chamber

Weber State alumna, businesswoman and civic leader Kearston Cutrubus was elected as chair of the university’s Board of Trustees at its monthly meeting on Aug. 9.

Karla Bergeson, a retired corporate legal counsel for Citigroup, was elected as vice chair. It’s the first time two women have served together in the leadership positions of the board, which advocates for the university and advises the president on issues such as budget, programs, personnel and planning.

Cutrubus, who was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2016, and has served as vice chair since 2017, thanked the board for its confidence in her leadership.

“I’m honored and humbled to serve as chair of the Weber State University Board of Trustees,” Cutrubus said. “I look forward to working with an incredible team of trustees, WSU leadership, faculty and staff who endeavor to collaborate with the community, businesses, Hill Air Force Base, and each other, to ensure that the students and their education are the top priority.”

Cutrubus is the customer and community relations director for her family’s multiple automotive dealerships in northern Utah. She serves on various boards and committees for community organizations, including the Top of Utah Military Affairs Executive Committee, YCC (Your Community Connection), the WSU Wildcat Club Executive Board and many others.

Cutrubus succeeds Nolan Karras, who has led the board as chair since 2016.

Ogden native, Karla Bergeson, was appointed to the board in 2017. She is the former executive vice president and deputy general counsel for Citigroup’s credit card business in the U.S., where she worked for 23 years before retiring. Throughout her career, Bergeson supported higher education in northern Utah. In 2017, she received an honorary degree from Weber State and delivered the commencement address.

Eight of the university’s 10 trustees are appointed by Utah’s governor and approved by the Utah Senate before being sworn in. Appointees are eligible to serve two four-year terms.

Two new members are expected to join the board officially at its next meeting in September: Keith Titus, president and CEO of MarketStar, an Ogden-based global sales organization, is also a member of Weber State’s National Advisory Council. Brent Bishop is the founder of Greenbacks All-a-Dollar and co-founder of Franklin Covey.

Other appointed members of the board include Amanda Covington, Louenda Downs, Karen Fairbanks and Donald Salazar.

Weber State student body president, Ben Ferney, and Alumni Association president Curtis Funk, which are not appointed positions, serve one- and two-year terms respectively.

Visit weber.edu/PresidentsOffice/Trustees for more information about the Board of Trustees.

This Mural will be representing inclusivity and a sense of belonging during special community ceremony. MarketStar, one of Ogden’s largest private employers, has partnered with the Ogden Downtown Alliance and local artist Cole Eisenhour to present “You Belong,” a new painted mural celebrating diversity and inclusivity in downtown Ogden.

A community ceremony will be held on August 6 at 6:00 p.m. to introduce the mural and celebrate the vibrancy and diversity within Ogden. Keith Titus, MarketStar Chief Executive Officer, Kim Bowsher, Ogden Downtown Alliance Executive Director, and local artist Cole Eisenhour will give remarks during the event. Community members will have the opportunity to create art, enjoy local food trucks, and listen to live music from Ogden’s own Cherry Thomas. This community celebration is also part of the Ogden City First Friday Art Stroll, which happens the first Friday of every month throughout the year

The mural, painted on the south side of the company’s parking structure, is representative of MarketStar’s dedication to building and maintaining an inclusive culture within the communities in which the 33-year-old company does business. The theme of the mural, “You Belong,” is taken from one of the company’s six core values.

The mural will now become a prominent part of Ogden’s downtown art scene thanks to collaborative funding from the MarketStar Foundation, RAMP and the Ogden Downtown Alliance.

The mural kicks off the first of many community-oriented projects MarketStar has in store for their communities this summer. It is significant because of the partnership it represents with the company’s home city of Ogden.

Weber State University’s Center for Community Education (CEC) invites the community to the Food FUNding & Your Future Carnival at 2605 Monroe Blvd., Aug. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m.

This event will give students and their families the opportunity to learn about scholarship and financial aid options available to them at Weber State. Experts will be on hand to help students with applications on the spot. Applicants will need to bring identification and estimated gross annual income information. DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) students are encouraged to attend.

