Speaking on Business 2

Speaking on Business: Utah System of Higher Education

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. The pandemic has taken a toll on the health and wellness of our citizens and economy. Dave Woolstenhulme, Utah’s commissioner of higher education, is here to tell us how returning to school is helping Utahns find work.

DAVE WOOLSTENHULME

An economic issue coming out of the pandemic is the deficiency of a skilled and ready workforce. Workforce shortages across the state and nation are causing employers and business leaders to rethink their hiring strategies.

We want to address these issues head-on by helping Utahns reskill or upskill to get back to work. To do this, we must address the barriers keeping students from accessing and completing higher education. We also must provide valuable credentials leading to employment. We need to address barriers for students of all ages, including cost, simplifying processes, and addressing student needs. The Board of Higher Education is working on these issues over the next five years through its strategic plan. 

We’ve already seen some great success for students whose employment was negatively impacted by the pandemic through the Learn & Work program in Utah. Students can apply for short-term, tuition-free programs at Utah colleges designed to get them back into the workforce quickly. 

DEREK MILLER

State education leaders are addressing barriers in higher education that keep Utahns from accessing a college education. Learn more about what short-term programs are available tuition-free at learnandwork.org. I’m Derek Miller with the Salt Lake Chamber, Speaking on Business.

Originally Aired: August 17, 2021

Speaking on Business: Utah System of Higher Education

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. This year’s recipient of the Salt Lake Chamber’s Board Chair’s Initiative Award is AT&T—a long-time member and partner. Here to accept the award is Tara Thue, state president for AT&T in Utah and co-chair of the Chamber’s Diversity Council, which engages business and community leaders to create more diverse and inclusive workplaces.

TARA THUE

It’s an honor to be recognized. Since the 1960s, AT&T has been at the forefront of civil rights advocacy and the fight for equality. In 2020, in the face of unprecedented need and challenges, we put our resources toward initiatives we believe can move the needle.

From helping bridge the digital divide to fostering upward mobility for those who face social inequities, we built on our longstanding commitment to the communities we serve. We also focused our philanthropic efforts on students who faced unprecedented challenges when in-person classes were suspended. Nationally, we allocated 10 million dollars to AT&T’s Distance Learning and Family Connections Fund. In total it served 196 million learners in 2020.

In the face of injustice, we at AT&T are committed to raising our voices to speak up for what’s right. I'm also excited for our upcoming events with the Chamber, including the inaugural Utah Business Diversity Summit in November.

DEREK MILLER

The Utah Business Diversity Summit is part of the One Utah Summit Series. It will be held on November 4. You can register now at slchamber.com. I’m Derek Miller with the Salt Lake Chamber, Speaking on Business.

Originally Aired: August 18, 2021

Speaking on Business: AT&T

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. Diversity and inclusion are critical factors that keep businesses competitive. Sara Jones founded InclusionPro in 2017 to help companies amplify inclusion as a core leadership skill and develop diverse and inclusive work cultures to keep our Utah companies competitive. Here’s Sara to tell us more.

SARA JONES
 
I’ve spent over 20 years helping build Utah’s business community - from patent lawyer to tech entrepreneur to CEO. I founded InclusionPro to help executive leaders align their diversity, equity and inclusion work to their core business strategy, which is key to transformational change. 

When inclusive behaviors are taught and modeled, team members feel valued, solve problems more creatively, and engage meaningfully to build the business. Sometimes DEI initiatives feel intended for only a minority of employees at a company. My goal is to reframe this work so that all team members are valued as part of the solution. When employees understand that DEI includes everyone, team performance improves and businesses thrive.

Diverse and inclusive cultures start from the top: executive leaders are critical to successful organizational transformation. InclusionPro’s motto is: Lead with Inclusion, Value Diversity.
 
DEREK MILLER
 
Through strategy, training and mission-driven learning, InclusionPro helps leaders understand that inclusion, diversity and equity are more than just keeping employees happy. It’s about business innovation through a different lens, with the potential to transform your company culture. I’m Derek Miller with the Salt Lake Chamber, Speaking on Business.

