Speakers

Managing Director / Utah Office of Tourism

SESSION: TourismTALKS

Vicki Varela is the managing director of the Office of Tourism in the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. She oversees the state’s national and international strategy to create a quality and responsible tourism economy under the state’s Red Emerald Strategic Plan.

Varela was named the U.S. Tourism Director of the Year in 2016. Utah Business Magazine has recognized her as a Business Leader and 30 Women to Watch. She was named one of America’s 25 Great Minds by Hospitality, Sales, and Marketing International. She serves on the Salt Lake Chamber Board and the Olympic Legacy Foundation. She is an inaugural member of Women who Succeed.

Before joining GOED, Varela’s professional experience included vice president of Kennecott Land, deputy chief of staff and spokesperson for Gov. Mike Leavitt, and Assistant Commissioner of Higher Education. She started her career as a journalist with Associated Press and Deseret News.

Varela has two adult children and one beautiful granddaughter. Varela enjoys adventures in Utah and around the world, including biking, hiking, and river rafting.

Owner / Compass Rose Lodge

SESSION: TourismTALKS

Jeff Hyde, an Ogden native, and owner of Huntsville Square and Compass Rose Lodge spent his youth exploring, competitive skiing, and recreating in the Wasatch Mountain Range. The mountains of Ogden inspired Jeff to build a career in the ski industry. Over the decades of traveling resort towns, Jeff witnessed the rapid growth of numerous resort communities but always felt something special when he returned to his home of Ogden Valley.

More than two decades ago, Jeff, with his wife Bonnie and sons Dakota and River, purchased and renovated the family’s first commercial property in Huntsville Utah. With a vision of creating a sanctum where people could step away from their daily routines and experience the best of what Ogden Valley has to offer in the heart of historic town of Huntsville. The team works to honor the past while looking to the future of a growing mountain community.

Huntsville Square is now home to Compass Rose lodge, a 15-room boutique hotel which caters to skiers and outdoor recreationalist. The Square also includes First Lift Coffee Shop, HALO Astronomic Observatory, Detours Paddle Rental shop, IDK Barbecue, The Lovin’Cup Café, and Huntsville Square Wedding and Event Venue.

The Hyde Family continues their vision of creating special places for people to experience in Huntsville and hope to share their special place with all who wish to visit.

President/CEO / Visit Ogden

SESSION: TourismTALKS

Sara Toliver is President/CEO of Visit Ogden. A graduate of Ogden High School, she went on to receive both her BS and MBA degrees from Utah State University before opening three retail stores on Historic 25th Street in downtown Ogden. The ensuing redevelopment of this historic district led to Sara’s increased involvement in and passion for the Ogden community. This passion continues to drive her in her day-to-day activities to make the Ogden area an amazing visitor destination and wonderful place to live.

Sara joined Visit Ogden in 2007 and serves on numerous community boards and committees as well as the Tourism Development Board for the State of Utah, the Utah Tourism Industry Association Executive Committee and the Destination Marketing Association of the West.

Sara and her husband, Brett, are the proud parents of 16 year old twins and love skiing, hiking, biking, and pretty much anything else they can do in their mountains.

President and CEO / Relic

SESSION: TourismTALKS

Adam Stoker is the president and CEO of Relic+EKR. He graduated from Brigham Young University’s nationally-ranked advertising program and has been working in advertising for fifteen years. Adam builds businesses, people and products through his leadership. His role includes overseeing the vision of the company, creating relationships with employees and clients and identifying growth opportunities. In 2020, he successfully led Relic in acquiring EKR, an agency that specializes in digital marketing and web development. Adam is the host of the Destination Marketing Podcast and author of Touchpoints: A Destination Marketer’s Guide to Brand Evaluation and Enhancement. Adam is listed in the 40 Under 40 from Utah Business and Utah Valley Business magazines.

Mayor / Ogden City

SESSION: TourismTALKS

Mike Caldwell is Ogden, Utah’s visionary leader. Now in his third term, Caldwell continues to put local economic development at the forefront of his agenda.

Caldwell not only serves the community he calls home, he’s trusted in the State of Utah to serve on numerous Boards and Commissions and is currently the President of the Utah League of Cities and Towns, which serves all 248 cities and towns throughout the state. His work during his tenure has resulted in accolades from several national publications such as Forbes, Newsweek and Outside Magazine.

Citizens have come to know him as a transparent city leader who is always open to listen to concerns and ideas. Dubbed Ogden’s “biking mayor,” Caldwell will tell you he has been passionately losing races for some twenty years. Mike enjoys Ogden’s high-adventure recreation lifestyle with his family, and is most proud of the titles Dad and Husband.

Executive Director / Ogden Downtown Alliance

SESSION: TourismTALKS

Kim Bowsher is the Executive Director of the Ogden Downtown Alliance. The Ogden Downtown Alliance is committed to increasing economic vitality and community vibrancy throughout Ogden’s Central Business District. We support local commerce through placemaking, destination marketing, focused community programming and events. We create and promote a dynamic epicenter for arts, entertainment and cultural experiences in Ogden’s downtown.

The Alliance manages and produces 36 weeks of events each year, including Farmers Market Ogden, Harvest Moon and the Historic 25th Street Car Show. Additionally, we manage four distinct business districts within the downtown and work to increase marketing capacity for our downtown businesses. We work on our mission utilizing a six pillar approach: Events Programming, Communication & Marketing, Placemaking & Destination Development, Business Support Systems, Arts Programming, and Coordination with Community and Economic Development.

Owner / Roosters Brewing Company

SESSION: TourismTALKS

Kym Buttschardt owns and operates five successful restaurants in Ogden, Layton, and the Salt Lake International Airport. Kym has a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Utah and worked in the public and private accounting industry for five years. She has chaired scores of fundraisers and special events and held leadership positions on many boards including Ski Utah, Weber Basin Water Conservancy, Goal Foundation, Zions Bank Advisory Board, Visit Ogden, Davis, and Ogden/Weber Chamber of Commerce, and the Junior League of Ogden.

