Governor of the State of Utah

Governor Spencer J. Cox is the 18th governor of Utah, dedicated to fostering economic growth, strengthening communities, and promoting civility in politics. A sixth-generation Utahn, he was born and raised in Fairview, a small town in Sanpete County, Utah.

After serving a mission in Mexico for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he married his high school sweetheart, Abby Palmer. He earned degrees from Snow College, Utah State University, and Washington and Lee University School of Law before beginning his legal career clerking for U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart and practicing law at Fabian & Clendenin in Salt Lake City. He later returned to Fairview to join his family’s telecommunications business, CentraCom, as vice president and general counsel.

Gov. Cox’s public service career includes roles as a city councilman, mayor, county commissioner, and state legislator. In 2013, he was appointed lieutenant governor and later elected as governor in 2020. His administration has focused on tackling key issues such as economic growth, homelessness, suicide prevention, and education funding. Under his leadership, Utah has maintained one of the strongest economies in the nation while expanding opportunities for rural communities.

A strong advocate for civility and bipartisan cooperation, Gov. Cox was among the first governors to welcome Afghan refugees to the U.S. He and First Lady Abby Cox are passionate about service and community engagement, working to improve opportunities for all Utahns. They are the proud parents of four children: Gavin, Kaleb, Adam, and Emma Kate.

First Lady of Utah

As Utah’s first lady, Abby Palmer Cox hopes to inspire Utahns to break down the barriers that separate people from treating one another as equals. She is an outspoken advocate for “getting proximate,” connecting through our differences, and combating the empathy crisis our country is facing.

Born and raised in the small rural town of Mt. Pleasant, Utah, Abby grew up on the Palmer family ranch where the values of hard work and grit were a way of life. She enjoyed a close-knit family with loving parents, two brothers, and seven sisters. Both she and Spencer graduated from North Sanpete High School and Snow College. He followed her to Utah State University where she earned her degree in special education with a dual emphasis in early childhood and severe disabilities.

After law school in Virginia, Abby and Spencer returned to Utah to raise their family in Fairview, a town of about 1,200 residents, located two hours south of Utah’s capital. Throughout the seven years Spencer Cox served as lieutenant governor, the family lived in and commuted from Fairview. They now primarily reside in Salt Lake City at the Utah Governor’s Mansion, but connections to their rural community remain strong and a priority for the family.

Abby has always been active in her community through PTA involvement, church youth groups and service to the homeless. Abby enjoys riding horses, reading great books, music, hiking, running and family outdoor activities. She and Governor Cox, her high school sweetheart, are the proud parents of four children — Gavin, Kaleb, Adam and Emma Kate.

Abby’s initiative as first lady is called “Show Up” because you can pretend to care but you can’t pretend to Show Up! She uses this platform to champion projects related to educator wellness, foster care awareness and support, expanded access to Special Olympics Unified Sports programs in schools across Utah, and statewide service.

Utah Governor’s Office
Chief of Staff

Jon S. Pierpont is chief of staff to Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox. He has guided statewide operations during the first four years of the Cox-Henderson administration, overseeing a seamless gubernatorial transition and a series of strategic department mergers. 

Jon has played a key role in shaping and implementing the governor’s priorities, contributing to major legislative achievements and securing historic funding increases for state employees. 

Before joining the Governor’s Office, Jon served for eight years as executive director of the Utah Department of Workforce Services under Gov. Gary R. Herbert. He managed a $1.8 billion annual budget and oversaw major state and federal programs related to workforce development, public assistance eligibility, housing and community development, unemployment insurance and support for individuals with disabilities. 

As director, he tackled critical state challenges including intergenerational poverty, homelessness, Operation Rio Grande, refugee services and workforce readiness. Over his 32-year public service career—most of it spent with Workforce Services—Jon held multiple leadership roles. He led the department’s largest economic service area, focusing on improved service delivery, operational efficiency and taxpayer savings. 

Under his leadership, the department saved more than $35 million, reflecting his commitment to optimizing government services. 

A University of Utah graduate, Jon is the son of the late George Pierpont, a former Provo police captain. His commitment to public service continues through his son, George, who serves with the Utah Highway Patrol. 

Jon lives in Sandy with his wife, Irina.

State of Utah
President of the Senate

J. Stuart Adams serves as president of the Utah State Senate. Before being elected as Senate president, Adams spent nine years on the Layton City Council, four and a half years in the Utah House of Representatives and six years as Senate Majority Whip in the Utah Senate. He is the former Chairman of the Utah Transportation Commission and the current Chairman of MIDA. Adams is a graduate from the University of Utah with a B.A. in business finance and works as a real estate, construction and development firm in Kaysville. In his free time, Adams enjoys skiing with his family. He and his wife, Susan, are the proud parents of four daughters and grandparents to 16 grandchildren.

Utah State Senate
Utah Senate Majority Leader

Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore was elected to the Utah Senate in 2018 and represents District 19, which includes the southeast part of Salt Lake County and parts of northeast Utah County. He currently serves as majority leader in the Senate Majority Caucus. 

After earning his law degree from the University of Oklahoma, Kirk began his legal career in Oklahoma, focusing primarily on federal Indian law. He later returned to Utah, where he runs his own law practice specializing in general business representation, land use, water development and technology issues. 

As a state legislator, his policy priorities include artificial intelligence, data and consumer privacy, the justice system, education, and municipal and county code issues.

