2021 Outstanding Directors honorees
Every year, Utah Business and NACD Utah honors the board members of companies, nonprofits, and organizations for the inspirational work they do behind the scenes to create lasting innovation and growth for future generations. These are our 2021 Outstanding Directors honorees.
Lifetime Achievement
Harris H. Simmons
CEO | Zions Bancorporation
The boards he currently serves: Zions Bancorporation & subsidiaries, OC Tanner Co., National Life Group of Vermont, Shelter the Homeless, Inc., Utah Board of Higher Education, and Utah Youth Village
What is the most rewarding thing about the work you do? Why?
I love my work because it provides an opportunity to help so many others, especially entrepreneurs and business owners who are putting their all into building great businesses. It’s rewarding to help enable their growth.
What has prepared you for the responsibility of corporate directorship?
Studying economics in college—it’s a great foundation for learning how to think about a problem. Also, simply learning by doing. I’ve learned a lot through observing others, especially in board rooms. The best directors listen well, think analytically, and “pick their spots” in terms of offering opinions.
Have you seen the role of boards change over time?
For publicly traded companies, there are more laws, rules, and regulations with the passage of time. More board time is spent on compliance. That’s not a bad thing in itself, but there are only so many hours to devote to all the issues at hand, and sometimes the really important, long-term issues are overshadowed by the minutiae with which boards can become consumed.
Scott Anderson
President & CEO | Zions Bank
The boards he currently serves: American Banker’s Council, Business Committee for the Arts, Days of ’47 Rodeo, Envision Utah, Gardner Policy Institute, Governor’s Advisory Team, Hatch Foundation, Huntsman Cancer Foundation, Idaho Business Education Board, Intermountain Foundation, Inland Port Authority Community, Intermountain Healthcare (various committees), Kennedy Center/National Committee for the Performing Arts, Maliheh Clinic, Merit Medical, Salt Lake Tribune, Silicon Slopes, Spike 150, Utah Inland Port Authority, Utah Taxpayers Association, Voter Education Advisory Council, and World Trade Center Utah
What has prepared you for the responsibility of corporate directorship?
Looking at a company from an individual investor/shareholders point of view, at the same time looking at it from a customer’s point of view, while looking at it from an employee’s point of view. Being an investor, a consumer, and an employee gives me insight into how I want to see things happen.
Have you seen the role of boards change over time?
Boards have become more diverse (a good thing) and inclusive (again, a good thing). Boards are focusing on profits and social impact, with environmental and social impact issues as important as governance issues. Boards are becoming more transparent and more accountable to shareholders, customers, and employees.
If you could serve on any board, which would it be and why?
My own board—Zions Bank. I believe in the role banks play in helping the economy grow, in helping everyone truly have an opportunity to prosper, and in helping the economy to be truly inclusive. I believe in the Bank’s guiding principles of creating value by managing a variety of risks, expenses, and sales while at the same time being a good corporate citizen and being involved in finding creative solutions for community issues.
Private Company
Randy C. Emery
The boards he currently serves: MedOne and WEX Bank
What has prepared you for the responsibility of corporate directorship?
It’s not textbook education, but the accumulation of real-world experience and paying close attention to what works and what doesn’t. The more exposure you receive, the wiser you become. Until you get to the deep end, you never really learn to swim.
What is the most exciting/pertinent/groundbreaking thing you have learned as a board director?
Being involved in mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. These can be complicated transactions in which a lot can be learned and applied in your own business dealings as well as that of other boards you participate in.
What would you like people to know about the work of a board director?
It’s not easy and it’s a lot more work than just attending a meeting. A board member has an obligation to be as knowledgeable as possible about the company, its industry, its opportunities, and the risks it faces. It’s not a passive watch from the sidelines exercise.
Public Company
Carine S. Clark
General Partner | Pelion Venture Partners
The boards she currently serves: Orrin G. Hatch Foundation, Economic Development Corporation of Utah, Pairin, Zubale, Domo, Nelnet Bank, Focus Universal, Brigham Young University National Advisory Board, Regence BlueCross BlueShield Community Board, Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Airin, Video Peel, Silicon Slopes, and Utah Community Credit Union
What do you enjoy most about being a director?
I get to hang out with the “cool kids.”
What has prepared you for the responsibility of corporate directorship?
A few things: I’ve worked for a few publicly traded companies, I’ve been a CEO of three tech companies, and I was diagnosed with cancer and did 18 months of chemo. I’ve earned some spectacular scar tissue that I value; it has made me who I am today.
What is the most exciting/pertinent/groundbreaking thing you have learned as a board director?
CEOs should run their companies, not boards. And CEOs need to build a board that can really help them achieve their dreams.
If you could serve on any board, which would it be and why?
Apple. Fifth largest company on the planet with nearly $200B on hand―could be fun.
Nonprofit
Tom Love
Founding Partner & President | Love Communications
Twitter: @tloveslc
The boards he currently serves: United Way and Utah Symphony/Utah Opera
What is the most rewarding thing about the work you do? Why?
Making our community a little bit better place to live.
What is the most exciting/pertinent/groundbreaking thing you have learned as a board director?
Funding early childhood education will absolutely change a child’s life for the better.
If you could serve on any board, which would it be and why?
Utah Symphony/Utah Opera. Arts make life worth living and the people―artists, musicians, and staff―are dedicated to enhancing our entire community, especially students.
What would you like people to know about the work of a board director?
Nothing is more rewarding than seeing a decision come to fruition by making lives better.
Not-for-profit
Gail Miller
Owner | Larry H. Miller Group of Companies
The boards she currently serves: The Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, Salt Lake Community College, The National Advisory Council for the University of Utah, Zions Bank Advisory Board, Shelter the Homeless, and the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute Advisory Board
What has prepared you for the responsibility of corporate directorship?
I began as a wife and stay-at-home mother. I spent my nights counseling with my late husband and learning as much as I could about business. I believe navigating the daily challenges and opportunities in my home and community prepared me to be the leader I am today.
What do you enjoy most about being a director?
I enjoy the opportunity to learn about innovative solutions and industries, supporting the management team and hard-working employees, and serving others.
What is the most rewarding thing about the work you do? Why?
I love to share my voice and work for positive change in our communities.
To learn more about our 2021 honorees, check out the videos below:
