http://utahbusiness.com The latest news from utahbusiness.com en-us 2008 Utahbusiness.com - All Rights Reserved  When the University of Utah ranked No. 1 in the country for spinning out innovative companies (that’s right, No. 1, beating renowned research universities including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology), many were surprised. The U’s accomplishment was even more significant when you consider the fact that MIT received almost five times more research funding, $1.3 billion, compared to the U’s approximately $273 million, according to the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. But Utah’s universities have a long legacy of spinning out companies—a legacy that, as the U’s achievement demonstrates, is continuing today. Here’s a look at five promising companies fresh out of Brigham Young University, Utah State University and the University of Utah.   Dynamic Screening Solutions, Inc. (DSS)   “We don’t try to solve the world’s problems; we just want to take the headaches out of required paperwork,” says Adrienne Akers, president and CEO of DSS. In its inception at Utah State University, the technology was developed to solve one problem: duplication of information in a variety of paperwork.             The Web-based system, branded as Utah Clicks, is used by the state of Utah to enable families to complete, electronically sign and submit required paperwork for multiple state programs, such as Baby Your Baby or Head Start. Applicants enter data such as birthdates or social security numbers just one time—and the software populates the information in applications for multiple programs.                 The system has been adopted by other states, and now DSS is launching a product for the human resources industry. Called 321Forms, the product will enable new hires to fill out multiple forms without duplicating any of the data entries.     Xeromax Sciences LLC   Xeromax Sciences’ innovative technology, spun out of Brigham Young University, is a method for treating fabrics that makes them ultra water repellent without changing their look or feel. “We incorporate the use of plasma along with chemical processes in the vapor phase to introduce our treatments to the surface of fabrics. This process creates a water-repellent barrier that outlasts any other durable water repellent currently in use,” says Jon Ward, COO of Xeromax Sciences. “Our technologies are applied at the nano-level, meaning that they are virtually undetectable.” The technology is applicable to a variety of industries such as outdoor equipment and furniture, apparel, carpeting or linens.     Short Solutions   The Short Solutions technology enables auto dealers and repairs shops to diagnose and solve the frustrating problem of intermittent electrical shorts in vehicles. The company’s SmartFuse device is plugged into the fuse box of a car that has an intermittent fault to record data while the customer drives the car. When the fault occurs, the SmartFuse will record the type and the location of the fault so that it can easily be fixed.             The Short Solutions device is based on spread spectrum time domain reflectometry technology that was developed at the University of Utah.     Teton Botanicals Inc.   Teton Botanicals is producing and selling a lotion under the brand name Logan Botanicals that is made with avocado oil and pure plant extracts. So what makes that unique? The company employs a technology that structures liquid avocado oil and pure water into tiny vesicles about one third of the size of a red blood cell. A vegetable emulsifier helps bind the water and oil together.             The resulting lotion feels cool and soothing when applied—not greasy or sticky at all.             The Teton Botanicals formula was derived from research at Utah State University. “The College of Agriculture at Utah State University is a leader in the technical areas that are important to the future of our business,” says Steve Bernet, co-founder of Teton Botanicals. The company currently sells its product in the Logan area, but has immediate plans to expand into national and international markets.     Veritract   Veritract is developing a “smart” feeding tube that will allow health care workers to insert feeding tubes quickly and correctly—and without the need for a follow-up X-ray to confirm correct placement.             The Veritract tube employs fiber optics and directional control, giving clinicians real-time vision to help guide the tube into the stomach or small intestine. This smart tube reduces the risk of misplacing tubes in other parts of the body, such as the lungs, and helps reduce the traditional cost of placing a feeding tube. Veritract was founded by Dr. John Fang, a gastroenterologist with the University of Utah, to ensure that patients can benefit from enteral feeding in a safe and timely manner.   http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10121 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 Heather Stewart  September 3, 2010 Davis County dignitaries gathered around as Bob and Randy Harmon, co-owners and vice presidents for Harmons Grocery Stores used a track hoe to break ground on what will be a new 69,381 square-foot  flagship grocery store for the much-anticipated Station Park project in Farmington. Harmons is the first retailer to break ground at the 67-acre lifestyle shopping center being developed by CenterCal LLC. The store - - located at the intersection of I-15, Highway 89, Legacy Parkway and the Frontrunner Commuter Rail - - will feature a full array of fresh foods and a large delicatessen with chef-prepared entrees that will be easy for locals and commuters to pick up and take home to hungry families.   “We’re thrilled to be able to introduce Harmons’ signature foods to our new friends in Davis County,” said Bob Harmon. “They’ll find that the Harmons grocery shopping experience is very different from anything else in Utah.” Bob and Randy Harmon told groundbreaking guests that the Station Park store will be very similar to Harmons’ Bangerter Crossing store in Draper, which offers a fresh wok bar, a carving station with hot entrées, Italian gelato, a gourmet cheese island, salad and olive bars, a custom-meat counter, an artisan bakery with fresh breads and pastries, and a produce department featuring local and organic fruits and vegetables.  Shoppers can also expect to see a full-service floral department, a pharmacy, local credit union, a Tempér gourmet cooking accessories section, and a full variety of canned and packaged groceries. Above on the mezzanine will be a cooking school and an upscale seating area with a fireplace, couches, tables and chairs and Wi-Fi access. CenterCal President, Jean Paul Wardy, said the one million square-foot Station Park project will be the preeminent lifestyle shopping center in Northern Utah, with exclusive retailers set in a walkable, park-like atmosphere. Plans include a 14-screen state-of-the-art Cinemark movie theater with XD, more than a dozen restaurants and a broad selection of apparel, home goods and entertainment opportunities, offering Weber and Davis County residents an experience unrivaled in the region. Since 1932, Harmons has grown from a fruit stand to 13 stores and is ranked as one of the state’s top 20 largest privately-owned companies headquartered in Utah.  Harmons employs 2,400 people and anticipates increasing its payroll by approximately15 percent in 2011. The local grocer employs 150 - 200 associates per store including chefs, butchers, bakers and food experts who prepare Harmons’ signature made-from-scratch foods from the finest ingredients. The Station Park Harmons is slated to be completed in May 2011. Harmons announced that R & O Construction is the general contractor and Prescott Muir is the architectural firm for the new grocery store. ESI Construction is the general contractor for Station Park. Harmons also recently broke ground on its City Creek store in Salt Lake City, with a target completion date of fall 2011. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10122 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  September 3, 2010 BSD Medical Corporation reported that the Company has received certification that the MicroThermX Microwave Ablation System (MTX-180) meets all requirements for safety and performance needed for compliance with the IEC 60601-1, safety standard, “Medical Electrical Equipment Part 1: General Requirements for Safety.” IEC 60601-1 is the global benchmark for safety of medical equipment and is a crucial tool for demonstrating compliance with regulatory requirements around the world, including the requirements for CE Marking and FDA clearance. Receipt of this certification will allow BSD to add the TUV safety mark to the MTX-180 system. Nearly all hospitals and clinics in the U.S. require a safety mark on equipment prior to purchase. “The receipt of this safety certification for the MTX-180 is a significant milestone for the Company and critical for marketing the MTX-180 system in the U.S. and Europe, as well as in most markets throughout the world,” stated Harold Wolcott, President of BSD. “We are excited to have completed this important step toward marketability of the MTX-180.” TÜVRheinland® performed independent testing of all components and operations of the MTX-180 and performed an on-site assessment of BSD’s internal control systems for ensuring product quality before it accredited the MTX-180. TÜVRheinland is a nationally recognized testing laboratory and is recognized as a U.S. National Certification Body by the International Electrotechnical Commission. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10123 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  September 3, 2010 Five Star Painting, Inc. already offers a comprehensive variety of painting services, but this once exclusive painting company has now announced that they are branching out to other service forms. Five Star Painting, Inc. is unveiling their newest brand: Five Star Holiday Décor, which will offer holiday lighting services and tree delivery. CEO Mark Knoch says, “This new company will be adding some exciting holiday services to Five Star’s repertoire and I’m positive we will maintain the quality of service that Five Star is known for.” The winter holidays are a hectic time of year. However, the cheery glow and decorative warmth that holiday lights and a bright Christmas tree bring to a room are indispensable. Most families have to juggle visiting family members, planning holiday meals, as well as ensuring that everyone they care about is crossed off of their gift list. Piling any other tasks on top of that makes it seem impossible. To ease the typical holiday to-do list, Five Star Holiday Décor can take care of the picking out of the tree (living, artificial or fresh-cut) and the delivery, as well as designing and installing lights, whether it is a simple frame or an extravagant display; jolly, blinking lights will light up your home, worry-free. Allowing Five Star Holiday Décor, Inc. to take care of the timely and hazardous job of putting up lights can afford families the opportunity to truly enjoy the holidays. Installation, followed by scrupulous maintenance, is topped off by removal and then finalized by neat storage; the worst characteristic of Christmas lights is the underhanded way the strands manage to mangle and tangle with each other, but this is a difficulty that Five Star Holiday Decor can easily alleviate. Timely removal also ensures avoiding an embarrassing seasonal faux pas. In an effort to do their part to make what is often a wasteful tradition into something less harmful, Five Star Holiday Décor is also offering a recycling program for old and no longer usable lights. Besides recycling, Holiday Décor is also partnering with Alliance for Community Trees, an organization focused on urban forestry. They will provide access to a local greenbelt where customers may plant their living trees. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10124 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  September 3, 2010 Hamilton Partners announces that 222 Main, the company’s recently completed project and Salt Lake City’s newest high-rise, has been received LEED Gold certification.  Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. In a presentation Tuesday, August 31, 2010, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker presented Bruce Bingham with a certificate and glass plaque, officially certifying the building as LEED certified. For the duration of the project, Hamilton Partners has been expecting to earn LEED Silver certification.  “All along, we were confident we would earn LEED Silver certification,” said Bruce Bingham, partner at Hamilton Partners. “There came a point, however, when we realized Gold certification was attainable.  So we decided to put forth more resources and commit to building the most environmentally responsible and efficient structure we could.” LEED certification is obtained and awarded through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Applicants must meet a series of demanding requirements, each worth a certain amount of points. Depending on the number of requirements met, a score and LEED certification level is awarded. “Buildings are a prime example of how human systems integrate with natural systems,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO & founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council.  “As the newest member of the LEED family of green buildings, 222 Main is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement.”    This announcement officially makes 222 Main Salt Lake City’s first LEED certified multi-tenant office building, and the state’s fifth LEED Gold certified building. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10125 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire   September 3, 2010 The University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business was rated one of the top business and accounting colleges in the U.S. by PARADE Magazine in its Aug. 22, 2010 edition. The national Sunday newspaper magazine said University of Utah’s business college is among those “outstanding schools that often fly under the radar” but offer “a big-league education.” PARADE is the most widely read magazine in the U.S. with a circulation of 32 million. “This national recognition as a leader in business and accounting education is an honor,” said Taylor Randall, dean of the David Eccles School of Business. “We work very hard to give students a competitive edge through a hands-on business education they won’t get anywhere else.” Real-world programs include University Venture Fund, the first and the largest self-sustaining student-run venture capital fund with $18 million, and The Foundry, a program in which student entrepreneurs bring their business dreams to fruition working with private equity industry veterans. The PARADE college A-list was created by 43 distinguished college counselors across the U.S. and coordinated by renowned expert Gwyeth Smith who was the subject of the 2009 book, Acceptance: A Legendary Guidance Counselor Helps Seven Students Find the Right College—and Find Themselves, by David L. Marcus. Recently, the David Eccles School of Business was recognized as one of the top 15 in the U.S. for preparing students in the field of business operations through a survey of 19,000 MBA students compiled by The Princeton Review and published in Entrepreneur magazine. The University of Utah was rated the best in the U.S., along with MIT, for creating research-based startup companies by the Association of University Technology Managers.  http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10126 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  Utah Business magazine is now accepting nominations for our annual Forty Under 40 recognition program. The top 40 professionals, who will be selected by a panel of judges and Utah Business editors, will be featured in the February 2011 issue of Utah Business. The Forty Under 40 program recognizes business professionals under the age of 40 who fit one of the following profiles: ·      A young executive who has climbed the corporate ladder quickly. ·      Someone who has achieved tremendous success by becoming a standout in his or her field. ·      A person who has demonstrated exceptional leadership. ·      An innovator who has created a disruptive technology with a major impact in an industry or market. ·      An entrepreneur who has successfully created an industry or market for a new product. Who do you know that fits these profiles? Nominations can come from a peer, business associate, friend or superior. Submit nominations to Managing Editor Sarah R. Francom at sarah@utahbusiness.com. Deadline is Friday, October 1, 2010. To nominate, please provide the following information: 1.     Nominee information a.     Name b.     Company c.     Title d.     Age e.     Email f.      Phone 2.     Nominator information a.     Name b.     Company c.     Title d.     Affiliation with nominee e.     Phone f.      Email 3.     Leadership ability (600 word limit) 4.     Community involvement (600 word limit) 5.     Business and personal philosophy (600 word limit) 6.     Nomination narrative (600 word limit) Questions? Email sarah@utahbusiness.com http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10116 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 Utah Business Staff   September 2, 2010 Utah-based staffing industry leader Prince, Perelson & Associates is bolstering its temporary staffing division—Perelson Temporary Staffing, signaling a continued commitment to the firm’s mission to fill its clients’ urgent temporary needs while meeting expectations of staffing excellence. The company has experienced a consistent increase in activity in its Temporary Division, leading it to add staff and resources to better serve clients who need top talent at the drop of a hat. This is true of companies that need extra help to cover special projects or provide critical coverage for employees who are out on leave. Companies also use Perelson Temporary Staffing to gain access to candidates on a temporary basis to determine fit and skill level before bringing them on as permanent employees. This Temp-to-Hire option has been an increasingly popular scenario for companies during the current economic climate. “During the past year, our clients have indicated that they are in need of qualified temporary employees that have been screened for skill set and organizational fit,” said Jill Perelson, owner and CEO of the Prince, Perelson Network. “We are answering the call by adding resources in order to grow our reach to potential clients, while providing exemplary service to our existing partners.” http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10117 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire   September 2, 2010 The University Federal Credit Union opened a new branch at 490 East 500 South on Wednesday, September 1, 2010. The building was purchased earlier this year by the Credit Union and had been previously occupied by Barnes Bank. “We are very excited to open this new branch to serve our membership located in the downtown area,” said Jack Buttars, president and CEO. “We also look forward to the opportunities this location provides to expand our business services and loans.” This new branch will be open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the drive-up also being open Saturdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  In addition to all the amenities you would expect at any full-service branch, this location provides ample parking, a 24-hour drive-up ATM, and night depository. Greg Lutz is the branch manager for this location. Lutz has been with the Credit Union since 2007 and has been working as the manager in the Member Development department. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10118 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  September 2, 2010 Qualifying Utah small businesses now have a new option to offer expanded health coverage to their employees while controlling their own health benefit costs. In a significant step forward, the Utah Health Exchange, which has operated as a pilot program for the past year, is now open to all employer groups with two to 50 individuals. “This is a huge success for the Utah Health Exchange, which is quickly becoming a model for the rest of the nation when it comes to health care reform,” Governor Gary R. Herbert said. “In Utah, we have moved forward with our own innovative reform without the one-size-fits-all restraints being imposed on us by the federal government. Utah has a thriving small business community, and this will help leverage the power of that community to expand insurance coverage and choice throughout the State.” Employees of participating Utah businesses can now use the Exchange to “shop” for health insurance policies that best fit their individual needs. Rather than having one or two options that are pre-selected for them by their employers, workers can choose from more than 60 different plans from four of Utah’s largest insurance companies: Humana, Regence, Select Health and United Healthcare. For employers, the Exchange offers access to Utah’s new defined contribution insurance market.  With defined contribution, employers simply decide how much money to contribute toward their employees’ health benefit. That defined contribution is then automatically included in the premium calculation as employees shop for plans in the Exchange. Defined contribution allows businesses to predict and contain benefit costs from year-to-year, and, for employees, is portable between qualified, registered employers. The Exchange also allows both employers and employees to retain the pre-tax advantages of traditional small group plans. By state statute, all plans offered through the Utah Health Exchange must meet federal standards for employer-sponsored coverage. This ensures that all plans offered through the Exchange will provide quality coverage from responsible carriers. It is also expected that the element of consumer choice – employees selecting their plans directly from carriers – will put downward pressure on prices and upward pressure on coverage quality. “The Exchange is a critical component in moving toward a patient-centric, consumer-based system that empowers the consumer and helps to reduce costs and improve quality,” said Spencer Eccles, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, which manages the Utah Health Exchange. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10119 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  September 2,  2010 Serial entrepreneur and former CEO and Chairman of MaxStream, Inc. Brad Walters today announced the launch of Monnit Corporation (www.monnit.com ), a wireless sensor company targeting the commercial, industrial and consumer wireless sensor markets.   Walters is the former vice chairman of the Utah Technology Council, an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Winner (2006) and founder, CEO and Chairman of acquired startup, MaxStream Inc. Innovations in wireless technologies such as Zigbee, Bluetooth, WiFi and proprietary Radio Frequency (RF) solutions have significantly decreased the cost of wireless links. Recent innovation and miniaturization of sensors have created the demand for inexpensive wireless sensors for the continual monitoring of various aspects of a business or residence. Traditionally, businesses have ignored sensor solutions, or used sensors in only mission critical applications due to high costs and complicated technology which required a full time IT person to manage the system. Monnit’s low-cost, reliable, simple-to-install solutions provide businesses with a means to monitor nearly anything without full time IT support and at a fraction of the cost. “Wireless sensors are quickly being adopted as a core part of the ‘Internet of Things’ where everyday devices can be identified, communicate status or provide alerts while being managed through computer networks,” said Walters. “Monnit’s mission is to be the global leader in low cost, reliable, accurate wireless sensors for commercial, industrial and consumer applications.” Monnit will provide a complete, easy to use monitoring solution starting with a comprehensive list of sensors, gateways used for connecting the sensors to the internet and local or online software programs which allow for configuring the sensors as well as stipulating the time, frequency and target of notifications.  