Kym is active in the revitalization of Ogden and the business growth of Weber and Davis Counties. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors of Utah Office of Tourism, Weber Basin Water Conservancy, Red Butte Garden, Weber State University Goddard School of Business and Ogden Regional Medical Center. Kym is also actively engaged in Hill Air Force Base and the Past President of the Falcons group who supports the 388th Fighter Wing.

Managing Partner / Fischer Regan Enterprises, LLC

SESSION: TourismTALKS

Fischer Regan Enterprises and its partners are social entrepreneurs committed to the redevelopment of Ogden’s historical assets, districts, and community, one building at a time. We create a vision, purpose and fresh energy within our community's historical buildings once thought obsolete and outdated.

Most recently FRE redeveloped The Monarch, a historic auto garage located in Downtown Ogden, repurposed as a creative space for artists, makers, and creatives of all types. The Monarch boasts over 40+ studios, retail, restaurant, private events space, and world-class non-profit arts organization.

Arts, Culture, and Events Division Manager / City of Ogden

SESSION:

Christy McBride serves at the Arts, Culture and Events Division Manager for the City of Ogden. She oversees the operations and management of The Ogden Amphitheater, The Corner Information Center, Ogden City’s Public Art Programs as well as Special Event & Film Permitting. Christy and her small team of six work diligently to create an environment that fosters and supports diverse programing in arts and events to enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors.

Christy’s community involvement dates back over 20 years and her influences can be seen in the past, present and future. In 2012, after serving ten years with South Ogden City, she executed the mural paintings of two enormous water tanks that tower over the city. She has served in leadership roles for signature events such as the Ogden Marathon and the State’s recent Sesquicentennial Celebration. Christy was directly involved in the creation and execution of the Ogden Twilight concert series that now attracts music lovers from every zip code in Utah, all fifty states, and some countries. With her contribution to the creation of the Arts and Culture Master Plan, and involvement in the Nine Rails Creative District Master Plan, Ogden’s art scene is exploding. The latest completion of the Don Rimx murals and the current construction of the Dumke Arts Plaza prove that Ogden is poised to deliver quality cultural experiences to those who choose Ogden as their destination.

Christy lives in Ogden with her husband Mike. They enjoy hiking, biking, boating, and spending time with their four grown children (and their partners) every chance they get.

Utah Ambassador and Snow Forecaster / Utah Office of Tourism / OpenSnow

SESSION: TourismTALKS

To Evan, "The Greatest Snow on Earth" is more than just a motto, it's a way of life. After growing up in Tahoe and attending Colorado State University, Evan moved to Utah where he's lived ever since. In 2010, he started Wasatch Snow Forecast, joining forces with OpenSnow.com in 2014 and has become the "go to" source for ski forecasts in Utah. He has been working with Utah Office of Tourism and "Visit Utah" as a Utah Ambassador for the past 5 years.

Senior Advisor on Equity and Opportunity and Director of the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs / Utah Governor's Office

SESSION:

Nubia Peña is the director for the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs whose mission is to promote an inclusive climate for Utah’s growing diverse community through training, outreach and youth leadership development. Peña spent the past 15 years working as a community organizer, advocate and ally for systematically marginalized populations. She also facilitates dialogues among local and national leaders on complex topics of inclusion and racial justice, working to create equitable access in services and resources for historically disenfranchised communities. Peña also designs and implements various workshops on creating culturally relevant, and gender-specific programming, specifically when working with youth and adolescents.

Peña is a former member of the Utah Juvenile Defender Attorneys where she advocated for youth rights during detention and delinquency proceedings. She is certified by the National Juvenile Defender Center as a Juvenile Training Immersion Program facilitator. In addition, Peña is a national consultant dedicated to bringing awareness to intersections of trauma and the School-to-Prison Pipeline, an epidemic that targets our most vulnerable youth by streamlining them into the juvenile justice system. She also serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law.

Peña has actively sought to bring awareness to issues of violence and systemic oppression through her professional endeavors and personal faith-based initiatives. She has a decade of experience assisting survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking and violent crimes as a law enforcement victim advocate. Since 2007, Peña has served as the training and prevention education specialist at the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault (UCASA), where she developed trainings on youth advocacy for trafficked survivors, social justice in prevention efforts, and sexual harassment in the #MeToo era. In addition, she is also the founder and director of Royalty Rising Youth Ministry, a culturally relevant and gender-specific outreach initiative for systematically marginalized young adults.

Peña received her J.D. from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law in May 2016. During that year, she was selected as one of 25 law students in the nation to be recognized and highlighted for her social justice activism in the National Jurist, a leading news source in legal education. She was also selected as the recipient of the National Juvenile Justice Network 2019 Emerging Leader Award due to her longstanding commitment to youth rights, empowerment, and leadership development. Peña was named as one of Utah Business Magazine’s 2020 40 Under 40 award recipients and recognized among the 2020 Heroes for Utah Philanthropy Day.

Join Nubia during a Breakout Session on Thursday, September 29.

Director, Strategic Initiatives / EDC Utah

SESSION:

Prior to joining EDCUtah, Stephanie’s career included experience as a medical device engineer and a software account manager, as well as a year of Americorps service with the Utah Food Bank. As Director of Strategic Initiatives, she is currently leveraging over 15 years of economic development experience as a dedicated innovation officer for EDCUtah. Stephanie is an avid skier and hiker with a passion for travel. She recently returned to EDCUtah after taking a leave of absence to backpack around the world with her husband and two young daughters.

Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Join Stephanie during a Breakout Session on Thursday, September 29.

Senior Vice President, Government Affairs & Industry Relations / American Hotel & Lodging Association

SESSION:

Troy Flanagan serves as senior vice president of government affairs and industry relations for the American Hotel & Lodging Association. He brings over 20 years of experience to the role as a policy advocate who works closely with AHLA’s state association members and industry allies on issues critical to the hotel industry.

Troy came to AHLA from Parquet Public Affairs (now known as Align Public Strategies), where, as a partner, he represented numerous service industry brands and trade associations that dealt with many of the same issues facing the hospitality industry. Through Parquet-managed coalitions, he also helped develop comprehensive, industry-wide solutions to the various public affairs threats posed to employers.

