Presenting Sponsor
Dinner Sponsors
PROGRAM Sponsors
Transportation Sponsor
Lanyard Sponsor
The Grand America
555 Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
801-258-6000
grandamerica.com
Primary: Michele Howard | 478-414-6318
Sharon Mason | 404-308-8181
Dana Johnson | 404-550-6220
Amanda Seals | 770-653-4969
We have created a GroupMe for attendee communications during the trip. Please download the app if you do not have it already, and then click this link to join the group from your phone.
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Gov. Spencer J. Cox is a husband, father, farmer, recovering attorney, and Utah’s 18th governor. He’s also currently serving as 2023-2024 chairman of the National Governors Association.
Gov. Cox has a long track record of public service, serving as a city councilmember, mayor, county commissioner and state legislator before being appointed as Utah’s lieutenant governor in 2013. He was sworn in as governor on Jan. 4, 2021.
During his first term in office, Gov. Cox has cut $1.1 billion in taxes, implemented landmark changes in water law, water conservation and infrastructure planning, locked in record funding for education and teachers, enacted universal school choice, and secured funds for affordable housing. A long-time advocate for suicide prevention and mental health resources, he’s become a national voice on protecting youth from the harms of social media. He also signed early education and workforce program funding, launched the One Utah Health Collaborative, and expanded opportunities for women, diverse communities and those living in rural parts of the state.
A sixth-generation Utahn, Gov. Cox was born and raised in Fairview, a town of 1,200 in the center of the state. He met First Lady Abby Palmer Cox at age 16 and they married after he returned from serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico. He attended Snow College, Utah State University, and the Washington and Lee University School of Law, then clerked for U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart and worked at a Salt Lake City law firm. Several years later, Gov. Cox and First Lady Cox moved back to Fairview to raise their four children – Gavin, Kaleb, Adam, and Emma Kate – on the family farm. The governor, first lady and Emma Kate currently reside in the Kearns Mansion, also known as the Governor’s Mansion, in Salt Lake City.
Ginger Chinn is the Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs at the Salt Lake Chamber in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her role involves coordinating with key stakeholders on emerging policy matters and collaborating with local and federal lawmakers to navigate bills through the legislative process. With a focus on building strong relationships with members, the community, and elected officials, she plays a vital role in shaping public policy for the region.
Before joining the Salt Lake Chamber, Ginger served as the Managing Director for Urban and Rural Business Services at the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED). During her tenure at GOED, she directed a strategic growth plan for Utah’s industry cluster program and managed various rural economic development initiatives. She also oversaw business services such as Utah’s Business Resource Centers and the Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC).
Before her time at GOED, Ginger was the Vice President of External Engagement and Economic Development at the Davis Technical College (DTC). In this capacity, she oversaw areas like Custom Fit training and operations at the Davis and Morgan County Business Resource Centers.
Throughout her career, Ginger Chinn has been actively involved in numerous organizational boards, including the Utah Advanced Materials Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI), Davis Education Foundation, Lakeview Hospital Board, and the Commission on Housing Affordability. She also served as an honorary commander under Major General Stacey Hawkins at Hill Air Force Base and is currently a trustee for Utah Tech University. In addition to her professional achievements, Ginger holds a degree in social sciences from Boise State University and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Colorado State University.
Kori Ann Edwards is the managing director of strategic initiatives for the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO). In this role, Kori Ann champions Gov. Cox’s commitment to providing economic opportunity for all Utahns. The strategic initiatives portfolio is future focused, designed to cultivate prosperity and future-proof Utah’s economy.
This portfolio includes the Utah Economic Opportunity Commission, targeted industries, the Center for Rural Development outreach, Utah Office of Regulatory Relief and the UPSTART program. Additionally, Kori Ann is the legislative liaison for the office.
Kori Ann serves on numerous executive boards across the community. She is a founding member of the Utah Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI) and Northern Utah Chamber Coalition (NUCC) and currently serves as the Vice Chair for the Ogden-Weber Technical College Board of Trustees and Board of Directors for Envision Utah and the Utah Defense Alliance (UDA).
