Building on Paul Ahlstrom‘s visionary legacy, this initiative has consistently championed entrepreneurial brilliance through initiatives like the v100 and WIN100, highlighting top founders and setting a benchmark for excellence.

Aaron Cooper

Co-Founder & CEO | Sameday (YC W23)

Aaron Frost

Founder, CEO & Architect | HeroDevs

Aaron McReynolds

Co-Founder & CEO | Alysio

Aaron Skonnard

Co-Founder | Pluralsight

Abe Gong

Co-Founder & CEO | Great Expectations

AJ Brau

Co-Founder & CEO | Wander App Inc.

Alex Burdge

Co-Founder & CEO | Shyft Global

Amelia Wilcox

Founder & CEO | Nivati

Amy Osmond Cook, Ph.D.

Co-Founder & CMO | Fullcast

Andrew Kenney

Co-Founder | Particl

Arian Lewis

Co-Founder & CEO | Kiln

Becki Wright

Founder & CEO | Proximity

Ben Checketts

Co-Founder & Creative Director | Rhone

Ben Hodson

Co-Founder & CEO | JobNimbus

Ben Perkins

Founder | &Collar

Ben Peterson

Co-Founder & Co-Chairman | BambooHR

Bennett Maxwell

Chairman | Dirty Dough

Blake Rouse

Co-Founder & CEO | Buster

Brad Moss

Founder & CEO | Enhanced Ai

Brad Parker

Co-Founder & CEO | PrivateAuto

Brandon Rodman

Co-Founder & CEO | Previ

Brent Thomson

Founder | Blip Billboards

Brian Beutler

Founder & CEO | Alianza

Brice Douglas

Co-Founder & CEO | Zaymo

Brock Blake

Co-Founder & CEO | Lendio

Bruno Lima

Co-Founder & CEO | Pura

Bryan Christensen

Founder & CEO | Limble CMMS

Chad Ingram

Founder & CEO | Distro

Chiao-ih Hui

CEO | Solution Diagnostics

Chris Crittenden

Co-Founder | Sandbox

Colby Bauer

CEO | Carry On

Curtis Anderson

Founder & CEO | Nursa

Cydni Tetro

Managing Director | Avao

Dallin Bentley

Co-Founder | Buster

Damian Dayton

Acting CEO | Creatably

Dan Beck

Co-Founder & CEO | 401GO

Dan Caffee

Founder & CEO | Voze

Dan Lambert

GM, Technology | Sonic Healthcare

Daniel Ash

Co-Founder & CEO | Journeyfront

Daniel Jones

Co-Founder | Zaymo (YC W24)

Dave Grow

CEO | Lucid Software

Dave Oldham

CEO | Awsm

David Bearss, Ph.D.

Co-Founder & CEO | Halia Therapeutics

David Neeleman

Founder & CEO | Breeze Airways

Davis Smith

Founder & Chairman | Cotopaxi

Derek Miner

Partner | Lemonade Stand

Derek White

Chairman | Switch2Zero

Dillon Jeppesen

Co-Founder & COO | Pestie

Earl Foote

CEO | Nexus IT

Emily Applegarth

Co-Founder & CEO | Gamify

Eric Rea

Co-Founder & CEO | Podium

Ethan Webb

Co-Founder & CEO | Mindsmith

Gentry Davies

CEO | Crew

Gilbert Lee

Co-Founder & CMO | Torus

Hunter Sebresos

CEO | Bacon Work

Jake Hawksworth

Founder | Hypercraft

Jason Fairbourne

Founder & CEO | Yoodlize

Jason Garcia

Co-Founder & CEO | Holdings

Jason McGowan

Founder & CEO | Crumbl

Jay Davis

Founder | Cold Case Ice Cream

Jeff Erickson

Director, Strategic Partnerships | Forcastr

Jeff Handy

Co-Founder & COO | Qualiti

Jeffrey Harmon

Chief Content Officer | Angel Studios

Jeremy Andrus

CEO | Traeger Pellet Grills, LLC

Jeron Paul

SVP, Product | Salesforce

Jess Toolson

CEO | Mixhers

John Koelliker

Co-Founder & CEO | Leland

John Pestana

CEO | ObservePoint

Jon Richards

Co-Founder & Owner | NOMATIC

Joon Beh

CEO | Hallo

Jordan Wright

Co-Founder & CEO | Atomic Financial

Josh James

Founder & CEO | Domo

Josh Little

Founder & Brinemaster | Josh’s Pickles / Volley

Justin Rae

Founder & CEO | Cinch

Karalynne Call

Founder & CEO | Just Ingredients, Inc.

Karl Sun

Co-Founder & Board Chair | Lucid Software

Kenny Scott

Co-Founder & CEO | Paramify

Kirk Ouimet

Co-Founder & CEO | Phi

Kory Stevens

Entrepreneur & Mental Health Advocate | Stealth Startup

Kris Jenkins

Co-Founder | Mobly

Krista Anderson, EdD

Founder & CEO | Fiksal, LLC

Kurt Workman

Co-Founder & CEO | Owlet Baby Care

Manny Griffiths

Co-Founder & CEO | Hona

Mark Newman

Founder & CEO | Nomi Health

Mary Moody

CEO & Owner | Made by Mary

McKenzie Bauer

Co-Founder | Thread Wallets

Mike Peregrina

Founder & CEO | Stealth Startup

Monte Deere

CEO | Kizik

Nate Randle

CEO | Gabb

Nate Walkingshaw

Founder & CEO | Torus

Neal Harmon

Co-Founder & CEO | Angel Studios

Nicole Tanner

Founder | Swig

Noella Sudbury

Founder & CEO | Rasa Legal

Parker Gentry

CEO | Skill Struck

Peter Ord

Founder | GuideCX

Renato Villanueva

Founder & CEO | Get Parallel, Inc.

Richie Stapler

Co-Founder | Pura

Rilee Buttars

Co-Founder & CEO | Dónde

Rob Poleki

Founder & CEO | Washie

Ryan Westwood

CEO & Chairman | Fullcast

Scott Paul

Co-Founder & CXO | Phi

Shane Murphy

Founder & CEO | Boostly

Sterling Jones

Co-Founder & CEO | JOJO’s Chocolate

Sterling Snow

Venture Partner | Pelion Venture Partners

Steve Arntz

Co-Founder & CEO | Campfire

Steve Neeleman

Founder & Vice Chairman | HealthEquity

Sunny Washington

Co-Founder & CEO | Seer

Trevor McKendrick

Co-Founder & CEO | Seis

Wesley Eames

Serving Families | After.com

Will West

CEO | OliverIQ

Woody Klemetson

Founder | AskElephant

Zach Barney

Co-Founder & CEO | Mobly

Zack Oates

Founder & CEO | Ovation

Resources for Utah women in STEM

Girls Who Code

Girls Who Code is an international nonprofit organization that aims to support and increase the number of women in computer science.

Rosie Project

The Rosie Project’s mission is to educate and empower military spouses to advance their careers into mission-critical positions within the Department of Defense alongside their spouses’ military careers.

National Center for Women and Information Technology

The National Center for Women and Information Technology widens highly qualified participation in the technology ecosystem through innovative programs and research.

SheTech

With over 12,000 participants, Women Tech Council’s SheTech program activates, engages and inspires high school girls to pursue STEM degrees and successful careers.

Society of Women Engineers

For more than seven decades, the Society of Women Engineers has given women engineers a unique place and voice within the engineering industry. The organization is centered around a passion for member success and continues to evolve with the challenges and opportunities reflected in today’s exciting engineering and technology specialties.

Tech-Moms

Tech-Moms is dedicated to helping women transition into tech and achieve long-term career success by offering a part-time technical skills course, professional networking and a broad range of career exploration through guest speakers.

Women pioneers in Utah’s STEM fields

At research labs, tech startups and engineering firms across the Beehive State, women drive innovation in fields ranging from artificial intelligence to biomedical research. Their work isn’t just advancing science — it’s inspiring a new generation of girls to dream bigger.

Kiva Allgood

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Cara Allred

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Crystal Anderson

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Jennifer Arnold

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Lauren Barnes

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Rachel Brewer

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Megan Bronson

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Aniza M. Brown

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Thania Burningham

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Crystal Bush

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Cheryl Carter

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Jennifer Christopulos

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Carine S. Clark

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Stephanie Dailey

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Lindsay Ashby Devonas

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Sophia DiCaro

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Joanna Fankhauser

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Jennifer Groberg

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Joël Hatch-Jensen

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Libby Haslam

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Kathleen Higbee

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Julianne Holt-Lunstad

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Sam Jeet

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Francine Jensen RN Ph.D.

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Shelly Johnson

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Br33 Jon3s

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Kat Kennedy

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Christie Lipkie Kent

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Colleen King

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Dr. Tulinda Larsen

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Trina Celeste Limpert

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Hsien-Jung Lavender Lin

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Terri Lins

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Qun Maxine Liu

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Jaeden May

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Andrea Mazzocchi

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Elise Mecham MD

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Donna L. Milavetz MD MPH FACP

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Alison O'Mahony Ph.D.

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Holly Rimmasch

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Kara Rogers

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Kristie J. Rowley Ph.D.

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Kristina Schiffman

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Lara Ionescu Silverman Ph.D.

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Cathy Smoyer

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Cydni Tetro

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Alisa Thomas

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Danielle (Danni) Wright

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Jacki Zehner

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Dr. Lindsey Zuloaga

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Utah Business proudly presents this year’s cohort of our Leaders of the Year award. These 12 honorees represent accomplishments of Utah’s business community in 2024 and were selected by the Utah Business editorial team.