Notifications can be sent via text message, e-mail and eventually voice message. “Brad has a proven track record of building high tech businesses that stimulate the economy and create new jobs,” said Richard Nelson, President & CEO of the Utah Technology Council.  “The wireless sensor market is still in its infancy and I’m confident that through Brad’s leadership and vision, Monnit will benefit Utah through the creation of new jobs and establish it as a leader in wireless sensors and the ‘Internet of Things.’” Monnit anticipates launching its first products in Q3 2010. These products will target the commercial market with the launch of evaluation kits customized for hotels and motels, convenience stores, self storage facilities, restaurants, and building and facility operations. Additionally, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) design kits will be available to allow technology entities the ability to create brand-able, off-the-shelf sensor platforms for integration into existing gateways or service offerings. Monnit is headquartered in Kaysville and has a Sales and Marketing center in Midvale.   http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10120 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire   September 1, 2010 Amedica Corporation, a spinal and orthopaedic implant and instrument company focused on unique silicon nitride (SiN) ceramic technologies, has been granted United States Patent No. 7,776,085 B2, covering an improved knee implant prosthesis that features a monoblock ceramic tibial component for articulation with natural or prosthetic (resurfaced) femoral surfaces. This is an important addition to Amedica's substantial and growing patent portfolio concerning silicon nitride hip and knee implants. The tibial component is created from a silicon nitride monoblock adapted for fixation relative to a patient's tibial bone. Alternately, it can be affixed by a ceramic bearing insert component carried by a tibial baseplate member that is adapted for fixation relative to the tibial bone. In either form, the monoblock silicon nitride tibial component includes one or more upwardly concave articulation surface that promotes movable bearing engagement with a generally convex or condylar-shaped femoral articulation surface. According to Ben Shappley, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director of Amedica, the monoblock silicon nitride technology with an innovative bone-contacting BioactiveT surface provides implants with remarkable wear characteristics and extended service life. In the long term, the technology helps surgeons achieve more successful outcomes in restoring patient function and allows individuals to return to productive and pain-free lives. "Improvements in knee prostheses using monoblock silicon nitride with bio-ingrowth technology in the tibial component eliminate conventional polymer-based bearing inserts and the related, undesirable wear debris problems and revisions associated with the older technologies used in current implants," said Shappley. "Our unique technology allows us to combine our high-strength silicon nitride with an ultra-low wear, surface-bearing technology that is designed for secure, lifetime fixation. This gives surgeons flexibility in design choices and the ability to improve anatomic fit and function for positive, lasting results and significant outcome improvement." Amedica, a full-line manufacturer and supplier of silicon nitride technologies that are used in spinal implant applications, has developed unique SiN materials having disruptive characteristics for spinal, hip and knee implant applications. The material is remarkably fracture resistant, and its articulating surfaces do not produce the wear debris that is linked to osteolysis-related re-operations. Additionally, the Bioactive implants provide a hydrophilic surface and a conductive cancellous structure that enhances bone ingrowth and attachment. The company recently entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with Orthopaedic Synergies Inc., a global reconstructive hip and knee concern known for its innovative and new implant technologies, expanding its reach into a more widespread orthopaedic marketplace. "This latest patent for expanded use of our monoblock silicon nitride technology further marks a notable milestone in orthopaedic implants and other related applications," Shappley notes. "It also further secures Amedica's future competitive position in the reconstructive implant segment, which is one of the largest and rapidly-growing segments in the industry." http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10111 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  September 1, 2010 The Ogden Front climbing and fitness facility is the first all-encompassing training and recreation center to come to Ogden. With more than 10,000 square feet of bouldering, lead and top-rope walls, plus a complete set of cardio and strength equipment, The Ogden Front offers a one-stop shop for climbing and fitness. Eliminating the need to choose between a climbing gym and a full-service fitness facility, The Ogden Front provides both in one membership.  The Front also has locations in Boise and Salt Lake City. “We’re excited to bring a well-rounded training and climbing facility to the Ogden community,” says Front Owner Dustin Buckthal. “It’s great to be a part of this emerging recreation mecca in Utah.” The Ogden Front also features the YogaLoft, a full service yoga studio. With classes seven days a week, the YogaLoft provides instruction in Ashtanga, VinyasaFlow, Yin Yoga and Restorative techniques. Three classes a week are included at the YogaLoft with a membership at The Ogden Front. The Ogden Front also offers a range of climbing classes for all skill levels. Instructors teach rope skills, harnesses, equipment, basic climbing techniques along with climbing lingo and commands. In addition to group classes, private lessons may be tailored to individual needs.   Located in the heart of Ogden, The Ogden Front is based in the newly renovated American Can Complex. The 100-year-old building with three walls of atrium windows has been transformed into an energy-efficient green facility. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10112 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  September 1, 2010 Business owners are changing the way they approach their retirement in light of economic conditions. The latest Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index, surveyed in July 2010, shows many business owners are looking at a later retirement with 69 percent of business owners not planning to retire or cut back on work until age 65 or older. This is a 17 percentage point increase in this category from December ’07 and a 28 percentage point increase from September ‘05. Respondents saying they plan to retire earlier than full retirement age (between ages 60 and 64) decreased to 21 percent from 27 percent. Those anticipating retiring before age 60 decreased to 11 percent from 21 percent in December ’07. Sixty-two percent of business owners surveyed indicated that they made changes to their retirement strategy as a result of the economic downturn. With continued pressure from the current economic environment, 68 percent of business owners say they are worried about not being able to build back retirement savings lost during the recent economic downturn. Since Q4 2007, fewer respondents (63 percent vs. 79 percent in 2007) were confident that they will have enough money to live comfortably when they do retire. “Many business owners are reinventing their business approaches in order to ensure financial stability for the long-run,” said Doug Case, Wells Fargo small business segment manager. “This often has a direct impact on personal retirement plans and tests the resilience and entrepreneurial flexibility which characterize small business ownership.” When asked what they would miss most about working, 78 percent say they would miss seeing their business grow and thrive, 74 percent would miss interacting with customers and 67 percent said they would miss working in a challenging environment. Forty-seven percent of respondents reported they never plan to retire unless forced to do so for health reasons, an increase from 40 percent reported in December 2007. The majority of survey respondents, however, look at retirement as a time to work at something they enjoy doing, on their own terms. In addition to being America’s number one small business lender, Wells Fargo is also a leader in retirement services. Karen Wimbish, head of Wells Fargo Retail Retirement, connects the small business owner experience to retirement planning for the greater consumer population. “These results tie closely to what we are seeing from an overall retirement planning picture with most consumers expressing that they are delaying their expected retirement an average of three additional years,” said Wimbish. “Small businesses account for most new hires and for 99.7 percent of all U.S. employers. As they make changes in order to keep their doors open, this creates changes for their employees’ financial security and retirement options as well. The success of small business is vital to the overall economic and retirement picture.” To see more on Wells Fargo’s retirement survey - click here https://www.wellsfargo.com/press/2009/20091105_Retirement http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10113 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  September 1, 2010 Strong & Hanni is pleased to announce the opening of its Sandy office.  The office is located on the 8th floor of the Jordan Commons building, 9350 South 150 East, Suite 820, Sandy, Utah 84070.  The move is to help better serve many of our clients located in the south end of the Salt Lake Valley and expand our practice in that area of the valley. Thirteen attorneys have moved their offices to this location; Robert L. Janicki, H. Burt Ringwood, Michael L. Ford, Graden P. Jackson, Andrew D. Wright, Lance H. Locke, Jacob C. Briem, James C. Thompson, Lori A. Jackson, William B. Ingram, Andrew B. McDaniel, R. Roman Groesbeck, and Adam D. Wentz. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10114 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  September 1, 2010 Up until now, SEO.com’s clientele was mostly made up of larger corporations and businesses with a bigger marketing budget. With one partnership, that’s all changed. SEO.com has partnered with Boostability.com, a local Internet marketing firm with a proprietary SEO platform, to offer clients Google maps optimization and other local Internet marketing services. “We’ve been seeking out a partner that could be a service provider for small, local accounts,” said Chris Knudsen, vice president of marketing. “We’ve found that in Boostability. They have great software, an equally great background in search, and a management team and product that will deliver results.” The affiliation comes after SEO.com experienced multiple years of rapid growth and is on track for a record year. In the last two years, the SEO company increased its monthly revenue by 600 percent and went from 12 employees to nearly 70 – and is still aggressively hiring. This April, SEO.com was named the No. 2 SEO firm by Website Magazine. The SEO company has been listed among the top 10 SEO firms in the country by PromotionWorld, and one of the top 25 fastest growing companies in Utah by the Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum two years running, including No. 6 in 2010. SEO.com also has been named among the Emerging Elite by MountainWest Capital Network. Through this partnership, SEO.com is now offering local search services (including local SEO and maps optimization) ranging from $200 to $1500 a month, in combination with its proven enterprise offerings. Boostability will fulfill the service for SEO.com and will greatly benefit from the addition of many new clients every year. “Given our incredible lead flow and reputation, we will now be able to service thousands of new accounts though this partnership,” said Nelson James, president of SEO.com. “We are pleased about being able to provide the value and benefit that comes from SEO to even more businesses in need.” “We’re excited to be a part of what SEO.com is doing, and to help both sides continue to grow,” said Travis Thorpe, CEO of Boostability. “They will be able to leverage our proprietary technology and we’ll benefit by getting more customers as a part of their brand.” http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10115 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire   August 31, 2010 Tesoro Corporation has acquired the existing Shell-branded wholesale supply contracts in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Utah and most of Idaho. The acquired contracts represent approximately 300 Shell-branded stations. Under the terms of the agreement, Tesoro may also grow the Shell brand through retail stations in these areas which are anchored by the company’s refineries in Mandan, North Dakota and Salt Lake City. “Shell has one of the most recognized retail gasoline brands in the world and we are pleased to expand our usage of the brand,” said Everett Lewis, executive vice president and chief operating officer. The transaction will become effective January 1, 2011. Post closing, the number of Shell-branded stations within the Tesoro retail system is expected to be approximately 650. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10106 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  August 31, 2010 The Park City Jazz Foundation, a Utah nonprofit corporation and producer of the annual Park City Jazz Festival, today announced its Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to place the Foundation into statutory dissolution. Articles of Dissolution were filed with the Utah Department of Corporations on Aug. 11, 2010. The Foundation is being represented in the dissolution by Jeffrey Weston Shields of the law firm Jones Waldo. “The combination of the economic downturn – which has severely affected our fundraising and reduced our event revenues – and the increased number of entertainment options for us to compete with has simply made it impossible for the Foundation to continue sponsoring the Festival and our other educational activities,” said Don Croce, volunteer executive director of the Park City Jazz Foundation. “As a Park City resident and long-time supporter of the Jazz Foundation, I’m sad it has come to this, but it’s the right thing to do under the economic circumstances. We are grateful for the support the Festival and the Foundation have received from members of this community over the years.” The Foundation was formed in 1997 by Lew and Arlene Fine to produce the Festival as a summer destination event in Park City. The Foundation appreciated the support of Festival title sponsor Fidelity Investments through 2007. However, the inability to replace the generosity of Fidelity Investments through a new title sponsor was a major contributing factor to the Foundation’s dissolution. “From my vantage point as a senior bankruptcy lawyer, I have never seen nonprofits under so much economic stress,” said Shields, who is a senior shareholder and chairman of Jones Waldo’s Bankruptcy/Creditor Rights Practice Group. “Unfortunately, many, like the Park City Jazz Foundation, will not survive.” Under the statutory dissolution procedure, creditors of the Foundation will receive notices of the dissolution and of the right to file claims and the time limits for filing claims with the dissolution agent. According to Croce, notice letters dated Aug. 20, 2010, were sent to known creditors by first-class mail. The statute provides a procedure for allowing, disallowing and determining claims which is somewhat similar to bankruptcy law. The dissolving entity retains the legal right to gather assets, sue and defend lawsuits, and take other steps to wind up its affairs. Once claims are determined, they will be paid pro rata within their levels of priority from available assets. “Our initial evaluation indicates the Foundation will have minimal, if any, assets for distribution to creditors, but the dissolution team will do its best to gather assets and turn them into cash,” Croce said. Jones Waldo, one of Utah’s most enduring and prestigious law firms, recently expanded its presence in Park City with a new office at Newpark and the addition of three new attorneys in the last year. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10107 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  August 31, 2010 USANA Health Sciences, a leader in nutritional supplement manufacturing, will be one of the first companies in the industry to utilize Nutritional Hybrid Technology. This cutting-edge manufacturing method was unveiled to thousands of USANA independent Associates in attendance at the company’s international convention. “USANA is proud to be a leader in the evolution of nutrition technology,” said Dr. Tim Wood, USANA executive vice president of research and development. “USANA’s Nutritional Hybrid Technology illustrates our commitment to innovative manufacturing practices and production of high-quality nutritional products.” Through Nutritional Hybrid Technology, USANA can now combine two distinct formulas into one bilayered tablet, allowing for advanced ingredient combinations while providing product stability. The technology will also help consumers simplify their nutritional regimen by decreasing the number of tablets they take each day. Two new USANA formulas, Proflavanol C100 and Hepasil DTX, were created with the new manufacturing technology and also unveiled at the company’s convention. Proflavanol C100 combines powerful proanthocyanidins from grape-seed extract with high-potency vitamin C to promote sound cardiovascular health, immune function, and healthy-looking skin. An in-house USANA study found that the combination of grape-seed extract and vitamin C in Proflavanol C100 provides long-term antioxidant activity and better protective effects than if they were not combined. USANA’s upgraded Hepasil DTX formula contains a proprietary blend of ingredients to maintain optimum liver support and aid in the body’s detoxification processes. Nutritional Hybrid Technology allows USANA to boost key ingredients in the supplement while maintaining product quality and stability. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10108 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  August 31, 2010 Green Processing Technologies, Inc. has entered into a second long-term Joint Venture Agreement with Edmonton, Canada, based CREEnergy Oil & Gas Co. The Joint Venture is for the purpose of development of the Canupaawakpa in-field oil reserves located in Manitoba, Canada. When asked to comment about this second JV Agreement with CREEnergy, Chairman/CEO Stephen D. Cummins replied, “This agreement moves GPTI forward on several technology implementation fronts. It also positions the Company as a long-term partner of CREEnergy in mutually beneficial and environmentally friendly development of natural resources in Canada.” Green Processing Technologies, Inc. is first and foremost a Green Technology development, fabrication and commercialization corporation. GPTI technologies include Power Generation, Oil and Sand Processing, Oil Shale Processing, Inland and Salt Water Oil Spill Remediation, Water Remediation, Water Desalinization and Medical Waste Remediation, and E-Waste Remediation. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10109 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  August 31, 2010 Lunchboxers (www.lunchboxers.com), a healthy alternative to traditional school lunches, was selected by the Utah Office of Education Child Nutrition Program to provide free and reduced lunch to children who qualify in schools throughout Utah. According to the National School Lunch Program, 16.3 million free lunches and 3.2 million reduced-price lunches are served annually to school-aged children. In Utah, 42 percent of families qualify to receive free or reduced-price lunches through this program. Lunchboxers was chosen based on its unique healthy school lunch program that strictly follows the USDA nutrition guidelines and focuses primarily on whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. The company also recently introduced its Farm-to-School Initiative focused on local farmers who supply fresh, local produce for the school lunches. “There is tremendous need to help families who qualify for these services, and as one of the only two approved vendors in the state, Lunchboxers will now have the ability to cater wholesome, high-quality and made-from-scratch meals to Utah schools,” said Jeremy Glauser, director of business development for Lunchboxers. “This is a milestone for Lunchboxers as the pioneer in school lunch catering, and we will continue to grow our business by providing a program that benefits both the families and schools.” Prior to this announcement of the approved vendors, Utah schools were required to individually seek out vendors that meet the National School Lunch guidelines. Many qualifying schools have not served free or reduced-price lunch because the extensive process necessary to finalize vendors typically lasted up to six months. The process will now be expedited through the Utah Office of Education Child Nutrition Program and could take as little as one month for schools to become a part of the Federal Government’s National School Lunch Program. No additional application process will be required for schools to provide this valuable service to their students. Lunchboxers provides a seamless process for schools to become involved. Lunchboxers’ convenient online ordering system allows parents and kids to choose from two different meals every day and, if they qualify for reduced lunches rather than free lunches, to pay for up to a month’s worth of lunch at one time. Lunchboxers also offers smaller-sized meals for students in K-5 and larger-sized meals for those in grades 6-12. Parents can place and/or cancel orders up to 8 a.m. the same day. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10110 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire Utah Business is now accepting 2010 Book of Lists information for the following industries: Hospitals and Assisted Living Facilities. If your company should be included, let us know. Basic information we’re looking for is: the company name, web site, main Utah address, phone and fax number, and contact name and title. Please contact Heidi Kulicke at heidi@utahbusiness.com for more information if your company warrants inclusion in these lists. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10101 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 Utah Business Staff Over the past few weeks, Ogden City Public Ways and Parks has been working with Cutler Paving on several road enhancement projects.  The Kansas City-based company has been demonstrating their technologically advanced method of rotomilling and paving asphalt streets.    The patented process involves the use of a large piece of equipment that rotomills the existing roadway, mixes the tailings with rejuvenating oil, reheats the mixture and then relays it on the surface of the road along with an additional layer of new asphalt.  This process is completed in one flowing pass reducing the amount of construction time dramatically with costs that mirror the in-house traditional process.    Since the tailings from rotomilling are reused instead of dumped in a landfill, it becomes more environmentally friendly than traditional processes. This procedure literally cuts weeks off the traditional process, which decreases the amount of time that the public is inconvenienced with street construction, as well as, frees up the streets crews so that they can accomplish more projects during the warm weather season.   For more information regarding street maintenance, please contact the Public Ways and Parks office at 801-629-8271. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10102 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire England Logistics, one of the nation’s top third-party logistics (3PL) providers, received honors as a Top 85 3PL by Food Logistics. Announced in this year’s July/August issue of the trade magazine, this award was given to outstanding 3PL providers who have made a recognizable difference in the supply chain processes of food, beverage and consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies. Food Logistics is an industry trade publication dedicated to providing news, trends, and best practices to over 25,000 executive members involved in warehousing, transportation, information technology, third-party and refrigerated services. The annual 3PL award recognizes 3PL providers who offer a wide range of transportation solutions addressing the needs of companies of varying sizes that make up the food supply chain. The resulting list is intended to serve as a directory to help other grocery and foodservice suppliers, distributors and retailers make better business decisions. England Logistics was voted on by the end users of the above mentioned solutions and further selected by the Food Logistics editorial staff. Katherine Doherty, editor-in-chief of Food Logistics comments, “Your leadership as a third-party logistics provider for the food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industries has made you stand out among your peers.” Josh England, president of England Logistics, accepted this award saying, “As a rapidly growing 3PL, England Logistics is honored to be recognized for what we do in each of these industry segments. England Logistics has historical roots in food supply chain dating back more than 90 years, but as we continue to grow and offer more and more solutions, we are well positioned to provide current and prospective customers, of all kinds, with truly first class transportation services.” http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10103 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire Salt Lake City-based Lifetree Clinical Research and Lifetree Center for Neuroscience Research, one of the largest specialized clinical research organizations in the Western region of the United States, will participate as an exhibitor at the 13th World Congress on Pain Aug. 29 through Sept. 6 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.  Lifetree chief medical director and lead investigator, Lynn R. Webster, M.D., will also present a poster and participate in two symposiums.  “We are looking forward to participating in the World Congress on Pain.  It is the world’s largest pain-related gathering, and it will be a great arena for Lifetree to introduce our specialized services to an international audience,” said Lifetree Clinical Research CEO Alice Jackson.  “Since 2003, Lifetree has steadfastly promoted the growing need for better pain-management solutions.  The World Congress on Pain provides a perfect platform for us to work with our peers and clients in developing solutions for pain relief throughout the world.  Dr. Webster is highly respected and a published thought leader in pain and abuse liability, and his presentations will provide great insight to interdisciplinary leaders.” Webster’s clinical research projects at Lifetree have produced important results on pain and pain mechanisms, substance abuse, addiction and the use of chronic pain medication and the impact these medications have on sleep.  He will participate in discussions at the World Congress on Pain regarding how to safely and appropriately prescribe opioids, which requires the assessment of patients for the risk of misuse or abuse of opioids.  Thought leaders will review common screening tools, their strengths and weaknesses and how to properly administer them in a busy practice. The discussion will close with suggestions on how to best manage the risks and aberrant behaviors assessed with the tools.  He will also participate in a detailed review of the clinical data supporting the efficacy and safety of dual-opioid therapy in acute pain.     The World Congress on Pain is a biennial gathering presented by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), a leading professional forum for science, practice and education in the field of pain.  Attendees are invited to stop by the Lifetree booth number 817 to meet the Lifetree management team and learn about the company’s specialized services. Lifetree Clinical Research now provides a broader range of central nervous system-related investigations with the formation of Lifetree Center for Neuroscience Research in April 2008.  The company also provides experimental drug development expertise for clients utilizing three human experimental pain models to assess the efficacy of new analgesic drugs:  Cold Pressor, Neurometer/QST, and Heat/Capsaicin. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10104 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire LANDesk Software, a global leader in systems lifecycle management, endpoint security and IT service management, announced Thoma Bravo, a leading private equity investment firm, has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase LANDesk Software from Emerson. The move aims to accelerate LANDesk's revenue growth and solidify its leadership position in delivering an integrated portfolio for simplifying the management of desktops, servers and mobile devices across the full spectrum of an organization's IT environment. Financial details were not disclosed. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of September. At the time of acquisition close, Steve Daly, executive vice president and general manager of LANDesk, will become the CEO of LANDesk. "The backing by Thoma Bravo will create a very clear and focused opportunity for LANDesk employees, customers and business partners," said Steve Daly. "LANDesk customers will benefit from our singular dedication to innovating throughout our key solutions – systems lifecycle management, endpoint security, IT service management – and our advancement in delivering process-based solutions to help simplify IT complexity and align IT to provide greater business value." "Thoma Bravo partners with existing management teams that have the vision to be leaders in their industries," said Seth Boro, a principal at Thoma Bravo. "We feel strongly the LANDesk team will be a valuable partner in our joint effort to solidify the company's leadership in IT systems management." "LANDesk is uniquely positioned in the software industry, and Thoma Bravo is confident we can further accelerate the company's growth through our proven buy and build investment strategy," added Robert Sayle, a vice president at Thoma Bravo. "We look forward to implementing operational best practices and exploring strategic investment opportunities with LANDesk." "There are about five hundred million PC's or laptops in the corporate environment today, with five billion IP connected devices. Estimates indicate there will be fifty billion IP connected devices in the world by 2020," continued Daly. "With the assistance of Thoma Bravo, we will remain the leader in IT management and continue to focus on helping our customers manage and secure their systems, regardless of device type, platform or location." Headquartered in Salt Lake City, LANDesk revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 20 percent since 2002. LANDesk currently employs approximately 750 people around the world and has thousands of customers worldwide actively using its solutions. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10105 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  August 27, 2010 Red Rock Software (www.redrocksw.com) announces the immediate availability of DeltaGraph 6 for Macintosh and Windows. DeltaGraph 6 is an award-winning graphing application which offers 80+ scientific and business charts, analysis tools, complete chart customization capabilities, UNICODE text support, flexible import and export file types, and professional color management. Download a free 30-day trial version of DeltaGraph 6 for Windows or Mac at http://www.redrocksw.com/index.php/free-demo-version.html “DeltaGraph 6 is the culmination of several years of development,” said Craig Hopson, managing partner and lead engineer at Red Rock Software. “During the development process, Red Rock Software has addressed fundamental building blocks within DeltaGraph and the result is a more dependable and flexible application.” DeltaGraph 6 highlights include: New, truly cross-platform file format. Easily exchange files between Mac & Windows. Cross-platform support for international (UNICODE) text. No more issues with non-ASCII characters! Completely updated rendering system produces exceptionally clean and clear on-screen display. Support for transparent drawing. Rotate text at arbitrary angles. New toolbars for Windows. Support for Pantone and other third-party spot colors in PDF and EPS exports. Numerous improvements to the stability and functionality of existing features. Designed with scientific, business, and creative professionals in mind, Red Rock DeltaGraph 6.0 helps researchers, analysts and managers working with complex sets of data to collect, analyze and present their findings in a visually compelling and memorable manner. Users may develop a broad spectrum of 2-D and 3-D graphs and charts selecting from among 80 different chart and graph types with hundreds of styles. DeltaGraph includes a chart advisor and style libraries that enable users to quickly edit and arrange legends, grids and pictures anywhere on a chart to achieve a higher level of visual interest and readability. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10097 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  August 27, 2010 InfoWest, The Internet People, is looking to help incubate a brand new start up high tech company in Southern Utah.  According to InfoWest president Kelly Nyberg, “We constantly hear about smart, hard working individuals looking to start their new high tech business who often run into common start up issues such as lack of capital for startup business expenses.  We know how difficult this can be for a new business, so InfoWest would like to assist getting a company off the ground.” One fortunate business will receive office space, front desk reception, desks and chairs, office supplies, utilities, phones, fiber optic Internet access, datacenter, server co-location, a $5,000 capital contribution, and consulting from InfoWest board and management to assist them during their startup process. According to Nyberg, “Applicant criteria include companies that are high-tech related. They must be willing to give up a small percentage of the company in exchange for incubation, have no more than 5 employees, and not have substantial liabilities.” Applications need to contain the following information and be submitted as a PDF, Word, or PowerPoint document.  Please include an overview of your business, your corporate structure (if applicable), a list of current staff, employees and partners, your business plan – including summary, target market, risk, and exit strategy, the current business financials - if your business is operational, and the primary needs from your perspective, along with contact information. “InfoWest’s Board of Directors will review all applications and then choose the business they feel best meets their criteria and opportunity for success," stated Nyberg.  Applications will be accepted through the end of September 2010. If you or someone you know may be interested in this opportunity, please submit applications for consideration to Kelly Nyberg at InfoWest, Inc., 148 E. Tabernacle, St. George, Utah 84770, or email files to nyberg@infowest.com. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10098 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire   Utah Fund of Funds 2010 Middle Market Symposium Brings Top Utah Business, Investment, Government Leaders Together for Collaborative Learning and Networking . 2010 Middle Market Symposium will be held September 8-9 in Deer Valley,Utah . Second annual event will bring together leading business owners and executives from Utah companies with revenues of at least $10 million to network, learn from one another and from top regional and national investors . Program will include an evening with Utah Governor Gary Herbert, advanced market analysis and entrepreneurial education The Utah Fund of Funds (Utah FoF), an innovative program created by the Utah State Legislature to increase the amount and diversity of capital available to promising Utah companies, announced that its second annual Middle Market Symposium  will be held September 8-9 in Deer Valley. The Utah Fund of Funds Middle Market Symposium is free of charge to entrepreneurs. Food and lodging will be provided for attendees by the Utah Fund of Funds and the sponsors of the Middle Market Symposium.  The event is intended exclusively for middle market executives, investors and select government leaders; service providers will not be in attendance. "This will be a great opportunity for many of Utah's most successful and promising middle-market growth companies to connect with one another, learn timely and relevant information and explore collaborative opportunities," said Matt Peterson, managing director of the Utah Fund of Funds. "This is a tremendous growth industry in the state, and we are confident this event will be a catalyst in driving further growth and development."    The program for the Symposium will kick off with a networking reception and dinner with Utah Governor Gary Herbert. Participants at the event will have the opportunity to interact with and learn from senior partners at five of the nation's top middle-market private equity firms: event sponsors Fenway Partners, Marwit Capital, Peterson Partners, Seidler Equity Partners and Sorenson Capital. High-level educational experiences will include a private equity deal flow case study, an informative presentation on how private equity funds actually function, and educational panels on CEOs' experience with private equity, effective cost cutting, keys to successful HR development for growth companies (including "How to Fire Your Friend"), and debt restructuring.                                   For more information and to register for the event, visit ufofmiddlemarket2010.eventbrite.com/, or contact Tamee Roberts (tamee@utahfof.com). http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10099 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  August 27, 2010   Each year Utah Business takes a look at Utah’s fastest growing companies and on Thursday, August 26, Jason Perry, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, joined the magazine in congratulating the companies that made the Fast 50 and Emerging 8 lists for 2010.    Perry addressed the group at the awards luncheon, first thanking all the businesses for their efforts. Secondly, he challenged them to stay active, to keep contributing to the economy and to the communities of Utah. He reminded the group of what a high business reputation Utah has, being ranked in “any publication you can find” as a great state to do business in.   Many businesses on the Fast 50 list agree.  Utah has provided a place for them not only to start, but to grow—even when the economy isn’t at its best.  Some company representatives shared the secret to their success to overcoming economic woes.  And an overwhelming amount cited the group of people at their respective companies.   Lonnie Mayne, executive vice president of Mindshare sales and service said, “It’s our people that make the difference.” And Don Salazar, CEO of Creative Times Dayschool, Inc. said, “The most important thing we have is our folks working for us. They are the primary reason for our success.”   Along with the people, is company culture, that company leaders said drives success.  Drew Peterson, CEO of Veracity Networks said they have really worked to developed a culture of accountability, and that his company has fun, too. Bob Baker, CFO for Cafe Rio said, “The culture of the company is everything. It’s what makes sure our burritos are perfect and each salad is beautiful.”   The No. 1 fastest growing company, Skullcandy, is the second-largest seller of headphones in the world. Skullcandy President Jeremy Andrus attributed the company's growth and success to its employees.   “We’ve had great financial partners, Mercato Partners and Zions Bank, and people rallying around our success,” Andrus said, “But Most important the Skullcandy team.  It’s been astounding to me to see the level of passion and commitment and work ethic and intelligence of such a young group of professionals. So I give a huge shout out to them.”     For more coverage on the Fast 50 and the Emerging 8, see the September issue of Utah Business magazine.  Complete lists are below.         Utah Business 2010 Fast 50 Rank Company 1 Skullcandy, Inc. 2 ZAGG, Inc. 3 Castle & Cooke Mortgage, LLC 4 Myriad Genetics, Inc. 5 Interbank FX 6 CLEARLINK 7 Ascend HR Solutions 8 Diamond Wireless 9 AtTask Inc. 10 IntegraCore, LLC 11 AdvancedMD Software, Inc. 12 One on One Marketing, Inc. 13 ATMequipment.com 14 Access Technology Solutions 15 Fringe Media LLC 16 MediConnect Global 17 eGlobal 18 VMI Nutrition, Inc. 19 Veritas Funding 20 Extra Space Storage 21 Packsize, LLC 22 Property Solutions International, Inc 23 C.R. England Inc. 24 Cafe Rio Mexican Grill 25 Creative Times Dayschool, Inc 26 Innovative Staffing Inc 27 Veracity Networks 28 Conservice 29 VitalSmarts, L.C. 30 Mindshare Technologies 31 Merit Medical Systems, Inc. 32 Christopherson Business Travel 33 School Improvement Network 34 The Layton Companies 35 Nelson Laboratories 36 Best Vinyl 37 Aribex, Inc. 38 Communitect Inc. (dba Smile Reminder) 39 Nu Skin Enterprises 40 USANA Health Sciences, Inc. 41 InsideSales.com, Inc 42 CHG Healthcare Services 43 Integratechs, Inc. 44 Overstock.com 45 ExpressTech International (dba Fishbowl) 46 SolutionStream 47 GCW, Inc. (dba Kneaders Bakery & Café) 48 Wasatch Software 49 MCK Laboratories 50 Career Step     Utah Business 2010 Emerging 8 Rank Company 1 FundingUniverse LLC 2 Simply Mac, Inc. 3 Daily Bread, LLC 4 Davinci Virtual 5 SEO.com 6 Real Property Management 7 AMP Security LLC 8 Cariloha     http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10100 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 Candace Little   In today’s volatile economy, many executives have lost focus on one fundamental business skill: effective leadership. When was the last time you thought about whether you are leading your company and employees effectively? Has your leadership suffered during today’s tough times? Will your current leadership (or lack thereof) adversely impact your company when the economy gets better? Is anyone really following you? But should leadership really be a priority when so many are struggling to keep their companies out of the red? After all, today’s economy has left everyone—ranging from the c-level team to support staff—scrambling just to get by. The answer is yes— leadership should remain a priority whether times are good or bad. Despite the variety of tasks that go into building a strong company, nothing is possible without people. Your employees move your company forward; their productivity and performance are key to your company’s short- and long-term success. But to be productive and effective employees, they need a productive and effective leader. Most business owners understand leadership fundamentals—that your employees count on you to guide their work and to ultimately build a stronger company. And the fact of the matter is that most people want to be led. They want to know what they are doing right, what they are doing wrong and how they can contribute to the company’s overall success. Though it may not be easy to admit, you likely know if you’re not an effective leader. So how can you become one? In this issue of Utah Business, Assistant Editor Candace Little goes beyond describing why strong leadership is vital to a company’s continued success to what today’s executives can and should do to enhance their leadership skills. Her article, “Get Back on the Rock,” takes an in-depth look at how execs can get out of their leadership rut and build a better team and company. Little’s article, found on page 34, takes leadership out of the office and focuses on building you, the leader, first. Though Utah’s unemployment rate remains at an unprecedented 7.2 percent, there are signs that the economy is slowly improving. And studies indicate that more than half of all employees plan to leave their current position once the economy rebounds, many citing poor leadership as the primary motive for their desire to jump ship. If you’ve been neglecting your leadership skills, it’s time to get to work. After all, how can you expect your employees to remain committed to you and your company if that commitment isn’t reciprocated? It’s time to turn around and see if you really are being followed—and to do something about it if you’re not.   From the Editor, Sarah Ryther Francom   http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10073 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 Sarah Ryther Francom  TAFT G. MEYER was named Bank of Utah’s executive vice president, chief lending officer. He replaces RONALD A. SCHULTHIES who is retiring. Meyer developed his banking foundation as a community banker at First Security Bank in Ogden and at Security Pacific Bank in California. He is leaving Zions Bank where he most recently served as senior vice president relationship manager in the corporate banking division.       The following have accepted the invitation to serve on the State of Utah’s Ethics Commission, created this year in a package of reform bills: MICHAEL WILKINS, recently retired justice of the Utah Supreme Court and former judge on the Utah Court of Appeals; RUSSELL BENCH, retired judge who served on the Utah Court of Appeals and on the Judicial Conduct Commission; JON MEMMOTT, recently retired from the bench in Utah’s 2nd District Court; GAYLE MCKEACHNIE, a rancher, practicing attorney, former legislator and former Lieutenant Governor of the State of Utah; JOANNE MILNER, former legislator and community advocate, currently serving as the education partnership coordinator for the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office. This new commission is tasked to investigate allegations of ethical breaches within the state legislature, patterned after the work of the Judicial Conduct Commission.   GARY A. KING joined Myriad Genetics as executive vice president of international operations. King will oversee all aspects of the company’s expansion into Europe and other international markets, including operations, sales and marketing, regulatory approval, and pricing and reimbursement. King has been employed in the life sciences industry for more than 25 years. Most recently he was the chief executive officer of AverDx Incorporated, an international biotechnology company that develops novel biomarker diagnostics for critical diseases.   Governor Gary R. Herbert appointed BRADLEY V. TANNER and DALE M. COX to the Utah College of Applied Technology (UCAT) board of trustees. The appointments, confirmed by the Utah Senate, fill new positions on the UCAT board representing trade programs. Cox, who fills the union representative position, is currently the Utah District Representative for the Operating Engineers Local 3, where he has worked for 11 years. Tanner, who fills the non-union representative position, is president of Triple “T” Heating and Cooling, a family-owned heating, ventilation and air conditioning business in Spanish Fork.    Innovision Property Group, a boutique commercial real estate brokerage specializing in the purchasing, selling and leasing of industrial real estate, named COLIN REID senior relationship manager. Reid will be responsible for cultivating and developing business relationships for Innovision Property Group. Reid was formerly the director of sales and marketing at the Ogden Marriott Hotel.    Westminster College appointed GARY DAYNES, PhD, interim dean of the college’s Bill and Vieve Gore School of Business. He will assume this role for the 2010-2011 academic year, which began July 1, 2010. Daynes will retain his role as associate provost for integrative learning. He joined the college in 2006 as an associate professor of history and director of the Center for Civic Engagement.     ERIC KARJALAINEN was named Brighton Bank’s operation officer. Karjalainen, who has worked for Brighton Bank since October 1997, has held many positions within the bank including operation specialist and customer service representative.   