The Salt Lake Chamber will host the 50th annual Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon on November 11, 2026, at the Grand America Hotel!
For 50 years, the Women & Business Conference has brought together women leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs and changemakers from across Utah to learn, grow and support one another. This milestone year celebrates the conference theme, Momentum, the energy that drives progress, creates opportunity and carries impact forward.
Through inspiring speakers, thought-provoking conversations and opportunities to engage with fellow business and community leaders, attendees will explore how momentum is built through leadership, mentorship, innovation and service.
During the luncheon, the Salt Lake Chamber will present the ATHENA Leadership Award 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 to the ATHENA Award, the Chamber also recognize business and community leaders with the Pathfinder Award for their work to create new paths and promote the development and recognition of women in business.
A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit the Women’s Business Center of Utah.
2026 Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon
November 11, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
The Grand America Hotel
555 S. Main Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Registration & Breakfast
Location: Grand Ballroom
Check out the exhibitor booths. Be sure to get a sticker or stamp on the official Women & Business Conference exhibitor passport. By completely filling out the passport, attendees have the opportunity to be entered into a drawing for a major gift! (Drawing will happen during the closing session, must be present to win.)
Welcome
Location: Grand Ballroom
More information to come.
Opening Session:
The Swig Effect: Creating a Culture the World Cannot Resist
How did Swig grow from one small location in southern Utah to a nationwide brand everyone is talking about — even celebrities like Jimmy Fallon and Millie Bobby Brown?
The answer is simple: Swig built a culture of care from the beginning.
From day one, Swig focused on creating more than a refreshing drink. The team genuinely cares about every customer and aims to make people feel seen and valued. That commitment is what Swig calls “Day Making.”
In this thoughtful keynote, Nicole Robison, founder of Swig, shares the story behind Swig’s growth and the lessons she learned along the way. She explores how a people-first culture, purposeful leadership and customer care turn small, everyday moments into customer loyalty. Whether you’re leading a team, growing a business or shaping customer experience, Robison’s message is a reminder that lasting success often begins with something simple: trying to make someone’s day.
Breakout Session #1
Carry the Flame: You Were Always Meant to Carry It
When was the last time someone truly saw you? Not your title, not your output, not your performance, but you? For most women in business, the answer is: not recently enough. We spend years carrying everyone else’s flame. Leading teams. Building organizations. Raising families. Showing up for everyone around us. And somewhere in the middle of all that carrying, we forget to ask what we were always meant to carry forward for ourselves. This session changes that.
In 2001, just weeks after Sept. 11, Krista Parry was 22 years old and tasked with finding 100 Americans whose lives had been forever changed by the attacks and inviting them to carry the Olympic flame across a grieving nation. She traveled the country with the Olympic Torch Relay, and what she witnessed reshaped everything she has built since. Every single torchbearer, no matter their story, no matter their grief, carried something forward the moment someone truly saw them. That’s not inspiration. That’s a framework. And it works for every woman in this room. See the Person. Create the Moment. Carry It Forward.
In this session, you will learn to identify who has been carrying the flame for you, how to create moments that matter for the people you lead and love and how to build the kind of leadership legacy that travels further than you can witness. This isn’t a session about working harder. It’s about carrying something worth passing on.
Lead With Purpose, Amplify Others
What if the most powerful thing you could do for your own career is to invest deeply in someone else’s? Angela H. Brown has spent more than 35 years building two of Utah’s most enduring creative institutions — SLUG Magazine and Craft Lake City — not by chasing personal recognition, but by creating platforms for others. In this session, Brown shares how leading with purpose and centering community over self is not just a values choice; it is a business strategy. You will walk away with a clear framework for building influence through generosity, giving your work meaning beyond the bottom line and showing up as a leader who leaves something behind worth talking about.
The Excellent Strategy of Good Enough (Why Perfectionism Is Ruining Your Leadership and What To Do Instead)
In this engaging talk, Dr. Amanda Nell Edgar helps attendees see perfectionism clearly: what it masquerades as, why it feels so convincing and how it quietly undermines creativity, leadership and momentum. Many high-achieving women experience perfectionism as “high standards,” but in practice, it often shows up as black-and-white thinking that keeps them stuck, anxious and creatively frozen.
Drawing on psychology, communication research and her work coaching authors and entrepreneurs, Edgar introduces a counterintuitive but evidence-based approach: treating “good enough” as a smart strategy rather than a compromise. By intentionally lowering the stakes and doing things a little imperfectly, you can calm your nervous system, make steady progress and actually produce more meaningful work over time.
You will learn how to recognize perfectionistic thought patterns in real time, respond to the inner voices that warn “You’re going to ruin everything,” and replace all-or-nothing habits with more flexible, humane ways of working. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of perfectionism as a thinking pattern — and practical tools to create, lead and make decisions with greater clarity, confidence and creative freedom.
Breakout Session #2
Go Big or Go Bigger
Jenny Groberg built BookSmarts from a freelance hustle she started when her kids were young into a seven-figure, award-winning enterprise employing dozens of women and men around the world who need flexible, supportive work.
But the real story is not that Groberg grew a successful business. It is that she grew it during some of the hardest seasons of her life.
Groberg scaled BookSmarts while raising five kids, recovering from a traumatic brain injury, working through the death of her mother and continuing to lead a team, serve clients and build something bigger for herself. Growth rarely happens in perfect conditions, but Groberg has proof that women can thrive under the toughest situations. Growth happens when life is complicated, resources are stretched, confidence is shaky and the next step feels bigger than you are ready for.
In this session, Groberg will share the honest, behind-the-scenes story of how she kept going, rebuilt after setbacks and learned to grow with more focus, intention and commitment. You will get a real look at what it takes to build momentum through small wins, lead through uncertainty, challenge fear and create a business that supports not only your own goals but the lives and livelihoods of others.
You do not need perfect conditions to build something meaningful. You need vision, persistence, relationships and the courage to go bigger.
