Trent Savage is the chief human resources officer at Mountain America Credit Union. In this role he’s responsible for developing and executing an HR and Talent Development strategy that supports the credit union’s overall business plan and strategic direction as well as for partnering with business leaders to provide clarity in direction and alignment of goals to create a high-performing organization. Since joining Mountain America in 2018 Savage has implemented technology to automate processes, which has streamlined the credit union’s human resources (HR) and improved engagement while allowing team members to engage in strategic consulting with leadership.

Over the course of his career, Savage has worked for some of the world’s largest, most-recognizable brands, including Amazon, eBay and Procter & Gamble. During his time with these companies, he gained expertise in strategy development, executive coaching, leadership effectiveness, organizational design and development, strategic talent management, and team effectiveness. 

Beyond his role with Mountain America, Savage contributes to the Utah business community through a variety of volunteer and leadership positions, including serving as chair of the Brigham Young University (BYU) HR/OD Advisory Council, a board member for the non-profit Courage Reins, an Executive Committee member of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) HR and chair of the HR Executive Roundtable in Utah. In these roles he strives to add value through mentoring and facilitating strategic partnerships.

Savage graduated from BYU with a Master of Business Administration in organizational development and human resources. He’s passionate about elevating the professionalism and status of HR professionals in Utah, and over the course of his career, he’s been recognized for his contributions to the HR industry. He was recognized in 2022 by Utah Business Magazine for a HR Achievement Award, named Utah’s HR Disruptor of the year (2020) by Utah Business Magazine and received the Ascendant Leader award (2012) from BYU’s Marriott School of Management.

Ben has over 20 years of retail experience, including executive roles as CHRO and General Counsel at national omni-channel retailer rue21 and a commercial real estate investment fund, and is a frequent speaker and panelist at retail, legal, and HR conferences. Ben is also an avid runner (167 races and counting) and loves skiing, as well as hiking with his three retrievers.

Heather Brace is the Chief People Officer for Intermountain Health. She is responsible for Intermountain’s engagement culture for more than 65,000 employees spanning across seven states. Heather has strategic oversight for talent management and development, recruitment, Human Resources service delivery, total rewards, culture enhancement, learning and development, and integrating diversity and inclusion in the employee culture.

Heather joined Intermountain in 2000 and has had a successful leadership journey. She is a first-generation graduate and is a working mom of two teenage boys. Heather took advantage of programs like tuition reimbursement, daycare, mentoring, and leadership development to support her own career growth, and knows first-hand the importance of how an organization can shape and support an employee’s ambitions and goals. She leads with this perspective in a way to give back to so many who have supported her journey. Since assuming the role of Chief People Officer in August 2018, Heather has overseen large-scale reorganizations of departments and service lines, benefit additions and transformations, and enhancing the employee experience.

Heather is a champion for employees and places great emphasis on the employee experience. She has created a more transparent culture of listening and action among employees. Under her leadership, Intermountain has expanded employee education opportunities, developed a remote work strategy, created programs like the Intermountain Food Box program, PTO donation, and the Caregiver Assistance Fund to help employees in need, expanded benefits like parental leave and infertility coverage, strengthened partnerships with local Utah businesses, and increased the minimum wage—and much more. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Heather played a critical role in keeping employees working, safe, and well. She created benefits like COVID Pay to help caregivers impacted by COVID-19 illness or school or daycare closures and spearheading cross-country partnerships with healthcare systems in New York surging with COVID-19 patients. Heather is passionate about empowering leaders and employees at every level to meet their full potential on behalf of Intermountain’s mission of helping people live the healthiest lives possible.

Heather received both her master’s degree in Health Services Administration and Health Promotion and Education, and her bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from the University of Utah.

