Host
Utah Tech Week is a smorgasbord of experiences and events hosted by startups, VC firms, community organizations — anyone who supports the startup community.
The “why” behind Utah Tech Week is to cultivate “happy collisions” in the Utah tech community; the kind that lead to friendships, partnerships, and deals.There’s no cost to attend or sponsor, the only requirement is a desire to help build Utah’s tech scene.
Christina Qi is the Co-Founder and CEO of Databento. Databento launched 1.5 years ago, has $40M in funding, and is the data API backbone of over 8,000 companies today. She formerly founded Domeyard LP, a hedge fund focused on HFT that traded up to $7.1 billion USD per day. Failing to earn a job offer after a Wall Street internship, Christina started Domeyard from her dorm room with $1000 in savings, in 2012. Her fund was a tiny minnow amongst the tigers of the hedge fund world, but after Michael Lewis’s Flash Boys came out in 2014 and HFT firms hid from the spotlight, Domeyard accidentally found itself in the center of the ring. Over the next decade, her company’s story was featured on the front page of Forbes and Nikkei, and quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CNN, NBC, and the Financial Times as a result of the controversy and fascination with HFT. By a series of accidents, Christina became a voice in her industry, contributing to the World Economic Forum’s research on AI in finance and teaching Domeyard’s case study at Harvard Business School. She is grateful to be able to open up about her mistakes, and to help people turn failures into opportunities.
Christina is a member of the MIT Corporation Development Committee, a standing committee of the MIT Corporation (the board of trustees). She was Co-Chair of the Board of Invest in Girls, bringing financial literacy education to underserved populations across the US. Christina also sits on the Board of Directors of The Financial Executives Alliance (FEA) Hedge Fund Group, drove entrepreneurship efforts at the MIT Sloan Boston Alumni Association, and served on the U.S. Non-Profit Boards Committee of 100 Women in Finance. Although "X Under X" lists are a gimmick, she’ll admit that Forbes 30 Under 30 made a positive impact on her life by giving her a community - friends who dragged her out of bed during the lowest days of her life. Christina earned a Bachelor of Science in Management Science from MIT in 2013 and earned her CAIA designation in 2015.
I'm a Fractional Marketing Executive with strengths across the entire marketing stack, with especially deep expertise & experience in Public Relations + Investor Relations.
I’ve partnered with founders, CEOs, investors, & leadership teams to connect the dots between strategy, storytelling, & shareholder value, to strengthen market perception, helping drive sales & boost investor confidence.
My ideal clients/employers are tech and/or life-science firms on a financial fast track, orgs
🔹 Preparing for a strategic investment, merger, acquisition, and/or IPO,
🔹 Navigating post-deal integration or market repositioning, or
🔹 Seeking stronger visibility to attract customers, partners, & capital.
I align messaging, marketing, & money flow to ensure companies tell the stories that directly support the valuation narrative.
As a result, I craft and implement strategic campaigns to boost market visibility & drive increased MQLs.
During my career, I’ve helped firms generate over $800MM million in new business opportunities & increase valuations by over $1.2B through disciplined strategy & communication leadership.
I also turn complexity into clarity and clarity into capital. That’s been the constant through every campaign & engagement I’ve led/directed.
Past endeavors include
▪️ Marketing Audits,
▪️ Corporate Positioning, Branding & Messaging,
▪️ Business Plan Writing & Creation,
▪️ Persona Identification & Mapping,
▪️ LeadGen Planning, Execution & Capture,
▪️ Product Definition, Naming, Positioning & Messaging,
▪️ Product Packaging, Collateral & Documentation,
▪️ Event Planning & Execution,
▪️ Public Relations/Publicity Planning & Execution,
▪️ Partner Marketing & Field Marketing,
▪️ Key Account Sales Efforts & Support, including Channel Sales,
▪️ Web, Interactive, Social Media, Video Planning & Execution,
▪️ Direct Response/Email/Interactive Marketing,
▪️ Demand Creation & Generation Programs, and
▪️ Graphic Design & Art Direction …
and more.
AND … Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now part of everything I do.
I'm the CEO of Talbot West, an AI enablement firm based in Salt Lake City, UT. I'm a thought leader, author, and speaker on the topic of applied AI, and am the host of The Applied AI Podcast. In addition to leading Talbot West, I sit on the boards of 47G, an aerospace and defense consortium, and Lucidity Sciences, a cutting-edge machine learning company. I also head up BizForesight, an up and coming AI advisory platform for sell-side M&A.
In my personal life I enjoy camping, hiking, travel, pickleball, reading, history, good films, and learning. I have an amazing family and amazing life that I'm truly grateful for.
About Talbot West:
Talbot West is an AI-native digital transformation firm that helps mid-market and enterprise organizations turn AI from buzzword into business reality. Founded by CEO Jacob Andra and SVP of Solutions Architecture Stephen Karafiath (former leader of Oracle's Developer Innovations Team), we combine Fortune 500 methodology with boutique speed and flexibility.
What sets us apart: We're not tied to any vendor. Our recommendations are driven purely by what works for your business, not by partnership quotas or technology sales. While most AI firms only know large language models like ChatGPT, we bring full-spectrum expertise across computer vision, predictive analytics, optimization algorithms, and more. We match the right technology to your actual problem.
Our flexible engagement model means we work with your existing teams and partners rather than demanding you replace everything. We orchestrate your AI transformation, filling gaps and providing strategic direction while elevating your current capabilities.
