Celebrating Utah’s Rising Business Leaders
by Utah Business Staff 12 March 2010—
One of Utah’s many strengths has long been its youthful, innovative population. Join us as we recognize 40 for the state’s youngest leaders. Selected by an independent judging panel of Forty Under 40 alumni, this year’s lineup is an assemblage of entrepreneurial experts, finance gurus and corporate executives. Utah Business is proud to present the 2010 Forty Under 40.
The Utah Manufacutrers Association would like to congratulate the following Member Companies that were awarded Utah Business 2010 40 under 40.
Jason Phillip Dunn
Vice President, Operations, Sorenson Communications
Age: 32
Favorite Movie: Remember the Titans
Favorite Utah Diversion: Boating, golfing and 4-wheeling
Last Book Read: Train to Potevka by Michael Ramsdell
Helping others with their communication needs is all in a day’s work for Jason Dunn. As vice president of operations at Sorenson Communications, Dunn oversees all video relay services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, as well as IP relay services and international operations. But the best part of his job is being able to make a difference for others. “I enjoy being able to work in a team environment where we collaborate, evaluate and make decisions that have a positive outcome,” he says.
Dunn credits his father for his relatively young success. And today, he hopes to instill in his children the same example his father provided him as a child. “That example is someone who works hard, treats others with respect at all times, is honest, serves others and creates opportunities for others to succeed,” says Dunn.
Nathan C. Anderson
Executive Vice President, Chief Operations Officer, Mountain America Credit Union
Age: 37
Last Book Read: The Message by Lance Richardson
Role Model: His father
Favorite Utah Diversion: Cycling
Nathan Anderson says key to success is being able to work beyond challenges and overcome obstacles. And he says the current financial crisis is no exception. “The key to any challenge is to get the right plan in place and then give the right people the opportunity to execute that plan,” he says. But through it all, Anderson keeps the future in mind. “Work in such a way that in 20 years you can look back and be proud of not only your achievements but the way in which you accomplished them.”
Anderson says what keeps him motivated day after day is setting a goal and accomplishing it. “I really enjoy working on the strategic planning and then putting into place an action plan of how we are going to accomplish it,” he says, adding, “I enjoy working with the incredible employees that I am so privileged to work with and seeing how we can help our members accomplish their dreams.”
Todd R. Bingham
President, Utah Mining Association
Age: 39
Favorite Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
Favorite Utah Diversion: His Bear Lake cabin
Last Book Read: Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
As president of the Utah Mining Association, Todd Bingham works to promote the state’s mining industry and build a favorable business climate for the industry. “Mining remains one of the significant economic drivers for the state,” he says. With a desire to make a difference, Bingham hopes to finish every day feeling like he’s had an impact on business and the industry’s ability to succeed.
Bingham’s leadership style could best be summarized as progressive. “Be a leader and not a micromanager,” he says. “Hire good people, incentivize them, get out of their way and let them do their job.” His inspiration? Theodore Roosevelt, who said “The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good people to get what he wants done, and the self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.”
The Utah Manufacturer Association adds that the Utah Mining Association is a "sister organization" in which we work very closly.
David C. Reymann
Shareholder, Parr Brown Gee & Loveless, P.C.
Age: 35
Favorite Movie: A River Runs Through It
Favorite Utah Diversion: Fly fishing
First Job: Pizza maker
As an attorney for Parr, Brown, Gee & Loveless, David Reymann practices commercial litigation with an emphasis on First Amendment and media law. He enjoys the autonomy his firm provides along with the freedom to define his own practice. “I’m far enough along that I’m able to manage cases on my own, which gives me an opportunity to seek creative solutions to clients’ problems,” he says.
It’s his belief that a lawyer’s job is to be a professional problem-solver. “I feel like I’ve done my job well if I’m able to resolve those problems so that everyone involved can move on to happier things.”
Reymann’s biggest challenge is finding a balance between work and his personal life. “When you work at a job that can theoretically be all-consuming, you have to make a conscious effort to set aside time for family and non-work endeavors,” he says.
Jennifer Smith
Senior Vice President and Director of Internal Audit, Zions Bancorporation
Age: 37
Favorite Movie: Amazing Grace
Last Book Read: Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
First Job: ShopKo cashier
Jennifer Smith believes vision, credibility and compassion are the ingredients needed to be a good leader. “An effective leader realizes his or her success is tied up in others. A genuine concern for other’s well being is essential,” she says.
Although business systems are complex, Smith says most are simply a social interaction between people. “When we strive to meet the needs and expectations of a customer, employee or community, if we listen closely, magic happens by hearing and connecting with one another,” she says. This in turn maximizes the bottom line and brings in more revenue, increases effectiveness, and deepens relationships, she adds.
The current financial crisis gives Smith a bird’s eye view to all business practices and enterprise risks. “For someone who loves to learn, watch great thinkers and work broadly, this is a very rewarding position.”
