Building Utah

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. rPlus Energies is a renewable energy development company based in Salt Lake City, and has been instrumental in opening Utah’s market for utility-scale solar development. President Luigi Resta shares more on how they are helping meet the demands of the modern energy transition. LUIGI RESTA: Founded four and a half years ago, rPlus Energies develops utility-scale solar, wind, and solar plus battery projects, and, through a partnership known as rPlus Hydro, pumped storage hydropower projects. In Utah alone, we have eight large-scale projects under development or construction, or now in operation. Working closely with local stakeholders, landowners and county officials, rPlus developed Graphite Solar, which is operating in Carbon County, and is currently under construction on Appaloosa Solar in Iron County. These Utah-based projects denote more than a 2-billion-dollar investment in our economy, and continue Utah’s energy legacy. rPlus values partnering with elec

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. On February 14, 1898, one of our community’s most important institutions opened its doors – the City Library. Since then, the Library has only expanded its reach in the community. Salt Lake City Public Library Interim Executive Director Deborah Ehrman joins us with more. Deborah Ehrman: At The City Library, we know that a robust library system makes a city stronger and even more connected. In celebration of our 125th anniversary, and the 20th anniversary of the landmark Main Library, we are looking back at our history in 2023. The original City Library location had two rooms, with a collection of 10,000 books. We now circulate over 2.6 million items in eight locations throughout Salt Lake City’s neighborhoods. Besides books, movies, music, graphic novels, and magazines, we also have digital eBooks and audiobooks that our patrons can borrow without even stepping inside the library. We eliminated late fees back in 2017, and continue to break down equity barriers

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. For nearly 150 years, Westminster College has been known for excellence in education that has evolved to meet the needs of its students, region, and the world. Starting this fall, the college will evolve once again and become Westminster University. President Bethami Dobkin shares more. PRES. DOBKIN: We’re excited to become Westminster University this summer. This transition showcases the opportunities we give our students while preserving our core values and small classes. We know students are looking for supportive experiences that help them build an academic journey, one which is challenging, diverse, and impactful, both personally and professionally. We know families and employers are looking for growth and skill development that prepares students for a lifetime of achievement. We excel in bringing passion and profession together. Our undergraduate education provides all students opportunities to do hands-on research with professors from the time they a

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. The One Utah Summit provides a platform to engage in policy and business conversations. And, you can’t talk about Utah’s economy without placing it in the global context in which Utah companies compete and win every day. Presenting Partner World Trade Center Utah President & CEO Miles Hansen joins us with more. MILES HANSEN: This May, at Governor Cox’s One Utah Summit, we will once again convene the state’s industry and policy leaders to dive deep into the most pressing business, energy, and global issues facing Utah today. Whether you’re in the trenches as a business owner or just an engaged citizen who wants to learn more, you don’t want to miss the One Utah Summit. Here at World Trade Center Utah, we’re proud to partner on the One Utah Summit as part of our mission to accelerate global growth for Utah companies. In order to build economic resilience and boost prosperity, World Trade Center Utah helps businesses across the state increase international sales,

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Conventions, meetings, and leisure travelers have a remarkable impact on our economy. After shuttering the Salt Palace in 2020, it has now reopened to meetings and events, and is helping Salt Lake’s tourism industry bounce back. Visit Salt Lake President & CEO Kaitlin Eskelson shares more. KAITLIN ESKELSON: 2023 has been remarkable so far! We just had our biggest booking year ever, with 198 meetings, conventions, and sports events booked in 2022, representing nearly 900,000 room nights. We welcomed Outdoor Retailer back with a 5 year & 3 shows per year contract. Our first in-person Sundance Film Festival was a success with downtown Salt Lake activations like our Festival Music Lounges. And we just witnessed a record-setting NBA All-Star Weekend that created an estimated economic impact of $288 million and 33,000 booked room nights bringing more than 100,000 visitors. Tourism is a key economic driver for our state and county. In fact, It’s the 8th larges

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Childcare is crucial to Utah’s economic success. United Way of Salt Lake Vice President of Public Policy Elizabeth Garbe shares why. Elizabeth Garbe: Childcare is essential for working parents in Utah. It affords them time to further their careers or education and their children a strong foundation for future learning. Breakdowns in childcare, however, are putting families behind. We partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Salt Lake Chamber, Utah Community Builders, and Voices for Utah Children to release a report, “Untapped Potential in Utah,” examining Utah’s childcare landscape so the business community and legislative leaders can better understand the unique needs of working parents and impact of a lack of affordable childcare. The report estimates how often parents of young children leave the workforce or educational opportunities because of insufficient childcare. It outlines a conservative estimate of the direct financial impact the b

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Human trafficking occurs in every state and is vigorously prosecuted here in Utah. On the prevention side is the 3Strands Foundation, led in Utah by Terry Palmer, who is here with more. TERRY PALMER: One strand of string can be easily broken, but three strands woven together are strong. At the 3Strands, we bring together the three strands of employment, education, and engagement to strengthen the fight against human trafficking and exploitation. One of the key strands is education and through our PROTECT program, Utah educators are trained to identify physical signs and behaviors that might indicate a student is being victimized. Participants are also equipped with the resources needed to report cases of exploitation and help connect victims with services. We also offer age-appropriate curriculum to students to help prevent the crime before it starts. Students are taught to identify abusive tactics and signs of exploitation that occur both online and in person.

