2020 Fab 40: Amy Wilcox
Amy Wilcox, Crossing Guard Age 39 • Provo • Cancer Amy helps the students of Edgemont Elementary safely cross the street in style. Because this lady of laughs values kindness and comedy, Amy started wearing costumes to the crosswalk (like Winnie the Pooh or a Whoopee Cushion). Amy and her husband, Matthew, have six children. After […]
2020 Fab 40: T.C. Christensen
T.C. Christensen, Director Age 66 • Farmington • Taurus T.C. Christensen is the most well-known Utah director of this generation. Throughout his 40 years of filmmaking, T.C. has worked on dozens of film projects, mostly as a writer, director and cinematographer. His name is behind film titles like “17 Miracles,” “Ephraim’s Rescue,” and “The Cokeville Miracle.” […]
2020 Fab 40: Makenzie Weatherspoon
Makenzie Weatherspoon, No. 1 Archer Age 16 • Lehi • Virgo While “The Hunger Games” craze caused an influx of female, first-time archers to penetrate the male-dominated sport, Makenzie’s mother, Amy, says with mama-pride, “Makenzie was cool before Katniss.” This teen has her sights set on becoming the No. 1 female archer in the world. […]
2020 Fab 40: Matt Bushman
Matt Bushman, BYU Tight End Age 24 • Orem • Scorpio The Bushman family lived in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, which led Matt and his family to relocate in Tucson, Arizona. As a high school senior several years later, Matt became the perfect storm on the field and was invited to play […]
2020 Fab 40: Shaun Johnson
Shaun Johnson, The Johnson Files Age 36 • Lehi • Pisces Shaun and his wife, Nicole, started a comedy Instagram account called “The Johnson Files” in 2016 when living in Florida and needing a creative outlet. They post humorous skits, usually starring Shaun and his multiple creative personalities (including ‘Sandy’ who comes out with the blond […]
2020 Fab 40: Chelsea Rippy
Chelsea Rippy, Wellness Coach + Entrepreneur Age 45 • Highland • Leo Chelsea’s mind is always spinning on stellar business ideas — and her favorites are those that fill a need for women not currently being met in the market. Chelsea founded Shade Clothing in 2003 and led the modest undershirt movement until 2010 (many women […]
2020 Fab 40: Lyza Bull
Lyza Bull, YouTube Sensation Age 14 • Lehi• Taurus Joining the circus turned Lyza Bull into a viral YouTuber. The Bull family had been creating and posting music videos starring Lyza for about a year when they made a “The Greatest Showman” mashup featuring Lyza, dancers from The Dance Club and Lyza’s little sister, Evelyn. The […]
2020 Fab 40: Natalie Madsen
Natalie Madsen, JK! Studios Co-Founder Age 30 • Provo • Gemini In 2018, Natalie and the other nine original cast members of BYUtv’s Studio C joined forces to create the comedy network JK! Studios. Since leaping into the independent venture, the JK! Studios team has fulfilled its dream of creating original content by blending marketing with […]
2020 Fab 40: Laura St. Onge
Laura St. Onge, Thanksgiving Point Whiz Age 51 • Alpine • Libra Describing Laura takes a lot of commas. She was recently honored as the Employee of the Year at Thanksgiving Point, she has hiked 2,000 miles each year since she moved to Utah, she has a daylily named after her (“Lusty Laura St. Onge”), and […]
2020 Fab 40: Doran Briscoe
Doran Briscoe, Etch A Sketch Artist Age 29 • Provo • Libra Doran Briscoe toys around with art. In high school, Doran learned how to create complicated drawings on an Etch A Sketch. Now he sells his detailed finished products and commissioned work on doranetch.com. His specialty is doodling on the “World’s Smallest” Etch A […]
2020 Fab 40: Roger Livingston
Roger Livingston, R&R Barbeque Co-Founder Age 61 • Canyon Rim • Scorpio Meet one of the Rs behind R&R Barbeque. About 15 years ago, Roger teamed up with his twin, Rodney, to compete in barbecue competitions. Together, they earned nine grand championships and six reserve championships. They then took their recipes to the restaurant space, opening […]
2020 Fab 40: Hollie Fluhman
Hollie Fluhman, Author + Actress Age 45 • Provo • Pisces Hollie sensed a need for this generation of women to share their stories with the rising one. Her vision became a 193-page anthology of 33 essays where modern women share faith-filled wrestles with feminism, roles, career and discrimination. Deseret Book published “A Place To Belong” […]
2020 Fab 40: Michael Hicks
Michael Hicks, Music Professor Age 63 • Provo • Gemini Dr. Michael Hicks may be retiring from his 35 years as a BYU Composition and Theory professor, but he is far from reaching a diminuendo in Utah Valley. A successful author of soon to be nine books, favorite college professor, poet, composer, web author, religious […]
2020 Fab 40: Parker Gentry
Parker Gentry, Founder of Skill Struck Age 24 • Orem • Aquarius Skill Struck started as summer coding camps, jumped to “piano lessons of coding,” and has now morphed into a curriculum used by 20 schools across the state of Utah. And Parker founded this venture as a sophomore studying entrepreneurship at BYU. This new father […]
2020 Fab 40: Stephanie Sosa
Stephanie Sosa, Professional Dancer Age 20 • Orem • Virgo Stephanie began busting a move at age 7 at Center Stage Performing Arts Studio. Later, she took her fancy feet to Season 16 of “So You Think You Can Dance.” She and her brother Ezra were the first siblings ever to dance in the top […]