“You can also explore educational programs from badges and certificates to degrees to secure a better future in just a few months,” said Niki Tonks, marketing manager for the John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics.

Spanish and English speakers will be on hand to answer questions.

The carnival will have a number of activities to entertain family and friends, including lawn games. Hokulia, a local food vendor, will hand out free shaved ice as long as supplies last. Participants may visit various booths from Weber State organizations and learn about different activities and services.

Along with financial information and assistance, the CEC offers a variety of services including English as a Second Language (ESL) courses for non-native speakers. The Weber-Morgan Health Department is also offering COVID vaccine clinics on Mondays and Wednesdays in August from 1-8 p.m.

This carnival is free and open to the public. For more information, visit fb.me/e/159yqLVPN.

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.

Contact:

Niki Tonks, Goddard School of Business & Economics marketing manager
801-626-7397 • nikitonks@weber.edu

Author:

Melissa Smith, Marketing & Communications
801-626-6348 • melissasmith9@weber.edu

Ogden, Utah joins national mountain town partnership Pledge for the Wild! Visit Ogden announced their partnership with Pledge for the Wild on June 2, 2021. This collaboration is an opportunity for Visit Ogden to further its efforts to promote responsible tourism to Weber County.

Pledge for the Wild encompasses a number of mountain towns around the country committed to supporting responsible tourism and building awareness around opportunities to directly give back to the wild places in these iconic mountain towns. Whether you’re a visitor or resident frequenting your favorite local adventure spot, Pledge for the Wild encourages users to pause and consider who supports and cares for these wild places day-to-day.

Visit Ogden will launch an outreach campaign titled Wild4Ogden, to encourage participation in the Pledge for the Wild program. In addition to sharing outdoor principles and responsible tourism tips, through Wild4Ogden, Visit Ogden will create a direct channel to give back locally through online or text-to-donate options with their selected community non-profit partner, Trails Foundation Northern Utah (TFNU). Each donation is sent directly to TFNU so 100% of donations made in Weber County, stay in Weber County.

Those wishing to participate, can donate to TFNU by texting WILD4OGDEN to 44321 or by visiting www.visitogden.com/wild4ogden/ . Participants can also learn more about how they can take care of our wild places or purchase a series of four (4) special edition, vintage-style Weber County outdoor recreation posters at this same website. The posters will be available for purchase at the Visit Ogden office starting Monday June 14, 2021. A portion of the proceeds of each poster sale will be donated to the Trails Foundation of Northern Utah.

“We are excited to have Ogden join this notable group of mountain towns supporting responsible tourism in wild places, per the Pledge for the Wild mantra. We know how special our wild spaces are and want to provide resources to support the protection and maintenance of them for future generations to continue to enjoy,” said Sara Toliver, president/CEO of Visit Ogden.

Visit Ogden encourages all to consider a $1 donation for every mile of trail used, or every hour of time spent in our wild places. These small donations add up and make a real difference!

About Pledge for the Wild: Pledge for the Wild is proactively sharing outdoor principles and responsible tourism tips while creating a direct channel to give back locally through online donation or text-to-donate. Each donation is sent directly to the community non-profit partner of choice. Bend donations stay in Bend, Steamboat donations stay in Steamboat, and so on.

Visit https://www.pledgewild.com/ for more information and a complete list of participating communities.

About Trails Foundation of Northern Utah (TFNU): Trails Foundation of Northern Utah builds trails that create culture where all have places to walk, run and ride as they enjoy nature and connect with their neighbors in the greater Weber County area. The mission of TFNU is to plan, construct, and protect a network of public pathways, trails, and related open spaces for non-motorized users throughout the greater Weber County area.

Visit www.tfnu.org for more information.

Photo Credit: Jay Dash

Compass Minerals, a leading global provider of essential minerals, today announced that it has identified a lithium brine resource of approximately 2.4 million metric tons lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) at its active Ogden, Utah, solar evaporation site, including an indicated lithium resource within the ambient brine of the Great Salt Lake.