We deliver engineering-grade blueprints your team can actually build from, not PowerPoint decks that gather dust. Our FRAME methodology provides a unified assessment of your systems, data, workflows, and organizational readiness in a single integrated roadmap.
Tina Roper is an experienced HR Business Partner, currently working at Domo supporting the dev organization. Tina says “I’m a business partner that specializes in people” She has successfully led HR initiatives at previous SAAS tech companies such as NICE Ltd. and Cvent and in the healthcare industry. With a talent for quickly building strong, trust-based relationships, Tina excels at partnering with leaders to drive employee engagement and align people strategies with business goals, particularly in fast-paced environments.
Tina spent ten years as an HR Business Partner and HR Specialist, where she developed and enhanced employee programs, including return-to-office strategies, leadership transitions, and job architecture restructuring. In 2021, she was honored with the Utah HR Achievement Award for her impactful contributions to the HR field.
Tina thrives on connecting with others, bringing energy and enthusiasm to every interaction. She is known for her ability to create a positive and collaborative atmosphere, making her a natural at fostering engagement and facilitating change. Her proactive, action-oriented approach allows her to swiftly execute HR strategies, ensuring tangible results for businesses.
Tina is deeply passionate about unlocking the potential in employees to unlock the potential in organizations. Her goal is to continue developing HR solutions that not only support business objectives but also enhance the employee experience, fostering inclusive and thriving organizational cultures.
She is always looking for the best Taco and Ice Cream places!
Cameron Erickson is the Co-Founder and CEO of MediCipher, a startup delivering an AI-native financial operating system designed to save the United States Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) sector from systemic financial collapse. Bridging the gap between deep financial acumen and enterprise technology, Cameron is dedicated to solving the "Reimbursement Paradox" facing the $228B long-term care industry.
Prior to founding MediCipher, Cameron spent over seven years in high-stakes finance, honing expertise in M&A, financial modeling, and complex valuation at firms including Ernst & Young and Roth Capital Partners. He previously served in Corporate Development and Strategy at Liberated Brands, where he orchestrated the strategic acquisition of North American licenses for global brands Billabong and Quiksilver and led the associated fundraising processes.
At MediCipher, Cameron combines this strategic discipline with technical execution. He helped architecture the proprietary calculation logic behind the company’s revenue optimization tools, which are now being piloted by facilities in Utah. Under his leadership, MediCipher has secured initial angel investment and has been accepted into the prestigious Google for Startups Cloud, Microsoft for Startups, and NVIDIA Inception programs.
Cameron holds a B.S. in Economics from Brigham Young University and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California. He is passionate about leveraging AI to turn complex healthcare compliance tasks into proactive, revenue-generating activities.
Technical Product Manager leveraging linguistics & AI to build smarter products. I turn visionary ideas into reality, from AI-powered tools that save veterinary doctors 10-15 hours of work a week to EdTech platforms that seamlessly roster millions of students. With a background in language data and product management, I bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and user needs.
🤖 AI Innovation: At VCA, spearheaded the launch of an AI-driven medical scribe used by 500+ veterinarians, freeing up 2 hours per doctor per day for patient care and unlocking $40 million+ in additional revenue.
🚀 Product Growth: At Imagine Learning, led the merger of 3 product lines into one rostering platform, improving customer retention and reducing operational costs.
📈 Process Optimization: Streamlined annual client onboarding through better data tools and customer training.
My core skills include product roadmap strategy, cross-functional team leadership (Engineering, UX, Marketing), and data-driven decision making. I’m fluent in Agile/Scrum and love translating customer voice into features. Whether it’s improving K-12 learning outcomes or deploying AI in healthcare, I’m passionate about technology that empowers people.
When I’m not building products, you might find me outdoors, 3D printing, playing games, or dancing with my kids. Whether you’re curious about AI-driven products, rapid prototyping, or the magic of language data, let’s connect and explore what’s next!
With 20 years in the IT industry, I’ve built my career around solving problems, developing teams, and helping businesses navigate technology with clarity and confidence. I’ve worked across every layer of IT and connectivity, from infrastructure and cybersecurity to cloud and telecom, and I’m driven by a simple principle: always advocate for the customer.
In 2011, I co-founded INTELITECHS and helped lead it through more than a decade of growth before merging into Nexus IT. I remain a proud shareholder of Nexus and continue to support its long-term success.
In 2014, we founded INTELICOM with the vision of creating a better, more transparent way for businesses to evaluate internet and telecom services. After years of operating it as a secondary venture while building other companies, we are now dedicating our full-time leadership and focus to scaling INTELICOM.
As President & CFO, I lead our mission to simplify telecommunications for businesses. We act as a solutions facilitator reviewing current environments, comparing all carrier options, and guiding organizations toward the right mix of speed, reliability, redundancy, and cost. Because carriers pay us, our consulting and expertise come at no cost to our clients.
My passion has always been consistent: build great companies, create meaningful partnerships, and help organizations use technology to work smarter, operate more reliably, and grow stronger.
IT organization improvement specialist. Experienced in improving customer service, digital transformation, internal processes, budgetary controls, technology selection protocols, project management, status and accountability.
