Salt Lake Chamber Blog | President's Message

A Voice for the Business Community

On March 15, 2010, In President's Message, Public Policy, By Lane Beattie

The 2010 General Legislative Session was the most challenging in recent memory. Managing a surplus is always preferable to dealing with a deficit. I want to thank the members of the Legislature, the governor and our public policy team at the Chamber and Downtown Alliance. We’re very fortunate to have so many talented and dedicated people working to make Utah the best state in the nation.

Public policy should be crafted with a basic goal of enhancing quality of life. Business plays a vital role in that effort. When the economy is strong and people are working, our quality of life is high.

It is critical that the business community has a strong voice on Capitol Hill. That strength comes from our united efforts and it comes from the involvement of everyone in the business community—not just the CEOs.

Our preparation for the 2011 General Legislative Session begins today. And it begins with you. I’m asking you to sign-up for the Chamber’s VoterVoice program. This system will allow us to contact you when issues arise that are important to the business community. By alerting you when an issue affecting business arises, you can easily and efficiently contact your elected officials to voice your opinion. Our effort is non-partisan; our goal is simply to strengthen the influence of the business community.

Rest assured, we won’t spam your inbox. You can expect to receive no more than a dozen emails each year. VoterVoice is designed to help you influence policy makers on issues that have an impact on business. By registering for VoterVoice you will know about critical issues at key times and influence the right policy maker.

To enroll, click here and fill out the simple form. We ask for your home address and e-mail to help us target key legislative districts. Your personal information will not be sold or given to any third party.

This program is open to all employees in your organization—or anyone else who would like to enroll. Please encourage widespread participation.

To sign up, click here and fill out the information. In the “Referred By” field, please enter the promotional code “Connection.”

Working together we can strengthen the influence of the business community on important policy issues.

Tagged with: VoterVoice

Welcome Back

On March 8, 2010, In Chamber News, President's Message, By Salt Lake Chamber

Heidi Walker is the new chief operating officer of the Salt Lake Chamber

We’ve made a few enhancements to the Chamber staff recently and I want to take this opportunity to tell you just how excited I am about where we are as an organization and for where we’re going.

We’re very pleased to welcome back one of our own, Heidi Walker, who now serves as the chief operating officer. Many Chamber members will remember Heidi from her time here from 1998-2007 when she was vice president and oversaw membership, events and business development.

When Heidi left the Chamber, she moved to Washington, D.C. where she stayed busy working as vice president of operations for Association Management Group and as executive director of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Disassociation. Heidi played a significant role with us before and has gained valuable experience that will make us an even more efficient and productive organization.

Bringing Heidi back to lead the day-to-day operations of the Chamber allows us to even better utilize the extraordinary talents of Natalie Gochnour, who will now serve as executive vice president of policy and communication and chief economist. Natalie worked as an economist for 16 years and will now apply this experience by advising Chamber members about economic trends and current conditions.

These two changes help us even better play our role as Utah’s business leader. Our membership now exceeds 6,000 companies, which represents more than one in every three jobs in Utah. We have members in all 29 counties and ten states. We’ve formed strong partnerships with the Downtown Alliance to represent our interests in the central business district, and with the World Trade Center Utah to further strengthen Utah’s booming export numbers. We’ve also worked to unite the business community by partnering with other chambers of commerce and various business organizations.

We embrace a new era of Chamber leadership and look forward to further enhancing our ability to serve our members.

State and SLC should work together on Emergency Ops Center

On February 26, 2010, In Chamber News, President's Message, By Salt Lake Chamber

The recent economic downturn has placed additional emphasis on efficiency for business and government, families and individuals. We all have to find a way to do more with less.

Of course, increasing efficiency isn’t something we do only when we’re forced to; it’s a basic principle of business. Business leaders constantly search for more efficient processes and lower prices for raw materials. For government it is important to get the most out of every tax dollar to maximize the benefit to the public.

One way we can get the most “bang” for our buck is by building a necessary Emergency Operations Center (EOC) that serves both Salt Lake City and the state.

In the event of a significant disaster, an EOC serves as the central command and control facility. Salt Lake City doesn’t have one and the state of Utah’s is outdated and located in an unsafe location.

In the event of major disaster affecting large portions of the state, Salt Lake City, the capital city, is the logical location for a statewide EOC. As the seat of government, the governor’s office, the legislature and the federal offices are all located there. The majority of the population lives close in Salt Lake County and the important transportation system could prove vital to deploying supplies and manpower.

