SPEAKERS

Ashley is Chairman of the Board and CEO of Redemption Holding Company, a Black-owned holding company that recently announced its agreement to purchase Utah-based Holladay Bank and Trust –marking the first time in American history that an existing commercial bank will become a Black-owned Minority Depository Institution ("MDI") through acquisition. Ashley is also the Founder and CEO of Ready Life, the new financial technology company that is disrupting the mortgage industry by pioneering a new path to homeownership that eliminates the need for credit scores. As a corporate finance attorney hailing from the world’s largest law firm, Dentons, LLP, Ashley is committed to furthering the growth of entrepreneurs, and has worked closely with venture capital funds, opportunity zone funds, and traditional lenders to leverage public and private resources to support economic growth. As the youngest black lawyer listed in the “Red Book” of America’s top municipal bond attorneys, Ashley has guided over a billion dollars in successful bond transactions to help revitalize urban areas. Ashley serves as co-founder and General Counsel for the National Black Bank Foundation (NBBF) and the $250 million Black Bank Fund. In this role, he facilitating the refinance of a $35 million construction loan for the Emory Sports Medicine Complex with a syndicate of 11 Black-owned banks, followed by a $45 million transaction featuring two Black-owned banks to develop The Trade hotel in Milwaukee. Previously, Ashley served as the White House Policy Advisor for Entrepreneurship & Innovation and a Regional Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration, where he played an instrumental role in the implementation of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Ashley has been named a 2020 Georgia “Super Lawyer Rising Star” (first named in 2017) and is a recent graduate of the 50th Anniversary Class of Leadership Atlanta for 2020, having previously completed Leadership Georgia in 2012. He is one of the 2016 “Top 40 Young Lawyers” in the country by the American Bar Association, and a 2016 “Lawyer on the Rise” by Georgia’s leading legal journal, “The Daily Report,” recognizing Georgia’s top 25 lawyers under 40. Ashley began his career as a public defender before becoming a celebrated trial attorney, and at age 27, he was one of the youngest commissioners ever elected in the State of Georgia. Ashley is a graduate of Valdosta State University, where he was President of the Student Government Association and founded the school’s chapter of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. In 2019, Ashley received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Arts & Sciences and joined the VSU Foundation Board of Trustees. Ashley obtained his law degree from Louisiana State University and has an honorary doctorate from Lighthouse College. Ashley was a 21st Century Leadership Fellow at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government, and currently is a Fellow of the inaugural class of the Civil Society Fellowship, a Partnership of ADL and The Aspen Institute, and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

Since 1996, Debbie has been involved in the leadership of Laird Norton Company, a 168-year-old, eighth-generation Family business with a diverse portfolio of investments in real estate, wealth management, and consumer products.    Debbie served as a director of Laird Norton Company from 1996 to 2007 and in 2011, was elected to a second term and named board chair. She also chaired their largest subsidiary, Laird Norton Properties, a fully integrated real estate company. She was a member of their Nominating and Compensation Committees and served in an ex-officio role on their Governance Committee and Family Council. As board chair, Debbie worked closely with their independent CEO and Family Council President and together, the three of them collaborated on shareholder relations and communications. She also participated in the planning of the Laird Norton Company‘s annual Summit, a four-day retreat involving their entire family that now exceeds 525 members, 397 of which are shareholders.   During her first Board term, she served on their Compensation, Investment and Nominating Committees, and as a board liaison on the Company’s 2000 and 2010 Long Range Planning Committees. In 1991, prior to joining the board, Debbie led the planning and implementation of the Laird Norton Company Children’s Program, affectionately known as “Camp Three Tree.” She also contributed to the planning and implementation of the Next Gen Program for their young adult family members ages 21-40.   Outside of her involvement with her family company, Debbie has served as an independent director for many other family-owned companies. At present, she is a director of the Larry H. Miller Company, a multi-generation family-owned business headquartered in Utah. Since its founding in 1979, the LHM Company has successfully built a portfolio of operating companies in the automotive, finance/lending, sports and entertainment, and real estate spaces.   Debbie also previously served as a director of the North America chapter of the Family Business Network; a not-for-profit network of family businesses, committed to enhancing family governance and generational success. She has been an invited guest and speaker at numerous family business conferences and events. Debbie especially enjoys sharing her Family’s best practices and “lessons-learned” related to governance, shareholder communications, and family engagement.    In 1990, Debbie founded and served as CEO of Pacific Preschools, Inc., a network of private, high quality, worksite childcare programs. In 1997, she led the sale of the company to Bright Horizons, the premier provider of employer-sponsored childcare, and early education. For the next twenty years, Debbie served as their vice president of regional development during which time she led new site selection and assisted in the development of sixty new corporate-sponsored childcare facilities.   Debbie and her husband Henry live in a suburb of Seattle, Washington. They enjoy boating, kayaking, skiing, hiking, and most of all, spending time with their eight grandchildren, all under age twelve!

Melissa serves as the Navigation Team Manager at Proxima where she plays a vital role as the primary point of contact for incoming Proxima participants. Melissa acts as a trusted guide, helping individuals navigate the often challenging path to becoming healthcare professionals. She supports participants in developing personalized career plans, overcoming obstacles, and connecting with educational and training opportunities at Utah’s higher learning institutions, all in preparation for meaningful employment in the healthcare field. Her background is in public health where she has worked closely with unsheltered community members and serves as a passionate advocate for social justice. As a first-generation college student, Melissa is currently pursuing a double major in political science and public health, with a minor in international studies. She actively contributes to her community through PTA leadership, serving as a board member of the West Haven Elementary Community Council, and as a board member of the Utah Public Health Association, all while balancing her role of wife and mother.

