Business Elevated

In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO), talks with Jefferson Moss, the organization's new executive director. Moss discusses his background and priorities, emphasizing how he will lead GOEO as a coordinator, convener, and collaborator among various organizations and initiatives in the state. He believes that uniting these groups will help Utah tackle key challenges — workforce development, housing, and rural economic growth — more quickly and effectively. Moss highlights the importance of partnerships and proactive communication to ensure a stable and business-friendly environment.  He highlights the importance of economic diversity, noting Utah’s strategic focus on both established and emerging industries. Moss explains how GOEO is reassessing its targeted industry clusters to include new sectors like energy and artificial intelligence, and how it's leveraging resources like the Utah Innovation Fund to help commercialize cutting-edge research from universities. He points to his experiences as an entrepreneur and former legislator to illustrate how government can support the business community by providing resources, fostering connections, and creating a stable, pro-business regulatory framework. Moss expresses confidence in Utah's future and praises the GOEO team's dedication to keeping the state a great place to live and work. ______________________ This episode features a partner conversation with Jonathan Freedman, president and CEO, and Rich Israelsen, chief revenue officer at World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah).   WTC Utah is actively working to help local businesses thrive in the global market despite constantly changing international trade policies. The organization offers key resources like a tariff dashboard, weekly webinars, and the Foreign Trade Zone, which helps companies defer or reduce duties and tariffs. They also organize governor-led trade missions to countries like Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and Japan, which open doors and create valuable business connections. Additionally, WTC Utah administers the Small Business Administration's STEP Grant, providing financial assistance for travel and marketing to help Utah companies increase their exports.

In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with David Gray, director of human resources at Lagoon Amusement Park (Lagoon), Rob Coursey, attorney and owner at Modern Age Employment Law, and Nancy Sylvester, a labor and employment attorney at the Ogletree Deakins law firm.  Gray and Coursey discuss their professional journeys and experiences with Utah's business community, focusing on Lagoon's workplace culture. Gray talks about Lagoon's commitment to hiring and mentoring young employees. Coursey highlights Lagoon's proactive approach to creating a safe and respectful environment for its employees — particularly its seasonal and youth workforce. The duo expresses a deep passion for their work and emphasizes the rewarding nature of building strong, positive workplace cultures and preparing young people for future careers.  Sylvester shares her positive experiences as a parent of a teenager who worked at Lagoon. She highlights how her daughter's first job helped her develop crucial life skills such as responsibility, time management, and financial literacy. As a legal expert, Sylvester advises other parents to encourage their teens to get their first job, be vigilant for potential red flags, and maintain open communication about their work experiences with their children.

In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Tanner Thompson, CEO and owner of The Shirt Stop. Thompson discusses how he stumbled into entrepreneurship by purchasing an existing screen printing business in his hometown of Richfield, Utah. He explains that this decision was key to his success because the business already had an established team of seven employees. This strategic focus and its commitment to building long-term customer relationships have been instrumental in the company's growth. Since then, The Shirt Shop has expanded from seven to nearly 80 employees and from a small 1,500-square-foot shop to 45,000 square feet between two locations in Richfield and Lehi, Utah. Thompson highlights the significance of being based in rural Richfield, noting that it fosters a strong sense of community and integrity with customers. This long-game approach ensures that the company produces quality products and has a good reputation. The Shirt Shop has adapted to industry changes, shifting from a primarily word-of-mouth model to one that leverages social media and influencer marketing, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. This shift allowed the company to expand its services beyond corporate swag to include branded apparel for social media influencers. Thompson plans to continue growing the company by taking on more textile manufacturing services and expanding into international markets.

In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Ben Hart, executive director of the Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA). Hart discusses his career detour from banking to public service, driven by a desire to give back to the community and make a tangible difference. He highlights the rewarding experience of seeing companies his office helped bring to the state employ friends and family, and emphasizes the importance of collaboration between government and the private sector for Utah's continued success. Hart highlights UIPA’s mission to expand rail service and boost local economies. Since its creation in 2018, the authority has grown from a single port project to overseeing 14 development areas statewide. He explains the port's role in attracting future-facing industries and high-wage jobs by working with the governor's office to offer a "stackable" corporate recruitment tool. Hart also addresses sustainability efforts, such as directing funds towards conservation and partnering with the Department of Air Quality to secure a $112 million environmental grant. He further emphasizes the shift toward more balanced transportation — reducing reliance on trucks while expanding rail and air cargo use.

