Business Elevated

Season 6 Episode 38: In this podcast, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Kim Fischer, executive vice president of marketing and communications, Tomas Caceres, senior director of strategic community engagement at Waterford, and Anju Thapaliya UPSTART program manager at GOEO. Fischer, Caceres, and Thapaliya discuss the UPSTART Program, an online educational tool that provides preschool children with foundational skills in reading, math, and science. This tool is made possible through state funding and a partnership with Waterford. UPSTART collaborates with local organizations to extend its reach in Utah’s rural, refugee, and Indigenous communities. Delivering this tool in homes and childcare settings helps UPSTART strengthen families and boost community engagement, giving young children a strong start in learning and development.  The Waterford team discusses its future goals to expand access to underserved communities, increase enrollment, and build partnerships to ensure all children have an early learning foundation. Fischer emphasizes that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed inequities in access to digital resources, affecting early learning and literacy nationwide, especially for marginalized communities. They discuss how UPSTART addresses these gaps by providing adaptive learning tools, a dashboard for tracking progress, and extensive family support. 

Season 6 Episode 37: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Melissa Clark, executive director and president of the Eagle Mountain Chamber of Commerce. Clark shares her experience on the Eagle Mountain City Council and highlights her transition from roles in auditing and education to leading the Chamber. Reflecting on her time in public service, she describes her commitment to helping local businesses thrive, especially by offering resources to entrepreneurs lacking business management knowledge. Under her leadership, the Chamber has expanded from 73 to nearly 400 members in over two years. Clark highlights the Chamber's efforts to support local businesses and community development in Eagle Mountain. She emphasizes Chamber membership as vital for new entrepreneurs to network and find support. Clark explains the Chamber's involvement in regional and state business coalitions, such as the Utah Association of Chambers and the Rural Utah Chamber Coalition, which help connect business leaders statewide. She shares the Chamber's focus on practical business education, like the annual "Lunch and Learns" and the 2025 "Money Matters" series, aimed at empowering local businesses with financial insights.

Season 6 Episode 36: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Adam Torkildson, entrepreneur and SCORE Mentors volunteer.  Torkildson shares his life and career journey in Utah, emphasizing his roots in agriculture, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to mentoring. He reflects on his early years working on farms, his Scandinavian heritage, and the discipline he developed through a rural upbringing and homeschool experience. He volunteers with SCORE Mentors, a nationwide nonprofit that provides free mentoring for small businesses in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), offering his SEO and startup management expertise to Utah's entrepreneurs.  Torkildson highlights SCORE’s mission to support entrepreneurs through resources and guidance. The discussion delves into SCORE’s blend of virtual and in-person coaching, with a recent push to increase physical events in Utah, including partnerships with organizations like the SBA to reach a broader audience. They discuss SCORE's popular "Startup Roadmap," a 12-step guide simplifying the business launch process. Torkildson emphasizes the importance of accurate online content, especially with the rise of AI, and how SCORE’s mentoring services empower business owners to manage their own SEO and digital presence.

Season 6 Episode 35: Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of domestic violence, which may be distressing for some listeners and not suitable for a younger audience. In this podcast, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Jennifer Campbell, executive director of Utah Domestic Violence Coalition (UDVC), and Jacki Cassady, training program coordinator at Utah Employers Against Domestic Violence (UEADV), part of UDVC. Campbell and Cassady discuss their work at UDVC and involvement with the UEADV program. Driven by her passion for advocacy and nonprofit management, Campbell shares her transition from teaching to domestic violence services. Cassady recounts her personal experience with domestic violence and her journey to contribute to the program's development. The program educates employers in Utah on recognizing signs of domestic violence and fostering safe, supportive work environments. The discussion spotlights the "Dear Utah" campaign, which encourages individuals across the state to share their experiences with violence. They emphasize the importance of normalizing conversations about domestic violence, highlighting the need for greater understanding, especially among youth. Campbell shares insights into how businesses can support employees affected by domestic violence through policy adjustments and fostering open communication.

Season 6 Episode 34: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Ben Elkins, CEO of Utah Broadband. Elkins discusses his recent move to Utah and his leadership overseeing multiple broadband companies under Boston Omaha, including Airbeam, Utah Broadband, and InfoWest. Elkins explains how the company is pivotal in providing high-quality internet services and highlights the growing demand for fiber connectivity due to the increasing number of internet-connected devices. He also touches on the entrepreneurial culture in Utah and the strong demand for broadband services among businesses. Elkins emphasizes the company's focus on maintaining high customer satisfaction and addressing bandwidth needs effectively. The duo delve into the rising importance of high-speed internet as more households adopt smart devices, spotlighting Utah Broadband's efforts to meet future demands by upgrading its network to gigabit speeds. Elkins also highlights the company's customer-centric team, selective growth strategy, and dedication to improving internet access in underserved rural areas of Utah, supported by federal infrastructure funding.