Amanda Covington is Chief Corporate Affairs Officer for the Larry H. Miller Company. She recently served as senior vice president of communications and government relations for Vista Outdoor Inc. Amanda 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, Amanda served as vice president of 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. Amanda serves as chair of the Utah Board of Higher Education, is an executive board member for the Utah Women’s Leadership Institute, is on the advisory board for First Lady Abby Cox’s ShowUp Utah! Initiative and serves on the board of directors for the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce. Amanda also served as a trustee for Weber State University and Davis Technical College. In 2023, the Salt Lake Chamber honored her as an Athena, and she was named as one of Utah Business Magazine’s “30 Women to Watch.” She is a graduate of the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the Honors College and a Master of Public Administration. Amanda enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons, and two dogs.

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 co-hosts the weekly radio program Both Sides of the Aisle on KCPW.

As president for Larry H. Miller Real Estate, Brad oversees acquisition, development, construction, and management of properties owned and operated by the Larry H. Miller Company. He is also leading the way to an expanded vision for LHM Real Estate as a highly diversified, fully integrated real estate development and management firm. This new, larger vision for LHM Real Estate positions the company to deliver a greater return on behalf of all stakeholders, including the surrounding communities where LHM Real Estate operates. And with Brad’s oversight of the acquisition and strategic management of both the nationally renowned master-planned community of Daybreak located in South Jordan, Utah, and Utah-based homebuilder Destination Homes, LHM Real Estate has established a promising new trajectory for itself. Brad’s career highlights also include management of the award-winning renovation of Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City as well as 115 properties throughout the western United States. An active member of the community, Brad serves on the boards of Ivory-Boyer Real Estate Center, the Utah chapter of the Urban Land Institute and PGA of Utah.

Rich Hyde, who was named President of Prestige Financial (PFS) in October 2020, previously served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of PFS. As president, he oversees its business operations, leads strategy development, and builds and maintains a strong organizational culture. Rich has more than 25 years of senior-level leadership experience, successfully managing financial companies in various financial industries. He builds strong teams through effective communication and has a deep understanding of PFS’ vision and opportunities for growth. Rich joined the Larry H. Miller Company in 2002 as Senior Vice President of Servicing at PFS, and in 2013, was promoted to COO. In addition to subprime auto, he has spent time in credit card, small-dollar, manufactured housing and mortgage finance, including holding senior-level roles at CitiFinancial Mortgage, Conseco Finance, and Associates Capital Bank. Rich graduated magna cum laude from Ashford University with a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership. Rich serves on the executive board of directors and the independent auto finance board for the American Financial Services Association. He was named “Director of the Year” by Conseco Finance and has been recognized by SubPrime Auto News as a recipient of their “Movers and Shakers” award.

BJ Vander Linden became Chief Information Officer of the Larry H. Miller Company in November 2019. In his newly created role, BJ supports our wide-ranging businesses and their desired business outcomes within the various portfolio companies. This portfolio includes a lending practice (Prestige Financial), healthcare operations (Advanced Health Care), as well as a movie complex (Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres), and a minor-league sports franchise (Salt Lake Bees). Before being promoted to his current role, BJ spent the last 3.5 years as the CIO for Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment. He was responsible for the information technology for the sports and entertainment properties for the company’s various properties, including the Utah Jazz, Vivint Smart Arena, and NBA G-League Salt Lake City Stars affiliate, along with Megaplex Theaters, Jazz Gaming, The Zone radio, and the Tour of Utah. Previously, BJ served as vice president of business systems for OC Tanner (2014-16), IT senior program manager at Western Governors University as IT senior program manager (2013-14), at ADP AdvancedMD as Director of Implementation services (2012-13) and at O’Currance, Inc. as Vice President of support services. He graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics and an MBA degree from Utah State University. He enjoys spending time with his wife, children, and grandson. He also enjoys sports and learning about emerging technologies.

Ian McDonald is the Chief Financial Officer for the Larry H. Miller Company. He recently served as the CFO and treasurer for Clyde Companies, Inc. and its subsidiaries, a multi-generation, family-owned business. His roles prior to joining Clyde Companies include working as the senior vice president of finance for Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment and as a financial manager at Caterpillar Inc. Throughout his career, Ian has focused on innovative and strategic initiatives that create growth and drive results. Ian graduated from the University of Utah with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting, is a member of the AICPA, and he serves on the Eccles Alumni Board at the David Eccles School of Business and the Board of Governors for the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce. Ian is an avid sports fan and loves traveling with his family. He and his wife Elizabeth live in Provo, Utah, with their four children.

