61 minute read
THE HIVE
OGDEN’S POET LAUREATE, PROFESSOR ABRAHAM SMITH
The unpretty world of hick poetry
BY BLAKELY PAGE
THE POET ABE SMITH is an otherworldly and uncontainable presence. He thinks the label “hick” suits him just fine. For Smith, hick is a term of endearment, motivated by rural slang; he embodies and relishes the designation, wearing it like well-loved overalls.
When you ask Smith a question, his body rocks back and forth as if to keep the words from crawling out of his throat all at once. His performances have been likened to a display of demonic possession, which you can understand once you’ve met him. The tremoring, vibrato of his delivery is motivated by his rural background. His poetry performances are percussive and unpretty, a dirty Pentecostal revival, paired with spouting and spitting.
Smith doesn’t skirt the tragedies of rural America. His poetry and music bare all, without beautification. He speaks plainly about parts of the country dying at record rates from opioids, meth and suicide, “It’s a rough time for rural America.”
Raised between Wisconsin and Texas, Smith has a deep connection to the land of his youth, returning as often as he can to recharge the spirit. “Revisiting the sites of home and listening to the sounds and phrases of overheard conversations, then letting it
PHOTO ADAM FINKLE
ferment in my mind, percolate and then release in the kind of delirious way only poetry can do at some later day.”
Smith describes writers as “sweetly haunted people.” Though he now has a deep community responsible for healing much of his past sorrow, there’s a lingering melancholy from the isolation he experienced in his youth, living in the country without many kids nearby.
“All those feelings are places we often go back to, that place where trauma remains, writing from everly-afraid haunted places, bringing some pizazz to some older rusty times. A beautiful conundrum about life is that we’re alone, and we miss. Then we get into the hubbub of life; sometimes, we yearn for that older, pining, aching place.”
Smith has an impressive gallery of accomplices to both his poetry and music. His most recent book, Destruction of Man, was edited by Chet Weise and published by Jack White’s Third Man Books. He sees Weise as an incredible poet and a musician, who Jack White used to open for, but, he states, that people don’t
Destruction of Man by Abraham Smith (Third Man Books, 2018) available for purchase on Amazon
The Snarlin’ Yarns’ debut LP Break Your Heart is available in vinyl, CD and digital download at thesnarlinyarns.com
seem to like to talk about that any longer. One fateful night, Smith was invited to Third Man Records literary deathmatch and Weise was in the audience. The two would reunite at a Tuskaloosa party, reminisce and swap stories, eventually leading to a publication.
In the last few years, Smith has transposed his poetic skills to his other love, music, with his band, The Snarlin’ Yarns, alongside other musicians, several of whom are also Weber State professors. “Sure, there’s been ups and downs; a band is a family, creating a beautiful opportunity for empathy, listening and compromise. It’s been a great thing.” The band is getting ready to record their second album, heading back to Mississippi to Matt Patton’s (of the Drive-By Truckers) recording studio
When Smith isn’t traveling back to his rural home or practicing with his band, one is likely to find him conducting a poetry class in a tree. His classes at Weber State University approach poetry from a place of play and irreverence. He’s always been someone to encourage poets, particularly his students, to get outside and “catch the poetry.” “We’d stare at the tree and write a poem as an attempt to remind us that poetry doesn’t have to always come from our wounds or joys. Now, our wounds and joys might infiltrate the tree and be a part of the poem they created, but it’s fun to get out and use your eye, taking what is and learning about your community.”
As Ogden’s poet laureate, Smith helps create a community for poets to share their work at Water Witch’s poetry nights in Salt Lake, where you can also see him perform.
COSPLAY COUTURE
Fanatic passion inspires handmade fashion
BY CHRISTIE PORTER PHOTOS BY ADAM FINKLE
AWEALTH OF TALENT to rival any fashion designer lives in the world of cosplay—a portmanteau of “costume” and “play,” used to describe the people who don costumes and play-act like their favorite characters at comic conventions. In the case of the Utah cosplayers here, to call their works of art mere costumes seems, at best, an understatement and, at worst, an insult. These handmade garments, accessories and props are the culmination of intense planning, endless trial and error and hundreds of hours of labor. They’re not for sale and their creators likely won’t see any returns on their investment. For cosplayers, it’s about the love for each character and showing the world the physical embodiment of that love.
PRO TIP
While Moody’s Giselle cosplay has been hailed as screen accurate, Moody advises, “Just have fun with cosplay. Don’t worry too much about accuracy. It’s OK to take some shortcuts.”