Honorees

Amy Osmond Cook

Co-Founder & CMO | Fullcast

LinkedIn

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Wendy Williams

VP & General Manager, Launch & Missile Defense Systems | Northrop Grumman

LinkedIn

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Brandon Sanderson

President | Dragonsteel Entertainment

Emily Sanderson

Co-President (aka “The Queen”) | Dragonsteel Entertainment

Read more →

Brad Bonham

Entrepreneur-in-Residence | State of Utah

LinkedIn

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Fraser Bullock

President & CEO | Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games

LinkedIn

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Ashley Smith

Co-Founder | Smith Entertainment Group

Ryan Smith

Co-Founder & CEO | Smith Entertainment Group

Read more →

Luigi Resta

President | rPlus Energies

LinkedIn

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Lagoon’s Ownership Team

Website

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A.J. Heiner

VP, Manufacturing | The Campbell’s Company, Richmond Facility

LinkedIn

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Nate Walkingshaw

Founder & CEO | Torus

LinkedIn

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Steve Daly

CEO | Instructure

LinkedIn

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McKenzie Bauer

Co-Founder | Thread Wallets

LinkedIn

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A turquoise-painted arrow points directly to an unlabeled button on the wall of Pluralsight’s Draper, Utah, headquarters. It looks serious and mysterious. Does it call security? Does it summon customer service? Does it open a trap door?

No. It names your company.

In 2003, four software developers were poised to launch a new tech skills company. They didn’t know much about marketing but wanted their company name to sound like the tech giants they loved—Microsoft, Autodesk, Counterpane, etc.

They noticed a formula: none of those names had an obvious meaning, they were all unique, and they each combined a two-syllable word with a one-syllable word.

If you’re a software developer with a problem and you’ve defined a formula to solve it, the next logical step is to write a program—and that’s exactly what they did.

“The program basically pulled words out of a dictionary—two-syllable words and one-syllable words—stuck them together and then did a Google search to ensure there were zero hits,” says Aaron Skonnard, co-founder and CEO of Pluralsight.

Skonnard and his co-founders sifted through all the generated names and highlighted the ones they liked. “Once we found Pluralsight, … we could see how we could layer meaning on top of the name,” he says. “The name conjured up these ideas of a plurality of insights into tech … [with] all these instructors and authors who were experts across many different fields.”

Today, that same computer program powers the mysterious button on the wall, and anyone can stop by to generate a company name in a matter of seconds. With the emergence and accessibility of AI tools, budding entrepreneurs may soon have equally smart results on their own computers—if they load their prompt with good naming fundamentals.

Naming fundamentals

Chris Crosby and Chris Mann are the co-founders of Goal, a design and branding agency that has created some of Utah’s most magnetic company names—like Album VC, Ember, Podium and Storied.

Often, clients approach Goal when they have entered a growth stage and realize they have outgrown their company name. Their name might be so specific that it precludes expansion, or they may have grown large enough to attract a cease and desist letter from a trademark holder. Whatever the case, after an organization has invested millions of dollars in building equity around a single name, the prospect of renaming the company can be distressing.

“It’s not like naming a child,” Mann says. “It’s way, way, way harder.”

Goal’s naming blueprint starts with conducting a competitive audit, outlining brand positioning and creating brand name criteria. What will feel timeless? What should the brand’s personality be? What will not cause a distraction from the company?

Next, Goal generates name options—at least 500 of them. Crosby says this is where the most common mistake occurs in naming a company: People tend to brainstorm names one at a time and vet them for availability along the way. This back-and-forth breaks momentum and extinguishes the creative spark.

Instead, Crosby recommends a solid brainstorming session before checking even one name’s availability. “The vetting phase is a bloodbath, and it always will be,” he says. “If you’re not bringing a long list to the vetting phase, … you’ll get stuck there.”

Finally, Goal’s vetting phase includes trademark reports, common-law and online usage screening, web domain availability, international linguistic checks, surveys in target geographies and cultural or existing brand associations.

Decisions are the worst

After going through the entire naming process and landing on a final option, it can still be difficult for companies to commit to a new name. Crosby says that’s completely normal. “There is no perfect brand name that descends from the heavens,” he says. “Every name—even if it’s ownable—has some trade-offs.”

For example, Crosby gives high marks on branding effectiveness to Lucid, Purple and Vivint but recognizes they had challenges in the beginning. Abstract, suggestive or coined names like these require more money and time investment to build customer brand awareness than descriptive names like The Container Store.

Instead of worrying about missing out on the perfect name, Crosby says to simply commit. If there’s nothing offensive about the name, the team likes it, and it’s ownable, it may be perfect enough.

“Six, 12 or 24 months from now—after we’ve built some memories around the name and created a visual identity around it—then it’s going to seem as if it was meant to be,” Crosby says.

In fact, sooner than you can imagine, the second choice from a list of naming options will start to feel foreign. Today, it’s hard to imagine that the Pluralsight founders almost selected “SnowCadence” as their company name 20 years ago. That name is still available, by the way, and Skonnard says any company is welcome to adopt it.

1. Foster an environment where employees can freely experiment with AI tools.

• Create sandbox versions of chat interfaces
• Position and brand internal tools in a friendly, non-threatening way

2. Incorporate AI directly into existing workflows.

• Don’t rely solely on separate chat interfaces
• Build AI capabilities into current systems
• Focus on where employees already work

AI for creatives: Learning to embrace AI

3. Establish sharing mechanisms for success stories.

• Create a dedicated channel in Slack where employees can share discoveries
• Let peers demonstrate practical applications

4. Focus on quality-of-life improvements.

• Show how AI reduces workload
• Emphasize making work easier, not replacement

5. Build flexible training programs.

• Avoid making AI feel like “another thing”
• Show how it helps with existing work
• Allow for self-paced exploration
• Educate teams on common categories of AI usage: summarization, explanation, retrieval, transformation, creation, ideation and transformation

What you need to know about using AI in the classroom

I would love to build a Fortune 100 company in Utah.

Nate Walkingshaw

Utah Business proudly presents this year’s cohort of our Leaders of the Year award. These 12 honorees represent accomplishments of Utah’s business community in 2024 and were selected by the Utah Business editorial team.

Nate Walkingshaw

Founder & CEO | Torus

in/natewalkingshaw

For Nate Walkingshaw, who ventured into the energy sector as an outsider, becoming an expert has been a lesson in humility. In 2021, he and his partners launched a renewable energy company called Torus. With youthful exuberance and naivete, they imagined they could solve problems better and faster than large, traditional utility companies. However, as they delved deeper into their mission, they began learning about “the machine that is the grid” and the complex challenges it presents.

“It has been nothing but a full-time education — a master’s degree in just how much [seasoned professionals] could advance us,” Walkingshaw says. “Large-scale utility has done nothing but absolutely educate me and humble me.”

Throughout his career, Walkingshaw has been guided by an innate curiosity and knack for making sense of new challenges. His path has zig-zagged through unrelated industries, and he’s brought a relentless pursuit of knowledge and an outsider’s perspective to each role. “All your answers live in questions,” he emphasizes. Now, in the energy space, he’s using that same mindset to push Torus to the forefront of innovation — learning the industry’s intricacies and challenging norms with fresh eyes and bold ideas.

In October, Time recognized the Torus Nova Spin “mechanical battery” as a top invention of 2024. Walkingshaw jumps at the opportunity to rattle off “cool fun facts” about the flywheel technology utilized by the Nova Spin: 95 percent recyclable, tolerant to ambient temperature, has no memory loss relative to chemical batteries and, in his opinion, one of the best devices to assist the grid.

Flywheels exist as uninterrupted power supplies in many use cases — from Formula One race car launch control to nuclear missile silo deployment — but they have not been used for a long-duration energy storage device like the Torus Nova Spin. It’s an idea that came to Walkingshaw while working on his family’s conifer farm.

“Trees require a ton of water to harvest, and we have deep water wells, and we have a lot of low pressure,” he says. “It’s really expensive to run deep water wells all of the time. And so I actually created an in-line, high-pressure hydro turbine first, so I could always generate enough power. The issue was, I could never store it.”

This personal experience led Walkingshaw to search for a more reliable and durable energy storage solution, ultimately resulting in the invention of Torus’ mechanical flywheel system.

Walkingshaw established Torus in Utah, believing it the best place to attract and retain talent and to build a manufacturing base. It’s a place where innovation feels right at home, thanks to a supportive entrepreneurial mindset. “I would love to build a Fortune 100 company in Utah,” he says. “Not have it move here — but build it and then employ and teach and educate and truly build innovation.” He’d also love to build Torus big enough that it’s a direct competitor to Tesla’s energy storage division.

Most of all, Walkingshaw dreams of creating a legacy — for his four sons, for the generations to come and for the planet. While Torus continues to grow, Walkingshaw remains grounded by the same principles that started his journey: empathy, community and a tireless drive to solve problems. For him, it’s not just about technology; it’s about making a meaningful impact, one flywheel at a time.