Utah House of Representatives
Representative

Karen Peterson has represented House District 13 (Clearfield, Clinton, Sunset, and West Point) since December 2021. She has lived with her family in Clinton for 15 years and currently works as the Community Development Manager for Sunrise Engineering. Previously she worked as the legislative policy director for Gov. Spencer Cox and as the deputy education policy advisor for Governor Gary Herbert. 

She and her husband, Eric, have three children and a very active Australian Shepherd. They have close ties to Hill Air Force Base where Eric works as an engineer on the ICBM program. 

Utah House of Representatives
Representative

Beginning Legislative Service in 2011, Rep. Val Peterson represents Utah House’s 56th District, a part of Utah county extending from American Fork to Orem. Though most of his time is consumed with being chair of the Executive Appropriations Committee, he also manages to find time to be an active member in his roles on the House Education, Political Subdivisions, and Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committees.

Utah State Senate
Senator, Executive Appropriations Vice Chair

Senator Scott D. Sandall represents Senate District 1, which includes all of Box Elder County and parts of Cache and Tooele counties. He served in the Utah House of Representatives from 2015-2018 before joining the Senate in 2019. He currently serves as the Vice-Chair of Executive Appropriations. Sen. Sandall was born and raised in Tremonton, Utah, where he now works as a fourth-generation farmer and rancher. When he is not on his ranch, at the Utah State Capitol or spending time with his wife Christie and their four children and 13 grandchildren, you can find Sen. Sandall on the golf course.

Utah House of Representatives
Representative, House Majority Leader

Born and raised in Liberty, Representative Snider now resides on a farm in Paradise with his wife Kelli, and their two children — both places he proudly calls home. In addition to his roles as a husband, father, volunteer firefighter, EMT, and avid sportsman, Representative Snider holds another important title — house majority leader. Since being elected in 2018 to represent District 5 of Cache Valley, he views his time in the State Legislature as another opportunity to give back. Raised in agriculture, he’s integrated that ‘work until the job is done’ attitude that the farm requires into his service with the legislature.

Utah House of Representatives
Representative

Stephen Whyte, a nationally recognized strategic communications leader, has worked in Washington, D.C., New York City, and globally with public and private organizations. Elected to the Utah House of Representatives in 2021 (District 63), he serves on the Business and Labor, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, and Public Education Appropriations (Chair) committees, and is a former co-chair of the Commission on Housing Affordability. In the mid-1990s, he served a two-year mission in New Zealand for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He and his wife, Roxane, live in Mapleton with their five children and enjoy traveling and skiing. 

Utah State Senate
Majority Whip

Sen. Chris Wilson is a member of the Utah Senate, representing District 2. He was elected in 2021 and serves as the chair of multiple committees. After studying at Utah State University (USU). Wilson took over his family’s business, Wilson Motors. His ancestors were among those who first settled in Cache Valley, and he has always endeavored to apply their pioneer spirit of hard work, integrity, and perseverance to the company.  

Wilson, his wife, Kiersten, and their blended family of 10 children and 21 grandchildren love to be involved in local community events and attend USU football games. He is grateful for the opportunity to serve his friends and neighbors as a state senator.

Utah Senate
Deputy Chief of Staff

Aundrea Peterson is the deputy chief of staff for the Utah Senate, where she works closely with Senate leadership, the chief of staff and senators to advise, develop and implement communication strategies, priorities and policies. She previously worked for the Utah House of Representatives and World Trade Center Utah. Her contributions to legislative communication were nationally recognized with the Legislative Staff Achievement Award from the NCSL Legislative Staff Association. Aundrea graduated summa cum laude from Weber State University. Outside of her professional endeavors, she enjoys exploring new destinations, relaxing on the beach and caring for foster kittens.

Utah’s Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity
Executive Director

Jefferson Moss serves as the executive director for both the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) and Nucleus Institute, where he promotes economic growth and commercialization in Utah. He fosters collaboration among higher education, industry, and government to accelerate research-to-market initiatives and enhance Utah's competitive edge. Mr. Moss is currently leading the development of Convergence Hall at The Point, an Innovation Campus in Utah, designed to cultivate a thriving innovation ecosystem. He also brings extensive experience in investing, entrepreneurship, and legislative service to his role. 

With over two decades of experience in venture capital and finance, Mr. Moss has been vital in fostering innovation and economic development within Utah. His previous roles include Associate Commissioner of Innovation for the Utah System of Higher Education and Majority Leader in the Utah House of Representatives. His comprehensive background also includes founding the Chair of the UVU Endowment Investment Committee, the E2I Initiative and the UVU Wolverine Fund, and the Utah Innovation Fund. Moss has also held leadership positions as a board member of the Utah Board of Education, a city council member and planning commissioner for the City of Saratoga Springs and previously served as executive director of the Innovation District at The Point. Throughout his career, Moss has demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering growth, creativity, and collaboration across multiple sectors.

Utah Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity
Executive Assistant

Shayna Godfrey serves as the executive assistant to the Executive Director for the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO). In this role, she provides essential support to the International Trade & Diplomacy Team, focusing on facilitating the expansion of Utah businesses into global markets. 