Previously, he was director of government relations at International Franchise Association (IFA), where he focused on state and local policy threats to franchised industries, including lodging. Troy’s experience as an issue advocate also includes government relations roles at ConAgra Foods, Inc. and the Grocery Manufacturers Association. He began his career serving in various staff positions of the Florida Legislature, both in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Troy holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Florida and a Masters in International Commerce & Policy from George Mason University. In 2019, Troy obtained the Institute for Organization Management (IOM) designation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

Join Troy during a Breakout Session on Thursday, September 29.

Assistant Professor of Hospitality Management / Southern Utah University

SESSION: Connected Curriculum

Dr. AJ Templeton is an Assistant Professor of Hospitality Management at Southern Utah University. AJ is a Florida native, with dual citizenship in the US and Cayman Islands. She holds a Bachelor in International Business from Florida Atlantic University, a Masters in Hospitality & Tourism Management and Doctorate in Hospitality Management both from the University of Central Florida, Rosen College. AJ has extensive experience in academia and joined SUU's Hospitality, Resort and Hotel Management program in 2018.

With over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, her experience includes working for a ski tour operator, high-end working guest ranch and a variety of experience in the MICE industry.

She has published in the areas of hospitality and tourism management. Her research interests include drive tourism, sustainability, accessibility, slow tourism, niche lodging sectors, and the national parks. Additionally, she serves on several planning boards for both academic and industry organizations.

Outside of the classroom, AJ loves a good road trip, exploring public lands, petting all the dogs and drinking all the coffee.

President & CEO / Park City Chamber of Commerce | Convention & Visitors Bureau

SESSION: Responsible Travel

Prior to arriving in Park City, Jennifer was CEO/President of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau, which she joined in 2007. During her tenure, she led Sedona, Arizona to national recognition as a destination. Jennifer guided the Sedona Chamber’s accreditation as a Destination Management Organization, led the development of Arizona’s first Sustainable Tourism Plan, and saw tourism grow to become Sedona's largest industry, with a $1 billion annual impact and 10,000 tourism-related jobs. She most recently represented the region on the Governor's Economic Recovery Task Force. Jennifer developed and launched successful brand strategies for Sedona, including the "Sedona, the Most Beautiful Place on Earth" campaign and the “Find Your Room to Play” campaign.

Before joining the Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau, Jennifer taught English in Japan and spent three years in the hospitality industry in Interlaken, Switzerland. She holds bachelor’s degrees in French and Communications from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. When Jennifer and her husband Rick are not running, biking and hiking, they enjoy cooking and traveling with friends.

Outreach Development Manager, Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (Go Utah)

SESSION: Main Street

Nan is part of the Office of Rural Development at the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), and she works in the rural GOED location in Wayne County (200 miles from SLC!). Her focus at GOED is outreach to rural counties and businesses in the Southern part of the state, spearheading the Utah Main Street Program, marketing rural programs and business resources.

She’s had many different jobs in the economic development/tourism industry and has learned from all of them, loved most of them, and feels fortunate to be able to help foster economic development in the number one state for business – Utah! Nan and her husband James live in Torrey and share their home with a wiener dogs and a bunch of cats.

Dark Sky Seasonal/Lead Park Ranger Aide / Utah Division of State Parks

SESSION: Dark Skies

Shelby Stock grew up in scenic southern Utah in a tiny town outside of Bryce Canyon National Park. She graduated from the University of Utah in the Fall of 2019 majoring in Political Science and minoring in Environmental Sustainability Studies. She has worked for the Utah Division of State Parks as a Dark Sky Programming Seasonal since January of 2020. In the 2020-2021 season, Shelby assisted with the “International Dark Sky Park” certifications of six Utah State Parks. This year, she is assisting three more parks in obtaining their own titles. In her free time, she enjoys landscape and nightscape photography, traveling, hiking, and amateur astronomy.

Director of Digital Marketing & Media / Love Communications

SESSION: Branding/Digital Media

Hannah has been at Love Communications for 6+ years, where she has been responsible for managing, monitoring, and implementing multi-faceted digital campaigns while growing the Digital Department with other experts in the space.

Prior to Love, Hannah started her marketing career at Starcom in Chicago, with Proctor and Gamble as her main client, where she worked closely with clients from strategy conception to media planning and execution in the CPG category.

Hannah’s focus and expertise at Love has been in tourism, non-profit and CPG programs.

As an east coast native, Hannah spent 5 years in Utah and has recently moved back and now resides in New Hampshire as a remote team member.

President / Des Barker Associates

SESSION: Politics and Advocacy

Des has over 30 years of Utah legislative and executive branch strategic consulting and lobbying experience. Including: Strategic planning; proactively passing legislation; securing appropriations; and defending existing statutory benefits for his clients. He has been the key political advisor, strategist and lobbyist for Utah’s tourism industry since 1991. He has established strong governmental relationships and public policy expertise in business, tourism, land use, air and water quality, manufacturing, transportation, mining, taxation, real estate, and energy.

Des was the key political strategist to shepherd the creation of the Tourism Marketing Performance Fund (TMPF) in 2005 and has worked to keep it funded and growing to expand the Utah visitor economy. Tourism was a $5.7 billion Utah industry in 2005 and has grown to over $10 billion. He has successfully defended and negotiated changes to Utah’s transient room taxes and other tourism related taxes, keeping those funds primarily for tourism benefits.

Prior to his work on Utah's Capitol Hill, Des was the Economic Development Director for Park City/Summit County and was a national business recruiter for The Economic Development Corporation of Utah.

His clients include: Utah Tourism Industry Association, Ski Utah, Rio Tinto/Kennecott, Chevron, Merit Medical, Park City Chamber/Bureau, Visit Salt Lake, Utah Beverage Association (Coke and Pepsi bottlers); Compass Minerals; Summit County; and BNSF Railway.

Senior Director, State and Local Government Affairs / American Hotel & Lodging Association

SESSION: Advocacy

Jason Riederer joined the American Hotel & Lodging Association as Senior Director of State and Local Government Relations in January 2021 and manages AHLA’s western region government affairs from Reno, Nevada.

