ABOUT THE SUMMIT
The Salt Lake Chamber and Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute’s 2021 Economic Outlook & Public Policy Summit on January 12, 2021 at the Grand America Hotel is the state’s premier economic forecasting and public policy event that is attended by policy and academic thought leaders from across the state.
The Summit presents an unrivaled opportunity for attendees, virtually and in-person, to gain insights on the future of Utah’s economy and the business community’s policy priorities for the upcoming legislative session.
While Utah is experiencing many of the same challenges as the rest of the country and the world, Utah’s leaders are focused on both our short-term recovery and our long-term growth and strength. This year’s Summit will focus on Utah’s current economic state and the ways in which the political landscape will help shape the economic future of the state and country.
LUNCHEON KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Governor Spencer J. Cox
State of Utah
State of Utah
A sixth-generation Utahn and the oldest child of eight children, Governor Cox was born and raised in Fairview. He successfully ran for and served as a city councilman, mayor, county commissioner and state legislator before being appointed to serve as Utah’s lieutenant governor in 2013. Cox has been making the four-hour daily commute to Salt Lake City for the past seven years.
As a candidate, Cox delivered a positive message and a promise to bring Utahns together in purpose and in service to one another. He campaigned as a listener, a doer and an advocate for all Utahns, and as governor, Spencer will make good on those promises.
SPEAKERS
Pres. J. Stuart Adams
Pres. J. Stuart Adams Bio
President J. Stuart Adams
Check back for updated bio.
Neil Bradley
Neil Bradley Bio
Neil Bradley
Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, has spent two decades working directly with congressional committee chairpersons and other high-ranking policymakers to achieve solutions. At the Chamber, Bradley is responsible for aligning the organization’s overall policy priorities and advocacy efforts. He oversees several major policy divisions within the Chamber: Economic Policy; Employment Policy; Small Business Policy; and Cyber, Intelligence and Security Policy. Health Policy, Transportation Infrastructure Policy and Environmental Affairs and Sustainability Policy are also under his leadership.
Before joining the Chamber, Bradley was president of Chartwell Policy Solutions, LLC, a research, analysis, and advisory firm focused on public policy issues. In addition to his work at Chartwell, he served as chief strategy officer for the nonprofit Conservative Reform Network (CRN), the leading organization supporting the Conservative Reform Movement. There he produced, incubated, and promoted ideas, policies, and efforts to grow the American economy, expand the middle class, and create opportunities for all Americans.
Prior to founding Chartwell and joining CRN in 2015, Bradley spent nearly 20 years working in the House of Representatives, including 11 years working for the House Republican leadership. He served as deputy chief of staff for Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA) where he developed the legislative agenda for House Republicans, oversaw policy formulation in the leader’s office, and coordinated committee activity in the House. Bradley held the same position for Eric Cantor (VA) during his tenure as majority leader. Previously, he was policy director for House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (MO).
Earlier in his career, Bradley served for four-and-a-half years as executive director of the Republican Study Committee. He also held numerous positions in the office of then-Rep. Tom Coburn (R-OK).
While working on Capitol Hill, Bradley was regularly named to Roll Call’s list of 50 top congressional staffers.
Bradley, a graduate of Georgetown University, resides in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Kiki, and their son, Peter. He is a native of Sapulpa, Oklahoma.
Silvia Castro
Silvia Castro Bio
Silvia Castro
Executive Director, Suazo Business Center
Silvia Castro is the executive director of the Suazo Business Center and has more than 20 years of experience working with a variety of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, the State of Utah, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, and nonprofits such as the Utah Microenterprise Loan Fund and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. She has also served as the assistant director for the Women’s Business Center of Utah and as co-chair of Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s Economic Development Transition Committee. Castro currently serves on the Executive Committee of Envision Utah, the Wasatch Front Regional Council’s Economic Development District and the Utah Governor’s COVID-19 Economic Taskforce.
Amanda Covington
Amanda Covington Bio
Amanda Covington
Chief Communications & Government Relations, Larry H. Miller Group of Companies
Amanda Covington is Chief Communications & Government Relations Officer for the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies. She recently served as Senior Vice President, Communications and Government Relations for Vista Outdoor Inc. Covington has more than 20 years of experience leading corporate communications and government relations strategies impacting financial communications, crisis communications, domestic and international media/public relations, corporate branding and advertising, digital media, employee relations, public policy and legislation, industry associations, and community relations.