With over ten years of experience spanning corporate, non-profit, and academic environments, Ms. Godfrey brings a diverse skillset to her position. Her expertise includes scheduling, travel coordination, event planning, project management, and financial and data analysis. Prior to joining GOEO, she held positions at Huntsman Cancer Institute and Lighting Resources, LLC, where she demonstrated a strong ability to improve productivity and streamline operational processes. Utah transplant, coming from California. Ms. Godfrey holds a Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

Utah Governor's Office of Economic
International & Special Projects Coordinator

Ashleigh Jensen serves as the international & special projects coordinator at the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO). She enjoys coordinating the state’s partnerships with other countries and facilitating the exchange of ideas and best practices on foreign soil. In addition to her role on the international team, she works on the strategic planning side of the office. 

With a background in economic development policy, Jensen previously staffed the Unified Economic Opportunity Commission, where she facilitated infrastructure policy solutions, conducted research on trade mission locations, and coordinated communication between government officials and stakeholders on challenges facing the state. She first found her love for cultural exchange during her time in the International Folk Dance program at Brigham Young University. 

Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity
Director of International Trade & Diplomacy

Franz Kolb is the director of international trade, diplomacy and international protocol for the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. 

He began his career in Salzburg, Austria, where he studied and worked in international business. After moving to the United States, he served as director of international services at Ernst & Young, advising large and small companies on global business strategies and implementation.Franz later became deputy director of Utah’s International Business Development Office and served for more than two decades as director for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India. In these roles, he organized numerous international trade missions and welcomed hundreds of business delegations and dignitaries to Utah. He has also coordinated and participated in international business seminars both in the United States and abroad. Through individual consultations, strategic analyses and mentoring, Franz has helped more than 3,000 companies expand internationally. 

A strong advocate for education, he has taught cross-cultural communication and international business to undergraduate and graduate students at colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. 

Franz received his education in Austria and the United States. Over the years, he has received numerous honors, awards and knighthoods, including national honors from the presidents of Hungary, Austria and Portugal. He was awarded the Bundesverdienstkreuz by German President Johannes Rau for his work in strengthening economic, educational and cultural ties. 

He has also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Trade Association of Utah and another from Salt Lake Community College. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Honorary Professor Award from Utah Valley.

CEO, World Trade Center Utah

Jonathan Freedman is president and CEO of World Trade Center Utah, where he helps Utah companies grow and compete internationally. He brings a founder’s mindset and a global perspective to the role, building bridges between business, government, and diplomacy to expand exports, attract investment, and deepen international ties.

A longtime entrepreneur, Jonathan co-founded Downeast in 1991 and helped grow it into a successful clothing and furniture brand across the Intermountain West. He has served as Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Utah since 2007 and was awarded the Order of Merit by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2023.

He is a member of the U.S. Trade Representative’s Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee and serves on the boards of Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah District Export Council, and Utah Inland Port Authority. He also supports Utah’s arts community through service on several cultural and fine arts boards.

World Trade Center Utah
Chief Revenue Officer

Rich is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of experience in leadership, business development, and nonprofit management. With a proven track record of scaling operations, driving growth, and leading successful business transitions, Rich helped build Downeast Home and Clothing from startup to a 60-store chain with $60M in annual revenue and 600 employees. Working alongside the Freedman brothers (including WTC Utah’s President and CEO Jonathan Freedman), he led operations and later served as CEO from 2018 to 2024, including managing Downeast’s sale to Malouf Companies in 2020. 

In December 2024, Rich joined WTC Utah as chief revenue officer, leveraging his business expertise to advance the organization’s mission of helping Utah businesses accelerate growth through its global network, programs, and services. 

Rich is adept at international sourcing through extensive travel in Asia and Latin America, and remains dedicated to enhancing employee experience through targeted training, retention, and culture-building initiatives. 

World Trade Center Utah
Director of Trade Missions

Jill Jackson is the director of trade missions at World Trade Center Utah. Previously, she specialized in strategic imaging, operations, and programming for global corporate events, while volunteering as a White House and campaign advance representative. With a passion for civic engagement and dialogue, Jill worked for Points of Light Foundation, the United States Agency for International Development, and The World Bank Development Forum. 

A native of New York, Jill graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations, and a minor in Japanese. During college, Jill studied at BYU’s Center for Near Eastern Studies based in Jerusalem, Israel, and served a religious mission in Sendai, Japan. Later, Jill earned a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in International Business and Development from George Washington University. Jill is a professional photographer, a world traveler, and an avid hiker

World Trade Center Utah
Director of Grants, Administration, and SME Engagement

Over the last 20 years, Anna has worked in many countries and cultures as a global business and cultural leader, bidding on, winning, developing, producing and delivering multi-million-dollar broadcast events that deliver globally focused cultural experiences. She has achieved a high level of success, building international relationships and business opportunities with cultural organizations, small to medium sized business and trade organizations as well as partnering with creative industry leaders and innovators. She has succeeded in building multi-lingual, technical, operational and creative teams world-wide to deliver ground-breaking and inspirational cultural moments with over 20 ceremonies broadcast productions and many other live events under her belt. 

Anna currently holds the role of director of grants and engagement with World Trade Center Utah. She is proud to be engaged with the Small Business Administration and the U.S. Commercial Services and working with Utah businesses, helping them access opportunities to increase their export initiatives. She has worked one-on-one with CEO’s, economic development organizations, city and rural chambers of commerce and other community organizations across Utah’s Aerospace and Defense, Consumer Products, Medical and Life Sciences and Agricultural industries to help them better understand and access federal funds to support their international business development goals. She is also currently serving as Vice Chair on the Board of Directors and the Development Committee Chair of Utah Global Diplomacy

Owlet
VP of Clinical

Guy Alvarez, PhD is Vice President of Clinical at Owlet, where he leads the development of clinical strategy and directs the execution of clinical research projects.  In addition to Clinical Programs & Operations, Guy also oversees Quality & Regulatory Systems, Medical Affairs, and Data Science functions.  Guy has more than 20 years of experience in academic and industry-sponsored clinical research. Mr. Alvarez has held roles at Boston Scientific, LivaNova, Medtronic, and Veranex where he identified market barriers, developed evidence strategies, and led studies for Class II & III medical devices resulting in successful device market authorizations.