JANUARY

Fullcast’s $34M seed round, Nature’s Bakery’s plans for a $237M baking facility in Salt Lake City, USANA Amphitheatre’s transformation to Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre, a comprehensive K-12 school safety solution implementation and more. Read more >

FEBRUARY

rPlus Energies' $460M funding round, the Larry H. Miller Company’s Power District unveiling, Crumbl’s 1,000th store milestone, the opening of Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital’s second campus in Lehi and more. Read more >

MARCH

Brandon Sanderson’s Audible royalties initiative, Young Automotive Group’s centennial celebration, Beyond Inc.‘s Overstock.com relaunch, Kevin Bacon’s return to Payson for “Footloose” festivities and more. Read more >

APRIL

Six Utah cities rank among the best for small business startups, the launch of Cox’s Startup State Initiative, Guidehouse’s $12B Air Force contract, Nucor Corporation’s new $35M manufacturing facility in Brigham City and more. Read more >

MAY

Peterson Private Equity’s $265M Fund X closing, Comcast’s $138M fiber network expansion across Utah counties, the formation of the PHASE Alliance, Bridor’s new manufacturing facility announcement in Greater Salt Lake City and more. Read more >

JUNE

Smith Entertainment Group’s securing of an NHL franchise in Utah, Waystar’s $21.50 per share IPO, Leitner-Poma’s $27M facility launch in Tooele, The Picklr’s substantial $59M Series B funding round and more. Read more >

JULY

The 2034 Winter Olympics secured, the Salt Lake Chamber and EDCUtah strategic combination, Intermountain Health’s pioneering use of the OrganOx device, rPlus Energies' $1B+ financing for the Green River Energy Center and more. Read more >

AUGUST

Ninety-four companies on the Inc. 5000 list, the Utah Office of Energy Development’s $249M RELIEF project award, Farmstead Manufacturing’s new production facility in Leeds, Smith Entertainment Group’s 111-acre acquisition for the NHL team’s facility and more. Read more >

SEPTEMBER

Campbell’s $160M Richmond bakery expansion, Angel Studios' move to go public, Strider Technologies' $55M Series C funding round, four new productions for state film incentives and more. Read more >

OCTOBER

Utah companies make TIME’s Best Inventions list, Rio Tinto’s renewable diesel transition at Kennecott, Sky Quarry’s NASDAQ debut, the historic Union Pacific Depot’s transformation into the Asher Adams hotel and more. Read more >

NOVEMBER

JobNimbus secures Utah’s largest Series B at $330M, Teal Drones' major U.S. Army contract, Utah’s outdoor recreation economy hits $9.5B, the first new railroad in Utah in 80 years with Savage Tooele Railroad, a $112.4M EPA grant and more. Read more >

DECEMBER

Pura’s Pantone partnership, UTOPIA Fiber’s $17.6M West Haven City project completion, Utah Transit Authority’s $62.8M federal grant, The Other Side Academy’s groundbreaking of its new pavilion and more. Read more >

94 Utah companies make the Inc. 5000 list.

The Utah Inland Port Authority announces the approval of the Historic Capitol Project Area in Fillmore City.

Farmstead Manufacturing announces the opening of its production warehouse in Leeds, Utah, which will serve as Farmstead Bakery’s primary production facility.

The Utah Office of Energy Development announces it has been awarded $249,557,047 from the Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office for project RELIEF (Reliable Electric Lines: Infrastructure Expansion Framework) — with an additional matching of $252,030,385 by PacifiCorp and Garkane — to deploy advanced high-temperature, low-sag conductor cables, significantly improving grid reliability for 700,000 utility customers across five states and five tribal nations.

Utah State University breaks ground on an academic and community center in Monument Valley to serve students and community members of the Navajo Nation.

Extra Space Storage celebrates 20 years as a publicly traded company.

Lucid Software is named to the Forbes Cloud 100 for the fifth year in a row.

Kizik announces distribution agreements with Taiwan, Italy and Southeast Asia.

Beehive Meals announces plans for a shipping expansion into 12 states and a partnership with Six Sisters’ Stuff.

FiiZ Drinks announces a partnership with Red Bull.

Southern Utah University holds a groundbreaking ceremony for the Joe and Beverly Burgess Family Business Center.

Real estate mogul Brandon Fugal announces the private sale of the land formerly known as Evermore Park.

For the first time, Salt Lake Parade of Homes showcases energy-efficient, emission-free new builds.

EyeCare4Kids opens its second eye care clinic in Utah.

FUNDING

M&A ACTIVITY

Acquisitions by Utah companies

• Health Catalyst acquires Lumeon
• PCF Insurance Services acquires 360 Insurance, Asset Insurance Agency, Kentucky Health Solutions and Montalvo Insurance Agency
• Sunroc Corporation acquires Arizona Metro Mix LLC
• Ultradent Products Inc. acquires Medicinos Linija UAB (i-dental)
• Wheeler Machinery Co. acquires Diamond Equipment & Tool Rental

Acquisitions of Utah companies

• Citation Capital acquires a majority stake in Aptive Environmental
• Drilling Tools International Corp. acquires Superior Drilling Products Inc.
• Midland Garage Door acquires Martin Door
• Second Horizon Capital acquires Layton Hills Mall
• Tendit Group, a portfolio company of Osceola Capital, acquires Precision Asphalt Maintenance
• Zimmer Biomet acquires OrthoGrid Systems Inc.

This story appears in the June issue of Utah Business. Subscribe.

In partnership with Kirton McConkie, Utah Business is proud to present this year’s Legal Elite. This award honors 100 leading lawyers in Utah who have made significant contributions in their respective legal fields. The following individuals are recognized for their exceptional legal knowledge, ethical standards and professional accomplishments.

2024 Judges

Staci Duke

Executive Director | “And Justice for All”

Staci Duke is the executive director at “And Justice for All,” where she has worked to significantly advance civil legal aid initiatives in Utah. With a longstanding career in nonprofit work with organizations like the Disability Law Center of Utah, Junior Achievement, Art Access and others, Staci has notably enhanced advocacy efforts, led major fundraising campaigns and cultivated strong community partnerships with the legal and philanthropic communities.

Andy Gonzalez

Deputy District Attorney | Salt Lake County

Andy Gonzalez is a deputy district attorney with the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office. His practice focuses primarily on the prosecution of homicide, special victim and major crash cases. Andy graduated from BYU Law School in 2016 and has been a practicing attorney for nearly eight years. He also serves as the president of the Utah Minority Bar Association.

Mike Mower

Senior Advisor, Community Outreach & Intergovernmental Relations | Office of Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox

Mike Mower serves as a senior advisor to Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox, overseeing local government, community outreach and board appointments. Mike is a native of Ferron, Utah, and a graduate of BYU and the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah, where he served as Student Bar Association president. He was later president of the Utah State Bar Young Lawyers Division. Mower has worked professionally for one mayor, two congressmen and four governors. He is currently the longest-serving senior staff member in any state’s governor’s office.

D. Gordon Smith

Ira A. Fulton Chair & Professor of Law | BYU Law School

Professor D. Gordon Smith served as dean of BYU Law School from 2016 to 2023 and as associate dean from 2009-2014. As a scholar, Professor Smith is a leading figure in the field of law and entrepreneurship and has done foundational work on fiduciary theory. He is currently working on a history of the modern corporation.

Noella Sudbury

CEO & Founder | Rasa Public Benefit Corporation

Noella Sudbury has been a practicing lawyer for 15 years and has experience in the private, public and nonprofit sectors. Following a Utah Supreme Court clerkship, she began her legal practice as a public defender and has done both civil and criminal law and criminal justice policy. Noella is a past president of Women Lawyers of Utah and is the current founder and CEO of Rasa Public Benefit Corporation.

Elizabeth Kronk Warner

Dean | S.J. Quinney College of Law | University of Utah

Elizabeth Kronk Warner is the Jefferson B. and Rita E. Fordham presidential dean and a professor of law at the S.J. Quinney College of Law. She previously practiced law in the Washington, D.C., office of Latham & Watkins LLP. She also served as a trial judge for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and as the chief appellate judge for the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, where she is also an enrolled citizen.

Ken Wallentine

(not pictured)

Chief of Police | City of West Jordan

Ken Wallentine is a member of the League of Cities and Towns’ Listen, Love, Learn Task Force, creating strategies for police relations with communities of color. An attorney for 34 years and cop for 42 years, he consults on civil rights litigation nationally and for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. He is the author of the American Bar Association’s criminal procedure deskbook, “Street Legal: A Guide for Police, Prosecutors and Defenders.”

2024 Legal Elite

Sylvia Grace Acosta

Owner & Partner | Trujillo Acosta Law | Civil

What people are saying: “Grace has mentored many attorneys in the past, and now she is using all of her talents to represent the underserved Latino population of the state of Utah.”

Devin S. Anderson

Partner | Kirkland & Ellis | Appellate

What people are saying: “Devin is not only passionate about the law but also passionate about giving back to the community and the development of Utah’s future legal talents.”

Michael S. Anderson

Partner & Shareholder | Parr Brown Gee & Loveless | Entertainment

What people are saying: “Michael cares about artistry and integrity. He understands the complex landscape of entertainment relationships and contracts.”

Dennis M. Astill

Partner | Pearson Butler | Estate and Tax

What people are saying: “In his field, Dennis wins by reliable representation that is up-to-date on the latest law to ensure what he puts together for a client has enduring value and reliability.”

Danica Baird

Legal Counsel | bioMérieux | Corporate Counsel

What people are saying: “Danica gives each project her all and gives back to the community every chance she gets in her spare time.”

Daren R. Barney

Founding Partner & President | Barney McKenna & Olmstead | Business Transactions and Corporate Law

What people are saying: “Daren has the ability to maintain close relationships of mutual respect with the prominent clients he serves.”

Tanner J. Bean

Partner | Fabian VanCott | Employment

What people are saying: “Tanner is excellent in litigating cases from the smallest details at the trial level to constitutional issues on appeal and everything in between.”

Adrienne Bell

Partner | Holland & Hart | Real Estate

What people are saying: “Clients benefit from Adrienne’s pre-law career working for a private sector real estate developer and in city government.”

Marla R. Bell

Shareholder & Managing Partner, Park City & Salt Lake City Offices | Polsinelli | Real Estate

What people are saying: “Marla’s ethical mindset and focus on communication enable her to provide the best service to her clients, even in difficult situations.”

Ryan Brett Bell

Litigation Chair | Kunzler Bean & Adamson | Defamation

What people are saying: “Ryan has occasionally taken cases for individuals in hard circumstances who exhaust their financial means, and he has remained dedicated to their causes regardless.”

Bryan K. Benard

Partner | Holland & Hart | Employment

What people are saying: “Bryan consistently demonstrates ethical and professional behavior in the most stressful situations, helps clients balance legal options with the needs of individual employees, and maintains respectful relationships with opposing counsel.”

Jonathan Bench

Partner | Harris Sliwoski | Business Transactions and Corporate Law

What people are saying: “Jonathan is an excellent attorney but also a thought leader in two very different industries: international business and blockchain.”

Daniel R. Black

Regional Partner | Stowell Crayk | Immigration

What people are saying: “Daniel navigates difficult cases with surgical precision and always thinks outside the box.”

