Speakers

Speakers may be updated. View the full agenda here.

J. Stuart Adams

President, Utah State Senate

  • Stuart Adams is president of the Utah State Senate and a long-time public servant and business leader. Before being appointed to the Utah Senate in 2009, Adams served four-and-a-half years in the Utah House of Representatives and nine years on the Layton City Council. He is the former chairman of the Utah Transportation Commission and chairs the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA).

    Adams is a partner in the Adams Company, a Real Estate, Construction and Development Firm in Kaysville. During his time in real estate, he has been named Builder of the Year by the Northern Wasatch Home Builders Association.

Jeremy Andrus

President and CEO, Traeger Grills

  • Jeremy Andrus and a financial partner acquired Traeger Grills in 2014, transforming it from a small, regional, 26-year-old business into a multi- hundred-million-dollar brand that owns more than 50% of the global wood pellet grill market. This was largely achieved by Andrus leading an overhaul that would result in moving the company’s headquarters from Oregon to Utah and rebuilding its team with an emphasis on the people and culture behind the company. Andrus took Traeger public on the New York Stock Exchange in July 2021.

    While Traeger has Andrus’s most successful growth story, it isn’t his first. He joined start-up Skullcandy in 2005 with four employees and less than $1 million in sales. Under his leadership, Skullcandy disrupted the headphone and wearable electronic space, growing into a $300 million public company.

The Rt. Hon. Dame

Jacinda Ardern

Former Prime Minister, New Zealand

  • The Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern served as the 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand.

    Assuming office at age 37, she championed an inclusive and empathetic leadership style that made bold policy change and successfully guided her nation through unprecedented global and domestic challenges.

    During her time in office, Ardern confronted significant challenges; including a live-streamed domestic terror attack targeting New Zealand’s Muslim community, a volcanic eruption, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Responding with a people-first approach grounded in kindness, she helped New Zealand achieve one of the lowest losses of life during the pandemic among developed nations, instituted a ban on military-style semi-automatic weapons, and created the Christchurch Call to Eliminate Violent Extremism Online, for which she remains an active Patron.

    A champion of women’s empowerment, Ardern saw New Zealand reach a historic 50% representation of women in Parliament, and on government appointed boards. Ardern’s administration also decriminalized abortion, strengthened pay equity laws, and extended paid parental leave to six months. Ardern is the second woman in history to give birth while leading a country.

    Today, Ardern holds fellowship roles at Harvard University, serves on the board of The Earthshot Prize and as a Distinguished Fellow at Conservation International.

Antony J. Blinken

71st U.S. Secretary of State (2021–2025)

  • Antony J. Blinken served as the Secretary of State of the United States from January 2021 to January 2025. A seasoned diplomat and foreign policy expert, Blinken’s career has spanned decades, marked by an unwavering commitment to advancing American interests, restoring alliances, and promoting diplomacy as the cornerstone of international relations. He worked closely with Presidents Clinton, Obama and Biden in senior roles including as Deputy Secretary of State under President Obama from 2015 to 2017.

    Before serving as Deputy Secretary of State, Blinken was Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor to President Obama. During the first term of the Obama Administration, Blinken was National Security advisor to then-Vice President Joe Biden. He served for six years on Capitol Hill as Democratic Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee under then-Chairman Biden.

    Blinken was a member of President Clinton’s National Security Council staff. From 1999 to 2001, he was Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs. He began his government service at the State Department. He has been a reporter for The New Republic magazine and has written about foreign policy for numerous publications including the New York Times.

Paul E. Burdiss

President and CEO, Zions Bank

  • Before assuming his current role in 2024, Paul Burdiss served as chief financial officer of Zions Bancorporation for nine years.

    Prior to joining Zions, he was corporate treasurer at SunTrust Banks, Inc. Before SunTrust, Burdiss was executive vice president and treasurer of Comerica Inc., after having been the director of investor relations. Earlier in his career, he worked in Chicago, Illinois as a relationship manager at The Bank of Nova Scotia.

    He serves on the boards of directors of the Utah Bankers Association, Utah Impact Partnership and World Trade Center Utah. He also serves on boards of trustees of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera and the Utah Sports Commission.

