Business Elevated

Season 7 Episode 1: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Mark Giles and Domeda Duncan, co-founders of Our Sundays. Giles and Duncan discuss their backgrounds in communications and marketing, their transition to Utah, and their shared passion for creating inclusive spaces. They emphasize the importance of fostering a sense of belonging, particularly for Utah's growing Black population and transplants. Giles and Duncan highlight how Our Sundays bridge social connections, showcase Utah's natural beauty, and contribute to community retention efforts. They also reflect on Utah's evolving demographics and the importance of inclusivity in adapting to these changes. Our Sundays host numerous events, such as karaoke, holiday gatherings, and service projects, promoting the retention of Black professionals in Utah through consistent, inclusive, and joy-filled experiences. They emphasize the state's supportive entrepreneurial environment, which has been pivotal in their journey to cultivate community and foster belonging in Utah.

Season 6 Episode 42: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with three World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah) team members: Jonathan Freedman, president and CEO; Jared Anderson, senior director of global business services; and Anna Maidon, director of grants administration; and two Utah company representatives, Michael Gray, general manager of Intermountain Technologies, and Aaron Edwards, CEO of Mil Agro. Freedman discusses Utah’s recent governor-led trade mission to South Korea and Japan. He details the mission’s key achievements, including a new nonstop Delta flight from Salt Lake City to Seoul to enhance connectivity for Utah businesses in East Asia. The delegation, comprising 47 business representatives, held 119 individual meetings, projecting nearly $77 million in new trade opportunities. The conversation also previewed upcoming trade missions to Canada and Australia in 2025, emphasizing their strategic alignment with Utah’s priority industries.  Anderson and Gray highlighted Utah’s global trade initiatives and entrepreneurial culture. The conversation covered a recent WTC Utah-led business trip to Peru involving Utah mining companies and legislators, which fostered international connections with Peruvian leaders. Anderson and Gray detail the trip’s successes, including strategic partnerships, cultural exchanges, and new opportunities in Peru’s mining industry.  Maidon and Edwards explore Utah’s involvement in the federal State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant, explaining the STEP grant’s role in assisting small businesses with global expansion by reimbursing costs for international trade shows, website development, and market analysis. The conversation highlights Utah’s success in securing a significant portion of STEP Grant funds, enabling local businesses to access resources for global market engagement. Companies interested in applying are encouraged to contact WTC Utah for personalized guidance. 

Season 6 Episode 41: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Cully Cavness, co-founder, president, and CEO of Crusoe Energy Systems Inc. Cavness discusses his company's mission to address wasted natural gas emissions, describing how Crusoe captures flared natural gas at oil sites and converts it into energy to power data centers for AI computing and Bitcoin mining. He highlights Utah, particularly the Uinta Basin, as a significant operation hub due to its high energy capacity. Sharing his journey from geothermal energy to co-founding Crusoe, Cavness explains the environmental and economic benefits of their Digital Flare Mitigation technology, which reduces methane emissions while creating valuable computing power.  Cavness explores Crusoe's employment of mobile, satellite-connected systems to provide flexible, environmentally aligned power solutions without relying on traditional infrastructure. He showcases the company's evolution from Bitcoin mining to AI-focused GPU computing through its Crusoe Cloud product. It has driven significant growth and led to a $3.4 billion venture to build state-of-the-art liquid-cooled AI data centers in Texas powered by renewable energy. Recognized as Utah’s 2024 Rural Business of the Year at the 2024 Fall One Utah Summit, Crusoe emphasizes community engagement and sustainable practices as key drivers to Crusoe’s success. 

Season 6 Episode 40:  In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Scott Stubbs, chief financial officer at Extra Space Storage. Stubbs reflects on his 20+ years at Extra Space Storage, from starting as a corporate controller to overseeing its evolution into an industry giant with over 3,800 locations across 42 states. Stubbs highlights key milestones, including the company’s 2004 initial public offering, transformative acquisitions, and strategic expansions into diverse markets. He elaborates on managing investor relations and navigating challenges like regulatory compliance, environmental impacts, and scaling operations.  Stubbs emphasizes the role of strong partnerships, consistent performance, and an employee-focused culture as major contributors to Extra Space’s sustained success as the largest publicly traded company in Utah. He highlights the company's transition to in-house investor relations, its leadership as a top-tier Real Estate Investment Trust, and its innovative strategies, including internet visibility, prime locations, and exceptional customer experience. Stubbs also shares insights into navigating rising interest rates and the company’s commitment to sustained growth in a dynamic real estate market.

Season 6 Episode 39: In this episode, Pete Codella, managing director of business services at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity, talks with Claudia Loayza, Magnify Utah program manager at the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs. Loayza describes her background as a child of Latin American immigrants and her focus on creating generational wealth and community engagement. She explains her work with Magnify Utah, a project that connects and celebrates Utah’s diverse communities by highlighting resources, stories, and cultural landmarks. She emphasizes the importance of inclusive urban planning, equitable resource access, and intentional storytelling in strengthening Utah’s multicultural reach. Loayza highlights the mission and impact of Magnify Utah's website, designed to highlight personal stories, community profiles, and resources that promote inclusivity and community building in Utah. The website serves as a central hub to help residents — including immigrants, veterans, and corporate transplants — integrate and thrive. She also emphasizes the state’s rich heritage of welcoming newcomers and the growing diversity that shapes its future. Loayza highlights Utah’s strong sense of community and shared values, making it attractive for entrepreneurship.  

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.