The St. George Area Economic Development Office is proud to present the Economic Summit as a showcase of southern Utah and a community that is definitely on the RISE. We are excited for this year’s Economic Summit and so thankful for your support and attendance today!

The skyline is changing in Washington County with buildings on the RISE virtually everywhere you look. New projects including university buildings, hotels, hospital expansions, apartments, office complexes, and industrial buildings are changing our local economy and adding to our community.

It’s not hard to understand why so many people want to live and work in this great community. Our college, university, and medical school are growing and expanding, and our already impressive healthcare is continuing to innovate and improve.

Local businesses continue to be incredible community partners, and our elected officials and civic leaders are dedicated and caring. The quality of life provided by our amazing surroundings is enhanced greatly by the quality of the people who reside here.

As we start a new year, it’s the perfect time to continue to educate ourselves, strengthen relationships, and work together to keep our community heading in the right direction. With growth there are always opportunities as well as many challenges. I’m thankful to be able to face these challenges surrounded by capable and creative people, and in one of the best places in the world to live.

Jeriah Threlfall

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Jeriah ThrefallPresident & CEO

St George Area Economic Development

BR

EA

KO

UT

SE

SS

ION

S

1

W

WW

.GR

OW

SG

A.C

OM

BR

EA

KO

UT

SE

SS

ION

S

SUMMIT SCHEDULE

7:00 Check-in and Breakfast Services

7:50 Welcome by Jeriah Threlfall Presentation of Colors by Pine View Air Force JROTC

8:00 Zion National Park Forever Project Presentation by Mark Preiss Ballroom

8:15 Keynote by Shawn Nelson, CEO Lovesac Ballroom

9:00 Networking Break

9:15 Utah Opportunity Zones Panel Entrada A

9:15 Trust Lands 101 Sunbrook C

9:15 2019 Residential Real Estate in Washington County: A Review and a Preview Sunbrook A & B

9:15 Water: Meeting Rising Demands Auditorium

9:15 Zion National Park Panel Entrada B & C

10:00 Networking Break

10:15 What’s Up Down South Session Ballroom

11:15 Networking Break & Garden Room Prize Giveaway

11:30 Ask me Anything: Panel Dealing with the Rise of Millennials in the Workplace Entrada A

11:30 Washington County: Adventures in Economics, Trends and Move-ins Entrada B & C

11:30 Commercial Real Estate Sunbrook A & B

11:30 Housing Affordability Auditorium

11:30 What’s Up With Taxes Sunbrook C

12:15 Networking Break

12:30 Cox & Friends Live Podcast Ballroom

1:30 Closing Remarks by Jeriah Threlfall President, St George Area Economic Development

Rather than our usual afternoon keynote speaker, enjoy down to earth discussions and real-talk about Utah’s important issues. Join Lt. Governor Spencer J. Cox and his friends for talk on politics, the economy, tech and pop culture during a special live edition of the Cox & Friends Podcast!

Spencer J. Cox Lieutenant Governor Utah

Abby Palmer CoxUtah Mother of four and wife to Spencer J Cox

Spencer Ryan HallMarketing and Communications Manager Rocky Mountain Power

Kristen RappleyeChief of Staff to Lieutenant Governor Cox

2 EC

ON

OM

IC S

UM

MIT

20

19

Shawn Nelson is the founder and CEO of The Lovesac Company. From humble beginnings, Shawn began making Lovesac giant bean bags by hand in 1995 out of his parent’s basement. He served as a church service volunteer in Taiwan, becoming fluent in Mandarin Chinese and later returned to work in China delivering leadership & team-building seminars in Chinese for Fortune 500 companies. Shawn graduated from the University of Utah with honors and a bachelor’s

degree in Chinese and later a Masters in Strategic Design and Management from Parsons in New York City. He later returned as an instructor in their Master’s program.

In 2001 Lovesac opened its first retail location in Salt Lake City, Utah, with dozens more to follow. In 2005 Shawn won a $1 million investment from Virgin’s Richard Branson on Fox Network’s hit show “The Rebel Billionaire,” and was made acting President of Virgin Worldwide for a time. Through raising VC funding and eventually Private Equity financing, Lovesac became the fastest growing furniture retailer in the U.S. in 2017, and achieved a successful IPO in June of 2018. Today it continues on its high growth trajectory. Shawn currently splits his time between Lovesac HQ1 in Stamford, Connecticut, and Lovesac HQ2 in St. George Utah with his wife, 2 dogs, and 4 children. Learn more at Lovesac.com or on his blog at DFLGroup.org.