Bryce began working for the Larry H. Miller Company in September 2009 as a salesperson at LHM Toyota Murray. Since then, he has worked in various roles at Larry H. Miller Real Estate, including as Director of LHM Property Management. Starting in 2020, Bryce worked for the Larry H. Miller Company as an analyst on the strategy team under Matt Keenan and Dave Smith. Bryce graduated from the University of Utah in 2018 with a degree in business administration, and finished his MBA from Brigham Young University in 2023. In January of 2024, Bryce again joined The Larry H. Miller Company on a quest to buy and run a business. By July, he acquired TaylorMED MRI and currently serves as its CEO. TaylorMed offers affordable, hassle free, same-day MRI scans in Utah without the need for a doctor's order or insurance. Bryce has been on the Miller Family Council since 2020, and was elected President in 2024. He also serves on the Growth and Development Committee and the Giving and Service Committee. In addition to his work with the family and TaylorMed Bryce also serves on the board of Wasatch Adaptive Sports, an organization that empowers people with disabilities to realize their potential through outdoor recreation. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Kylee, and four kids, Redd, Rosie, Georgi, and Penelope. He also loves building furniture, hunting, snowboarding, running, and spearfishing.

Greg Miller is the Vice Chair of the Larry H. Miller Company Board of Directors and has served in various leadership positions within the organization for nearly 42 years, including CEO from 2008 to 2015. In addition to his role as a member of the board of directors, he is also a trustee for the company. One of Greg’s primary goals is to enrich the lives of others. To that end, Greg and his wife, Heidi, have established two foundations, the Land Cruiser Heritage Museum Foundation and the Sherry Black Foundation. Greg serves on several community and professional boards, including the Utah Highway Patrol’s Honorary Colonel Association, the Utah Office of Tourism, and the Sutherland Institute Board of Trustees. Greg is the curator of the Land Cruiser Heritage Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah, which displays over 100 models of Toyota Land Cruisers as well as Land Cruiser memorabilia. When not working, Greg enjoys creating memories with his family, hiking, and adventure travel. In 2020, he successfully hiked the highest point in each of Utah’s 29 counties. Greg and Heidi are the proud parents of six children and have been blessed with nine grandchildren.

In nearly 40 years of working for his family’s business, Steve has served in a variety of capacities, ranging from his early days as a lot technician to his current role as chairman of the board of directors. Steve is actively engaged in civic and community affairs. He currently serves on the Salt Lake City – Utah Committee for the Games, which recently helped secure Salt Lake City – Utah as the host of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Steve is the chair of the futures/strategic planning committee and secretary of the board for the Utah Sports Commission. He enjoys serving on the board of trustees of the Waterford School in Sandy, Utah, where his children attended school. Steve is deeply involved in the Miller family’s philanthropic efforts within the community and serves on the board of the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation. When not working, Steve loves to hike, read, travel, curate his LEGO collection and attend U2 concerts. Steve earned a BA degree in consumer studies and family economics from the University of Utah and is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School after completing the three-year Owner/President Management Program (OPM). Steve and his wife, Jennifer, love being parents to three married children and their spouses and have a son serving an LDS mission in Morristown, New Jersey. Above all, they love being Mimi and Poppy to their three-year-old grandson.

Bob Restrepo has a broad background in the insurance and financial services career industry.  His career experience includes senior executive roles at Aetna, Travelers, Hanover, Main Street America Group, and most recently with State Auto Insurance Group in Columbus, Ohio. After graduating from Yale University with a degree in English in 1972, Bob joined Aetna Life and Casualty Company. He left the company in 1996 as senior vice president of personal lines, when Travelers acquired the division, where he remained until 1998 as CEO, Personal lines. From 1998 to 2004, Bob served Allmerica Financial Corporation, departing as the president and CEO of the property and casualty group. He then joined the Main Street America Group as senior vice president of insurance operations, where he remained until joining the State Auto Insurance Companies in February 2006. In Columbus, he also served as chair of Columbus State Community College and on the board of ProMusica. He also served on the board of Nuclear Energy Insurance Ltd. (NEIL) and Majesco, an insurance software company. Bob retired from State Auto Companies in 2015, where he served as Chair, CEO, and president since 2006. In addition to serving on the board of directors for the Larry H. Miller Company, Bob also serves on the boards of RLI Corp, Genworth Financial, and Enact Holdings. Bob previously served as Chair of the American Insurance Association (AIA) and the Property and Casualty Insurance Industry Association (PCIIA). In addition, Bob has served on the board of Columbus Partnership, Columbus Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Central Ohio, Columbus College of Art and Design (past chair), and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He and his wife, Mary Frances, served as co-chairs of the 2011 campaign of the United Way of Central Ohio. Bob and Mary Frances have three daughters and they live in St. Simons Island, Georgia and Columbus Ohio.

Mary Lee Schneider is the lead independent director for the Larry H. Miller Company board of directors. She has served in senior leadership roles in public and private companies across the publishing, graphic communications, educational services and direct marketing industries. She also currently serves on the board of PGIM’s Alternative Investment Funds and SGS & Co., a portfolio company of HPS Partners. She has previously served on the boards of several other privately-held companies. With respect to not-for-profit boards, she serves on Penn State University’s Board of Trustees, Penn State’s Investment Council (which oversees Penn State’s $7 billion endowment), is a life director of the Chicago Public Library Foundation and is past chair of Mercy Home for Boys & Girls’ Leader Council.  Most recently she was the president & chief executive officer of SG360°, a $300 million direct marketing company sold to private equity firm ICV Partners. Prior to her role at SG360°, she was the president & chief executive officer of Follett Corp., a $2.8 billion provider of educational content and services to K-12 schools and colleges/universities. Prior to her election as President & CEO of Follett, Mary Lee was the president of digital solutions and chief technology officer at RR Donnelley, a $12 billion provider of communication products and services to Fortune 500 companies. Prior to her 20 years in various leadership roles at Donnelley, she worked for Conde Nast Publications, Time Warner., and McGraw Hill’s BusinessWeek magazine (now Bloomberg BusinessWeek) in New York City.  Mary Lee has an MBA from Northwestern University’s J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, an M.S. from Northwestern (Medical Informatics), an M.S. (Imaging/Printing Technology) from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a bachelor of arts in journalism from Penn State University. She has earned the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Directorship Certification, was named a “Director to Watch” by Private Company Director Magazine and most recently a Top 100 Director by NACD.  Mary Lee and her husband Ed live in the city of Chicago.