BioUtah
Vice President, Programming and Government Affairs

Denise J. Bell has worked at BioUtah since 2016 and currently serves as Vice President of Programming and Government Affairs, responsible for policy development, advocacy, and communications, as well as management of the Utah Rare Disease Advisory Council. She also supports event programming, social media messaging, and BioUtah publications. Her issue portfolio includes FDA/CMS regulation, Medicare, Medicaid, ACA, IRA, innovation, drug pricing, diagnostics, and medical technology. Ms. Bell previously worked as a legislative assistant in Congress followed by senior positions in health policy/strategy for physician specialties, health insurers, and hospital systems. 

Quansys Biosciences
Manager of Research and Development

Dr. Kyle Robert Berg is manager of research and development at Quansys Biosciences, where he directs innovation in multiplexed immunoassay technologies supporting biomedical research and diagnostics worldwide. He earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego, focusing on the interactions of a nootropic compound with the protein Fascin1. At Quansys, Dr. Berg has advanced through roles as scientist and senior scientist to his current leadership position, overseeing assay development, validation, and strategic collaborations. 

Owlet
Chief Revenue Officer

Jennifer Billington is the chief revenue officer at Owlet. In this role, she leads the company's revenue strategy and execution, with a focus on sustainable, profitable growth. Over the past four years, she has held increasingly senior sales roles at Owlet and now oversees all domestic and international sales. Her leadership is built on 18 years of progressive sales experience within the Coca-Cola system, spanning a wide range of channels and customer segments. 

Jennifer holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and an MBA from Arizona State University. Her strategic vision, ability to build lasting customer relationships, and results-driven approach are integral to success

Troomi
CEO

Bill Brady has been a pioneer of the kid-safe technology movement since 2018 and is the founder and CEO of Troomi, the only kid-safe phone for digital wellness and positive mental health. He earned a bachelor's degree in public relations from Brigham Young University, where he served as Student Body President, and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Utah. Bill and his wife, Heidi, have been married for 25 years and have five wonderful children. 

Quansys Bioscienses
President & CEO

Adam Brown is the president and CEO of Quansys Biosciences. An entrepreneur at heart, he has founded and operated several small businesses, including a concert promotion company, an apparel brand, and a breakfast eatery. A graduate of Utah State University’s business and entrepreneurship program, he serves on the Center for Entrepreneurship Founders Board. Since taking leadership at Quansys, Adam has transformed the company into a profitable and growing organization, guiding the launch of its pneumococcal assay and positioning it as a key contributor to global health research and diagnostics

Curie AI 
Founder & CEO 

Innovator in Clean Tech, Energy, AI, and IP with 15 years of cross-sector experience, recognized as a finalist for MIT’s 35 Innovators Under 35 and Utah Innovation Award winner; Specializes in AI-driven material discovery, Quantum Computation, sustainable energy, and advanced material development, with a strong focus on advancing AI and tech-to-market ecosystems; Passionate about bridging technical teams, innovation, and patent law, with a collaborative approach.

AUI
President & CEO

Dr. Cohen is president/CEO of AUI, which manages Federally Funded R&D Centers and other R&D activities. Prior to AUI, he served as the deputy undersecretary for Science and Energy at the US DOE, overseeing science and energy research, technology development, and deployment efforts, including oversight of 13 of the 17 DOE National Laboratories. He also spent over two decades at Argonne and Princeton, two DOE National Laboratories in various leadership positions in nuclear energy, materials R&D, and operations. Earlier he served as an officer in the US Nuclear Navy and at B&W in manufacturing. He holds degrees in materials engineering from Columbia and Northwestern, and an MBA from U of Chicago

BioUtah
President & CEO

Kelvyn H. Cullimore Jr. was named President and CEO of BioUtah, the state trade association for life science companies in Utah, in October 2018.  Mr. Cullimore is a member of the WTCUtah Board and on the advisory board of the Center for Medical Innovation at the University of Utah, UVU College of Science and the College of Science at Utah Tech University.   

From 1992 to 2018 Mr. Cullimore was the President & CEO of Dynatronics Corporation, a leading manufacturer of physical therapy devices and products founded by Mr. Cullimore and his father.  

In addition to his professional career, Mr. Cullimore was elected the first mayor of Cottonwood Heights, UT in Nov 2004 and served 13 years as Mayor. 

FLSmidth
VP, Head of Process and Technology

Wayne Douglas has spent 20 years in mineral processing, holding a variety of leadership roles in metallurgy, operations, maintenance, and both process and product R&D. He currently is vice president, Process & Technology for FLSmidth. He has a B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering and an M.Sc. in Materials Science and Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

AUST Group
Principal

Chris is co-founder and principal at AUST. Chris has developed medical devices for the past 25 years, working in roles from design engineering to executive management. He is also a licensed physician trained in internal medicine with a research focus in cardiovascular electrophysiology. Chris received a BS with distinction from Stanford University's Program in Science, Technology, and Society and an MA in Russian and East European Studies.  He also received an MD from Stanford where he was awarded the Biodesign Innovation Fellowship.

Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Executive Director
 
Appointed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox in June 2022, Joel Ferry serves as the executive director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR), overseeing approximately 2,500 employees across nine divisions and two offices. These include Forestry, Fire and State Lands; Law Enforcement; Oil, Gas and Mining; State Parks; Outdoor Recreation; the Utah Geological Survey; Water Resources; Water Rights; Wildlife Resources; the Office of Energy Development; and the Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office.  A fifth-generation farmer, Ferry brings a deep passion for water policy, land conservation, and agriculture to his leadership at DNR.

Next Global 
Founder and Chairman 

L.R. Fox, a proven entrepreneur in the highly regulated technology sector and a Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient, has founded global tech companies, led high-impact nonprofits, and shared his inspiring story with millions. Throughout his young career, he has leveraged his intelligence, tenacity, and skills to combat threats such as bomb-laden terrorist drones, establish safe houses for human trafficking victims, advocate for foster youth rights through legislative efforts, and pioneer the development of a long-acting, reversible male birth control. Passionate about improving society, he currently serves as the Founder and CEO of NEXT Global Capital. 

Nusano, Inc. 
Head of Energy Partnerships 

Darryl Goldberg graduated from Stonybrook University with a Bachelors of Engineering in electrical engineering in 2009. He has worked for Nusano since 2020. 

University of Utah
Senior Fellow

Mining industry leader Denee Hayes, senior fellow at University of Utah College of Science, bridges academia and industry with expertise in critical minerals and sustainable energy. With 20 years in mining resource modeling and digital transformation, she advises on sustainable mining practices while developing workforce solutions. Former chair of Mining Engineering's Industrial Advisory Board, Hayes champions university-industry connections. Her leadership in global mining operations translates strategy into implementation, focusing on ethical domestic mineral extraction for green technologies and developing next-generation mining professionals.

Bernhardt Group
Founding Partner

Luke served as deputy director at the Bureau of Land Management, where he was responsible for overseeing the agency's energy, minerals, lands, and permitting activities. His development of agency-wide frameworks has had lasting impacts on federal permitting today. In this role, Luke also oversaw the agency's congressional and public affairs functions and testified before US House and Senate committees to defend administration policies and navigate congressional oversight. He also worked for the House Natural Resources Committee. Today, he helps clients with permitting of complex projects, managing and mitigating regulatory risk and offering creative policy solutions to policymakers.

University of Utah
Deputy Chief of Staff

Teresa is an accomplished administrative leader with nearly two decades of experience in executive support, strategic coordination, and operational management across higher education, professional sports, and entrepreneurship. She currently serves as the deputy chief of staff, where she plays a pivotal role in supporting the President's Office, ensuring seamless execution of institutional initiatives, and fostering engagement with key stakeholders. Since joining the University of Utah in 2015, Teresa has held multiple leadership roles, including special assistant to the president and first lady and EA to Taylor Randall in his role as Dean of the David Eccles School of Business.

Dorsey & Whitney
Partner

Troy is a partner in the Salt Lake City Office of the national law firm, Dorsey & Whitney LLP where he represents clients on strategic corporate transactions and law and policy matters. Before joining Dorsey, Troy was vice president of Corporate Law and Government Relations at Huntsman Corporation. Previous to Huntsman, he was Securities & M&A counsel at Qwest Communications, and he began his career as an attorney at the New York office of Sidley Austin. Troy currently serves as World Trade Center Utah's International Trade and Commercial Policy Advisor and as co-chair of the Salt Lake Chamber's policy committee.

SchoolAI
VP of International Sales

Marcus Kingsley is a go-to-market and sales leader in education technology, known for building repeatable revenue engines and scaling SaaS businesses across the U.S. and international markets. He serves as VP of International Sales at SchoolAI where he leads global GTM strategy, partnerships, and market expansion.  

Previously, Marcus held senior commercial roles including VP of Sales at SchoolStatus (AMER / EMEA & APAC) and Head of Growth / VP of Sales at másLabor, following earlier leadership posts as General Manager with NetSupport Inc. overseeing the Americas with experience that spans classroom management, student safeguarding, and data analytics platforms used widely across K-12. 

Red Cat Holdings
Senior Director, Federal Policy

Paul is currently the senior director for Federal Policy at Red Cat Holdings, where he oversees all of Red Cat's policy engagement on national security policy, legislative affairs, and trade and supply chain policy issues. Previously, he was a semiconductor industry specialist at the U.S. Department of Commerce. In this role, he worked on semiconductor trade and supply chain policy, receiving a gold medal from the Secretary of Commerce for attracting inbound investments in the United States by Taiwanese semiconductor companies. Paul graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations.

Vector Defense Inc.
Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer

Matt Long is the chief strategy officer and co-founder of Vector. A retired U.S. Navy SEAL Team Leader with 20 years of distinguished service, Matt’s career includes roles at Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), where he led hundreds of combat operations, including high-profile hostage rescues. His service has been recognized with numerous awards, including a Silver Star and multiple Bronze Stars with Valor. 

Following his military career, Matt has worked as a contractor for various government agencies, with extensive experience in some of the most dynamic and significant battlefields of modern warfare. He also holds a Master’s degree in Organizational and Strategic Leadership. 

Strider Technologies
Australia Country Manager

Paul Maddison is the Australia Country Manager at Strider Technologies, where he is responsible for leading Strider's market expansion into Australia's corporate, university, and government sectors.  