Weslie M. Porter was born in San Diego, California, and raised in Vernal, Utah.  A member of the Utah Army National Guard, Wes has served for 18 years in the military as an operations officer, HR officer, and Liaison officer.  He has acted in higher education positions as an instructor, STEM program developer, Director of Energy, and Director of Business.  Wes has deployed overseas supporting combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and served as a liaison officer for military operations to UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and multiple state and federal agencies.  Wes has served as a Victims Advocate, sexual harassment and assault response program manager, and equity consultant for several federal and state entities.  Wes has co-founded multiple non-profit organizations including Uintah Basin Area Veterans Association and Dreams in Motion which connect individuals with disabilities and hardships with resources and other community members, and sits on the governing board for a local charter school.  Wes is currently the Director of Culture and Engagement at the State of Utah and is housed in the Division of Human Resource Management where he focuses on policy analysis and initiative development.  Wes has earned multiple leadership and HR credentials through the US Army, a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, and a Master's in Public Administration from Southern Utah University.  Wes is married to the former Emily Ruppe of Vernal and they have 6 children they raise together in rural Utah.

Whitney Harper, based is currently a Senior Vice President of People at Extra Space Storage, bringing experience from previous roles at Cornell University, Navalent, HVS and JetSet Sports.

Harper joined Extra Space Storage in January 2021 and has worked hard to help the company attract and retain outstanding talent. With staffing an issue throughout the United States, Harper and the People team worked to ensure that both new and seasoned employees thrived in the workplace.

Brooke Shreeve is the Chief People Officer at Weave.

As the VP of Human Resources at ZAGG Inc, Daniel oversees the strategic and operational aspects of HR functions for over 500 employees and contractors across 18 countries. He's passionate about creating a world-class experience for employees and customers, while maximizing efficiencies, improving processes, and driving results.

He loves to use data to inform and evaluate HR policies and initiatives, such as performance management, compensation, benefits, and talent acquisition. As a member of ZAGG’s Executive Leadership team, he collaborates with senior management, cross-functional teams, and external partners to align HR objectives with business goals and values.

Dan is the Vice President of Talent & Culture for Woodward, an experiential ski and action sports company based in Park City, Utah. In his role, he oversees full cycle human resources and organizational development for their 2,000 team members across the United States. Dan grew up in Lake Tahoe, California and is passionate about helping people find their path using sports and the outdoors as inspiration. When he’s not on his skis or a bike, you can find him seeking diverse life experiences all around the world.

Marcus Cazier is the director of learning and development for bioMérieux, a global leader of in vitro diagnostics. He has two decades of experience developing, implementing, and managing learning and development strategy for multiple organizations. Marcus is a leader who believes that helping employees upskill and reskill throughout their careers will benefit business outcomes. When not at work, he enjoys chasing his two teenagers around the mountains of Utah.

Jaime Ninataype has spent thousands of hours educating individuals, ranging from CEOs to general managers, about the hourly labor market and the strategies and tools required to attract applicants and bring hiring success. There are new challenges in the hiring process in 2024, and Jaime intends to provide you with the strategies and resources you need to tackle them.

Heather Hoffman is the Chief Operating Officer at Recruit Rooster, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DirectEmployers Association. With enthusiasm, honesty, and 15+ years of experience in talent acquisition, Heather leads the Recruit Rooster team of creatives, recruiters, data analysts, and marketers aimed at helping employers establish a prominent web presence to appeal to targeted and specialized job seekers. Through innovative technology, engaging video and real-life photos, recruitment marketing, and creative solutions help DirectEmployers 1000 Members further establish and expand their recruitment marketing efforts.

Prior to her role at Recruit Rooster, Heather was the VP of Digital Strategy at DirectEmployers Association. Hoffman’s previous talent acquisition experience includes in-depth experiences revolved around entrepreneurship, management, and outsourced hiring. With varying work experience, her career path has equipped her to understand the challenges employers face and provide better solutions to assist with online recruitment and talent acquisition obstacles.

Heather is passionate about helping employers create a recruitment marketing strategy that illustrates their brand and helps attract the right candidates for the job. She is dedicated to continuing to provide superior customer services, product quality, and creative innovation in which DirectEmployers is recognized. Heather holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Consumer and Family Sciences from Purdue University. 

