Boss Ladies: Whisks and Rewards with BlenderBottle Co-founder Kim Sorensen
Kim Sorensen is wired for entrepreneurship. Long before she co-created the wire whisk of a lifetime, she was constantly thinking of business ideas, plans and possibilities. “I’ve always loved potential,” Sorensen says. “I love the idea that something can come from nothing. I love that the harder you work, the more you can see the […]
UV50 Startups to Watch: No. 5 Number 04
All of these things are not like the other. Design and branding firm Number 04 is made up of four founders with four backgrounds, four skill sets, four personalities and four visions. But it’s their shared desire for the unique that makes them see eye to eye (to eye to eye). Brand is everything — […]
UV50 Economic Engines: No. 1 doTERRA
doTERRA is all about the essentials. Product, people, passion — they all come naturally. And it’s why this 8-year-old company has transformed into a $1.2-billion empire. Sitting on 60 acres in Pleasant Grove, doTERRA employs 1,800 people in Utah, invests in local and worldwide causes, packages and ships more than 6 million bottles of essential […]
UV50 Startup to Watch: No. 8 Fuze
Fuze Interactive is lit. As creators of the ZUBI Flyer — a hackable toy that combines tech education with hands-on play — these S.T.E.A.M. entrepreneurs are inspired by passion, empowerment, and a generation of kids who want to know the who, what, where, when and why, why, why. And with a pre-seed of $100k, they’re […]
UV50 Fastest-Growing Companies: No. 16 Four Foods Group
Talk about a well-balanced company. Four Foods Groups, which is a former UV50 Startup to Watch and perennial Fastest-Growing Company, is a restaurant development wonderland. With dashes of leadership, systems and generosity, the $79-million company took a beloved local brand like Kneaders and turned it into an empire. FFG is now accepting new brands, which […]
UV50 Fastest-Growing Companies: No. 4 BetterBody Foods
It doesn’t get better than BetterBody Foods. The company that did $52 million in 2015 has exploded onto the scene as the picture of health. From agave to chia to quinoa to PBfit (a peanut butter powder), its “better for you” products — manufactured right here in Utah Valley — are flying off the shelves […]
UV50: #GOALS
The 2016 UV50 makes us #HASHTAG happy. #GOALS #YASSSS #WORKIT #BLESSED #SLAYALLDAY And since we #CANTSTOPWONTSTOP, flip the page and flip out over 50 Utah Valley companies #CRUSHINGIT. What’s more, we’re giving local legend Fraser Bullock our inaugural #LIFETIMEACHIEVEMENTAWARD. Get inspired by this business mogul, maven and mentor. Now, what are you waiting for? Pound it. Fastest-Growing Companies Life […]
UV50: 30 Fastest-Growing Companies 2016
At a glance: Life in the fast lane ain’t for the faint of heart. Meet 30 Utah Valley companies with the winning ticket. NO.1 YOUNIQUE Three-Year Growth 192,737% 2015 Revenue $283.4 million City Lehi Founded 2012 Employees 541 Industry Beauty/direct sales Website YouniqueProducts.com Founders Derek Maxfield, 40; Melanie Huscroft, 44 The Company A direct sales beauty company that sells […]
UV50: 10 Startups to Watch 2016
At a glance: Oh, baby! These 10 youthful companies are at the start of stardom thanks to their grit, game and gumption. Now read on and startup your engines. NO.1 CURZA City Provo Founded 2013 Employees 10 Industry Biotechnology Website Curza.com Founder Ryan Davies, 44 The Company A drug development company developing novel therapeutics to combat […]
UV50: 10 Economic Engines 2016
At a glance: Like a #boss, these 10 companies are driving our local economy and influencing the world with their strength, smarts and stamina. Read on and meet the makers. NO.1 doTERRA 2-TIME UV50 WINNER City Pleasant Grove Founded 2008 Employees 2,000 Industry Health and wellness/direct sales Website doTERRA.com Founder David Stirling, 53 The Company A producer and distributor […]