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Mayer Brown is a distinctively global law firm that regularly advises the world’s leading companies and financial institutions on their most complex deals and disputes. About one year ago, they opened an office in Salt Lake City. Partner Matt Moscon shares more. MATT MOSCON: Mayer Brown is a global law firm with 27 offices worldwide. Prior to opening our Salt Lake office, we hadn’t entered a new US market in more than 25 years. But, we saw something special in Utah its growing tech, life-sciences and clean energy industries, and we realized this is a market where we want local team. Our Salt Lake office has grown tenfold in just one year. Our client successes have exceeded all our expectations. We’ve also been active in the community working with organizations like The Road Home, we volunteered with Habitat for Humanity; the local universities; and we have joined organizations like the Salt Lake Chamber to support the community. We even formed an all-lawyer bowli

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Every March, the United States celebrates Women’s History Month, an annual month declared worldwide that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. It gives us the chance to reflect on and reevaluate our support for women at work, in the community, and at home. This includes talented business owners, leaders, legislators, and coworkers. Women’s History Month provides us the opportunity to highlight the achievements of women in business and to push for greater gender equality. This month we can all refocus and reprioritize our responsibility to make Utah a place where women are elevated in pay, responsibility, and support. Not only that, the Salt Lake Chamber will be celebrating by sharing stories about women who are making a difference in Utah, like Denevia Knight, External Affairs Director of Comcast Mountain West, and Ellen Winkler, Chief Visionary Officer of Q Factor and Industry, who believes in building communities t

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. The One Utah Summit on May 1st and 2nd is Utah’s largest bi-annual gathering of the state’s movers and shakers. And, is the only business summit organized and presented by the state through the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and its partners the Utah Office of Energy Development, World Trade Center Utah and Salt Lake Chamber. Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity Ryan Starks joins us with more. RYAN STARKS: The One Utah Summit, headed by the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity brings together the state top leaders in politics, business, energy, and community and provides a platform for engaging in business and policy conversations. Programming for the summit includes the most pressing issues and opportunities for growth and innovation. At this year’s summit, in addition to hearing from Governor Cox about economic opportunities and challenges facing the state, attendees will hear from headliners such as former NBA play

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. For almost 30 years, the local nonprofit, People Helping People, has been committed to helping low-income women and single moms reach their full potential in the workplace. Senior Program Manager Abby Warr shares more. ABBY WARR: Utah has one of the largest wage gaps in the nation, with women earning approximately 30 percent less than men. On top of that, the average working mom earned 58 cents for every dollar a working dad earned. People Helping People is dedicated to reducing the number of children living in poverty by helping low-income women and single moms reach adequate income through successful employment. People Helping People supports the long-term employment success of our clients by teaching from the employers’ perspective and providing positive role models, mentors, and examples of success. We have an upcoming Single Mother’s Seminar and Job Fair on March 23rd, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Sorenson Unity Center. This event is open to the public an

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Vision disorders are the most prevalent disabling condition for children in the United States and most can be corrected. However, early detection can help. Friends for Sight Executive Director Jamie Justice shares more. JAMIE JUSTICE: An estimated 58,000 children in Utah alone struggle in school due to poor eyesight, and only half of those children who need vision correction receive it. The impact of poor eyesight on school performance is profound. In fact, many children with poor eyesight show some of the same behavioral problems as those who are ultimately diagnosed with attention deficit disorders. With timely diagnosis from a professional, marked improvement in all aspects of young lives is possible with vision correction. That’s why we spend so much time in schools providing vision screenings. We also have two Vision Clinics and SightFest event where we partner with local optometrists and ophthalmologists to provide free, full eye exams and access to glas

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. The Utah Museum of Contemporary Art believes in the power of the art of our time. Through programming, advocacy, and collaboration, they work with artists and communities to build a better world. Executive Director Laura Hurtado joins us with more. LAURA HURTADO: For 90 years, the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art has worked with the leading artistic voices of our age. Originally called The Art Barn, and later Salt Lake Art Center, the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art was founded by a woman named Alta Rawlins Jensen in the middle of the Great Depression. Her vision for the Art Barn was to create a gathering space for artists and writers through the state. Today, UMOCA is an award-winning aesthetic force dedicated to advancing contemporary art in Utah. Last year alone, the museum welcomed over 55,000 guests, showed the works of over 100 artists, and offered educational programming to 123,000 Utah K-12 students, both in person and online. The museum features groun