Missy Moody is on Instagram @madamemoodycosplay
FANX 2021
To see cosplay up close, FanX, Salt Lake City’s very own comic convention, returns Sept. 16–18, 2021 to The Salt Palace Convention Center.
MISSY MOODY
GISELLE, ENCHANTED
Missy Moody has competed on the stage at comic conventions from Salt Lake City to New York in Giselle’s massive wedding gown from Disney’s Enchanted. The selftaught seamstress has remade the dress five times over the course of four years, eventually wearing it to her very own nuptials.
DETAILS
The diameter of the gown’s skirt started at 200 inches. “It wasn’t quite big enough,” says Moody. Now, it’s 210 inches. “I have to tip the dress sideways to get through doors, but it’s totally worth it. You can’t put yourself in a box with cosplay.” Those 210 inches are supported by a hoop skirt and a ruffle skirt, which is made from 200 yards of gathered organza. The overdress is satin, embellished with 15,000 sequins and jewels and 200 rhinestones, which demanded the majority of the estimated 400 hours of total labor. Moody used iridescent glitter glue (which had to cure for two weeks) to apply the finishing touches: more jewels, organza butterflies and fabric flowers.
INSPIRATION
While Moody says her inspiration comes from the obscure and surreal, she also loves extravagance and glamour. “And I didn’t want to have to wear a wig,” she adds, which guided her to the red-headed Disney princess, Giselle. “The Art of Disney book was also a big help,” she says.
PRO TIP
“Instead of sewing with invisible thread, I use fishing line,” says Dowdle. “It’s so much easier to work with.”
Gayle Dowdle is on Instagram @dowdledesign
GAYLE DOWDLE
QUEEN ELIZABETH I OF ENGLAND
Gayle Dowdle is the queen of renaissance fairs and comic conventions. Dowdle began cosplaying six years ago and has been planning to recreate Queen Elizabeth I ever since. She spent as many as 700 hours constructing the ensemble. She entered her cosplay into the FanX 2019 cosplay contest, winning first prize. Since, she has continued to make upgrades to the royal cosplay she has created. “My dress will never be finished,” she says.
DETAILS
Many of the gown’s details go unseen but provide the shape and structure of the dress. It begins with a simple shift, a pair-of-bodies (a steel-boned corset), farthingale (a wheel that supports the skirt’s wide hips) and a bum roll. The skirt and overdress are made of brocade fabric, embellished with sari trim, 300 yards of ribbon and 40,000 hand-beaded jewels, pearls, crystals and gems. She completes Elizabeth’s signature look with strings of pearls (a reference to pearl necklaces gifted to Queen Elizabeth by Robert Dudley), ruff, veils and crown. The wig is actually made of Dowdle’s own hair, which she cut off before beginning chemotherapy treatments last year. She says, “When I wear this wig, I don’t feel like Gayle with cancer, I just feel like Gayle again.”
INSPIRATION
“I fell in love with her making this dress,” Dowdle says of Queen Elizabeth. She pulls her inspiration for her Elizabeth I gown from the Ditchley Portrait—a 1592 portrait of the queen by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger. She also listens to Elizabeth biographies while she sews, bringing historical accuracy and authenticity to her pitch-perfect portrayal.
PRO TIP
“My advice for making chainmail? Don’t make chainmail.” If you absolutely must, Gabryszak suggests using a corkboard and pins to help stabilize your work.
Kimber Gabryszak cosplays with her friend Connie Misket on Instagram @kimber.and. connie.cosplay
KIMBER GABRYSZAK BRIENNE OF TARTH, GAME OF THRONES
Kimber Gabryszak sets a high bar for herself. “I love to be as screen-accurate as possible,” she says. Gabryszak has always loved costuming, “I was cosplaying before I realized what cosplaying was.” But she did not attend her first comic convention until 2015. She says, “Brienne is the most ambitious character I have ever cosplayed.” Gabryszak had to learn leatherworking, for example, but by far the most difficult undertaking was constructing the chainmail.
DETAILS
For Brienne’s chainmail shirt, Gabryszak wound metal wire into springs and cut thousands of individual rings, which she then had to link together by hand. “It’s like crocheting with metal rings instead of yarn,” she says. Gabryszak estimates she used 20,000 rings total in the chainmail. The armor is made from EVA foam. The skirt is comprised of 200 individually cut leather squares, each embellished with a custom stamp. Gabryszak sculpted the hilt of the sword based on a toy replica of the on-screen sword. She then made a mold, casted it in resin and coated the resin in gold powder. “Brienne’s sword is my pride and joy,” she says.
