Utah Business has selected 10 women with enduring careers and exceptional impact, who we’ve named our “Most Influential Women.” Through their innovative efforts and inspiring examples, these women have significantly improved their workplaces, industries and Utah as a whole.
MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN: Nina Raynor Barnes
Community Champion | Rayndance
Nina Raynor Barnes has built a career that blends entrepreneurship, public service and community impact, with a focus on expanding opportunity across Utah. As owner of Rayndance, she has spent nearly four decades developing and managing more than 20 residential and commercial properties across the Western U.S.
Nina’s leadership is rooted in a willingness to step into opportunity, even when the path forward isn’t fully clear. That mindset traces back to an early turning point, when a small community effort grew into Cedar City’s Park Discovery — a project that brought together 10,000 volunteers and raised $500,000. It became both a physical landmark and a catalyst for her long-term civic engagement, laying the foundation for a career defined by community building and public service.
Nina has served extensively in public and higher education leadership, including 12 years on the Utah Board of Higher Education, where she served as vice chair and helped guide strategy across 16 institutions. She has also served on a university board of trustees and on her local city council, reinforcing her commitment to civic leadership, community development and small business. Throughout her work, she has been a strong advocate for rural communities, focused on removing barriers so that every Utahn — especially those underrepresented — can contribute and thrive.
Nina is known for turning ideas into measurable outcomes at scale. Through her work on The Policy Project board, she helped secure $20 million in state funding to establish teen centers in 87 high schools across Utah, providing essential resources for housing-insecure students. She also played a key role in expanding access to free period products across all 16 state universities, churches and schools.
Nina approaches challenges with a blend of business acumen, best practices and lived experience. She has supported non-traditional students and workers returning to complete degrees or re-enter the workforce, consistently working to remove obstacles in education, policy and economic opportunity. Her ability to connect people and ideas has made her an effective bridge between grassroots efforts and statewide impact.
With a commitment to intentional service and lifting others, Nina has supported students through scholarships, mentored future leaders as an adjunct professor and remained deeply engaged in community and civic initiatives.
“I bring a solutions-oriented mindset and a strong belief in empowering others,” she says. “I’m also a connector and community advocate, able to build relationships across diverse groups and bring people together around shared goals.”
“I’m most proud of a life I built my way — centered on my family, a flexible lifestyle, meaningful projects, and a lifelong commitment to elevating the lives of others, particularly women and children,” she says.
Looking ahead, Nina is focused on where she can have the greatest impact, continuing to support public policy, education and increased representation for women across the state.
“As I enter my sixth decade, my focus is on being more intentional — saying ‘yes’ to opportunities where I can make the greatest difference,” she says.