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. The day Zions Bank opened for business in 1873, the Deseret News reported that it “promises to be one of the most important and beneficial institutions ever established…in this part of the Union.” Zions Bank’s Executive Vice President Rob Brough is with us to mark the 150th anniversary. Rob Brough: As Zions Bank commemorates its 150th anniversary in 2023, we are looking ahead. We pledge to continue to create value for the next 150 years. We recognize our responsibility as a leader in our communities and as the oldest financial institution headquartered in the Intermountain West. So, to continue our legacy of stewardship, we are making five commitments to our future. First, Zions Bank commits to bolstering business growth and innovation. We will continue to support our businesses and industries that create jobs, grow our economy, and foster a sustainable future. We also commit to making our clients stronger and to fostering economic opportunity for all. We’re he

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. World Trade Center Utah leads Utah’s international business development and elevates Utah’s global status to promote prosperity and build economic resilience. One way they do this is through the ‘Crossroads of the World’ series. Senior Director of Brand Julia Pappas shares more. JULIA PAPPAS: Last year, we hosted businesses and dignitaries from nearly 40 countries. The delegations visited Utah to forge connections through international trade. And while they were in town, World Trade Center Utah, the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, and the Salt Lake Chamber connected each of these groups to Utah businesses. From France and Ukraine to the United Arab Emirates, Korea, Australia and Peru, each of their visits marked one more global linkage and countless economic opportunities for those ready to expand their business and relationships internationally. I encourage listeners to watch for events in our ‘Crossroads of the World’ series. Throughout the year, we

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. The Utah Infertility Resource Center provides education and emotional support to those who are struggling to grow their families, so they are empowered, strengthened and equipped to move forward on their respective journeys. Executive Director Shelli Mecham shares more. SHELLI MECHAM: Since 2015, Utah Infertility Resource Center has filled a unique niche in supportive services to the 15 percent of Utah adults who experience infertility. Infertility is a frustrating and lonely experience and tens of thousands of our friends and family members are having it. The top two reasons why people don’t jump into IVF are (1) financial and (2) emotional. It costs $10 to 20,000 dollars to do IVF and most young couples simply don’t have the money. That said, 50 percent of our clients list the emotional toll as the reason they have not sought medical treatment. And that is why we are here! The Utah Infertility Resource Center supports people through the infertility journey wit

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. At 60 years young, Pioneer Theatre Company is one of Utah’s finest arts institutions and one that continues to innovate. Their mission is to bring audiences the finest in-person entertainment possible. Artistic Director Karen Azenberg shares more. KAREN AZENBERG: At Pioneer Theatre Company we provide entertainment that explores the breadth of human experience, making our audiences feel seen, allowed to dream, to laugh, to cry, and to have a deeper appreciation for the world around them. Each season, we present seven productions including big, splashy musicals fresh from Broadway; classic dramas and comedies; and thought-provoking world and regional premieres. Like our upcoming Utah premieres, Heidi Schreck’s Pulitzer Prize Finalist for Drama, What the Constitution Means to Me and the seven-time Tony nominated musical, The Prom. This past fall, Pioneer Theatre Company had the distinction of becoming the first (and only) Utah-based theatre company to produce

DEREK MILLER: This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Utah women have always made history, but the stories we tell don’t always reflect their contributions. That’s where Better Days comes in – a nonprofit dedicated to elevating Utah women’s voices in history through educational materials, events, and public art. Executive Director Katherine Kitterman shares more. KATHERINE KITTERMAN: Our state has a long legacy of women’s political involvement. Did you know Utah women were at the forefront of the national suffrage movement to extend voting rights to women nationwide? Or that Utah women were the first in the U.S. to vote under equal suffrage laws – all the way back in 1870? There’s a monument to that first vote cast by Seraph Young at Council Hall, across the street from the State Capitol. These lessons are crucial to our state’s history and many times forgotten about. At Better Days 2020, we believe that by exploring the legacy of our past, we can make Utah a better place for women in the future.

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Since 2002, Targa Media has been helping local, national and global businesses get their products to their most valuable customers using targeted and segmented marketing practices. President & CEO Jason Steed shares more. JASON STEED: Founded in Salt Lake City, Targa Media is a marketing firm focused on helping clients reach their most valuable customers. Whether we’re working with local businesses or global Fortune 500 companies, our method centers on human motivation. We work hard to understand each product and the people who need it most, and then we build campaigns that match up with emotional triggers. We keep our clients informed every step of the way—from napkin scratches to final designs—so they never waste time or money on dead-end campaigns. We believe in the value of in-person collaboration, and our hybrid schedule brings our full team together weekly for creative interaction. For more than 20 years, we’ve handled each project as a group effort, so

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. After experiencing nearly an entire decade of drought in the State of Utah, Utah's citizens, government officials and media members have rallied around the need to think differently about the way we plan, use and conserve Utah's water. Foxley & Pignanelli Partner Steve Styler joins us with more. STEVE STYLER: For the second straight year, Utah's legislature will invest hundreds of millions of dollars to more efficiently use and conserve Utah's water resources. Utah's division of water rights and water resources are carefully and strategically executing their plans to ensure water availability for Utah. We have been fortunate to pair these policy and funding decisions with more favorable weather patterns that have delivered above-average snowpack to the entire state of Utah. However, a favorable weather pattern is not a long-term solution for the state of Utah. Every farm, corporation, organization, and citizen of Utah needs to pitch in. Each new business seeking