David Carlebach

COO, World Trade Center Utah 

  • David Carlebach oversees operations as well as WTC Utah Services, which provide support for Utah companies to grow through international sales, sourcing, and investment attraction. Carlebach was previously a Managing Director at Goldman, Sachs, where he also held leadership roles working in Private Wealth Management, Change Management, and Regional Management, leading the Salt Lake City office and the operations division in the Asia-Pacific region. He played a pivotal role making Goldman, Sachs the largest private employer in Salt Lake City. He previously worked as an international management consultant at Booz, Allen & Hamilton in Dallas, Duesseldorf, Munich, and New York and worked as an entrepreneur in digital marketing.

Gérald Caussé 

Presiding Bishop, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 

  • Bishop Gérald Caussé has served in his role since October 2015. Prior to this assignment, Bishop Caussé served as the first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric since March 2012. He previously served as a General Authority Seventy and as a counselor in the Europe Area Presidency.

    He received a master’s degree in business from ESSEC in Paris, France in 1987. His career has been in strategy consulting at Bain & Co in Paris and London, and in the food industry, working as the director of logistics and supply chain for Carrefour Group in France, and as managing director for several foodservice companies, including Pomona.

Abby Cox

First Lady, State of Utah

  • As Utah’s first lady, Abby Palmer Cox hopes to inspire Utahns to break down the barriers that separate people from treating one another as equals. She is an outspoken advocate for “getting proximate,” connecting through our differences, and combating the empathy crisis our country is facing. First Lady Cox grew up on her family’s ranch in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, and later graduated from Snow College and Utah State University.

    Her initiative as first lady is called “Show Up,” which champions projects related to educator wellness, foster care awareness and support, expanded access to Special Olympics Unified Sports programs in schools across Utah, and statewide service.

Spencer J. Cox

18th Governor of Utah

  • Gov. Spencer J. Cox is Utah’s 18th governor, and recently served as 2023-2024 chairman of the National Governors Association. His public service history includes serving as a city councilmember, mayor, county commissioner and state legislator before being appointed as Utah’s lieutenant governor in 2013. He was sworn in as governor on Jan. 4, 2021.

    Cox’s administration has focused on tackling key issues such as economic growth, homelessness, suicide prevention, and education funding. Under Cox’s leadership, Utah has maintained one of the strongest economies in the nation while expanding opportunities for rural communities. An advocate for civility and bipartisan cooperation, Gov. Cox was among the first governors to welcome Afghan refugees to the U.S.

Jeff Flake

Board Chair, World Trade Center Utah 

  • Former Ambassador Jeff Flake recently served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Türkiye from 2022 to 2024. Prior to this service, Flake represented Arizona in the U.S. Senate from 2013 to 2019 and the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013. Prior to entering Congress, Flake served as executive director of the Goldwater Institute in Arizona. He also directed the Foundation for Democracy in Namibia during the nation’s transition to independence.

    He has been a contributor to CNN and CBS News and was a resident fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics. He serves as a professor at Arizona State University and as a distinguished visiting fellow at Brigham Young University.

Jonathan Freedman

President and CEO, World Trade Center Utah

  • Jonathan Freedman joined World Trade Center Utah as President and CEO in 2023, leveraging his international business experience to help Utah companies scale globally.

    He serves as a member of the U.S. Trade Representative’s Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee and the boards of the Utah Inland Port Authority, the Utah District Export Council, and the Utah Consular Corps. Prior to joining WTC Utah, Freedman was an entrepreneur who co-founded Downeast, a clothing and furniture manufacturer and retail chain, in 1991.

    In 2007, Freedman was asked by the Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. to serve as honorary consul of Ukraine and was awarded the Order of Merit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Mark Garfield

International Banking, Zions Bancorporation

  • Mark Garfield is head of market coverage, trade finance and global financial institutions at Zions Bancorporation. He joined Zions Bancorporation in 2005. Garfield is past Chair of the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT), a 400+ member international banking association representing banks globally. He served as Chair of the Utah District Export Council and is currently board member of the DEC National Advisory Board. He was a founding board member of WTC Utah.