INSPIRATION
Gabryszak is drawn to offbeat, complex characters. “Not necessarily the most popular character. I like doing villains or people with a unique appearance who might not be as conventionally pretty,” she says. “Brienne is this tough, badass, giant, imposing woman.”
RYAN BIELIK
CALEB WIDOGAST, CRITICAL ROLE
“It was a demanding mistress,” Ryan Bielik says of his Caleb cosplay, his take on a character from the Dungeons & Dragons live-streaming sensation turned multimedia empire, Critical Role. Bielik started cosplaying in 2013 and typically attends three conventions per year. After the pandemic, his Caleb cosplay represents a return to form: an obsessive attention to detail. Bielik plans to publicly debut his Caleb cosplay this year at FanX, where he will also enter the cosplay contest.
DETAILS
At first glance, the colorful purple robes distract from the devilish details of Bielik’s cosplay. The lionshare of the 270-plus hours of labor were for the props and accessories. Bielik crafted all of the leather items from scratch: two belts, spell book, harness, leather bookcase, spell component pouch and purse. He hand carved runes and symbols into the leather pieces. “The spell book is the thing I am most proud of,” he says, drawing attention to the pages. He transcribed all of the character’s spells with ink and quill, totalling 60 pages. Bielik also sculpted, molded, cast and painted gold 100 resin coins. He achieved a clever fireball spell effect by sculpting the base shape in hot glue and placing an LED light inside. The component pouch is also filled with actual spell components (or, at least, the closest real world approximation).
INSPIRATION
“I wanted something elegant to do—flashy, colorful. Something with a lot of grace in the costume,” says Bielik. “That drove me to fantasy, and I’m a huge Critical Role fan.” Bielik, also a Dungeons & Dragons fan, chose to cosplay the adventuring party’s wizard.
PRO TIP
“An action figure is really helpful for making a costume,” says Bielik. “Because you can see the back and feet, which you can’t always see in official art.” Figures are often proportional as well, which can allow the costume to be scaled up from the model. “That is a life saver.”
Ryan Bielik is on Instagram @moody_kittens
A MANLY MAKEOVER
Now that we have your attention, let’s lose the gendered stuff
BY CHRISTIE PORTER
IN A SOCIETY THAT PRIZES machismo and often promotes toxic masculinity, not many dudes want to own up to getting facials or laser hair removal or breast reductions. But more and more men are getting cosmetic procedures and aesthetic treatments than ever before. So, maybe it’s about time we lose the machisma and the stigma?
Marina Helm has worked as a Master Medical Esthetician for 10 years. She’s spent the last four at Lucienne Salon, Spa and Boutique, and, in that time, she says she’s seen more men coming in and using the aesthetic services. “Laser hair removal, body treatments, facials for skin maintenance— men are joining the beauty industry more and more,” she says.
One of the top procedures Helm performs on men is called an EmSculpt. The device uses radio-frequency heating to strengthen muscles and burn fat. People ask her to firm up their abdomens, arms, legs and “A lot of toning of the buttocks,” says Helm. “A lot of those treatments are on male clients.” It sure beats doing squats, and it’s less invasive than liposuction or a sculpting lipo treatment that can arrange your fat cells to look like abs.
But, the procedure Helm performs the most, both on men and women, is microneedling. “It’s something I do a lot of, maybe five or six treatments a day,” says Helm. The procedure is basically what it
sounds like. A tiny needle pricks the skin of the face, stimulating the production of collagen and elastin in the body, which is supposed to create a more youthful appearance. Professionals are also seeing an uptick in men going for the surgical option as well: a good, old fashioned face lift.
Helm sees that men are getting more comfortable with the idea of being open about the cosmetic procedures they’ve received, but, “Some of them still want it to be a secret, but they are getting more involved,” says Helm.
In the end, it’s not about which procedures are meant just for men or just for women. The truth is, we’re all just trying to fit an ideal, so let’s be upfront and open about it.
Marina Helm is a Licensed Master Medical Aesthetician, PC Certified, Medical Laser Technician Skincare Specialist, Certified Microblading Eyebrows Artist and Body Contour Specialist.
LUCIENNE SALON, SPA AND BOUTIQUE
10690 S. River Front Pkwy, South Jordan, 801-601-8282 4709 W. Daybreak Pkwy Ste A, South Jordan, 801-280-9990 luciennesalon.com
DRAG HER
Utah embraces the art of female impersonation
BY JOSH PETERSEN
WHEN ROYAL COURT of the Golden Spike Empire was founded in 1976, Utah’s queer community needed a safe space to call home. “It started here as a social organization to support the community and create an opportunity for people to connect,” explains Peter Christie, who has been involved with RCGSE since the ’90s. Members performed drag to entertain each other and fundraise for local charities.