His previous experience includes senior policy and government relations roles with the United States Congress, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and two CNBC Disruptor 50 list technology companies focused on biometric identification and urban drone delivery.

He is an alumnus of the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management and Walla Walla University's School of Business.

Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) / Weber School District

SESSION: Connected Curriculum

Dr. Rod Belnap is the CTE Director in the Weber School District and is in his 25th year in education. He has a Bachelors Degree from Weber State University, his Masters degree from Utah State University, and a doctoral degree from the University of Utah. He is a charismatic, energetic, passionate, visionary leader that loves education and cares about students. He taught Business/Marketing, English, and Driver Education in the secondary schools. He was also a head basketball coach and DECA advisor at Bonneville High School. He has been an assistant principal in both junior high and high school, the principal at Sand Ridge Jr. High and Fremont High School. Rod was the Human Resources Director for the district before his current role at CTE Director. Rod realizes the inherent opportunities for connection and relationships as well as application that exist in CTE and CTSOs in particular. Student and employee recognition enhances student achievement and creates a rich moral and innovative learning culture. Educating the whole child is reaching the heart of students. Preparing students to be successful is of great importance whether it is through increased opportunities in Concurrent Enrollment, forging collaborative professional learning in PLCs, or developing both hard and soft skills that will ensure success in the future... these are the opportunities we have in education. He feels passionate about putting kids first and creating opportunities for all students to extend learning while supporting those who might not get it the first time.

Rod is married to Gina and has 4 children. He loves his family, the mountains, the outdoors, fly fishing, concerts/music, and friends.

Vice President of Business Development / Industrial Supply Company

SESSION: Diversity

Shawn is the Vice President of Business Development at Industrial Supply Company where he has worked for the past 35 years. He serves as a community integrator working as the vice president of the Salt Lake Branch of the NAACP, a former Commissioner on the Governor’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Commission and the executive Board of the Utah Black Round Table. He heads the Utah Multicultural Civic Council, serves on the Board of the Utah Non-Profit Association and on the Utah Manufacturer’s Association Board. Mr. Newell formerly served as Chair of the Workforce and Economic Development Advisory Board at Salt Lake Community College where he served as the Alumni Council President and a Trustee for the College. Shawn is a Civility Ambassador for World Civility through iChange Nations and serves on the Diversity and Inclusion task force for the Industrial Supply Association, the Utah 3rd district Court Committee for Self-Represented Parties, Council on Diversity Affairs (CODA), and a former member of the Utah State Board of Education. He is currently serving as a President’s Ambassador for the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, Co-chair on the Salt lake Chamber Diversity, Equity and Inclusion task force, Boards of the Utah State Department of Workforce Services, The Utah Road home, Friends For Sight, Utah State Bar Commission, the Utah System of Higher Education and the newly formed Utah Office of Innovation Task Force.

Shawn is a graduate of the University of Utah, Salt Lake Community College and has a Masters of Management degree from the University of Phoenix. He holds an Executive leadership certification from the University Of Utah School Of Business and a Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University and a Leading with Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Certificate from the University of Utah, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate from the University of South Florida.

Sr. Strategist / Sparkloft Media

SESSION: Social Media

Lizzy is a Senior Strategist at Sparkloft Media with more than eight years of experience in social media marketing. In her role, she spearheads campaigns and innovative strategies for entertainment and tourism clients including Visit Utah. Before joining Sparkloft, Lizzy worked in public radio, first on NPR's social media desk and later as a digital producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting. She holds a degree in Print Journalism from the University of Montana.

Community & Economic Development Director / Brigham City Corporation

SESSION: Main Street

Paul Larsen is Community & Economic Development Director for Brigham City, Utah. Mr. Larsen earned a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife in 1986 and a Master of Landscape Architecture in 1993, both at Utah State University. Mr. Larsen is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute and the Main Street America Institute. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, Main Street America Revitalization Professional, Full Member of the Urban Land Institute, and International Council of Shopping Centers. He was born and raised in Montpelier, Idaho, and lives in Brigham City with his wife Shirlene and their Yorkie named Mercy.

Associate Dean and Professor / Weber State University

SESSION: Connected Curriculum

Dr. Cass Morgan is the Associate Dean of the Jerry and Vickie Moyes College of Education at Weber State University. She has been part of the WSU community since 2013 serving as a faculty member in the Outdoor and Community Recreation Education program where she teaches courses in adventure travel and sustainable tourism, event planning, outdoor education, and recreation administration and management. Prior to coming to WSU, Cass worked in the outdoor industry where she enjoyed working all over the United States, from Washington DC to California in outdoor education, research, and recreation planning. She loves calling Utah home and enjoys mountain and road biking, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and playing outside with her family.

Design & Content Strategist / Utah Office of Tourism

SESSION: Web

Rosie leads the talented teams behind VisitUtah.com, and she focuses on tracking new site developments and enhancements from ideation to completion. In collaboration with contracted agencies, Hanson Dodge and Love Communications, she facilitates strategy and delivery related to VisitUtah.com's web design and development, analytics and reporting, search engine marketing and content editing — all supported by foundational user research and a human-centered design approach.

Executive Director / Heber Valley Tourism and Economic Development

SESSION: Destination Development

Dallin Koecher has been serving as the Executive Director of Heber Valley Tourism and Economic Development since March of 2020. Prior to his role as Director, Dallin worked as the Public Relations Manager at Heber Valley since 2014. During that time Heber Valley has seen major growth in population and economic activity. One of Dallin's visions is that good humor and good plans make for a great work environment. Dallin is a native flatlander from Texas, but wouldn't give up the mountains of Utah for anything. Dallin has a Bachelors Degree in Journalism and Public Relations from Utah State University (Go Aggies!) and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Utah. He and his wife Amber and their family have been in Heber Valley since 2012. He has four children Jackson 11, Maylee 8, Lindsey 6, Brek 4, one hedgehog, and one Aussiedoodle puppy. All the Koecher's love living and playing in Heber Valley!

