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Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2023 Zions Bank Wasatch Back Economic Summit. Special thank you our hosts, the Grand Summit Hotel and our sponsors for making this annual event possible. Below you will find the presentations and recorded breakout sessions.
An Economy in Transition
The economy continues to confound. Has inflation peaked, and how long until price increases return to normal? Is the labor market softening, or will historic labor shortages continue to keep unemployment low? How high will the Federal Reserve increase interest rates, and have they gone too far? How will the economy perform in a potential recession? Robert's presentation will examine these challenges and how businesses can continue to thrive in an uncertain environment.
Moderator: Jeff Jones, Economic Development and Housing Director, Summit County
Panelists:
Chris Lampe, Vice President of Human Resources, Deer Valley Resort
Jill Shroyer, PHR and HR Consultant, Expedition HR
Sarah Myers, Vice President of Operations and Culture, Park City Chamber and Visitors Bureau
Lori Weston, CEO/Administrator, Intermountain Park City Hospital
Matt Brower, City Manager, Heber City
Labor supply continues to be an ongoing issue across the United States, but it is particularly acute in Utah and the Wasatch Back due to low unemployment and challenges such as affordability. Learn best practices from local experts on developing and retaining a great team.
Moderator: Morgan Mingle, Director of Sustainability, Park City Chamber & Visitor Bureau
Panelists:
Clint McAffee, Public Utilities Director, Park City Municipal
Max Covey, Manager, Jordanelle Service District
Andy Garland, Director, Mountain Regional Water
It’s no secret that water and water conservation are big topics in Utah and are critical to our survival and success in the mountain west. Panelists will share updates on regional water issues and conservation efforts and the economic impacts of water conservation and management.
Moderator: Kim Carsen, Chair, High Valley Transit
Panelists:
Carolyn Rodrigues, Executive Director, High Valley Transit
Alex Roy, Senior Transportation Planner, Park City Municipal
Kim Fjelsted, Transit Manager, Park City Municipal
Nathan Peterson, Deputy Director, UDOT Region 2
Craig Hancock, Project Manager, UDOT Region 3
Dustin, County Manager Wasatch County
As the population grows along the Wasatch Back so does the need for adequate transportation, transit, and roads to accommodate this growth. You’ll hear from local and regional experts on current and future efforts to meet our transportation, transit, and road infrastructure needs and ways we can all participate in the process.
Moderator: Jeff Jones, Economic Development and Housing Director, Summit County & Pat Putt, Summit County Planning Director
Panelists:
Brooke Hontz, Vice President of Development, Extel/Mayflower
Michael Bradshaw, President, Momentum Development/Jordanelle Ridge
Skylar Tolbert, Land Acquisition and Development Project Manager, Cedar Crest Village, Ivory Homes
We all know that the Wasatch Back is growing with new housing, commercial, and ski developments coming our way. This is your opportunity to hear from local land planners and developers on what the future holds in terms of development and, more importantly, what opportunities there will be to start or expand business within these developments.
View Mayflower Mountain Resort Update View Jordanelle Ridge Update Listen to Breakout Session
Moderator: David Levine, Executive Director, Mountainlands Community Housing Trust
Panelists:
Tony Tyler, Canyons Village Management Association
Jamie Kimball, General Manager, Utah Olympic Park
Jackie Adragna, Vice President of Human Resources, The Stein Collection
Jeff Bradshaw, Wasatch Housing Authority
Erik Daenitz, Director of Economic Development and Data Analytics, Park City Municipal
Jason Glidden, Economic Development Project Manager, Park City Municipal
With all the growth and opportunities coming to Utah, affordable and attainable housing needs to remain front of mind. We’ll hear from local and regional experts on future affordable housing development and what other businesses are doing to address this for their workforce in creative ways.
Moderator: Heinrich Deters, Trails & Open Space Program Manager, Park City Municipal
Panelists:
Lora Smith, Executive Director, Mountain Trails Foundation
Mia Yue, Executive Director, Wasatch Trails Foundation
Don Taylor, Regional Trail Planner, Mountainlands Association of Governments
Matt Wagoner, District Superintendent, Basin Recreation
Corey Dutton, Executive Director, South Summit Trails
Cheryl Fox, Executive Director, Summit Land Conservancy
Patrick Morison, Grant Program Manager, Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation
The Wasatch Back is a recreational paradise, offering thousands of miles of trails, lakes, rivers, and some of the finest recreational facilities in North America. Hear from local non-profits and government leaders on what it takes to develop and maintain these facilities and their importance to the Wasatch Back economy.
Sam Beard has spent over six decades transforming ideas into far-reaching impact. Sam has created and implemented public service programs for eight American Presidents, from Nixon to Obama. After completing his education at Yale and Columbia, Sam focused on social justice and the elimination of poverty, working with Robert Kennedy in Brooklyn in the mid-1960s. Among his most noteworthy accomplishments include the creation of over ten million jobs in low-income communities. With Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Senator Robert Taft, Jr., Sam also launched the Jefferson Awards, an American Nobel Prize for public service and youth leadership training program (later renamed Multiplying Good). More than 35,000 students have been trained. Multiplying Good engages one million students per year. He recently founded the non-profit organization GIFT to harness the full impact of mindfulness and meditation movements to solve urgent global problems.
Moderator: Jennifer Wesselhoff, President and CEO, Park City Chamber & Visitor Bureau
Panelists:
Jeff Jones, Economic Development and Housing Director, Summit County
Dallin Koecher, Executive Director, Heber Valley Chamber
Phil Dean, Chief Economist & Public Finance Senior Research Fellow, Kem C Gardner Policy Institute
If there is one word we all keep hearing it’s “uncertainty” when we talk about the economy. We’ll work to unpack that uncertainty with our panelist and share insights on areas of opportunities for businesses going forward.
Moderator: Kristen Schultz, Coordinator, Early Childhood Alliance
Panelists:
Sue Banerjee, Executive Director, PC Tots
Sam Beard, Founder, GIFT CONNECT
Kathy Anderson, Early Childhood Program Specialist, Park City School District
Tara Boswell, Preschool Instructional Coach, Wasatch County School District
Moe Hickey, Executive Director, Voices for Utah Children
Katie Ricord, Executive Director, Utah Association for the Education of Young Children
When we speak about labor supply and our economy, we can’t do so without including childcare and early childhood development as part of that conversation. Adequate, affordable childcare directly impacts our labor pool, and supporting early childhood development has the potential to impact our economy in the trillions of dollars. Hear from local and global leaders on the importance and impact of these issues and how you can help.
Family Friendly Workplaces U.S. Chamber of Commerce Untapped Potential Listen to Breakout Session
Moderator: Eyee Hsu, Advisor, Entrepreneur, and Former TV Host.
Panelists:
Nann Worel, Mayor, Park City
Heidi Franco, Mayor, Heber City
Roger Armstrong, Chair, Summit County Council
Mark Nelson, Wasatch County Council
Celeste Johnson, Mayor, Midway City
Zane Woolstenhulme, Mayor, Oakley City
Unlike previous Wasatch Back Economic Summits, we’re bringing our annual elected officials panel to a breakout session for more conversation and engagement. Hear from local elected officials across the Wasatch Back about our communities' challenges and opportunities and how we can all work together to meet them.