Season 7 Episode 12: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Jacob Baadsgaard, founder and CEO of Disruptive Advertising.  Baadsgaard discusses his journey from working at Omniture to founding his data-driven marketing agency. He highlights the importance of connecting marketing data with business data and how his agency helps small to medium-sized businesses act on that data. Baadsgaard emphasizes the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, stressing the need for authenticity and a willingness to learn from successes and failures.  He also discusses Disruptive University, an initiative he founded to help marketers and entrepreneurs find clarity and authenticity in their work and personal lives. He explains how the program addresses the challenges of balancing business success with personal fulfillment. The university offers online courses and in-person summits, focusing on aligning personal values with professional goals. Baadsgaard praises Utah's supportive environment for entrepreneurs, citing the state's driven population, strong university connections, and pro-business government. He expresses enthusiasm for the future of his ventures — particularly his goal of encouraging widespread authenticity — and his thoughts on how AI will impact the advertising industry.

Season 7 Episode 11: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Jonathan Freedman, president and CEO of World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah). Freedman highlights the numerous trade missions and foreign dignitary visits WTC Utah facilitates, emphasizing the state's commitment to global engagement. He also addresses the impact of tariffs on Utah's economy, explaining their potential benefits, such as boosting domestic manufacturing and generating federal revenue, while acknowledging the risks of increased costs for businesses and consumers.    Freedman elaborates on the importance of the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) and WTC Utah's role as its grantee, highlighting how the organization is making the FTZ more accessible to Utah businesses by providing cost-benefit analyses and guidance. He also discusses Utah's unique position regarding critical minerals and the challenges and opportunities associated with their extraction. Freedman highlights Utah’s commitment to subnational diplomacy and proactive international trade efforts, particularly with Canada and Mexico, amid shifting federal trade policies.

Season 7 Episode 10: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Lorena Riffo-Jenson, director of the Salt Lake City Department of Economic Development. Riffo-Jenson discusses her extensive career in public service and economic development. She highlights her work with various state and city organizations, including her time with Governor Levitt and her current role with Salt Lake City, where she emphasizes a human-centered economic development approach. Riffo-Jenson stresses the importance of community engagement, strategic planning, and fostering a diverse and resilient economy, noting the city's focus on industries like life sciences and fintech. She also addresses Salt Lake City's growth challenges, particularly housing affordability and the city's efforts to balance development with community needs. Riffo-Jenson discusses major projects like the Main Street promenade study, the revitalization of the Gateway area, and the upcoming 2034 Winter Olympics, emphasizing the city's role as a hub for national and international events. She underscores the importance of collaboration, listening to stakeholders, and maintaining Utah's "secret sauce" of working together to find solutions. Riffo-Jenson also notes the economic impact of major sports teams, such as the Utah Jazz and the new National Hockey League team, estimating they contribute around $600 million to the local economy.

Season 7 Episode 9: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Amy Meyer, founder of Aussie Recruit. Meyer discusses how Aussie Recruit connects U.S. employers with qualified Australian professionals across various industries, from tech and healthcare to engineering and hospitality. One key initiative, the E-3 visa program, enables Australian citizens with university degrees to work in the U.S. As an Australian native, she highlights that the program remains underutilized, with thousands of visa slots left unfilled each year. Unlike the highly competitive H-1B visa, the E-3 visa has a simpler application process, lower fees, and a quicker turnaround, making it an attractive option for U.S. companies seeking skilled workers.  Meyer shares success stories of Australian individuals whose careers were transformed by the E-3 visa program and discusses how it allows spouses to obtain work authorization. She addresses the misconceptions surrounding visa sponsorship and encourages U.S. businesses, particularly in rapidly growing states like Utah, to explore the potential of hiring Australian professionals. Meyer expresses her passion for connecting people and facilitating their "American dream," emphasizing the importance of mutual respect in the hiring process.

Season 7 Episode 8: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Elliott Parker, CEO of High Alpha Innovation. Parker discusses his extensive experience in corporate innovation and startups, sharing his career trajectory, from working in corporate venture capital and launching multiple businesses. He highlights the challenges large corporations face in innovation, noting their optimization for efficiency over breakthrough advancements. Parker explains how High Alpha Innovation partners with corporations to build advantaged startups that leverage existing industry networks, offering examples from ag-tech, healthcare, and supply chain industries. He emphasizes the importance of resilience in modern business structures, particularly in supply chains, and underscores the role of startups in fostering innovation within large enterprises.  Parker delves into his organization's collaboration with universities to foster entrepreneurship by aligning industry needs with academic resources, citing partnerships with institutions like Notre Dame. He reflects on the evolving startup landscape, noting the impact of AI and the changing economics of company formation. Parker also highlights Utah’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and the state’s ambitious goal to increase startups by 150%. He emphasizes the importance of action in venture building, asserting that "action creates data" and enables businesses to uncover valuable insights. 