2020 Fab 40: Jason Hewlett
Jason Hewlett, Author + Funnyman Age 41 • Salt Lake City • Cancer Although Jason has lit up stages as an entertainer, impersonator, emcee and keynoter, his slightly serious side is winning readers and audiences. His focus on “The Promise” helps corporations redefine corporate culture and personal vision. Jason’s career kicked off with shows at […]
2020 Fab 40: Kristin Petrucci
Kristin Petrucci, Gratitude Guru Age 42 • American Fork • Sagittarius In March 2016, Kristin experienced a grand mal seizure in her sleep — an episode so severe that her husband, David, thought it was an earthquake. Instead, he found his wife’s motionless body beside him and their 7-month-old infant. After her seizure, Kristin felt […]
2020 Fab 40: Dexonna Talbot
Dexonna Talbot, Miss Utah Age 20 • Spanish Fork • Capricorn While her friends know her as Dexonna (pronounced Dijion-a), the rest of the state knows her as Miss Utah. Since she was eight, Dexonna has devoted herself to service, ballet and “Pageant-Land” as she calls it. Young Dexonna was dazzled by pageant participants’ beauty, […]
2020 Fab 40: Ben Hammond
Ben Hammond, Sculptor Age 42 • American Fork • Gemini Ben always knew he wanted to be an artist, but he didn’t discover his passion until he took a sculpting class at Ricks College in 1999. Many years and mentors later, he has sculpted his skills. For the past 13 years, Ben has sculpted busts for […]
2020 Fab 40: Mandee Grant
Mandee Grant, Better Days Co-Founder Age 45 • Highland • Pisces Mandee Grant can list the creation of three nonprofits and three businesses on her resume, but perhaps her most influential venture is Better Days 2020, a 501(c)(3) aimed to celebrate and educate about the strong history of women’s suffrage in Utah. Since co-founding Better Days […]
2020 Fab 40: Nicole Hadlock
Nicole Hadlock, Program Director Age 40 • Lehi • Scorpio About two years ago in the midst of a personal trial, Nicole switched from mortgages to Bridle Up Hope, “a very unlikely transition but an inspired one,” Nicole says. Now as the program director at the equestrian nonprofit in Alpine, Nicole spends her days facilitating […]
2020 Fab 40: Amy Kroff
Amy Kroff, Utah’s Mother of the Year Age 47 • Alpine • Libra Committing to her children that she’d become a high-end studio photographer pushed Amy to create Amy Kroff Studio. Amy brings her focus on family to her career behind the camera, specializing in “capturing personality and family connection.” In 2019, Amy was named […]
2020 Fab 40: Abby Cox
Abby Cox, Women For Utah Age 44 • Fairview • Aquarius Abby is perhaps most well-known for being married to Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox (who is running for governor). But her personal ballot is full of her degree in education from Utah State University, her background in ranching and her gift to her sister-in-law of […]
2020 Fab 40: Meagan Downey
Meagan Downey, Stage Manager Age 38 • Vineyard • Leo Behind the scenes is Meagan’s favorite place to be. Right after high school, her Orem High drama teacher, Syd Riggs, helped Meagan land a job at Hale Center Theater Orem, and she’s gone to Hale ever since. Now as production stage manager, Meagan influences the shows […]
2020 Fab 40: Drew Bennett
Drew Bennett, American Ninja Warrior Age 9 • Lehi • Cancer Drew completes ninja courses with Tarzan-like agility and strength. In July 2019, Drew competed in the World Finals for the Ultimate Ninja Athlete Association. In January 2020, Drew was ranked as the No. 2 in the United States in his age group for American Ninja […]
2020 Fab 40: Whitney Bezzant
Whitney Bezzant, JLo’s Backup Dancer Age 28 • Cedar Hills + Santa Monica • Aquarius Whitney dances like everyone’s watching — and they are. For the past eight years, she has worked as a professional dancer and shared the stage with JLo, Prince, Nick Jonas, Big Sean, and Derek and Julianne Hough. She’s also performed at […]
2020 Fab 40: Nathan Osmond
Nathan Osmond, Singer + Podcaster Age 42 • American Fork • Aquarius As a singer, motivational speaker, podcaster, Broadway actor, entertainer and business owner, Nathan Osmond has talent beyond his last name. He started performing at age 8 as part of the group the Osmond Boys with his brothers. In 2009, Nathan pursued a country […]
2020 Fab 40: Pete Tidwell
Pete Tidwell, The Mighty Baker Age 37 • Provo • Virgo Pete handled Cake Wars like a champ — twice. This dad of three won the Food Network show in 2016 and 2017 and made it to the final round of the Halloween Baking Championship in 2019. Pete started The Mighty Baker and is now also […]
2020 Fab 40: Zoia Ali
Zoia Ali, Student Entrepreneur Age 21 • Provo • Scorpio In a BYU business class, Zoia joined with fellow students Taimi Kennerley and Abby Warner to find a solution to period cramp pain with some serious girl power. After extensive consumer research and several prototypes, The Girls Company created a thin heating band as a portable […]
2020 Fab 40: Ashley Reeves
Ashley Reeves, Instagram Influencer Age 36 • Lehi • Sagittarius This “body positive” mom of four runs several online businesses, including a recipe-sharing app Favoreats. Ashley’s Instagram account of more than 127K followers focuses on self love and being confident in your own skin. Ashley teamed up with Allison Falkner to create a training course […]