For over 50 years, Compass Minerals’ Ogden facility has leveraged the high mineral concentrations within the ambient lake brine from the North Arm of the Great Salt Lake to produce sulfate of potash (SOP), salt and magnesium chloride products. The Ogden facility is the largest operation of its kind in the Western Hemisphere.

Compass Minerals is currently undertaking a strategic evaluation to assess development options available to service growing U.S. domestic lithium market demand while maximizing the long-term value of its lithium resource.

“We are aggressively evaluating multiple paths forward for this significant lithium brine resource to optimize shareholder value, in parallel with a reassessment of our current capital allocation strategy,” said Kevin S. Crutchfield, president and CEO. “In a market hungry for domestically sourced lithium produced with minimal environmental impact, we believe a sustainable and readily available lithium resource like we have defined at our operations on the Great Salt Lake could be a true differentiator for our company. We look forward to communicating the results of our strategic evaluation and the selection of an extraction technology partner as we identify the most advantageous path forward for Compass Minerals.”

See complete announcement here.

Big-D Construction has been selected as the contractor for the new Juniper Building at the Herriman Campus – a joint $57 million project of Salt Lake Community College and University of Utah. A ceremonial groundbreaking for the facility took place July 15, and the project is slated to open in 2023.

Located at 14552 S. Sentinel Ridge Blvd, the new campus will provide convenient access to residents of the fastest-growing cities of Herriman, Riverton, Bluffdale and Draper. It will serve more than 2,000 students in its first year and nearly 7,000 by 2025.

Big-D will begin to prepare the site in August and continue for three months, with actual building construction starting in October of this year. The site will be closed to the public for the next two years. Construction is scheduled for completion in February 2023. Progress can be followed on Big-D’s website and social media channels. @thinkbigd www.big-d.com

Big-D obtained the winning construction contract this June through the state process outbidding four other companies. Big-D Construction has worked with SLCC on other projects, including the Center for Arts and Media at South City Campus. “Big-D Construction is highly qualified and SLCC is looking forward to working with them on this project,” said Associate Vice President of Facilities Bob Askerlund. “We will be working with virtually the same team that we worked with on previous projects with excellent results.”

Student will be able to earn an associate’s degree from SLCC and then continue on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah at the same location. The campus will offer degrees in nursing, business, mathematics, engineering, computer science and information systems, social work, and teacher licensure in elementary, secondary, and special education.

Essential student services also will be available, including admissions, disability support, financial aid, advising, transfer support and tutoring.

“Education is a fundamental key to our communities’ success,” said Rob Moore, CEO of Big-D Construction. “Our communities are seeing so much growth, and we are glad to be part of bringing easier access to college courses for those seeking higher education. We are honored to once again provide construction services to SLCC on our third major project for the college.”

Funding for the building was appropriated by the Utah State Legislature in 2021, with additional support from SLCC, the University of Utah, private donors and infrastructure investments from Herriman City. More information can be found at slcc.edu/herriman.

Salt Lake Community College is Utah’s largest open-access college, proudly educating the state’s most diverse student body in eight areas of study at 11 locations and online. The majority of SLCC graduates transfer to four-year institutions, and thousands more are trained in direct-to-workforce programs. In 2023, the institution will celebrate 75 years of providing Utahns with education and training in fields that contribute to the state’s vibrant economy and high quality of life.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, the Big-D Construction family of companies sustains 12 affiliated offices in different locations throughout the United States. Together, Big-D has provided unparalleled CM/GC and design-build services for more than 50 years. Big-D remains on a mission to be the most sought-after construction company in the business. Big-D works to enrich the lives of its customers, consultants, employees and the community as a whole.

This network will bring together public and private sectors in a statewide initiative to promote innovation and business in Utah. From aerospace, agriculture and artificial intelligence to biosciences, engineering, and transportation, the new Wasatch Innovation Network will support Utah businesses — start-ups to unicorns — with network development, funding channels, policy development, government relations, and support for research, development and commercialization.