Lamar Transit Advertising promoted NEAL GATHERUM to Utah division sales manager. Since joining Lamar in 2007, Gatherum has been a leader in the local market with a strong focus on driving new business to the organization while maintaining a high level of service for existing clients. During 2009 Gatherum exceeded company goals by 121 percent and is trending similar results in 2010.   The Utah Symphony appointed ANTHONY “TOBY” TOLOKAN vice president of symphony artistic planning. Tolokan previously served as the director of artistic planning for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. He fills the position previously held by JEFF COUNTS.      The Salt Lake Chamber created the Utah Economic Council, a handpicked group of economists and analysts who have expertise about the Utah economy. The council has been created to improve the quality of economic information and interpretation available to business and community leaders as they steer the Utah economy to a more prosperous future. Salt Lake Chamber Chief Economist NATALIE GOCHNOUR will lead the Utah Economic Council as chair. Other council members include WES CURTIS, director, Center for Rural Life, Southern Utah University; RICHARD EVANS, assistant professor of economics, Brigham Young University; STEVE KROES, president, Utah Foundation; KELLY MATTHEWS, emeritus economist, Wells Fargo Bank; JULIETTE TENNERT, chief economist, Utah Governor’s Office; TAYLOR RANDALL, dean, David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah; and ALAN WESTENSKOW, vice president, Zions Public Finance. KAMIE F. BROWN has joined Ray Quinney & Nebeker’s Litigation Section. Prior to joining the firm, Brown was a partner with Snell & Wilmer in Salt Lake City. Brown has substantial experience representing manufacturers, distributors and insurers in product liability and commercial litigations matters.      The Utah State Bar honored MAXWELL A. MILLER of Parsons Behle & Latimer with the 2010 Tax Practitioner of the Year award. According to the Utah State Bar Tax Law Section, Miller was selected because of his long-standing service and dedication to the tax bar, representing both government and lawyers.    ERIC ANDERSEN joined Tanner LC as senior manager, IT services. Anderson brings Tanner significant experience in IT audit, SAS 70 audit and advisory services. After graduating with honors from Brigham Young University, Andersen worked for seven years at an international accounting firm.    Educators Mutual Insurance Association named Dr. JAMES OVERALL as medical director. In this role, Overall will oversee claims and provide expert advice in determining medical necessity for pre-authorization and claims appeals. Overall has a wide array of experience in the medical research field, most recently serving as medical and co-director of the pioneering Integrative Health Clinic and Program at the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center.  “It is with a great deal of pleasure that I welcome Gary to the Myriad team. Gary is a talented and seasoned executive, whose strong international experience in the health care industry will serve Myriad well as we advance our goal of building a significant presence in Europe by the end of 2012.” - Peter D. Meldrum, President and CEO, Myriad Genetics “I’m honored that the governor appointed me as a trustee to the UCAT Board. Training is probably the most important thing we can do for the people of Utah. It’s vital that people are properly trained and safe in their craft. I just toured several of the ATCs and am very impressed.  These are dedicated people, and they are on top of their game.”  - Dale M. Cox, Utah College of Applied Technology Trustee     http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10074 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 Candace Little NORTHERN   Layton - Commercial realtor NAI UTAH finalized a lease agreement with aerospace manufacturer JANICKI INDUSTRIES as the anchor tenant for JL PROPERTIES INC.’s new East Gate development. The East Gate development is located in Layton City, east and adjacent to HILL AIR FORCE BASE. The property consists of 600 acres, with more than 90 acres designated the East Gate Business Park. East Gate development was represented by Bill Nicoloff, co-founder and managing partner of NAI Utah. Janicki Industries officials estimate they will make a $19.5 million capital investment in the Utah plant. In addition, the company will bring an estimated 50 jobs to the area, with the potential for more jobs in the future.     Kaysville - GOLDENWEST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION held a ribbon cutting for its newest branch, located at 131 W. 200 North. The new branch is the 18th for the 74-year-old credit union.    Ogden - OGDEN CLINIC, a physician-owned, multi-specialty group practice in northern Utah, has moved its administration and business offices as well as the Harrison Boulevard physical therapy center in Ogden. The relocation was necessary to prepare for a major renovation and expansion. The new Ogden Clinic administration and business office is located at 1491 E. Ridgeline Drive. The physical therapy center has temporarily relocated across the street to 1186 E. 4600 South, Ste. 320.   North Salt Lake - KNEADERS BAKERY & CAFE, a Utah-headquartered company specializing in homemade sandwiches, pastries, soups, salads and breads, recently broke ground for its 12th location. The restaurant, being constructed at 1050 N. 500 East, is projected to open in October 2010.     Salt Lake Area   Salt Lake City - The BUSINESS PERFORMANCE GROUP (BPG), a Salt Lake City-based sales training and consulting company, recently celebrated 10 years of business. Since its inception in 2000, BPG’s clients have increased their gross profit sales by more than $100 million. BPG has trained hundreds of companies along the Wasatch Front, including WHEELER MACHINERY, the UTAH MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION, SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, MAXWELL PRODUCTS and MORGAN ASPHALT.     Salt Lake City - LUNCHBOXERS, a company that provides a healthy alternative to traditional school lunches, signed a one-year agreement with INTERMOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, GRACE LUTHERAN SCHOOL and THE RANCHES ACADEMY to provide nutritious and affordable school lunch options to students. The company now provides school lunches for more than 40 private, charter and daycare schools. The company also launched a farm-to-table initiative to educate students about where their food comes from by focusing on local farmers who supply fresh, local produce for the school lunches.    Salt Lake City - VIAWEST, a provider of adaptable co-location and managed service solutions, announced the expansion of data center capacity in the Utah market. The expansion will encompass an additional 14,000 or more square feet in the western-most of the company’s three Salt Lake City area data centers. Construction is already underway and is slated for completion in the fourth quarter of 2010.   Salt Lake City - PRINCE, PERELSON & ASSOCIATES has moved to larger offices in the Sugarhouse area to accommodate its growth. The full-service recruitment agency is now in the PARKVIEW PLAZA office complex situated at 2180 S. 1300 East, directly adjacent to the newly expanded I-80/1300 East off-ramp.   Salt Lake City - NETDEPOSIT, a provider of remote deposit capture and payment processing services, and CU BUSINESS GROUP (CUBG), a business services provider for more than 300 credit unions, have entered into a partnership agreement to bring remote deposit capture and payment solutions products and services to the credit union market. Effective immediately, CUBG will offer NetDeposit’s NDpro Processing Services to its credit union clients, giving them the ability to offer end-to-end processing technology for payments.   Salt Lake City - PRIMAL WEAR, a designer and manufacturer of branded and custom technical cycling clothing, has hired Salt Lake-based SOAR COMMUNICATIONS, a strategic marketing communications agency, as its public relations agency of record. SOAR Communications will develop and execute public relations campaigns for Primal Wear.  Salt Lake City - LUNATIC FRINGE is celebrating a milestone 10 years in business in Utah. Lunatic Fringe opened its first location at Trolley Corners in July of 2000. The original Trolley Corners salon relocated to the Sugarhouse neighborhood and is considered to be the flagship locale of the three Utah salons, located in Sugarhouse, Parleys Way and Park City. Lunatic Fringe also owns a salon in Boise, Idaho.    Salt Lake City - EDUCATORS MUTUAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATION (EMIA), an organization providing insurance benefits to Utah employers for 75 years, announced it has signed two new commercial clients. EMIA will provide medical benefits for UTAH BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE COMMITTEE and dental benefits for the CITY OF WEST JORDAN.  Salt Lake City - ORANGE LEGAL TECH-NOLOGIES (OrangeLT) has been retained to provide support for the joint defense counsel in the U.S. v. Robert Allen Stanford, et al. case—one of the largest SEC cases ever filed. OrangeLT is an electronic discovery provider of litigation, audit and investigation support services for law firms and corporations. OrangeLT is providing document and hosting services for the joint defense counsel in the Stanford matter.    Salt Lake City - SALON SERVICES recently opened its first showroom in Utah. Located at 1850 S. 300 West, the showroom caters to licensed salon and spa professionals. Salon Services has numerous showrooms located throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho.   Salt Lake City - CERTIPORT, a provider of test delivery services for the global workforce and academic markets, announced the availability of Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) exams for the new Adobe Creative Suite 5 (CS5). These exams are designed to more effectively validate the technical and digital communication skills that are increasingly valued in today’s marketplace. The updated certification program will help educators effectively teach relevant curriculum and validate these foundational skills that demonstrate real-world prowess to prospective employers.   Salt Lake City - June marked the fifth anniversary of XCELUS, a visual communications and digital media company. Xcelus works with businesses to write and produce high-quality video and audio to engage and inform target audiences. Xcelus has earned numerous awards, including three Horizon Interactive Awards for excellence in interactive media production, and multiple Telly Awards, which recognize video and film productions as well as work created for the Web. The company has produced video for clients such as HITACHI, LIFE TECHNOLOGIES, VITALSMARTS and FRANKLIN COVEY.   Salt Lake City - Forbes.com named CDI IT SOLUTIONS, the information technology professional services and staffing division of CDI Corp, one of the 100 Most Trustworthy Companies in the United States. The firms on this list are determined to have “the most transparent and conservative accounting practices and most prudent management.” CDI is ranked No. 2 on the 2010 list of small cap firms with a score of 99 out of a possible 100 for consistent accuracy in financial reporting and corporate governance. This is the fourth year in a row that CDI has been ranked in the top 10 on the list.   Salt Lake City - Business Travel News ranked Utah-based HESS CORPORATE TRAVEL as the 26th largest business travel agency in the United States. Hess Travel took over management of all Morris Murdock business travel accounts in 2009, making Hess’s combined operations among the largest in the nation.    Salt Lake City - WORLD HEART CORPOR-ATION, a developer of mechanical circulatory systems, announced that Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, successfully implanted a Levacor(TM) Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) in the Bridge-to-Transplant (BTT) clinical study. This is the eighth implant of the Levacor VAD in the fourth implanting center in the study.   Salt Lake City - FIVE STAR PAINTING unveiled a new master franchise in Brazil that will serve the Southern, Central West and Bahia state areas. Formed in 2001 and franchising since 2005, Utah-based Five Star Painting has grown to include more than 60 franchises with operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and now Brazil.    Salt Lake City - INCONTACT, provider of on-demand call center software and agent optimization tools, has been named a recipient of a 2009 Communications Solutions Product of the Year award by TECHNOLOGY MARKETING CORPORATION (TMC). InContact provides a powerful portfolio of cloud-based contact center solutions that enables call centers to operate more efficiently, optimize the cost and quality of every interaction, create new pathways to profit and ensure ongoing business improvement and growth.   Salt Lake City - DOUBLETAKE MARKETING, in partnership with CLEAR CHANNEL AIRPORTS, is bringing advertising to an untapped channel at SACRAMENTO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: the moving portion of its baggage carousels. This new advertising location was fueled by advertisers’ demands to reach affluent travelers at the baggage carousel and to increase overall airport revenue.    Salt Lake City - AL FORAT, a wholesale bakery specializing in Middle Eastern-style baked goods, moved from its original location and is now leasing 1,600 square feet at 2850 S. Redwood Road. Al Forat distributes to local restaurants and markets. COMMERCE REAL ESTATE SOLUTIONS helped negotiate the new space.  Salt Lake City - WOMEN’S WORLD HEALTH INITIATIVE (WWHI), a nonprofit headquartered in Salt Lake City, received $20,000 after being voted as one of the top 200 charities in the Chase Community Giving contest. According to the official Chase Community Giving website, hundreds of thousands of organizations throughout the United States participated. Chase Community Giving asked users to vote for local charities that matter most to them. WWHI received 1,561votes and finished in 179th place.   Murray - The MURRAY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE and local civic and community leaders met for the grand opening of MOUNTAIN WEST TELECOM’s state-of-the-art Network Operations Center (NOC) at the company’s headquarters in Murray. The first of its kind in Utah, the NOC is a data and voice communications hub that continuously monitors, tests and diagnoses all facets of a business’s communications network. The NOC remotely identifies, analyzes and then fixes communications issues before they become major problems.    Draper - ARGOSY UNIVERSITY, SALT LAKE CITY will offer an MBA/DBA international business experience for the upcoming 2010-2011 academic year from its campus in Draper. In addition to regular coursework, Argosy’s international program features a week-long business experience in Europe. The study-abroad portion of the program is included in the initial MBA/DBA tuition, which will cover the student’s flights, business tours and other aspects of international travel.   Sandy - WORKERS COMPENSATION FUND celebrated the official opening of its new offices with a ribbon cutting and open house event. Gov. Gary Herbert and Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon attended. The new offices are located at 100 W. Towne Ridge Parkway.     Central   Provo - RASER TECHNOLOGIES, an energy technology company, and global manufacturing firm HYUNDAI HEAVY INDUSTRIES (HHI) are partnering for the joint development of electric vehicles and renewable energy. Their collaboration will include commercial production of electric fleet vehicles utilizing Raser’s powertrain technology. Additionally, solar and wind power will be blended with Raser’s base-load geothermal energy to create a renewable energy source with greater availability and reliability.   Park City - VICTORY RANCH CLUB, a private community, has partnered with LOCATI ARCHITECTS to introduce RanchHouses, a new style of single-family luxury homes that are smaller, greener and more efficient than typical luxury homes. As part of the 5,600-acre Victory Ranch community, RanchHouses are built into the natural landscape and retain the spirit and beauty of the native Utah environment. Eleven semi-custom homes sit on quarter or half-acre lots and offer two to three bedrooms. Each home has a footprint of 1,500 to1,900 square feet, with three different models to choose from.    Alpine - TXTWIRE TECHNOLOGIES, which provides mass SMS/text communication services and has more than 1 million unique users, has engaged SAGECREEK PARTNERS to solidify its market position and create the foundation for the company’s next phase of growth. SageCreek Partners is a consulting company that helps companies develop and implement go-to-market and business strategies.   Orem - The UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY POLICE DEPARTMENT is using SPILLMAN software to exchange information with other Utah County agencies. The university has no on-campus housing, which means most students live in neighboring communities. Spillman software will allow the Utah Valley University Police Department to access data gathered by other Utah County law enforcement agencies, making it easy for officers to see correlations between on-campus and off-campus crimes.  Orem - A federal jury found that Ohio-based VITA-MIX CORPORATION willfully infringed BLENDTEC’s patents on its five-sided blending jar and awarded Orem-based Blendtec $11,008,308 in damages. The award is the largest in a patent infringement case in several years in the state of Utah.    Moroni - MORONI FEED COMPANY, a provider of turkey and turkey products, released two new products under its NORBEST brand: Sanpete-style marinated turkey fillets and sweetheart turkey breast roast. Norbest anticipates wide adoption of these products and expects distribution to quickly expand nationwide.      Southern   St. George - SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION officially joined CHARTWAY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION. The partnership, in which SouthWest Community will become a division of Chartway, will enable the St. George-based credit union to benefit from the strength of two credit unions, resulting in a greater array of products and stronger pricing on loans and savings. SouthWest Community members can expect to see the same familiar faces and the same name and logo.   St. George - The SOUTHERN UTAH HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION established the SOUTHWEST GREEN BUILD COUNCIL (SWGBC) in affiliation with the National Green Building Certification Program. The SWGBC was created to encourage the voluntary development and construction of Green Certified Projects through education, communication and advocacy of responsible green building practices.    St. George - The SCHOOL AND INSTI-TUTIONAL TRUST LANDS ADMINISTRATION (SITLA) recently received the Federal Highway Administration’s Exemplary Ecosystem Initiative and Exemplary Human Environment Initiative award for the St. George Southern Parkway Corridor project. The project showed exemplary human and environmental initiative for exceptional stewardship and was one of three awards granted across the nation.     St. George - WILSON ELECTRONICS, manufacturer of North America’s top-selling product line of cell phone signal boosters, was awarded a New Product Innovation of the Year award from FROST & SULLIVAN. Analysts ranked the performance of Wilson’s newest release, the Sleek, highest among competing products in Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices 2010 report on cellular signal boosting solutions in North America. Reeve & Associates Completes Design on QBP Center    REEVE & ASSOCIATES is providing site engineering, surveying and landscape design for QUALITY BICYCLE PRODUCT’s (QBP) new Utah operations center. QBP is a wholesale distributor of bicycle parts and apparel to more than 5,000 retail businesses nationwide. The new distribution center will service QBP’s customers in the Northwest and Southwest regions of the United States.   Located at 859 W. 1050 South in Ogden, the new 85,000-square-foot concrete tilt-up building was designed by AE URBIA, ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS, and is currently being built by TOM STUART CONSTRUCTION, a general contracting company specializing in large commercial projects. “All team members are working closely to achieve QBP’s objective of developing a LEED Gold-certified building,” says Nate Reeve, a principal with Reeve & Associates. “The company’s owner, as well as its employees, are committed to minimizing the project’s carbon footprint through ‘green-building’ design.” LEED is a green-building certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. The overall goal is to minimize the environmental impact of a building’s design, construction and operational activities.  A Utah-based firm, Reeve & Associates works closely with architects, contractors and developers to engineer and survey commercial projects throughout the western United States.  Building completion and operations start-up is scheduled for December 2010.   Salt Lake City Named One of “10 Best Cities”    Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine named SALT LAKE CITY one of the “10 Best Cities for the Next Decade,” touting Salt Lake’s cost of living, business environment and close proximity to mountain recreation. In its search for top cities, Kiplinger’s focused on places that are “not just great places to live, but also great places to start a business or find a job.” With world-renowned hospitality and great value, Salt Lake is not only an ideal place to live and do business, it is also a perfect venue for conventions. “Salt Lake has come to define the term ‘host city’ after successfully hosting such high profile events as the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, Rotary International’s 2007 convention, and MPI’s 2009 World Education Congress,” says Scott Beck, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau. As noted in Kiplinger’s report, part of what makes Salt Lake such an ideal city is the abundance of recreation, unique dining and nightlife, and the vibrant local arts and culture scene. “Clearly,” Beck says, “these prestigious organizations believe Salt Lake was, and is, the perfect venue for their worldwide events, further proof that Salt Lake continues to be recognized as a world-class convention and meeting destination.”       http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10075 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 Candace Little  Growing up, Kent Thomas could go to bed whenever he pleased. Some people might find these parenting skills appalling, but for Thomas’ father, it was simply a matter of consequences. No matter what time young Kent arrived home, he still needed to get up early to work the family farm. “[My father] didn’t care when you went to bed,” says Thomas. “He had no sympathy or empathy. ‘You could have been in bed at 10:30 like I was,’ he would say. The curfew was self-imposed. We always considered the farm to be slave labor, and that didn’t hurt my dad’s feelings.” Now as CEO of CFO Solutions, a company that provides financial and accounting needs on an outsourcing/part-time basis, Thomas is putting those early lessons of making “smart decisions and [learning] the element of self-reliance” to work. He is as demanding of himself as he is of others, hiring people who are “disciplined, [people] who I can trust,” he says. “I don’t have my thumb on them every day . . . As a result, we enjoy a great reputation and relationship with our clients.” Since founding his company in 1996, Thomas and his team have served more than 400 companies ranging from startup firms to businesses with more than $100 million in annual revenues.    “What I like about outsourcing and being a CFO with a number of companies [is that we get to] work with companies that need good sound financial advice,” says Thomas. “[It feels great to] make a difference, being able to fix their accounting problems, helping them solve problems.” Thomas has a certain philosophy about business which boils down to this: the best way to develop and maintain loyalty within business relationships is to prove to others that any decisions made will be in their best interest.  “Whenever we make a mistake, we’ll fix it,” he says. “[If there is a] conflict of interest, we’ll come down on their side. To me that’s an important part of our success.” For all his business acumen, Thomas is truly a compassionate individual. In fact, the genesis for CFO Solutions began in large measure from severe trials within his immediate family. Illness would eventually take the lives of his wife, who died from cancer in 2005, and his 18-year-old son who passed away the following year from adrenoleukodystrohy, or ALD, a genetic disorder.  “I try very hard to be compassionate when people come to me with similar issues,” he shares. “We’re given opportunities in life and need to learn empathy and go out and help others. It’s an important part of what I did.” In his off hours, Thomas plays as hard as he works. He loves the outdoors, a passion which began early in life when he would take his horse, his gun and his dog and go into the mountains for days at a time by himself.  He enjoys a good meal and works out every day with his second wife, Kim Ericson. “I run to eat,” he says. The family has a ski boat, shares in a houseboat on Lake Powell, and spends as much time near the water each summer as possible. In the end, whether at home with his family or at a client site, “Work is never more important than the individual. Never,” says Thomas. “Business, work, whatever you do, is not the most important thing you do. It’s what lets me take care of others and love life.”       http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10076 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 Janine Creager  At first glance, it might seem like ballet and hip-hop have nothing to do with business. Alicia Ridley would beg to differ.  “I was always the leader of the team,” says Ridley of the time in her youth when she was involved in dance. “There I picked up leadership skills. I enjoy the team camaraderie, working toward a common goal.” Leadership and competitiveness on the drill team translate directly to the boardroom for Ridley, president of ATMEquipment.com, a leading supplier of automated teller machines, parts and supplies.  “We have such a great support team,” she says. “[We’re] a family away from home. It’s a fun atmosphere; we have a great time and get the job done.” When Ridley studied at and later graduated from Weber State University, she chose the field of accounting with a desire to understand it from both a financial and a communication standpoint. “Accounting is the language of business. If you don’t know the financial side, there are so many opportunities that you miss out on,” she says. “I love being able to look at our financial statements and see how profitable we are.” Ridley began her career with a small tax and accounting firm. In 2005, she was hired on as accounting manager at ATMEquipment.com, where she was only the second employee at the company. Five years later, the company now has 15 associates and has experienced phenomenal growth including a 116 percent increase in revenue from 2008 to 2009. Ridley was promoted to president in February of this year. The company may be small, but every employee is referred to as an associate who brings unique talents and strengths to benefit the company as a whole. That sense of unity has been especially important in recent years when, a few short months after giving birth to her first child, Ridley was diagnosed with colon cancer.  “I had to take off three months consecutively,” she says. “The team stepped up and made things run so smoothly while I was gone.” Although Ridley is relatively young and a minority in a predominately male industry, she sees those qualities as assets in her work.  “My management style makes me unique. I have an open respect management style. I love to celebrate great things. [The associates] respect me as their president, but they [interact with me] as a friend.”  Ridley is quick to credit her parents for setting the example of hard work and loyalty to the companies for which they worked. “[They] taught me dedication,” she shares. “[They] taught me that you stick through it—face your challenges head on. I’ve never been afraid of failure. My philosophy is, if you don’t put yourself out there, you’ll miss out. I put my whole heart and effort in doing the best job for [my associates].” In spite of difficult times experienced across the board, “We still kept going strong,” she says. “We continue putting money into our associates’ 401(k). We want to continue to take care of our associates. “The industry we’re in is an ever-changing environment,” she says, eyeing the prospect of branching into new international markets in the future. And what about the recent growth of wireless connectivity? “You never know. We’re going to jump on every opportunity that comes our way.”       http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10077 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 Janine Creager  It’s a case of bad news, good news. The bad news is that obesity continues to be a growing concern, not just in Utah, but globally. The good news is that many organizations are taking a stance against the epidemic by sponsoring corporate health and wellness programs.  As the cost of health care continues to rise and many of the claims are associated with obesity, several Utah companies have turned to corporate-sponsored health and wellness programs in hope of offsetting some of the costs associated with obesity.  “Well-designed worksite wellness programs provide a long-term approach to a healthy workforce,” says Joni Alonso, co-chair of the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) Cannon Wellness Council. “Personal motivation can only take us so far when it comes to being more active. We need to have environments that help make activity a part of everyday life,” adds Brett McIff, physical activity coordinator for the Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Program at the Utah Department of Health. Clearlink Technologies, an integrated local marketing firm, is one company making strides toward worksite health and wellness. And for Clearlink, having a corporate health and wellness program has proven profitable in more ways than one.    The Challenge At Salt Lake-based Clearlink, employees are rewarded for their losses—losses in pounds and body fat, that is. More than 30 Clearlink employees participated in the company’s second annual fitness competition, dubbed Pound for Pound. Together the group lost more than 250 pounds.  The Pound for Pound contest ran for four months, from January 15 to April 15 of 2010. Clearlink began the program by motivating employees with the promise of cash prizes. The company also facilitated a healthy, competitive atmosphere that proved to be a great motivator for employees to get back into shape. Employees could use any method they wanted to lost weight. Some working together, others working alone. James Katsanevas, marketing coordinator, found success by dramatically changing his diet and incorporating hard-core exercise into the mix. His diet reform included eating five small meals per day. He also restricted his diet to only protein after 7:00 p.m.  Other employees tried various work-out routines and reduced their calorie intake dramatically. Some employees trained for marathons and others rode their bike to work. As opposed to making a fast-food run during the lunch hour, a cluster of Clearlink employees assembled each day and dined at Subway Restaurant because of its low-calorie, low-fat options. From there, a Subway lunch group was formed; employees purchased a foot-long sandwich, and ate six inches at 11:00 a.m. and another six inches at 2:00 p.m. They coined the regimen “six now, six later.”   The Results When the competition ended, employees were healthier and anxious to see who dropped the most weight. Male and female winners were selected in three categories: lowest fat percentage, total percentage of weight lost and total body change. The reward: cash. More than $8,500 was divided among the top six winners—or shall we say, losers. Katsanevas, won in two categories: most pounds lost and biggest loss of body fat. He dropped his body fat percentage from 25 to 7.3 and feels great. “Six months ago, I thought those numbers would never be attainable,” he exclaims.  The Pound for Pound program went one step further—for every pound of fat lost and every pound of muscle gained during the competition, Clearlink donated $10 to the Utah Food Bank. When the three-month program was complete, the losses were totaled and the gains for the Utah Food Bank equaled more than $12,000 in donations. “We want our employees to engage in life-changing experiences and I believe this program accomplishes this two-fold—it benefits both our employees and the Food Bank,” says Clearlink CEO, Phil Hansen.   Steps Toward Change In a day and age when health care is a hot topic all the way from the corporate boardroom to the family dinner table, employers and employees are feeling the pinch. Increased utilization of health care services drives up the cost, not to mention overuse of medical claims, doctor visits and medications. Nearly everyone seems concerned with the financial burden incurred when it comes to health care costs and most, if not all, are looking for ways to reduce those costs.  According to the Utah Department of Health, an estimated 70 percent of the nation’s medical costs are lifestyle related. And since employees generally spend 50 percent or more of their waking hours at work, getting back to the basics of a healthy diet and regular exercise is the direction many organizations are taking. Due to the amount of time employees spend at work, the workplace is a logical and effective location to target health related behaviors. It just makes sense.  Along with lower health care costs, Clearlink has found that productivity increases and stress decreases when employees are healthy. Beyond these benefits, workplace health and wellness programs may enhance the overall productivity of an organization. And employers may also see benefits in decreased rates of illness, reduced employee absenteeism and increased well-being.  As a result of the Pound for Pound challenge, Clearlink has seen performance and attendance increase among those who participated, according to Bret Fitzgerald, Clearklink’s vice president of business development.  “One of our employees who participated in Pound for Pound program has since become one of the top sales reps in the company. His numbers have improved significantly.”        Working Well  Five Tips to Create a Healthy Workplace    1.  Provide Health Education and Awareness. Companies should focus on developing healthy skills and promoting lifestyle behavioral changes by providing information and promoting awareness. This should include providing information regarding primary prevention, such as physical fitness guides, nutrition and weight management information, tobacco cessation plans, stress management information and ergonomic information. A health education plan can also include secondary information about subjects like diabetes management, cancer information, heart disease awareness, etc.    2.  Create a Supportive Social and Physical Environment. Companies should have clear expectations regarding healthy behaviors. Companies should also have clear policies that promote health and reduce risk of disease. For example, does your company have a formal written policy for alcohol and drug abuse? What about seat belt use in fleet vehicles? Set clear expectations and policies to create a supportive social and physical environment. Companies can also promote health and wellness in the company culture by offering discount gym memberships or even building a gym and locker/shower area onsite. And consider offering water and milk in the vending machines versus soda.    3. Develop a Health and Wellness Program. Companies serious about developing a health and wellness program should begin by creating a committee and setting aside a budget to develop a formal program. The program should include incentives to promote participation, such as cash prizes, extra vacation days, etc.    4. Link the Health and Wellness Program to Related Health Programs. Beyond the health and wellness program, offer additional health programs, like an employee assistance program (EAP) or have a nurse or nutritionist onsite to answer questions.   5.  Offer Onsite Health Screenings. Companies can easily arrange for health screenings to test blood pressure, body fat, blood sugar, cholesterol, etc. Arrange health screenings and encourage employees to participate and seek appropriate medical treatment as necessary.     http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10078 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 Melanie Johnson   When the University of Utah ranked No. 1 in the country for spinning out innovative companies (that’s right, No. 1, beating renowned research universities including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology), many were surprised. The U’s accomplishment was even more significant when you consider the fact that MIT received almost five times more research funding, $1.3 billion, compared to the U’s approximately $273 million, according to the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. But Utah’s universities have a long legacy of spinning out companies—a legacy that, as the U’s achievement demonstrates, is continuing today. Here’s a look at five promising companies fresh out of Brigham Young University, Utah State University and the University of Utah.    Dynamic Screening Solutions “We don’t try to solve the world’s  problems; we just want to take the headaches out of required paperwork,” says Adrienne Akers, president and CEO of DSS. In its inception at Utah State University, the technology was developed to solve one problem: duplication of information in a variety of paperwork. The Web-based system, branded as Utah Clicks, is used by the state of Utah to enable families to complete, electronically sign and submit required paperwork for multiple state programs, such as Baby Your Baby or Head Start. Applicants enter data such as birthdates or social security numbers just one time—and the software populates the information in applications for multiple programs. The system has been adopted by other states, and now DSS is launching a product for the human resources industry. Called 321Forms, the product will enable new hires to fill out multiple forms without duplicating any of the data entries.   Xeromax Sciences LLC Xeromax Sciences’ innovative technology, spun out of Brigham Young University, is a method for treating fabrics that makes them ultra water repellent without changing their look or feel. “We incorporate the use of plasma along with chemical processes in the vapor phase to introduce our treatments to the surface of fabrics. This process creates a water-repellent barrier that outlasts any other durable water repellent currently in use,” says Jon Ward, COO of Xeromax Sciences. “Our technologies are applied at the nano-level, meaning that they are virtually undetectable.” The technology is applicable to a variety of industries such as outdoor equipment and furniture, apparel, carpeting or linens. Short Solutions The Short Solutions technology enables auto dealers and repairs shops to diagnose and solve the frustrating problem of intermittent electrical shorts in vehicles. The company’s SmartFuse device is plugged into the fuse box of a car that has an intermittent fault to record data while the customer drives the car. When the fault occurs, the SmartFuse will record the type and the location of the fault so that it can easily be fixed. The Short Solutions device is based on spread spectrum time domain reflectometry technology that was developed at the University of Utah.   Teton Botanicals Inc. Teton Botanicals is producing and selling a lotion under the brand name Logan Botanicals that is made with avocado oil and pure plant extracts. So what makes that unique?  The company employs a technology that structures liquid avocado oil and pure water into tiny vesicles about one third of the size of a red blood cell. A vegetable emulsifier helps bind the water and oil together. The resulting lotion feels cool and soothing when applied—not greasy or sticky at all. The Teton Botanicals formula was derived from research at Utah State University. “The College of Agriculture at Utah State University is a leader in the technical areas that are important to the future of our business,” says Steve Bernet, co-founder of Teton Botanicals. The company currently sells its product in the Logan area, but has immediate plans to expand into national and international markets. Veritract Veritract is developing a “smart” feeding tube that will allow health care workers to insert feeding tubes quickly and correctly—and without the need for a follow-up X-ray to confirm correct placement. The Veritract tube employs fiber optics and directional control, giving clinicians real-time vision to help guide the tube into the stomach or small intestine. This smart tube reduces the risk of misplacing tubes in other parts of the body, such as the lungs, and helps reduce the traditional cost of placing a feeding tube. Veritract was founded by Dr. John Fang, a gastroenterologist with the University of Utah, to ensure that patients can benefit from enteral feeding in a safe and timely manner.     Protect Yourself   Maintain your trademarks. Prevailing under either ACPA or ICANN requires proving you have a valid trademark. It is tough to do that unless you have registered your mark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The description you use should be broad enough to cover all your business activities.    Check for websites that hijack your brand traffic. There are software tools to reveal third-party domains that capitalize on URL misspellings. One example is Microsoft’s Strider URL Tracer.    Consider registering variant names. Register the domain name of your correctly spelled trademark, but also consider registering variants and redirecting them to your main site. If you have a fight with a brand parasite and get the name canceled or transferred, use that name yourself.  http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10080 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 Heather Stewart  The economic meltdown of the past three years has proven that what the world of business needs more than ever is corporate guidance. More accurately, corporate governance.  When a recent survey by nationally known pollster Zogby Interactive revealed that U.S. bankers are now considered less popular by Americans than their politicians, well, the problems that businesses have with perceived mismanagement and broken trusts are painstakingly clear. A strong board of directors to guide the executive team through difficult decision-making can help companies find success through the ups and downs.    Leading with Experience  Just as any parent knows the value of teaching their children correct principles for success, then adding rules and boundaries to help guide them as they grow, businesses also need nurturing and monitoring. Children can’t do that for themselves, and few young businesses can either. So instead of turning to a parent for guidance, a business or organization needs directors—boards of directors.  Those boards need to remember their roles and stay focused on their responsibility, both to the business owners and their clients. That’s a message that Robert Gross has been preaching for decades. As he states on the website of his company, Robert C. Gross Associates in Salt Lake City, his approach to corporate governance counseling is unique. An experienced mediator, Gross now trains executives, board members and committees to “communicate and lead more effectively.” “I preach the virtues of any business, of all businesses, using boards of directors for both legal and practical reasons,” Gross says. Already required by state laws for any company that incorporates, he calls boards of directors one of the three important components of a business—along with the owners/shareholders and management. The key is to make sure that the board is functioning properly. “Their duty is to serve the owner’s interest, and monitor and oversee the management of the company or corporation,” he says. “Having said that, sadly, as we see in companies that have underperformed or failed, the boards are often functionally beholden to management, the same group that appoints them and pays them.” In other words, sometimes these boards simply rubber stamp a management decision or recommendation.   Selecting the Right Board Gross, who has worked with both public and privately held companies, sees the difference in the needs and wants of an array of businesses. Most startups are privately held, often with few shareholders who become both board members and management. Public companies tend to go outside the core ownership/management group and bring in board members with expertise in supportive fields. Some of those picks are ceremonial at best, striving to benefit by association with that board member’s history or reputation.  Parts of Gross’ message to clients are clues to choosing the right kinds of directors for their boards. “Over the years, what has happened with many companies is that the chief executive officer, perhaps the owner, also appoints themselves as chairman of the board,” he says. “But that is changing. There’s more of a feeling that the roles should be separate. Many public companies are now electing a ‘lead director’ who has no financial interest in the company. That move toward independence is creating a greater checks-and-balances system in those companies.” Board members need to share common strengths, such as passion and vision, says Gross. While public companies may be looking for infusion of capital from institutional investors, startups seek long-term players, those with financial acumen and expertise. “With startups, they need directors who bring specific skill sets to the table,” Gross says. “They want people who understand that they should be engaged and working toward a strong corporate organization. When those requirements are met, then a strong corporate governance can be created.” His message to all businesses: self-governance is critical to achieving success, both in conduct and in the actions of the business and its board of directors.  “Ultimately, enhanced boardroom governance involves much more than the adoption of ‘check-the-box’ best practices,” he says. “Integrity in business is grounded to a commitment of doing what’s right, not just doing the right things. It’s based on a foundation of ethics and values that balances risk with reward.”     http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10081 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 Tom Haraldsen  Do estate planning recommendations change in tough economic times? Yes, the focus certainly changes, especially if you or your heirs are facing mounting debt, potential creditor’s claims or bankruptcy. Here’s a review of some common and costly estate planning mistakes and how to avoid them, especially in tough economic times:   Mistake: Adding a Child to Your Accounts. By adding a child’s name to your bank or investment account, you not only give him unrestricted access to your account, you also subject your account to his creditors. Even if your child is completely trustworthy, he can still be sued, incur a tax lien, or divorce. The result could wipe out your account. Solution: If you need help managing your finances, use a revocable living trust or appoint an agent using a durable power of attorney. In both cases you can nominate a person to manage your assets without the liability risk.     Mistake: Putting Children on the Title to Your Home. Adding a child as an owner on your home has the same risks as adding a child to your bank or investment accounts. If the child is sued, has a judgment against him or divorces, your home is at risk. In addition, it can cause unintended gift tax consequences and significant income tax liabilities when the home is sold. After explaining these risks to one of my clients who had already deeded one-half of her home to her son, she asked her son to deed the home back and he refused. She had legally gifted the home and was unable to get it back. Solution: Rather than add your child to your home to avoid a probate, put the home into a revocable living trust. This will avoid probate and avoid the risks.   