Outside of the office, Heather can be found spending time with her family, which includes her husband, son, and daughter.

Ruth Toombs is a Sales Manager at Recruit Rooster.

Amelia Wilcox is the Founder and CEO of Nivati, a company providing employee stress management and mental health services that employees can access–anytime, anywhere. Recently listed as a Forty Under 40, Fast 50, Twice on the Inc. 500 and twice awarded National Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year, Amelia has exponentially grown her company from a solo living-room service business to an international technology brand. She operates Nivati with a virtual team and provides flexible work for more than 1,200 practitioners across North America while balancing the demands of motherhood with her three daughters.

Haeli Harris is the director of clinical operations at Nivati, a licensed mental health therapist, yoga instructor, health and wellness coach, and mindfulness practitioner dedicated to helping others through holistic health and healing. She takes a client-based, solution-focused approach helping the client to find their own solutions that are within them and building on their own strengths. Haeli has specialized training in combining yoga and mental health including using a trauma-informed lens when working with her clients. She is also a mother to teenagers and a lover of chocolate and dancing!

Lauren became Executive Editor of The Salt Lake Tribune in December 2020. The Tribune is the first major metro news organization to become a nonprofit. It achieved sustainability in 2021 under Lauren’s leadership.  

In 2022, The Tribune became a founding member of the Great Salt Lake Collaborative, a group of 23 organizations focused on elevating solutions to the lake’s challenges. It also shares its daily reporting with journalism partners throughout the state through the Utah News Collaborative. In 2023, The Moab Times-Independent donated itself to The Tribune, which oversees its operations.

Lauren previously worked as West Region Editor, overseeing 10 news organizations in Idaho, Washington and California, including the flagship Sacramento Bee, for McClatchy.

Lauren has also served as an editor in Colorado, where her work on transparency contributed to a new law that facilitated greater access to public records, and in Reno, where her team’s work on the housing crisis was recognized nationally. 

She is a coach in the Media Transformation Challenge at The Poynter Institute, supporting other news leaders as they look to make performance-driven change.

Utah is a homecoming for Lauren, who met her husband while working as a reporter at The Tribune in the early 2000s. They enjoy camping, skiing and (sometimes enjoy) coaching their sons' soccer teams. 

Nate Miller is the Vice President of Learning, Culture and Development at Vivint. Nate has been in his role for over 2 years and at Vivint for nearly 10 years. He previously worked at SelectHealth. He earned a BS and MS from Utah State University.

A fortune cookie told me to start a revolution. I think I will: But not for me, for my grandchildren’s, grandchildren. We are the future whether we like or not, our choices, actions, and unfortunate inactions will lay the groundwork for our heritage. A great friend and leader gave me an incredible compliment that I’m going to do something about, teach.

Emma E. Houston currently serves in the role of Assistant Vice President for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Utah and leads strategies for community outreach, staff and faculty engagement and program development.

A longtime community member and social justice advocate, Emma is the former director of Diversity Affairs for Salt Lake County Government, former chair of the Utah MLK Jr., Human Rights Commission, serves on the Utah COVID-19 Task Force, the Pastor France A. Davis Scholarship Board, PBS Utah and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Emma works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems within the social sector to increase awareness around EDI. Her approach is designed to create inclusive spaces that acknowledge, celebrate, embrace, and understands the overachieving and wide lens of EDI. Emma helps organizations to define, implement, and advance EDI principles that create a social impact across the larger community.

Known as a strategic, innovative thought leader, and as a trusted advisor, Emma has conducted EDI training sessions and conversations to strengthen team effectiveness for Utah Highway Patrol, LUCID, Malouf, Alzheimer’s Association, Multiple Sclerosis, Eccles School of Business, BD, Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum, and The Utah Department of Corrections.

Emma was named one of the 30 Women to Watch for her work with diversity and inclusion by Utah Business Magazine/Living Color Utah, Who’s Who of Black Utah by IMPACT Magazine, the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs Commissioner Leader in Equity Award, the 2022 Women of Impact Award and the Individual Human Rights Awards from the Salt Lake City Human Rights Commission.