Hanna Skandera brings a proven track record of transformative leadership to her role as president and CEO of the Daniels Fund. Joining the organization’s board in 2019 and taking the helm in 2021, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to impact and positively influencing American life. The Daniels Fund is a $1.7 billion philanthropic organization that equips people to reach their fullest potential. The Fund provides grants to highly effective nonprofits, has launched the National Civics Bee which is now in 115 cities across 28 states, and provides college scholarships to the next generation of America’s leaders. The Daniels Fund has given away $1 billion to hundreds of grantees and over 5,000 Daniels Scholars since its founding in 2000 by cable pioneer Bill Daniels. Hanna has held various state and federal leadership positions, including Secretary of Education in New Mexico, and is nationally recognized for her entrepreneurial vision and focus on outcomes. She serves on multiple boards, including Ace Scholarships, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, MGT, Newsela, Philanthropy Roundtable and Risepoint. She lives in Denver with her young son.

Dave Smith serves as Managing Partner for the Larry H. Miller Company. As part of the executive management team at the company, David provides overall strategic direction, capital allocation, and investment leadership. During his tenure with the company, he has overseen LHM Real Estate, Total Care Auto Powered by Landcar, and Saxton Horne Communications, and he did a six-month stint as interim CEO for the Larry H. Miller Company and served as the interim president of Prestige Financial Services. Smith joined the Larry H. Miller Company in 2013 as director of Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A). He has held increasing roles of responsibility, including leading the Risk/Safety, IT, Human Resources and Communications functions, as well as Saxton Horne and Total Care Auto Powered by Landcar. As Managing Partner, he continues to oversee the company’s M&A and divestitures strategy. Prior to joining the company, Smith was the head of M&A for Leucadia National Corporation, director of Business Development for Koch Industries, and a plant lead for the Divestitures Group of Ford Motor Company. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science/Economics from the University of Utah and an MBA from Brigham Young University, where he was also a Hawes Scholar. Smith previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Salt Lake City Branch of the San Francisco Federal Reserve. Smith and his wife, Karen, have five children and reside in Bountiful, Utah.

Jim Sorenson is an entrepreneur, CEO, and investor, and one of the leading impact capitalists in the world. He is Chairman of the Sorenson Impact Foundation, which funds sustainable, scalable endeavors that maximize positive impact on people and societies. Jim also endowed the Sorenson Impact Institute at the University of Utah, which educates students on the disciplines of impact capitalism, and is a member of the National Advisory Board of Impact Investing. As an entrepreneur and CEO, Jim’s companies have been instrumental in developing new industry categories and creating tens of thousands of jobs. Sorenson Communications, which he founded, was a pioneer in digital compression software and internet-based Video Relay Services (VRS), which transformed opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. He has also led companies in fields as diverse as medical device testing, microfinance and private equity investing, and cosmetics, and served as Chairman of the Board of MediConnect Global, a leader in medical records digitization and data analytics. Jim has served on many community boards, including Utah’s David Eccles School of Business, Gallaudet University, the University Venture Fund, Art Works for Kids, the Utah Sports Commission, and Trustee of the University of Utah.

Steve Starks is the Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of the Larry H. Miller Company. In this capacity, Starks leads the family investment firm that oversees the Miller family’s portfolio of businesses and investments. During his time with the Larry H. Miller Company, he has helped shape the organization’s growth strategy, led mergers and acquisitions, and oversaw the organization’s transformation. Prior to this role, Starks was the president of the Utah Jazz and Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment where he oversaw the award-winning renovation of Vivint Arena, securing the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, and was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the NBA franchise and related businesses. Starks is active in the community. He currently serves as the governor’s Olympic and Paralympic Advisor and leads Big League Utah, the coalition aimed at bringing an MLB expansion team to Salt Lake City. Starks also serves on the Zions Bank Advisory Board. He is the past chair of the Salt Lake Chamber Board of Directors, the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, and served on the Weber State University Board of Trustees where he also received an honorary doctorate. Starks has been recognized as Utah Business Magazine’s 2021 CEO of the Year and received the South Valley Chamber’s Titan Award. He was named a CEO to Watch by Family Business Magazine and was also named a Top Forty Under 40 Sports Executives by Sports Business Journal in 2018. Starks is a graduate of Weber State University and resides in South Jordan, Utah with his wife and three daughters.

Clint is the SVP of Investments at the Larry H. Miller Company, where he is involved with investments for the company’s balance sheet and the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation. He has a passion for investing in good businesses and has come a long way since his first job in high school when he served frozen yogurt at the Delta Center during Jazz games. Prior to joining the LHM Company, Clint was Director of Portfolio Strategy at Ensign Peak Advisors. Before moving back home to Salt Lake City in 2012, Clint lived in upstate New York and worked for the Investment Office at Cornell University as Associate Director. Prior to that, he was an equity analyst with Bear Stearns Asset Management and began his career working for Goldman Sachs as a restricted stock analyst. Clint received an MBA from Cornell University and is a proud T-bird with a bachelor’s degree from Southern Utah University, where he studied finance. In addition to his role at the LHM Company, Clint currently chairs the Investment Advisory Committee of my529 (Utah’s Educational Savings Plan), serves on the investment committee for Utah Symphony/Utah Opera, and is an adjunct professor at the University of Utah. Some of Clint’s favorite things are good music, cycling, table tennis, and exploring new places with his family.