Prior to joining Strider, Paul worked at the University of New South Wales in Sydney and Canberra as director of the UNSW Defense Research Institute. This was preceded by an appointment as Canada's high commissioner for Australia, with accreditation to seven Pacific Island Countries.  

Paul also devoted 38 years to Canadian naval service. As a surface warfare officer, he commanded at all levels culminating in his appointment as commander of the Royal Canadian Navy at the rank of vice admiral.

Canuckiwi Ltd
Account Director, Utah Office of Tourism

Corey Marshall is the account director for the Utah Office of Tourism across both the Australasian & Canadian markets and co-founder of Canuckiwi Ltd. Canuckiwi has represented Utah in these primary markets since 2014. Corey’s expertise lies in his integration of market strategies & programming across trade, PR, social media and consumer advertising. He relies on his extensive in-country relationships across the travel industry as well as his team's expertise to deliver the best partnership programs possible for Utah. He is an avid outdoors lover and can be found on bikes, boards, trails or lakes while he is in Utah.

Microvascular Therapeutics, Inc
Chief Operating and Scientific Officer

Dr. Meuillet is a pharmacologist and biochemist by training.  During her career in academia, she managed a team of up to 13 staff/personnel and up to $10M in grants. She joined MVT in 2018 and built the Research and Development programs funded by non-diluting funds. At MVT, she has secured >$14M in grant funding from NIH and DOD. She holds 5 issued US patents. She actively manages the grants portfolio and directs all research and all administrative aspects of them.  She directs the team of 3 staff for the manufacturing at the company, interacts with the external consulting firms for regulatory and clinical activities.  She manages the eQMS and is responsible for QA at the Company.

Electric Power Systems
President & CEO

Nathan (Nate) Millecam, CEO and co-founder of Electric Power Systems, is a seasoned leader with nearly 20 years in aerospace and aviation. A licensed private pilot, he combines technical expertise with a passion for flight. As the company's visionary leader, Nate drives corporate strategy, development, and innovation, positioning Electric Power Systems at the forefront of the industry. His career began as a technology consultant for e-commerce firms, and after earning his M.B.A. from Arizona State University's W.P. Carey School of Business, he joined Honeywell Aerospace, honing his skills in aviation technology and leadership.

Bank of America
Senior Vice President

J. Golden Moore is a seasoned financial innovator with over 22 years of experience advising business executives, with a focus on high net-worth individuals and families. As a Bank of America private bank client advisor, he designs tailored strategies in investment management, exit and estate planning, custom lending, and philanthropy while leveraging global investment, commercial banking, and markets. His background is in international, commercial and wealth management. He has an MBA from BYU, a Graduate Degree in Banking from SMU, and an Economics BA from U of U. Golden serves on global trade /advisory boards including BYU, UVU, WTA and WTC. He chaired the first Crossroads of the World Summit.

SchoolAI
Co-Founder

Kevin Morrill is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in various leadership and operational roles across multiple organizations. Currently serving as Co-Founder at SchoolAI since January 2023 and as an Advisor at Factor since August 2022, Kevin previously held several significant positions including GM of Transition & Immersion Programs at Shift and various directorial roles at Lambda School.  

Kevin’s expertise spans logistics, student success, operations management, and sales, with a proven track record of implementing systems and programs to enhance efficiency and drive results. Educational credentials include a bachelor's degree in communications from Utah Valley University.

SchoolAI
Head of Partnerships

Aaron Neuenschwander is head of partnerships at SchoolAI, helping transform K-12 education through responsible AI. With 15+ years spanning startups, government, and finance, his career includes building partnerships at BloomTech, scaling operations at Readeo, leading sales at ZenniHome, co-founding creator-focused tech platforms, and early roles at Goldman Sachs and in the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development under former Governor Gary Herbert.  

Aaron thrives at forging partnerships that drive both business growth and social impact and enjoys working with innovative companies tackling meaningful challenges. He enjoys skiing Utah powder, surfing with his kids, and adventuring with his family.

Paterna Bioscineces
CEO

Alex Pastuszak is a physician-scientist and entrepreneur advancing meaningful change in reproductive health. He is CEO and cofounder of Paterna Biosciences, CMO at Contraline, and associate professor at the University of Utah with 140+ peer-reviewed publications. Previously, he served as Chief Medical & Scientific Officer and President of Clinical Care at Vault Health and founded Woven Health. Born in New York City, Alex earned MD and PhD degrees from the University of California, San Francisco, completed residency and fellowship in urology and a fellowship in male reproductive medicine and surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, and holds a BS in Cellular & Molecular Biology from Yale.

The University of Utah
Vice President, Government Relations

Jason Perry is the vice president for Government Relations and the director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah.  Jason brings more than 25 years of experience working in the public sector, where he has worked extensively with policy makers at the local, state, and federal level. 

Jason is a graduate of the S.J. Quinney College of Law at The University of Utah and began his career working for Attorney General Jan Graham. A passionate advocate for protecting children, Jason helped launch the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce and received the FBI Director’s Award for distinguished service to the law enforcement community. He also served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. 