Ty McCutcheon
Vice President of Community Development, Kennecott Land/Rio Tinto
Age: 39
Last Book Read: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Favorite Quote: Every battle is won before it is ever fought. – Sun Tzu
First Job: Laborer on a construction site
The Daybreak community is in good hands with the help of Ty McCutcheon, vice president of community development for Kennecott Land. McCutcheon says in spite of the economic downturn, people still want and need quality places to live. “A big part of my job is mobilizing our team to figure out how that can be delivered, and then striving to creatively change what we offer.”
But to him, it’s not about receiving the credit for a job well done. “A good leader is someone with a clear vision who invests in their team’s performance, with a focus on service and achievement versus preoccupation with who gets the credit.”
In today’s unpredictable economy, McCutcheon says the key to success is to find win-win solutions with vendors, business partners and customers. And he says he still believes in living the golden rule, as it “really does lead to successful outcomes.”
Scott R. Kaufmann
Vice President, Commercial Development, Kennecott Land/Rio Tinto
Age: 39
Favorite Movie: Cool Hand Luke
Last Book Read: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
Favorite Quote: “Never, never, never, give up.” –Winston Churchill
As a kid, Scott Kaufmann says he was obsessed over playing with Lego’s. “Now the blocks are a bit bigger, but the general idea remains the same; it is exciting to see something transform from an idea, to a simple design, to a built condition,” he says.
His big blocks now account for all the commercial development for Kennecott Land Company, including office, retail, industrial, multi-family and outparcel development. He completed Utah’s first LEED Platinum-certified, Daybreak Corporate Center in 2008; SoDa Row, a mixed-use retailer center in 2009; and is finalizing plans for the new University of Utah Medical Center at Daybreak.
“There really is a better way to plan, design and develop buildings,” says Kaufmann. “That’s the challenge…the development business is highly competitive, so at times you question whether there are ways to cut corners or be more aggressive at the expense of quality. At the end of the day, commercial development has a legacy component to it that just can’t be compromised.”
Tony Struhs
Vice President, Consumer Products, Mity-Lite, Inc.
Age: 39
Favorite Movie: Top Gun
Favorite Utah Diversion: Cycling in Emigration Canyon
First Job: Lifeguard
As vice president of consumer products at Mity-Lite, Tony Struhs is responsible for ensuring product placement of the company’s light-weight stacking tables and chairs in various retail locations. He says setting the right long term goals, then breaking them down into little pieces that can be accomplished every day ensures that he doesn’t become too overwhelmed. “It’s extremely motivating to wake up with a clear vision for the day and what needs to be accomplished to advance the business.”
Struhs says creating profit is not enough to ensure the success of a business. “Corporate leaders have a social responsibility to be efficient in their use of available resources. The true long-term measure of success in business is a reflection of how the value created advances the betterment of society.”
Matt Wells
Partner, Holland & Hart, LLP
Age: 40
First Job: Harvesting pineapples in Hawaii for Maui Pineapple Company
Favorite Movie: Stranger Than Fiction
Favorite Utah Diversion: Family time in Utah’s National Parks
Resilience, responsiveness and serendipity are what it takes to succeed in business at a relatively young age, says Matt Wells, partner at Holland & Hart, LLP. Wells enjoys working with good people and achieving positive results for his clients, but he says his main motivation to get out of bed every morning is his wife, literally, who sets the alarm for their morning gym workouts. She is also his “inspiration as someone who is constantly engaged in improving herself and the world around her.”
A key component to Wells’ business philosophy is that “gratitude is the key to happiness,” a concept he learned when he was diagnosed with cancer at age 26.
“Three months of chemotherapy really sharpened my appreciation for life and good health,” says Wells. “I felt buoyed through the ordeal by my faith and family and continually hope to do something good as an expression of my gratitude.”
Graden Paul Jackson
Attorney, Shareholder, Member of the Board of Directors, Strong & Hanni Law Firm
Age: 37
Last Book Read: Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Role Model: His dad
Favorite Utah Diversion: Running on the trails and paths in Draper
Graden Paul Jackson feels fortunate to work on mentally challenging projects in his positions with Strong & Hanni law firm. He is a member of the Business and Tax Practice Group as well as the Commercial Litigation Practice Group, serves as a member of the board of directors, and is a shareholder in the firm. Primarily, Jackson manages client relationships and directs the work of a number of associates. He says he loves to work and take on a problem for a client, then see if he can help solve it.
Early in his career, Jackson decided that “the key to succeeding at a young age is being willing to work hard year after year after year as if everything depends on you and not expect anything to be given to you.” He thinks good leaders focus not only on themselves, but can make those around them achieve success as well. “I decided early in my career that I would always try and surround myself with people who were smart and were willing to work hard.”
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