Prior to Vista Outdoor, Covington served as Vice President, Corporate Communications, for ATK, an aerospace, defense, and commercial products company. Before joining ATK, she was the Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs at the Utah System of Higher Education. While there, she led communications and legislative relations strategies for the State Board of Regents. She also served as the Deputy for Communications and spokesperson for Utah Governor Olene S. Walker and the Director of Communications for the Utah Department of Transportation. She has a background in broadcast journalism, working for Utah’s NBC and ABC affiliates.
Covington serves as a trustee for Weber State University (WSU) and a board member for the WSU Walker Institute of Politics and Public Service. She is an advisory board member for the Utah Women’s Leadership Institute, and is a board member of the World Trade Center Utah and Envision Utah as well as the Utah chapter of National Association of Corporate Directors. Amanda co-chairs the policy committee for the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce.
She earned an Honors bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Utah. Covington spends her free with her husband and two sons traveling and enjoying the outdoors.
Rep. John Curtis
Rep. John Curtis Bio
John R. Curtis proudly represents Utah’s 3rd Congressional District, serving on the House Natural Resources and Foreign Affairs Committees. After being elected to Congress on November 13, 2017, John sponsored 12 bills in his first year in office. Four of these bills passed through the House and three were signed into law: The POPPY Study Act to combat the opioid crisis, the Public-Private Partnership Advisory Council to End Human Trafficking Act, and the Small Business ACE Act.
The Congressman cares deeply about hearing the diverse perspectives and feedback from his constituents: he held over 100 town halls in 2018. Utah’s third district is the youngest in the country, with an average age of 26 years old. John is also sensitive to the many constituents that live in rural Utah, and has focused on legislation that can fit needs of both demographics such as student loans, rural broadband access, and more.
John has been committed to helping Utah’s growing tech scene flourish, and was recognized by Silicon Slopes as their first Community Hero Award recipient. Other personal awards comprise of Civic Innovator of the Year by Utah Valley University, Thayne Robson Award for Leadership in Economic Development, and Outstanding Citizen Award from the Office of Civic Engagement Leadership by Brigham Young University.
Prior to coming to Washington, John was the 45th mayor of Provo City, serving two terms. Known for his personal approach to city government, Mayor Curtis prioritized his outreach to residents of Provo by utilizing various channels including his popular blog. He was named the #1 Top Elected Official on Social Media 2015 by the Government Social Media group and has been recognized by Forbes for his commitment to citizen engagement. Curtis was re-elected for a second four-year term as mayor in 2013 with 86.49% of the vote. As mayor, he averaged an approval rating of 93%.
During his terms in office, the city of Provo ranked #1 in the nation for Business and Careers by Forbes as well as #1 for Well-Being by Gallup. Other recent awards include national recognition for the quality of life, family environment, a booming tech and entrepreneur culture and a successful revitalization of downtown. With the help of the City Council, employees, and residents, Mayor Curtis’ administration brought Google Fiber to Provo, regularly scheduled air service at the airport, expanded parks and trails, and completed Provo’s state-of-the-art recreation center.
Before becoming mayor, John was a small business owner in Provo, working with his partners to build their business “Action Target,” where he led sales and operations strategy.
Congressman Curtis and his wife Sue have six children and seven grandchildren. He speaks Mandarin Chinese and almost certainly has more socks than you do.
Phil Dean
Phil Dean Bio
Phil Dean
Co-Chair, Utah Economic Council
Phil Dean currently serves as Governor Herbert’s executive director of the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) after having previously served in the Herbert administration as the State Budget Director and Chief Economist. In this capacity, he directs the work of GOMB in preparing the Governor’s budget recommendations and oversees GOMB’s state revenue estimates and economic analysis. Phil is also co-chair of the Utah Economic Council and teaches economics and public finance as an adjunct professor. Prior to joining GOMB in 2013, Phil worked for the Utah Legislature for nearly a decade, specializing in the areas of tax and education.