Over 25 years of progressively increased responsibility in the areas of IT Leadership, system development, networks, IT operations, customer support, and implementation of large-scale technology projects, with the past 15 years of Senior IT leadership. Experience implementing Cyber-security systems (IPS, MFA, DLP, VPN, NG Firewalls, Web-filters, etc.). Communicates effectively throughout all levels of the organization, both in oral and written form. Strong ability to quickly learn new business processes and systems. Worked on or managed multiple ERP, business, and technical systems to include Human Resources and Benefits, Insurance, Retail, Financial, Network Management, Supply Chain, Law Enforcement, and Wireless. Colonel (Retired after 30 years), U. S. Army, commanded multiple battalions/detachments in Kuwait/Afghanistan/U.S., along with overseeing the Logistics Operations for Afghanistan as the G3 (COO), with recent experience in supporting FEMA Region IX as the DoD Chief Regional Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer (EPLO).
Specialties: PMP Certified - Feb 2009; Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (2014); Agile Scrum Master (2019); MBA
Stephanie Potter is a leadership and wholeness coach who helps women untangle who they are from what they carry.
Stephanie specializes in helping high-capacity women navigate identity, expectations, growth, and the tension between competing roles. Her approach is grounded in authenticity, sustainable growth, integrity, and wholeness. She doesn’t coach for performance alone; she coaches for alignment.
As the host of The And Space, Stephanie creates conversations that honor complexity and encourage insight-driven empowerment. Whether working one-on-one, facilitating groups, or speaking to larger audiences, she is known for her warmth, discernment, and ability to ask the kind of questions that move people forward — thoughtfully and sustainably.
With extensive experience in learning and development and an MBA grounding her in organizational strategy, Stephanie has designed and delivered transformative leadership experiences for audiences ranging from small teams to large-scale professional communities. She brings both strategic clarity and emotional depth to her work — blending evidence-based development with reflective insight.
Her work invites women to stop fragmenting themselves and start integrating their lives — not by doing more, but by becoming more whole.
I am an accounting professional with Momentum Finance, a founder-centric advisory firm that empowers startups with seamless back-office and finance solutions. From pre-seed bookkeeping to Series B CFO advisory, Momentum helps entrepreneurs across all industries, including tech focus on growth while handling the numbers with precision. Backed by over 80 years of combined team experience, the firm has supported CEOs in raising more than $150 million in capital.
I'm heading to Utah Tech Week to network on behalf of Momentum, eager to connect with innovative founders, VCs, and community builders. Whether it's chatting about scaling financial ops or sharing tips on capital raising, my goal is to spark those "happy collisions" that lead to partnerships and deals.
When not diving into startup finances, I love hitting the outdoors think off-roading, paintball battles, snowboarding slopes, and camping under the stars. A fan of craft beer and fantasy leathercrafting, I bring a fun, approachable vibe to every conversation.
Let's connect at Utah Tech Week! Find me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/treacyd or learn more about Momentum at momentumfinance.com.
Jessica Harris - Stand4kind | S4K Connects
My name is Jessica and I’m the Director of Business Development for Stand4Kind, a nonprofit organization that has been dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and providing tools and resources to communities, businesses, schools, first responders, and more for over 16 years. I have worked for Stand4Kind for almost 2 years. I'm a mom of 4 and grandma to 1.
Our mission is to educate and support individuals in recognizing and addressing mental health challenges while fostering an environment of kindness, understanding, and connection.
Our business platform, S4K Connects, is designed to support mental wellness in the workplace and beyond. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools and resources aimed at enhancing emotional well-being and strengthening connections within organizations. By integrating wellness practices into everyday life, S4K Connects empowers individuals and teams to thrive both personally and professionally.
Stand4Kind is proud to be a nationwide organization, dedicated to making a positive impact on mental health awareness and fostering resilience and kindness in every community we touch.
As CTO, I serve as the sole architect, developer, and technical strategist behind the product. I own the entire technology stack — from designing frontend experiences in React to managing backend logic, authentication, and real-time features in Supabase.
My role covers every part of the engineering process:
• Frontend: I build dynamic, responsive UIs in React, optimizing for clarity, speed, and maintainability.
• Backend: I use Supabase for database design (Postgres), serverless functions, real-time syncing, and secure authentication (RLS policies, JWTs).
• DevOps: I manage version control, branching, and deployments through GitHub and GitHub Actions, ensuring a clean CI/CD pipeline and smooth production releases.
• Product Execution: I translate business requirements into intuitive features, handle integrations, and iterate quickly based on feedback — all while keeping the codebase production-ready and scalable.
As a solo technical lead, I make core architectural decisions, ship continuously, and maintain full accountability for the reliability, security, and performance of the app.
About Cortex Evolution:
Cortex Evolution is the best self help you can find, backed by neuroscience, to create meaningful change in your life. We’ve engineered a superior experience to ensure success. We begin by defining a purpose. Then further diving into modules that leverage tools to:
- Modify Behavior - Mindset - Beliefs
- Emotional IQ - Mental Contrasting
All with the latest Social Psychology and Mind Theory research. We focus on Neuroplasticity and the Brain’s unique ability to adapt. Creating a sustainable, attainable Blueprint for Change. We support you with tools, so you can live a purposeful life and achieve excellence long after your time with us. Certified with the Neuro Change Institute (TM) and National Coaching Institute.
We offer CPD (continuing education) certified classes. As well as helping HR departments build digital wellness (healthy tech usage) programs for companies.
Angel Shelburne | Chief Growth Officer, KomBea
I build enterprise partnerships and scale revenue where outcomes, compliance, and reliability matter.