Following his service in the Attorney General’s office, Jason became an administrative judge in Utah’s Department of Commerce where he quickly rose to the level of deputy director. While serving in this capacity, former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. appointed Jason to serve as the executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. During his time leading GOED, he was instrumental in the recruitment and expansion of companies that bolstered Utah’s economy and helped the state receive numerous national accolades including one of the Most Business Friendly States, Most Dynamic Economy, and Best Managed State.  Most recently, Jason served as the chief of staff for Governor Gary Herbert.  Jason became vice president for Government Relations at the University of Utah in 2011 and director of the Hinckley Institute in 2016. 

Jason makes his home in Salt Lake City with his wife Mary Catherine and their four children.

Salt Lake Chamber
Vice President of Public Policy & Government Affairs

Mary Catherine Perry is vice president of public policy and government affairs at the Salt Lake Chamber, where she leads advocacy efforts and policy committees. She began her career as a policy analyst for the Utah Legislature and has also led key grassroots initiatives including The Period Project, the Teen Center Project, and the Safe Child Project. 

Vector Defense Inc.
Director of Growth and Strategic Partnerships

Matt Piosa serves as the director of growth operations and strategic partnerships at Vector, where he leads the accelerated adoption of the Modern Warfare-as-a-Service.   

A combat-tested leader with over two decades of experience in Ranger, Airborne, and Stryker formations, Matt has a proven record of integrating emerging technologies and driving innovation inside the Department of War.  Matt holds a Master of Science in Defense Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point.  He has also completed executive education programs at Stanford and Harvard. 

Utah Office of Tourism
Managing Director

Natalie Randall is the managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism and Film in the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. She leads Utah’s international and domestic strategy in building a perpetual visitor economy. She has built a career anchored at the crossroads of policy and business, finding a passion in elevating community driven initiatives. Randall’s professional experience included executive director of the Utah Tourism Industry Association (UTIA), executive director of San Juan County's Economic Development and Tourism, director of Monticello City Parks, Recreation, Trails, and Community and Economic Development, and co-owner of Roam Industry, a guide and outfitter.

University of Utah
President

Taylor R. Randall was appointed as the 17th president of the University of Utah in August 2021. An award-winning educator, innovative leader, and champion of higher education, he comes to the position with more than two decades of experience at the U, serving as both dean of and an accounting professor in the David Eccles School of Business. He is the first alumnus since 1973 to serve as president.

Randall presented a bold vision to make the U a top 10 public university with an unsurpassed societal impact. His strategy outlines three objectives: to inspire a new generation of students by revolutionizing the student experience, to innovate and generate discoveries that change the world.

Anson Resources LTD/A1 Lithium Inc.
Executive Chairman & CEO

Mr. Richardson is executive chairman and CEO of Anson Resources Ltd (ASX: ASN) a company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. As managing director, he oversaw the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Mayan Iron Corporation Ltd in 2010, which was re-named Anson Resources Ltd in 2017. He became executive chairman of Anson in 2018. 

Concurrently, Mr. Richardson is the president/CEO of several Anson subsidiary companies in Australia and in the USA including A1 Lithium Inc. He has been resident in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA for the past 7 years as his work has been focused on the company’s projects in Utah, USA, the development of the company’s lithium projects.

AUI
Director of Strategic Communications and External Affairs

Matt Schaub is a senior communications strategist with decades of experience at the intersection of business, science, and governance. Most notably, Matt has served in several roles for the Obama White House and the US Department of Energy before transitioning back to the sciences with Associated Universities, Inc. where he makes the impacts of government funded science accessible to a broad and diverse audience.

Energy Fuels
Director of Processing Operations

Logan Shumway is currently Vice President of Processing Operations for Energy Fuels.  He has worked at the White Mesa mill, which is the only operating uranium mill in the United States, since 2010.  During his tenure at the White Mesa Mill he has served in various roles which include chief metallurgist, operations superintendent and mill manager.  Logan attended Brigham Young University where he received degrees in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry.  Logan is responsible for managing the day-to-day processing activities at the White Mesa Mill as well as engineering and construction of the sites expanded operations into rare earths.  Logan is a native of Southeastern Utah.

Deseret Management Corporation
President & CEO

Jeff Simpson is the president & CEO of Deseret Management Corporation and the managing director of BYU Broadcasting. Prior to this assignment he served as the president and publisher of Deseret News, president of Deseret Book Company, and CEO of Bonneville International. His diverse media background began at Walt Disney Pictures and Buena Vista Television. He then built Excel Entertainment Group, which became a top 10 independent media distributor. He has served on the board of directors of the National Association of Broadcasters and the national News Media Alliance.

Utah Mining Association
President

Brian Somers joined the Utah Mining Association as its president in 2019. Brian has over 20 years of extensive experience in legislative affairs, strategic communications, and executive leadership. Prior to UMA, he led the Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR) as its managing director. He also served as the deputy director of the Utah Department of Heritage & Arts, on the communications staff of Governor Gary R. Herbert, and in various strategic communications roles in the private sector.

47G
President & CEO

Aaron Starks is CEO & president of 47G Utah Aerospace & Defense, a non-profit fostering Utah’s aerospace and defense ecosystem. Under his leadership, 47G is elevating Utah’s aerospace and defense industry. Aaron spearheads international delegations, enhancing defense cooperation with allies like Taiwan, India, and Ukraine, where he secured a collaboration agreement with President Zelensky. A passionate advocate for U.S. values, Aaron co-founded the "I am a Leader Foundation" and advises on global leadership with the US Global Leadership Coalition. Aaron holds a degree in Economics & Political Science from the University of Utah and an MBA from Duke University.

