2022-2023 Annual Report

Dear Business Leader,

Once again, we recognize the strength of our business community and the families they support to keep Utah one of the best places to live in America. Every year, we recommit to maintaining this strength by bringing leaders together to find common ground around challenging issues. This approach continues to serve us well and ensures when problems arise we have a business community with a united will and effort for continued prosperity. To that end, we are starting to see inflation wane, supply chains coming back and industry expansion coalesce into an Utah blueprint for success.

The Salt Lake Chamber continues to stand the test of time as we advocate for you at the local, state and federal levels. What began in 1887 by rugged pioneers remains today, with our mission to stand as the voice of business, support our members’ success and champion community prosperity. We repeat this mission statement often because it permeates everything we do at the Chamber. This common cause unites us to lift one another and make our communities ground zero for opportunity.

In our quest for excellence, the Chamber solidified our vision for “Unlimited Opportunity and Prosperity” along with our foundational values:

  • Member Centered: We exist to serve our members.
  • Community Focused: We contribute to a flourishing community where all have the opportunity to thrive.
  • Common Ground: We serve as a trusted information source and convener of collaborative community partners.
  • Free Enterprise: We extol and support the virtues of America’s spirit of free enterprise.
  • Corporate Citizenship: We cultivate businesses as creators and stewards of the economic ecosystem.

As you know, success is a collective effort and daily endeavor. The Chamber worked tirelessly during the 2023 Legislative Session to support bills that will strengthen Utah’s competitive position. This effort included opposing some bills that would have put into effect policies harmful to our business community. Our constant goal is to ensure Utah is well-positioned to meet the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly-growing population and economy.

This 2022-2023 Annual Report outlines the current state of the Chamber and our vision for a prosperous tomorrow. We ask you to review these efforts so you get the complete picture of our activity on your behalf. Your leadership, engagement and support make everything we do possible. The Chamber’s strength lies in our unity and commitment to see one another succeed. The year ahead will be bright as we continue to come together and build!

Sincerely,

Derek B. Miller, President & CEO
Dr. Donna Milavetz, 2022-2023 Board Chair
Gary W. Hoogeveen, 2022-2023 Board Vice Chair

Membership Highlights

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New Members
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Board of Governors Members
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Chair & Investor Level Members
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Circle of Influence Members
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Retention Rate
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International Agreements
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Counties with Members
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States with Members

Advocate Policy

As the Salt Lake Chamber is first and foremost an advocacy organization, we direct many of our resources into our advocacy for business at the federal, state and local levels, as we work with our legislature, governor, mayors, city councils and congressional delegation. This happens in several ways, such as convening business roundtable discussions to hear from members as to what is necessary to create a strong economy and prosperous community. 

2022 FEDERAL PRIORITIES 

During the last week of September, the Salt Lake Chamber led a delegation of business executives and community leaders to our nation’s capital – Washington, D.C. The Chamber met with members of Utah’s Congressional Delegation to discuss the business community’s federal priorities for 2022. 

These priorities cover a range of critical issues around energy reliability and sustainability, housing affordability, infrastructure, taming inflation and other topline business priorities to make our state stronger. The Chamber works with our elected officials to be responsive to challenges and committed to securing greater prosperity for our communities. 

Click here to view the federal priorities.

A Business Vision for Utah’s Energy Future: State Poised to be an Innovative Leader as Energy Demands Grow and Change 

The Salt Lake Chamber, with assistance from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and R&R Partners, released a business vision for the state’s energy future on October 12, 2022. Utah’s business community envisions an energy future that places Utah at the center of the nation’s energy transition by harmonizing and balancing environmental and economic progress to ensure a low-carbon energy future that remains affordable, reliable and sustainable. 

Click here to view the Business Vision for Utah’s Energy Future.

“As a business person in Utah, I see climate change and the energy transition as an economic opportunity that will benefit our economy, protect our environment and preserve our health. It can be and should be a win-win for everyone. But there is urgency for cooperation among business, government and individual consumers, one that is driven by risk, opportunity and responsibility.” – A. Scott Anderson, President & CEO, Zions Bank 

2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION: PREPARING UTAH FOR GROWTH 

On January 12, 2023, the Salt Lake Chamber presented its 2023 Public Policy Guide at the Utah Economic Outlook & Public Policy Summit in preparation of the 2023 General Legislative Session. Chief among the priorities was sustaining Utah as a safe haven economy driven by good policy and good governance, addressing housing affordability, tackling the water crisis and investing in infrastructure. 