Joseph Walker is the President of Larry H. Miller Senior Health. Prior to joining LHM, Joe served as Chief Strategy Officer of Advanced Health Care, a skilled nursing facility, home health, and hospice operator based out of Farmington, Utah. Joe holds a B.A. from Brigham Young University, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Joe and his wife, Jennifer, have six children and reside in Kaysville, Utah.

South Salt Lake's first female Mayor, Cherie Wood was elected to office in 2010. As a third-generation, lifelong resident of South Salt Lake, Cherie attended its public schools and graduated from Granite High School. After graduation, at the age of 19, she started working for the city, moving her way up through several different departments and positions on her way to becoming Deputy Mayor under Mayor Bob Gray all while earning her college degrees and raising her family. Cherie fully learned the ins and outs of how a city is managed and earned the respect of city employees, and then realized she had what it takes to run a city and be the leader her community needed. She took office as a mom, raising young boys in the midst of a recession, and during the controversial closing of Granite High School. She could clearly see that change was needed and that the future would indeed be much different from the past. She launched several comprehensive initiatives and partnerships that have strengthened and fundamentally reshaped the City of South Salt Lake, of these, Promise South Salt Lake, an initiative that invests in youth and families, has become her proudest legacy. Mayor Wood's motto, "What I wish for myself and my family, I wish for everyone in my community" exemplifies her approach. She simply cares. She has prioritized initiatives and projects that make a difference in everyday lives, proving that true leaders are compassionate and committed. A closer look at programs created under her leadership and their outcomes speak for themselves.

Lewis L. (Lee) Bird III serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer for At Home Group Inc., a national retailer operating more than 260 stores across the U.S. Before joining the Larry H. Miller Company, Lee held a variety of leadership positions, most recently serving as managing director/consumer practice leader of The Gores Group, a global private equity firm. Prior to this, he served as group president of Nike Affiliates for Nike Inc., chief operating officer of Gap and chief financial officer of Old Navy. Before Lee’s consumer/retail career, he held various strategic and financial leaderships roles at Gateway, Inc., Honeywell/AlliedSignal, Inc., and Ford Motor Company. He started his career as an assistant vice president & commercial loan officer for BayBanks, Inc. Lee received his MBA from Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College and his bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College, where he was an All-American in swimming. Lee is currently on the National Advisory Committee for the Marriott School of Business at Brigham Young University and is a member of the Ownership Advisory Group of the NHL Dallas Stars.

Paul Carbone is Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of Pritzker Private Capital (PPC). In 2012, Paul joined PPC’s predecessor company and later PPC as a managing partner and led the firm’s growth and development for more than ten years. Prior to PPC, Paul was the director and managing partner of Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Private Equity Group (a buyout, growth and venture investor) after serving as co‐director of investment banking responsible for Robert W. Baird & Co.’s Mergers and Acquisitions Advisory practice. Previously, Paul was senior vice president in the Investment Banking Group at Kidder, Peabody & Co.    In 2016, Paul received the Stanley C. Golder Award from the Illinois Venture Capital Association in recognition of his contributions to the private equity industry in Illinois. Paul has served as an EY Entrepreneur of the Year regional judge and a national judge for the Family Business category. In 2020 and 2022, Family Capital magazine named Paul one of the Top 100 most influential people among family investors and family enterprises. In 2024, Paul was named to Family Capital magazine’s FamCap 50 as one of the top investors in the world of family capital.   Paul serves on the board of trustees or directors of The University of Chicago, University of Chicago Medical Center, The Art Institute of Chicago, the Larry H. Miller Company, and Misericordia Home. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for Morgan Street Holdings. In addition, Paul is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.    Paul received his MBA from Harvard Business School and his B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, from The College of the University of Chicago.

Bill Crim is the President and CEO of United Way of Salt Lake and Utah’s Promise, a nonprofit umbrella organization of civic infrastructure partnerships creating opportunity for 100% of children and families in Utah to thrive. Over three decades, Bill has focused on policy and social impact related to economic opportunity, health care, education and poverty. Since 2004, he has led United Way of Salt Lake’s impact initiatives – developing and supporting cross-sector partnerships focused on transforming the social and education systems; including facilitating the country’s first “pay for success” transaction focused on education. In 2015, Bill became CEO of United Way of Salt Lake, continuing the organizational transformation that resulted in the formation of Utah’s Promise in 2023.

Alex Dunn serves as Managing Partner for the Larry H. Miller Company (LHMCO) and CEO of Swig. As part of the executive management team, Alex provides leadership throughout LHMCO’s portfolio of businesses and helps lead the organization’s growth and investment strategy. Dunn most recently formed and served as the CEO of Executive Network Partnering Corporation (NYSE: ENPC), a special purpose acquisition entity, which led to the acquisition of Granite Ridge (NYSE: GRNT), a $1.2 billion non-operating oil and gas platform in October 2022. Dunn has also held key roles as the president of Vivint SmartHome (NYSE: VVNT), co-founder of Vivint Solar, deputy chief of staff to Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, entrepreneur in residence at General Catalyst Partners, and co-founder and CEO for Lavastorm. Dunn earned his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University. He and his wife, Debbie, reside in Provo, Utah, and have six children and two grandchildren.