Q cards: 10 tips for public speaking
Is public speaking your private despair? Word. Whether it’s an informal speech to your employees or an intimidating guest keynote at a conference, it’s crucial to learn how to talk the talk. To get you started, we asked two motivational speakers from Utah Valley to each share five tips and tricks for business leaders without […]
14 tips to feed the social media beast
Like me! Share me! Subscribe to me! Retweet me! Social media is kinda needy, right? Excuse me. Riiiiiight?! But let’s be real. We need it as much as it needs us. Businesses can live or die by their social status. It’s like high school — but with hashtags and better hair. #hairgoals Social platforms aren’t […]
40 under 40: The hue’s who of Utah Valley
By Briana Stewart Photos by Dave Blackhurst Color us impressed. These 40 youngsters are making their mark. They’re entrepreneurs, strategists, leaders and visionaries — and they’re a colorful bunch. To gain insight into what makes them work, we asked all 40 whiz kids to take The Color Code test, and then we photographed them on their scoring shade. Red, […]
40 under 40: Tom Lewis
Pennbridge Lodging, Bluffdale AGE: 38 BORN: Hagerstown, Md. TITLE: Principal Tom Lewis has one hospitable career. His real estate investment company focuses on the acquisition and development of hotels (two of which are in Utah Valley), is constructing its seventh hotel, and is a franchisee of Marriott and Intercontinental Hotels Group. The RED Talking “The desire […]
40 under 40: Tom Clark
Social Dental, Orem AGE: 29 BORN: Portland, Ore. TITLE: Founder + CEO Tom Clark has good reason to smile. His marketing company, Social Dental, has raised $8.8 million in funding, is growing astronomically with clients across the country, and offers technology that is changing the way doctors interact with patients. The YELLOW Talking “There is […]
40 under 40: Simeon Vance
Fillmore Spencer Law, Provo AGE: 36 BORN: Atlanta, Ga. TITLE: Venture attorney Simeon Vance has laid down the law. His legal career has taken him to distinguished law firms in Utah, Nevada and Hawaii. Before law school, Vance — who has both a juris doctorate and a master of laws in entrepreneurship — was a […]
40 under 40: Chris Padilla
Palm Marketing, Provo AGE: 32 BORN: Castle Rock, Colo. TITLE: Founder/CEO Chris Padilla has been around the entrepreneurial block. The SEO and social expert has led many a team to a successful acquisition (CastleWave, for one), he’s a partner in a tech incubator called Bmuse, and he founded 1 Million Cups — a free, national program […]
40 under 40: Olivia Vancott
KIAVAclothing, Orem AGE: 27 BORN: Orem TITLE: Founder + CEO Marathoner Olivia VanCott was running out of clothing options. So like any good entrepreneur, she designed her own. Four years later, she’s sold more than a $1 million worth of product, and her exercise clothing line includes distinctive, stylish sports bras, tank tops, workout pants […]
40 under 40: Ryan Crafts
Culinary Crafts, Pleasant Grove AGE: 34 BORN: Provo TITLE: Chief operations officer Ryan Crafts comes from Utah Valley’s first family of food. And as COO of Culinary Crafts — a 13-time Best of State Winner — Crafts has employed his meticulous eye for detail and enthusiasm for perfection throughout his 15-year catering career. The RED Talking […]
40 under 40: Cameron Jensen
NUVI, Lehi AGE: 33 BORN: Bountiful TITLE: CEO Cameron Jensen is perhaps best known for his rockstar linebacker days for BYU and the Seattle Seahawks. But these days, he’s a baller in the social media world as CEO of NUVI. The Lehi company serves 1,200 clients, has 120 employees and just moved into its new […]
40 under 40: James Grierson