Along with previewing the business community’s priorities for the coming legislative session, the Summit looked at pathways to civility as a way to engage officials and one another. Dr. Arthur C. Brooks, bestselling author and Harvard professor, shared the science behind why contempt for one another can be addictive in the political realm and how to escape the trap of viewing one another as an enemy. 

Click here to view the public policy guide.

2023 LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD 

On May 17, 2023, the Salt Lake Chamber presented the Legislative Business Champion Award to 68 legislators who passed laws on building our economic foundation and expanding prosperity for all Utahns during the 2023 Legislative Session. This award is given to legislators who supported at least 90% of the Salt Lake Chamber’s priorities. The title of Legislative Business Champion is directly tied to a legislator’s support and voting record on the Salt Lake Chamber’s “Priority Votes.” 

The Salt Lake Chamber also recognized Sen. Kirk Cullimore as the 2023 Legislator of the Year for his work on bringing together disparate groups and building consensus on a number of important issues. In addition, the Chamber presented Eliana White, director of government affairs for Select Health, with the 2023 Legislative Leadership Award for her involvement and contributions to healthcare-related legislation during the legislative session. 

Over 45 days, the Legislature tackled the difficult job of prioritizing a budget and passing bills focused on issues related to Utah’s growing population. The Chamber policy team worked tirelessly to advocate for policies promoting a healthy business environment and strong communities across the state. 

The Chamber engaged with legislators, testified in committee hearings, and provided research and analysis to help inform policy decisions. The goal was to ensure that Utah is well-positioned to meet the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly growing economy. 

Click here to view the scorecard.

Team Highlights

  • Hosted six ‘Meet the Candidate’ forums (September – October 2022) to discuss the long-term economic vision and strategies for state and business policy priorities with candidates running for U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.
  • Hosted a webinar on October 4, 2022 on the Colorado River Crisis and discussed what it means for Utah businesses and any potential solutions. 
  • Hosted government affairs partners and members at the Governor’s Mansion on December 13th to discuss legislative topics with Governor Spencer J. Cox and First Lady Abby Cox. 
  • Hosted the 2023 Legislative Reception at the Utah State Capitol and provided circle of influence members (Bronze level and above) and policy committee members the opportunity to network with legislators during the legislative session. 
  • Received the Vision Partner Award at the 2022 Common Good Awards on December 13th for our involvement and support of Envision Utah throughout the years. 
  • Urged Utah’s federal delegation and state leadership to address the national debt ceiling in May 2023, recognizing that failing to raise the debt ceiling and to constrain federal government spending would have negative impacts on our national economy and unintended consequences on every Utah business. 
  • Endorsed the National LIBERTY campaign (Legal Immigration and Border Enforcement Reform This Year), led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and was part of a letter issued to Congress calling for action on border security and legal immigration to meet ongoing workforce needs. 
  • Received a one-time appropriation during the 2023 Legislative Session to accelerate women-owned businesses by funding women-focused outreach and technical assistance for Utah women business owners. 

Build Business

The Salt Lake Chamber provides programs, training and tools that help businesses grow through events, webinars, town halls and professional development opportunities. We strive to keep our members informed on critical issues and provide resources for critical needs that impact their businesses, helping them build their companies and the economy in our state. 

FAMILY-FRIENDLY WORKPLACES: A GUIDE FOR UTAH BUSINESS LEADERS 

In May 2023, Utah Community Builders, in partnership with the Salt Lake Chamber, United Way of Salt Lake and Voices for Utah Children, debuted a new resource for the business community entitled Family-Friendly Workplaces: A Guide for Utah Business Leaders. The guide spotlights valuable data, what to consider and actionable steps with best practices for businesses to elevate the culture and leadership around child care support. 

This guide can be a resource for Utah leaders in business, government and community. CEOs, presidents, managers and human resource professionals throughout Utah’s business community are encouraged to carefully review the contents of the guide and consider what steps they can take in their organizations to support the child care needs and overall well-being and success of their employees. 