Bridging Generations: Unlocking the Power of Intergenerational Collaboration in the Workplace
Today’s workforce is more generationally diverse than ever before, with professionals from Gen Z to Baby Boomers working side by side. While differences in communication styles, workplace expectations, technology adoption and leadership approaches can create challenges, they also present extraordinary opportunities for innovation, mentorship, collaboration and organizational growth.
This interactive session will explore how women leaders can intentionally cultivate stronger intergenerational relationships that drive engagement, retention, professional development and business success. You will gain practical strategies for navigating generational differences, building trust across age groups, leveraging diverse strengths and creating workplace cultures where all generations feel valued and empowered.
Your Seat at the Table: How Utah Women Reach the Boardroom
Board service is one of the highest-leverage seats a woman can hold, shaping the strategy, capital and culture of an entire organization. Yet women remain outnumbered in boardrooms across every sector, except nonprofit organizations. The reason is seldom a shortage of qualified women. It’s that few of us are ever taught how appointments happen, who does the choosing and what turns a strong candidate into the one who gets the call.
This panel brings together Peggy Larsen and Sara Jones, board directors with the Utah chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), the country’s leading organization for board directors and corporate governance professionals. Together, they hold seats on corporate and nonprofit boards. Both are Salt Lake Chamber Pathfinder honorees, and one has received the ATHENA Leadership Award, the Chamber’s highest recognition of women’s leadership.
In this candid session, they draw on their extensive careers and their service in NACD Utah to give you insight into how boards actually make appointment decisions, how to position your value, where to start and how the relationships you build today become the invitation you receive tomorrow.
It Would Have Been Nice to Know… Wisdom From Two Women Who Built It the Hard Way
Utah women are among the most educated, community-invested and values-driven professionals in the country. The story we tell about them — and the story they tell themselves — hasn’t always kept pace. The gap isn’t ambition. It’s narrative.
In this fireside chat, three Utah leaders examine the cultural stories that shape how women in our state think about career, contribution and worth. What stories did we inherit? Which still serve us? Which are capping the reach of the most educated women in America? And what story do we want to hand to the next generation of Utah women in business?
Sheri Dew, Ruth Todd and Melanie Jones bring decades of experience leading some of Utah’s most influential institutions — across media, publishing and the women’s leadership ecosystem. Together, they’ll trace where Utah’s narrative about women in business is changing in real time, where it’s holding firm and how the leaders in this room — employers, executives, mentors, mothers — can write a more honest one. This is a candid, locally-grounded conversation about Utah’s next chapter for women in business, and the role each of us plays in writing it.
ATHENA Awards Luncheon
Location: Grand Ballroom
The Salt Lake Chamber will present the ATHENA Leadership Award 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 to the ATHENA Award, the Chamber will also recognize business and community leaders with the Pathfinder Award for their work to create new paths and promote the development and recognition of women in business.
ATHENA International Award
Pathfinders:
Breakout Session #3
How to Lead When You Don’t Own the Room – Building Influence, Trust and Momentum Without Formal Authority
Many women are asked to lead important work without formally owning the team, the budget, the decision or the room. Whether guiding a cross-functional project, building a partnership, leading a committee or advancing an idea inside an organization, success often depends less on title and more on influence.
In this practical breakout session, Denise Fletcher Call will share a framework for leading across boundaries by building trust, clarifying shared purpose, engaging the right voices and creating momentum toward action. Drawing from her experience convening leaders across higher education, government, industry, military, nonprofit and community settings, Call will help you recognize the leadership you already bring and strengthen your ability to move people forward when formal authority is limited.
You’ll leave with practical tools for shaping conversations, building credibility, creating alignment and turning collaborative work into visible leadership impact.
How to Identify, Heal and Prevent Professional Burnout
So many women in business assume their burnout stems from chronic anxiousness, wall-to-wall meetings, a never-ending workload, challenging leaders or teams and day-to-day operations.
But these are symptoms of a deeper-rooted issue: loss of identity.
As leaders and visionaries, we are built differently. Our self-esteem is deeply rooted in accomplishment, accolades and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. But when success is our only goal, what is left of who we are?
The truth is that professional burnout can be a signal — a deep intuitive knowing that the way you are operating day to day isn’t sustainable. During this session, Plant will share her burnout story and why she is so passionate about it, along with three guiding phases women go through to identify, heal and prevent burnout.
Part 1: Identify Burnout: Identify the signs and symptoms of burnout and why you may have over-identified with corporate and business systems, taking them on as your whole identity.
Part 2: Heal Burnout: Learn why identifying values, leveraging your gifts and honoring your intuition can empower you to shed the old ways of living and working so you can do less of what you hate and more of what makes you feel alive.
Part 3: Prevent Burnout: Audit your values, gifts and inner guidance against your past conditioning and broader corporate and business systems to start making micro changes toward the life, career and business that aligns with who you are, not who you were told to be.
Professional burnout becomes less about day-to-day responsibilities and more about the broader business and corporate systems and past programming outside ourselves. When we give ourselves permission to abandon what doesn’t honor our values, gifts and intuition, it enables us to design our home and professional lives on our terms. That is the greatest gift we can give back to ourselves.
We Built This: The Power of Being Women-Owned and the Community It Creates
Being women-owned is more than a certification. It is a declaration, a community and a competitive advantage. In this powerful panel conversation, three dynamic certified women business owners pull back the curtain on what it truly means to build and grow a women-owned enterprise and how the community that comes with that designation can transform not just a business, but an entire trajectory.
From winning contracts to finding your people, from navigating industries that were not built for you to showing up anyway and winning, this session is an honest, inspiring and deeply practical conversation about what happens when women own their power and invest in each other.
Whether you are newly certified, exploring certification or simply ready to tap into a community of women who are building something real, you’ll leave this session with clarity, connection and your next step.
We built this. And we are just getting started.
Goalkeepers Needed – End-to-End Authentic Leadership
What can a former NCAA All-American goalkeeper teach women in business about leadership, resilience and navigating pressure? Quite a bit.
