
• Leina Jaramillo, director of professional recruiting at Spherion of Utah, has been named the Spherion “Top Direct Hire Recruiter of the Year” nationwide for her talent matching and client services. Spherion is a national recruiting and staffing company. Jaramillo has over 19 years of professional staffing and recruiting experience focused on executive, sales, marketing, finance, human resources, administration, technology and hospitality experience. She also has consistently ranked at the top of all recruiters nationally in Spherion’s 160 franchise locations.