Sophia DiCaro
Sophia DiCaro Bio
Sophia DiCaro
Incoming Executive Director, Governor’s Office of Management and Budget
Sophia M. DiCaro is the chief compliance officer for The Cynosure Group, an investment advisory firm in Salt Lake City. Sophia’s professional career began in various roles at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, which later led to an opportunity in the Governor’s Office of Economic Development where she served as finance director, and later as the deputy director and chief operating officer. After 13 years of service, under four gubernatorial administrations in various senior roles, Sophia served a term in the Utah State House of Representatives, representing northern West Valley City in the Utah State Legislature. Starting this year, she will serve as senior adviser and executive director of the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget.
Natalie Gochnour
Natalie Gochnour Bio
Natalie Gochnour
Associate Dean, David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah and Director, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
Natalie Gochnour serves as an associate dean in the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah, and as director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. She served in the administrations of three Utah governors – Bangerter, Leavitt and Walker – and was a political appointee in the George W. Bush administration.
She authors regular columns in Utah Business magazine and the Deseret News and cohosts the weekly radio program Both Sides of the Aisle on KCPW.
Jonathan Hafen
Jonathan Hafen Bio
Jonathan Hafen
Attorney, Parr Brown Gee & Loveless
Jonathan O. Hafen serves as Co-Chair of the Salt Lake Chamber’s Public Policy Committee and is a long-time member of the Chamber’s Board of Governors. He also serves on the Women’s Leadership Institute’s Advisory Board. Professionally, Jon is an attorney at Parr Brown Gee & Loveless, where he typically represents businesses either bringing or defending lawsuits. Lately, he has spent a significant part of his time seeking to recover tens of millions of dollars on behalf of victims of one of the country’s largest ponzi schemes.
In addition to serving the needs of his clients, Jon cares deeply about his community. He has served as a mentor to many, leading the Utah State Bar to award him its inaugural Charlotte Miller Mentoring Award. He has received numerous service awards, including from the Salt Lake Chamber, BYU Law School, and the Federal Bar Association. He recently concluded his tenure as President of BYU’s Alumni Association, which has over 435,000 members. Jon also supports Utah’s arts community, and has served for many years as Board Chair of Tuacahn Center for the Arts. He is an active participant in organizations supporting diversity and inclusion, including his current service on the board of the Utah Center for Legal Inclusion. Jon loves reading, sports, and traveling with his family.
Dan Hemmert
Dan Hemmert Bio
Dan Hemmert
Incoming Executive Director, Governor’s Office of Economic Development
State Sen. Dan Hemmert currently serves in the Utah State Senate from the 14th district. He was appointed to the seat in August 2016 and was elected to a full term later that same year. Prior to his service, Sen. Hemmert is a local businessman who owns and operates Red Hanger Cleaners, which operates several dry cleaning and professional laundry stores in northern Utah. He has also worked as the chief financial officer at the software company OrangeSoda, and has been the CFO and investment manager at John R. Miller Enterprises. He currently serves as the majority whip in the state senate and, beginning 2021, will lead the Governor’s Office of Economic Development under Gov.-Elect Spencer Cox.
Sen. Mike Lee
Sen. Mike Lee Bio
Senator Mike Lee
Elected in 2010 as Utah’s 16th Senator, Mike Lee has spent his career defending the basic liberties of all Americans and advocating for our founding constitutional principles.
Senator Lee acquired a deep respect for the Constitution early in life while watching his father, Rex Lee, serve as the Solicitor General under President Ronald Reagan. He attended most of his father’s arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court, giving him a unique understanding of government up close.
Lee graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Political Science, and served as BYU’s Student Body President in his senior year. He graduated from BYU’s Law School in 1997 and went on to serve as law clerk to Judge Dee Benson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, and then with future Supreme Court Justice Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Lee spent several years as an attorney with the law firm Sidley & Austin specializing in appellate and Supreme Court litigation, and then served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Salt Lake City arguing cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
Lee served the state of Utah as Governor Jon Huntsman’s General Counsel and was later honored to reunite with Justice Alito, now on the Supreme Court, for a one-year clerkship. He returned to private practice in 2007.
Throughout his career, Lee earned a reputation as an outstanding practitioner of the law based on his sound judgment, abilities in the courtroom, and thorough understanding of the Constitution.
Lee is a member of the Judiciary Committee, and serves as Chairman of the Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights Subcommittee protecting business competition and personal freedom.
