Dane Ishihara
The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity has named Dane Ishihara as director of the newly formed Utah Office of Regulatory Relief. The office, the nation’s first of its kind, was recreated in the 2021 legislative session. As director, Ishihara will create a framework for analyzing risk levels to Utah consumers related to health, safety and financial well-being. The framework will consider permanently removing or temporarily waiving laws and regulations inhibiting the creation or success of new and existing companies or industries. Ishihara has more than 15 years of experience working for the state of Utah. He previously worked at the Utah Department of Commerce, including managing the Utah Residence Lien Recovery program that balances mechanic lien enforcement between homeowners and lien claimants. Additionally, he coordinated with physicians and pharmacists to ensure patients had quicker access to naloxone to prevent opioid overdoses. Ishihara completed his undergraduate degree in economics and a master’s degree in community leadership at Westminster College.