Brian Garofalow

CEO, Skullcandy

  • A leading consumer audio lifestyle brand with its heritage in the boardsports industry supported by a passionate community of skateboarders, surfers, snowboarders and millions of other active consumers around the world.  Previously, Brian served as Group Chief Marketing Officer of Dometic Group AB, a Swedish based global supplier of premium outdoor products, including the iconic American cooler brand, Igloo.  Brian was CMO of Igloo prior to being acquired by Dometic.  The majority of his early career was spent leading consumer brand marketing and ecommerce in the active/outdoor space including management of popular boardsports brands DC Shoes, RVCA and Element Skateboards. 

     

    Brian is also a board member of Keep America Beautiful, America’s largest and oldest community beautification charity.  Creating cleaner, greener spaces is a passion of his, as is broader sustainability and the concept of leaving this planet in a better position for future generations.  Brian lives in Southern CA with his wife and two sons.

Mark Gilbert

Former U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa

  • Mark Gilbert served as U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and The Independent State of Samoa, from 2014 to 2017. In 2016, he received the Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award — the U.S. military’s highest civilian honor — for strengthening ties between the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and New Zealand.

    Ambassador Gilbert most recently served as Vice Chairman of Private Wealth Management in the Americas for global investment bank UBS. Prior to his banking career, he played professional baseball for eight seasons, reaching the major leagues with the Chicago White Sox in 1985. He is the first former major league player to become a United States Ambassador.

Natalie Gochnour

Associate Dean, David Eccles School of Business; Director, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute

  • Before her current roles, Natalie Gochnour guided the public policy work of the Salt Lake Chamber from 2006 to 2013. Gochnour served in the administrations of three Utah governors — Bangerter, Leavitt and Walker. She was also a political appointee in the George W. Bush administration, serving as an associate administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and as a deputy to the secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Gochnour has authored over 250 columns in Utah Business magazine and Deseret News and cohosts the award-winning radio program Both Sides of the Aisle on Utah Public Radio.

Brad Herbert

International Banking, Zions Bank

  • Brad Herbert oversees Zions Bank’s international banking efforts, helping companies based in the Intermountain West grow overseas. He joined Zions Bank in 2006, where he has served in several roles, most recently as SVP of Marketing and Communications since 2017. He helped organize the 2024 Crossroads of the World International Trade Summit. In 2018, Herbert joined a delegation of Utah business and government leaders on a trade mission to China. He has served as a board ambassador for the University of Utah Women’s Resource Center, co-chair of the Utah Food Bank’s Young Professionals Committee and was an organizer of “Light Up Puerto Rico,” a relief effort in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

Kimberley Honeysett

Chief Legal Officer, Varex Imaging

  • Kim Honeysett currently serves as the Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary at Varex Imaging Corporation. Additionally, she has held the position of chairman of the Supervisory Board at MeVis Medical Solutions AG since March 2017. Prior to these roles, she served vice president and assistant general counsel and assistant corporate secretary for Varian Medical Systems, where she advised Varian’s Board of Directors, executive management, and corporate functions.

    Earlier in her career, Honeysett worked at Siebel Systems, Inc. as the senior director of legal affairs, and as an attorney at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison. She holds a Juris Doctor from Cornell Law School.

John Hortin

CFO, Wavetronix

  • John Hortin is the Chief Financial Officer and a member of the senior executive leadership team at Wavetronix LLC in Springville, Utah. Since joining Wavetronix more than six years ago, he has helped drive significant growth of revenue, employee count, and operational capabilities. Under his leadership, the company has expanded internationally, implemented a new ERP system, created a credit facility to fund growth of facilities, and continued on a path of sustainable and critical growth.

    Previously, he held senior leadership roles at ICON Health & Fitness, Inc., Cowell International, and North Atlantic Imports.

Corey Johnston

EVP, Strider Technologies

  • Corey Johnston helps optimize Strider’s delivery of unique data and methodology to predict, correlate, and mitigate risks to talent, technology, and supply chains in both private and public sector organizations.

    Prior to joining Strider, Johnston served more than 30 years in the U.S. Navy as a naval aviator, diplomat, economic statesman, and Chief Competition Officer at the U.S. Department of State. In this role, he spearheaded multiple initiatives that not only led to a resurgence in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing but also made substantial contributions to the CHIPS Act legislation. Johnston brings his depth of operational and strategic leadership to help Strider bring actionable solutions to our clients most pressing and complex problems.