Emma is the owner and CEO of Brighter Day Productions, LLC, and holds a BS in Business Management and an MBA in Business Administration.

For the past 40 years, CollegeNET has provided innovative technology solutions for over 1000 colleges and universities across the country.  Many of these solutions have applicability outside of higher ed and are highly relevant to the corporate sector – especially as more employees work remotely (similar to students studying online) and the use of video communications has become more mainstream. As “HR Channel Czar”, Don focuses on introducing new technologies developed by CollegeNET (i.e., FocusRing, Intelligent Mirror, StandOut Classroom) to the HR / corporate training markets. 

Don has over 30 years of experience as an investment banker and entrepreneur.  He previously worked as an investment banker for Salomon Brothers, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo and Truist Bank. He founded KCA Capital in 2001 has known Jim Wolfston, founder of CollegeNET for over 20 years.  He received his BS in Finance from SUNY Albany and his MBA from The Wharton School. 

Andy Cindrich is a family man, educator, FranklinCovey leadership and effectiveness consultant, executive coach, and keynote speaker. He is the co-author of the new book, “Change: How to Turn Uncertainty Into Opportunity.” Andy played a key role in developing FranklinCovey’s The 4 Disciplines of Execution® solution and has helped clients all over the world achieve breakthrough results in every imaginable area from operational efficiency to employee engagement to sales growth.

Andy works with enterprises, school systems, teams, and individuals to define success and then win. He has worked with a variety of industries and functions too numerous to list helping people and organizations turn strategies, great ideas, and good intentions into quantifiable results. He helps close performance gaps and ignite engagement through leadership development, coaching, strategy making, and flawless execution. Andy coaches leaders to develop change capability as a competency and leverage trust as a strategic advantage.

He has a master’s in educational leadership, a bachelor’s degree in teaching both psychology and history, and a minor in coaching. He’s an avid snow and water sports enthusiast and mountain biker.

Mekenna is the editor of Utah Business magazine and a graduate of the print journalism program at Utah State University. She has written about business, music and culture for publications like Business Insider, Time Out, SLUG Magazine, Visit Salt Lake and the Standard-Examiner. She loves hiking, thrifting, reading and going on camping trips with her partner in their 1986 Land Cruiser.

Zach Smith is the Chief Activation Officer + Co-Founder of Activate 180. He has been a trusted voice in mindset, career optimization, and leadership coaching for over 10 years. Zach has coached thousands of employees across mid-market and enterprise-level organizations, aligning their careers with true calling and passion to create total life fulfillment.

Before becoming an award-winning coach, Zach spent more than 10 years in senior marketing and client relationship management roles for well-known, international consumer beverage brands. Zach trained with the Erikson International Coaching, graduating from their highest-level course. He is a sought-after keynote speaker who regularly appears before audiences at industry conferences and events.

Zach currently resides in San Diego, California with his partner Rachel. He has a passion for an active lifestyle, photography, art, travel, and sports like rock climbing, snowboarding, and yoga. Zach received a bachelor’s degree in business marketing from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Robert Gehrke has spent more than 20 years primarily covering government and politics in Utah and the West, including seven years in Washington, D.C. Before joining the Salt Lake Tribune, he reported for the Associated Press. He earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and political science at the University of Utah.

Jim Wolfston is President of CollegeNET, Inc. a prime mover and developer of new product markets for higher education and career services. The company began when Mr. Wolfston proved the NP completeness of classroom scheduling and wrote the world's first algorithm to successfully address this problem. CollegeNET’s Series25 ®scheduling products are now used by approximately 1000 universities worldwide to optimize allocation of resources and space.  Since the company’s founding, Mr. Wolfston has been a named inventor on over 30 patents covering various web-based technologies. These include the 1997 Universal Forms Engine patents that defined the modern method for hosting and processing customized web-based admissions forms.