Public and private sector organizations across Utah gathered Tuesday to announce a statewide multi-industry initiative to promote research, development and commercialization with the goal of developing Utah as a global innovation economy. The new organization called the Wasatch Innovation Network (WIN) is a 501(c)6 nonprofit that will promote Utah as an international leader in innovation, technology transfer, manufacturing and marketing, as well as offer support services to businesses throughout the state.

“There are many moving parts in any innovation ecosystem, and the time is right to connect the whole Wasatch Front,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance, in announcing the new initiative at a press conference hosted with TechBuzz News and Colliers International. “We hear leaders talk more and more about Utah becoming the ‘Crossroads of the World’ and an important way we will achieve this is by developing a best-in-class innovation economy. Our collective goal with the Wasatch Innovation Network is to begin connecting laterally in a way that promotes innovation, creates commercialization, introduces new possibilities, and attracts talent that increases our national leadership.”

The Wasatch Innovation Network will connect industry to capital, startup to incumbent, and academia to market, with the purpose of creating a team of teams to scale out Utah’s innovation ecosystem. The organization will provide services that include:

Policy Development and Government Relations
National and International Marketing of Utah as a Leader in Innovation, Technology Transfer, and Ever-Expanding Opportunity for Investment
Public Communications Support for Innovation R&D and Commercialization
Support for Start-Ups that Includes Mentoring, Network Development, Assistance with Capitalization, National and International Engagement, and Technology Transfer from Universities
Regular Meetings for Organizational Development, Member Needs and Interests, and Networking Opportunities for All WIN Partners
Industry Specific Committees in Areas Including Aerospace, Agriculture, Artificial Intelligence, Biomedical, Computer Hardware/Software Development, Cybersecurity, Energy, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Healthcare, Human Potential, Infrastructure, Internet of Things, and Transportation

The Wasatch Innovation Network will bring together leaders and institutions to drive innovation across silos to broaden economic appeal and commercialization. The new organization plans to focus on four cardinal values around mentorship, growth, innovation, and acceleration to drive results for each participating group.

“Salt Lake City has made an expanded life sciences hub a key focus of its Tech Lake City Initiative,” said Kelly McAleer, an account executive with the Kenney Group and former head of BioUtah. “In South Salt Lake and Salt Lake County, the BioInnovations Gateway continues to serve as a magnet for the next generation of healthcare innovators with its high school experiential learning initiatives and a new life sciences incubator, called O-Zone, and it will be opening soon.”

Additionally, this network will help craft a unified vision for our entrepreneurial ecosystem as there are key developments happening in Utah around innovation such as the Point of the Mountain and Falcon Hill Aerospace Research Park. The Wasatch Innovation Network will have a voice in these developments and support smart innovation policy. Utah can develop a first-in-the-nation innovation blueprint for other states to model.

According to other founding members in attendance:

“As a leader in developing and maintaining collaboration, Weber State University is excited to join the Salt Lake Chamber and other partners to launch the Wasatch Innovation Network,” said Brad Mortensen, president of Weber State University. “We see many opportunities to foster an innovative, entrepreneurial, and collaborative ecosystem that strengthens the output and inclusivity of Utah’s economy, providing for improved lives and livelihoods for all of our diverse populations.”

“The founding values and purpose of the Wasatch Innovation Network — to connect and expand opportunities for communities and organizations through strong partnership — align perfectly with WFRC’s mission,” said Andrew Gruber, Wasatch Front Regional Council Executive Director. “Through the Wasatch Choice Regional Vision, which is built on a foundation of partnerships, we strive to improve quality of life along the Wasatch Front, by coordinating the location of well-planned housing, educational, workplace and recreational opportunities with streets, transit, and trails. The Wasatch Innovation Network will help to enhance and strengthen these connections across the Wasatch Front.”