Mistake: Failing to Protect the Beneficiaries who are at Risk. Once a beneficiary receives an inheritance, it is his to spend and use as he sees fit. It can also become a potential target if the beneficiary has unpaid creditors, a divorcing spouse, an IRS tax lien or other liabilities. A beneficiary can also squander an inheritance. Some time ago, I was helping distribute a trust estate when I got a call from one of the trust beneficiaries. He immediately asked whether we could delay the distribution of his inheritance. It was an unusual request because most people want their money as soon as possible. He then explained that he had filed for bankruptcy and if the inheritance could not be delayed, he would lose a major part of his inheritance. I found nothing in the trust that permitted the trustee to withhold the distribution, so I called back and delivered the bad news.  Solution: As long as an inheritance is held in a properly drafted trust, it is protected from a beneficiary’s creditors and from the beneficiary’s improper spending habits. If the beneficiary dies before the inheritance is fully distributed, you can specify an alternate beneficiary. Many people like the idea of holding an inheritance in trust until a child reaches a certain age. Others like spreading distributions over a period of time. I often include a provision that allows the trustee to withhold distributions if a beneficiary is involved in a bankruptcy, a divorce, has a large judgment against him, has a drug addiction, is incapacitated or is living in a country that will unduly tax the inheritance.    Mistake: Jeopardizing Public Benefits. Leaving an inheritance to a beneficiary who is on Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or other needs-based assistance will result in the loss of those benefits. The beneficiary will then be forced to spend the inheritance on medical and other needs that were once covered by public benefits. Those expenses can be significant and can deplete an inheritance quickly. Once the inheritance is gone, the beneficiary is forced to reapply for benefits, housing programs and so on. Some recognize this problem and leave the inheritance to another child with the hope and expectation that the money will be used for the child on public assistance. But if the child entrusted with the inheritance dies, divorces, has creditor problems or spends the money improperly, the inheritance can be lost.  Solution: If you have a beneficiary who is on Medicaid or SSI, you should consider leaving the inheritance in a specially drafted trust to preserve eligibility for government benefits.   Mistake: Failing to Name Proper Beneficiaries . Life insurance in Utah is normally not available to creditors of an estate. However, if there is no designated beneficiary or the designated beneficiary is your estate, the insurance money is subject to the creditors of your estate. This can be significant for business owners who own life insurance and who are personally obligated for business debt. The insurance proceeds that would have passed to heirs may instead be used to pay the estate’s obligations.  Solution: Avoid naming your estate as the beneficiary of your life insurance, tax-deferred annuities, IRAs and other retirement vehicles. Make sure primary and secondary beneficiary designations are included. You can also name a properly drafted trust as beneficiary.   Mistake: Not Having an Estate Plan. The most common mistake is not doing any estate planning. This can be a costly mistake for you and your heirs, especially if your estate may be subject to estate taxes.  Solution: Call an experienced estate planning attorney and get it done.    Troubled economic times create challenges in estate planning, but a little planning can go a long way to avoid common mistakes that can cause pain and frustration at a difficult time. Take care of it now and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from proper planning.     Scott Awerkamp is a shareholder in the law firm of Snow, Christensen & Martineau and has an extensive practice in the estate planning and business areas. Mr. Awerkamp can be reached at esa@scmlaw.com or at 435-673-8288. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10082 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 Scott Awerkamp  With dozens of communication methods at your fingertips—from e-mail to teleconferencing to Web chats—it’s easier than ever to stay connected with clients, wherever they may be located. With the convenience, however, comes to the temptation to forget about old fashioned face-to-face interaction. Successfully entertaining an out-of-town client, both in the boardroom and after hours, may be the key to separating yourself from the competition.    Personalized Attention  “You have three to seven seconds to make a first impression and to make your customer feel valued,” says Ellen Reddick, a Salt Lake City-based business consultant specializing in business etiquette and protocol. “We often forget the power of a handshake. Once you touch someone, you create a bond that people don’t forget.” Building rapport with an out-of-town client, however, begins long before the in-person encounter. As the host of any business trip, etiquette dictates that you initiate all travel arrangements, hotel accommodations and entertainment opportunities. And that doesn’t mean just transferring the client to your assistant to handle the details.  “You want to be gracious enough to do that yourself,” Reddick says. “By not putting [these] tasks off to other people, you’re letting the person know that you’re interested in them coming and in their wants and needs, and that you really want to make them comfortable.” The planning stage of a trip allows you the opportunity to not only show that you are mindful of the client’s preferences, but is also a great chance to get to know them on a more personal level.  To make it personal, ask questions before your guest arrives. For example: Does the client prefer accommodations in the heart of the city or is he more interested in access to outdoor activities? Is she hoping to simply relax or looking for a high-end fitness center? Would he rather spend an evening at the Gallery Stroll or at a Real Salt Lake Match?  Taking the extra time to find a location and accommodation that meet the individual needs of your client not only makes the trip more appealing from his perspective—let’s face it, spending time on the road can be a real chore—but it also reflects how you do business. Thoughtful, personalized attention can be a real selling point in any industry.   It’s difficult to discuss such a custom-built excursion without thinking about how much it is going to cost. Reddick says that though the host handles the planning and serves as the local expert, he doesn’t necessarily have to front the entire bill. “You have to decide among yourselves who is going to pay for what,” Reddick says. “It is ok to require visitors to pay their own way, as long you tell them in advance what you they can expect.” By giving your client very specific details regarding what will be provided—whether it’s airfare and lodging or just a continental breakfast, an evening meal, or an afternoon at Lagoon—the client has the ability to use your suggestions to make arrangements that meet his budget.     Office Etiquette  The pre-trip thoughtfulness needs to continue for the duration of the visit. This can be a real challenge for busy executives who are used to being pulled in all directions by calls, employees or daily emergencies.     “The biggest [hosting mistake] is letting technology override the personal interaction,” Reddick says. “If you’re with someone for the day and that’s all the time you have with them, don’t let your general office technology interrupt. Put it down, leave it alone, don’t touch it.” Instead, let your guest know that she has your undivided attention. Make yourself personally available to greet her at the airport. Once in the office, widen her circle of comfort with the company by introducing her to everyone she passes, from the office assistant to the CEO. It is equally important that everyone in the office be prepared to offer this same courtesy, greeting the guest by name and with a smile.   Outside of the Office Though you will want the clients to interact with each of the key players within your organization, that doesn’t have to happen within the walls of your office.     “If I was hosting someone who had never been to Utah before, I would want them to feel the breadth and depth of the beauty of our city,” Reddick says. “I wouldn’t lock them up in a conference room; I would pick a location where they would feel that there was an extra value added to their trip.” Renting a conference room at a resort in Park City, for example, allows you to have uninterrupted work time with the additional benefit of a wide range of day time or evening activities unique to Utah. Though you will want to allow your client to have plenty to do and see, it’s important not to overbook the agenda. “It’s really nice to have some air and some relaxed time,” Reddick advises. She recommends building free time into the schedule and letting the client know there is free time to spend some time exploring.   A Client for Life No matter how you build the itinerary, it is crucial to keep the most important goals in mind. Deals can be made and contracts signed from any location. Focus on the areas that require face-to-face interaction and build relationships that will sustain long distances partnerships.  “So often, all we do is put someone through our processes. We don’t stop and appreciate them and enjoy the experience with them,” Reddick explains. “If you are adaptable enough to find out more about them, [the client will think of you] as someone who went the extra mile. They will know that you will do the same in every other circumstance—if they have an issue or concern, you will put forth the effort for them. That is what differentiates you from everyone else in the market place.”   http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10083 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 Spencer Sutherland  After being flat-lined for the last two years, the real estate market in Utah is slowly showing signs of life. A resuscitation of housing sales during the first quarter of 2010 might finally indicate a recovery—albeit a minor recovery—for the real estate industry across the state. With sales up and pressure from foreclosures keeping prices low, could this be the year housing can start to rebound?  According to Jillinda Bowers, past president of the Salt Lake Board of Realtors and associate broker with Prudential Real Estate, residential home sales in the Salt Lake Valley were up significantly compared to the first quarter of 2009. Midvale reported an increase of 72 percent, Taylorsville was up 54 percent, Sandy improved by almost 50 percent and homes on the west side of Salt Lake saw an increase of 122 percent.  Nearly 8,000 homes are available in Salt Lake County (10,500 on the market statewide) with those priced under $300,000 showing the best results and fastest sales. Bowers says, on average, homeowners can expect to sell their homes within 130 days. “Sales are on the rise,” Bowers says. “Consumer confidence is coming back. Every zip code in the Salt Lake County has experienced an increase. We should see that through the summer the market should be good. The market in May slowed down with people regrouping and waiting for school to get out. Summer is historically slower, especially July, but we should see good healthy sales.”   Demand Slowly Increasing? Because so many Utah residents lost their jobs due to economic cutbacks and layoffs, demand for single-family homes was reduced during the last couple of years. People moved in with friends and family, or rented apartments until they could get back on their feet. But now that the economy is showing positive signs, the inventory of homes should provide a great selection for people looking to purchase. “We’re seeing a strengthening of the single-family market and a weakening for apartments,” says James Wood, director of the University of Utah’s Bureau of Economic Research. “For home builders, the first quarter was up by 110 percent. It does appear that sector is picking up. “I think we’ve seen the worst in both sales of existing real estate and new construction,” Wood adds. “Both of those have reached bottom. It’s going to be another year, or year and a half, then the market will stabilize.” With the federal and state tax credits for new homebuyers off the table, many real estate professionals are worried that the loss of the incentives will affect home sales. And while nationwide new home construction in April was at the highest level for more than a year, now that the credits are gone, analysts expect new home construction to drop slightly. Bowers, however, doesn’t believe revoking the tax credit will influence many homebuyers. She cites a recent survey where the reasons people decided to buy a home were the low prices, the low interest rates (hovering at around 5 percent), and lastly the federal and state incentives.    Hard Hit Areas Southern Utah’s residential real estate market has definitely seen better days, and Wood and Bowers agree that the real estate markets in Washington and Iron counties will take longer to recover due to overbuilding in the area, low home values in nearby Nevada towns, and the depletion of retirement accounts owing to the economic downturn across the country. “[Older] people just aren’t confident enough in the housing market to purchase a second home,” Wood says. “That hurts the second home and retiree market because their wealth has been damaged a bit. I think that retiree second home market will take a while to recover.” Even so, St. George properties are starting to rebound, showing a nice resurgence in the region. Once the new St. George Municipal Airport opens in early 2011, economic growth should show a substantial improvement—and the housing market is predicted to take an upturn. But with home prices in Nevada cut nearly in half, retirees might go outside of Utah to purchase their winter home.   Still a Buyer’s Market With so many homes on the market, Bowers says homeowners should do whatever is necessary to entice buyers. Even though sales are up, prices are still low, so sellers have a lot of rivalry in the marketplace. “They should price competitively, watch the market, do any maintenance necessary (because buyers don’t have extra cash to do upgrades) and help with incentives like closing costs or home warranties.” In May, the median price of a home in Salt Lake County was between $217,000 and $238,000, a drop of almost 9 percent. The Canyon Rim and Olympus Cove areas have stabilized. The median price in Holladay actually increased more than 25 percent ranging from $266,000 to $327,000 and West Valley showed in increased median price of 6 percent. Salt Lake City home prices showed the biggest decline, dropping by 22.9 percent. As a result, 1,716 homes sold in Salt Lake County between Jan.1 and Mar. 31, 2010 compared to only 1,489 properties sold in the same time period in 2009. Another positive aspect of Utah’s housing situation is the state’s young population. Historically Utah has the largest number of echo-boomers (20- to 30-year-olds) in the nation. While most states show an increase in baby boomers, Utah’s young population is looking for homes for their families. And although Utah was one of the last states to be affected by the downward spiral of the housing market, with a large inventory of homes available, competitive prices and the new home construction industry slowly gaining ground, Utah analysts are convinced the real estate market will be strong once more. “I feel that things are on the upswing. There is a better confidence,” Bowers says. “I think if the stock market doesn’t have a big dip, then we should remain pretty comfortable. It’s a great time to buy.”   http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10084 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 Peri Kinder  On April 20, 2010, an explosion on a BP offshore drilling rig created a massive oil leak into the Gulf of Mexico. Just 17 days later, on May 7, 2010, a BP shareholder sued members of the BP board of directors, claiming that the board’s pursuit of profits at the expense of safety led to an oil spill that could cost the company billions of dollars. The lawsuit seeks not only money damages, but also changes to board structure and membership. Since May 20, 2010, BP stock has plummeted further, spawning ever more shareholder claims and lawsuits. As public companies careen through the Great Recession, shareholders holding devalued stock consider their options. Those options include shareholder derivative lawsuits or corporate activism.    Shareholder Litigation  In a shareholder derivative lawsuit, a shareholder acts on behalf of the company against a third party, such as a corporate officer or director. In the BP case, the shareholder suing in May 2010 brought an action in the name of BP, claiming the board of directors had harmed the corporation. Many shareholder derivative lawsuits are certified as class actions, with lead plaintiffs represented by lead attorneys, eventually representing most or all of the shareholders in the company.  How much can shareholders obtain in damages? Historically, shareholder derivative lawsuits have not resulted in huge payouts, but rather in remedial measures, such as change of board members, attorneys’ fees and a limited payout. Since the lawsuit is against third parties, rather than the company itself, the availability of damages is often limited by the upper limits on directors and officers liability insurance policies. In class action lawsuits, any payout is spread across the entire class, further limiting the amount of recovery per class member. However, in the BP case, more money may be available because shareholders have sued not only board members, but other companies which may have harmed BP, such as the companies that provided drilling services and owned the drilling rig that exploded. How long does it take to obtain damages or corporate change through a shareholder’s derivative lawsuit? “I’ve handled shareholder lawsuits which settled within a year, and others which dragged on for several years,” says Brent Baker, a Salt Lake lawyer specializing in securities litigation. Many lawsuits against large public companies, such as BP, Goldman Sachs or AIG, are brought in New York or California, but the shareholders may be from anywhere. Baker once represented a Park City resident in a shareholder derivative suit against a major company. He is licensed in New York and brought his last two shareholders derivative lawsuits there.    Lawsuit Due Diligence  “Shareholder litigation is not fast and it is rarely satisfying for the parties,” Baker says. Shareholders who want to sue a company like BP, whose woes are in the news, should research both the company they want to sue and the attorney they want to retain. Company information is available from the Edgar database on the SEC.gov website.  “Advertisements for participation in shareholders derivative suits have traditionally been published in the Wall Street Journal,” Baker says. “But the Internet is a great equalizer. Go to websites for the lawsuits and lawyers involved, read CVs, and check to make sure the lawyer has securities experience and doesn’t have Bar complaints.” Baker mentions the furor a few years ago when attorneys from Milberg Weiss, a prominent law firm representing plaintiffs in derivative lawsuits, were criminally convicted for paying their plaintiffs millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks.  Baker also suggests going with local attorneys when possible. “New York attorneys charge up to $1,000 per hour. Utah attorneys charge half that, or less, and many are very skilled and sophisticated.”    Changing the Board “Rather than seeking change through the courtroom, seeking change through the boardroom may be a better long-range solution,” says Josh Little, a St. George attorney with corporate clients throughout the Western United States. Since boards of directors are responsible for appointing and overseeing officers, and boards are elected by shareholders, the shareholders, working together, can influence who runs the company.  “In the past, staggered boards and plurality voting for directors were very common,” Little says, “but that’s changing.”  With staggered boards, directors are elected for multi-year terms, a few per year. Shareholders trying to change the composition of the board thus have to win proxy fights for two or three years, rather than just once. With plurality voting, the directors who get the most votes win, even if none receive a majority vote. A change to a declassified, or non-staggered board, and majority, rather than plurality, voting can impact what is required to change the board.    Shareholder Proposals “SEC regulations contain a process for shareholders to make proposals to be considered at annual meetings of shareholders,” Little points out. “Many recent changes in corporate governance have come as a result of shareholders’ proposals being considered at annual meetings.”  Some of those proposals have greatly increased shareholder power. Home Depot and Coca-Cola recently opposed shareholder proposals to hold nonbinding votes on executive compensation at future shareholders meetings.  One California retiree, John Chevedden, has become a well-known shareholder activist by presenting shareholder proposals to companies as diverse as General Electric, Bank of America, Ford and Hewlett-Packard. He has recommended separating the roles of CEO and chairman, adopting majority voting, and giving shareholders the right to call special meetings when 10 percent of shareholders think it’s necessary.  When Chevedden submitted a shareholder proposal to Apache Corporation, the company pushed back, suing to exclude Chevedden’s latest shareholder proposal and seeking attorneys’ fees if successful. The judge ruled in favor of Apache, finding that Chevedden had not proved stock ownership. SEC rules include requirements for eligibility and content of proposals. “Shareholders should receive qualified legal advice when preparing a proposal,” says Little, “because, if the requirements are not fulfilled, the company can reject the proposal.”   The Company Viewpoint “In Overstock.com’s eight year history, we’ve never been joined in a shareholder’s derivative suit,” says Jonathan Johnson, president. “We’ve seen advertisements seeking shareholders to sue us, but it’s never come to anything.”   Overstock actively seeks transparency in its relations with shareholders, in hopes of keeping those relationships positive. “We try to be very communicative,” Johnson says. “If my mom wanted to know how this business was doing, I’d talk to shareholders just the way I’d talk to her—very clear and simple and honest.”    Overstock hosts a quarterly earnings call, which is open to shareholders, analysts and the public. After earnings are announced, the conference call is scheduled, with a call-in number circulated to invitees and listed on the company website. The call lasts approximately one hour. Company management explains the earnings report, including why the numbers are high or low. A question and answer period is included in the call. “The earnings call is part of our attempt to be candid,” Johnson says. “Shareholders are most upset when bad things happen and they have had no explanation.” Johnson acknowledges that Overstock.com is the only public company he knows which has a plaintiffs’ security class action attorney on its board of directors. Joseph Tabacco, from San Francisco, has been a great help because, as Johnson notes, “we’ve been involved in a lot of litigation.”  Although Overstock.com has dodged shareholder’s derivative suits, it has been a plaintiff, itself. “We’re fighting Wall Street. We’ve had a lot of manipulation of our stock through ‘naked short selling’—which is not as exciting as it sounds.”   Responding to Shareholder Letters and Calls “When a customer writes or calls, the communication is usually immediately responded to by our CEO,” says Mark Griffin, Overstock’s general counsel. “If more follow-up is needed, he then forwards the question to me, if it’s a legal issue, or to one of the managers, if it’s a business question.”   Little, who attends many corporate board meetings as outside legal counsel, also acknowledges that, in his experience, letters from shareholders are taken seriously and discussed at board meetings, if they raise substantial issues.  