As part of Gov. Cox’s spring One Utah Summit, the governor and the summit’s organizing partners honor and recognize individuals and companies making significant contributions to Utah’s economy, local communities, and industries.
The awards have had different names through the decades-long history of the governor’s economic summit. Still, the goal of the recognition has stayed the same — to honor those who help make Utah the premier destination for businesses and entrepreneurs.
Honorees live and work full-time in the state and have supported the local economy for five years or more. Additionally, company recipients maintain operations in Utah for five or more years.
The award recipients will be honored during the lunchtime plenary session of the One Utah Summit at The Grand America Hotel on April 12, 2024. Gov. Cox and Lt. Gov. Henderson will present the awards with leaders from the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, Utah Office of Energy Development, Utah Innovation Center, World Trade Center Utah, Salt Lake Chamber, Cameron Russell Williams Impact Fund, and Suazo Business Center.
The 2024 Governor’s Awards recipients are:
Utah Business Leader Community Impact Award
Keith B. McMullin, Retired President and CEO, Deseret Management Corporation
Presented by the governor’s office in partnership with the Salt Lake Chamber
Utah Businessperson of the Year
Lavanya Mahate, Founder and CEO, Saffron Valley Restaurants, Bix Bakery & Cafe, and RISE Culinary Institute
Presented by the governor’s office in partnership with his Office of Economic Opportunity
Utah Business of the Year
bioMérieux
Presented by the governor’s office in partnership with his Office of Economic Opportunity
Utah International Person of the Year
Fraser Bullock, President and CEO, Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games
Presented by the governor’s office in partnership with World Trade Center Utah
Utah International Business of the Year
PMI Foods
Presented by the governor’s office in partnership with World Trade Center Utah
Cameron Russell Williams Rising Impact Award
Kimmy Paluch, Managing Partner, Beta Boom
Presented in partnership with the Cameron Russell Williams Impact Fund
Pete Suazo Business of the Year
Rancho Markets
Presented in partnership with the Suazo Business Center
Utah Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology
K-12 Education — Juliette Bautista Barahona, Founder and Director, Club Ability
Academic/Research — Cornelia Ulrich, Ph.D., M.S., Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center, Huntsman Cancer Institute
Industry — Gregory C. Critchfield, M.D., M.S.
Presented in partnership with the Utah Innovation Center
Energy Pioneer Award
OxEon Energy
Presented by the governor’s office in partnership with the Utah Office of Energy Development
Learn more about this year’s governor’s awards recipients and access photos/logos at oneutahsummit.utah.gov/awards.
Learn more about the history of the awards, including a list of past recipients, at business.utah.gov/one-utah-
To request event media credentials, please contact Ashley Okawa at [email protected].
About the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity
Under Gov. Spencer J. Cox’s direction, the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity provides resources and support for business creation, growth, and recruitment. It also drives increased tourism and film production in Utah. As stewards of the world’s best economy and quality of life, the Economic Opportunity office utilizes federal, state, and private sector resources to administer programs in areas demonstrating the highest potential for economic development and the most opportunity for Utahns.
About Gov. Cox’s One Utah Summit
Gov. Spencer Cox hosts the One Utah Summit in northern Utah every spring and in southern Utah every fall. The 2024 spring summit will take place in downtown Salt Lake City at The Grand America Hotel on April 11-12, 2024. The event provides unique opportunities to network, collaborate, and learn from leading Utah organizations. The summit features timely conversations about the intersections of emerging technologies, government, and business in Utah.
The summit opens at 5 p.m. on April 11 with the Startup State Entrepreneur Challenge, where new entrepreneurs compete for cash before a panel anchored by Gov. Cox. The following morning brings mainstage keynote addresses and breakout sessions focused on the day’s business topics and trends. Gov. Cox will present the awards during a lunchtime plenary session and then provide his keynote remarks. The summit concludes around 3 p.m. on April 12.
Presented by the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, Utah Office of Energy Development, World Trade Center Utah, and Salt Lake Chamber, the spring One Utah Summit highlights and addresses opportunities in the state’s economy.
Learn more at oneutahsummit.utah.gov.
