Marisa Bomis
VP, Marketing and Communication | Salt Lake Chamber & Utah Chamber
How have you leveraged your position as a C-suite executive to influence business dynamics in Utah?
I believe meaningful change and progress happen when leaders bring people together around a shared vision for the future. This is at the heart of what the Chamber does. We are conveners. We bring people together to collaborate and find common ground, because there is more that unites us than divides us.
As VP of marketing and communication for Utah’s largest and longest-standing business association, I help shape how the Chamber speaks to, and on behalf of, the state’s 80,000-plus employers and the many Utahns they employ. That role spans how we tell the story of Utah’s economy, how we convene the business community around statewide initiatives and how we connect members to the resources and relationships that help them succeed.
Over the past year, that has meant helping launch and brand the Utah Chamber, our statewide organization that unifies our local chambers and industry associations under one voice; alongside continuing to champion Utah Rising, our statewide economic vision. It has also meant the events, dashboards, summits and forums that turn ideas into action, from the Utah Economic Outlook & Public Policy Summit to the Roadmap to Prosperity Economic Dashboard. What excites me most is helping create alignment around solutions that strengthen both businesses and communities across the state. Utah has an extraordinary culture of collaboration, and amplifying that culture is one of the most meaningful ways I contribute to a successful Utah.
What future endeavors are you looking forward to?
One of the future endeavors I’m looking forward to is the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. I’ve heard so many stories from people who attended or volunteered in 2002, and I hope to be involved in some capacity because it feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Beyond the event itself, it gives businesses, communities and leaders something bigger to rally around and helps inspire long-term thinking about strategic growth, opportunity and how we want Utah to evolve. Closer in, I’m especially excited about the Salt Lake Chamber’s Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon. This year, we are celebrating the conference’s 50th anniversary — fifty years of elevating women’s voices and recognizing leaders championing the advancement of women in business across Utah. That legacy means a great deal to me. Events like this remind me of how amazing and talented Utah’s business community is, and how much more we will do together.
What leadership philosophy guides your strategic vision and decision-making?
Strong leadership means creating clarity, trust and support so people feel empowered to succeed and contribute meaningfully. One principle that has stayed with me throughout my career is the importance of setting people up for success. No matter the role, industry or size of business, this is applicable. I believe people do their best work when they feel trusted, supported and connected to a larger purpose. My role as a leader is to help create that environment. That means being clear about where we’re going and why, removing obstacles where I can and trusting the people around me to do what they were hired to do. It also means being willing to roll up my sleeves. No task is beneath any of us, and I think a team functions best when its leader is the first to demonstrate that.