Destination Development Lead / Utah Office of Tourism

SESSION: Destination Development

Flint is a Destination Development Lead with the Utah Office of Tourism where he assists local governments to develop the amenities, infrastructure, and leadership necessary to become welcoming destinations for visitors. He previously worked for the State's Division of Housing and Community Development where he conducted rural research, provided local government planning assistance, and supported the division's infrastructure funding programs. Flint graduated with a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the Romney Institute of Public Management at Brigham Young University.

Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Director / Beaver County

SESSION: Destination Development

Michelle became Beaver County’s first-ever Recreation and Tourism Director at a time when the County was struggling to find its tourism identity. Tasked with making the region shine—despite it being surrounded by State and National Parks but having none of its own—Michelle's superpower is having A.D.D. which lent to seeking out dozens of outdoor recreation, Fig, and co-op grants to finance her vision of a unique outdoor experience for Beaver County visitors. Since assuming her role as Director, Michelle has completed two rebranding projects to unify the county’s residents and define its voice, all while marketing its natural attractions. Michelle has a thick skin in the face of detractors and vocal opposition and has worked hard to educate local leaders on the benefits branding, marketing, and tourism have on the community. Michelle is personally an outdoor enthusiast and is often found lowering herself off the ledge in canyoneering, exploring slot canyons and packing tripping with her horse through the mountains. Utah is definitely her jam.

Executive Director / Southeastern Utah Association of Local Governments

SESSION: Main Street

Geri Gamber is the Executive Director of Southeastern Utah Association of Local Governments (SEUALG) and Director of the Southeastern Economic Development District (SEUEDD). Mrs. Gamber has 15 years of experience working with economic development, business expansion and retention, along with poverty programs and initiatives. Currently, Mrs. Gamber works with four counties; Carbon, Emery, Grand and San Juan to assist with economic development in the region. Mrs. Gamber serves on several economic development boards and committees for the region. Mrs. Gamber has a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.). Mrs. Gamber is on the Executive Board for Business Expansion and Retention, Business and Technical Assistance Center board, Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Congressman Curtis’ Women’s Advisory Council, Community Development Corporation Board member, Economic Development Committee for the region (Carbon, Emery and San Juan counties), and Rural Impact Board for San Juan County. In addition, Mrs. Gamber serves on the Four Corners Future Forum. This is a regional committee involving four states; Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.

Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer / Utah Division of State History

SESSION: Main Street

Roger Roper has worked in historic preservation since the early 1980s, primarily in the State Historic Preservation Offices of both Oregon and Utah. His main goals have been to help property owners make the most of their historic buildings and to assist communities in developing effective local historic preservation programs. He is currently the Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer with the Utah Division of State History.

Travel & Tourism Practice Lead / Coraggio Group

SESSION: Destination Resilience

As the lead of Coraggio’s Travel & Tourism practice, Matthew focuses on bringing strategic thinking and an innovation mindset to destination organizations throughout the United States. He has worked with tourism organizations at every scale—from rural communities such as Visit Casper and Visit Mendocino County, to metropolitan destinations such as San Francisco Travel and Travel Portland, to state tourism agencies such as Visit New Hampshire and Visit California, and to national organizations like Brand USA. Matthew currently serves as a Board Member for U.S. Travel.

Strategist / Struck

SESSION: Branding/Digital Media

Lee Banov is a brand strategist who has led strategy and research projects across multiple travel and leisure clients and RFPs, as well as across projects for clients in categories ranging from biotech to construction. Prior to joining Struck, he worked at some of the biggest agencies in Texas, supporting accounts including The Home Depot, Capital One, USAA, Bridgestone Tires, AAA, and The North Face. As a downtown dweller in Salt Lake City he loves the city’s walkability, character, and easy access to spectacular natural areas.

Strategist / Struck

SESSION: Branding/Digital Media

Molly O’Neill is a brand strategist who began her advertising career in Nashville, Tennessee. Passionate about helping clients balance long-term brand building and short-term sales activation, she's done marketing research and strategy development for brands like Slack, Mars Petcare, Cracker Barrel, Tractor Supply, Verizon, Utah Tourism, Deluxe and Kirkland’s. Molly graduated from Harvard in 2013. In her free time, she enjoys doing CrossFit, running, hiking, skiing, eating pizza, and convincing Utahns to like country music and start saying “Y’all!” Molly leads the team in understanding and analyzing research to understand customer behavior and creates analytics solutions, measures usability and usefulness (both in development and in-market) to drive tangible results and brand awareness.

Vice President, Digital Marketing & Media / Love Communications

SESSION: Branding/Digital Media

Jonathan joined Love Communications in the spring of 2012 and oversees all of the agency’s digital campaigns — one of the fastest growing segments of Love’s client base.

His team includes digital media and social media specialists with proven track records of developing and executing online media campaigns that get noticed and get results. Jonathan is responsible for overseeing the strategy, negotiation, and placement of some of the state’s most visible clients, including the Utah Office of Tourism, varied campaigns for UCCP, City Creek Center, and the Lt. Governor’s Office of the State of Utah.

Prior to working at Love, Jonathan held a sales position at Angel, a subsidiary of Microstrategy, Inc. He is a native of Virginia and a graduate of James Madison University. Jonathan is a weekend warrior in every sense of the word. When he’s not shredding Utah’s spectacular slopes, Jonathan is capturing and snapping Utah’s breathtaking scenery all throughout the state (which he generously shares through social media).

Sr. Event/Sponsorship Coordinator & Transportation Liaison / Deer Valley Resort

SESSION: Sustainable Slopes

Victoria Schlaepfer has worked in the ski industry for five years in the event space. Victoria is highly involved in the Green Team at Deer Valley. She spearheaded waste-free initiatives at events and helped to launch an employee mobility platform for the resort.

VP Digital Experience & Technology / Hanson Dodge

SESSION: Web

Ethan leads an integrated team at Hanson Dodge creating high-performing digital experiences that delight users and support the growth and success of Hanson Dodge's clients. Ethan also serves as the lead digital strategist on the VisitUtah.com website project on behalf of the Utah Office of Tourism.

Throughout his career Ethan has held a range of technology and marketing leadership roles, focused on the strategic and outcome-oriented use of technology for brands worldwide. These have included Gaiam, Trek, Jillian Michaels, State of Utah, K-Swiss, Camelbak, and Hal Leonard.