EDC Utah
President & Executive Director

Ryan Starks is the president and executive director of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah — a public-private partnership that accelerates economic growth throughout Utah. Prior to serving in this role, Ryan led the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity and served as a cabinet member to Governor Spencer J. Cox. 

Starks has been instrumental in fostering the top-performing economy in the United States. His work has focused on fostering entrepreneurship, business expansions, international trade, rural development, and targeted industry growth. 

Starks received degrees from Weber State University and Brigham Young University. Starks and his family reside in South Jordan. 

The Steed Group
CEO

Jeff is a senior partner and co-founder of The Steed Group (TSG), a government affairs, corporate affairs and global strategic advisory and consulting practice, currently serving as its CEO. Jeff in an internationalist whose multi-disciplinary practice focuses on M&A, venture capital, foreign direct investment, government affairs (including both federal and foreign affairs and relations), economic development, trade/tariff policy, and legislative advocacy. 

The main industries where he has special expertise are foreign trade affairs, tax and financial policy and regulations, defense, aerospace, and NGOs focused on economic development, religious, and human rights issues. He also helps represent several municipalities and state auxiliaries on their appropriations, grants, and state lobbying efforts in Washington DC. 

In his career, Jeff has served as an equity partner with Utah’s largest law firm and in various senior executive leadership roles for large corporations, nonprofits, global consulting groups, and venture capital firms. 

Jeff is a published author and is a frequent public speaker. He has been named a "Legal Elite" by Utah Business Magazine, and a "Super Lawyer" and "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers Magazine. Jeff was named by Utah Business Magazine as being a “40 Under Forty” business professional and "Top Corporate Counsel". 

Jeff is a graduate of the Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University (BA, Business Management/International Business), Thomas Jefferson School of Law (LL.M., Master of Laws, International Tax and Finance), and the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah (Doctor of Jurisprudence, J.D.).   

He serves as a board member and as a strategic advisor for various for-profit and non-profit MNEs and NGOs with a global presence. He has served as an Adjunct Professor with the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah teaching courses in the Juris Doctor (J.D.) program. 

Red Cat Holdings 
SVP, Regulatory and Government Affairs 

Brendan Stewart is an experienced aviation compliance professional with extensive experience helping organizations and end users reap the benefits of unmanned systems. Brendan was responsible for receiving the 4th ever approved 107.39 waiver, allowing his clients to successfully operate a UAS over people as early as 2017, and the first Part 107 waiver to allow localized urban drone delivery operations. Now leading product compliance and global policy initiatives at Red Cat, Brendan’s mission is to drive the ubiquity of unmanned systems through the development of a favorable policy landscape and an architecture of trust to fully integrate UAS into the NAS.

Deseret News
Reporter

Jason writes for the Deseret News’ Politics and the West team, covering education, the military, and faith-based sports stories. After graduating from the University of Utah, he’s worked as a reporter and editor for the Deseret News for three decades — covering almost all corners of the news. After taking a couple years off to dabble in public relations, he returned to the newsroom last year. My primary coverage areas are education, military and faith-based sports profiles. Swensen and his wife, Josefina, are hard-core college football fans and the empty nesting parents of two vastly different children: One a lawyer. The other, a U.S. Navy officer.

Swenson Strategies (Anson Resources\A1 Lithium) 
Government & Regulatory Affairs Consultant

Michael is a government affairs consultant and lobbyist with 20 years of experience in natural resource management, rural policy, and regulatory permitting. Since 2005, he has represented clients before local, state, & federal governments, including DOI, BLM, USFS, EPA, DOE, NPS, USFWS, & ACE. He is known for securing state appropriations, shaping legislation, and navigating complex permitting processes such as NEPA and SRPs. Michael also brings landman experience in negotiating land, mineral & water rights, extensive nonprofit leadership in fundraising & advocacy, & advises on community & media relations. Raised in rural Utah, he combines strategic insight with deep local roots. 

Utah Department of Natural Resources
Director of Oil, Gas, and Mining

Mick Thomas is director of Oil, Gas and Mining within the Utah Department of Natural Resources. The division provides regulatory support and enforcement for oil and gas, coal, abandoned mine reclamation, and minerals. It also serves as the administrative arm of the Utah Board of Oil, Gas and Mining. 

As director, Thomas represents Utah on the Interstate Mining Compact Commission and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission and serves as a board member of the Ground Water Protection Council. 

He holds both a bachelor’s degree and a graduate degree in geochemistry from the University of Indiana. 

Nucleus Institute 
Director of Fund Operations 

Kristin Wihera currently works as the director of fund operations at Nucleus Institute. She leads the day-to-day operations of Nucleus Fund, a $40M state-backed venture fund focused on early-stage deep tech innovation in Utah. She brings a breadth of experience in defense, energy, biotechnology, and investing.  

Kristin previously served as a naval officer in the US Navy. During her service, she led sailors in ship operations, Naval Nuclear Propulsion, and the Navy Wounded Warrior program. Kristin holds an MBA and an MS in Biotechnology, both from Harvard, and a BS in Human Physiology from Boston University. 

Utah State University
Vice President for Government and External Affairs

Devin Wiser is vice president for Government and External Relations at Utah State University. He previously served as executive director of Government Relations and the Walker Institute of Politics at Weber State University and spent ten years on D.C.’s Capitol Hill, including as deputy chief counsel for a House committee and chief of staff to a senior Republican Member of Congress. Devin holds an undergraduate degree from Utah State University and a law degree from George Mason University.