He also oversees issues critical to Utah as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. In addition, Lee serves on the Commerce Committee and beginning in January 2021 will serve as the Vice-Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee.
Lee and his wife Sharon live in Utah County and have three adult children. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a two-year mission for the Church in the Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Derek Miller
Derek Miller Bio
President and CEO, Salt Lake Chamber
Derek Miller is the president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance. The Chamber is the state’s oldest business association that “stands as the voice of business.” In this role, Derek leads the business community in advocating and leading Utah’s continued economic prosperity.
Previously, Derek served as the president and CEO of the World Trade Center Utah, helping to “Promote prosperity across the state by attracting investment and increasing exports.” He also served as Chief of Staff to Gov. Herbert and as Managing Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development for Gov. Huntsman.
Recognizing his leadership, Gov. Herbert lauded Derek as, “an architect of economic opportunity and innovation,” and “instrumental in transforming Utah into one of the most competitive and fastest growing economies in the country.”
Derek began his career in Washington, D.C. as a management consultant with Arthur Andersen and as legal counsel in the U.S. House of Representatives.
He is a graduate of the J. Reuben Clark Law School and holds a Master of Public Administration from the Romney Institute of Public Management at Brigham Young University.
Rep. Ann Millner
Rep. Ann Millner Bio
Representative Ann Millner
Check back for updated bio.
Rep. Blake Moore
Rep. Blake Moore Bio
Check back soon for updated bio.
Rep. Burgess Owens
Rep. Burgess Owens Bio
Representative Burgess Owens
Burgess Owens is a former University of Miami and NFL star who travels the country delivering a message of optimism, hope, and unity. He spent his childhood growing up in the Deep South during a time when the barriers of segregation were being torn down. As the third black American granted a scholarship to play football at the University of Miami, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/Chemistry. During his college career, Burgess was named to Who’s Who Among College Students in American Universities and Colleges. He was inducted to the Hall of Fame of Outstanding College Athletes of America and later to the University of Miami’s Hall of Fame and the Orange Bowl Ring of Honor.
Following college, Burgess was the 13th player drafted in the 1st round by the NY Jets. He was selected that year as the Jets’ Rookie of the Year and to the NFL’s All-Rookie team. After being traded to the Oakland Raiders, Burgess lead the Raiders defensive squad in tackles on their way to the 1980 Super Bowl Championship.
Since retiring from the NFL, Burgess has devoted his time to mentoring and improving the lives of our next generation of leaders. He founded Second Chance 4 Youth; a Utah based non-profit organization dedicated to helping troubled an incarcerated youth. Burgess is an outspoken advocate for conservative values and intends to return Utah’s 4th Congressional District back to Republicans.
Rep. Val Peterson
Rep. Val Peterson Bio
Representative Val Peterson
Check back for updated bio.
Sen. Mitt Romney
Sen. Mitt Romney Bio
Senator Mitt Romney
Senator Mitt Romney was sworn in as Utah’s newest senator on January 3, 2019. He currently serves on the Foreign Relations; Health, Education, Labor & Pensions; Homeland Security & Government Affairs; and Small Business & Entrepreneurship committees. He is chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism. Senator Romney is also a member of the Senate National Security Working Group.
Before entering public service, he led a successful business career as the co-founder of Bain Capital, a leading investment company, and the turnaround CEO of Bain & Company, an international management consulting firm.
Prior to serving as the Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007, Senator Romney led the 2002 Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Winter Olympics and, with a team of volunteers and managers, helped turn the struggling Games into a Utah success story. He was a candidate for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination and Republican nominee for president in 2012.
Senator Romney earned his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and his JD/MBA from Harvard University. He is the proud husband to Ann, father to five sons, and grandfather to 25 grandchildren.
Jacey Skinner
Jacey Skinner Bio
General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Public Policy ,Salt Lake Chamber
Jacey Skinner is an attorney at Ballard Spahr LLP. and the General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Public Policy for the Salt Lake Chamber. Ms. Skinner is former General Counsel to Governor Gary Herbert of the State of Utah. As General Counsel, she advised the Governor, his staff and his Cabinet on legal and ethical issues. She also acted as the Governor’s legislative director.