COX & FRIENDS LIVE PODCASTKEYNOTE SPEAKER

3

W

WW

.GR

OW

SG

A.C

OM

10:15 SESSION BALLROOM

This year’s What’s Up Down South session will highlight companies, programs and projects that demonstrate our rising economy. The presentation will begin with an update by Department of Workforce Services Economist, Lecia Langston. This year’s lineup will feature: Intermountain Dixie Regional Medical Center, Joule Plaza, Dixie State University and RAM Company

WHAT’S UP DOWN SOUTH

4 EC

ON

OM

IC S

UM

MIT

20

19

9:15 SESSIONS

Utah Opportunity Zones Panel ENTRADA A Come prepared to learn the ins and outs of the Opportunity Zone Program. Understand Utah’s OZ plan, investment, and legal insights.

Trust Lands 101 SUNBROOK C Everything you ever wanted to know about Trust Lands but were afraid to ask. Come learn about the history, mission and future of Trust Lands in Washington County and how one of the largest landowners in Southern Utah contribute to economic development.

Water: Meeting Rising Demands AUDITORIUMMore people, jobs and economic production? More water. Find out what the Washington County Water Conservancy District is doing today to meet the rising demands of water in America’s fastest-growing region. Current water use, supplies, conservation and projects will be discussed. An overview of the Lake Powell Pipeline – the county’s largest water project to date – will also be provided..

BREAKOUT SESSIONSWe know it’s hard to choose from so many great breakout sessions! Each year we try to find a balance between longtime favorites and new topics. Below is a description of each breakout session that will help you decide which two you will attend. We are very fortunate to have so many great presenters and panel members.

Zion National Park PanelENTRADA B & CTourism at Utah’s national parks is on the RISE. According to a recent NPS analysis, the parks accounted for over 14 million visits, generating billions of dollars. Much of these funds are funneled right back into Utah’s rural gateway communities. They’re not slowing down either. For the first time, Zion reported more annual visitors than Yellowstone. This steady increase brings with it challenges and opportunities. The Zion panel discussion will touch on the most pressing challenges and highlight some pretty innovative solutions.

Residential Real Estate in Washington County: A Review and a Preview SUNBROOK A & BChange is a funny thing. Sometimes it’s so gradual we barely notice it, and other times change happens so fast that it flashes before our eyes. Whether slow, abrupt, or some combination of the two, winds are changing our local real estate housing market. Like the weather, these winds will come at different times to different markets in the approaching months and years and they will alter our status quo. However, it’s no time to put our heads in the sand or wish for the good old days. So, what can we expect? Come to this year’s real estate breakout session and take a look into the crystal ball.

5

W

WW

.GR

OW

SG

A.C

OM

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

11:30 SESSIONS

Commercial Real EstateSUNBROOK A & BAs new buildings rise across the county, commercial real estate firms NAI Excel and Linx CRE will discuss office, retail, industrial, multifamily, and other commercial development in Southern Utah. Expect to learn what commercial projects are new and coming and receive insights into local commercial real estate market trends.

Washington County: Adventures in Economics, Trends and Move-insENTRADA B & C The current economic expansion is nine and one half years old. Where does Washington County’s economy currently stand? How has the economy changed? Why do workers move here? This session will examine these questions and discuss what might lie ahead.

What’s Up With TaxesSUNBROOK CGet the latest on tax reform legislation. Discover how the most recent tax laws will affect you and what you can do to take advantage for your business and personal taxes. Gain confidence to implement critical financial planning considerations and strategies.

Housing AffordabilityAUDITORIUMHousing affordability is the relationship between housing costs and household income. This session will focus on the existing relationship between housing, the current workforce and current and future economic development in Washington County.

Ask me Anything: Panel Dealing with the Rise of Millennials in the WorkplaceENTRADA ASometimes millennials are hard to deal with in the workplace, right? They’re entitled, needy, want a directors title, request high salaries the week after starting a new job… Well, Millennials are also here to stay and they are the future of your office or business. Instead of just “dealing” with millennials in the workforce, come hear from real life millennials directly about how to best engage and motivate this generation. As a bonus, you can ask this panel of impressive young leaders anything!

*We ask that you not feed the millennials, but if you must please ensure its organic and uses only natural ingredients*

Become a Partner and Economic Summit Sponsor

St. George Area Economic Development is a public/private partnership created to direct the economic development of Washington County and its cities. Your annual investment has a direct impact on our core functions:

Local Business Expansions

Recruitment of value-added businesses

Entrepreneurial Development

The Economic Summit boasts an annual attendance of over 800, and has a 23-year history of attracting the area’s top business and community leaders. Sponsorship is a great opportunity to be associated with southern Utah’s largest business conference.