Melinda Bowen

Of Counsel | Spencer Fane Snow Christensen & Martineau | Civil/Criminal

What people are saying: “Melinda has honed her ability to organize complicated cases in an understandable way and present a client’s position in its most persuasive form.”

Thomas Brady

Partner | Clyde Snow & Sessions | Securities

What people are saying: “Tom has earned the trust of his clients, colleagues, opposing counsel, and the government agencies involved in his practice area.”

Jared Braithwaite

Partner | Foley & Lardner | Intellectual Property

What people are saying: “Jared understands that maintaining integrity and ethical conduct is paramount, especially in the realm of intellectual property litigation where complex and highly contentious legal issues often arise.”

Ryan B. Braithwaite

Partner | Bennett Tueller Johnson & Deere | Construction

What people are saying: “Ryan manages to be the most reasonable and effective attorney in each of his cases every time.”

Richard D. Burbidge

Managing Partner | Burbidge | Mitchell | Commercial Litigation

What people are saying: “Richard Burbidge is honest, efficient and exceptionally gifted in depositions and trial.”

Jed Burton

Office Managing Shareholder | Buchalter | Real Estate

What people are saying: “Jed offers a deep understanding of his clients’ business challenges and goals.”

Steve Burton

Director | Utah Defense Attorney Association | Criminal

What people are saying: “Until Steve Burton stepped up on the criminal defense side, the perspective of defense was often missing or severely underrepresented in public debate.”

Brad Cahoon

Shareholder; USA Environmental & Mining Leader | Dentons Durham Jones Pinegar | Environmental

What people are saying: “Brad attracts clients from throughout the country because of the superior reputation of his environmental law practice.”

Monica Shelton Call

Office Managing Partner, Salt Lake City | Foley & Lardner | Commercial Litigation

What people are saying: “Monica’s exceptional ability to navigate complex legal challenges and provide strategic guidance ensures that her clients receive the best possible representation.

Clark Cannon

Senior Associate | Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy | Immigration

What people are saying: “Clark has gone above and beyond the normal practice of law by actively engaging with the local community in Salt Lake City and supporting local businesses.”

Dianna Cannon

Managing Partner | Cannon Disability Law | Social Security Disability/VA Benefits

What people are saying: “Dianna is able to protect the client and their interests, as well as help the family support the client.”

Victoria Tomoko Carrington

Registered Patent Attorney | Maschoff Brennan | Intellectual Property

What people are saying: “Victoria has not only contributed meaningfully as a mentor and active member of many local legal, tech and medical organizations, she is also a published researcher and has spoken publicly on issues of importance to her.”

Erik Anthony Christiansen

Shareholder | Parsons Behle & Latimer | Commercial Litigation

What people are saying: “As president of the Utah State Bar, Erik handled a number of difficult situations with the utmost ethical behavior.”

J. Colby Clark

Partner | Spencer Fane Snow Christensen & Martineau | Business Transactions and Corporate Law

What people are saying: “Colby brings exemplary adaptability and a ferocious work ethic to all aspects of his transactional practice.”

Melanie Clark

Partner | Foley & Lardner | Real Estate

What people are saying: “Melanie consistently provides exceptional guidance and support to her clients, ensuring their needs are met with precision and care.”

Nathan A. Crane

Partner | Spencer Fane Snow Christensen & Martineau | Criminal

What people are saying: “Nathan’s broad range of experience grants him a unique and beneficial perspective on the intricacies of the justice system at the local, regional and national levels.”

Douglas Crapo

Director, White Collar Commercial Enforcement Division | Utah Office of the Attorney General | Criminal

What people are saying: “Douglas is amazing in his ability to synthesize info, come up with compelling arguments, and advocate zealously for our clients.”

Raj Dhaliwal

Shareholder & Corporate Attorney | Ray Quinney & Nebeker | Business Transactions and Corporate Law

What people are saying: “Raj has a clear and creative strategic mind, a confident grasp of the law and a nearly superhuman understanding of people and their motivations.”

Marcia Fuller Durkin

Partner | Kunzler Bean & Adamson | Commercial Litigation

What people are saying: “Marcia works with opposing counsel in a cooperative manner to ensure that fair and equitable solutions are reached for both parties.”

Angela Elmore

Attorney | Elmore Law Office | Civil

What people are saying: “Angela is considered one of the most knowledgeable experts in pardons and expungements in Utah.”

Mary A. Essuman

Shareholder | Kirton McConkie | Commercial Litigation

What people are saying: “Mary is passionate, thorough and dedicated to the best advocacy for her clients.”

Bret R. Evans

Partner | Snell & Wilmer | Bankruptcy

What people are saying: “Bret makes his clients’ worries his own.”

Doug Farr

Shareholder & Chair, Salt Lake Litigation Group | Buchalter | Construction and Real Estate

What people are saying: “Doug believes the road to legal resolution usually need not be unnecessarily difficult, protracted or earth-scorching.”

Meg Glasmann

Judicial Law Clerk | Utah Court of Appeals | Judiciary

What people are saying: “Megan goes above and beyond the normal practice of law by consistently finding ways to reach out and help individuals.”

Jonathan Hafen

Shareholder | Parr Brown Gee & Loveless | Commercial Litigation

What people are saying: “Jon is a great trial lawyer, a great representative of how lawyers should support those around them, and an active, energetic community leader.”

Amber Harezlak

Partner | Kirkland & Ellis | Technology and Intellectual Property

What people are saying: “Amber fulfills her passion for creating opportunities for women as future leaders in their practice groups, the firm, the legal profession and our community.”

Michael Harrington

City Attorney | Vernal City | Civil/Municipal

What people are saying: “It would be hard to find a civil attorney that is as dedicated to the citizens and entities he serves as Mike is.”

Jenna Hatch

COO & Partner | Pearson Butler | Family

What people are saying: “Jenna consistently makes the honorable choice and is driven by her ethics before any other factor.”

D. Jason Hawkins

Office Managing Partner | Spencer Fane Snow Christensen & Martineau | Commercial Litigation

What people are saying: “Many attorneys find a very specific focus, especially in litigation, but Jason never shies away from a challenging matter.”

Cheylynn Hayman

Shareholder | Parr Brown Gee & Loveless | Employment

What people are saying: “Cheylynn’s clients love her not only for the quality of her advice and expertise but also for the personal rapport she builds with each of them.”

Melissa Holyoak

Commissioner | Federal Trade Commission | Constitutional

What people are saying: “Melissa consistently provides sound legal analysis for the attorneys she supervises as they take on some of the most challenging issues facing the state of Utah.”

John Huber

Shareholder | Greenberg Traurig | Criminal

What people are saying: “John strives to build teams — teams to serve client interests, to build his law firm, to serve the public good and to help other professionals advance in their careers.”

Annette W. Jarvis

Managing Shareholder | Greenberg Traurig | Bankruptcy

What people are saying: “Annette is known for her candor, professionalism and calm handling of difficult situations.”

Steven Joffee

Managing Partner | Michael Best & Friedrich | Appellate and General Civil Law

What people are saying: “Steve is a skilled and experienced trial and appellate litigator who has consistently prevailed in high-stakes and complex disputes in courts throughout the country.”

Freyja Johnson

Partner | The Appellate Group | Appellate

What people are saying: “Freyja cares about her clients and argues for them passionately and ethically.”

Barry N. Johnson

Partner | Bennett Tueller Johnson & Deere | Commercial Litigation

What people are saying: “One client told me, ‘Regardless of whether we win or lose this case, it has been worth the experience just to work with Barry.’”

Kristin Raffone Jordan

Principal | Raffone Dessiné Legal Services | Family

What people are saying: “Kristin is selfless, creative and a natural teacher. She stands for justice and provides what she can to those in need.”

Amy Kennedy

Senior Partner | Dart Adamson & Donovan | Family

What people are saying: “Amy is vice chair of the Ethics and Discipline Committee with the Utah State Bar. She has demonstrated ethical behavior every day for the past 27 years.”

Jess M. Krannich

Partner | Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati | Commercial Litigation

What people are saying: “Jess utilizes his legal expertise to advocate for policies and initiatives that support businesses by understanding the legal challenges they may face.”

Whitney Hulet Krogue

Shareholder | Ray Quinney & Nebeker | Defamation and Free Speech

What people are saying: “Whit has a broad understanding of the law, a precise and engaging way with words, and is an extremely hard worker who is committed to excellence.”

Kelli J. Larson

Partner & Family Law Practice Lead | Pearson Butler | Family

What people are saying: “Kelli seeks to address not only the legal needs of her clients but also helps them find resources as they rebuild their lives.”

Skye Lazaro

Shareholder | Ray Quinney & Nebeker | Criminal

What people are saying: “Skye approaches every case with tenacity to get the best outcome for her client, often in highly complex trials.”

Aaron Lebenta

Director & Shareholder | Clyde Snow & Sessions | Appellate and General Civil Law

What people are saying: “Aaron sets himself apart as an attorney and litigator with his exceptional curiosity and unique ability to ask the right questions and retain the relevant information.”

Carolyn J. LeDuc

Partner | Burbidge | Mitchell | Commercial Litigation

What people are saying: “Carolyn works to ensure not only that she prevails in the cases she has undertaken but that her clients know that she cares.”

Matthew Lewis

Shareholder | Kunzler Bean & Adamson | Commercial Litigation

What people are saying: “Matthew’s unique combination of experience involving federal and state court civil litigation and criminal defense may be unmatched in the Utah legal market.”

David J. Lyon

Shareholder | Fabian VanCott | Estate Planning and Tax

What people are saying: “David looks at the entire picture to help his clients and is rarely satisfied with assisting clients with one siloed area if there are other aspects of their life or business in which he can further assist.”

Lesley A. Manley

VP; Senior Litigation & Disputes Counsel | Myriad Genetics | Corporate Counsel

What people are saying: “Lesley has great judgment and understands the business imperatives — when I witness her interact with her clients in the business, I am impressed by her smart and pragmatic approaches and solutions.”

