Every six months the Utah State Chamber hosts a conference for all of the chambers in the state. This year the Summer Conference was held in Orem and hosted by the Utah Valley Chamber at Utah Valley University. The conference consisted of two days full of presentations, awards and so much more.

Day 1

Creating Productive Working Relationships with Your City: Mayor Michelle Kaufusi, Provo City; Mayor Richard Brunst, Orem City

Mayor Michelle Kaufusi of Provo City and Mayor Richard Brunst of Orem City both spoke about the importance of having a connection between local politics and chambers of commerce. Mayor Kaufusi said, “When one of us rises, we all rise, so let’s keep working together and help each other out.”

Defining Chamber Public Policy Priorities: Abby Osborne, VP Government Affairs and Public Policy

It is incredibly important for chambers of commerce to be immersed in politics and act as an advocate for the business community. Abby Osborne, VP of government affairs and public policy at the Salt Lake Chamber, stressed this in her presentation. She said, “We are the bridge between the public and private sector. It’s a great place to be.”

Working Lunch | Roots of Knowledge Gallery

Lunch was held in the Roots of Knowledge Gallery in the Fulton Library at Utah Valley University. The gallery is a permanent art installation that features the progression of knowledge through time. The stained glass display is 200 ft long and consists of 26 columns. Each column represents a moment in time and is adorned with examples of technology, communication, art, science and math. Hidden among the scenes are a few “easter eggs,” some of which include the Starship Enterprise from Star Trek (1966), Superman, Waldo and the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars (1977).

Keynote Address: Inland Port/Statewide Issues: Derek Miller, President of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance

Derek Miller gave the keynote address, discussing the future inland port, of which he is the newly named chairman, as well as statewide issues. He started the speech by discussing Utah’s strengths on the global scale. He told a story of someone outside of Utah asking him if Salt Lake City was near Lehi. This individual stated that, “Everyone knows Lehi.” Miller joked that people outside of Utah know Lehi because of Silicon Slopes, while people inside Utah know Lehi because of Footloose (1984). In regards to Utah’s economy, Miller said, “Fiscal prudence is the foundation of economic prosperity.” Another part of the economy’s success is our small business community, and that providing them with the necessary tools to expand their business is essential. Miller said, “In Utah, we recognize that our small business is international business.” This is why the inland port is crucial; it opens up an avenue for small businesses to reach their customers on a larger scale. Of course, no one can do this alone. In order to make the inland port successful, we must work together to make it a reality. In regards to teamwork, Miller said, “We collaborate well in Utah. It comes naturally to us.”

Tour of Evermore Creative Studios and Construction Site

Conference attendees were privileged to tour the Evermore Park, both the creative studios as well as the construction site. Evermore is a themed immersive experience unlike anything else. It brings fantastical stories out of the pages of books and into the real world. The park is a large stage and the guest is part of the story. Attendees were able to get an exclusive sneak peek of the location, as well as come face-to-face with some of the creatures that call Evermore home. Evermore is set to open on September 14, 2018.

Oklahoma!

That evening the conference attendees traveled to Sundance Mountain Resort where they enjoyed a barbecue dinner and a live performance of Oklahoma!

Day 2

Sarah Hodson, Executive Director, Get Healthy Utah

Sarah Hodson, executive director of Get Healthy Utah, spoke about health and wellness in the workplace. She provided tips on how to encourage healthier habits among employees and colleagues and how to promote a more healthy work environment.

U.S. Chamber Report: Vartan Djihanian, Western Region Manager, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Vartan Djihanian, western region manager of the U.S. Chamber, addressed attendees with the U.S. Chamber Report. He discussed the basic functions of the U.S. Chamber in regards to the federal government and listed a few examples of their support. He also shared the importance of international business. He said, “95 percent of the world lives outside of the United States. In order for our economy to grow, we need to reach past our borders.”

Women Rock Business: 21st Century Entrepreneurship: Ann Marie Wallace, Executive Director, Women’s Business Center of Utah

Ann Marie Wallace, executive director of WBC Utah, presented on the importance and success of women entrepreneurship. Wallace said, “Women business owners are the fastest growing group of business owners… When it comes to entrepreneurship, women in Utah do really well.”

This year the Women’s Business Center of Utah has see