In his free time Ethan enjoys camping, hiking, biking, skiing, music, and travel.

Digital Content Supervisor / Love Communications

SESSION: Web

Emily provides clients with SEO/content marketing, paid social, and media strategy and execution. A 5-year Love veteran, she’s had the privilege of working with clients of all sizes; from SaaS companies, to CPGs, to travel and tourism, and local organizations. Most recently, she has been involved with campaigns for Discover Moab, Visit Ogden, and the Utah Office of Tourism. A former Google Flights chaser, she now spends time mountain biking and paddleboarding the lakes of Utah with her pandemic puppy.

Director of Sustainability / Brighton Resort

SESSION: Sustainable Slopes

Erika began her position as the Director of Sustainability at Brighton Resort in August of 2020 after submitting a written proposal in the early months of 2019 outlining the essential aspects of sustainability within ski resorts to Brighton decision makers. Her passion for sustainability began long before her Bachelor Degrees in Environmental Studies, Sociology, and Anthropology (with minors in Biology and Psychology). Erika worked to get her alma mater, Ohio Wesleyan University, to establish a culture of sustainability and environmental consciousness on campus (while also co-founding a ski club). She enjoyed this experience of sharing her passion so much that she pursued a Masters in Education focusing on Sustainability, Creativity, and Innovation out of Cape Breton University - a program that was funded by a fellowship for her research on mental health benefits of immersive outdoor educational experiences in youth. Erika will be published in Australian and Canadian journals in 2021. She is a master composter, lover of animals, skiier and snowboarder, book worm, and works closely with the unhoused members of the Salt Lake City community.

Director / Utah Division of State Parks

SESSION: Public Lands

Jeff Rasmussen is the Director for the Utah Division of State Parks. He began his career in 1992 as a Park Ranger at Antelope Island State Park after receiving a B.S. in Geography and Natural Resources from Brigham Young University. He also worked as a Park Ranger at Palisade State Park and Yuba State Park before taking on administrative roles at the state park offices in Salt Lake City.

Jeff believes in leading by example and encouraging a good personal / work balance for employees. He is driven by limitless outdoor recreation opportunities for our beautiful state parks.

Jeff spends his free time with his family and dogs, enjoying the great outdoors: hiking, fishing, mountain biking and motorcycle riding.

Executive Director / Moab Area Travel Council

SESSION: Responsible Travel

Elaine Gizler is the Executive Director for Grand County, Utah Economic Development, and the Moab Area Travel Council. As the Executive Director of Economic Development and Tourism, Elaine resides in a spectacular city that includes Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, and The Mighty Colorado River. When she is not in Moab performing various administrative and managerial duties for Grand County Economic Development, Branding, and Marketing Moab, she meets with Developers, Businesses, Entrepreneur. She conducts FAM Tours, travels to International Destinations to train Travel Agents, and meets with Tour Company management.

She is an At Large U.S. Travel Association Board Member, a Board Member on the Utah Office of Tourism State Board, the Moab Chamber of Commerce Board, the United Way of Eastern Utah, the South East Utah Revolving Loan Fund Administrative Board. Elaine also serves on the EDCUtah DEI Committee.

Elaine has an extensive background in Sales, Marketing, and Branding with years in the Cosmetic industry and happy that she does not have to worry about launching a new lipstick every season. She is thrilled to represent an area that can be a journey of a lifetime filled with adventure.

Senior Vice President / Miles Partnership

SESSION: Destination Resilience

Laura is a Senior Vice President at Miles Partnership. She is based in Colorado and has been with Miles for over eight years but brings 20 years of industry experience to her role. Laura’s specialty is in developing product plans that match clients’ needs and strategic objectives. She is responsible for establishing and maintaining productive relationships with Miles’ clients, as well as overall satisfaction with our services and products across the tourism spectrum.

Prior to joining Miles, Laura worked in event planning and fundraising for the Denver Zoo and Historic Denver. She also worked at the Colorado Tourism Office establishing the state’s heritage and cultural tourism program, overseeing the travel resources program and industry relations programs for the office.

Miles Partnership is a marketing consultancy specializing in travel and tourism. Miles’ clients span the spectrum of the industry including DMOs, NTOs and state tourism offices as well as hotels, resorts, casinos and venues. With over 67 years of experience, Miles continuously adjusts with changing times to deliver forward-thinking, successful solutions to meet our clients’ needs and exceed their expectations.

Manager of Data Analytics & Research / Love Communications

SESSION: Branding/Digital Media

Adam leads the Love Communications data analytics and research team with a focus in data strategy and quantitative research executions. His strong background in survey design and business analytics provides a solid foundation to craft actionable data insights for Love’s clientele, including the Utah Office of Tourism, Moab Area Travel Council, Greater Zion, and more. A graduate from the University of Utah, Adam double-majored in strategic communications and political science with an emphasis in public policy. He later received his Master's Degree in Business Analytics from the same school. Outside of combing through spreadsheets, Adam enjoys watching baseball, going to the climbing gym, and playing his guitar.

Environmental Director / Alta Ski Area

SESSION: Sustainable Slopes

Beth has been the Alta Ski Area Environmental Director for 2 years. Before joining Alta, Beth spent 6 years in environmental consulting mostly focused on environmental resource assessments and permitting and compliance for utility scale energy clients. Originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Beth started her professional career in Chattanooga working for the Tennessee Valley Authority's environmental department after completing her undergrad.

Beth completed her undergrad in Environmental and Soil Sciences (B.S.) at the University of Tennessee (Knoxville), and got her Master's of Environmental Management with a focus in energy from Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment.