Courtney Hills McBeth began her college career in competitive athletics, then transferred her skills as a goalkeeper to executive leadership roles that involved high-stakes decision-making and oversight of large-scale educational innovation and workforce initiatives. Today, her academic leadership impacts hundreds of thousands of online learners nationwide.
In an inspiring and energizing presentation, McBeth shares how her dream to become a goalkeeper eventually became her ticket to college and how the lessons she learned as a goalkeeper — how to stop goals, read the game, distribute the ball and manage pressure — helped her become a true leader, on-field strategist and team stabilizer. The resilience, teamwork and determination she developed on the soccer field continue to shape her leadership philosophy and commitment to helping others achieve their full potential.
Drawing from her experience serving in major organizations, managing multimillion-dollar initiatives, building partnerships across industries and helping shape the future of higher education and workforce readiness, McBeth offers practical tools and fresh perspectives for women navigating leadership in rapidly changing environments.
McBeth also shares insight into leading authentically, building confidence, embracing ambition and remaining grounded in purpose while balancing the realities of work, family, growth and personal reinvention.
With humor, candor and high energy, McBeth provides actionable strategies you can immediately apply in your career and life — whether you are leading teams, building businesses, pursuing new opportunities or learning to trust your own voice.
You’ll leave inspired, equipped and connected to a larger vision of what authentic, courageous leadership looks like.
Closing Session
Location: Grand Ballroom
To be announced soon.
Sandi Sumner Hendry, Founder and CEO, Minky Couture
Sandi Sumner Hendry is the founder and CEO of Minky Couture, the original luxury blanket company, founded in 2009. A graduate of Brigham Young University with degrees in education and business, Hendry spent 30 years as an elementary school teacher before transitioning into business development and human resources at Mountain View Title, a company she co-owned with her husband, Michael.
Hendry’s entrepreneurial journey began from a deeply personal experience. While her daughter was hospitalized, she asked for a “big baby blanket” for comfort. Unable to find anything that was both exceptionally soft and beautiful, Hendry created one herself using plush minky fabric. What started as a simple act of love quickly captured the attention of hospital staff and patients. She gave away dozens of blankets before selling them from the trunk of her car — launching what would become Minky Couture.
Today, Minky Couture has grown into a nationally recognized brand with seven Utah retail locations, a thriving e-commerce business and hundreds of talented Utah women who sew many of the company’s signature blankets from their homes. Over the past 17 years, the company has sold more than 8 million blankets and offers one of the industry’s largest selections of sizes, colors, textures and prints.
In 2018, Hendry pioneered the original HUGS blanket collection, designed with a unique stretch fabric that creates the feeling of being gently embraced. Her passion for bringing comfort to others extends beyond the products themselves. Through the Heart of Minky charitable initiative, every adult blanket purchased helps provide a Mini Minky blanket to a baby in a NICU. Today, the program donates more than 100,000 mini blankets each year to hospitals and families across the country.
Hendry and her husband, Michael, are the proud parents of eight children, grandparents to 26 grandchildren and great-grandparents to one. Whether spending time with family, traveling, boating, golfing or relaxing on the beaches of Florida, Hendry’s greatest joy has always been creating comfort, both at home and through the blankets that have become part of millions of families’ lives.
Jill Borst is an advisory director of Goldman Sachs and head of the Salt Lake City office. She is a member of the Firmwide New Activity Committee. Previously, Borst was head of North America Interest Rate Products Sales and co-head of Global Repo Trading in the Global Markets Division. She previously served as chair of the Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC Fixed Income Best Execution Subcommittee and also served as firmwide captain of the Princeton University Undergraduate Recruiting team.
Borst joined Goldman Sachs in 2000 as an analyst in the Derivatives Structuring and Marketing Group within the Investment Banking Division and moved to Fixed Income, Currency and Commodities Sales in 2002. She managed relationships with the firm’s largest financial institution clients, with a focus on portfolio investing and risk management strategies across macro markets. Borst was named managing director in 2009 and partner in 2012.
Borst earned a bachelor’s in economics, summa cum laude, from Princeton University and a certificate in finance from the Bendheim Center of Finance in 2000. She relocated to Utah with her family in 2022.
Carin Crowe is the CEO of Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake Area, where she has spent more than a decade helping families build strength, stability and self-reliance through affordable homeownership, critical home repairs, neighborhood revitalization and international service. She holds a master's degree in social work from the University of Houston, a bachelor's degree in psychology from Quincy University and is a Certified International Human Rights Consultant.
Crowe believes that when we lift others, we all rise. She is passionate about mentoring young women, creating opportunities for people to discover their potential and building collaborative teams where everyone has a chance to lead and grow. Her leadership philosophy centers on making room for others, fostering meaningful partnerships and creating lasting community impact.
Under her leadership, Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake Area has been recognized as one of Utah's Best Nonprofits to Work For (2025), one of America's Most Admired Workplaces (2026) and achieved two of the four Women's Leadership Institute pillars. Crowe was also named one of Utah's Most Influential Women in 2025.
Beyond Habitat for Humanity, Crow serves as chair of Unsheltered Utah, mentors with Women Who Succeed, serves on the advisory board for the Utah Civic Housing Alliance, is vice chair of the ChamberWest Legislative Affairs Housing Committee and serves on Habitat for Humanity International's Operations Oversight Board.
Outside of work, Crowe is a proud mom of four grown children, has one wonderful daughter-in-law and enjoys hiking, high adventure and traveling.
Abby Osborne serves as vice president of impact, engagement and enterprise operations for the Utah 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Organizing Committee. In this role, she leads the organization's impact and legacy strategy, stakeholder engagement, government relations, communications and enterprise operations, helping ensure the Games create meaningful, lasting benefits for Utah and the Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
Before joining the Organizing Committee, Osborne served as Chief of Staff for the Utah House of Representatives, where she was the senior strategic advisor to the Speaker of the House and oversaw House operations, legislative staff and policy coordination. Throughout her public service career, she has built a reputation for bringing together leaders from government, business and community organizations to solve complex challenges and deliver results.
