Cory Bengtzen began buying and selling small airplanes “for fun,” which eventually turned into a small company that he called CB Aviation. This company grew until it eventually became SkyShare.
Long before Nectar became one of Utah’s fastest-growing technology companies, the two co-founders were childhood friends, dreaming about what they might one day build together. What started with small jobs and a string of side businesses eventually evolved into a technology platform designed to help employees feel valued, seen, and appreciated at work.
Long before Scott created San Diablo Churros, he carried a simple idea with him: rooted in experience, culture, and a belief that food has the power to bring people together. What began as a spark of inspiration eventually turned into a business in 2016. He launched it in just three days, fueled by equal parts intuition, risk, and optimism.
Kristy Pack never imagined herself as an entrepreneur. She didn’t take business classes or plan to start a firm. For years, she was content being what she calls “the best employee”: someone who’s dependable, productive, and deeply committed to her work. But when her personal and professional lives began to collide, Kristy found herself facing a question many working parents know all too well: What happens when the system you’re thriving in no longer fits your life?
When Utah builder and entrepreneur Jim Sanders reflects on how Nest Tiny Homes began, he doesn’t point to a single moment. Rather, he points to decades of experience in the building world, revolving around him helping families solve real-world space problems.
Karalynne Call, founder of Just Ingredients, began her journey began with her deeply personal battle with depression, which reshaped her understanding of health and the power of food.
For Kevin Jessop, outgoing president of MountainWest Capital Network, leadership has always been rooted in service, consistency, and connection.
For Crystalee Beck, founder and CEO of Comma Copywriters, entrepreneurship began with a powerful “why”—the desire to be fully present for her growing family.
Earl Foote, founder and CEO of Nexus IT has been shaping Utah’s tech landscape with a people-first approach to business, building one of the region’s leading IT and cybersecurity firms.
Garit Lawson, Managing Director at Forbes Partners, shares two decades of M&A experience working with founder-led and family-owned companies.