Governor Gary R. Herbert was recognized for his contributions and service to the State of Utah at the 41st Giant in our City. The award, presented by the Salt Lake Chamber Thursday night at the historic Redwood Drive-In Theatre, is given for exceptional and distinguished public service, as well as extraordinary professional achievement, and is widely recognized as the most prestigious business award in the state of Utah.
“Over the past twenty years, Governor Herbert has worked with a singular focus of making Utah the top state in America to live and work,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance, in announcing the award. “He fostered economic growth after the 2008 recession, increased education funding as his highest budget priority, attracted world-class businesses, supported innovation and investment, and kept our communities vibrant. Because of Gary Herbert, Utah is the best place to live, work, learn and play, and his influence will be felt for years to come.”
In keeping with guidelines related to the coronavirus, the Governor was officially presented the award at a private ceremony last week. However a recording of his acceptance speech was played as part of the larger celebration at the Redwood Drive-In, where the event was moved to allow for social distancing and other current health and safety guidelines.
“I am honored and humbled to be this year’s Giant in our City,” the Governor said in a film projected to the more than 1,000 attendees at the theater. “Our best days are still ahead, and this year will not hold us back. We know life is like a movie and there are many supporting casts to help us. I have had many leaders help me lead the state. However, no supporting person has been more valuable than my wife, Jeanette, and she has helped our administration be successful in achieving so much. My family helped make this journey of service a joy and I thank them.”
Attendees of the Giant in our City event were entertained by an evening of summer music, including selections from the Governor’s sons; video montages of congratulatory salutations from Utahns; picnic baskets from the Grand America; and a feature film shot in Utah: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
In addition to the Governor’s recognition, Jane Powers, RN BSN, was awarded the Lane Beattie Utah Community Builder Award for her distinguished service in providing medical care for Utah’s underserved population. The award recognizes an inspirational individual who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to address a crucial community issue. Powers was selected by the Utah Community Builders Advisory Board, co-chaired by Clark Ivory, CEO of Ivory Homes, and Lisa Eccles, president and COO of the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation.
Premier investors in the Giant in the City event included: Deseret Management Corporation and Zions Bank. Dominion Energy, Intermountain Healthcare, Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, Sorenson Legacy Foundation and WCF Insurance were presenting investors. Clyde Companies, Dan and Paula Shaw, Gardner Company, George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Huntsman Foundation, Merit Medical Systems, Perry Homes. and R&R Partners were event investors.
For more information regarding these awards and a full list of sponsors, visit: slchamber.com/giant.
Giant in our City honoree bio below:
Governor Gary R. Herbert took office in 2009 and is currently the nation’s longest-serving governor. During his time in office, he has kept a resolute focus on economic development, improving Utah’s educational excellence, and working to guarantee that Utah will continue to maintain its high quality of life far into the future. Under his leadership, Utah’s economy has risen to a position of national and international prominence.
Governor Herbert was born and raised in Utah County, where he would eventually serve as a County Commissioner for 14 years. He attended Brigham Young University, served six years in the Utah National Guard (from 1970-1976), and started a successful real estate brokerage and development company, Herbert and Associates Incorporated.
He served as the past president of the Utah Association of Realtors and the Utah Association of Counties.
Governor Herbert has also served as chair of both the Western Governors Association and the National Governors Association. He currently serves as the national president for the Council of State Governments. Prior to becoming governor, he served as Utah’s lieutenant governor for five years.
Governor Herbert is most proud of his roles as husband, father, and grandfather. He has encouraged his children to “follow in his footsteps and marry up.” His wife, Jeanette Herbert, before becoming the First Lady of Utah, owned and operated a commercial child care and preschool, The Kids Connection, for 23 years. The First Lady’s initiative is called “Uplift Families.” The goal of this initiative is to promote good parenting skills, strengthen families, and offer resources to parents throughout the state.
Governor Herbert is tremendously proud of the successes of his wife, children, and grandchildren, and he is grateful to serve as the 17th Governor of the great State of Utah
Lane Beattie Utah Community Builder honoree bio below:
Through decades of volunteer work, above and beyond her duties in the medical profession, Jane Powers has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of Utahns and their families. As the clinical director of Hope Clinic, she joins hands with dedicated volunteers to help remove barriers that underserved populations in our community experience when trying to obtain quality medical care.
Powers’ passion for promoting the right to healthcare began in 2005 with the opening of the Maliheh Free Clinic and expanded to a 100% volunteer service through Hope Clinic in 2010. Under Powers’ clinical directorship, the Hope Clinic serves more than 12,000 patients per year at an average cost of less than $15.00 per patient. There is no charge for clinic services to the patients. This is possible due to the extensive Hope Clinic volunteer team consisting of skilled physicians, nurses, pharmacists, phlebotomists, specialists, business partners, translators, housewives, teachers, students, church groups, schools and many other generous community members wanting to join hands to make a difference. Dr. Mansoor Emam, co-founder of Maliheh and Hope Clinic, provided the foundation mission to deliver high-quality heartfelt care to those who are underserved and uninsured. In addition to our volunteer base, Intermountain Healthcare’s generosity and support to Hope Clinic provides essential services such as lab, imaging, and referral services for patients with medical conditions that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive and not attainable.
Resilience and positivity are some of Powers’ defining qualities. Her work has inspired countless others to find practical, simple ways to improve the lives of those around them.