At KomBea, we deploy Human-First Conversational AI Voice in production—including millions of calls per month for a single client. ProtoCall AI is built for real contact-center failure modes: complex workflows, regulated language, data integration, human-in-the-loop oversight, and measurable ROI.
My background spans strategic finance and growth leadership across complex partnerships, integration-heavy environments, and scaled go-to-market execution, including a recent initiative that drove 350% revenue growth while materially strengthening financial performance.
If you’re transforming customer operations and want voice AI that works in production—not pilots that die in security review—let’s connect.
Angel Shelburne | 801-641-6024
I’m a senior embedded software engineer with over 20 years of hands‑on experience building and testing mission‑critical firmware for aerospace, defense, and medical systems. I’ve led test‑automation projects at places like Testeract, L3 Communications, and General Atomics, where I helped deliver safety‑critical software for NASA’s Dream Chaser program under DO‑178C standards. My day‑to‑day work revolves around low‑level C/C++ development on real‑time operating systems such as FreeRTOS, QNX, and VxWorks, plus a lot of hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing using LabVIEW, TestStand, and custom Python scripts. I’ve also built IoT firmware for pet‑tracking devices, created DTLS networking stacks, and worked on high‑performance Linux and NVIDIA Jetson platforms. As a technical lead, I enjoy mentoring engineers, streamlining processes, and tackling complex, safety‑sensitive challenges.
Lindsay Hancock is a founder, CEO & investor who builds successful businesses without sacrificing individuals’ faith, family, or purpose.
She’s worked with organizations ranging from startups to billion-dollar global brands, bringing clarity, strategy, & growth.
Lindsay is the creator of Strategy of &, a framework that helps founders & executives clarify vision, align priorities & build sustainable businesses—guided by the conviction that no success can compensate for failure in the home.
Today, Lindsay is building a values-driven investment/advisory platform that partners with founders ready for intentional scale. The platform invests in organizations with established offers & proven fundamentals ensuring financial outcomes & growth occur but never come at the expense of human well-being, families or faith.
If you want to be part of it, reach out!
I am an entrepreneur, operator, and builder. With twenty years of experience in IT, telecom, and managed services, I specialize in creating operationally excellent companies and guiding leaders through growth and transformation.
I co-founded INTELITECHS in 2011 and helped drive its long-term success, culminating in a merger with Nexus IT in 2022. After serving as COO and Director of Operational Excellence, I stepped out of day-to-day operations in 2025 while continuing as a shareholder.
I am now focused on scaling INTELICOM, a telecom and internet solutions firm, and launching a consultancy that helps MSPs improve efficiency, strengthen service delivery, and build sustainable, profitable business models. My work combines entrepreneurship, operational strategy, and a deep commitment to elevating organizations and the people behind them.
With a lifelong passion for learning and innovation, I’m Scott Heffield, an executive leader with over 40 years in technology and consulting. I'm passionate about helping leaders create great companies.
My technology journey began at age 15 when I built my first computer and taught myself to code. Over my 30+ year career, in various roles—software development, engineering management, team coaching, and executive leadership—I’ve helped build companies, built world-class delivery teams and fostered strong customer relationships.
I'm a certified BOS-UP Implementation Coach. I also hold SAFe and CSM certifications. Personally I love Music, Formula One, Woodworking, and Fly Fishing.
Core Skills:
- Team Leadership and Coaching
- Business Operating Systems (BOS)
- Agile & CX Practices
- Solution Design & Product Development
As a dad, husband, entrepreneur and leader in tech, I've definitely got my hands full! But it's been a journey ever since growing up, I've always been fascinated by technology and problem solving. And now I'm passionate about innovating and making and impact around me and hopefully the world!
Founder / Instructor / Builder
Currently teaching on Maven for Vibe Coding and AI Development.
Building Trustybits and making a better way to do careers in tech!
I’ve worked across product, design, tech and leadership for over a decade. I’ve developed the ability to adapt, collaborate, and build meaningful relationships in all kinds of scenarios.
I’m avid about solutions that make a difference, and I firmly believe in curiosity and connection, focusing on the people at every level of what I do.
Jared Paget is an operating executive focused on scaling physical-goods and technology-enabled businesses. He has built global supply chains from the ground up, launched multiple manufacturing facilities, and led teams through margin expansion, operational turnaround, and EBITDA growth.
His background spans operations, supply chain, and transformation leadership, with hands-on experience aligning strategy, execution, and technology to drive durable results. Jared is particularly interested in how AI, automation, and data can unlock efficiency in traditionally complex, asset-heavy businesses.
At Utah Tech Week, he is here to connect with founders, operators, and investors building real companies with real products, and to exchange ideas on growth, execution, and scale.
Chief Operating Officer, The Rodeo
With over 18 years of experience, Sindee is a seasoned creative producer renowned for her expertise in orchestrating integrated marketing campaigns, corporate communications, and high-profile industry events.
As the COO of The Rodeo, she channels her passion for empowering individuals and crafting extraordinary experiences. Her strategic leadership and process optimization skills have been pivotal in helping others unlock their potential and achieve their goals. Sindee’s enthusiasm for inspiring and guiding people is evident in her successful orchestration of events for audiences exceeding 150,000.
Beyond her professional achievements, Sindee is a dedicated mother, eternal optimist, and avid outdoor adventurer.