Season 7 Episode 7: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Adrienne Woolley, program manager for the Park City Center for Advanced Professional Studies (PCCAPS). Woolley discusses her PCCAPS career managing a project-based learning initiative for high school juniors and seniors. The network, the first of its kind in Utah, offers hands-on experience in fields such as business, digital design, and physical therapy. By exploring career paths early, students build confidence, develop real-world skills, and gain a competitive edge before pursuing higher education. Woolley emphasizes the program's strong industry partnerships, including collaborations with local businesses, healthcare providers, and government entities, to provide students with real-world learning opportunities.  Woolley highlights student-led projects in hospitality, engineering, and design, such as developing a ski-in, ski-out food venue, designing parking garage charging stations, and creating a ski locker amenity. She discusses the life skills students gain, including professional communication, project management, and public speaking. Woolley also emphasizes PCCAPS’ role in connecting students with local businesses and industries, fostering professional growth, and providing meaningful learning experiences beyond traditional classroom settings. 

Season 7 Episode 6: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Catherine Raney Norman, board chair of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games. Raney Norman discusses her journey to Utah as a four-time Olympic speed skater, her appreciation for the state’s landscapes, and her career transition from sports to leadership roles in development and fundraising. She highlights the significance of Utah hosting the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, emphasizing its impact on the local economy, community engagement, and future generations. Raney Norman also underscores the importance of resilience, inclusivity, and the role businesses, volunteers, and young people can play in making the Olympics successful.  Raney Norman highlights Utah’s strong position as a future host, citing its existing infrastructure, favorable climate, and engaged community. She also emphasizes the Kearns Olympic Oval’s impact on local pride, economic growth, and world-class athletic performance. The conversation covers the successful bid for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the transition from the bid committee to the organizing committee, and the ongoing efforts to engage all 29 counties in Utah. 

Season 7 Episode 5: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Romney Williams, CEO of DRYOUT. Williams shares insights into his career journey, entrepreneurial experiences, and current leadership at DRYOUT, a company revolutionizing moisture removal solutions. He discusses the origins of DRYOUT’s moisture-wicking technology, initially developed to save wet electronics, and its expansion into broader applications, including firearms and industrial tools. Under his leadership, the company operates as a consumer brand, BONE-DRI, and a technology partner for other manufacturers, positioning itself as a leading name in moisture removal solutions. Williams highlights DRYOUT’s commitment to social impact, particularly supporting children and veterans struggling with mental health challenges. He also reflects on the value of Utah’s business community, emphasizing the role of strong relationships, networking, and collaboration in DRYOUT’s success, including key introductions made during a state-led trade mission to Europe. DRYOUT aims to integrate its technology into households and essential gear nationwide, reinforcing its vision for long-term growth and impact. 

Season 7 Episode 4: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Cassie Michael, founder of Food and Meat Co-op. Michael discusses how she launched the business during the 2020 supply chain crisis to help communities access affordable, high-quality proteins and other food items. With a background in wholesale food and a passion for budget-friendly meal planning, she leveraged her industry connections to secure bulk pricing directly from producers, eliminating the need for traditional retail markups. Committed to quality and affordability, the co-op offers additive-free products through an online ordering system, delivering via refrigerated trucks to pickup locations across Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming, with recent expansions into home delivery in select areas.  Michael shares insights on running a community-driven food distribution business and how the cooperative model supports partnerships with local businesses for distribution. She emphasizes the importance of passion-driven entrepreneurship and the challenges of balancing business and family life. Additionally, Michael discusses the co-op’s recognition for championing women in business and its plans for expansion into Nevada and beyond. 

Season 7 Episode 3: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Opportunity, talks with Loren McClure, chief executive officer of FuelUp.  McClure shares his entrepreneurial journey with FuelUp, an innovative gas delivery service that offers convenient and cost-effective refueling for vehicles, boats, and equipment by price-matching local gas stations and operating lean with Utah Department of Transportation-certified trucks. The service, modeled after a Middle Eastern concept, caters to business owners and high-net-worth individuals and recently surpassed 200 cars serviced. He shares insights into the service's growth, emphasizing its word-of-mouth marketing strategy and potential for expansion. McClure highlights the challenges of co-founding the business with family, the role of Utah’s supportive entrepreneurial community in accelerating growth, and the company’s goals to achieve $10 million in revenue and expand offerings to include snacks, drinks, and mobile convenience store services.