Vice President / JPR

SESSION: Media Landscape

Marrissa is a former lifestyle journalist and seasoned PR tastemaker with more than a decade of media experience—and an incomparable palette in her arsenal. She has spearheaded national campaigns for clients across a variety of market segments, from culinary, hospitality and tourism, to health and wellness and beyond. Marrissa is a proven strategist who speaks the language of media today and navigates the crowded landscape with ease. As a trend forecaster, she refreshes the lexicon in real-time for her clients and teams. She also wields this next-level, macro-micro insight to orchestrate strategic campaigns for some of the most exciting brands today. She brings her passion for food & wine to her client work as an WSET Level II certified professional and wine enthusiast, and relishes in placing her treasured toques at world-class events and institutions—from the James Beard House to Pebble Beach Food & Wine, and more. Marrissa revels in brokering big-time brand partnerships; landing coveted national TV opportunities and leading her teams to deliver award-winning work for clients.

Community Development Specialist / Utah Community Development Office

SESSION: Dark Skies

Aubrey Larsen has worked for the Utah Community Development Office for close to six years. The Community Development Office’s mission is to help Utah’s rural communities build knowledge, skills, and abilities to achieve their goals. Outside of work Aubrey enjoys mountain biking, knitting, collecting teddy bears, and watching M*A*S*H reruns.

Sustainability and Transportation Manager / Snowbasin Resort Co.

SESSION: Sustainable Slopes

As the Sustainability and Transportation manager at Snowbasin, Anne Dunaway has built a unique perspective on sustainability as it applies to mountain operations. As an active sustainable agriculture farmer and a passionate conservationist, Anne has experience in conservation and sustainable practices as they apply to large land areas and outdoor specific elements which impact our industry, alone.

State Director / Bureau of Land Management Utah

SESSION: Public Lands

As BLM's State Director in Utah, Greg Sheehan leads a team that administers nearly 22.9 million acres of public lands, representing about 42% of the state. Sheehan served as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Principal Deputy Director from 2017 to 2018. As Principal Deputy Director, Sheehan led continuing efforts to expand public access for hunting and fishing across the National Wildlife Refuge System and other lands managed by the Service. Sheehan served for 25 years in the Utah Department of Natural Resources and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources – the last five years as the agency’s Director. As Director of the State of Utah’s Division of Wildlife, Sheehan worked extensively with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other federal and state agencies to recover threatened and endangered species protected by the Endangered Species Act. Sheehan earned a bachelor’s degree at Utah State University and later received an MBA. He is an avid hunter, fisherman and wildlife photographer.

Community and Partner Relations Director / Utah Office of Tourism

SESSION: Public Lands

Bianca Lyon is the Community and Partner Relations Director for the Utah Office of Tourism, under the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. In her role, Bianca works with stakeholders throughout the state to promote UOT's Forever Mighty responsible travel initiative and its Red Emerald Strategic Plan to attract quality visitation to Utah.

Before coming to work for the state, Bianca focused on tourism marketing for City Creek Center, and before that totaled nine years in Salt Lake City government working under Mayor Becker and at the Salt Lake City Department of Airports as its Public Information Officer. Bianca has a Political Science degree and Master of Public Administration from the University of Utah. Bianca loves to hike, ski and raft with her husband Matt and her two kids.

Public Relations Manager / Utah Office of Tourism

SESSION: Media Landscape

Anna Loughridge is the Public Relations Manager for the Utah Office of Tourism where she oversees the state’s local and national public relations strategy. As a Utah native, Anna’s passions are at the core of her work -- exploring the outdoors, finding unique, transformative experiences through travel, and immersing herself in all things local. If she's not in the office you can find her on her mountain bike or playing a quick nine on one of Utah’s spectacular golf courses. As an advocate for the state’s tourism industry, Anna collaborates in the planning and execution of integrated campaigns, curating messages to encourage responsible visitation, supporting community-led initiatives, inspiring the discovery of Utah’s hidden gems and influencing perceptions of the destination.

President & CEO / Ski Utah

SESSION: Sustainable Slopes

Nathan was named President & CEO of Ski Utah in October, 2005. Before changing roles within the organization, he served as Ski Utah’s director of communications for seven years, with previous experience at Park City Mountain Resort. His responsibilities include continuing to promote Utah’s 15 mountain resorts with a budget of approximately $3.5 million. As past chair of the Utah Tourism Industry Association and vice-chair of the Utah Office of Tourism board of directors, he works on both promotion and legislative issues on a statewide level. A Utah native and Park City resident, Nathan has worked in various capacities in Utah’s ski industry, starting as an intern with Ski Utah the summer he graduated from the University of Arizona in 1994. In 2007, and again in 2012, he was named one of Utah’s “100 Most Influential People” by Utah Business Magazine. He was also on their “40 Under 40” list in 2008 and, most recently, received the magazine’s highest accolade – CEO of the Year, for 2018.

Community and Partner Relations Director / Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation

SESSION: Dark Skies

India Nielsen Barfuss is a native Utahn and proud Weber State Wildcat. She joined the Office of Outdoor Recreation shortly after finishing her Master of Public Administration degree with a parks and recreation focus. She served in the State Elections Office under Lt. Governor Cox for four years and loves obstacle course racing, backpacking, the Jordan River, and her rescue cat.

Community Development Specialist / Utah's Community Development Office

SESSION: One Utah

From rural southern Utah, McKenna has found her passion in ensuring rural communities have the knowledge and resources they need to thrive. With experience in planning, finance, and law, her current projects include re-envisioning Intermountain West cemeteries, capital asset planning, and university and student outreach.

Associate Professor, Coordinator of U-EXPLORE, Director of the Urban Ranger Program / University of Utah Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism

SESSION: Connected Curriculum

As Associate Professor of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism and Coordinator of U-EXPLORE, Nate has had the privilege to help University of Utah students work towards their professional and personal goals. He is honored to be a part of a thriving program that creates, shares, and applies knowledge about Parks, Recreation, and Tourism to inspire students, inform policy, serve social needs, promote sustainability, and advocate for the health of people, communities, and the environment.

Nate grew up outside a small town in Northern California, and, after high school, he enrolled at California State University, Chico, and earned a BA in Organizational Communication and a minor in Conflict Resolution. One of his foundational college experiences was working with Adventure Outings, the student outdoor recreation program, where he started to get a glimpse of what a career in recreation might look like. Wanting to learn more, he enrolled in the Master’s program in Recreation Administration at Chico and had the opportunity to complete a thesis that quantitatively measured the impacts of rock climbing to the Regular Northwest Face Route of Half Dome.