Season 6 Episode 33: Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of domestic violence, which may be distressing for some listeners and not suitable for a younger audience. In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Jessie Richards, co-founder and advisory director, and Brooke Muir, executive director, at Fight Against Domestic Violence (FADV). Richards and Muir discuss their connections to the fight against domestic violence and the impact of FADV. Richards explains her academic research on domestic violence and how personal experiences motivated her to start the organization. Both highlight how domestic violence impacts all of society, not just victims, and emphasize the importance of raising awareness, improving data collection, and supporting victims through financial and community resources. The duo highlights how Utah workplaces can better address domestic violence by implementing supportive measures such as awareness training, human resources, protective orders, and childcare assistance. Richards emphasizes that simple steps, like providing resources and empathetic support, can make a significant difference for victims. They also explore the challenges faced by victims, including societal stigma and the complexities of abusive relationships, especially within Utah's religious and patriarchal culture. Help is available. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the 24-hour Utah domestic violence hotline at 800-897-LINK(5465) or visit the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition (UDVC) and the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault (UCASA) online.

Season 6 Episode 32: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Liam Brown, president of STEMheads, and Josh Brown, co-founder of STEMheads. Liam co-founded the nonprofit STEMheads with his parents when he was 10 years old. They emphasize the importance of STEM education and their mission to inspire young people to pursue STEM scholarships and educational content through STEMheads. Liam also reflects on discussions with Utah business leaders, the importance of entrepreneurship, and how their nonprofit is helping the next generation.  Liam and Josh share how the company's recognition in schools, with teachers using his videos, has brought pride to their family and community. They highlight how the project promotes STEM careers with livable wages and exciting opportunities. Liam addresses students' challenges and how STEMheads inspires them to explore diverse career paths. They also highlight the importance of encouraging young women to pursue STEM and their plans to continue the project through Liam's high school years and beyond. 

Season 6 Episode 31: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Matthew Young, national sales manager for the corporate sales team at SymbolArts. Young discusses his career progression from technical writing to marketing and sales. He shares insights into SymbolArts’ growth, particularly in creating high-quality metal badges and recognition items for public safety and corporate sectors. Young also discusses the company’s expansion into new markets and the advanced customization capabilities that have enhanced its product offerings over time.  He discusses SymbolArts’ strong reliance on repeat customers and referrals and highlights the company’s marketing strategy. Despite supply chain challenges during the pandemic, SymbolArts distinguishes itself with efficient air freight logistics, high-quality products, and long-standing relationships with vetted factories. Young also outlines the company’s commitment to “diamond quality” and its growth plans.

Season 6 Episode 30: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Natalie Randall, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism and Film. Randall discusses her journey from growing up in northern Virginia to building her career focused on outdoor recreation and tourism in Utah. She highlights her experiences in various roles, including working in adaptive recreation, running an adventure company, and leading economic development in rural Utah. Randall emphasizes the importance of community engagement, bridging divides through recreation, and enhancing tourism as part of economic growth.  The duo discusses the economic impact of tourism in Utah, emphasizing the industry’s contribution to the state’s economy, with nearly $12 billion in visitor spending in 2022 and over 151,000 tourism-related jobs. Randall highlights how tourism brings revenue and enhances the quality of life for Utah residents. She details the state’s efforts to balance tourism growth with community benefits through strategic planning and stewardship. Randall also highlights the importance of rural tourism and the film industry’s growing presence in Utah and shares her excitement for Utah’s upcoming role in the 2034 Winter Olympics.

Season 6 Episode 29: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Justin Helms, St. George branch manager of Utah Disaster Kleenup (UDK). Helms, a second-generation restoration professional, shares his love for St. George. He highlights the operations of UDK, emphasizing the company's broad service range across Utah and its capacity to handle residential, commercial, and healthcare-related disasters.  Helms shares memorable experiences from his 20 years in the industry, including the challenges of restoring homes after natural disasters. He discusses UDK's involvement in community outreach, such as supporting local first responders and participating in charity events. Helms finds it incredibly rewarding to help clients restore their homes and lives after disasters.   UDK recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, earning community recognition, including the "Best of Southern Utah" award for four consecutive years.