Passionate advisor with three decades of experience educating founders, entrepreneurs and multi-generational families on how to best preserve, protect and pass their wealth and values in an efficient and thoughtful manner. Over my career of representing founders, entrepreneurs, and investors I have developed a sophisticated technical expertise and strong pragmatic focus which allows me to guide clients through the critical decision-making process of managing generational wealth.
Specialties: Multi-generational wealth management, strategic tax and estate planning, asset protection, complex trust administration and litigation, family governance, family office management and integrated wealth and asset management.
About Me:
ex-Google, ex-Visa partnerships and GTM leader with an MBA from Cornell. I'm relaunching the Silicon Slopes Neurodiversity Chapter to provide holistic, practical support for neurodivergent members, from career and founder support to executive function systems, community connection, and real-time problem solving.
What I'm working on:
In a high-velocity, high-interruption world, Context Switching is the new Smoking. It is the biological root cause of burnout, missed goals, and bad strategy.
Phossil is the "Exoskeleton for Executive Function." It creates a "Context Fabric" that holds your mental state together so you can recover instantly from interruptions.
I work with growth-stage HealthTech, FinTech, and EdTech leaders who feel stuck. Growth has slowed, releases miss the mark, and teams feel disconnected from users and the business. It looks like a process problem, but it’s actually a product experience problem. As a Product Experience Architect, I leverage my PX360 Builder Advantage system to map how buyers, users, and builders experience your product end-to-end, surface where friction and disconnects block value, and align the team around what matters most. That clarity leads to better decisions, faster value delivery, products the market actually wants, and teams that feel confident about how they build together.
A passionate advocate for women in tech and a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience in marketing, now transitioning into data analytics. As Co-chairwoman of Silicon Slopes Latino, Andrea works tirelessly to support the Latino community’s representation in tech. She’s also an active member of Tech-Moms, helping women pivot into technology careers. Andrea recently delivered her “Networking Ninja” workshop, equipping women with actionable tips to build meaningful professional connections. Her mission is to empower women to break barriers, thrive in male-dominated industries, and strategically network to achieve their career goals.
Dynamic and relationally driven sales executive with 20+ years of experience in hospitality, tourism, resort operations, and luxury experiences. Proven record of building high-performing teams, driving consistent revenue growth, and delivering guest-centric strategies. Adept at managing cross-functional departments including group sales, reservations, marketing, events, and operations. A natural connector with a passion for innovation, collaboration, and creating unforgettable customer journeys.
Ideation is my nature, building relationships is my language, inspiring others is my joy, and doing good in the world while living my best life is my mantra.
Full-stack developer and storyteller building digital experiences that help people feel less alone. With a CS background, I've led platforms for Rivian, Accenture, Verizon, DC Comics, and MD Anderson, serving over a billion users across healthcare, L&D, and content.
Co-founded 2x VC-backed startups. My work has been covered in Businessweek, Buzzfeed, Vice, and The Guardian.
Currently at Vendr (SaaS spend management). Relocated to Salt Lake City from New Orleans. When not coding, I'm running, mountain biking, or skiing the Cottonwood canyons with my wife and two kids.
Excited to connect with Utah's tech community!
Sean Luangrath is a globally recognized leader and Vietnam War refugee turned CEO, currently shaping the future of portable renewable energy as CEO of Inergy. His career spans Fortune 100 companies, international markets, and both early- and late-stage startups. Prior to Inergy, he held executive roles at Apple, where he contributed to iPhone sales and led China Retail Operations. Sean is a sought-after speaker who has presented around the world—from Berkeley to Beijing—on innovation, leadership, and cleantech. He holds dual MBAs from UC Berkeley and Columbia University, and a BS in International Finance from Brigham Young University.
Brian Brown is the founder of BeaUtahful Events, a community-driven event company built on one simple belief: business is better when it’s personal. Through curated gatherings like Burning Questions, Brian brings together founders, operators, and creatives for honest conversations that go deeper than surface-level networking.
Known for his ability to connect people with intention, Brian designs events that spark real relationships, thoughtful dialogue, and long-term collaboration. His work sits at the intersection of entrepreneurship, community, and storytelling—creating spaces where meaningful connections actually happen.
Senior Finance Executive with a proven record leading corporate finance, FP&A, and strategic planning across public and private companies. I function as a trusted partner to CEOs, boards, and investors in shaping strategy, capital allocation, and enterprise transformation.
I am a decisive leader who owns the 3–5-year financial roadmap, ensuring organizational resources and digital finance platforms are optimized to achieve key shareholder value-creation mandates. My expertise lies in translating long-range strategy into core operational priorities and building scalable, high-performing finance organizations.
Strategic branding, communications, and business leader with a proven track record of elevating corporate identity, driving stakeholder engagement, and executing high-impact events. Adept at crafting compelling brand narratives, fostering industry partnerships, and leveraging KPIs to measure brand performance, lead generation, and client experience. Strong background in visual media and content creation. Adept at integrating and adapting to new technology to enhance storytelling, engagement, and operational effectiveness. Passionate about leveraging innovation to craft compelling narratives and elevate brand presence.
I’m a software engineer with a passion for UX design, specializing in creating beautiful, user-centered digital experiences. With core skills in HTML, CSS, React, and UX/UI design, I’ve successfully improved user engagement by 20% through intuitive interface redesigns. I’ve worked with enterprise companies like FamilySearch, applying my adaptability and dedication to a user-first design philosophy. I hold a UX Design certificate from Grow with Google and am the author of STACKPRO+UX, a course that empowers coders to design and designers to code, bridging the gap between development and design.