Originally Aired: August 24, 2021

Speaking on Business: InclusionPro

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. I’m here with Ray Pickup, CEO of WCF Insurance. WCF is headquartered in Sandy, Utah, and is the largest workers’ compensation insurer in Utah. Ray is here to discuss the importance of workplace safety and protecting your business and your employees. 

RAY PICKUP

WCF Insurance has been protecting Utah businesses and employees for 104 years. We’ve come a long way from where we started in 1917. Today, WCF is an innovative insurance provider with nationally offered products and services. We are committed to providing excellent customer service, building strong business partnerships, providing exceptional claims management, and keeping workers safe. Recently, we launched new lines of property and casualty insurance, including a businessowners policy for small businesses.

On our website, we have hundreds of free workplace safety posters, videos, and other safety resources for employers and employees to use in their workplaces. We also have an entire team of safety professionals that can assist businesses with workplace safety. We see the impact on families and communities when employees and companies suffer from a workplace accident. Remember who’s waiting for us to come home safely. Be careful out there.

DEREK MILLER

Ray helped lead the way during the pandemic to keep Utah workers safe. Learn more about WCF Insurance and its insurance offerings at wcf.com. I’m Derek Miller with the Salt Lake Chamber, Speaking on Business.

Originally Aired: August 26, 2021

Speaking on Business: WCF Insurance

This is Derek Miller Speaking on Business. The Utah Department of Heath works with numerous community partners to create healthy environments to live, work and play. Tom Hudachko with the Utah Department of Health is here to tell us more about how to protect yourself and those around you.

TOM HUDACHKO

Your health is everything. When your physical, emotional, and mental well-being are taken care of, it helps you live your best life. That’s why those of us at the Utah Department of Health, and in other public health departments throughout the state, do what we do — we know a healthy society means a prosperous society.

Getting vaccinated against diseases like COVID-19 is the best way to protect yourself and those around you. Plus, getting vaccinated will help ensure our economic recovery from the pandemic.

With our kids returning to school, it’s important to do all we can to keep them safe. So if your child is 12 or older, get them vaccinated. Students, teachers, and staff should also wear masks in school as an additional layer of protection. 

As always, wash your hands often, keep physical distance around others and stay home when you’re sick. These safe health practices will protect us all – individually, families, and as communities. 

DEREK MILLER

We are grateful for the hard work the Utah Department of Health does to keep Utahns healthy and safe. For more information, visit health.utah.gov. I’m Derek Miller with the Salt Lake Chamber, speaking on Business.

Originally Aired: August 27, 2021

Speaking on Business: Utah Department of Health

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Utah’s growth relies on a strong construction industry to support its expanding communities. For over a century, Jacobsen Construction has played a key role in building that foundation and shaping the state’s future. Chief Operating Officer, Matt Radke, joins us with more.

Matt Radke: 
U.S. News and World Report has ranked Utah the number one state in America for two consecutive years, sparking new opportunities across the state. 
Jacobsen Construction is proud to contribute to this growth with several transformative projects shaping Utah's future.

First, the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine will revolutionize medical education, preparing future doctors for innovation. Then at Deer Valley, with the newly completed Grand Hyatt as part of the Mayflower resort — America’s most ambitious new ski campus in 50 years.

Meanwhile, in Logan, Utah State University is expanding its business school with the Carolyn & Kem Gardner Learning & Leadership Building, fostering strong partnerships between students and Utah businesses. And then in Taylorsville, Primary Children’s Hospital is building a state-of-the-art Behavioral Health Center to provide essential mental health services to young patients.

Jacobsen Construction’s involvement in these projects demonstrates that Utah’s success is just beginning, with even more growth opportunities on the horizon.

Derek Miller: 
With over 100 years of experience, Jacobsen Construction remains a driving force in Utah’s economy. Their work continues to shape the state’s future with exciting new projects ahead. Learn more at jacobsenconstruction.com. I'm Derek Miller, with the Salt Lake Chamber, Speaking on Business.

Originally aired: 3/14/25

Speaking on Business: Jacobsen Construction

The Salt Lake Chamber stands as the voice of business in Utah. We support our members' success and champion community prosperity.