During that time Nate began work as an Instructor, and later as a Program Supervisor, for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Over the course of a decade, he worked month-long climbing, mountaineering, hiking, and river programs from Patagonia to Alaska, and started to develop theories about why students experienced so much personal development on their courses. Nate then enrolled in the PhD program at the University of Utah.

After graduation, and serving for a total of five years as Faculty, and later as Program Director, in the Adventure Education program at Green Mountain College, Nate was able to move back to his beloved Utah and take a position at the University of Utah.

In his current role, Nate tries to weave together his interests in public land management, social justice, civic engagement, pedagogy, and outdoor recreation into his professional life to provide opportunities for students to advance theirs.

Superintendent / Capitol Reef National Park, National Park Service

SESSION: Public Lands

Susan has worked for the National Park Service since 1985, in positions ranging from seasonal interpreter, biological and prescribed fire technician, vegetation ecologist, to superintendent. Her career has spanned a variety of parks in the western United States - Mount Rainier National Park, Yosemite National Park, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and now Capitol Reef National Park - that have faced pressures from increasing visitation while tasked with protecting primary resources in collaboration with surrounding communities and partners.

Community Development Specialist / Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism

SESSION: Connected Curriculum

Chase is an Assistant Director of Visitor Use Monitoring and Management in the Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. In addition to teaching, most of his time is spent developing, coordinating, and reporting the Institute’s research. He has worked on a diversity of research from monitoring fish habitat in the Columbia River Basin to studying the visitation, attitudes, and management preferences of people who recreate on public lands. Aside from research, he has also worked for the USDA Forest Service, spending most of his time on the Moab-Monticello Ranger District of the Manti-La Sal National Forest. He received a bachelor’s degree in Recreation Resource Management from Utah State University, and then later returned to further his education by earning a master’s degree in Human Dimensions of Ecosystem Science and Management. He is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Environment and Society. Outside of the office, Chase spends a great deal of time with his wife, friends, and family traveling throughout the West climbing, fishing, viewing wildlife, and exploring.

Freelance Food and Travel Writer

SESSION: Let's Talk Utah

Darby Doyle is an award-winning food and travel writer continually exploring the cultural, gastronomic and natural wonders of the US West for a slew of print and digital publications. Based in Salt Lake City, Darby firmly believes that there’s no such thing as too much cheese, everything’s more fun with dogs at your side and in the restorative powers of potent après ski beverages. Find more of her recent work at darbydoyle.com.

Founder / Byron Russell LLC

SESSION: Diversity

Byron founded Byron Russell LLC in March of 2011, based on his years of experience in academics, national and international politics, journalism, fundraising, finance, economic development, higher education, public relations, philanthropy and social enterprise. Having expanded a wide network in varied interests, Byron Russell LLC was formed based on a need of facilitating corporations and foundations to connect. ideas. connections. results. has been a template of performance for well over a decade.

Byron is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park in Government Politics and Journalism. He was born in Washington, DC, and now regards Utah as home.

Executive Director / Utah Black History Museum

SESSION: Let’s Talk Utah

Liz Lambson is an artist, musician, writer, and mother to five boys. As an active member of Utah’s arts and culture community, Liz the Executive Director of the Utah Black History Museum (UBHM) and a member of the Utah Black Artists Collective. Her artwork is featured on the exterior of the UBHM bus, a traveling exhibit, and Salt Lake City’s Black Lives Matter mural at City Hall.

As a Salt Lake City resident since 2017, Liz also performs as a string bassist with the Ballet West Orchestra. Her writing has been featured in local and national publications including the New York Times. In her spare time she enjoys needlework, gardening, road trips, and Scrabble.

Senior Account Supervisor / J Public Relations

SESSION: Media Landscape

As an expat in her childhood, Audrey developed a global perspective and love for travel that translates to her career at JPR. Now 5+ years later, after starting in the New York office, Audrey offers a bi-coastal presence from Denver. Through her experience with domestic and international hospitality brands and destinations, Audrey delivers innovative brand partnerships, programming, revenue generating opportunities, influencer campaigns and PR campaign strategies. Her outstanding media/influencer relationships in target markets and national outlets from coast to coast deliver relevant and valuable results for her clients.

Council Member / Cedar City

SESSION: Community Allies

For over 42 years, R. Scott Phillips has worked in the public relations, marketing, and theatre administration fields. He recently stepped down as executive director of the Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City, Utah after guiding that organization as its CEO for a decade.

Mr. Phillips received his bachelor’s degree from Southern Utah University and continued his master’s degree in theatre administration at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. Mr. Phillips received the Outstanding Male Staff Member at Southern Utah University in 1990 and a 2003 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Utah Theatre Association.

Most recently Mr. Phillips was elected to serve a four-year term as a member of the Cedar City Council. While this is Mr. Phillips’ first venture into the elected political arena, he has been actively involved in political advocacy on the local, state, regional and national level for many years.

Mr. Phillips has lived in Cedar City for 44 years and is proud to call Cedar City his home. He enjoys travel, hiking, gardening and spending time with family and friends.

Flight Attendant / Alaska Airlines

SESSION: Let’s Talk Utah

Ogden District Ranger / USDA Forest Service, Uinta - Wasatch - Cache National Forest

SESSION: Public Lands

Sean Harwood, the District Ranger for the Ogden District of the Uinta – Wasatch – Cache National Forest.

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah on February 23, 1963. He has lived most of his life in the Ogden area and graduated from Bonneville High School in Washington Terrace. He attended Weber State University where he received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Geography with a Cartography emphasis and a minor in Business Management.

He has worked for the Forest Service for 32 years in multiple disciplines including Cartography, Graphics, Fire, Budget, Trails, Travel Management and Dispersed Recreation.

Sean is married and has three beautiful daughters and is extremely happy being a grandfather. He enjoys many outdoor pursuits such as biking, skiing, horses, and sportsman’s activities. He grew up spending his summers working on a small farm in Southeast Idaho where he learned to love hard work and a sense of accomplishment.

Sean currently lives in Clinton, Utah.