When I first began coding, I was driven by an insatiable curiosity to understand how software worked and how to make my own. I still chase technical solutions every day, but I've also grown to love the art of building the right thing at the right time in the right way. And while I'm at it, I look for every opportunity to use my hard-won experience to improve the team and organization that I find myself in, so that we all win together.
I've helped build engineering teams from the ground up and also directed sets of teams. I enjoy all aspects of hands on building, management, and strategy!
Founder & CEO of NextHome US Inc., where we combine AI, sustainability, and modular construction to rethink how homes are designed, built, and lived in, with Factory Utah slated to open in 2026. I’m also Founder & CEO of Eywa AI, leading the vision for a personal, 360° AI-driven health companion that connects signals from wearables, lab results, and medical records—turning complex data into clear, daily actions. My work bridges human-centered design and real-world deployment, from factory-enabled housing to privacy-first health intelligence.
Carrie is an employee engagement & workplace culture expert & a community builder who loves creating connections and instigating meaningful conversations. As the Founder of Culture Hive, Co-founder of the Peak Perspectives Book Club, and a coach with Change Engine Coaching, she’s all about helping people be better humans and helping workplaces facilitate that. Carrie leads the Salt Lake City Culture First chapter, which is a community open to anyone who thinks a better human experience is foundational to the world of work.
I am a solution architect and business developer in the ERP software space. Started my career at Oracle implementing systems in large enterprise organizations and now focus on mid market companies with AI, ERP and Integration solutions. Deep experience with NetSuite. I take an agnostic approach to software selection and seek first to understand what the underlying business drivers are for a project to help focus on outcomes that will have the biggest impact on company results.
Leading communications strategies with expertise in branding and public relations.
I am a seasoned communications and brand strategy professional with extensive experience creating and executing initiatives that enhance organizational visibility and influence. I specialize in strategic planning, media relations, and brand development, delivering significant value through my innovative approach and commitment to aligning communications with company goals.
I don’t just help companies catch up, I help them leap ahead.
As the founder of Cameo Labs, I work with high-growth leaders who are tired of quick fixes and want real transformation. From EdTech to SaaS, I help organizations ditch outdated playbooks, align their teams around a vision, and deliver products their customers actually want.
Let’s rethink innovation, so you can stop fighting yesterday’s battles and start leading tomorrow’s market.
Founding partner at ground game. 20+ years in GTM. Tip-of-spear revenue leader for SHV portfolio comanies. Exits at DDUP, PSTG and SNOW. Husband to Monica. Father to Andrew (18) and Betsy (15). Uphill traveler (bike and ski).
ggvc invests with high conviction in durable founders who have felt the pain of the problem they are trying to solve. We invest in early revenue, seed-stage B2B SaaS companies with strong customer signals.
Damian has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of healthcare and technology. He began as a physician in one of Argentina’s largest health systems, later serving as Chief Clinical Informatics Officer. He went on to lead the graduate health informatics program at the University of Utah, and now works as Health Informatics Director at Wolters Kluwer Health, focusing on clinical decision support solutions.
Software engineer and founder focused on building practical, scalable digital products. I specialize in web and mobile applications, automation systems, and AI-powered tools that solve real business problems. Strong background in React, React Native, Swift, and Python, with experience delivering end-to-end solutions, from concept to deployment. I value clarity, execution, and systems that compound over time.
I recently moved to Salt Lake City to build Parks Automation. My goal is to bring together my passions for outdoor recreation and technology. By providing parks with purpose built entry systems they are able to collect more revenue, free up staff, keep people safer, and use data to improve experiences. Our parks are one of the most important parts of America and I want to do everything I can to help them.
Since 2022, I've been hosting retreats and meditation classes focusing on spiritual connection, breathwork, the power of writing and processing, group discussion and authenticity, and discovering and defining core values, guiding principles, and purpose.
Previously: graphic design & branding at DoorDash (SF), Prophet (SF + NY), Johnson & Johnson (NY), Axiom / Struck Design (SLC), & Pentagram (NY)
I’m in IT as a Linux Systems administrator for University of Utah Health. I enjoy serving others and cooking for others. And I enjoy bringing people together and connecting them, helping people feel welcome, safe, comfortable, and help them to know they are not alone. I also like to help people uplift others so they see themselves better than they currently do & realize their value and worth.
Jens is founder and CEO of Amalga Group, a nearshore BPO and ITO company specializing in the tech, legal, finance and retail industries. Backed by skilled professionals from Latin America, Amalga supports fast-growing U.S. companies with top-performing teams, optimizing their operations and helping them scale with speed, cultural fluency, and elite execution.
Director of Business Development R&D Advantage: Lead client acquisition and strategic growth by identifying innovative companies eligible for federal and state R&D incentives. Combine technical understanding of tax credit programs with strong relationship-building and market development skills to expand the firm’s presence and drive measurable revenue growth.
Entrepreneur, business owner, innovator, and software engineer. Co-founder of unicorn tax and compliance software company TaxBit. Current Founder and CEO of Crofter Market. Our online marketplace and 3PL distribution helps consumers buy fresh, transparently raised and grown groceries directly from farmers with the same convenience as a grocery store.
I am an Angolan digital nomad and an InterNations ambassador in Luanda, passionate about travel, networking, and technology.