“I am excited for the University of Utah to be part of the new Wasatch Innovation Network,” said Michael L. Good, MD, interim president of University of Utah and CEO of University of Utah Health. “As one of America’s leading research universities, the U has an important role in Utah’s innovation ecosystem. To bring innovative ideas to market requires a network of support and partnerships. And this initiative leverages public and private collaborations to do just that for our students, researchers, and ultimately our community.”

“Utah’s technology sector continues to make waves and to see where our next big tech boom will come from, you need to look up — to space and beyond, ” said Greg Manuel, vice president and general manager of the Strategic Deterrent Systems Division at Northrop Grumman. Utah’s aerospace industry is fueled by an ‘innovation imperative’ across the civil, defense, and space sectors. We are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space to drive next-level innovations and secure our future against evolving threats.”

“The Wasatch Innovation Network will be a collaborative tool to help strengthen and build competitive businesses along the Wasatch Front,” said Jay Francis, President/CEO of the South Valley Chamber. “Utah businesses have proven time and time again that by working together and sharing strengths and insights makes everyone stronger and more successful. The term ‘Network’ really says it all, and as our businesses come together and network across city and county boundaries we will once again be a standard for innovation for other states to follow.”

Founding members of the organization include:

Founding partners of the Wasatch Innovation Network include Clarke Capital Partners, Colliers International, Davis Chamber of Commerce, EDCUtah, Envision Utah, FatPipe, Gardner Companies, The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, Nomi Health, Northrop Grumman, Ogden Weber Chamber of Commerce, Owlet, Point of the Mountain Chamber of Commerce, Provo City, Salt Lake City, South Valley Chamber, Spiff, TechBuzz News, Utah Valley University, The University of Utah Office of the President, Wasatch Front Regional Council, Weber State University, and Women Tech Council.

For more information, visit slchamber.com/wasatch-innovation-network.

The annual Lindquist Family Symphony Pops and Fireworks will attract thousands of people to Weber State University, July 18 from 9-11 p.m.

Now in its 42nd year, the celebrations are a welcome return to normal after last year’s event was cancelled due to the pandemic. Initiated by John A. and Telitha E. Lindquist in 1978, the Lindquist Pops is a longstanding tradition in northern Utah that brings the community together each year. John E. Lindquist, President of Lindquist Mortuaries and Cemeteries in Ogden, proudly continues this tradition.

“We are so grateful to the Lindquist family for continuing the tradition of the Lindquist Pops Concert, said President Brad Mortensen. “After all that we have endured as individuals and a community during the pandemic, coming together to celebrate provides real evidence of turning the pandemic corner. We are happy to bring a wonderful community together again on our beautiful campus for a joyous celebration.”

The New American Philharmonic, directed by Shannon Roberts, will provide a free 60-minute concert beginning at 9 p.m. at the Ada Lindquist Plaza. The performance will include a selection of patriotic music, featuring Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” with a battery of 16 cannons provided by Cannoneers of the Wasatch to accompany. The group has provided the cannons each year for the concert since it started in 1978.

At approximately 10 p.m., attendees will enjoy one of the largest fireworks displays in Utah, accompanied by the symphony. Due to drought conditions, extra precautions are being exercised with this year’s fireworks display, including the possibility of canceling the show if wind and weather conditions pose threats.

Several food trucks will be on hand to sell drinks and refreshments.

On-campus parking and seating will be available, but may be limited due to ongoing construction of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system through campus. The roundabouts off Harrison Boulevard and Dixon Drive will be closed to traffic. Access to campus will be through Edvalson Street, Skyline Drive, and Birch and Taylor avenues.

Guests traveling in motor homes or larger vehicles are encouraged to park on the east side of campus near Stewart Stadium. The Dee Events Center also offers additional parking.

To minimize damage to the grounds, attendees may not leave blankets or chairs to save spaces before July 17 at 6 p.m. Items placed on the lawn prior to that time will be removed. Tarps, stakes and tent pegs are not allowed due to safety concerns and will be removed. No personal fireworks or pets will be allowed on campus, with the exception of service animals. Spectators are asked to clean up their area and drive with courtesy and caution following the event.