Dr. Benjamin Hardy is an organizational psychologist whose books have sold millions of copies worldwide. Among those are the trilogy of entrepreneurial strategy books—Who Not How, The Gap and the Gain, and 10x is Easier than 2x—which he co-authored with Dan Sullivan. Dr. Hardy helps leaders and organizations achieve impossible goals. He and his wife, Lauren, live in Orlando, Florida, with their seven children.

Christena Huntsman Durham's vision for courageous conversations and transformative impact in mental health has inspired her work as Vice Chair, Executive Vice President, and Director of The Huntsman Foundation. A key driver of the Huntsman Mental Health Institute's national efforts to end the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use disorders, Christena's influence has been felt across the country. Her stewardship of the Huntsman family's $150 million gift to the University of Utah, which established the Institute, is a testament to her commitment to improving mental health outcomes for all. Christena's passion for helping others extends beyond mental health. She serves on the boards of numerous organizations, including the National Ability Center, Catholic Community Services, The Road Home, Huntsman World Senior Games, Moran Eye Center, and the Jon M. Huntsman Community Shelter Trust. Despite her many service commitments, Christena is a lifelong athlete who never misses a workout and can always find time to compete in a race. She is happily married to Richard Durham with whom she shares seven children and fifteen beautiful grandchildren.

As the Vice President of People & Culture, Breann is an experienced leader who plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing strategy to support organizational goals and objectives at Larry H. Miller Real Estate. In her current role, Breann is responsible for building strategic capability through leadership development, aligning core people practices to company core values, protecting and preserving company culture while attracting and retaining top talent, and leveraging the People & Cultlure team as strategic enablers of organizational culture and execution of business strategies. Breann began her career with the Larry H. Miller Company in 2010 and has held various roles with LHM throughout her tenure. Breann has a keen ability to address complex challenges and drive innovate solutions. She has a track record of implementing successful initiatives that foster a positive and inclusive workplace culture where employees thrive, and business excels. Breann received her ungraduated degree in communication and her MBA from Weber State University. Within the company’s larger mission to enrich lives, Breann’s role is key as she recognizes its employees are the most valuable asset, and by empowering people to do great work – to create places of enduring value – we help uplift the community as a whole.

Before joining Larry H. Miller Sports + Entertainment, Britten primarily worked as an executive in the retail industry, including working for Walmart, Overstock.com and most recently Lids Sports Group. As President of Lids, Britten led the company through unprecedented growth and launched new partnerships with the NBA, Paris St-Germain, and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Britten is now focused on building the Megaplex brand into the premier destination to see a movie in the Mountain West and will be launching a new concept, the Cinema Entertainment Center, which will include not only cinema but bowling, arcade, and elevated food and beverage.

Brilliant Miller is a board member of the Larry H. Miller Company, a trustee of the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, and the lead director of the Windsong Single Family Private Trust Company. He began his career at age sixteen with the Larry H. Miller Company, gaining hands-on experience across roles in sales, marketing, and operations, including at Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theaters and Miller Motorsports Park. In 2013, Brilliant founded Miller Inspiration, a cultural steward, which later merged with the Larry H. Miller Company’s People and Culture team, to “Preserve and Perpetuate the Miller Spirit” by formalizing the company's mission, vision, values, and guiding principles. A graduate of the University of Utah with degrees in English and Asian Studies, Brilliant is also a speaker, author, trainer, and professional coach. His book, Behind the Drive: 99 Inspiring Stories from the Life of an American Entrepreneur, shares lessons from his father, Larry H. Miller. Brilliant and his wife, Heather Dawn, enjoy learning, reading, motorcycling, adventuring, and are parents to six children.

Gail Miller is the owner of the Larry H. Miller Company, established by Larry and Gail in May of 1979 with the purchase of their first automobile dealership in Murray, Utah. Today, the company has a diversified portfolio of businesses and investments across the United States. Their headquarters are in Sandy, Utah. After Larry’s death in 2009, Gail took an active role in the business and continued to grow their legacy. She has focused on and directed the company’s culture and the growth and diversity of its operations. She served as chair of the LHM Board of Directors for five years before turning over that position to her son, Steve. She remains an active member of the board. Gail is also chair of the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation and presides over the Larry H. Miller Education Foundation. Gail has been recognized with many public and private honors. She is the recipient of six honorary doctorate degrees, the Congressional Award Foundation’s Horizon Award, the Salt Lake Chamber’s Giant in Our City Award, and the internationally recognized ATHENA Award. Gail gives freely of her time and actively participates in many business, civic and educational endeavors. She serves on the Zions Bank Advisory Board, Shelter the Homeless Board, and is co-chair of the Kem C. Gardner Institute. She is the author of the book, Courage to Be You, Inspiring Lessons from an Unexpected Journey. Gail and her husband, Kim Wilson, have a combined family of nine children and a large posterity. They enjoy traveling, spending time with family, and serving others. They reside in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Sharen Miller is the granddaughter of Larry and Gail Miller, the youngest daughter of Karen Miller Williams. She resides in West Haven, Utah with her two children, Kathryn and Ezra. Sharen serves on the Miller Family Council as well as a member of the Miller Legacy Project which encourages next generation members of the Miller family to engage in thoughtful, sustainable philanthropic practices. Sharen is currently pursuing her bachelors degree. She is an accomplished equestrian, and in her free time works with training and rehabilitating horses.