Some would argue two EOCs—one for the state and one for the capital city—are desirable so there is redundancy in case one is destroyed in an emergency. I respectfully disagree. The better path is to have a joint facility, carefully located and wisely built, and a contingency plan should it fail. This is a much more prudent and effective strategy for the taxpayer

In lean times we also have to carefully distinguish between needs and wants. For Salt Lake City, the EOC is the former, not the latter. The public safety building is in horrible condition and does not include an EOC. The state may very well be content to wait another year or two even as we face budget difficulties that thinking is penny-wise and pound-foolish.

The taxpayer—including businesses—cares only that government maximizes the efficient use of tax dollars to provide necessary services. Building two separate facilities when one would be sufficient doesn’t meet that standard.

The state and city should work together to construct one facility that will meet the needs of both entities and save the taxpayers money.

Tagged with: Emergency Operations Center

Topping the Charts

On February 19, 2010, In President's Message, Transportation, Utah Rankings, By Lane Beattie

Over the past few weeks, Utah has found a comfortable home at the top, or near the top of several lists. It seems we’re no longer such a “well-kept secret.”

Forbes magazine ranks the commute to and from Salt Lake City as the best in the nation. According to a study released Tuesday, “20% of workers find a way to get to work besides driving alone, which leaves the roads less jammed. It’s not an accident that commuters in Salt Lake have it better than elsewhere. The state of Utah has poured resources into initiatives that strengthen the city’s infrastructure… and [utilized] special road-construction techniques that minimize interruptions to traffic.” (READ FULL ARTICLE)

Anyone who commuted to Salt Lake City from Davis or Weber County before the debut of UTA’s FrontRunner service and the opening of Legacy Parkway can attest to just how much the trip has improved. We’ve all marveled at the ingenious technique utilized by UDOT to build bridges and move them into place without tying up traffic for months at a time. The addition of the Mountain View Corridor and FrontRunner South will provide similar benefits for Utah County residents.

As a Chamber, we consider transportation a top priority and we’re proud of state leaders and the steps they have made to eliminate gridlock and keep traffic flowing. That means businesses can thrive and workers can make it to the office to work, and home to relax. Utah’s transportation system is a significant element of our unsurpassed quality of life.

Earlier this month, Forbes heaped even more praise on our state, recognizing us as the best in debt management. As Derek Miller, managing director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, pointed out: “the state debt is $447 for every Utahn but the national debt is 100 times than figure–$40,000.” (READ FULL ARTICLE)

The responsible fiscal management exhibited by the State Legislature and our governors should be a source of great pride for all Utahns. We live in the best-managed state in the nation. That has helped us weather these challenging economic times better than the rest of the country and it is a major reason we’ll be the first state to emerge from the recession.

Perhaps most impressively, a Gallup poll released last week ranks Utah near the top of the list when it comes to well-being. We finished second to Hawaii so I can only assume the survey was done in January when most of us would rather be in Hawaii. We finished tops in this poll in 2008. (SEE POLL)

Dig into the numbers and you’ll see we scored highest in the Work Environment category based on “job satisfaction, ability to use one’s strengths at work, supervisor’s treatment and cultivation of an open and trusting work environment.”

I’ve been saying it for years: Utah is the best place to live, work and play.

More and more, we have the numbers to prove it.

Tagged with: Transportation

Improved Revenue Projections Should Benefit Education

On February 12, 2010, In Education, President's Message, Public Policy, By Lane Beattie

Funding for education is a priority of the business community and will be the focus of a multiyear effort. This legislative session our efforts have been focused primarily on maintaining funding levels. We continue to call on legislators to hold education harmless as they make necessary cuts to make the budget balance.

Utah’s public school and higher education enrollment growth should be funded if updated state revenue projections next week yield any good news about economic improvements. The state’s rainy day fund and other tools for funding enrollment growth should also be considered.

There are some numbers we know already. Utah public schools will see an increase of 11,000 students and higher education will see an increase of approximately 12,000 students. Taking the same amount of money that was appropriated for public and higher education last year and rolling it over to this year is a good start, but it is essentially a cut.

Education is the key to a first-class workforce that will attract business to Utah and strengthen out state economy long-term. If we can find the money, funding for enrollment growth should be a top priority.