Click here to view the guide.

DIVERSE-OWNED BUSINESS ACCELERATOR 

The Salt Lake Chamber launched the Diverse-Owned Business Accelerator with the Women’s Business Center of Utah in January 2023. The seven-week cohort program, sponsored by Bank of America, was designed for diverse small business owners to enhance their skills, direction or strategy for their businesses. 

Cohort attendees learned how to become more efficient, effective and successful in their businesses by establishing business strategy roadmaps and 90-day action plans, constructing brand style guides, clarifying revenue streams and much more.

Click here to learn more and view cohort graduates.

“By helping all businesses grow and expand, we can further develop our economic landscape and at the same time make it a place where all people can succeed. We look forward to welcoming this new cohort as we work to assist them in living the American Dream.” – Derek Miller, President & CEO, Salt Lake Chamber 

2023 CLEAR THE AIR CHALLENGE: FIDELITY INVESTMENTS AND ARCHITECTURAL NEXUS TAKE TOP AWARDS 

The Salt Lake Chamber, along with its partners Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR) and TravelWise Utah, hosted the 14th Annual Clear the Air Challenge in July 2023. Issued by business, government and community leaders, the Challenge is a month-long competition designed to encourage Utahns to reduce their vehicle emissions by choosing alternatives to driving alone. 

Numerous businesses and individuals participated in the annual competition to show their commitment to our environment and to raise public awareness of the importance of clean air.

Collectively, this year’s participants reduced 365.1 tons of CO2 emissions, eliminated 55,179 trips, reduced 1,027,027.3 miles traveled, saved $600,000, and burned 1.9 million calories in just 31 days. 

Click here to learn more about this year’s challenge.

Team Highlights

  • Hosted the second Utah’s Business Diversity Summit in October 2022, part of the One Utah Summit Series to engage business and community leaders in efforts to create more diverse and inclusive workplaces. New to the event, six organizations were honored for their efforts to lead the way in equality, diversity and fairness; including Northrop Grumman, Target River and Salt Lake County. 
  • Hosted the State of Downtown in July 2023 to release its annual benchmark report that evaluates the state of downtown Salt Lake City’s economy. The report highlights development, employment, office leases, residential, hospitality, retail, culture, transportation and quality of life. 
  • Recognized several outstanding individuals with Downtown Achievement Awards for their contributions to our city, including Caffé Molise, Brinshore Development, Ryan Lowder of Copper Onion Group, The Ritchie Group, Caryn Bradshaw of Visit Salt Lake, Linda Smith of Repertory Dance Theater and Wayne Niederhauser, Utah Homeless Services Coordinator. 
  • Produced the beloved Downtown Farmers Market at Pioneer Park for the 32nd year. This market runs from June to October and strengthens and supports small businesses and local farms as they bring their products directly to the public. The organization also celebrated 10 years of staging the Winter Market, November through March. 
  • Released the Untapped Potential in Utah report, in partnership with the Salt Lake Chamber, United Way of Salt Lake, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Voices for Utah Children in January 2023, to better help the business community understand the unique needs of working parents in Utah and examine the current child care landscape. The report shows child care issues result in an estimated $1.36 billion loss annually for Utah’s economy. 
  • Launched the inaugural WIN50 Consumer, a community-nominated and peer-selected process for identifying top founders, CEOs and entrepreneurs who are successfully building fast-growing consumer product brand companies with the Consumer Summit in October 2022. 
  • Celebrated its 25th Anniversary in January 2023 with a luncheon that delved into the history of the organization, recognized clients and highlighted its contribution to the community.
  • Graduated 20 women solopreneurs in their 3rd Minding My Own Business cohort (January-February 2023), which taught participants how to be more efficient, effective and profitable business owners. 

Connect Community

The Salt Lake Chamber works to provide peer-to-peer networking opportunities for business professionals within our community. These opportunities range from traditional events like Business After Hours or Business Women’s Forum to more initiative-based committees like the Natural Business Resources Council or Capitol Club. Additionally, the Chamber brings the business community together at our signature events like the Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon. These occasions provide member businesses with a platform to engage, collaborate on ideas and find common ground. 