Kitty is a talented philanthropy advisor with an exceptional capacity to elevate philanthropic giving through strategic and impactful partnerships. As a 21/64 Certified Advisor, Kitty's values-centered approach, relational expertise, and sector-based knowledge make her a top choice for those seeking expert guidance in philanthropy: For those seeking to make a profound impact with their philanthropy, she is a strategic collaborator, nonprofit expert, and versatile professional with a proven ability to make meaningful and lasting contributions to the philanthropic landscape. Kitty's roots in philanthropy run deep, having worked extensively with donors and organizations, skillfully leading development teams and fundraising efforts. Her recent tenure as Vice President of Philanthropy at Park City Community Foundation exemplifies her skill in counseling donors to amplify community impact while growing a comprehensive fundraising program, expanding donor engagement, and highlighting the community's needs. Throughout her career, she has held various leadership positions, including serving as the Director of Philanthropy for The Girl Scouts of Utah and at both Green Mountain Valley School and Ethel Walker School. Before immersing herself in the nonprofit sector, Kitty began her career as a Holland and Knight LLP litigation associate. To complement her professional work, Kitty engages with time and leadership on several local and national boards. Her current roles include board membership at the Boys Club of New York, Burke Mountain Academy, Utah Donor Collaborative, two family foundations, Bright Futures advisory committee, and volunteer leadership for her alma mater, Bates College. In Park City, alongside her husband, Peter, she embraces the art of empty-nesting while cheering on their three children as they begin adulthood. An avid enthusiast of outdoor activities, she thrives when biking, running, and trying to understand the complexities of endurance sports.

Rich serves as Proxima's Chief Executive Officer, and is deeply passionate about Proxima’s mission to expand education access to create a new and constant flow of work-ready professionals. He believes some of the brightest, most influential, and essential talent is kept on the sidelines, unengaged, because of seemingly insurmountable barriers. This is why Proxima was formed. Rich served as a Senior Advisor to Governor Spencer Cox and before that co-led the state’s Unified Command during Utah’s COVID-19 pandemic response as the Executive Director of the Utah Department of Health. Rich serves as Board Vice-Chair of the One Utah Health Collaborative, a non-profit he was instrumental in creating during his time as the state’s Chief Innovation Officer. Rich has a long history of community service. He is an innovator, creator, collaborator, and convener who believes in people. Rich is a four-time business entrepreneur, and is married to his wife, Lisa. Together they have 5 children and 15 grandchildren.

Debra Schwartz, Managing Director, Impact Investments, MacArthur Foundation Debra Schwartz leads MacArthur’s Impact Investments program and is a member of MacArthur’s Leadership Advisory Team, which advises the President on strategic and policy matters. Over the past 40 years, MacArthur has made impact investment commitments totaling more than $800 million to advance equity, inclusion, and sustainability. To unlock impact and additional investment that would not otherwise be possible, the Foundation prioritizes the use of catalytic capital that is patient, flexible, and risk tolerant. Debra and her team also make grants to help grow and strengthen the field of impact investing globally. Prior to joining MacArthur in 1995, Debra was an investment banker in public finance at John Nuveen & Co. She also worked for nonprofit social welfare organizations in counseling and financial management positions. She is a frequent public speaker and has taught as a guest lecturer for many leading universities, including Oxford, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Duke, Berkely, Northwestern, and the University of Chicago. While serving for four years as an adjunct professor for the University of Chicago, Debra originated and taught “The Business of Nonprofits and the Evolving Social Sector.” In 2024, Forbes recognized Debra in its third annual list of “50-over-50” impact leaders. She also is a Sorenson Global Impact Leader and a past Social Enterprise Fellow at the Yale School of Management. During the George W. Bush administration, Debra served as a presidentially appointed member of the U.S. Treasury Department Community Development Advisory Board. Currently, she is a founding board member of the Mission Investors Exchange and a member of the International Women’s Forum Chicago chapter, for which she previously served as Treasurer and board member. Debra holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BA degree from Yale University.

David Smart currently serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Milliken & Company, a leading global manufacturing company specializing in flooring, textiles, chemicals and healthcare solutions since 1865. In his role, he leads finance, accounting, tax, treasury, information technology and its digital transformation. David joined the Larry H. Miller Board of Directors in August 2024. Prior to Milliken & Company, David served as senior vice president, CFO, and board member of the Pella Corporation, overseeing strategic planning, M&A, finance, accounting, internal audit, tax, treasury, legal, information technology, customer service, and business insights. He also spent 20 years with Ford Motor Company in senior leadership roles that included assignments in the United Kingdom and Australia. David currently serves on the board of trustees for Converse University, the board of trustees for the Spartanburg Philharmonic and is a member of Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business dean’s council. He also serves on the board of Edsal Manufacturing Company and is the audit committee chair. David received his MBA from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor’s degree in finance, business economics, and public policy from Indiana University. He served for seven years as president and board member of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business Alumni Association.

