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Where Utah’s brightest business minds address the challenges faced by today’s executives.

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Join us at Utah Business Forward, the premier conference designed exclusively for executives seeking practical insights and actionable strategies to propel their businesses forward. This dynamic event brings together Utah’s brightest business minds, curated specifically to address the challenges faced by today’s executives.

With six distinct tracks covering acquisitions, AI, branding, entrepreneurship, people & culture, and performance, attendees will gain invaluable knowledge across a range of crucial areas. Our hand-picked session speakers are industry experts renowned for their expertise and success in Utah’s vibrant business landscape.

The Agenda

Time

Topic

Speaker

7:00 - 7:30 AM

CHECK IN FOR BREAKFAST WITH AN EXPERT (PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED)

Scott Anderson, Tunisha Brown, Cheryle Caplinger, Gary Crittenden, Kurt Dirks, Dr. Angela Dunn, Mike Headrick, Rose Maizner, Patrick Manning, Robert Pedersen, Nubia Peña, Bill Schuffenhauer

7:30 - 8:30 AM

GENERAL REGISTRATION, BREAKFAST & NETWORKING

N/A

8:30 - 8:45 AM

WELCOME

Melanie Jones, Burke Olsen

8:45 - 9:15 AM

Opening Keynote

Steven Sharp Nelson

9:20 - 11:30 AM

Breakout Tracks

See other tabs

11:45 - 12:30 PM

Lunch

N/A

12:30 - 1:15 PM

Return to Office (Without Mutiny)

Jeanette Bennet, Arian Lewis, Linda Llewelyn, Trent Savage Connie Washington

1:15 - 4:20 PM

Breakout Tracks

See other tabs

4:20 - 4:30 PM

Break

N/A

4:30 - 5:00 PM

Main Stage closing keynote

Hannah & Daniel Neeleman

5:00 - 5:10 PM

Closing Remarks & Drawing

Burke Olsen

5:15 - 6:15 PM

VIP Afterparty (Pre-registration required)

N/A

Time

Topic

Speaker

9:20 - 10:20 AM

Dealmaking in 2024

Troy Keller

10:30 - 11:30 AM

Buy, don't build: How Smart Entrepreneurs Fast-Track Growth Through Acquisition

Heather Griffith Barber

11:45 - 12:30 PM

Lunch

N/A

1:15 - 2:15 PM

What Story Do Your Financials Tell?

Patrick McMillan

2:25 - 3:25 PM

Accelerating Growth: The Power of Acquisition Funding

Omar Melo

3:25 - 3:35 PM

Break

N/A

3:35 - 4:20 PM

Q&A Panel

Track Speakers

Time

Topic

Speaker

9:20 - 10:20 AM

You Will Be Replaced by Someone Who Uses AI

Matt Harrison

10:30 - 11:30 AM

Google & Goliath: How Small Businesses Can Leverage AI to Punch Above Their Weight