Tagged with: education • Lane Beattie • President's Message

Honoring Small Business

On February 8, 2010, In President's Message, By Lane Beattie

This week we’ll take time to honor the Small Businesses of the Year along with our Chamber Champions at the Chamber’s 107^th Annual Meeting. Just last week the recipients had a chance to share their stories with one another at a special pre-award luncheon. I loved hearing the stories told by the entrepreneurs who have made the sacrifices, taken the risks and overcome the obstacles to find success in their business endeavors.

Each honoree briefly told the story of their business and each spoke of how their involvement in the community and in the Chamber had benefitted their business. The reasons they gave for their involvement varied but they all affirmed that thinking of more than just their bottom line had helped them provide some benefit to their communities and, ultimately, contributed to their success.

Michael Dale is a prime example. Years ago he left a steady paycheck to establish New Media Strategists. While building a business from the ground up, he also became an active member of the Salt Lake Chamber. During his time at the Chamber, Michael has served in a number of capacities including as chair of the Communication Committee and now as chair of the Access Salt Lake program. He is also a member of our Board of Governors where he advises on a number of issues. I have no doubt his commitment to making Utah a better place for business has benefitted his company.

Our Chamber Champions have all gone above and beyond the call of duty to make the Chamber successful. To share just one example, Paul Springer of Bailey-Montague Graphic Design consistently lends his talents and work ethic to enhance the Chamber’s publications. Paul is the creative mind behind the printed materials for Downtown Rising, the Public Policy Guide the Annual Report. No assignment is too difficult, no project too big and no deadline too close for Paul to help the Chamber look professional and communicate our message. Of course, the same level of dedication could be ascribed to Paul’s fellow Chamber Champions.

This year we will also present the President’s Award for Excellence for just the third time in Chamber history. Real Salt Lake is deserving, not only for its success on the field, but for solidifying its place in the business community. In the last few years, the club has found a home and secured naming rights for the beautiful Rio Tinto Stadium. RSL is the perfect example of an organization that has benefitted by engaging with the business community through the Chamber. We all shared in the excitement of hosting the MLS All-Star Game and claiming the MLS Cup because RSL has made the effort to become a part of our community.

As we take time to honor these organizations and individuals, we applaud their commitment, hard work and their entrepreneurial spirit. Please join us at the 107^th Annual Meeting and Small Business Awards; you can register here.

We often say small business is the lifeblood of the economy and it’s true. Small businesses, like those we’ll honor this week, play a major role in our economy and help make Utah a state on the move.

Tagged with: Annual Meeting • Chamber Champions • President's Award for Excellence • Small Business Awards

The beginning of a business education

On February 1, 2010, In Education, President's Message, By Lane Beattie

This morning I had the privilege of speaking at the Annual Governor’s Breakfast at Junior Achievement City. This is a remarkable program supported by the business community to teach real world financial literacy to Utah students.

JA was created by the business community to play a significant role in preparing our young people for their future. Today Junior Achievement is the oldest and largest career and financial education organization in the world linking the private sector with education, with no tax dollars being used for its programs.

JA offers more than 20 different programs each operating as part of the curriculum in our schools. With the Junior Achievement programming, we engage our young people in relevant ways, positively affecting their values and attitudes. And we don’t just emphasize business and economics, but also citizenship, ethics, character, work-related life skills and effective financial management.

In its 10 year independent evaluation of Junior Achievement programs, Utah State University found that all JA programs have a significant and consistent impact on student learning, skill development, problem solving and decision making.

The demand for JA’s new High School Financial Literacy program has skyrocketed with teachers up and down the state requesting it. The JA program serves as a supplement for Utah’s required financial literacy course.

A sizeable number of Chamber members are providing their accounting and finance people for the JA classes. Junior Achievement is planning an expansion of its finance supplement that would reach every high school by 2013.

We owe this to Mr. Dick Prows, whose vision has continued to drive JA’s effort in reaching more Utah young people, sparking the fire within them, opening their minds to their potential. With these new partnerships, Junior Achievement’s student participation numbers in Utah will expand from 64,000 to nearly 100,000 in 3 years and JA Volunteer numbers will expand to 10,000.

Scott Anderson of Zions Bank recently said Junior Achievement may just be his bank’s best investment in the state because, he know exactly where the contribution goes. He can drive by schools Zions sponsors and see a banner that says, “Thanks Zions Bank for Bringing Junior Achievement to our School.”

He knows every child in every grade is getting Junior Achievement in that school because of Zions Bank and he can see his own employees are the ones teaching in their classrooms. It’s a perfect investment of their contribution dollar.

JA is doing its part in our economic recovery and preventing another crisis in the future by helping our young people obtain the financial and work-readiness education they need to become smart stewards.