Kori Ann is a graduate from Utah State University. She and her husband, Mark, have three beautiful children.
Tyler is the Chief Brand & Marketing Officer for Visit Salt Lake—the destination marketing organization for Salt Lake County that drives its $5.84B visitor economy. He is a global marketing leader with a passion for connecting people to meaningful experiences through travel and has worked for other leading destination marketing organizations including Visit California and San Francisco Travel and was most recently a key member of the destination management and marketing team at the Royal Commission for AlUla in Saudi Arabia, an emerging destination that is a central component of one of the most ambitious tourism projects in the world under Saudi’s Vision 2030. He has a proven track record of leading high-performing teams who inspire audiences, increase demand, elevate brand reputation and deliver strong economic impact.
Alex brings a significant amount of real estate experience to Lowe Property Group (LPG) and oversees all of LPG’s investments, including the management of investments in multifamily properties and other strategic assets throughout the United States. He is responsible for negotiating and securing debt and equity commitments for prospective real estate projects and oversees the asset management of all of LPG’s properties.
Prior to LPG, Alex was the Principal and Chief Investment Officer of JRK Investors. JRK is a real estate private equity group focused on the acquisition and management of multifamily properties across the United States. JRK manages over 25,000 apartment units across the nation in 26 different states. Alex was responsible for all aspects of JRK’s $1.2 billion+ private equity funds, overseeing all personnel in the company’s investment division, and was a member of the firm’s investment committee. While at JRK, Alex sourced and executed $3 billion+ in commercial property acquisitions and sold nearly 8,000 units with a combined value in excess of $600 million.
Prior to JRK, Alex worked at The Westfield Group, one of the largest real estate investment trusts in the world. While at Westfield, he worked as a developer and was instrumental in a $250MM redevelopment of a Los Angeles regional mall that included Best Buy and Target as anchor tenants. Alex began his real estate career at BlackRock Inc., one of the world’s largest publicly traded investment management firms. During his time at BlackRock, he performed underwriting and coordinated due diligence on retail, office, industrial, and multi-family projects.
Alex has an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in finance from the University of Utah where he served as the Student-Body President.
Ben is currently a Principal of Lowe Property Group (LPG) where he oversees day-to-day operations and manages the company’s various real estate developments.
Ben is currently overseeing the development of over 1,000 residential units. He is responsible for sourcing, underwriting, and performing due diligence on new development opportunities. Ben is responsible for overseeing the development process including entitlements, design, and construction. In addition, Ben has experience with HUD 221(d)4 financing and tax increment financing.
Ben began his career with the Trammel Crow Company in Irvine, California, where he worked as a Senior Development Associate and Project Manager. While at Trammel Crow, Ben led the underwriting and financial analysis of over 4,000,000 SF of industrial and office development throughout Orange County, Los Angeles County and the Inland Empire. Ben led due diligence on prospective development projects, prepared and presented investment offerings to the company’s investment board, and performed project management on existing developments, including entitlements, engineering, site planning and construction management.
He has an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and served as Student Body President at the University of Utah where he graduated Cum Laude in finance. Ben was recognized by Utah Business Magazine as one of Utah’s top 40 business executives under the age of 40.
Jeremy Andrus is President & CEO of Traeger Grills, the original wood pellet grill brand that has taken the outdoor cooking world by storm. He and a financial partner acquired the company in 2014, transforming it from a small, regional, 26-year-old business into a multi-hundred-million-dollar brand that owns over 50% of the global wood pellet grill market. This was largely achieved by Jeremy leading an overhaul that would result in moving the company’s headquarters from Oregon to Utah and rebuilding its team with an emphasis on the people and culture behind the company.