2022 WOMEN & BUSINESS CONFERENCE AND ATHENA AWARDS LUNCHEON 

On November 14, 2022, local businesswomen heard from inspirational speakers, gained business insights and recognized the accomplishments of those helping to make a difference in our community at the 46th Annual Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon. 

During the event, the 2022 ATHENA Leadership Award was presented to Vicki Varela, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism. The award is given to an active member who demonstrates creativity and initiative in business, provides valuable service by devoting time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community and assists women in reaching their full leadership potential. 

In addition, six women received Pathfinder Awards, which are presented annually to community leaders who create new paths promoting the development and recognition of women in business. The six 2022 Pathfinder recipients this year included: 

  • Heather Doggett, COO, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium 
  • Marlise Fisher, Regional President, WaFd Bank 
  • Natalie Kaddas, President/CEO, Kaddas Enterprises 
  • Kacie Malouf, Co-Founder, Malouf Companies™ and Board Chair, Malouf Foundation™ 
  • Sui Lang L. Panoke, Senior Vice President, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Zions Bank 
  • Dr. Astrid Tuminez, President, Utah Valley University 

Click here to learn more.

2023 GIANT IN OUR CITY: HONORING WILFORD W. CLYDE 

On April 27, 2023, business and community leaders gathered at the Grand America Hotel to recognize Wilford Clyde, Chair of Clyde Companies, Inc., as the 44th Giant in our City for his life as ‘a builder, not only of highways, bridges and dams, but of communities.’ The award is recognized as the most prestigious business award given in Utah. 

In addition to Clyde’s recognition, the Salt Lake Chamber’s nonprofit foundation, Utah Community Builders, honored Mary Ann Lee, Artistic Director for the Tanner Dance Program & Children’s Dance Theatre at the University of Utah, with the 5th annual Lane Beattie Utah Community Builder Award. The award recognizes an inspirational individual who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to address critical community needs. 

Click here to learn more.

Team Highlights

  • Hosted six Business After Hours throughout the business community to provide members a unique opportunity to network with other business professionals and learn about organizations in the area. Venues included Christmas Box International, Ken Garff Scholarship Club, The Trolley Studio, The Leonardo, Squatters Pub Brewery and Project Connection. 
  • Released the 2023 edition of Life in Utah, the state’s premier lifestyle and relocation magazine. The annual publication features Chamber members, such as Ivory Homes and Struck, and includes useful information for visitors, residents and people looking to relocate to our state. 
  • Lit up the winter months once again with GLOW at Gallivan, which featured larger-than-life illuminated sculptures made of upcycled and repurposed materials focused on joy, hope and love. 
  • Hosted CENTRAL in February 2023, a curated three-day celebration at Gallivan Plaza of local art, music and food during NBA All-Star Weekend featuring dozens of musicians, s’more pits, fire dancers and immersive art installations. 
  • Presented Last Hurrah, Utah’s largest countdown to the New Year, in partnership with The Gateway. The family-friendly event featured live music on an outdoor stage, buskers and more. 
  • Produced the beloved Downtown Farmers Market at Pioneer Park for the 32nd year. This market runs from June to October and strengthens and supports small businesses and local farms as they bring their products directly to the public. The organization also celebrated 10 years of staging the Winter Market, November through March. 
  • Shared the results of a statewide survey in Fall 2022 that suggest there are a number of supportives policies employers could enact to recruit, support and retain working parents in Utah’s competitive labor market. The survey was released by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and was sponsored by Utah Community Builders, Salt Lake Chamber and Utah Department of Health and Human Services. 
  • Hosted the WIN Venture Summit in October 2022 to gather the next generation of entrepreneurs alongside mentors, investors and key stakeholders from Utah’s entrepreneurial community. The keynote speaker was Whitney Johnson, CEO of Disruption Advisors. 
  • Celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8th by hosting a panel discussion, in partnership with Kiln, Women’s Leadership Institute and World Trade Center Utah, with women entrepreneurs discussing the challenges of owning a business. 
  • Hosted the “In the City Pop-Up Shop” in April 2023, a female-powered shopping experience in downtown Salt Lake City. The pop-up, sponsored by Cyprus Credit Union, featured a curated group of more than 20 local women-owned and run businesses.