Matt Martinez

General Counsel | Energy Exemplar | Corporate Counsel

What people are saying: “Matthew always goes above and beyond what is required of him. He is held in high esteem by his peers at the company and by his subordinates.”

Shaunda L. McNeill

Director & Shareholder; Co-Chair, Labor & Employment Group | Clyde Snow & Sessions | Employment

What people are saying: “Shaunda has an advanced ability to absorb extensive and complicated information, understand it and catalyze it into something a decision maker — who has little context into the subject matter — can understand and digest.”

Elisabeth M. McOmber

Counsel | Snell & Wilmer | Product Liability

What people are saying: “Elisabeth believes in taking an ownership role in cases and client relationships, which she attributes to managing and running cases successfully to achieve the best results for her clients.”

Tim Merrill

Assistant Attorney General | Utah Office of the Attorney General | Transportation

What people are saying: “As an assistant attorney general, Tim takes his role seriously with regard to being a public servant and helping his client, a public agency, achieve its goals in a transparent and open way.”

David Mortensen

Partner | Foley & Lardner | Commercial Litigation

What people are saying: “With a keen eye for detail and a strategic approach to every case, David demonstrates exceptional advocacy in the courtroom and consistently delivers outstanding results for his clients.”

Rachael Motzkus

Real Estate Attorney | Snell & Wilmer | Real Estate

What people are saying: “She excels at her role as an associate attorney, where one of her biggest strengths is befriending clients — especially since many will become repeat clients — so she can get to know them on a personal level while building a trusting and honest relationship.”

Brooke Nelson

Senior Labor & Employment Counsel, North America | bioMérieux | Corporate Counsel

What people are saying: “Prioritizing employee welfare, Brooke advocates for forward-thinking practices that not only align with legal requirements but also foster a culture of care and inclusivity within the company.”

Holly J. Nelson

Partner, Family Law | Dart Adamson & Donovan | Family

What people are saying: “Holly is a zealous and prepared advocate who respects the rights of all and is an example to her clients of the right way to act.”

Travis Nelson

Partner | Kirkland & Ellis | Business Transactions and Corporate Law

What people are saying: “Travis fine-tunes all aspects of his practice to provide the highest quality legal service and deliver extraordinary results to his clients.”

Kara H. North

Managing Partner | Moxie Law Group | Personal Injury

What people are saying: “Kara is articulate, thoughtful and professional. She goes the extra mile in representing her clients and has a keen eye for detail.”

Ellen Ostrow

Partner | Foley & Lardner | Bankruptcy

What people are saying: “Ellen stands out as an exceptional bankruptcy attorney, consistently demonstrating unparalleled dedication and expertise in her role.”

Stephen W. Owens

President | Epperson & Owens | Healthcare

What people are saying: “Whenever dealing with difficult counsel, Steve always choses kindness and laughter over insults or injury.”

F. Joseph Paldino

Partner | Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy | Immigration

What people are saying: “Joe is a highly respected leader in the immigration industry known for fostering trust and forming valuable relationships that serve as the foundation of his guidance for clients to accomplish strategic goals in a complex business immigration environment.”

Carson Pearson

Managing Partner | Pearson Butler | Business Transactions and Estate Planning

What people are saying: “Carson prioritizes the well-being and needs of people above all else.”

Katherine E. Pepin

Associate Attorney | Clyde Snow & Sessions | Securities/Litigation

What people are saying: “Katherine’s work [with the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center] shows that dedication, commitment and heart truly pay off in the long run.”

Beth J. Ranschau

Shareholder | Ray Quinney & Nebeker | Intellectual Property

What people are saying: “The higher the stakes, the more Beth rises to the occasion to craft creative solutions to resolve cases or fiercely litigate difficult issues that can’t otherwise be resolved amongst the parties.”

Bret Rawson

Partner | Nelson Jones | Police and Law Enforcement Defense

What people are saying: “Bret is the ‘go to’ for all Utah Law Enforcement and Corrections matters.”

J. Reed Rawson

Partner | Bennett Tueller Johnson & Deere | Business Transactions and Corporate Law

What people are saying: “Reed is zealous in his representation of clients but is not confrontational. He is a dealmaker.”

Jeremy C. Reutzel

Partner | Bennett Tueller Johnson & Deere | Commercial Litigation

What people are saying: “Jeremy is one of the most passionate attorneys I’ve ever met, and that’s based on his actions when he doesn’t think anyone is paying attention.”

Lamont Richardson

Shareholder | Parr Brown Gee & Loveless | Real Estate

What people are saying: “Lamont is always focused on keeping negotiations civil and efficient to achieve the best possible outcome for his clients.”

Kathie Brown Roberts

Owner & Managing Attorney | Kathie Brown Roberts | Elder Law, Estate and Medicaid Planning

What people are saying: “Kathie is confident, exceptionally skilled and conscientious.”

Eric B. Robinson

Shareholder | Kirton McConkie | Real Estate

What people are saying: “Eric pairs a sophisticated legal skill set with an excellent and practical business sense that gets complex deals done.”

Nicole Salazar-Hall

Shareholder | Parsons Behle & Latimer | Family

What people are saying: “Nicole is whip-smart and rising through the ranks at a large firm.”

Emily Schilling

Partner | Holland & Hart | Environmental

What people are saying: “Emily has earned a stellar reputation both in Utah and throughout the Mountain West as one of only a handful of experienced air quality lawyers.”

Jiyun Lauren Seo

Senior Associate | Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy | Immigration

What people are saying: “Jiyun possesses the ability to analyze complex immigration matters and devise innovative and effective legal solutions and strategies within the bounds of the law.”

Stephen Sloan

Shareholder | Fabian VanCott | Estate Planning and Tax

What people are saying: “Steve serves his community and his clients with excellence. Both rely on him for sage advice and good counsel on how to handle delicate matters.”

James A. Sorenson

Shareholder | Ray Quinney & Nebeker | Bankruptcy

What people are saying: “In a world that is based on statutes and rules with exact requirements and timelines, James is an expert who has been effective in advising clients in various areas.”

Craig Stanger

Senior Associate | Stowell Crayk | Criminal

What people are saying: “Craig has dedicated his career to helping those who messed up and need legal guidance. He cares about those he defends and tirelessly works to do the best thing.”

Jeremy J. Stewart

Partner | Snell & Wilmer | Commercial Litigation

What people are saying: “Jeremy is a well-recognized commercial litigator who takes pride in his work and consistently goes above and beyond the normal practice of law.”

Doug Stowell

Partner | Stowell Crayk | Family

What people are saying: “Douglas’ knowledge of family law is not surpassed by many.”

Evan S. Strassberg

Partner | Michael Best & Friedrich | Commercial Litigation

What people are saying: “Whether dealing with intricate litigation or business matters, Evan’s pragmatic mindset ensures practical solutions that align with clients’ goals.”

Michael Ted Thornock

Attorney & Mediator | Stowell Crayk | Family

What people are saying: “Michael Ted knows family law backward and forward and is incredibly generous with his knowledge and expertise.”

Carlos A. Trujillo

Founder & Partner | Trujillo Acosta Law | Immigration

What people are saying: “Carlos is passionate about the law and is unflinching in his desire to help underprivileged parties succeed in their cases.”

Artemis Vamianakis

Shareholder & Director | Fabian VanCott | Commercial Litigation

What people are saying: “Artemis is an example of proceeding with strength through thoughtful attention to detail.”

Sarah Vaughn

Shareholder | Fabian VanCott | Civil

What people are saying: “Not only does Sarah possess the ability to quickly get to the heart of legal issues, she also is able to provide fresh takes on weary cases, discerning new strategies and legal theories that apply.”

Betsy Voter

Partner | Michael Best & Friedrich | Financial Services, Securities Law and Regulatory Compliance

What people are saying: “Betsy has garnered a distinguished reputation as someone who understands the complexities of the securities laws and their adaptation to quickly evolving technologies and business models.”

Douglas C. Waddoups

Shareholder | Parr Brown Gee & Loveless | Business Transactions and Corporate Law

What people are saying: “Doug has worked on many exceptional M&A transactions and has helped the firm and the attorneys in his field be recognized for their work.”

Lisa Watts Baskin

Of Counsel | Smith Hartvigsen | Administrative and Governtment

What people are saying: “Lisa brings a wealth of experience to the firm and is a fabulous mentor and colleague.”

Ben T. Welch

Partner | Snell & Wilmer | Real Estate

What people are saying: “As the firm’s pro bono representative in the Salt Lake City office, Ben works tirelessly to provide access to justice.”

Heather White

Partner | Spencer Fane Snow Christensen & Martineau | Government Defense

What people are saying: “Heather solves problems in the most efficient and effective way possible, understanding the personal toll the matters she handles take on real people.”

Access honoree photos from the event here.

2024 Legal Elite

Once again, Utahns have proof of what we’ve always known — Utah is the best state in America. The incomparable business community and startup culture of the state greatly contribute to Utah’s economic outlook, but Utah also ranks highly in work hours, volunteerism, affordability, happiness, outdoor recreation, social mobility and more. These national rankings and awards celebrate the place we call home and each citizen’s contribution to the awesome state of Utah.

Best state overall (2nd year in a row)

• U.S. News & World Report

#1 best state to start a business

• WalletHub

#1 state for economic outlook (17th year in a row)

• Rich States, Poor States

#1 state in employment

• U.S. News & World Report

#1 state for government efficiency, regulatory freedom and energy resiliency

• Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

#1 best state to move to

• ConsumerAffairs

#1 most affordable state

• USA Today

#1 state for social mobility

• Archbridge Institute

Tied at #1 state for volunteerism

• WalletHub

#1 youngest state in the nation: median age 32.1 years old

• Newsweek

#1 most independent state

• WalletHub

#1 hottest job market in the nation: Salt Lake City

• Wall Street Journal

#1 fastest growing state

• World Population Review

#1 healthiest state for seniors

• Becker’s Hospital Review

#1 state for work environment

• WalletHub

#1 state for fewest work hours

• WalletHub

#1 best state for kids’ online safety

• Cloudwards

#1 state for innovation capacity and outcomes

• Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute

#1 jurisdiction in the world for mining*

*Based on the investment attractiveness index, which takes into account the impact of both policy factors and mineral endowment.