Gary Herbert

Former Governor, State of Utah; Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy at Utah Valley University

  • During Gov. Herbert’s tenure from 2009 to 2021, he focused on economic development, education, energy, and efficiency in government. He served as chair of both the Western Governors Association and National Governors Association and was the president of the Council of State Governments. He also served as Utah’s lieutenant governor.

    He founded a real estate brokerage and development company, Herbert and Associates Inc., and was the president of the Utah Association of Realtors. He also served as a Utah County commissioner for 14 years and as the president of the Utah Association of Counties. He assisted legislative efforts to help Utah Valley State College become Utah Valley University and launched UVU’s Herbert Public Policy Initiative.

Michael MacDonald

Head of Zions Capital Markets

  • Michael MacDonald oversees the capital markets and investment banking activities of Zions Bancorporation. Prior to joining Zions, he was Managing Director of the Power & Project Finance group at CIT Bank, where he managed a team of industry specialists and a $2 billion loan portfolio. He was the founder of the Power & Project Finance group at OneWest Bank prior to its acquisition by CIT.

    MacDonald was a deal principal in the Power & Utilities group at MUFG. He began his career as an investment banker at Wachovia Securities.

The Rt. Hon.

Theresa May

Former Prime Minister, United Kingdom

  • Theresa May served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2016 to 2019. She is the second female in British history to hold the position. She is currently the Member of Parliament for Maidenhead — a position she’s held for over two decades.

    May has been involved in politics at all levels, including as a councillor in the London Borough of Merton from 1986 to 1994. In May 1997, she was elected as the Member of Parliament for Maidenhead. In 2005, she co-founded Women2Win, an organization dedicated to increasing the number of Conservative women in Parliament and in public life. Appointed Home Secretary in May 2010, she oversaw reductions in crime, reform of the police and the introduction of the landmark Modern Slavery Act.

    As Prime Minister, May led negotiations with the European Union after the country’s historic Brexit referendum. She also oversaw the largest ever cash boost to the U.K.’s National Health Service, launched a 25-year Environment Plan, established the first ever Race Disparity Audit and published a Modern Industrial Strategy to create jobs across the country.

Arthur Newell

Senior Commercial Banking Regional Director, Zions Bank

  • Arthur Newell oversees Commercial Banking for the Salt Lake region and International Banking for Zions Bank. He has assisted individuals and businesses with their commercial, treasury, and real estate banking needs for many years. In addition, he is involved with many community service opportunities, particularly centered around education. He serves as board chair for my529/Utah Educational Savings Plan. He is also a member of the Utah Water Ways board. Newell has served on the Utah Board of Higher Education, chairing the Finance and Facilities Committee and the Education Committee. He has served as a board member for the Utah Colleges of Technical Education, Mountainland Technical College, Alpine School District Foundation, and the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Shigeru Kitamura

Former National Security Advisor, Japan 

  • Shigeru Kitamura was awarded the Officier de l’Ordre de la Légion d’Honneur by the French Republic for his significant contribution to strengthening cooperation between Japan and France in the Indo-Pacific region in 2022. He also was honored with the Australian Intelligence Medal by the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia for outstanding contributions to Japan-Australia cooperation in the field of intelligence. He also received the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service by the Government of the U.S. in recognition of his achievements in strengthening the Japan-United States alliance. He is the author of three books on international relations and graduated from the University of Tokyo.

Mike Pompeo

70th U.S. Secretary of State (2018–2021)

  • Michael R. Pompeo served as the 70th Secretary of State of the United States, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and was elected to four terms in Congress representing the Fourth District of Kansas. He graduated first in his class from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and served as a cavalry officer in the U.S. Army until 1991 and then graduated from Harvard Law School. For almost a decade, he led aerospace and energy drilling manufacturing businesses in Kansas.

    From 2010 to 2016, he served in Congress representing South Central Kansas. As the nation’s most senior diplomat in the Trump Administration and President Trump’s chief negotiator, Pompeo helped to craft U.S. foreign policy. During this time, America became a massive energy exporter and a force for good in the Middle East, with peace cemented in the Abraham Accords. Pompeo also placed special emphasis on renewing alliances with key allies, including India, Japan, Australia and South Korea.

    Currently, he serves as Executive Chair of Impact Investments, a financial advisory and investment firm that develops partnerships across a range of industries and geographies.