JA programs provide a compelling value proposition to our state’s employers by preparing students to contribute in the workplace, practice teamwork, and demonstrate creative thinking.

After experiencing JA programs, our young people are prepared to help drive economic development in Utah.

If you’re interested in helping Junior Achievement, there are a number of ways to contribute. Please contact JA at 801.355.5252 or log on to ja-utah.org.

Tagged with: education • JA • Junior Achievement • Lane Beattie • President's Message • Salt Lake Chamber • Utah's business leader

Now is a time to lead

On January 22, 2010, In President's Message, By Salt Lake Chamber

By Lane Beattie, President and CEO

The Utah Legislature will convene for the 2010 General Legislative Session Monday. They will do so with the well-deserved title of “Best Managed State in the Nation.”

Utah achieved this ranking in 2008 from the Pew Center on the States because of our performance in four key areas – money, people, infrastructure and information. It is a proud honor for our state, and one that Utah has received eight times during the course of the last four governors.

But today Utah, like every other state, faces serious challenges not felt by any previous Legislature or governor.

State government revenues have declined by nearly a billion dollars in the past three years.
Nearly 90,000 Utahns are unemployed. That’s a population almost the size of Orem City.
School enrollment in both public and higher education is at record levels.
Human service caseloads are up 14% in the past year alone.
And we have the fastest growing population in the country.

To quote the great patriot, Thomas Paine, “These are times that try men’s souls.” As business leaders we are asking a simple question: When the Pew Center does their next grading of the states, probably in 2011, what will they see?

Will we have managed through this financial crisis in a way that propels the Utah economy to once again lead the nation?

Will we have invested in our most important business resource – our people?

Will we have developed our workforce so that Utah families can be supported by high-paying jobs?

Will we have repaired and maintained our capital assets?

Will we have controlled costs so that future taxpayers are not burdened by our decisions?

Will we pay for our fair share of capital expenditures rather than passing them on to future generations?

Will we take responsibility for our choices and be held accountable for our actions?

May I suggest that the Pew Center, when grading all 50 states next year, will be asking all of these questions and more. They will be applying the business principles that you see attached to the wall behind me to the management of state government and asking, “Did they manage well and did they lead?”

Now is a time to lead.

As business leaders we ask the State Legislature as to apply business principles to the management of government. If they don’t , they will have squandered a great opportunity because no state is better positioned than Utah is right now to lead this country out of recession.

Of course, it’s not about the Pew Center, Governing Magazine, or any expert grading system, however well respected. It’s about providing the citizens and businesses in this state with abundant opportunities to develop and improve life quality.

And if we do, we will continue a long-standing tradition in this state to be not only well-managed, but to be a great place to do business, to live and to raise a family – a value at the heart of who we are.

Tagged with: Lane Beattie • legislative session • Salt Lake Chamber • Utah • Utah State Legislature • Utah's business leader

President’s Message: A Look Ahead

On January 11, 2010, In Economic Development, President's Message, By Salt Lake Chamber

By Lane Beattie, President & CEO

Last week the Chamber hosted David Wyss, Standard & Poor’s chief economist, at the Utah Economic Forum. The economy is a hot topic and business leaders, economists, journalists and engaged citizens all took time to listen to one of the world’s most renowned economists.

His message: the recession is over but that doesn’t mean things are back to where they were two years ago.

You may have heard some commentary that while the recession may be over on Wall Street, it surely isn’t over on Main Street. According to Wyss, that’s because the two have different definitions of what “over” means.

Wyss says the recession is over because we’ve hit the bottom. We are turning around and headed in the right direction. This is why Wall Street says the recession is over.

Main Street—meaning businesses of all sizes—disagrees because things aren’t what they were pre-recession. That’s true and may continue to be the case for awhile. Growth will come but, as Wyss puts it, it’s much easier to fall than to climb.

In the past, the Utah Economic Forum attracted some 100 attendees but we had nearly four times that number last week. When talented Utahns take on tough issues, you can bet the outcome will be positive.

I’m confident in the economic future of our state. We have the best managed state in the nation and our governor and State Legislature promote a very business-friendly local economy. Utah still has the nation’s youngest workforce and that has proven very attractive to businesses looking to relocate and/or expand their presence in Utah.

MORE DAVID WYSS

Tagged with: David Wyss • economy • Lane Beattie • President's Messagea • Salt Lake Chamber • Utah • Utah Economic Forum • Utah Economoic Report to the Governor