• Fraser Institute

#1 airport in the U.S. and #8 globally: Salt Lake City International Airport

• AirHelp

#1 city for young adults: Salt Lake City

• MoneyGeek

Family Travel Award winner for all-season fun: Salt Lake City

• Good Housekeeping

Cities with the fastest internet in the U.S.:

#1 metropolitan city: Salt Lake City

#1 medium city: West Valley City

#1 small city: Layton

#2 small city: Orem

#3 major city: Provo

#3 small city: Murray

• ISP Reports

#2 best place to retire

• RetireGuide

#2 economy in the U.S.

• WalletHub

#2 least federally dependent state government

• WalletHub

#2 best state for remote work

• WalletHub

#2 state in education

• U.S. News & World Report

#2 state in standardized test scores

• Forbes Advisor

#2 startup city attracting startups away from Silicon Valley in 2024: Salt Lake City

• hostingadvice.com

#3 city with the best drinking water: Provo

• waterfilterguru.com

#3 state for labor force participation rate

• Federal Reserve Economic Data

#3 best state for teachers

• WalletHub

#3 most festive state for Halloween

• ConsumerAffairs

#4 happiest state in the U.S.

• WalletHub, World Population Review

#4 state for fiscal health

• Truth in Accounting

#4 PeopleForBikes’ city ratings: Springdale, Utah

• PeopleForBikes

#5 state for average leisure time spent per day

• WalletHub

#7 state for highest fertility rate: 61.3 births per 1,000

• U.S. News & World Report

#8 in customer satisfaction for large airports: Salt Lake City International Airport

• J.D. Power

#12 tech talent market

• CBRE

#14 best place to live and work as a movie maker

• MovieMaker

Among 25 certified welcoming cities and counties in the U.S.: Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County

• Welcoming America

Top 30 best small cities in the U.S. for starting a business:

#1 Cedar City

#2 St. George

#4 Washington

#8 Lehi

#12 Eagle Mountain

#14 Midvale

#15 American Fork

#19 Springville

#26 Spanish Fork

#28 Orem

• WalletHub

Best performing cities:

#4 Salt Lake City

#5 Provo-Orem

• Milken Institute

Best ski resorts in the U.S.:

#1 Powder Mountain

#3 Snowbasin Resort

#13 Alta Ski Area

#17 Deer Valley

• Ski Magazine

Top ski resorts in the West for weekend getaways:

#1 Deer Valley Resort

#3 Snowbasin Resort

#4 Powder Mountain

#5 Park City Resort

• Ski Magazine

The Elizabeth Smart Foundation, Fight the New Drug and the Malouf Foundation form the Prevention and Healing and Against Sexual Exploitation (PHASE) Alliance, aiming to reduce victimization through a network of prevention and healing programs.

The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute releases a report detailing that Utah’s international goods exports in 2023 totaled $17.4B, generating over $4B in earnings and 71,891 jobs.

Peterson Partners’ private equity business, Peterson Private Equity, closes $265M in Fund X.

Comcast announces a $138M multi-gig speed fiber network expansion in Box Elder, Davis, Salt Lake, Summit, Tooele, Utah, Wasatch, Weber and Utah counties.

The University of Utah Health breaks ground on the James Levoy Sorenson Center for Medical Innovation.

Former President George W. Bush offers a keynote at the Crossroads of the World International Trade Summit, hosted by Zions Bank and World Trade Center Utah.

Bridor, a top producer of premium-quality bakery products and Viennese pastries sold in more than 100 countries, announces its investment in a new manufacturing facility in Greater Salt Lake City, Utah — its fifth plant in North America.

Ionic Mineral Technologies (Ionic MT) announces a major expansion of its production facility in Provo, Utah. This expansion brings Ionic MT’s total facility footprint to over 74,000 square feet.

Torus celebrates the grand opening of its new 44,000-square-foot headquarters in South Salt Lake.

Smarty, a pre-eminent provider of address data solutions, announces its service partnership with Uber Technologies Inc.

Domo announces that ESPN is using Domo App Studio to enhance its customer service experience.

Hexcel Corporation and Fairmat announce a 10-year agreement to recycle carbon fiber composite materials from its recently-opened recycling facility — the largest high-performance carbon fiber manufacturing facility in North America — for reuse in composite materials sold into various commercial markets.

Executives of Granite Credit Union and Rancho Markets partner to bring Salt Lake Valley’s first full Spanish-speaking in-store financial branch to Rancho Market stores.

SkyShare unveils an industry-leading financing option for fractional aircraft ownership.

Gabb launches Gabb Music+, a safe music streaming service for kids.

Just Ingredients announces new partnerships with The Salt Lake Bees and The Utah Royals.

Kizik announces the opening of two new stores — one at the Mall of America and another at King of Prussia — as part of the brand’s new brick-and-mortar retail expansion strategy.

FUNDING

M&A ACTIVITY

Mergers

• 47G merges with Utah’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Institute (UAMMI)

Acquisitions by Utah companies

• Capital Community Bank (CCBank) acquires Security Home Mortgage
• EnviroServe Inc. acquires CG Environmental - The Cleaning Guys
• PACS acquires the operations of 53 skilled nursing and assisted/independent living facilities across eight states
• PCF Insurance Services acquires Encore Advisors and All Star Insurance
• Sky Zone acquires three existing parks in Laveen, Arizona; Palmdale, California and Vacaville, California

Acquisitions of Utah companies

• CommonSpirit Health acquires Salt Lake Regional Medical Center in Salt Lake City; Davis Hospital and Medical Center in Layton; Jordan Valley Medical Center in West Jordan; Jordan Valley Medical Center-West Valley Campus; and Mountain Point Medical Center in Lehi, and their affiliated clinics
• EasyKnock acquires HomePace
• IRIS Software Group acquires Swipeclock
• Rubicon Bakers acquires Lucky Spoon Bakery
• Turnspire Capital Partners LLC acquires Ashland Nutraceuticals

Burt Brothers Tire and Service partners with Utah Motorsports Campus, taking on naming rights for the Motorsports Playground.

Big-D Signature completes construction of the Sugarloaf Patrol Building, the highest-elevation project in the company’s history.

UTOPIA Fiber provides ultra-high-speed broadband access to every residential and business address in West Haven City with the completion of its fiber-to-the-home build, a $17.6M project.

Moises by Music AI wins iPad App of the Year by Apple.

The Other Side Academy breaks ground on The Other Side Pavilion, which will be the main gathering space for The Other Side Village.

Utah City commits to creating inspiring outdoor spaces with the launch of the “Greening of Utah City” initiative and the groundbreaking of the 12-acre Greenline promenade.

Soft Play announces its largest project ever: The “Mountain America Jurassic Jungle,” a multimillion-dollar, six-story, dinosaur-themed indoor play area at Thanksgiving Point.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration awards a $62.8M grant to the Utah Transit Authority to support a new bus rapid transit route.

The County Library becomes one of the top-ten highest circulating libraries in North America after Salt Lake County residents checked out more than 12.5M items in 2024.

FUNDING

M&A ACTIVITY

Acquisitions by Utah companies

• Capestone acquires Next Era
• PACS acquires skilled nursing facilities in Tennessee
• Rhino-Rack acquires RockyMounts
• Trucordia acquires insurance business of Archibald Insurance and Richard King Agency
• Ultradent Products Inc. acquires Vamasa SA de CV

Acquisitions of Utah companies

• Cypress West and TPG Angelo Gordon acquire Renaissance Medical Center
• Unified Commerce Group acquires majority shares of Böhme
• Vision Graphics LLC and Banner Capital Management LLC acquire Queen of Wraps

JobNimbus announces a $330M growth investment from Sumeru Equity Partners, the largest Series B in Utah history.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis releases data showing that Utah’s outdoor recreation economy reached a record-breaking $9.5B in 2023, contributing 3.4 percent of Utah’s GDP and supporting over 71,000 jobs.

Savage Tooele Railroad begins construction of a rail line — the first new railroad in Utah in over 80 years — in Tooele County.

The Utah Inland Port Authority and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality are awarded a $112.4M grant through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Ports Program. The funding will be directed toward reducing emissions at the Salt Lake City Intermodal Terminal.

Ionic MT secures Silicon Ridge, a 4,000-acre Halloysite lease, to support next-generation battery material production.

BEDGEAR announces the grand opening of its new manufacturing and distribution facilities and the relocation its west coast headquarters to Salt Lake City.

The Salt Lake Chamber unveils Utah’s first-ever statewide free enterprise vision, Utah Rising.

The Utah Symphony announces the appointment of Markus Poschner as the eighth music director in the orchestra’s 84-year history.

USA Climbing partners with Momentum Climbing to operate its National Training Center.

The Small Business Administration announces that, for the fifth year in a row, Mountain America Credit Union made the most 7(a) loans among credit unions nationally in 2024.

Utah Valley University (UVU) President Astrid S. Tuminez announces the university’s new Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute.

The Princeton Review ranks the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business No. 3 for undergraduate and graduate entrepreneurship education in the West.

Trucordia celebrates the opening of its new headquarters in Lindon.

The Utah Hockey Club announces Ski Utah as its inaugural season practice jersey patch partner.

Lagoon’s interactive 3D coaster, Primordial, wins IAAPA’s 2024 Brass Ring Award for Best New Product in the Major Ride/Attraction category.

FUNDING

M&A ACTIVITY

Mergers

• Recursion merges with Exscientia

Acquisitions by Utah companies

• Burt Brothers Tire & Service Inc. acquires Tire Buster service centers in Payson and American Fork
• Merit Medical Systems acquires Cook Medical
• Sunroc Corporation acquires M.A. Concrete Construction Inc.
• Zeo Energy Corp. acquires Lumio Holdings Inc.