Ms. Skinner has previously served as the Director of the Utah Sentencing Commission and as the President of the National Association Sentencing Commissions, the Deputy State Court Administrator for the Judiciary of the State of Utah, and an Assistant District Attorney with the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office. She is currently a Trustee for Utah State University and an Assistant Adjunct Professor at the SJ Quinney School of Law. She serves on the Board of Directors for And Justice For All. Ms. Skinner received her Bachelor’s degree from Utah State University and her Juris Doctor degree from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University.
Rep. Chris Stewart
Rep. Chris Stewart Bio
Representative Chris Stewart
Chris Stewart is the Congressman from Utah’s Second Congressional District. He is a multiple New York Times best-selling and national award-winning author, world-record-setting Air Force pilot, and the former owner/CEO of a small business.
Chris is one of ten children and grew up on a dairy farm in Cache Valley. He graduated from Utah State University, where he earned his degree in economics. Upon graduation, Chris joined the United States Air Force where he was the Distinguished Graduate (top of his class) in both Officer Training School and Undergraduate Pilot Training. He served for fourteen years as a pilot in the Air Force, flying both rescue helicopters and the B-1B bomber. He holds three world speed records, including the world’s record for the fastest non-stop flight around the world.
Chris is a prolific author having written 17 books, several of which have become national best-sellers, and have been published in six different countries.
Before being elected to Congress, Chris served as president and CEO of the Shipley Group, a nationally recognized firm for consulting expertise in energy and the environment. He and his wife, Evie, are the parents of six children.
Chris now serves as a member of the following committees: House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Budget Committee, and the Appropriations Committee.
Rep. Brad Wilson
Speaker Brad Wilson Bio
Rep. Brad Wilson has represented District 15 in the Utah Legislature since 2011 and currently serves as Speaker of the House.
He is President and CEO of Destination Homes, a residential homebuilder in Utah.
Wilson is a member of the Utah Chapter of the Young President’s Organization, has chaired the Davis Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Davis Economic Advisory Council and Children’s Aid Society of Utah. He serves on the National Advisory Council for Weber State University and on the Construction Industry Advisory Council for Brigham Young University.
Rep. Wilson has a business degree from Weber State University and is a graduate of the College of Financial Planning. He is a Davis County native and lives with his wife Jeni and three children in Kaysville, Utah.
AGENDA
8:00 AM
DOORS OPEN
8:30 – 8:55 AM
WHAT WE SHOULD EXPECT FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
Neil Bradley, EVP and Chief Policy Officer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
8:55 – 9:35 AM
FEDERAL COVID-19 ECONOMIC RESPONSE PANEL
Senator Mike Lee
Senator Mitt Romney
Congressman John Curtis
Congressman Blake Moore
Congressman Burgess Owens
Congressman Chris Stewart
9:35 – 9:45 AM
SALT LAKE CHAMBER 2021 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
Derek Miller, President and CEO, Salt Lake Chamber
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM
BREAK
10:00 – 10:45 AM
UTAH LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP’S AGENDA AND PRIORITIES PANEL
President Stuart Adams, Senate President, Utah Senate
Speaker Brad Wilson, Speaker of the House, Utah House of Representatives
Senator Ann Millner, Utah Senate Majority Whip
Representative Val Peterson, Utah House of Representatives Majority Assistant Whip
Jacey Skinner, General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Public Policy, Salt Lake Chamber
10:45 – 10:55 AM
UTAH ECONOMIC REPORT
Natalie Gochnour, Associate Dean, David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah and Director, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
10:55 – 11:40 AM
2021 ECONOMIC ISSUES PANEL
Silvia Castro, Executive Director, Suazo Business Center
Phil Dean, Co-Chair, Utah Economic Council
Sophia DiCaro, Incoming Executive Director, Governor’s Office of Management and Budget
Dan Hemmert, Incoming Executive Director, Governor’s Office of Economic Development
11:40 AM – 11:55 AM
BREAK
11:55 AM – 12:15 PM
LUNCH BEGINS
12:15 – 12:25 PM
ECONOMIC REPORT PRESENTATION TO GOVERNOR
Utah Economic Council
12:25 – 1:00 PM
LUNCHEON KEYNOTE
Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox
1:00 PM
ADJOURN