Clémence Roger

11:45 - 12:30 PM

Lunch

N/A

1:15 - 2:15 PM

Leveraging Uniqueness with AI

Br33 Jon3s

2:25 - 3:25 PM

Demystifying AI for Business Innovation: Strategies for Competitive Advantage

Tyler Folkman

3:25 - 3:35 PM

Break

N/A

3:35 - 4:20 PM

Q&A Panel

Track Speakers

Time

Topic

Speaker

9:20 - 10:20 AM

Sensory Branding Experiences

Fernanda Böhme

10:30 - 11:30 AM

Economical Branding Guide for Everyday Businesses

Jen Hunsaker

11:45 - 12:30 PM

Lunch

N/A

1:15 - 2:15 PM

Leveraging Personal and Professional Branding to Build an E-commerce Business

Karalynne Call

2:25 - 3:25 PM

Behind the Campaign: Silent Night on Times Square

Chris Carlson and Jeff Taylor

3:25 - 3:35 PM

Break

N/A

3:35 - 4:20 PM

Q&A Panel

Track Speakers

Time

Topic

Speaker

9:20 - 10:20 AM

Igniting Startup Breakthroughs

Curt Doman & Cord Bowen

10:30 - 11:30 AM

From Startup to Scaleup

Nicole Tanner

11:45 - 12:30 PM

Lunch

N/A

1:15 - 2:15 PM

Business Exponential: Pivoting Your Small Business

Dr. Sidni L. Shorter

2:25 - 3:25 PM

Strategic Exits

Paul Burgon

3:35 - 4:20 PM

Q&A Panel

Track Speakers

Time

Topic

Speaker

9:20 - 10:20 AM

Radical Accountability

Dave Durocher

10:30 - 11:30 AM

The Connected Leader

Julie Lee

11:45 - 12:30 PM

Lunch

N/A

1:15 - 2:15 PM

The Power of We

Heather Brace

2:25 - 3:25 PM

Building Culture at Scale

Junghun Song and Dok Kwon

3:25 - 3:35 PM

Break

N/A

3:35 - 4:20 PM

Q&A

Track Speakers

Time

Topic

Speaker

9:20 - 10:20 AM

Bring Your Best Self to Work

Lyn Christian

10:30 - 11:30 AM

Negotiating Like a Boss: Contract Tricks and Traps for Business Leaders

Nicolas Wenker

11:45 - 12:30 PM

Lunch

N/A

1:15 - 2:15 PM

How To Sell Like a Buyer

Justin Ashby

2:25 - 3:25 PM

How to Build a High-Performing Team

Lynne Roberts

3:25 - 3:35 PM

Break

N/A

3:35 - 4:20 PM

Q&A

Track Speakers

2024 Speakers

Meet our track speakers by clicking on the navigation/filter buttons on the left.

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Scott Anderson
Scott Anderson

Scott Anderson

Former President & CEO, Zions Bank
Justin Ashby
Justin Ashby

Justin Ashby

VP of Marketing @ Alysio
Jeanette Bennett
Jeanette Bennett

Jeanette Bennett

Executive Managing Director / President @ Colliers Utah
Heather Brace
Heather Brace

Heather Brace

Chief People Officer @ Intermountain Health
Cord Bowen
Cord Bowen

Cord Bowen

Director @ Doman Innovation Studio
Tunisha Brown
Tunisha Brown

Tunisha Brown

Founder/Editor-In-Chief, The IMPACT Magazine
Paul Burgon
Paul Burgon

Paul Burgon

Managing Partner @ Exit Ventures
Karalynne Call
Karalynne Call

Karalynne Call

Founder and CEO @ Just Ingredients
Cheryle Caplinger
Cheryle Caplinger

Cheryle Caplinger

Executive Director/External Relations, Utah Tech University
Chris Carlson
Chris Carlson

Chris Carlson

VP of Client Strategy @ Boncom
Lyn Christian
Lyn Christian

Lyn Christian

Founder and Head Coach @ SoulSalt
Gary Crittenden
Gary Crittenden

Gary Crittenden

Former CFO at Citi, American Express, Monsanto, and Sears, Roebuck & Co.
Kurt Dirks
Kurt Dirks

Kurt Dirks

Dean @ David Eccles School of Business
Curt Doman
Curt Doman

Curt Doman

Founder @ Progressive Leasing and Doman Innovation Studio
Dr. Angela Dunn
Dr. Angela Dunn

Dr. Angela Dunn

Director and Co-lead, Centers for Disease Control
Dave Durocher
Dave Durocher

Dave Durocher

Executive Director @ The Other Side Academy
Tyler Folkman
Tyler Folkman

Tyler Folkman

GM/CTO @ TubeBuddy by BENlabs
Matt Harrison
Matt Harrison

Matt Harrison

Python and AI Corporate Trainer @ Metasnake
Mike Headrick
Mike Headrick

Mike Headrick

Anchor/Reporter at KSL 5 TV
Jen Hunsaker
Jen Hunsaker

Jen Hunsaker

Owner @ Copy Write Marketing
Melanie Jones
Melanie Jones

Melanie Jones

Editor-In-Chief @ Utah Business
Troy Keller
Troy Keller

Troy Keller

Partner @ Dorsey & Whitney
Arian Lewis
Arian Lewis

Arian Lewis

CEO and Co-Founder @ Kiln
Julie Lee
Julie Lee

Julie Lee

Owner @ I See You Leadership
Linda Llewelyn
Linda Llewelyn

Linda Llewelyn

Chief People Officer @ Health Catalyst
Patrick Manning
Patrick Manning

Patrick Manning

Managing Partner, Black Desert Resort
Omar Melo
Omar Melo

Omar Melo

Director @ Crewe Capital
Patrick McMillan
Patrick McMillan

Patrick McMillan

Fractional CFO & Transaction Advisor @ Amplēo
Burke Olsen
Burke Olsen

Burke Olsen

Publisher @ The Deseret News
Nubia Peña
Nubia Peña

Nubia Peña

Senior Advisor to Governor Spencer J. Cox
Lynne Roberts
Lynne Roberts

Lynne Roberts

Head Coach @ University of Utah Women's Basketball
Trent Savage
Trent Savage

Trent Savage

Chief Human Resources Officer @ Mountain America Credit Union
Bill Schuffenhauer
Bill Schuffenhauer

Bill Schuffenhauer

3 X Olympian & Olympic Silver Medalist
Jeff Taylor
Jeff Taylor

Jeff Taylor

Executive Creative Director @ Boncom
Connie Washington
Connie Washington

Connie Washington

VP, People Partners and DEI @ Progressive Leasing
Nick Wenker
Nick Wenker

Nick Wenker

Deputy General Counsel and SVP of Legal @ Young Living Essential Oils

Venue

The Grand America Hotel

Explore The Venue

2023 Event Photos

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