In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Sharlene Wells, senior vice president of public relations and organizational communications at Mountain America Credit Union. Wells shares her career path, which includes being Miss America, working at ESPN, and serving with the Department of Defense. She delves into the evolution of Mountain America Credit Union, noting that while the core principle of providing fair loans and building savings remains, it now offers a more holistic support system — from free financial guides to a strong emphasis on financial education. She highlights the credit union's strong commitment to supporting small businesses, citing its long-standing status as a top SBA credit union lender and sharing a successful client story. Wells emphasizes the importance of building relationships with members to provide support during economic challenges. She also discusses the credit union's approach to local engagement, which includes partnerships with organizations like the Hale Center Theater and active involvement with various Chambers of Commerce. Wells explains that the credit union's growth strategy is driven by listening to its members' needs, leading to initiatives like translating documents into Spanish and creating a director of multicultural engagement position to better serve diverse communities.

In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Corissa Webster, founder of Executives Cup. Webster founded the Executives Cup after realizing the need for a more meaningful and dynamic networking experience. Drawing from her background in venture capital, she reimagined the traditional networking event by combining it with the energy of a golf tournament. The result is a curated experience where business leaders are intentionally grouped to foster connections and open doors to future business opportunities.    Webster highlights the Executives Cup's multiple tournaments held each year across Utah, including events in both the northern and southern parts of the state. She shares her experience with Utah's supportive business community, which features a "win-win" approach that encourages entrepreneurs to help each other succeed.

In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Wayne Aston, CEO of Invictus Sovereign.  Aston discusses his career as an entrepreneur and his company's role in Utah's energy sector. His background in construction, the Marine Corps, and a church mission to Russia — combined with his passion for team-building and high adventure — have contributed to his current work. He explains how his company, Invictus Sovereign, focuses on developing land and managing the complex financing for major projects, aiming to pioneer in the transition from traditional utility monopolies to privately developed energy. Aston also details his work in central Utah, where his company leads a multi-year project focused on next-generation energy production. He explains that this effort aligns with Gov. Cox's Operation Gigawatt initiative to add a gigawatt of power to the state, which is vital for Utah's rapid growth and the increasing energy demands of artificial intelligence and data centers. Aston highlights that his projects are focused on creating high-paying jobs in central Utah to prevent young people from leaving the area. He also notes that Invictus Sovereign is working with the Utah Inland Port Authority to enhance rail and airport infrastructure. Its work focuses on long-term partnerships and a "Utah first" mentality to improve the state's economy and quality of life.

In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Bryan Phelps, CEO of Big Leap. Phelps discusses his digital marketing career, highlighting his journey through prominent Utah-based digital marketing companies like OrangeSoda and SEO.com before founding Big Leap in 2008. He emphasizes Big Leap's focus on foundational marketing principles, understanding customer journeys, and the importance of a strong brand in an evolving digital landscape. Phelps also touches on the company's culture, which prioritizes high-quality work over flashy tactics, and its commitment to employee well-being — especially for working mothers — through flexible remote work policies. He shares his insights on the impact of artificial intelligence on digital marketing, seeing it as a tool for efficiency and enhancement rather than replacement. Phelps believes Utah has a unique advantage in the digital sphere due to its history in the industry, talented workforce, and a supportive entrepreneurial community eager to mentor the next generation of business leaders.

In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Anil Singh, founder and president of Saras AI Institute.  Singh shares his journey, from growing up in a small village in India to becoming a successful entrepreneur, highlighting how education transformed his life and inspired him to establish Saras AI Institute. The institute offers fully online AI education, including certificate, associate, and bachelor's degree programs, with a unique project-based learning approach that eliminates traditional exams. Singh discusses the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Saras AI Institute and the Indian Institute of Technology to advance AI education in India. He emphasizes that AI is not here to replace humans but to augment them, creating millions of new jobs and solving humanity's greatest challenges. Singh encourages anyone interested in AI to embrace it as a tool and offers advice on how to get started, recommending readily available tools like ChatGPT. He also highlights Saras AI Institute's beginner-friendly "Powers of AI" course, designed to help individuals confidently enter the AI field, regardless of their background.

In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Emily Ashby, program manager for Utah's Own. Ashby shares insights into her passion for local industries with Utah's Own, a state-branded program promoting Utah's agriculture and food business. She discusses the vital function of Utah's Own in bridging the gap between consumers and local producers, highlighting the program's efforts to support and uplift the state's food and farming sector.  Utah's Own, which became membership-based five years ago, offers benefits like online directory presence, using Utah's Own logo for product differentiation, and promotional opportunities through social media and newsletters. Ashby emphasizes the economic impact of supporting local businesses, noting that increasing local spending by just 10% could retain an additional $1.3 billion annually within Utah's economy. Ashby also addresses challenges facing Utah's agriculture, such as land development, water issues, and the need for succession planning in family farms, while also noting the positive trend of agritourism as a way for farmers to diversify their income and keep their farms viable.