Previously, Osborne served as executive vice president of government affairs and public policy for the Salt Lake Chamber and spent 13 years with Granite Construction in project management and public affairs. In 2014, she founded the Utah Transportation Coalition, a statewide partnership dedicated to advancing transportation solutions and infrastructure investment.
Osborne is passionate about building partnerships that strengthen communities and believes the greatest legacy of the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be measured not by what happens during 17 days of competition, but by the opportunities created for generations to come. She lives in Bountiful, Utah, with her family.
Victoria Petro’s journey to public service is rooted in her deep love for Salt Lake City’s Westside and her commitment to creating a brighter future for District 1. First appointed to the Salt Lake City Council in November 2021, she quickly earned the trust of District 1 voters, who elected her to a full four-year term starting Jan. 3, 2022. Her colleagues recognized her leadership abilities, electing her as council vice chair in 2023 and council chair in 2024. Petro also represents the city on the Utah Fairpark Area Investment and Restoration District Board, Utah Inland Port Authority Board and Salt Lake City Airport Board, advocating for equitable, community-centered development.
District 1 neighborhoods include Rose Park, Jordan Meadows, Westpointe and a portion of Fairpark. Petro is proud to represent this vibrant and diverse community, rich in culture and opportunity. For nearly a decade, she has called District 1 home, raising her four children in the neighborhood.
Petro earned a bachelor’s degree in music therapy from East Carolina University, a master’s degree in musicology from Brandeis University, a master’s degree in international studies from North Carolina State University and a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University. Her career has spanned nonprofit leadership and consulting, with a focus on creating actionable strategies to improve inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility across various settings.
As executive director of the Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Petro leads initiatives that support Hispanic-owned businesses, strengthen economic opportunity and foster strategic partnerships across Utah. With a passion for community development and inclusive leadership, Petro works to connect entrepreneurs, business leaders and policymakers to advance the Chamber's mission of empowering Hispanic businesses and driving statewide economic growth. She is a dedicated advocate for collaboration, innovation and creating pathways for long-term success throughout Utah's business community.
Petro works closely with neighbors and community councils across District 1 and neighboring District 2 to amplify Westside perspectives. Her goal is to create unity, sustainable growth and greater equity for the communities she loves and calls home. When she’s not working on council priorities, Petro enjoys spending time with her family and contributing to the artistic and cultural vibrancy of the Westside.
Sally Steed is an accomplished executive sales leader with more than 35 years of experience driving revenue growth, building strategic partnerships and leading high-performing sales organizations. She has a proven track record of building exceptional sales teams, developing top talent and creating a culture of collaboration, accountability and sustained success. Throughout her career, Steed has earned a reputation for developing lasting client relationships, identifying new business opportunities and delivering innovative marketing, sponsorship and business development solutions across a variety of Industries.
Prior to joining the Deseret News, Steed served as a regional sales director for Technics Musical Instruments, a division of Panasonic, where she led regional sales operations and cultivated strong dealer and distribution partnerships across the country. She brought this extensive leadership experience to the Deseret News, where she is now serving her 22nd year as vice president of sales. In this role, she leads strategic revenue initiatives and partners with organizations to create impactful collaborations that connect brands with engaged audiences. Her long-standing leadership, collaborative approach and commitment to excellence have made her a trusted advisor to clients, colleagues and community partners alike.
Steed pursued business education studies at Weber State University and completed professional sales training through the Matsushita Sales Institute, building a strong foundation in business, leadership and strategic sales. Passionate about fostering meaningful relationships and creating opportunities for growth, Steed is dedicated to strengthening Utah's business community through strategic partnerships, mentorship and service.
Heidi Woodbury is the senior vice president for advancement at the University of Utah, where she leads the University's comprehensive advancement enterprise, including philanthropy, alumni relations, advancement services and donor engagement. Since joining the University's executive leadership team in 2019, she has championed a collaborative, donor-centric approach to fundraising and organizational excellence. Woodbury led the successful completion of the University of Utah's “Imagine New Heights” campaign, which surpassed its historic $2 billion goal, and spearheaded the implementation of the University's One U advancement model – strengthening partnerships and enhancing the donor and alumni experience across campus.
A proud University of Utah graduate, Woodbury has devoted her 40-year career to advancing higher education. Prior to her current role, she served in several leadership positions at the David Eccles School of Business, culminating as assistant dean for external relations, where she expanded philanthropic support, deepened alumni engagement and helped establish transformative academic programs and facilities. Earlier in her career, she led public relations efforts for KUER. Widely respected for her collaborative leadership and relationship-building, Woodbury remains committed to creating opportunities that empower students, strengthen communities and advance the University of Utah's mission.
A college degree was not originally part of Woodbury’s plan after high school. Fortunately, her high school academic counselor encouraged her to apply for the prestigious University of Utah Leadership Scholarship; this changed everything. She has since dedicated her life’s work to paying it forward and facilitating more opportunities for students at the University of Utah.
Nicole Robison grew up as the fifth of eight children on a farm in Teton Valley, Idaho, where she learned the grit and determination that still drive her today. After earning her associate’s degree from Ricks College (now BYU–Idaho), she poured her boundless energy into raising five incredible children (and now delights in several grandchildren).
In 2010, Robison turned her simple love of Diet Coke, pebble ice and meaningful connection into something extraordinary: Swig! What began as one small drive-thru has grown, through her relentless vision and leadership, into a beloved national brand with more than 160 locations and counting. Her journey hasn’t been without challenges.
At 37, Robison faced breast cancer, overcoming both the disease and the crushing medical debt it left behind thanks to an anonymous donor’s generosity. That life-changing moment fueled her passion not only to build Swig but also to give back.