While Traeger has become Jeremy’s most successful growth story, it isn’t his first. He joined start-up Skullcandy in 2005 with 4 employees and less than $1m in sales. Under his leadership, Skullcandy disrupted the headphone and wearable electronic space, growing into a $300m public company. Jeremy was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016, MountainWest Capital Network Utah Entrepreneur of the Year in 2017, and was inducted into the Utah Technology Council Hall of Fame in 2018. Jeremy received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and B.A. from Brigham Young University. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife Kristin and their six children. After years of experimenting and working with professional pitmasters and chefs, Jeremy now makes the perfect steak.
Steve Starks is the Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of the Larry H. Miller Company. In this capacity, Starks leads the family investment firm that oversees the Miller family’s portfolio of businesses and investments. During his time with the Larry H. Miller Company, he has helped shape the organization’s growth strategy, led mergers and acquisitions, and oversaw the organization’s transformation.
Prior to this role, Starks was the president of the Utah Jazz and Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment where he oversaw the award-winning renovation of Vivint Arena, securing the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, and was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the NBA franchise and related businesses.
Starks is active in the community. He currently serves as the governor’s Olympic and Paralympic Advisor and leads Big League Utah, the coalition aimed at bringing an MLB expansion team to Salt Lake City. Starks also serves on the Zions Bank Advisory Board. He is the past chair of the Salt Lake Chamber Board of Directors, the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, and served on the Weber State University Board of Trustees where he also received an honorary doctorate.
Starks has been recognized as Utah Business Magazine’s 2021 CEO of the Year and received the South Valley Chamber’s Titan Award. He was named a CEO to Watch by Family Business Magazine and was also named a Top Forty Under 40 Sports Executives by Sports Business Journal in 2018.
Starks is a graduate of Weber State University and resides in South Jordan, Utah with his wife and three daughters.
Jeff Robbins is president and chief executive officer of the Utah Sports Commission and has been since the organization was founded in 2000. He was a 38-year-old rookie when then-Gov. Michael Leavitt borrowed his services from Novell Corp. where Robbins was working as an executive. The 2002 Winter Olympic Games were coming to Utah, and the governor wanted someone with a sports and business background to help brainstorm what kind of legacy the state would leave after the games departed. On paper, Robbins fit the bill — a lifelong competitive athlete with plenty of connections. He is a lifelong sports fan, and equally important, he had an MBA from the University of Utah, which he attained after his pro tennis run ended, and he rated a high recommendation from Novell’s CEO, Eric Schmidt who agreed to “loan” Robbins to the state for one or two days a week. Since taking on the role with the Utah Sports Commission, Robbins has spearheaded efforts to bring over 1,000 national and international events to the state since 2000 – resulting in over $3 billion in economic and $2 billion in media impacts through Utah’s State of Sport brand. He also co-chaired efforts which saw Salt Lake City-Utah selected as the 2034 host of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Carlos Braceras is the executive director of the Utah Department of Transportation. He has been with UDOT since 1986. His goal is to create the safest transportation system in the world to provide choices for all users to get where they want, when they want, in the way they want.
He has helped build an organization that is trusted by its partners and the public. Carlos is a member of the board of directors and past president of AASHTO. Carlos moved to Utah in 1980 with four friends after graduating from college to ski for one year. It’s been one great ski season.
Ted Knowlton’s career focuses on improving regional quality of life through collaborative planning activities. At WFRC, Ted coordinates development of the Wasatch Choice Vision, the region’s framework for coordinated transportation, land use, and economic development. Previously Ted worked with the non-profit organization Envision Utah and in private consulting. Ted has a Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning from Portland State University and is an adjunct professor at the University of Utah. He is a city councilor for North Salt Lake City and a past president of APA Utah. Ted’s work experience has garnered two prestigious Daniel Burnham awards from the American Planning Association. He is also recipient of the distinguished Alumni award from the College of Architecture + Planning at the University of Utah and the APAUtah leadership award.