Supporting local economic development as one of our Partners or Sponsors is a great opportunity for your organization to have a real and lasting impact on the community.

Annual Partnership: $1,200Economic Summit Sponsorship: $3,000

7

W

WW

.GR

OW

SG

A.C

OM

8 EC

ON

OM

IC S

UM

MIT

20

19

TITLE SPONSORS

9

W

WW

.GR

OW

SG

A.C

OM

Jeriah attended Dixie State University, earning his Bachelors in Business Administration. After working in the finance and banking industry here in Washington County for 7 years, he moved to Indiana and completed an MBA in Finance and his PhD coursework in the Education Leadership Program at Indiana State University. He is currently a PhD candidate and finishing his dissertation on “The Role of Higher Education in

Economic Development”.

During his time at Indiana State University Jeriah was the founding director for a business development program. His program created businesses that were run by students and faculty, providing experiential learning and jobs in the local economy. Businesses he created ranged from a health clinic to sports leagues. He also developed a public private partnership between the university and local care facilities to improve health care and improve retention of top medical students in rural areas.

In September of 2015, after completing his PhD coursework Jeriah returned home to southern Utah to become President & CEO of the St George Area Economic Development Office. During his first two years as Director he has overseen a rebranding of the economic development office, several business expansions, and multiple business recruitment projects.

He and his wife Tammy, live in Santa Clara and are raising four entrepreneurs who have already created several businesses of their own.

Rusty Hughes is the Vice President of St. George Area Economic Development. Rusty grew up hunting and fishing with her five siblings, mom, and dad (her hero) in northern Utah. Growing up she was always drawn to challenging hands-on activities where she could get her hands dirty and create or fix things. She studied auto me-chanics, welding, electronics, and building con-struction. She served in the United States Army

as a Communications Systems Specialist in a Military Police unit in Kitzengen, Germany.

Before moving to Washington County in 2001, Rusty owned and operated a security guard and cleaning business in San Diego. She spent just over three years working for an international nutraceutical company where she setup offices and provided training in Mexico City, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. Rusty completed her undergraduate studies in Business Finance at Dixie State University where she fell in love with data, metrics, and graphs.

Rusty is the mother of two children who are her inspiration for the work that she does to improve educational opportunities, employ-ment prospects, and make Washington County and the world a better place. In her free time, Rusty enjoys encouraging girls to explore STEM subjects, traveling adventures with her family, help-ing her friends and neighbors, and hiking beautiful southern Utah’s back country trails with her best friends --The Hiking Thugs.

ST GEORGE AREA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

Rusty Hughes Vice President 435-879-4399 rusty@growsga.comJeriah Threlfall President & CEO 435-652-7750 jeriah@growsga.com

“The summit is a great chance to make new connectionsand gain a lot of knowledge all at once. I always enjoy

the presentation on the state of our local economy,and the breakout sessions.”

- David S.

“It amazes me every year to see just how much is happening in Washington County. The amount of growth is incredible and it’s important to know what’s going on and what projects are in the

works. The summit helps me make better plans for my business.”- Terry W.

EVENT SPONSORS GARDEN ROOM SPONSOR

CLYDEC O M P A N I E S ®

12 EC

ON

OM

IC S

UM

MIT

20

19

Cache Valley Bank DATS TruckingColliers InternationalDixie PowerLinxDurham Jones & PinegarEDC Utah Fort Pierce Business ParkKen Garff St. George FordHinton Burdick CPAs & AdvisorsTDSSelect HealthSunRoc Corp.NAI ExcelDesert ColorDixie State UniversitySoltis Investment AdvisorsInfoWestDominion EnergyCanyon Media

State Bank of Southern UtahBusiness Resource CenterWatts ConstructionBonneville BuildersPeople’s Town and Country BankAssociated General ContractorsWells Fargo BankRed Rock BroadcastingSt. George NewsSpectrum MediaCherry Creek MediaWorker’s Compensation Fund of UtahSouthern Utah Home Builders AssociationGovernor’s Office of Economic DevelopmentMountain West Small Business Finance

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS

BOARD MEMBERS

Biff WilliamsPresident of

Dixie State University

Lowry SnowUtah State Representative,

District 74

Jon PikeSt George City Mayor and

Regional Operations Director for Select Health

Mari KrashowetzExecutive Officer of

Southern Utah Home Builders Association

LeDel LaubCEO of Dixie Power and Chairman of the Board

Linda BakerExecutive Director atHabitat for Humanity

of Southwest Utah

Dean CoxWashington County

Commissioner

JANUARY 10, 2019

www.growsga.com