Bluehost.com, Orem AGE: 35 BORN: Oregon City, Ore. TITLE: CEO We could talk about James Grierson until we’re blue in the face. The Bluehost.com CEO — with his blue personality, of course — runs one of the world’s largest providers of cloud-based online solutions, employs more than 700 people, and has entrepreneurism running through his […]
40 under 40: Clint Betts
Beehive Startups + Silicon Slopes, Provo AGE: 30 BORN: Provo TITLE: Founder + executive director All bets are on with Clint Betts. The Provo-born-and-bred entrepreneur has championed his hometown with his company, Beehive Startups, and his epic event, StartFEST, which brought together hundreds of sensational speakers, cool concerts, and creative competitions last fall. The YELLOW Talking “I’m […]
40 under 40: Michelle Rasmussen
ThreeTwoSevenSix, Orem AGE: 37 BORN: Seattle TITLE: Founder Michelle Rasmussen is an expert at her craft. Most of her career has been spent dominating in marketing and product development for stationery, craft and DIY companies like QuicKutz, Silhouette, Lifestyle Crafts and now her current venture, ThreeTwoSevenSix. Prior to that, Rasmussen earned a PR degree from […]
40 under 40: Lindsey Miller Petersen
The Tyler Robinson Foundation, Salt Lake City AGE: 37 BORN: Salt Lake City TITLE: Director of marketing and communications Lindsey Miller Petersen is on top of the world (ay!). The BYU graduate is the marketing director for Imagine Dragons’ pediatric cancer nonprofit, she is adjunct faculty at LDS Business College, and she was a pioneer at […]
40 under 40: Andy Baxter
Sustainable Energy Solutions, Orem AGE: 32 BORN: Provo TITLE: President Andy Baxter has a good energy about him. His company, Sustainable Energy Solutions, develops patented solutions to combat energy problems on a regional and global scale. Their flagship product, for instance, is a post-combustion technology that has the potential to reduce carbon emissions from fossil-fueled […]
40 under 40: Sean Watkins
SnapPower, Vineyard AGE: 31 BORN: Orem TITLE: Co-founder Sean Watkins has a bright, bright future. His company’s flagship product, SnapPower Guidelight, has been called “The best nightlight in history” by The Family Handyman and been featured on Inc., Forbes, the Today Show, and Business Insider. The YELLOW Talking “I am a naturally outgoing and happy […]
40 under 40: Chad Ingram
Scout50.com, Orem + Yeah Media, Provo AGE: 28 BORN: Whittier, Calif. TITLE: Co-founder + CEO Chad Ingram was thisclose to becoming a lawyer. But when entrepreneurism called, he answered, and Ingram now runs two successful ventures. Scout50.com, in particular, is dominating the online marketing space and working with brands like Dunkin’ Donuts, UPS, Chevron and Dairy […]
40 under 40: Paul Adams
SkyRocket Media, Provo AGE: 34 BORN: Provo TITLE: Co-founder + chief product officer For Paul Adams, the sky’s the limit. He’s a self-taught web design wonder, marketing maven and consulting connoisseur. His customer acquisition company blasted onto the scene and in 2015 ranked No. 27 on the Inc. 500 and No. 3 on the UV50. […]
40 under 40: Rob Stratton
Stratton & Bratt, Pleasant Grove AGE: 29 BORN: Bountiful TITLE: Co-founder + VP of sales It’s safe to say Rob Stratton has found the lay of the landscape. He co-founded Stratton & Bratt in college, and then left two classes shy in order to build the largest commercial and residential landscape company in Utah. Projects include […]
40 under 40: Kevin Brooks
Intermountain Healthcare, Provo AGE: 38 BORN: Stavanger, Norway TITLE: Administrator at Utah Valley Hospital Kevin Brooks is totally sick, as the kids say these days. He is an administrator, a philanthropist, and a powerful voice in Utah’s healthcare industry. What’s more, Brooks runs a hospital where patient satisfaction scores are in the 80th percentile nationally and […]