Hal Johnson, AICP CTP, PTP, is the Director of Innovative Mobility Solutions with the Utah Transit Authority. He has more than 25 years of project management experience, in both project development and direct management of procurements and construction. Hal is leading UTA’s efforts for bus electrification, innovative mobility, and innovative project development. He holds a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from the State University of New York at Albany, Masters of Arts in Geography from the State University of New York at Albany and a Bachelor of Science in Urban Planning from the University of Utah.
Jimmy McDonough is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in organizational planning, talent development, operations excellence, and large-scale project leadership within complex corporate settings. Currently serving as the Director of Higher Education Initiatives at the Utah System of Higher Education, Talent Ready Utah, Jimmy plays a pivotal role in driving workforce development by integrating policies, new program elements, and financial objectives into higher education and workforce training operations.
In his role, Jimmy enhances consistency and efficiency by bridging communication gaps between industry, education, and government stakeholders. He strengthens relationships with private sector partners and state agencies, liaising with the Associate Commissioner and Talent Board to establish new partnerships. His efforts are to promptly meet state workforce needs and deliver results by rolling out strategic plans and procedures.
Jimmy’s professional journey is marked by significant achievements, including overseeing contract administration for state and federal grants totaling over $30 million, reducing expenses through cost-effective practices, and making data-driven decisions to enhance program effectiveness. His expertise extends to conducting needs assessments within the domains of talent leadership, diversity engagement, and organizational development.
Before joining the Utah System of Higher Education, Jimmy held key positions at the University of Utah and in the US Department of Labor Job Corps program, where he developed and executed robust learning and development programs, drove continuous improvement, and provided executive-level leadership support. His leadership at the University of Utah included roles as Director of Professional Education and Professional Programs Manager, where he increased student opportunities and program growth, strengthened partnerships, and enhanced technical systems.
Jimmy holds a Master of Science in Training and Organizational Development from St. Joseph’s University and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration with a minor in Justice & Society from La Salle University. He is also a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor and has earned multiple certifications.
As a representative of Talent Ready Utah and the Utah System of Higher Education, Jimmy McDonough continues to shape the future of workforce development, ensuring that Utah’s workforce is well-prepared to meet the demands of an evolving economy.
A passionate business leader known for constructing strategic vision to achieve business goals, Trina Limpert is CEO of RizeNext, and an expert in strategic diversity experience execution. In her prior role as President of Women@eBay (overseeing 1500 members across 17 countries and 22 sites), Trina led diversity and inclusion initiatives across the company. She spearheaded the launch of the Tech-Moms program and is educating and supporting the transition of women’s careers into the technology industry and consults companies in diversity strategy and leadership development to support women in the workforce.
Her work with eBay’s Women in Technology organization earned her the Women Tech Council Impact Award in 2015. Trina was also a finalist for the Women Tech Council awards in 2017, she has been recognized by the National Women in IT, New York awards for Rise Up Leadership as “Diversity Program of the Year” in 2020, and Trina was chosen as one of Utah Business Magazine’s “30 Women to Watch” in 2020.
Ginger Chinn is the Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs at the Salt Lake Chamber in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her role involves coordinating with key stakeholders on emerging policy matters and collaborating with local and federal lawmakers to navigate bills through the legislative process. With a focus on building strong relationships with members, the community, and elected officials, she plays a vital role in shaping public policy for the region.
Before joining the Salt Lake Chamber, Ginger served as the Managing Director for Urban and Rural Business Services at the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED). During her tenure at GOED, she directed a strategic growth plan for Utah’s industry cluster program and managed various rural economic development initiatives. She also oversaw business services such as Utah’s Business Resource Centers and the Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC).
Before her time at GOED, Ginger was the Vice President of External Engagement and Economic Development at the Davis Technical College (DTC). In this capacity, she oversaw areas like Custom Fit training and operations at the Davis and Morgan County Business Resource Centers.