Hiring Experts “Public companies are under a microscope all the time,” says Vic Pollak, Salt Lake City corporate attorney, “but there are experts available to help when a crisis occurs.”  Pollak suggests that public companies consider using a skilled PR firm to shape their message to the public and to shareholders when the news is bad, as well as using a proxy solicitation firm to advise on shareholder issues. Pollak also suggests that public companies appoint an investor relations committee of the board to consider such proactive steps as reaching out to the leaders of hostile shareholder groups to see if some settlement can be reached.   To Sue or Not to Sue Shareholders derivative suits. Corporate activism. Letters to the CEO or board. Shareholders have several avenues for redress when their companies crash. Speed and a satisfactory outcome are not guaranteed, but all options offer the shareholder ways to seek change and make dissatisfaction known.  http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10085 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 Gretta Spendlove   Your heart is racing, your legs are shaking, you wonder if you’ll make it to the end of your five-mile running stretch. You hear your 11 teammates cheering in the background—you are, after all, in this race together. After approximately 24 hours of running a collective 170 miles, your team crosses the finish line. Together you have accomplished the ultimate running experience—Ragnar Relay.     The First Step The Ragnar Relay Series (initially dubbed Wasatch Back Relay) started as many ventures do: with an entrepreneurial dream. Steve Hill long envisioned an all-day, all-night relay race that stretched across Utah’s one-of-a-kind Wasatch Front. But it was Dan Hill, Steve’s son, who adopted the dream and ran with it. Dan Hill, along with his childhood friend Tanner Bell, launched the first Ragnar race in 2004. Though only 22 teams (which included 262 individuals) participated in the relay race, the event was immediately a hit. “It’s a format that people just can’t get enough of,” says Hill.  By 2006, Ragnar Relay grew to 12 races across the United States, covering 42 percent of the market share. Today, more than 25,000 individuals participate in the race annually and Ragnar has grown to be the nation’s third largest endurance sports series.  Hill says what’s unique about Ragnar is it takes a solo sport—running—and turns it into a social experience. “A lot of people love to run, but when you’re racing, you’re alone—you’re by yourself,” he says. “We’ve introduced a team element, which has resonated for people.” Though the company has experienced extraordinary growth, that growth has come with challenges. “Tanner and I constantly joke that every 12 months it’s like we’re working for a different company,” says Hill. “Any company that’s constantly trying to improve and trying to grow fast has challenges. I think we’re doing so good because everyone really loves what they do. People are willing to tolerate the chaos and dig in more than they otherwise would at another job—we all put our whole hearts into [Ragnar].” Bell agrees: “Participants run Ragnar to experience an adventure, work with a team to accomplish something they never could have accomplished on their own, and to push themselves beyond their limits,” he says. “My motivations are the same. At Ragnar, each day brings a new challenge and adventure. I work with an amazing team to build the nation’s premier series of relay adventures, and most importantly, Ragnar consistently pushes me beyond the limits of what I think I am capable.”   All About the Team  If you think spending eight hours a day, five days a week with your colleagues is more than enough time to get to know one another, imagine riding in a van, side-by-side for approximately 24 hours—the only solo time you have is when your feet are on the pavement, running one of your allotted stretches.  But according to Marit Fischer, Backcountry.com’s communications manager, participating in Ragnar is the ultimate team-building experience. “Think about it,” says Fischer, who runs in one of Backcountry.com’s four relay teams. “You’ve got a van full of co-workers almost literally stuck together for 24-plus hours while you each and collectively make your way as fast as you can to the finish line. You can’t not bond.” Fischer adds that Ragnar gives employees who normally don’t work together the opportunity to interact. “It’s a great way to take, for example, a marketing manager, a designer, a shipper, a customer service rep and an IT guy—who may not otherwise interact at work—and say, ‘OK, you’re a team. Go!’ By the end of the 24 hours, you’ve not only closed communication gaps between departments, you’ve built some lasting friendships while you’re at it.” Bob Smith, who participates on Winder Farms’ Manimals relay team, says that participants are able to take the team-building lessons learned from Ragnar back to the workplace. “Nobody wants to let down the team. Even though we all run at different levels, everyone wants to do their best. In the work setting, it is the same. Some team members are stronger than others, yet it still takes everyone doing their personal best to succeed.” Beyond promoting teamwork, Hill says participating in Ragnar creates a real sense of friendship and camaraderie among participants. “Every participant works to make sure they’re taking care of their teammates. They get water for them, cheer for them and they all feel each other’s pain. It really takes away barriers.” “You will never learn in a motivational seminar or workshop what you can learn by running in the Ragnar,” adds Smith. “We work together as a team, have a great time and build memories together. It is a very effective way to help your company reach a new level of performance.”   The End Result   What do companies get when participating in Ragnar? A healthier, happier and more productive workforce.  “We’ve heard that companies that participate in Ragnar see that it helps them with physical, mental and social health at work,” says Hill. “Our event brings together physical training, learning to eat right, learning to exercise right. For a company to bring together a dozen or so people to get healthy together, it really helps build productivity and creates happy employees.”  Smith has seen firsthand the health benefits participating in Ragnar can create for a company. “As a group, we lost a few hundred pounds getting ready for the race,” he says. “We began to eat much healthier; it has created a lasting culture of being healthy. Everyone likes the positive effect the race had on our bodies and our body image. We are all working to keep it going.” Fischer agrees that participating in the event has helped establish a healthy workplace, but he says what’s better is the healthy company culture the event helped establish. “A healthy work environment, to us, is less about being in good shape or being physically healthy than it is about open communication, strategic forward motion, and courageous thinking,” he says. “The race and all that it entails are a good mini-cosm of the workplace environment. Every time we participate, we get a fresh reminder of how we do what we do well.” Reaching the finish line is all about working together and having fun, says Smith. “After 24 hours in a small vehicle, you realize nobody is perfect but we all can rally together and have great time doing it … [Ragnar] creates a memory of a lifetime.”      http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10086 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 Sarah Ryther Francom Utah has a growing ethnic minority population, adding diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to the state. In our annual Multicultural Business roundtable, a group of ethnic business and community leaders discussed the unique challenges they experience, including business financing, educational barriers and opportunities, and government and business leadership positions. The group also discussed the important role ethnic minorities have in building Utah’s economy.  We’d like to give a special thank you to Stanley Ellington, CEO of the Black Chamber of Commerce, for moderating the discussion and to Holland & Hart for hosting the event.  Participants: Back Row: Lavanya Mahate, Utah Asian Chamber; Winston Wilkinson, Wilkinson Associates; David Utrilla, U.S. Translation Co.; Simón Cantarero, Holland & Hart Roger Tsai, Parsons Behle & Latimer; Duvan Botero, Club Karamba; Chuck Spence, Governor’s Office of Economic Development; Stanley Ellington, Black Chamber of Commerce; Ed Roberson, Integra Telecom Front Row: William Guillory, Innovations; Juan M. Ruiz, Latin American Chamber of Commerce; MacLeans Geo JaJa, BYU; Luz Robles, Zions Bank; Jorge Fierro, Fierro Group; Silvia Norman, Wells Fargo; Ozwald Balfour, Onni Media, LLC; Lorena Riffo Jenson, VOX Creative; Jessie M. Soriano, Utah Office of Ethnic Affairs; Erni Hernandez Armstrong, Freestyle Marketing     Do you believe Utah has a healthy business environment for minority groups?    RUIZ: I think Utah does have a healthy environment. However, the lack of participation and the lack of communication between what all of these benefits are is not being communicated to the minority business communities. So, yes, Utah has a healthy environment. It’s there for people to take advantage of. Unfortunately, they are just not taking advantage of it because there is no awareness.    GEO JAJA: I think there’s a very big distinction between having a healthy environment and being able to infuse in that healthy environment. Utah might have a healthy environment, but the possibility or the ability to integrate yourself into that healthy environment becomes minimal. We need some facilitators to bring minority businesses into that healthy environment. Just like we say we all have a human right to a basic right to education, but some have a right to better education and some do not have a right to education. So it is the facilitator of that healthy environment that makes the difference.   WILKINSON: Is there really a serious intent for something to happen to integrate minority businesses into the mainstream of Utah business? I imagine that in this state, that would have to happen by some action from the governor’s office directly.    RUIZ: In my interactions with the Chamber of Commerce and with several entities, including government entities, I’ve found that they are interested in engaging the minority community, and they have programs and services and they claim to be serious about engaging the community. The problem is their outreach practices leave a lot to be desired. There is a huge gap between their ability to function and their engagement to these communities. The constant answer that I get when I ask about engagement is, “Well, the programs are here. They [minorities] should take advantage of it. We are not going do anything special just for them.” And that, “not doing anything special,” is where I think the problem lies.    What are some of the obstacles preventing Utah from having a healthy business environment for minority groups?    RIFFO JENSON: Funding of minority businesses is key. I think a lot of times we have rules that apply and they work extremely well in the general market, but when it comes to ethnic businesses and incredible entrepreneurial ideas, a lot of times the financial industry out there, whether it’s the banks, credit unions or another company, is reluctant to take a chance on ethnic minority businesses. I see a lot of incredible ideas and incredibly well prepared professionals, but people are not willing to invest in them. That is one of the things that is lacking in this community.    BALFOUR: I see impediments, sometimes intentional and sometimes unintentional. Some of the very agencies that are charged with assisting small businesses and ethnic businesses don’t have an understanding or an appreciation of what is needed. I remember years ago having a discussion about how ethnic businesses can get a bigger share of the economic pie. And I was told, “Well, we try to make sure we have a level playing field.” And if you have small businesses that are competing with large businesses, that is not a level playing field. We don’t have to necessarily reinvent the wheel. We just need to look to places where people have gotten it. And I think in a lot of areas here in Utah, when it comes to dealing with the ethnic population, we don’t get it. And part of it is that I don’t think we are big enough to get people to understand that numbers do matter. We’re getting there, but organizing ourselves to be able to get that point across is perhaps one of the first things that we need to do.   MAHATE: Definitely Utah has a very progressive climate as compared to many states, not just for the minority entrepreneurial business owner, but just business owners in general. We’ve been ranked one of the top states that is friendly to small business, and we’re the fittest state in the nation, and we are the second happiest state in the nation, next to Hawaii. I think there is truth to these statistics. And the spirit of entrepreneurialism is what distinguishes small business owners and their qualities of dedication and perseverance, adaptability and to lead change is what gets them to be on top of their game, irrespective of the challenges. Yes, there are a lot of challenges, but there are always solutions to the challenges, too. I think it’s really up to the people, the small business owners, the entrepreneurs to find solutions to make it a great state.    ROBLES: I think lending can certainly be a barrier for newcomers to this country who don’t understand the system of credit. We need to make sure lending companies and financial institutions have a better understanding of how to be more culturally competent. Lending is one aspect that continues to be a barrier, but I think more companies are becoming more competent in how to secure financing. With that said, I think that the private sector is trying to get more businesses involved and getting more of the entrepreneurial piece. I agree that the market is there—people are interested in the market, but how do we integrate them into the market?  On the other hand, you have government that sometimes does the opposite of what the private sector is doing. And we have laws like the ones in Arizona that instead of helping are just damaging relationships and making it harder and more difficult for all ethnic businesses. We are at a point in our economy that having those types of policies in place are only hurting the economy.    RIFFO JENSON: What we’ve seen in Arizona has resulted in a lot of con-ventions that have moved from Arizona to Utah. Because of Arizona’s policies and laws, Utah is benefiting. If we create the same type of environment, we are going to also suffer those consequences.    BOTERO: My company plans big events, incentive trips, conventions and seminars. Because of the Arizona laws, we would not even consider planning an event in Arizona because we know that 30 to 35 percent of our attendees would be affected if we planned an event there. I agree that we’re going to have bad repercussions in Utah if we step forward with laws similar to what’s happened in Arizona.    UTRILLA: In the many years I have been living in Utah and in the United States, I’ve seen some ethnic groups isolate and segregate themselves and try to do business within their ethnic group only. By segregating themselves, they miss big opportunities to interact with other groups, which will help them to progress and to do much better.  In particular to the Hispanic community, language is a barrier for them, so sometimes they feel forced to be in a different group. The other thing that happens is the opposite—where there are some groups that don’t interact with this important segment of ethnic group. They also miss opportunities to do business and to increase their revenues.    GEO JAJA: I think we have to be extra careful because the complexity of the business environment in Utah is distinctly different from other cities and other states. The complexity of the business environment here is of two fold: The impact of the [Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the government itself. The church has a tremendous amount of influence on the orientation and the delivering of business and goods and services within the system. Some have said that the church should come out and take a stand on immigration. That demonstrates the power of the church and that is the power of the extra dynamics of influence in the business environment in Utah. So we cannot say the environment is just like other states—it is more complex.    SORIANO: Just an observation from a non business owner and a non businessman. I’ve only lived in Utah for 22 years, so I’m a relative newcomer. But it seems to me that as I’ve talked to my friends back East and as I go back East and talk to folks I used to work with, the image of Utah as a closed society still exists. In spite of what we see going on here, it’s still seen as a closed system. And if you are not part of the network in this community, you are going to have a much harder time. In any business, the network is what is important—it’s what gets you where you are going.  As I look at the publications that come out of our state offices and as I look at the publications that come out of our businesses in this state, very few of them show a representation of the ethnic makeup and the diversity in this state. With all due respect, you see pictures of white folks skiing, you see pictures of white folks biking in Moab, you see pictures of the mountains—that is how we sell the state. And I understand that tourism is an important industry—I don’t argue with that. Until we start showing Utah’s more diverse face to the world, people are going to continue to believe that Utah has a closed society and that this is not a good place for minorities. That has been the general impression I’ve gotten from folks outside of the state.    How can Utah businesses effectively recruit more minorities from inside and outside the state?    TSAI: Anybody who has lived outside this state obviously realizes that Utah has a stigma. And in some ways, that stigma is probably as damaging to our economy as segregation was to the South. That stigma is essentially that Utah is a homogenous, closed society. So if you are a company trying to recruit folks from out of the state, not just even diverse folks, but professionals, how do you do that? To what extent should the larger society—either the state, the [LDS Church] and the larger business community—be helping out the minority community? I think rather than pitching it as a, “We deserve more or we should have more equality here,” the pitch needs to be a persuasive one and needs to be about when the minority community succeeds it is better for the larger community in general, better for the entire state in general.  I think we have to sell diversity as a business advantage, not for the diverse population, but for everybody. And that includes making Utah a more interesting place to live. Those who grew up here or were here 10 years ago probably remember how difficult it was to find a Thai restaurant. Well, now there are more than 300 Asian American restaurants in the state. That is more than the Burger Kings, Taco Bells, KFCs combined. That is a substantial amount of business employment and culture that these Asian American small business owners and restaurants are adding to the state.    HERNANDEZ ARMSTRONG: Add-ing to the perception of little to no cultural diversity in Utah—this has been a deterrent for a lot of companies that are considering the possibility of doing business here. And I agree that the perception doesn’t just affect the Utah economy for the white population, but for the non-white population as well.    ROBERSON: We hear a lot of the glass half empty, half full concept. I grew up in Texas, but I’ve been in Utah about 20 years now, so I’ve seen both sides of that diversity question. I think what we have going on is a tremendous opportunity. Utah is like a gangly teenager trying to figure out what it can do or what it needs to do from a diversity standpoint. In my experience, I haven’t seen an overt push against integrating the diverse opportunities and the diverse community, but what I do see is more of a lack of awareness on both parts—an awareness of what is going on in the community. We have an awareness challenge within our diverse community of understanding and knowing what is going on out there. The other challenge, within that lack of awareness, is an opportunity. We’ve talked about recruitment and outreach for professionals. And I kind of flashed back to 15 years ago when I was with ATK and one of my challenges was minority recruitment. Imagine trying to recruit minorities to Utah 15 years ago. Why would they come? We’ve got to get the message out that there are opportunities here.    Is there enough diversity in leadership and government roles? What is being done to encourage more diversity?   HERNANDEZ ARMSTRONG: Minor- ities make up 15 percent of the population and 80 percent of that 15 percent are Hispanic minorities. The governor’s cabinet is made up of 22 members; one of them is a minority. Minorities do not have the proper representation in Utah government. Surely there are some people here that can be appointed by the governor to highly visible positions so that when companies that are entertaining the idea of bringing their business here to Utah, we have that representation from the state government.   ROBERSON: In regard to leadership, there needs to be a larger minority presence. We are seeing diversity programs being implemented in the large business segment out there through companies that get it. And the “get it” part is when companies, organizations and communities recognize the positive economic impact that diversity has on this community. That is when things start to move and that is the real driver.  At the other end of the spectrum, in Utah it’s pretty hard to put a finger on the pulse of the economic impact of, for example, the black community, because it’s very diverse and dispersed. But what I’m seeing at this point are the beginning steps.    BALFOUR: I think our challenge goes back to numbers. While we are excited about the fact that the minority population in Utah has grown to 15 percent, that number also scares a lot of people. Let’s face it: we want to grow, but there are a lot of people in this state very concerned about that growth. What does that mean for the economic pie? And so that is something that we have to face.    How can we enhance the opportunities and overall economic environment for minorities?   BALFOUR: We cannot have good economic success without good political success—they go hand in hand. But as our numbers grow, obviously people would take us more seriously by virtue of the fact that we are more present in the marketplace. But, there are still a lot of hindrances. While there may be great statistics about how great Utah is, is Utah the best climate for minorities?  I think we really need to send a clear message that we know how the game is played, and we want to see some changes. And that doesn’t mean we should sit back and expect the game to change for us—we have to get in the field and bring about changes and hold people accountable when they have done things either out of ignorance or arrogance. And as we get out there, some of us have to be willing to be considered rabble rousers and troublemakers, but we wouldn’t be the first. Other people have made those sacrifices elsewhere.    GEO JAJA: There must be the willingness of this society and institutions to be culturally sensitive to minorities in terms of position and in terms of inculcation into the system. We do not have integration. We are just an appendage to the system. We are not satisfied with these crumbs that have been given to us. That is what we are getting in this state. How do we change that?    SORIANO: The mission of my office is to ensure that state agencies serve our minority communities, our ethnic communities. But, if we go to one of the executive directors of an agency and say, “Your workforce is not representative and you’ve got to do something about it;” they’ll look at you and say, “OK,” and that’s it. Our offices don’t have the authority to make the changes. We are given the task of helping, but we don’t have the authority to bring about any changes. It’s as simple as that.    