For over 6 years, I have worked as a DevOps Engineer, specializing in Docker, Ansible, and Python. I am also the author of the book "Manual of Networking in Luanda," available on Amazon.
Dynamic Executive with twenty years of experience helping organizations reach their full potential. Adept in making key decisions and working with other professionals to achieve goals and solve problems. Experienced in managing employee and community programs, and dedicated to successfully directing business operations
1x exit founder helping build the startup ecosystem infrastructure layer at StartupScience.io as Head of Marketing and a bunch of other hats. I do some founder advisory and am always pushing myself to implement AI in my work every day. Lots to learn and happy to connect with great people.
I'm the founder of a pre-seed B2B SaaS portco out of Philo Ventures. Our technology is focused on creating the first ever AI agent and table-stakes tool for affiliate marketing. We refine affiliate marketing data into actionable steps that multiplies revenue. See more at refineryaffiliate.com
EXPLORINGNOTBORING inspires action that nurtures the human spirit with newer and richer experiences for self-growth, well-being & life satisfaction. Community is the force of togetherness that creates this richer existence.
Find our uniquely local experiences at exploringnotboring.com 🚀
Pioneering the future of AI across mixed realities. Developing cutting-edge AI architectures and training multi-modal GPT models from scratch to enable groundbreaking applications. Passionate about the transformative potential of AI to enhance human capabilities and experiences.
David C. Pollei is a veteran capital markets strategist and principal at Blair Cannon Financial, where he has raised over $250 million for growth-stage companies. He leads fundraising for Maxumal, scaling a next-generation construction platform toward multi-billion-dollar market impact.
Kelly Cochran is a best-selling author, TEDx speaker, and marketer with 20 years of experience calling BS on boring brands. Reaching over 10M+ monthly views on Instagram, this Loud Blonde helps founders sharpen their message and build brands that demand attention, not permission.
Beehive Energy is a non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the gap between private-sector engineering talent, investment capital, and federal, state, and local governments to accelerate the modernization and expansion of America’s energy infrastructure—starting with Utah.
Sales Director for HeartCentrix Solutions and Code Report. Constantly looking to learn, adapt, network, and grow both personally and professionally. Tendency to lean in on "out of the box" solutions thinking, for both scratching my creative itch, but mostly for enlightenment.
Co-Founder of NextTherapist. A technology solution and platform to match you with a therapist tailored for you.
I have extensive background with public companies, VC and PE backed mid-market technology businesses. I'm a CPA and MBA and have a passion for growing businesses.
Entrepreneur and storyteller with a Hollywood pedigree and outdoor adventurer spirit, Co-Founder and CEO of Dragon Federation which builds personalized embodied AI companions that use technology to re-engage people into real-world relationships.
Product Manager at Metallicus (www.metallicus.com)
Compliance-first crypto solutions for retail and enterprise customers. Top name in the credit union space.
Metal Pay
WebAuth Wallet
Metal X
Loan Protocol
XPR Network
Metal Blockchain
Metal L2
I'm part of Comtel Cloud, an MSP providing small businesses and nonprofits with personalized IT solutions, telephony, and security services. Comtel also helps businesses contribute to Utah's community through its nonprofit, Second Owner Foundation.
I'm a Board Chair and Operating Partner for high growth tech companies, currently serving on the boards of: Zartico, Redica, Administrate and Scalpel.ai. I also am a Venture Partner with Next Coast Ventures, and the Founder of Growth Elevated.
I'm the Vice President of Recurring Revenue and ABL at Celtic Bank. Looking to provide lines of credit and term loans to the tech industry based upon the recurring revenue generated by a subscription billing model. I am a Local native to Utah.
Jared Turner helps companies turn ideas into real products by sourcing and manufacturing overseas, then navigating the maze of global logistics. An international man of mystery by trade, and quietly the Head DM for Utah Tech Week DnD.
Angel investor and owner of a modern corporate law firm that is founder-focused. I'm a corporate attorney helping startups and growing businesses structure, scale, and prepare for capital, M&A, and growth—without unnecessary friction.
I’m a Web and Interaction student at UVU, graduating this semester 🥳🥳
I am passionate about all things product design and mountains. I love turning challenges into life changing solutions :)
VP of Operation for Crofter Market. Crofter Market is a digitial marketing & distribution company assisting small/medium farmers in getting their product marketed & distributed in the urban & suburban areas.
Founder at Detezo, a mobile application that uses QR codes to enforce phone-free schools and events.
Former Product Manager at Amazon for 8.5 years.
Park City resident and new to Utah as of August 2025!
Co - Founder MIT45 | Board Member | AI Certified Strategist | Pioneer of the 24-Hour Business Model | Empowering Personal & Professional Transformation through spirituality and technology.
Experienced tech professional with a 15-year background at SolutionStream/JourneyTEAM now pivoting into the world of AI-driven automation. I am a passionate advocate for Utah’s tech ecosystem.
After a decade of experience in IT Ops, Cybersecurity, and Data Privacy Compliance, I have a passion for tech, and now, as a Co-Founder and Managing Director at HireMango, I build tech teams.
Founder/CTO type focused on building secure, scalable systems, cloud, payments, AI and blockchain. I love meeting other builders, operators, and founders who move fast and execute.
Let's make business events less boring!
Event producer and consultant, experience designer, and creative director for corporate clients, influencers, investors, and conferences.
Director, Impact Investing & Venture Capital; Manage the Fenton Founders Fund, an industry agnostic, pre-seed - Pre-A with focus on companies that benefit the Mountain West.