Acquisitions of Utah companies

• KKR and Dragoneer acquire Instructure
• TowerBrook and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice acquire R1 RCM Inc.

Rio Tinto transitions its Kennecott copper mine in Utah to renewable diesel for all heavy mining equipment, achieving one of the lowest carbon footprints among U.S. copper producers.

Sky Quarry Inc. begins trading on NASDAQ under the ticker “SKYQ,” following a $6.7M public offering of 1,118,005 shares at $6.00 each.

The 1908 Union Pacific Depot reopens as the Asher Adams, Autograph Collection hotel. The transformation preserves the landmark’s French Second Empire architecture while adding an eight-story tower with 225 rooms, four upscale dining venues and 20,000 square feet of event space.

The University of Utah launches the Applied Medical Engineering Lab. The Lab has already invested over $1M in research projects that can detect kidney injuries, treat heart attacks and replace lost limbs with robotic arms.

PCF Insurance Services rebrands to Trucordia.

Kinetic partners with Young Automotive Group to launch its first digital repair hub in Clearfield using AI and robotics for precision vehicle repair.

Williams, an energy infrastructure company that moves one-third of the nation’s natural gas, opens a new office in Salt Lake City.

Fervo Energy, Southern Utah University, and Elemental Impact launch a geothermal apprenticeship program in Cedar City to transition oil and gas workers into the geothermal industry.

The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) contracts with Utah-based Stadler to procure up to 80 new light rail cars for the TRAX Modernization project.

The Salt Lake City Department of Airports unveils Phase 3 of The New SLC Redevelopment Program, featuring the Central Tunnel, Concourse B Plaza, and five new Delta gates.

DigiCert launches Common Mark Certificates, which enable organizations to display their logos in recipient email inboxes without requiring registered trademarks. This innovation addresses the $43 billion identity fraud crisis while expanding email authentication technology previously limited to trademark holders.

LVT expands its security technology capabilities with advanced satellite connectivity, enabling businesses to maintain 24/7 surveillance even in remote locations or during high-traffic events when cellular networks become overwhelmed.

Saras AI Institute in Salt Lake City launches the nation’s first AI-focused associate and bachelor’s degree programs.

Avelo Airlines introduces nonstop service from Salt Lake City to Sonoma County, and American Airlines launches direct flights to Provo Airport from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Clean Simple Eats expands into over 650+ Target stores across the country and on Target.com.

Smith Entertainment Group launches the SEG Foundation. Funded by the Utah Jazz, Utah Hockey Club, and Delta Center, the foundation partners with local groups to provide resources and support, beginning with fulfilling 100 teacher wish lists statewide.

Miller Sports + Entertainment announces a new Megaplex Entertainment center at The Paseo in St. George, Utah.

Utah Valley University opens a new dental hygiene lab and community clinic on its Lehi Campus. The facility will train dental hygienists and offer free or low-cost services to around 3,000 low-income individuals.

Real Salt Lake Stadium hosts “Game On: Tech Meets Soccer,” a collaboration with Utah Royals and Comcast NBCUniversal + Xfinity that offers Utah youth a unique opportunity to explore sports technology and careers in STEAM fields.

Lennar expands into St. George, Utah.

Rio Tinto completes the transition from conventional to renewable diesel for all heavy mining equipment at its Kennecott copper mine, giving the mine one of the lowest carbon footprints of any copper producer in the U.S.

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) awards $1M to 21 recipients across the state through the 2024 Utah Food Security Processing Grant. This initiative strengthens Utah’s food supply chain by expanding processing for meat, poultry, fruit and vegetables, ultimately boosting food security statewide.

The USDA invests $745,342 in clean energy projects for five Utah companies via the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), supported by the Inflation Reduction Act: Archway Inn in Moab, Days Inn in Torrey, S & S Livestock LLC in Palmyra, Spitfire Smokehouse BBQ in Moab and Thousand Lake Lodge Holdings in Lyman

FUNDING

M&A ACTIVITY

Mergers

• Autura merges with Traxero

Acquisitions by Utah companies

• Canyon Labs acquires Life Pack Labs
• Grote Company acquires SPI Automation
• MyCredibility acquires FreelanceClients.co
• Nearmap acquires Tensorflight
• ​​OptConnect acquires Capestone
• Sunroc Corporation acquires Edge Excavation and Edge Trucking

Acquisitions of Utah companies

• Advanced Care Group acquires 3D Medical Staffing
• Blue Marlin Partners LLC & Trive Capital acquire the majority stake in Mo’​ Bettahs Hawaiian Style Food
• CECO Environmental acquires Profire Energy
• Hyperquake acquires MarCore Group
• IsoEnergy acquires Anfield, including the Shootaring Canyon Mill
• Pioneer Accounting Group acquires Universal Business Computing Company
• Pye-Barker Fire & Safety acquires PEAK Alarm Company
• ShareWillow acquires Plentive
• SM Energy completes Uinta Basin acquisitions
• Stax Payments acquires BlockChyp
• The Grote Company acquires SPI Automation

The Utah Film Commission announces the Utah Board of Tourism Development approval of four new productions for state film incentives, generating an estimated economic impact of $7.8M and approximately 300 new jobs.

rPlus Energies breaks ground on the Green River Energy Center, a 400MW solar PV and 400 MW/1,600 megawatt-hour battery storage project in Eastern Utah — one of the largest solar-plus-storage projects under construction in the nation.

Angel Studios enters into a definitive agreement to become a publicly listed company through a business combination with Southport Acquisition Corporation.

X-Caliber Rural Capital’s affiliate, XRL-ALC, LLC, closes a $100M bridge loan to support Phase I development of Fervo Energy’s Cape Station project in Beaver County, Utah.

Torus Inc. installs its advanced storage and management system at Trolley Lane, an affordable housing complex in Salt Lake City, reducing energy costs and improve efficiency for businesses.

Colliers becomes the exclusive leasing agent for 2.3 million square feet of office space at The Point, a historic mixed-use site encompassing 6.3 million square feet in Draper, Utah.

Utah’s Office of Homeless Services officially opens the Microshelter Community with the support of the selected site operator, Switchpoint.

Owlet Inc. announces 3,135,136 shares of Class A common stock are being sold at a public offering price of $3.70 per share, before underwriting discounts and commissions.

Utah land managers finalize a voluntary agreement with Compass Minerals to permanently direct over 200,000 acre-feet of water to the Great Salt Lake every year.

LVT unveils its next-generation Command Center designed to give security operators unrivaled control over their video security systems.

Clene Inc. announces the sale of 1,546,914 shares through multiple offerings, including a registered direct offering and concurrent private placements, at prices of $4.713 and $4.875 per share, before underwriting discounts and commissions.

FUNDING

M&A ACTIVITY

Acquisitions by Utah Companies

• Alsco Uniforms acquires Churchill Linen
• Complete Solar Holdings Inc. acquires SunPower
• DigiCert acquires Vercara
• Miracle Mile acquires Madison Towns
• MyHeritage acquires MesAieux.com
• RainFocus acquires WebEvents Global

Acquisitions of Utah Companies

• American Holt acquires Servi-Tech Inc.
• CSC Generation Enterprise acquires Backcountry
• L Catterton acquires a majority stake in [solidcore] from VMG Partners, Kohlberg & Company, and Peterson Partners
• Peachtree Group acquires AC Hotel by Marriott
• RoadSafe Traffic Systems Inc. acquires All Star Striping
• SCF Partners acquires DeltaValve

rPlus Energies secures over $1B in financing for its Green River Energy Center in Emery County, Utah. This 800 MW project includes 400 MW solar and 400 MW battery storage, with PacifiCorp as the buyer, and is expected to create 500 construction jobs.

Intermountain Health Transplant Program in Utah is the first to use the OrganOx device, a cutting-edge technology that keeps donated livers viable longer for transplants.

Beyond Inc. celebrates the grand reopening of Overstock.com, connecting buyers with sellers of excess and distressed inventory in expanded categories like furniture, decor and sports collectibles.

The Salt Lake Chamber and EDCUtah announce a strategic combination to strengthen economic development in Utah. EDCUtah joins the Chamber, enhancing statewide economic strategies and coordination.

Nu Skin Enterprises Inc. sets a new Guinness World Records title for the Most People Packing Meal Kits in 24 Hours.

EVŌQ Nano introduces EVQ-218, a groundbreaking nanoparticle designed to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria without triggering resistance.

Union Pacific Railroad announces two new Focus Sites, located in Cedar City and Grantsville, expanding business access to its vast rail network.

Intermountain Health opens the Castle Solar Farm in Huntington to power 17 facilities, including nine hospitals, with renewable energy for 20 years.

AdvancedMD rolls out more than 30 new features to enhance productivity and revenue for private practices.

Officials break ground on a new Antelope Island Learning Center and theater in Syracuse, Utah, designed to boost awareness of the Great Salt Lake’s importance.

OptConnect introduces ema:USB, the world’s first smart USB modem, enhancing cellular connectivity through seamless plug-and-play integration.

Kodiak becomes the official Breakfast and Bars Sponsor for USA Climbing.

The Milkshake Factory opens its first franchise outside Pittsburgh in Pleasant Grove, Utah.

Gabb introduces the Gabb Phone 4 and 4 Pro, prioritizing safe tech for kids and teens.

Falling State Inc. launches its debut game, “Earl vs. the Mutants,” on PC.

Switchpoint receives $3.8M to provide 94 supportive housing units for seniors and veterans experiencing homelessness.

Aptive Environmental is featured on Designing Spaces on Lifetime TV.

Liberty Safe launches an exclusive safe at Tractor Supply Company honoring fallen and disabled service members. A portion of sales from each USA-made safe supports Folds of Honor scholarships for military and first responder families.

Induction Bio LLC and Arieli Capital LLC announce a partnership and establish the Induction Reproductive Health Studio (IDEAS).