Today, through Swig’s Save The Cups campaign, Robison helps lift the financial burdens of women battling breast cancer, paying forward the kindness she once received. Save the Cups has raised an incredible 2 million dollars since its beginning in 2020.
When Robison is not leading Swig or championing Save The Cups, you’ll find her exploring the world with her husband, hiking the beautiful mountains of Utah and Idaho or soaking up time with her growing family. Her motto says it all: Life is a gift, make it count by loving deeply, connecting often and chasing every dream.
Angela H. Brown is the publisher and owner of SLUG Magazine, Salt Lake's longest-running independent publication, and the visionary founder and executive director of Craft Lake City, Utah's leading nonprofit celebrating local makers and creative culture. Over 35 years, Brown has built platforms for thousands of artists, makers and independent voices across Utah — with a particular commitment to elevating women and underrepresented creatives who deserve a seat at the table. She is a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses graduate and has received the Josephine Zimmerman Pioneer in Journalism Award, the 2024 Mayor's Artist Award and the 2026 Downtown Alliance Cultural Icon Award.
More information to come.
Tonya Davis is the director of external relations at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University, where she leads strategic initiatives focused on corporate engagement, alumni relations, student opportunities and industry partnerships. With more than 20 years of experience in higher education, Davis is known for her exceptional leadership, collaborative approach and ability to build innovative solutions that connect students, faculty, alumni and corporate partners in meaningful ways.
Since joining Utah State University in 2001, Davis has served in a variety of leadership roles spanning university advancement, alumni relations, corporate engagement, and external relations. Her work has centered on creating transformative educational experiences that empower students to learn beyond the classroom, explore the global business landscape and develop the confidence and analytical rigor to “dare mighty things.”
Davis earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Utah and her MBA from Utah State University. She is deeply respected for her strategic vision, thoughtful execution and ability to foster strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
A passionate advocate for women in leadership and professional development, Davis leads a multigenerational all-female team and is committed to cultivating collaborative, supportive workplace cultures where individuals can thrive personally and professionally.
Sheri Dew is executive vice president and chief content officer of Deseret Management Corporation and a bestselling author. Her books include biographies of Presidents Russell M. Nelson, Gordon B. Hinckley and Ezra Taft Benson. Dew served as second counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was a White House delegate to the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women, and serves on the BYU Marriott School of Management National Advisory Council. She is a graduate of BYU.
Dr. Amanda Nell Edgar is a nationally award-winning speaker and founder of Page & Podium Press, a boutique publishing company that helps women leaders shape ideas into books, talks and platforms with real authority. A former tenured professor, Edgar brings research, rhetorical precision and creative imagination to her work at the intersection of storytelling, communication and the psychology of creativity. Known for her clarity, warmth and casual humor, she helps audiences understand why voices get silenced, how ideas take shape and what it takes to move from insight to impact.
Denise Fletcher Call has built a career in the space between people, ideas and institutions — the place where everyone agrees something should happen, but no one is quite sure who is supposed to make it move.
As a strategic engagement leader at Weber State University, Call works across higher education, aerospace and defense, government, industry and community partnerships to build trust, connect stakeholders and move complex conversations toward action. She is the founder of IDEA SparkLab, an agile nonprofit focused on championing early-stage ideas and emerging voices, and she is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in organizational leadership.
Her research and real-world work focus on collaborative leadership, knowledge sharing and the power of convening. Fletcher Call is especially interested in the quiet but courageous leadership that happens when someone notices what the room needs — and steps forward to help the table work.
Jenny Groberg is a wife, mother, champion of flexible work and the visionary CEO and founder of BookSmarts Accounting.
Groberg has brought together a dynamic, majority-women team offering a fully customizable suite of accounting services. The firm helps organizations strengthen their financial operations, improve real-time decision-making and gain greater confidence in the numbers behind their businesses.
The efforts of Groberg and her team have earned global recognition. She is a four-time international Stevie Award winner, has been named Utah Business CEO of the Year to the Inc. Female Founders 500, and is a recipient of the Salt Lake Chamber Pathfinder Award. BookSmarts has been recognized as one of Utah’s Top 100 Companies Dedicated to Championing Women and, in 2026, earned the title of Utah Best of State’s top accounting firm.
Groberg is passionate about creating meaningful professional opportunities for talented people who might otherwise be left out of the workforce. She intentionally built BookSmarts to support individuals who need a job that fits their lives, not the other way around. BookSmarts enables this with flexible schedules, remote work and clear pathways for growth. Taking it a step further, Groberg offers an annual scholarship program to women entering business school, along with internships for young professionals.
Beyond her work with clients and the firm, Groberg is committed to expanding access to education and careers in accounting. Over the past two years, she and members of the BookSmarts team have contributed more than 300 volunteer hours to support four cohorts of approximately 100 accounting students each through the BYU-Pathway Worldwide program. Four graduates of the program now work for BookSmarts.
In 2018, Groberg suffered a traumatic brain injury that changed her life. Thanks to the flexible work model that she built, she was able to step back and focus on healing. She came back stronger and more dedicated than ever to the belief that work should serve both the clients who rely on it and the people who deliver it.
Groberg’s financial expertise has been cited by Inc., Forbes, Accounting Today, Nasdaq, Yahoo Finance, Entrepreneur, CNBC, U.S. News & World Report and other national media outlets. She holds a degree in finance from the University of Utah.
Groberg lives in the Salt Lake City area with her husband and five children. When she is not building her business, championing flexible work and supporting other women, Groberg is likely exploring a new corner of the world, fitting in a workout or enjoying time with her family, sometimes all at once.
Carmella Johns-Andruk is a senior manager of corporate and alumni relations at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University, where she connects students, alumni, faculty and industry partners through experiential learning, mentorship and career development initiatives. Her work focuses on building meaningful partnerships that prepare students for evolving workforce demands while strengthening engagement between higher education and industry.