The company’s most recent patents flow from an understanding that forms and traditional test scores are weak proxies for human potential. Leveraging AI/Video/Supercomputing, these new services allow individuals to better present themselves, communicate, connect with and learn from others while enabling companies and institutions to more effectively select, employ, advance, and communicate with their people.

Mr. Wolfston is the executive producer of the internationally acclaimed RIGGED documentary (https://youtu.be/Qav6EWcetaE?si=r-T-M7-w2Ei2LU35). RIGGED profiles institutions that are dedicated to delivering educational opportunity for all students regardless of their economic background. Mr. Wolfston has published articles in BigThink, Inside Higher Education, and the Wall Street Journal, and has delivered keynote addresses on economic mobility at numerous U.S. universities. Mr. Wolfston earned a BA Summa Cum Laude, Mathematics and Psychology, from Western Michigan University, and an MS, Computer and Communication Science, from the University of Michigan.

Josh arrived at Crumbl with a diverse background and a genuine passion for fostering meaningful relationships and creating thriving cultures. Born and raised in Salt Lake City, UT, he grew up in a vibrant household as the 6th of 7 children in a large Utah family, where competition and camaraderie shaped his character.

Josh's love for competition extends beyond family dynamics to various sports and games, including golf, football, tennis, and board games. However, it was his mother's culinary skills, especially her native cuisine of Peru, that sparked his deep-rooted passion for cooking. This passion was further nurtured during his tenure at Traeger Grills, where he spent six years and witnessed firsthand how food has the power to bring people together.

His pride and joy are his two children, son Camden (7) and daughter Myla (3) and has been married to his best friend and smoking hot wife Chelsey for 10 years. He to this day can’t explain why she said yes to marrying him, but he makes certain to apologize to her every day for having to live with the ramifications of that shocking decision. 

As the VP of Talent & Culture at Crumbl HQ, Josh leverages his personal passion for forging meaningful connections to drive business results. He previously served as the Head of Talent & Culture at Traeger Grills and Head of Recruiting & Culture at Crest Financial, a tech startup. Graduating from the University of Utah with a degree in Business Management, despite being an avid BYU fan.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Josh actively contributes to his community as a Board Member of Roots Charter High School, emphasizing his commitment to education and empowering young minds.

A native of Utah, Ciara Hulet studied broadcast journalism at Brigham Young University, where she won multiple awards and scholarships for her work. She then went on to help host and produce the podcast Top of Mind on BYUradio. She’s conducted hundreds of interviews with national and international experts and is passionate about helping people better understand the world and different perspectives. When Ciara isn’t on the radio, she works to fight eating disorders through volunteer work and hikes as many mountains as she can.

Steve has spent the last ten years of his career building technology that helps people to learn, grow, and connect. Before starting Campfire, he spent 5 years at Instructure building a talent management platform focused on career development and human performance. He worked with product, marketing, sales, and strategy teams to grow the business from the ground up to $27 million in annual revenue. While with Instructure, he worked with teams at Disney, Tesla, Lululemon, Johnson and Johnson, and other global brands to strengthen their talent management practices.

Now, Steve is focused primarily on finding ways for people to learn and grow through connected learning experiences called Campfires. The business has strong investment and is responsible for training hundreds of managers in the key skills needed to effectively lead teams. Steve’s experience in technology, content, facilitation, and talent management provide a rich mix of skills for solving these challenges.

Campfire was founded in 2020 at the very beginning of the pandemic and has benefitted from the changes and shifts that allow for us to consider new ways of connecting and working with each other. Steve has three co-founders - Todd, Taylor, and Marinne - who are all passionate about the mission of providing universal access to connected learning experiences.

Peter Brussard is a software executive and people leader with a long, demonstrable track record of more than 20 years of experience building software, leading teams and scaling revenue, he is currently the President and Managing Director of Bridge. His prior experience includes SVP Technology & Product Management at Instructure, SVP Product & Engineering at Rosetta Stone, and leadership roles at Microsoft and a variety of startups.

Tracie Kalmar is the Head of Human Resources at ApplicantPro.