FUNDING

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Acquisitions by Utah companies

• Fluid acquires NOW Tech
• HB Workplaces acquires MBI Business Designs
• Instructure acquires Scribbles
• Intelvio acquires Professional Crisis Management Association
• Merit Medical Systems Inc. acquires EndoGastric Solutions Inc.
• PCF Insurance Services acquires Montalvo Insurance Agency’s business
• Stripe Inc. acquires Lemon Squeezy LLC.

Acquisitions of Utah companies

• Azuria Water Solutions acquires Twin D Inc.
• Capstone Advisors acquires the Trail Crossing Shopping Center
• Catalyze Partners acquires Axcend LLC
• Misawa Homes Co. Ltd. acquires 51 percent of Visionary Homes
• New York Life Investment Management acquires six funds from Aquila Investment Management

47G, Utah’s aerospace and defense association, launches “Project Alta” with a mission to establish an advanced air mobility system for Utah.

The David Eccles School of Business inducts Gail Miller into the Hall of Fame exactly 20 years after her late husband, Larry Miller, received the same recognition.

All West Communications connects 30,000 homes on the Wasatch Front to 8 gig fiber internet speeds as a result of their fiber optic expansion project.

Intergalactic introduces a curved design for its patented Boreas3 microtube heat exchangers, optimizing them for cylindrical aerospace applications.

Seoul Robotics successfully deploys its groundbreaking traffic signal system powered by LiDAR sensor data at the intersection of State Street and 5900 South in Murray, Utah.

Waystar Holding Corp. announces the pricing of its initial public offering of 45,000,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $21.50 per share.

Sundance Mountain Resort breaks ground on the forthcoming Inn at Sundance Resort.

Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital accelerates construction of new family-centered behavioral health center in Taylorsville with $25M state investment.

Leitner-Poma of America inaugurates a new 130,000 sq. ft. facility in Tooele, Utah, investing over $27M. This site, part of their “Made in America” initiative, will create more than 120 jobs, producing cable transport systems for ski and urban markets.

BZI breaks ground on its new innovation park, spanning 825 acres and anchored by BZI’s office headquarters.

Recursion Pharmaceuticals prices its public offering, aiming to raise around $200M led by Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan.

The USDA invests $1.16M in 11 clean energy projects in rural Utah through the Rural Energy for America Program.

FUNDING

M&A ACTIVITY

Acquisitions by Utah companies

• Entrata acquires Colleen AI
• Fast Stop acquires three gas stations in Northern Utah
• Greenix Pest Control acquires four Insight Pest Solutions branches
• Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres acquires Water Gardens Theatres
• PCF Insurance Services acquires Ignitist, The Brady Agency, Roseberry Insurance Agency and The Sinnott Agency
• Smith Entertainment Group acquires NHL franchise

Acquisitions of Utah companies

• Corpay Inc. acquires GPS Capital Markets LLC
• Enbridge Inc. acquires Questar Gas Company

Gov. Spencer Cox and the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity announce the launch of the Startup State Initiative.

Guidehouse secures the Air Force ICBM Integration Support Contract 2.0, which has an 18-year performance period and a ceiling of $12B. Guidehouse will employ nearly 1,000 staff at Hill Air Force Base and the surrounding area in Ogden, Utah.

PACS Group Inc. closes its initial public offering, issuing 21,428,572 shares at $21 each for total gross proceeds of approximately $450M.

Nucor Corporation, through its subsidiary Metl-Span, opens a new $35M, 127,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Brigham City, Utah. This facility produces insulated metal panels (IMPs) for applications such as warehousing and data centers and will create approximately 60 new jobs.

Onset Financial unveils its new 55,000 sq ft Red Rock Division in St. George, Utah. The campus offers lifestyle amenities like a basketball court, fitness center, yoga studio, pickleball court and a full-sized bistro.

Draper opens a new engineering and operations campus in Clearfield, Utah, to enhance service for aerospace clients and support Hill Air Force Base’s Nuclear Weapons Center.

French deeptech company Fairmat, which specializes in carbon fiber recycling and advanced recycled material manufacturing, chooses Utah for its first U.S. facility and office, bringing 25 new jobs to the state.

Lion Energy launches the POWERsave Cabinet and Container Series, offering businesses advanced energy management solutions and greater independence from grid disruptions.

Zions Bank CEO Scott Anderson retires.

Aqua-Yield partners with WestLink Ag Group to distribute its nanoparticle-based agricultural products through 42 retail locations, improving nationwide access to solutions that enhance crop protection, nutrient uptake and yield.

Co-Diagnostics, Inc. inaugurates its new manufacturing facility in South Salt Lake, enhancing its capacity to produce the Co-Dx Pro instrument and Co-Primers chemistry.

Kizik partners with Unify Brand Partnerships to expand its hands-free footwear into the U.K. market.

EdTech SaaS company Kuali Inc. is ranked in TIME Magazine’s World’s Top EdTech Companies of 2024 list.

BYU Law’s LawX Legal Design Lab introduces CourtServe — a platform that makes it easier for judges to assign community service — and Order Up — a divorce document automation platform.

TaxBit expands into Europe.

Medical Properties Trust Inc. sells a majority interest in five Utah hospitals, resulting in approximately $1.1B in cash proceeds.

Pickleball Kingdom expands into Utah.

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M&A ACTIVITY

Acquisitions by Utah companies

• Diversify Advisor Network acquires Key Advisors Wealth Management
• EQT X fund acquires Avetta
• Five Star Franchising acquires Card My Yard
• The Larry H. Miller Company acquires ATTYX
• PCF Insurance Services acquires MK Insurance Group Team
• PDQ acquires CODA Intelligence
• PV3 Investments acquires ENVE Composites

Acquisitions of Utah companies

• American Industrial Partners Capital Fund VIII, L.P. acquires Boart Longyear Group Ltd.
• Armstrong World Industries Inc. acquires 3form LLC
• C2C Metals Corp. acquires the Blue Jay Mine Project
• Core & Main Inc. acquires ACF West Inc.
• G&A Partners acquires Teamworks Group PEO
• Indo Count acquires U.S. premium national brand WAMSUTTA from Beyond Inc.
• Investors Capital Group acquires Desert Village Townhome

Young Automotive Group celebrates its 100th year of business with the grand opening of its new headquarters.

Kevin Bacon returns to Payson High School to celebrate the 40th anniversary of “Footloose” and the 100-year anniversary of Utah film and television.

Beyond, Inc. — the owner of online retail giants Bed Bath & Beyond and Zulily — announces the relaunch of Overstock.com, which will offer deals and discounts on products across multiple categories.

Powder Baby Dry Shampoo, a student startup from Brigham Young University that sells healthy and non-aerosol dry shampoo in five colors, wins the $30,000 Simon Gibson Grand Prize and first place in the 2024 Utah Entrepreneur Challenge.

Utah ranks sixth in a study by Lendio identifying the best states for women-owned small businesses.

Pure SoJo, South Jordan’s first-of-its-kind water purification demonstration facility, opens to the public for tours and taste testing.

The Board of Directors for the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City approves a record $17.7M in funding to support the construction and preservation of affordable housing.

The Utah Transit Authority Board of Trustees adopts the agency’s Long-Range Transit Plan: UTA Moves 2050.

Powder Mountain expands terrain offerings with expert and advanced terrain on the west side of the mountain and advanced terrain for homeowners on the east side.

Research.com names Deborah A. Yurgelun-Todd, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry and vice chair for research at Huntsman Mental Health Institute, one of the United States’ top female scientists for the second year in a row.

FUNDING

M&A ACTIVITY

Mergers

• Lotus Development merges with 3rd Wave Development to form Lotus Southeast

Acquisitions of Utah companies

• Imperative Chemical Partners Inc. acquires Western Chemical LLC
• Marshall & Stevens Inc. acquires Rocky Mountain Advisory LLC
• Standard Wellness Holdings LLC acquires the Cannabist pharmacy

The Larry H. Miller Company and Miller family unveil renderings for the Power District, a nearly 100-acre site adjacent to the Utah State Fairpark and the Jordan River in Salt Lake City.

Beta Boom closes a $14.5M Fund II to invest in software solutions for fast-growing and underserved populations.

Crumbl opens its 1,000th store.

SadieB Personal Care launches into 507 Target stores and the Target website.

The Utah Film Commission announces two new productions estimated to generate an economic impact of $5.3M and over 875 new jobs.

Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital’s second campus in Lehi opens its doors to patients.

Andrew and Shauna Smith of Savory Fund open their landmark 100th restaurant in Utah.

Uplift Aerospace secures an agreement with Salt Lake City School District to introduce Starborn Academy — an immersive, nine-week astronaut training experience — to district students.

Swig is named the official soda shop of the Utah Jazz.

Gov. Spencer Cox declares 2024 as No-Kill Shelter Year in Utah.

SchoolAI announces a partnership with Jordan School District, integrating AI into 67 K-12 classrooms.

Greenbacker Capital Management’s largest clean energy asset to date enters commercial operation.

FUNDING

M&A ACTIVITY

Mergers

• Marathon Health merges with Everside Health

Acquisitions by Utah companies

• Everyday Driver acquires Hooked on Driving
• JC Pro Design acquires Small Lake City Promo
• Myriad Genetics acquires Precise Tumor, Precise Liquid and Laboratory from Intermountain Precision Genomics
• OptConnect acquires M2M DataGlobal
• United Ocular acquires Eye Prosthetics of Utah

Acquisitions of Utah companies

• Ally Waste acquires RK Property Services
• Comfort Systems USA Inc. acquires J & S Mechanical Contractors Inc.
• EP Wealth Advisors acquires Parker Advisory Group LLC
• FranConnect acquires RizePoint
• Gebrüder Weiss acquires Cargo-Link
• Guild Mortgage acquires Academy Mortgage
• Humble Growth acquires majority stake in Momentous
• Orthopedic Care Partners acquires The Orthopedic Partners
• Salesforce acquires Spiff
• Somafina acquires UST Corporation