Before transitioning into higher education, Johns-Andruk built a career in the entertainment industry, where she developed expertise in relationship management, audience engagement, event production and cross-functional collaboration. That experience shaped her passion for creating dynamic, people-centered experiences that bring diverse groups together around shared goals.
Johns-Andruk studied merchandising and design at Western Kentucky University and later earned her Bachelor of Science in business communications from Utah State University. At Huntsman, she has led collaborative programs that connect professionals across industries, career stages and generations to foster mentorship, leadership development and community engagement. She is especially passionate about helping emerging professionals build confidence, networks and career readiness while creating opportunities for experienced leaders to share insights and learn from rising generations.
Drawing from her combined experience in entertainment, higher education, employer engagement, alumni relations and workforce development, Johns-Andruk brings an energetic and practical perspective on how organizations can strengthen culture, communication and innovation through intergenerational collaboration.
Melanie Paris Jones is CEO of the Women’s Leadership Institute, a Utah nonprofit elevating professional women through cohort-based training and corporate partnerships. Formerly the award-winning editor-in-chief of Utah Business, Jones spent more than two decades in leadership at Ultradent and Younique. She has hosted fireside chats with leaders including Nicole Tanner, Aaron Skonnard, Jacki Zehner, Nate Randle and Allyse Jackson. Jones previously served as a TEDxSaltLakeCity curator and speaking coach, and she co-led the Organizational Strategies Spoke of A Bolder Way Forward.
Sara Jones is CEO of NetWorkPlay™ and InclusionPro®, a TED and national speaker, and an award-winning leader. With more than 25 years of experience, Jones consults leaders on strategy, platform development and leadership development. Previously, Jones was CEO of ApplicantPro, an HR technology company, accelerating revenue by 63%, and was vice president of strategic development at Patent Law Works, an IP firm in Silicon Valley. She also led business development and product development at School Improvement Network where she sourced the largest deal in company history ($5.5 million). Jones spent her early career mastering intellectual property law and rising to partner at Workman Nydegger.
Jones has served on the boards of Utah State Workforce Development, Intermountain Healthcare Salt Lake Valley Hospitals, Women Tech Council, Silicon Slopes, Talent Ready Utah and Women’s Leadership Institute. She was honored with a CEO of the Year Award from Utah Business, a Pathfinder Award from the Salt Lake Chamber, a Women’s Leadership Award from Sundance Institute and Zions Bank, and the University of Utah Distinguished Alumni Award, one of the university’s highest alumni honors, recognizing sustained leadership and impact.
Jones holds a J.D. from Brigham Young University Law School and a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Utah.
Missy Kelly is an entrepreneur, speaker, author and visionary business leader best known as the co-founder and CEO of CatTongue Grips, the company behind the patented Gription® and Safety Grit® product lines. Under her leadership, CatTongue Grips has grown into a global innovator in nonslip safety solutions, serving customers across aerospace, defense, industrial manufacturing, health care, marine and consumer markets.
Driven by a passion for helping people realize their full potential, Kelly is also the founder of Born for Impact, where she coaches entrepreneurs and leaders to expand their mindset, strengthen their identity and create meaningful success in business and life. Through coaching, speaking and her weekly newsletter, Born for Impact, she shares practical insights on leadership, identity and mindset, empowering others to reach their full potential.
A recognized leader in entrepreneurship, Kelly is a member of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) National Forum and previously served as chair of the Utah Forum for WBEC-West, helping advance opportunities for women-owned businesses. She also serves on the Dean's Advisory Board for the University of Colorado Boulder College of Arts & Sciences.
Whether she's leading innovation in advanced manufacturing, speaking on leadership and mindset or helping others step into their next level of influence, Kelly believes lasting success begins with becoming the person capable of creating it.
Kelly lives in Park City, Utah, with her husband, Matt, their two children and three dogs. When she's not building businesses or speaking, you'll find her skiing, hiking, traveling or seeking her next adventure — living by her motto: Live life. Love hard. Do epic sh*t.
Peggy Larsen is a retired insurance executive where she worked in sales, marketing and community relations. She is a past board member of WCF Insurance and currently serves on the boards of National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), American Heart Association, Hale Centre Theatre, as well as the advisory boards of Junior Achievement and the Women's Leadership Institute.
Larsen is a recipient of the Salt Lake Chamber Pathfinder and ATHENA awards, as well as the South Valley Chamber Titan Award. She is the author of a memoir, “Beyond My Wildest” and has a foundation in honor of her late daughter, Amber.
Kaelyn Loveless serves as program manager for ProSales and corporate relations manager at the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University, where she designs and leads initiatives that connect students with meaningful post-graduation career opportunities. Her work focuses on building strong relationships between students, employers, alumni and industry partners to create impactful experiential learning and professional development experiences.
Loveless also serves as an adjunct instructor, bringing a student-centered and technology-informed approach to teaching and career readiness. With experience spanning recruitment, employer relations, corporate engagement and program management, she is passionate about helping students build confidence, professional networks and the skills needed to successfully transition into the workforce.
Prior to her current role, Loveless served in several student recruitment and engagement positions at Utah State University, where she developed expertise in strategic planning, relationship management and student outreach. Her commitment to student success is complemented by her academic background in communication and instructional technology.
Loveless is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in instructional technology and learning science at Utah State University, where her research interests center on learning design, student engagement and innovative educational experiences. She also holds a Master of Arts in instructional technology and learning science and a Bachelor of Science in communication and media studies from Utah State University.
Heather May is the executive director of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Utah Chapter and runs an association management practice serving governance and women's leadership organizations in Utah and Arizona. This gives May a front-row seat to how boards and directors deliberate, connect and lead.
Dr. Courtney Hills McBeth, Ed.D., is chief academic officer and provost at Western Governors University (WGU), one of the nation's largest online universities and a recognized leader in workforce-aligned, competency-based education. She leads WGU's four schools, program development and accreditation, and oversees innovation, student success and AI-powered, skills-forward learning initiatives designed to prepare learners for an evolving talent economy.