Throughout her career, Ginger Chinn has been actively involved in numerous organizational boards, including the Utah Advanced Materials Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI), Davis Education Foundation, Lakeview Hospital Board, and the Commission on Housing Affordability. She also served as an honorary commander under Major General Stacey Hawkins at Hill Air Force Base and is currently a trustee for Utah Tech University. In addition to her professional achievements, Ginger holds a degree in social sciences from Boise State University and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Colorado State University.
Thad Kelling is the director of marketing and public relations at the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, where he works to promote and support student entrepreneurs. He has a master’s degree in communication from the University of Utah and diverse experience in fields including advertising, design, journalism and project management. Connect with him on LinkedIn @thadkelling.
Cord Bowen is a Professor of Strategy and Design at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business. As Director of the Doman Innovation Studio, he leads a campus-based incubator that supports startup growth and product development within the Utah community. The Studio facilitates practical applications of innovative ideas, bridging academic knowledge with real-world entrepreneurial ventures. Cord’s efforts focus on fostering innovation, providing mentorship, and encouraging students and startups to make significant social and economic impacts.
Kapil Sharma is the Program Manager at Altitude Lab. He is a Utah-based bioengineer and beginning health tech entrepreneur. He brings 8+ years of experience in medtech startup commercialization and life science investor relations and partnerships from his work in several university incubators, private venture studios, and medtech/biotech startups. He is well-renowned in Salt Lake’s life science ecosystem and a proponent in Salt Lake’s life science angel investor network. Kapil holds three master degrees from the University of Utah: an MBA, a Masters in Finance (MSF), and a MS in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Utah. He earned his honors BS degree in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Utah.
Sunday: High of 98, low of 74, mostly sunny (SLC) | High of 87, low of 56 (Park City)
Monday: High of 99, low of 74, mostly sunny
Tuesday: High of 100, low of 74, mostly sunny
Wednesday: High of 98, low of 71, mostly sunny
Attire for the entire trip will be mostly business casual during the day and casual to dressy casual for the evening dinners. Please bring layers for when we are meeting in the hotel conference space and comfortable footwear for the tours. It will be very hot during the days when we are in Salt Lake City and milder during the evenings. Plans your outfits accordingly.
Sunday: Casual for travel and Western casual for dinner at Mike & Mary Plant’s home in Park City. Please note the change in temp between SLC and Park City on Sunday.
Monday: Business casual for speaker sessions at the hotel. You will have the opportunity to change into more casual clothing and tennis/walking shoes for our walking tour of Post District and lunch on rooftop at Traeger Grills HQ. Both locations will include some time outdoors. Dinners are casual to dressy casual, based on your preference. Feel free to look up your restaurant for a better
Tuesday: Business casual with comfortable walking shoes for afternoon tours. Dinner is
Wednesday: Casual for debrief and travel.
Salt Lake City has an average elevation of 4,327 feet above sea level, and visitors can take steps to prevent altitude sickness. At higher altitudes our bodies have more difficulty absorbing oxygen and muscle systems slow down. Stomach issues and headaches are normal, especially for the first few days at altitude. A large part of altitude sickness is dehydration.
STAY HYDRATED
Start hydrating on the plane, as arriving at a high-altitude destination already dehydrated is a guaranteed way to experience the headaches that hit so many visitors. We recommend bringing your own travel thermos to refill with water.
Keep drinking plenty of liquids throughout your entire trip. While you don’t need to avoid alcohol, do limit how much you drink. The symptoms of high-altitude sickness and a hangover overlap, and you don’t want to place yourself in a situation of not understanding what your body is fighting.
TAKE MEDICATIONS
Upon arrival, take your favorite headache medication, even if you don’t feel a headache. Take it with an entire bottle of water. This will help prevent that first headache, often so hard to get rid of once it arrives. It will also help with achy muscles that come from working harder at high altitudes.
EAT SMALL MEALS
Because your stomach is likely to struggle at altitude, consider avoiding heavy foods and excessive alcohol.
Understanding Salt Lake City’s Liquor Laws:
Hours of Operation:
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