Discuss education and its importance to building Utah’s ethnic communities and the state’s overall economy.    NORMAN: Education is key. I came here 40 years ago. I could not speak English and couldn’t go to school until I learned English. The key is getting counselors in our school system, getting the people in the key positions. I remember my counselor said to me, “You should go to beauty school.” Well, I can’t even do my hair. Why would I want to go to beauty school? But that is what I was told I could do. I know a lot of minority children are being told similar things. So the keys are education, talking to our legislators, and getting ourselves together so we are one strong force.    RUIZ: I would like to add the importance of technical training. If you were to put together a huge list of all of the multicultural small businesses and you were to compare that list and the areas where they normally thrive to what the mainstream businesses are, you are going to see a huge percentage in the small, basic services—like landscaping, cleaning and janitorial. Very few will be in law firms, engineering firms and other high end technical businesses. I think that is something of concern because we can see already that there is a huge growth among the minority community, and if we continue to have small businesses with two or three employees and very low technical level businesses among this minority, then eventually over the next years, the United States as a country can lose its edge by having all of these large engineering companies disappear or be outsourced to overseas firms.    SPENCE: Last March at the Governor’s Economic Summit, we heard from Dr. Pam Perlich, the director of economic research at the University of Utah. She threw out some statistics that were a real eye opener. Among them, she said that with Utah becoming increasingly a place for economic opportunity, we are seeing a lot of migration from Nevada and Arizona. She said that adults don’t see it, but if you look into the schools, you will see the changing demographics of Utah. For example, she mentioned that 35 percent of preschoolers in Utah are minorities and that 120 languages are being spoken in Utah’s schools. It’s clear that the future generation of Utah will look very different, and Utah will no longer be seen as a culturally homogenous place.   SORIANO: Our white workforce is getting older. And it’s going to be minorities who are the youngest populations who are going to be replacing that workforce. They are the ones who are going to be generating business in the coming years. If 35 percent, or even 20 percent, of our school kids are minorities, what percent of our school administrators, our school officials are minorities? How many minorities do we have on the State Board of Regents? How many minorities do we have on the State Board of Education? We don’t have that representation.    CANTARERO: There are three points as I see it. There is a generational gap between the time those children are now in school by the time they become consumers or entrepreneurs. So you are looking at a 20 year window. My oldest daughter is five. In 15 years she is going to be able to purchase products. Around that time, if the trend continues, we are going to have a mass of potential entrepreneurs. And when we have policies like SB 81, this is detrimental economically. Those trends may not be there if the policy is not there to foster these minority children to become entrepreneurs.  There is also a digital divide. How many minority businesses are retailers versus high tech? There is a huge gap. If you want to grow the tax base, obviously you want those high end applied science and high tech jobs. So there is a huge disconnect to me—we are educating these kids and we should expect them to be working. They are going to be working anyway, whether they are pushing dirt or writing software.    ROBLES: I agree that we need to consider the generational piece. The state of Utah has a high fertility rate—it’s not just migration. Those kids are not yet a part of the market, but eventually they will be there and they are going to be huge. Now, this is where it gets tricky—we have minority students, but we also have the highest high school drop out rates. So we don’t have an educated workforce, which goes back to education and how critical it is for community leaders to start focusing on that education piece, because those are going to be the children who are going to make a difference. We better get our education system working because it has an impact on our economic development.    What advice would you offer Governor Herbert and other political leaders?    RUIZ: The perception that Utah already has a level playing field is what is stopping our community from moving forward.    ROBLES: Sometimes Utah is not friendly for businesses in regards to immigration verification for licensure. It goes beyond undocumented immigrants. We have more burden on businesses as they’re trying to succeed in a very tough environment. We have an e-verification system that is only implemented in three states. Why? It’s a system that is not working and is dysfunctional. These policies not only impact immigrant communities or businesses, they impact everyone.  If we really want to have a friendly business environment, we need to start putting our money where our mouth is and be friendly. It can’t be this dissonance of, “I’m going to be friendly when it comes to this portion but not this portion.” That is not friendly—that is where as business community leaders and business members we need to call on those legislators.    GUILLORY: I like to use the word “transformation” because “change,” to me, indicates, “If I don’t like the way it is, I can always go back to the way it was.” Transformation to me signifies walking through a door that disappears once you’ve walked through it and there is no reversibility. So every organization that has made or done anything significant begins with a solid business case for the change you are trying to bring about. When we speak of business, ultimately it has to be reflected in money. That is what drives this society. Almost everything is driven by money, so the question becomes: What is the business case for it? And if we can’t make a business case, why have lofty expectations because nobody is going to pay attention to it in any significant way.  So in regards to representation, the numbers don’t necessarily mean anything. If an organization or a city decides from whatever motivation it needs, that it wants to fundamentally transform the way it operates, then that is the key element. And all these things that we talk about—fixing this, fixing that, doing this, doing that—will magically disappear. In the absence of that, then it is necessary for people to unify and decide we are not going to put up with it. And if we don’t decide that, there are not enough of us individually to make any difference. And unless we decide we are not going to stand for it, that we are not going to put up with it, and here is what we are going to do in our own behalf, then things will start to happen.    BOTERO: As a small business owner I do a lot of networking and meet a lot of top executives of companies or small business owners in different meetings. And I see that there are role model companies in Utah that do strive for diversity. And there are banks and lending companies in the state that are doing something to change the environment for the ethnic minorities. And then there are other companies in the state that are watching the leading companies. They want to see what happens to those companies’ investment, capital and human capital investments, in our communities.  Some have said that the numbers don’t count. I have to disagree with that. I think power is in the numbers. I do agree, though, that if there is no transformation, then the numbers do not count. I think it’s in our best interests to transform our communities. We have to push education. We have to push for transformation to happen.    CANTARERO: We all have a common economic interest. We service different customer bases, but at the same time, we all have this interconnection in the marketplace—there is a fusion there, but there is not solidarity.    BALFOUR: The establishment knows that a divided house cannot stand and sometimes we play into that. Now, we are going to have to spend some effort, those of us that have an interest, to do some extra work because I think everybody agreed that if anything is going to happen, we need to make it happen. It does take effort.  Economics and politics go together and the business community knows that. If we have money, they are going to take it. That’s not the big deal, right? They will take our money. What we need to realize is that if we have power in numbers, even small numbers, it’s only when that is seen as organized and structured that people will listen. So why wouldn’t we make the extra sacrifice to organize ourselves, go up to Capitol Hill as one group, and let people know we are here and we are not going to take it, and then people begin to listen. And that is not to say it’s not going to be hard. They are not going to roll over, but we’ve got to be consistent. We’ve got to be there because it’s our lives at stake and our children’s lives at stake, and they are not going to hand it to us.    RUIZ: We need to change our mentality from scarcity to abundance. When you are in an airplane and everything is going fine, then you breathe and you concentrate on doing everything else that you need to do. But when there is not enough oxygen, everybody reaches out for a mask and takes care of them first. Most of us come from a very scarcity lifestyle probably from our countries that we come from or from our infancy, so we react on that kind of mentality and we try to just take care of ourselves first and then after their neighbors. But there is abundance here. There is plenty for everybody. We can take care of each other, and we can concentrate on other things, just other than ourselves. So just a change of mentality.    NORMAN: We need to get people in places where we represent the schools and in the governor’s office. We need to have some of our people represented in the government. We also need to make sure they understand the numbers—the $7.8 million spending power that the Hispanics have and that the African American community has the fastest growing number of businesses in the state.        http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10087 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 Utah Business Staff   August 26, 2010 Green Processing Technologies, Inc. (Pink Sheets: TMGR) announced today that the Company has relocated its corporate headquarters from Salt Lake City to St. Georg. The Company has entered into a lease/purchase agreement on a 56,000-square-foot standalone building that will house executive offices, research & development laboratories, as well as design, fabrication and distribution operations in the heart of St. George’s industrial district. The move positions Green Processing Technologies, Inc. to be more productive and efficient in all facets of operations and in servicing its customer base needs worldwide. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10088 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  August 26, 2010 For extreme bike enthusiasts throughout Northern Utah there will soon be a new and exciting venue to test your skills.  Ogden City is pleased to announce the development its first ever Freeride Park. Freeride is a relatively new discipline of mountain biking, combining different aspects of the sport such as downhill, dirt jumping and big mountain climbs which has progressed rapidly in recent years, and is now recognized as one of the most popular disciplines within mountain biking. This new and unique park will be the first in northern Utah and will be located on the east bench between 12th Street and 9th Street thanks to FIFE Group, the property owners, who have entered into a special use agreement with the city.  The new park will appeal to all ages of BMX freestyle bike riders as the course will be built in a manner to cater to all comfort and skill levels as they advance through the course.  The course will include jumps, obstacles, downhill areas and inertia based speed zones, both natural and man-made. Completion of phase I of this project is scheduled for late fall and is being designed, facilitated and installed by Ogden City’s GIS, Engineering, Management Services and Public Ways and Parks Division. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10089 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  August 26, 2010 Wasatch Property Management will open the San Marino apartment home development, located at 776 W. Grande Rose Way (10000 S.) in South Jordan, on Thursday, August 26 with a ribbon cutting ceremony from 3 to 4 p.m. The grand opening celebration is open to the public and will include live music, catered food and prize drawings.   San Marino is a 320-unit community with twelve buildings that offer eight different floor plans with one, two and three bedroom units that range from 793 square-feet up to 1,356 square-feet.  Amenities include a swimming pool, clubhouse and playground, washer and dryer in units, attached or private direct garage access, 24-hour fitness center, discounted on-site daycare, business center, mountain and golf course views, as well as easy I-15 access.  Pets are also welcome.         “At Wasatch Properties we strive to give people what they want when selecting an apartment home,” said Bradley D. Mishler, chief operating officer for Wasatch Property Management.  “Even in a down economy we have been able to lease this 320 unit apartment location up to 80 percent in a record nine months, even before celebrating our grand opening.  At Wasatch Properties we understand that many individuals and families are seeking a more flexible lifestyle.  We have designed our apartment homes to meet their growing demands while also providing a fantastic product with great, livable floor plans and luxury touches that include nine foot ceilings, hardwood cabinets and granite counter tops.  We provide our renters with all these amenities and a great neighborhood.  Our clients truly are renters by choice.” The developer for the project was Wasatch Advantage Group, LLC, based in Orange County, Calif.  Wasatch Property Management in Midvale is the property management group for the apartments.  BSB Architects of Scottsdale, Ariz. designed the project, and the builder was Wasatch Residential Builders of Salt Lake City.  The project was completed n 14 months. Wasatch Property Management is also leasing one, two and three bedroom luxury apartments at San Tropez in South Jordan and San Moritz in Midvale.   A fourth project, called the Florentine Villas, was also completed this year and offers affordable housing apartments.   The project includes nine three-story buildings, with 24 units in most buildings.  http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10090 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire August 26, 2010  The Fellowship, L.L.C. opened its fourth JIMMY JOHN’S location at 3685 Harrison Boulevard, near Weber State University.  In the last two years this franchise group has opened locations in West Bountiful, Layton and Clinton.  They anticipate opening another four stores within the next twelve months.  Jimmy John’s makes the World’s Greatest Gourmet Sandwiches and specializes in Freaky Fast Delivery. Other Jimmy John’s locations can be found in Logan, Salt Lake City, Lehi, American Fork, Provo and St George.      http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10091 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire   August 26, 2010 Novell announced the general availability of Novell Cloud Security Service.  Part of Novell’s WorkloadIQTM vision, Novell Cloud Security Service® gives cloud providers the ability to deliver secure access and compliance in the cloud for their customers.   Novell Cloud Security Service is a critical part of Novell’s broader identity and security portfolio, which enables enterprises to have a consistent framework for managing identities across physical, virtual and cloud deployments.  Novell is the only vendor to offer this integrated capability, which helps organizations manage complex security and compliance requirements through a cost-effective and easy-to-use suite of products. With Novell Cloud Security Service, enterprises can quickly and easily extend their identity infrastructure to any public cloud.  Any changes that are made to their users or permissions are immediately replicated in the cloud environment, thus ensuring one consistent identity and security framework for the enterprise, regardless of where the computing is actually taking place. “Security is the biggest hindrance to cloud adoption that service providers offering cloud services need to overcome,” said Antonio Piraino, Vice President of Research, Tier 1 Research.  “The ability to provide interoperable security solutions for and between an enterprise’s internal infrastructure and the cloud provider’s platform will alleviate the biggest assurance, vulnerability and SLA concerns enterprises have today.” As cloud computing vendors that offer software-, platform-, or infrastructure-as-a-service seek to differentiate themselves in the marketplace, value-added services like customized security become increasingly important.  Novell Cloud Security Service helps cloud service providers deliver trusted security assurance and compliance to their enterprise customers.  It is the first, and only multi-tenant identity and access management solution that provides just-in-time provisioning, authentication, authorization and support for compliance.   The Novell Cloud Security Service currently has several beta deployments globally.  With today’s announcement of general availability, Novell’s cloud services team will target more than 200 IaaS, and 1,300 SaaS and PaaS vendors to get them started with this ground-breaking technology that is supported by more than 60 patents. “Novell’s ability to deliver a  complete set of provisioning, access, security and compliance solutions that  help both organizations and cloud providers control access, monitor activity  and provide compliance is yet another example of their leadership in this area,” said Jim Reavis, co-founder and executive director of the Cloud Security Alliance.  “The Cloud Security Alliance is working closely with Novell to address many of the trust concerns end-user organizations have with cloud computing, including issues that go beyond just technology solutions.” Novell Cloud Security Service is hosted in the cloud, either where the provider hosts its application or via a Novell hosting partner. A user can log on directly or via the enterprise identity system. The service first verifies the identity and, if successful, will generate an identity token in the format needed by the SaaS provider. The user is now authenticated to the SaaS service. Once inside the application, the application connectors that are provided with the service capture deep page-level user activity and provide the audit stream for compliance purposes.    NCSS expands Novell’s identity product portfolio in WorkloadIQ WorkloadIQ is Novell’s vision to deliver products for the rapidly growing intelligent workload management market, which IDC estimates is more than $4.2B.  A key part of this vision is to deliver a spectrum of cloud-ready Identity and Security solutions to meet today’s enterprise need for security in physical, virtual and cloud environments.   As cloud models mature and businesses look at cloud solutions, security questions such as protecting data in the cloud, providing audit reports for inspection and ensuring regulatory compliance are becoming increasingly important.   For enterprises looking at moving critical workloads to the cloud, the combination of Novell Identity Manager 4® and Novell Access Manager® is the only solution that offers seamless provisioning and access in real-time.   “Despite the speed with which organizations are deploying virtualized systems and moving to SaaS, reporting on access to cloud-based resources is a continuing challenge. Novell Identity Manager provides an intelligent, identity-driven framework to ensure consistent management of identities, both in our organization and in the cloud,” said Mark Edson, infrastructure manager, Huntington National Bank. “With Novell Access Manager, we’ve built a flexible solution to establish a secure, federated connection with our cloud providers so our passwords are never shared with an external party.” For cloud service providers who want to deliver a secure, compliant computing environment for their customers, the Novell Cloud Security Service offers a multi-tenant environment with built-in metering, billing and auditing. “There is a tremendous market opportunity to help our customers with their cloud strategy, including deploying and managing cloud applications in a secure and compliant manner,” said Kevin Nikkhoo, founder and president of CloudsID.com. “Novell Cloud Security Service offers secure access management from the cloud and works with our customers’ existing identity infrastructure to enable us to offer our customers best-in-class solutions.” Many Novell customers today are seeking to move applications to the cloud in order to reduce costs and increase agility.     “Today’s enterprises are embracing cloud services while continuing their investment in their physical and virtual data centers.  To support these efforts, Novell offers the most complete and interoperable set of provisioning, access, security and compliance products for IT organizations and cloud providers.  Novell Cloud Security Service complements Novell’s comprehensive suite of Identity and Security solutions,” said Jim Ebzery, senior vice president and general manager, Security, Management and Operating Platforms, Novell.  “Our goal is to give our customers the ability to take advantage of the economic benefits of cloud computing while also mitigating risk and maintaining compliance.”  http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10092 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire  August 26, 2010 Alta Ski Area has partnered with VacationRoost, the leading provider of managed vacation rentals, to outsource its central reservations service on www.Alta.com. “Our goal is to help our guests plan their uniquely tailored visit to Alta and the Little Cottonwood Canyon area,” said Connie Marshall, director of marketing & public relations at Alta. “We are excited about partnering with VacationRoost to provide this important service to our guests. Their strong technology platform and experienced customer service agents will allow us to deliver this world-class service.” Alta is one of the oldest ski areas in North America and each year receives record amounts of Utah’s famous “Greatest Snow on Earth.” The partnership between Alta and VacationRoost will provide guests with one-stop vacation planning services, including the ability to book the widest selection of vacation rentals and resort lodging in the area, Alta lift tickets, equipment rentals, rental cars, ground transfers and airfare. Guests will be able to book these services online or with the assistance of a local customer service expert available 7 days per week. “We are very proud of the opportunity to work with such an iconic brand in the Ski Industry as Alta,” said Julian Castelli, CEO of VacationRoost. “For decades, skiers have known about the fantastic terrain and experience they offer, and have done the leg work required to book their vacations to Alta. Our goal is to make that experience easier and more accessible to a broader audience so more skiers can enjoy the truly unique experience that is Alta.” While VacationRoost.com provides online booking for vacation rentals in over 80 popular ski and beach destinations, the company’s roots grew from providing guests with lodging reservations in top ski resorts in the western US. VacationRoost will operate Alta Vacations on its Affiliate White Label platform, which allows them to provide a partner with complete website merchandising capabilities, online booking and full call center reservation services under the partner’s brand. http://utahbusiness.com/issues/articles/10093 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:33:30 +0000 PR or News Wire