McBeth has helped position WGU as a leading voice in skills-based hiring, career readiness and the future of learning in an AI-enabled world.
A nationally recognized higher education leader, McBeth has built her career at the intersection of innovation, student success, workforce development and leadership. She is a sought-after speaker on the future of work, AI in education, competency-based learning and models that expand access and opportunity.
Prior to joining WGU, McBeth served as senior vice president and chief program officer at Strada Education Foundation, where she oversaw more than $100 million in grantmaking focused on strengthening connections between education and employment. Throughout her career, she championed initiatives that advance economic mobility and help learners navigate changing career pathways.
McBeth had a trailblazing career at the University of Utah, scaling global and domestic internship programs, leading academic programs, executive education and student services efforts in the Office of the President, the Eccles School of Business, Sorenson Impact Institute, the Office for Global Engagement and the Hinckley Institute of Politics.
As a special assistant to the University of Utah's president, McBeth led university-wide strategic planning, presidential initiatives and innovation efforts, including developing an outcomes-based finance model and leading an entrepreneurship challenge with a coalition of national universities.
McBeth holds a doctorate degree from the University of Pennsylvania in higher education management. She earned her bachelor's degree in political science and master's degree in education from the University of Utah, where she was an NCAA Division I All-American goalkeeper and team captain. The resilience, teamwork and leadership she developed on and off the soccer field continue to shape her leadership style and commitment to helping others achieve their goals.
Krista Parry is a Salt Lake City-based keynote speaker, strategic communications executive and founder of "Flame Carriers," a platform built on the belief that the most powerful thing any leader can create isn't a campaign. It's a moment someone carries for 20 years.
In 2001, just weeks after Sept. 11, Parry, who worked on the Olympic Torch Relay communications team, was tasked with finding 100 Americans whose lives had been forever changed by the attacks and inviting them to carry the Olympic flame across a grieving nation
What she witnessed on that relay became the framework she has spent two decades proving works, in boardrooms, on stages and across more than $25 million in brand partnerships and executive roles at organizations including POWDR, Park City Mountain Resort and Visit Salt Lake.
Parry lives in Salt Lake City with her husband and two teenage sons, where she trains for marathons, skis and coaches track at her sons' high school.
Amber Plant spent years in corporate marketing streamlining workflows, fixing bottlenecks and becoming the go-to person for projects no one else wanted to touch. She was gifted at systems, but she was also completely burned out. Everyone assumes career and business are the main source of burnout. For Plant, career was only a fraction of the issue. She was suffering from mental, emotional, physical, relational and spiritual neglect, abandoning all parts of herself to assume the role she was hired to do.
It was only after healing through trauma therapy and reconnecting with her intuition that Plant founded her consultancy with a simple belief: You can't fix a role or business if it doesn't align with your true identity. Through private executive consulting, she helps burnt-out founders and leaders realign with their values, gifts and intuition. Her purpose is to empower them to work, live and make decisions that align with who they are instead of who they were told to be.
Through public speaking, burnout research and education, Plant brings greater awareness to the professional community in Utah and worldwide.
More information to come.
Ruth Todd is executive vice president and chief content officer of Bonneville International, overseeing content for KSL-TV and 24 radio stations across six markets. An award-winning journalist with more than 30 years of experience anchoring at ABC, CBS and NBC affiliates, Todd previously served as chief reputation officer at Nu Skin International and taught communications at Brigham Young University (BYU). Todd holds a bachelor’s degree and MBA from BYU and serves on the boards of Thanksgiving Point, the Center for Latter-day Arts and the Young Women General Advisory Council.
Pamela Williamson, Ph.D., strives to provide parity and equity in procurement opportunities for women-owned businesses with corporations at the local, national and global levels. She designs procurement educational programs for women and conducts events designed to showcase the expertise, skills and abilities of women-owned businesses, with the goal of connecting corporations with women who can provide sustainable products, services and innovations for their supply chains and increasing the economic empowerment of women.
Since 2009, Williamson has served as president and CEO of the Women’s Business Enterprise Council-West (WBEC-West), a nonprofit organization. The organization exists to cultivate sustainable relationships between certified women’s business enterprises and corporate America through certification, education and targeted networking.
Williamson holds a doctorate in business administration, a Master of Business Administration and bachelor’s degrees in social work and psychology.