Condoleezza Rice

66th U.S. Secretary of State (2005–2009)

  • Condoleezza Rice is the Tad and Dianne Taube Director of the Hoover. Institution and a Senior Fellow on Public Policy. She is the Denning Professor in Global Business and the Economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. In addition, Rice is a founding partner of Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel LLC, an international strategic consulting firm.

    From 2005 to 2009, Rice served as Secretary of State, the second woman and first black woman to hold the post. She also served as President George W. Bush’s Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (National Security Advisor) from 2001 to 2005. From 1989 through 1991, she served on President George H.W. Bush’s National Security Council staff. Rice served as Director, then Senior Director, of Soviet and East European Affairs, as well as Special Assistant to the President for National Security. In 1986, while an International Affairs Fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations, she also served as Special Assistant to the Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

    Rice served as Stanford University’s provost and has been on its faculty since 1981. In 2022, she became a part-owner of the Denver Broncos. She currently serves on the boards of C3.ai, an AI software company; and Makena Capital Management.

H.L. Rogers

CAO, Coupang

  • Harold Rogers is the Chief Executive Officer of Coupang Global and the Chief Administrative Officer of Coupang, Inc. Prior to joining Coupang, Mr. Rogers served as Executive Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer at Millicom, a global telecommunications company. He also held the position of Partner at Sidley Austin LLP. Earlier in his career, Mr. Rogers clerked for the Honorable Thomas B. Griffith on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 2005 to 2006. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Brigham Young University and earned his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.

Darin Parker

President, PMI Foods

  • Darin Parker is the president of Parker Migliorini International LLC (PMI Foods), a global enterprise that supplies an extensive range of food products to all major international markets. Founded in Salt Lake City, PMI Foods maintains 30 global offices strategically located in the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa, and Oceania. With more than 650 employees worldwide, PMI Foods provides products to customers in more than 60 countries.

    Parker serves as co-chair of the International Committee at the U.S. Meat Export Federation. He also serves as International Committee board member at the Salt Lake Chamber and as board member with World Trade Center Utah.

Harris H. Simmons

Chairman and CEO, Zions Bancorporation

  • Harris H. Simmons is Chairman and CEO of Zions Bancorporation, N.A. He is a director of National Life Group and O.C. Tanner Co. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of Zions First National Bank prior to 1998 and has been an officer of the company since 1981. He has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Zions Bancorporation since 1990 and Chairman since 2002. Simmons first worked for Zions in 1970 and has served in a variety of positions with Zions First National Bank and Zions Bancorporation in more than 40 years with the organization. He is a graduate of the University of Utah and has an M.B.A. from Harvard University. Simmons is a past chairman of the American Bankers Association.

Robert Spendlove

Senior Economist, Zions Bank

  • Robert Spendlove is the Senior Economist for Zions Bank, monitoring and reporting on economic indicators and public policy developments for the bank. He frequently advises and briefs policymakers, as well as business and civic groups throughout the United States. He is known for his insightful and understandable approach to explaining economic trends.

    Spendlove served in the Utah House of Representatives from 2014- 2024, where he was Vice Chair of the Executive Appropriations Committee. His previous experience includes time in the Utah Governor’s Office as Deputy Chief of Staff for Federal Relations, Chief Economist and State Demographer.

Kevin Rudd

Ambassador of Australia to the U.S.; Former Prime Minister of Australia 

  • The Honorable Dr. Kevin Rudd AC served as Australia’s 26th prime minister from 2007 to 2010, then as Minister for Foreign Affairs, before a second term as prime minister in 2013. Rudd was most recently the president and CEO of the Asia Society Policy Institute.

    Rudd holds a PhD from Oxford University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the Australian National University.

Lindsay Shulmas

CEO, Cotopaxi

  • Lindsay Shulmas relies on her extensive experience and proven track record growing consumer businesses, including her ability to drive collaboration across organizations in pursuit of purposeful growth, and strong commitment to purpose and values both in and outside of the workplace. Ms. Shumlas previously served as President and Chief Financial Officer at Cotopaxi, where she played an instrumental role in steering the Company’s growth trajectory. Prior to joining Cotopaxi, she held various C-level positions at Manhattan Beachwear and Vici as CFO/COO and CEO.