D.L. Evans Bank has announced the 2021 Employee Directed Donation Initiative. This donation initiative gives D.L. Evans Bank employees an opportunity to nominate their favorite non-profit organizations in Idaho and Utah to receive a donation from D.L. Evans Bank. D.L. Evans Bank also added an additional 5% to each total in the employee’s name.

A donation in the amount of $1575 was made to CAPSA nominated by David Mumm, Logan Vice president Branch Manager. CAPSA is a non-profit domestic violence, sexual abuse, and rape recovery center that serves the Cache County and Bear Lake area. With a mission to “provide safe, caring, and confidential shelter, advocacy, and support for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and to reduce incidents of abuse through prevention education.” Their vision is to end domestic violence in the community while empowering survivors, safe homes, and children living without fear.

Pictured from left to right: Brian Anderson (D.L. Evans Bank Assistant Vice President Commercial Loan Officer), Halle Wilson (D.L .Evans Bank Teller), Tyler Alleman (CAPSA Board Member), Scott Souter (D.L. Evans Bank Vice President Commercial Loan Officer), Makenna Anderson (D.L. Evans Bank Personal Banker), David Mumm (D.L. Evans Bank Vice President Logan Branch Manager), and Justin Shaw (D.L. Evans Bank Operations Supervisor).

After 15 months of a global pandemic coupled with an economic crash, now inflation is back. The next “Big Bad Wolf” has arrived at our doorstep (see my April 2021 article “Financial Peace and The Three Little Pigs” Financial Peace and The Three Little Pigs (ogdenweberchamber.com)). Almost everything costs more right now. It’s as if we’ve moved to California, with gasoline approaching $4.00 / gallon, housing prices going insane (see Why is Utah’s housing market so ‘insane?’ – Deseret News), and your used car might be more valuable today than when you bought it two years ago ago (See Here’s why car prices have gotten so high, so fast. And why they’ll keep climbing – CNN).

If you are like most people, your income probably has not gone up at the same rate. Which means you have even less money to spend after inflation. If you let the “Fear of Losing Out” overcome your common sense, you might be at risk of ending up with enormous financial stress when the bills come due.

My clients are asking me what they should do in this crazy season. Some are afraid that prices will keep going up (which they may do, for a season, but not forever) and that it will be even harder for them to buy that house, or car, or go on vacation. They want to buy now, even though they do not have the money to do so. I remind them that the math we learned in elementary school still applies. If they are living paycheck to paycheck right now – if they have “more month than money” right now – then it will be even worse in the future if they impulse buy that high-priced house or car with a loan they cannot afford.

Here are some things everyone can consider:

Check your family budget and tighten it up to account for the higher costs of everything.
Make sure you can pay for the “four walls”: food, rent/mortgage, utilities, and transportation. You must be able to pay for those to take care of your family.
Review your planned “big purchases” (house, car, truck, trailer, vacation, etc.) and determine whether you can now afford them without wrecking your future finances.
If you do not have the money right now, give yourself some grace, and continue putting money aside for when you will be able to afford those big purchases.
The Pandemic is in our rear-view mirror, the economy is roaring back, these crazy prices will stabilize, and you will be able to buy when the time is right for you.

If you are under financial stress, or have a hard time doing a monthly family budget or need some advice about how to pay off debt or save for retirement, you are not alone. 78 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and half do not have the cash to pay for a new washing machine. Half of Americans over 55 years old have zero retirement savings. If this sounds like you, contact a financial professional. We are here to help you, especially in these crazy times.

A Helping Hand Financial Coaching is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business in Weber County, owned and operated by Don Hickman. Don is a Dave Ramsey certified Master Financial Coach. He helps turn financial nightmares into American dreams and financial stress into financial peace. Don has helped hundreds of individuals and couples better understand their relationship with their money, learn to live on less than they make, and to plan and create wealth for their futures.

Contact Information:
Office Phone: (385) 244-0395
Email: thehickmangroupllc@gmail.com
Website: https://ramseycoach.com/Don-Hickman

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