| 2020-Present | 2010-2019 | 2000-2009 | 1990-1999 | 1984-1989 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020: Molly Mazzolini, Infinite Scale | 2010: Dr. Cynthia A. Bioteau, Salt Lake Community College | 2000: Patricia Richards, First Security Bank | 1990: Jacqueline Nicholes, Quality Press | 1984: Phyllis Steorts, Westin Hotel Utah |
| 2021: Natalie Gochnour, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute | 2011: Beverley Taylor Sorenson, Sorenson Foundation | 2001: Lori Giovannoni, Lori Giovannoni and Associates | 1991: Patricia Freston, Ph.D., Questar Corporation | 1985: Carol Fay, Internal Revenue Services |
| 2022: Vicki Varela, Utah Office of Tourism | 2012: Gail Miller, Larry H. Miller Group of Companies | 2002: Susan Glasmann, Questar Gas Company | 1992: Rhoda Ramsey, Ramsey Group | 1986: Isabelle Jensen, Questar Corporation |
| 2023: Amanda Covington, The Larry H. Miller Company | 2013: Dr. Linda Leckman, Intermountain Healthcare | 2003: Becky Berkey Potts, AT&T Wireless | 1993: June Morris, Morris Air | 1987: Patricia Shoemaker Glessner, KSL TV |
| 2024: Dr. Donna Milavetz, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah | 2014: Peggy Larson, WCF Insurance | 2004: Gov. Olene Walker, Utah State Governor | 1995: Joan Lewis, Nesco Service, Inc. | 1988: Carol Browning, CLU |
| 2025: Ally Isom, Clyde Companies, Inc. | 2015: Karn Gunn, Salt Lake Community College | 2005: Pamela Atkinson, Community Advocate | 1996: Ramona Rudert, Predictable Building Systems | |
| 2016: Lori Chillingworth, Zions Bancorporation | 2006: Marilyn Tang, Certified Handling Systems | 1997: Carol Carter, IC Products | ||
| 2017: President Deneece Huftalin, Salt Lake Community College | 2007: Margo Provost, Log Haven | 1998: Deborah S. Bayle, American Red Cross Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter | ||
| 2018: Cindy Crane, Rocky Mountain Power | 2008: Senator Patricia W. Jones, Dan Jones & Associates | 1999: Lorraine Miller, Cactus & Tropicals | ||
| 2019: Linda Wardell, City Creek Center | 2009: Chris Redgrave, KSL News Radio |
| 2020-Present | 2010-2019 | 2000-2009 | 1990-1999 | 1983-1989 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020: Allyson Bell, Silvia Castro, Darla Gill, Beth Holbrook, Abby Murtagh, Heidi D. Ruster | 2010: Amy Rees Anderson, Amanda Dickson, Diane Mansfield, Nicole Mouskondis, Luz Robles | 2000: Maun Alston, Marjean Daniels, Maxine Turner, Junior League of Salt Lake City | 1990: Richard Davis, Ann Erickson, Irene Fisher, Tinby Milne, Elizabeth Pierce, Ramona Rudert | 1983: Carol M. Fay |
| 2021: Beth Colosimo, Ibi Guevara, Rep. Sandra Hollins, Aubriana Martindale, Brittany Westover, Lori B. Williams | 2011: Christy Alter Haymond, Marsha Gilford, Melia Tourangeau, Jody Williams | 2001: Steven B. Allnatt, Marsha Fetzer, Connie Holbrook, Dr. Peggy Stock, Marilyn Tang | 1991: Mayor Palmer DePaulis, Isabelle Jensen, Verl Topham, Josie Valdez | 1984: Bernice Galbraith, Ruth Hardy Funk |
| 2022: Heather Doggett, Marlise Fisher, Natalie Kaddas, Kacie Malouf, Sui Lang L. Panoke, Pres. Astrid Tuminez | 2012: Dr. Sarah B. George, Debra Hoyt, Dr. Vivian Lee, Dr. Susan Madsen, Molly Mazzolini | 2002: Afton Bradshaw, Lisa Eccles, Gladys Gonzales, Karen Meacham, Jeanetta Williams | 1992: Judith Bell, Judge Judith Billings, Brenda Hancock, Patricia Richards, Douglas Tapking, Olene Walker | 1985: Vee Carlisle, Joe Pacheco, Madily Parker, Joe Siciliano, Doty Williams |
| 2023: Lucy Cardenas, Natalie El-Deiry, Kaitlin Eskelson, Deneiva Knight, Pauline Ploquin | 2013: Jennifer Danielson, May Kay Griffin, Susan Mayo | 2003: Sherrie Hayashi, Jane Shock, Arlene Urias | 1993: Barbara Dirks, Linda Galindo, Jan Graham, Margaret Hunt | 1986: Dee Dee Corradini, Linda Jensen, Jinnah Kelson, Jane Marquardt, Dee Rowland, Elaine Weiss |
| 2024: Sen. Ann Millner, Kerry Norman, Liz Owens, Noella Sudbury, Diana Young, Jessica Yurgaitis | 2014: Patrice Arent, Juanita Damon, Martha Eining, Denise Winslow | 2004: Margo Salazar Rillston, Hydee Willis, The Utah Women’s Alliance for Building Community (UWABC) | 1994: Pamela Atkinson, David M Jones, Joan Lewis, Lynne Ann Tempest | 1987: Deborah Bayle, Kaye Coleman, Lorraine Miller, Karen Shepherd |
| 2025: Melanie Bowen, Jenny Groberg, Lauren Gustus, Sara Jones, Monnica Manuel | 2015: Rebecca Dutson, Jodi Holmgren, Cathy Keen, Fraser Nelson, Kathy Ricci | 2005: Allison Bridges, Ana Maria Fereday, Mary Mark, Susan Peterson and The Jones, Kevin Potts, Jennifer Scoffield, Waldo Women Lawyers Group, Lauryn Wingate | 1995: Carol Carter, Julie Kilgore | 1988: Fred Ball, Carol Dunlap, Lee Ence, LouJean Flint, Jim Herbster, Kent Moon |
| 2016: Maura Carabello, Dr. Ivy Estabrooke, Laura Kaiser, Kathy Luke | 2006: Paulette Cary, Leigh von der Esch, Dr. Linda Leckman, Leann Linderman, Sabina Zunguze | 1996: Aileen Clyde, Cecilia Foxley, Linda Kruse, John E Mooney | 1989: Laura Benson, Kenneth Hill, Ruth Novak, Rhoda Ramsey, D.N. Nick Rose | |
| 2017: Amanda Covington, Mary Crafts-Homer, Lavanya Mahate, Heidi Prokop, Maureen Riley, Vicki Varela | 2007: Michelle Flynn, Annette Jarvis, Peggy Larsen, Brenda Scheer | 1997: Susie Adams, Grethe Peterson, Kayleen Simmons | ||
| 2018: Kristen Cox, Katie Holland, Dr. Donna Milavetz, Hollie Pettersson, Amanda Smith, Emily Wright | 2008: Silvia Norman, Nancy Nowak, Karen Suzuki-Okabe, Lisa Vehrenkamp, Andrea Wolcott | 1998: Mary Ann Flinders, Jean Fox, Kathy Hillis | ||
| 2019: Theresa Foxley, Mikelle Moore, Christy Tribe, Melanie Vartabedian, Jennifer Williams | 2009: Shauna Bona, Diana Kirk, Judy Reese, Lynne Ward | 1999: Becky Berkey Potts, Beverly R. Cooper, Bernadette Martinelli, Jamee J. Roberts, Linda Thompson |