Forty Under 40

On the fast track. Making waves. Rising star. There is more than one way to describe the up and coming young professionals who are making a name for themselves with impactful work all across the state of Utah.

February 2026

Time TBA

The Grand America Hotel

Last Day to Nominate

December 22, 2025

Purpose

The event is an annual celebration recognizing top achievements in Utah’s business community.

Focus of Recognition

This designation honors those who are actively trailblazing across a wide range of industries and have already made an impact among their colleagues, companies and communities.

Key Qualities Honored Include

Involvement. Those who have founded companies, led nonprofits, or chaired influential organizations.
Forward thinkers who prioritize innovation and mentorship.
Passion about contributing to the success of everyone in their sphere of influence.
Resilient and adapt quickly to change.
Inspiring and are guiding their teams through a dynamic and fast-moving business environment.

Why Enter

Recognition and Prestige
Networking Opportunities
Increased Visibility
Employee Moral and Recruitment
Validation of Efforts
Ispirational Influence
Strengthening Community Ties
The last day to submit a nomination is December 22, 2025

About Last Year’s Winners

Submit a Nomination

Become A Sponsor

Notable Honorees

Crystalee Beck

Founder & CEO | Comma Copywriters & The Mama Ladder

I’ve worked for myself longer than anyone else, and I still like my boss. Why? I started Comma Copywriters with the desire for more freedom to be there for my family and be me along the way. I’m proud that as we’ve grown over the past nine years, Comma is still truly a life-first company. Part of our life-first culture includes flexible, part-time roles, which gives opportunities to talented professionals who may otherwise be overlooked. (Humans are so much more than how we make money!)

Jorge Barragan

CEO | The Picklr

At 18, I knew I wanted to build something of my own, but I didn’t picture it happening like this. My dad immigrated to the U.S. and started his own business, so I grew up watching him work hard and take risks. That entrepreneurial spirit stuck with me. I never imagined pickleball would be my path, but here I am, turning a passion into a business that’s growing faster than I ever expected.

Nikki Day

Founder & CEO | Ayla & Co

When I think about what success looks like, I think back on all the times I didn’t give up and all the setbacks I overcame since the launch of our brand. Success is measured less by specific benchmarks or accomplishments than by how many times I failed and chose to keep trying. The success often observed and measured by others is very different than the success you feel when you are “in the trenches” of running a business.

Stephanie Dailey

Founder | StephanieBuildsIt

In honoring the people who have built this industry to date, I enjoy being someone who shakes things up a bit. Implementing technology into a primarily old-school space is exciting. Encouraging women to see the beauty in the construction industry has been challenging. However, it’s a challenge I accept! We have an essential industry with a huge labor gap and a low percentage of women. It’s a natural fit and a good answer to a large problem.

Adam Jackson

Co-founder & Chief Commercial Officer | Beehive Meals

I chose a different path than most. My heart was always in becoming an entrepreneur, and I never saw myself being successful in climbing the corporate ladder. I’m lucky that I was able to develop skills early in my career that have helped me to become a well-rounded entrepreneurial marketer. These same skills have allowed me to move fast without relying on others to complete the work.

Branson Yantes

VP | BHI

The most rewarding thing about my career is the impact I’m able to have on people. There is nothing cooler than being able to bless someone’s life and family with a solid career they enjoy. I love building lasting relationships through positive experiences with our clients, subcontractors, vendors and our own teammates—whether that is being fair and honest while negotiating a change order or simply showing appreciation to all I interact with.

Lauren Posey, DMA

Executive Director | Intermountain Suzuki String Institute

The musical community creates an extra space where people come together. There’s a certain respect for diversity in music that’s hard to find elsewhere. To that end, I strive to provide opportunities for young musicians to connect with mentors from across the globe, giving students a more humanistic appreciation of what music can provide, what it can be and what it can mean.

Peter Chun

SVP, Sales | Lucid Software

The greatest fulfillment comes from helping others reach and expand their potential. I enjoy having a hands-on approach to training and development to help our team members master their craft. It’s so rewarding to see each individual find success and confidence in their careers and personal lives. It’s important to me that our people know we care for them beyond what they can do for Lucid.

Derek Boggs

VP, Marketing | LVT (LiveView Technologies)

The most rewarding thing about my job is waking up every morning to do the work I love at a company that is truly making an impact in the world. Before joining LVT, I developed a passion for B2B marketing by focusing on telling stories that matter. Aligning my passion for storytelling with the mission of LVT has taken my inspiration to a whole new level.

Jonathan Ubri

VP, Digital Marketing & Ecommerce | Vivint

The most rewarding aspect of my job is building genuine relationships with people I truly enjoy working with. Beyond that, it’s incredibly fulfilling to witness my team members experience life-changing growth in their careers and personal lives. It’s deeply satisfying to see my team achieve well-deserved milestones, knowing their hard work is paying off.

Andrea Verkić Pranić

Executive Director | Morgan Stanley

At the age of 18, I was fiercely focused on making my father, who sadly by that point had passed, proud. After completing my undergraduate studies early, it was a dream come true to be offered a job at Morgan Stanley. I often get asked why I’ve stayed at one company for nearly two decades. My answer is very simple: I never had a reason to leave.

Maureen Makes

Director, Engineering | Recursion

Progress over perfection. Tech is an industry where needs, customers and problems are constantly shifting. By focusing on delivering the smallest valuable next iteration, you can quickly get a signal on if you are on the right track rather than waiting to have the perfect solution before you get people using it.

About the Nomination Process

How are honorees selected?

Nominations are scored by a panel of business and industry experts. Judge scores are then averaged and ranked to determine top performers.

Who can submit a nomination?

Anyone may nominate a candidate. Great nominations usually come from someone who works closely with the candidate and knows about their best qualities and contributions.

What information should be included in the nomination?

Stand-out nominations provide specific details about the contributions and impact of the nominee. Consider including information about your nominee’s expertise, accomplishments, and community involvement, as well as explanations about your nominee’s unique traits and statistics about their professional or leadership successes. For more details on nomination information, please visit our award Q&A page here.

Is there a fee to submit a nomination?

No!

What is the nomination process like?

To submit a nomination, click on the “Nominate Here” button on this page. You’ll fill out a simple form with basic information about the nominee, details about how they stand out among their peers, how they have fostered principled leadership and how they have contributed to their organization’s culture and impact.

Do multiple nominations for a candidate improve their chances of being selected?

No. Honorees are selected based on merit rather than popular vote. It is best to compile all the information into one well-written nomination. As the judges read through all the nominations—sometimes hundreds of them—it’s easier for them to get a full picture of the nominee if all information is in the same nomination.

Submit a Nomination

Photos From the Award Event

Utah Business events provide a dynamic platform for celebrating the achievements, innovations and contributions of professionals and organizations across Utah. Our events are meticulously designed to recognize excellence and inspire growth within the business community.

Sponsors are an integral part of our events strategy.

Sponsorship packages are available at all levels of impact and budget, ranging from comprehensive exposure to element-specific branding. Options include:

Company logo on all print and digital advertising throughout marketing campaign
Company logo on event landing page.
Table sponsorship
Exhibit table
Company logo on honoree videos and award plaques
Use of event logo

Want to connect with this one-of-a-kind group of leaders? Visit utahbusiness.com/advertise for more information.