Michelle Smith is the president of Larry H. Miller Sports + Entertainment and chief people officer at the Larry H. Miller Company. Michelle strategically manages and oversees the operations of key sports and entertainment businesses, including the Salt Lake Bees, Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres, and Big League Utah. She is committed to elevating guest experiences, supporting business partnerships, creating family memories, and enriching lives. As chief people officer, she is responsible for successful integration and onboarding practices of newly acquired businesses. The role supports the portfolio’s People & Culture vision and strategy with appropriate practices, policies and programming that are responsive to the changing dynamic of the workforce, supportive of the diverse needs of the businesses and ensure consistent commitment to the mission, vision and values of the Larry H. Miller Company. Prior to her role with the company, Michelle cultivated more than 20 years of experience in the sports and entertainment industry gaining business strategy expertise in marketing, sales, and human resources. Most recently, Michelle served as Chief People Officer for the National Basketball Association’s Utah Jazz franchise. Michelle was most recently named as one of Utah Business Magazine’s 2020 “30 Women to Watch,” is a founding board member of Women in Sports & Events (WISE), and was a former co-chair of the Gail Miller Women’s Leadership Group.

Sarah is the Chief Legal Officer for the Larry H. Miller Company and the portfolio companies at large. She also serves as secretary to the LHM Company’s Board of Directors. Sarah serves on the boards of United Way Utah and the Utah Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors. In 2015 Sarah was named one of Utah’s 30 Women to Watch and Utah Business’s Forty Under 40. In 2022, Sarah was a Utah Corporate Counsel Honoree.

As part of his duties as Executive Director for the Miller Family Office, Don Stirling serves as a liaison among the family office, the Larry H. Miller Company’s portfolio businesses, service providers, and the Miller’s philanthropic activities. Don also provides administration and support services such as professional and personal development, family education, budget planning and oversight, and community relations. Don has a diverse and extensive background in development, marketing, communications, and policy. He has forged strong relationships within the communities where the various companies do business. Don is a strategic leader and collaborative partner who is committed to enriching lives and supporting the vision for the Miller family and the Larry H. Miller Company. Most recently, Don was the executive vice president of Marketing and Communications for Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment (LHMSE). He oversaw the bid process and ongoing preparations for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game and the “Lead Together” fan behavior initiative. Prior to his role with LHMSE, Don served as vice president of special projects for the Larry H. Miller Company (2012-2013) as well as chief revenue officer for LHMSE (2013-2017). Past responsibilities have also included oversight of the Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G League and Utah Jazz Gaming of the NBA 2K League. Before joining LHMSE, Don spent six years as national finance director/senior finance advisor for Governor Mitt Romney. He held strategic sales and marketing positions with NBA Properties, Ladies Professional Golf Association, Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, and the Massachusetts Sports Commission. Don also served as chief of marketing and publishing for Deseret Book. Don was involved in marketing and communications initiatives for Operation Kids, an organization that provided customized philanthropic services for individuals, families, and companies, and Children’s Miracle Network, a leading nonprofit organization that raises funds for children’s hospitals, medical research, and community awareness of children’s health issues. Don is a graduate of Brigham Young University. He and his wife, April, reside in Salt Lake City and are the parents of four children and nine grandchildren.

Nicholas (Nick) Tedesco is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP). NCFP serves as a hub of learning, connection, and collaboration designed to resource and activate a community of families to be intentional philanthropic stewards. Nick is a passionate advocate for philanthropy and brings over a decade of experience partnering with donors and their families to establish and meet their giving goals. Prior to joining NCFP, Nick served as a Senior Advisor in the J.P. Morgan Philanthropy Centre where he provided clients with insights and services to help meet their philanthropic objectives through innovative advice, thought leadership and opportunities for learning and collaboration. Previously, Nick served as a Relationship Manager at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he helped launch the Giving Pledge—an effort led by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett to encourage the world’s wealthiest individuals and families to commit the majority of their wealth to philanthropy. In this role, Nick managed relationships with current and prospective members of the pledge, as well as their staff and advisors. He helped to connect global philanthropists with one another in effort to exchange knowledge and encourage collaboration. Nick began his career in the social sector as the Deputy Director of the Children’s Health Forum—a national nonprofit focused on the prevention and eradication of childhood diseases that disproportionately impact underserved communities. Nick was named to the inaugural Chronicle of Philanthropy 40 Under 40 ranking in 2016 and the Nonprofit Times Power & Influence List in 2024. He was also named by Inside Philanthropy as the Best Guide to Family Philanthropy in 2023. He has been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal MarketWatch, Time Magazine and other notable publications. Nick received a B.A. from Villanova University and resides in Washington, D.C.

Liz Wiseman is a researcher and executive advisor who teaches leadership to top organizations worldwide. She wrote the New York Times bestsellers Multipliers, The Multiplier Effect, and Wall Street Journal bestsellers Rookie Smarts and Impact Players. She is the CEO of the Wiseman Group, a leadership research and development firm headquartered in Silicon Valley, California. Some of her recent clients include Apple, AT&T, Disney, Meta, Google, Microsoft, Nike, Salesforce, Tesla, and X. Liz has received the top achievement award for leadership from Thinkers50. She has also been consistently named one of the world’s leading 50 management thinkers in its bi-annual ranking. Liz has conducted significant research in leadership and talent development. She writes for Harvard Business Review, Fortune, and various other business and leadership journals and is a frequent guest lecturer at Brigham Young University and Stanford University. She is a former executive at Oracle, where she worked as the Vice President of Oracle University and the global leader for Human Resource Development. Liz holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s in organizational behavior from Brigham Young University.