Josh Dennis is the Founder and CEO of Emerald Beacon LLC and rankless.ai. Josh has been in marketing for over a decade and has run marketing campaigns all around the world.
I have recurring revenue business to increase Customer Retention and Expansion by orienting all of their GTM processes to actually making their customers successful.
I am the Founder of True Origin Skincare, a Luxury skincare brand that focuses on all-natural and non-toxic formulas that are primarily tallow based.
Founder of Euthymic Studios. Building effective, irresistibly fun software that improves health.
Board Certified General Adult and Addiction Psychiatrist.
Utah-based design leader and founder. Building Sivvy while writing about the people, culture, and ethics shaping Utah's startup and tech scene.
Hi, I'm Catherine Bennett, executive editor of Utah Business. I'm a journalist, marketing leader, entrepreneur, writer and business strategist.
Founder & CEO of Pocketbook, helping organizations optimize and negotiate their tech vendor spend through intelligent automation and expert insights.
Providing seasoned fractional executives to businesses who want to achieve their potential | 120+ CFOs, CMOs, & CHROs | 25yrs & 3k+ companies served
Leadership Development Speaker & Consultant | Pres. West Jordan Chamber of Commerce | Silicon Slopes Women in Leadership Chair
Founder of TowPro. Allowing 911 dispatchers, police, and tow companies to be more efficiant. Wifing, grandmothering, stained glassing.
Husband. Dad of three. Runs on coffee and curiosity.
Big fan of real conversations, small circles, and figuring things out as I go.
Sandbox Fellow
Building a collection of helpful companies.
Global recruiting, web design, and seo/newsletter marketing for now!
Born and raised in Utah, been with BBSI for 20 years, divorced 1 year, 3 daughters, love the outdoors and the Philadelphia Eagles.
CEO and founder of GenAIPI. Seasoned entrepreneur and technologist. Adventurer, pianist, and a man of faith. Husband and father.
A serial entrepreneur (with an exit) and an operator turned investor, now focused on helping $2-20m companies grow profitably.
Father and husband, payments and banking expert, local restaurant owner/operator, baseball coach, scrappy golfer, fly fisher
Proven, dedicated, trusted. I'm passionate about building teams and solving complex problems to make meaningful change.
I'm an accounting/finance guy focused on helping organizations better understand and reduce their cloud spend.
Hey, its Meagan. Representing both Ivie League Consulting and Jets and Capital Events. www.jetsandcapital.com
I identify high-leverage growth opportunities across business systems and execute the plans that capture them
CEO and Co-Founder of Twintivo - Private, Reliable, and Useful 24/7 AI Platform for Manufacturing Operations
I am an Event Manager with Lewis Events. We specialize in corporate events and entertainment
Love all things tech. Early employee at Divvy. Founded a devops consulting company, Ignisware
Innovator | Leader | Strategist | Listener | Solver | Creator | Coach | Investor
Co-Founder and CEO at Mobly (Trent's all time favorite investment and it's not even close.)
Passionate abotu helping individuals and companies become the best versions of themselves!
Longevity expert, health enthusiast, medical provider. Father of 4. Co-founder MTN HLTH
PhD in Engineering Physics, so naturally starting up an AI company in the legal space.
CIO @ Nexio Payments
Mental Health Tech Enthusiast
Women Tech Council Advisory Board
I am a refashion designer where I take outdated clothes and transform them into new.
I am currently the finance leader for a series C SaaS company in the prop-tech space.
I lead program and operations at Adobe Ventures, Adobe's strategic investment arm.
CEO and co-founder Attestiv Inc.
Father, Entrepreneur, AI enthusiast.
Entrepreneur | 3x Founder in Optical, Ecom, and Medtech | Acquisitions
Marketing Leader with a passion for bringing human connections to the pipeline.
Founder/CEO of Surge, the easiest SMS API for developers.
I'm a software engineer looking to grow my network in the SLC / Lehi area.
Tech lawyer, love to help people achieve their goals.
Director of Growth @ Kahoa
Focused on removing business friction with AI
Just a tech guy doing his best to also be a good husband and father.
Investor | Hip-Hop Enthusiast | Special Teams Sympathizer
President and Founder of Insighta, a performance marketing SaaS
Founder building infrastructure in blockchain and AI
Business Partnerships | Strategic coaching, business expansion
Athletum
REFUGE powered by Athletum
Founder and CEO
Chief AI Officer at GenAIPI.
Make AI Work For You!
Investor, Sorenson Impact Institute
MBA, University of Utah
Co-founder and Studio Managing Partner @ Philo Ventures
I like meeting creative and ambitious people
Churn is a 4 letter word
www.retentionintelligence.ai
Founder. B2B SaaS and ecommerce marketplace expert.
2 previous exits in tech. OneClick Founder & CEO.
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techno whisperer sometimes thought leader
Managing Partner @ Velvet Ventures
I am CEO of Software Company - Angular Minds
Redefining work through intelligent autonomy
Software Development Professional
Head of FCAT Europe (Fidelity Investments)
Venture Scout at Flusso Capital
Scientist based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Technologist working in EdTech
Tech Banker and Venture Debt provider.
I'm the Founder and CEO of Skavengerz.
Associate at Convoi Ventures.
AI-Native Product Manager and Builder
People-powered healthcare efficiency!
Co-Founder of a Martech AI company