In the decades since RCGSE’s founding, LGBTQ life has changed dramatically in Utah. And as the community has changed, so has drag. “In the ’90s, it was very difficult to be paid as a drag performer, particularly here in Salt Lake,” Christie says. In recent years, the drag scene has exploded from weekend shows to brunches to touring productions. You don’t even need to go Downtown to see drag anymore—there are shows in Ogden, Park City and, yes, even Provo.
Perhaps nobody represents this shift better than Jason CoZmo. CozMo was born and raised in Magna, but he made his name as a celebrity impersonator in southern California, New York and Atlantic City. He became especially known for his Dolly Parton impersonation—on a Good Morning America
PIONEERING QUEEN
In the late 1800s, Italian opera singer Madame Pattrini was a favorite of Utahns, performing at music venues, church socials and even LDS President Lorenzo Snow’s birthday party. The catch? Pattrini was actually named B. Morris Young and the man behind the falsetto was one of Brigham Young’s sons. In 2017, Ogden’s Own Distillery released a specialty gin named after the 19th century diva. appearance, even the real Dolly couldn’t tell the difference between CoZmo and herself. When CoZmo moved back to Utah, he began to perform in local bars—straight bars. Now at Metro Music Hall, his show Viva La Diva has 40-50 performances per year.
CoZmo’s audience stretches beyond stereotypical drag superfans, and he’s proud of it. “I’ll make fun of the white trash from Kearns, the Mormon wives with their Botox from Herriman and the little gay bottoms on the front row,” he says. Viva La Diva is not explicitly political, but CoZmo hopes to share a message of acceptance with all kinds of people. “What other event would you go to where the bishop is sitting next to the drag queen and the Republican is sitting next to the Democrat, and they’re all having a great time?” he asks.
For local queens far removed from big-name TV shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race, drag remains an essential avenue for self-expression. This year at RCGSE’s annual Gay Pride Pageant, two queens, Horchata and eventual winner Tara Lipsyncki, competed for the title of Miss Gay Pride. Longtime members of RCGSE met with friends they’d known for decades and patiently explained to me the organization’s complex web of leadership roles and pageant titles. (Seriously, I’m still trying to figure it out.) In between the competition, current and former leaders—some in pageant gowns, some in jeans and a T-shirt—lipsynced to their favorite songs. It was all about as far from reality TV polish as you can get. But drag’s messy, beautiful origins were still intact—queer people, in community with each other, putting on a damn show.
PHOTOS COURTESY VIVA LA DIVA AND MADAME PATTRINI GIN
WANTED: STAIRWAY TO POWDER HEAVEN
Little Cottonwood transit solutions grand in scale. Are they short on impact?
BY TONY GILL
WHAT’S THE MOST dangerous animal in Utah? The red snake of death. The beast—formed of illuminated taillights writhing in seeming perpetuity on State Route 210 in Little Cottonwood Canyon (LCC) amid full-on powder panic—has become omnipresent in recent years, and it’s threatening to devour us all. The immense traffic pressure in the Cottonwood Canyons has fast become untenable as more people come in search of the world-famous Greatest Snow On Earth each year. In an effort to solve the problem, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) began an Environmental Impact Statement in 2018 in partnership with the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USFS).
The main alternatives in consideration are, one, enhanced bus service on a dedicated shoulder lane and, two, a gondola connection that runs from near the base of LCC to Snowbird and Alta. Each proposal comes with a price tag of more than half a billion dollars—much of it funded by the state. The goal of both is to reduce single occupancy vehicles on the road. It’d better work.
Gondolas and buses each have their merits and shortcomings. Buses, which would depart every five minutes and travel in dedicated lanes, offer the fastest travel time. On the other hand, the required infrastructure, including widened roads and large snowsheds to protect the road through avalanche prone sections, carries substantial environmental penalties. A gondola would run reliably regardless of the weather conditions and imposes less of an environmental burden, but would only riders going to Snowbird and Alta. Many dispersed recreation users (hikers, bikers, climbers, backcountry skiers, etc.)— who comprise an estimated half of LCC visitors— would be on their own, probably driving to the trailhead in single occupancy vehicles.
PHOTOS COURTESY GONDOLA WORKS
Renderings of the propsed parking structure and gondola station at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon Save Superior with the Gondola?
As a carrot to garner public support for the gondola solution and ease concerns over runaway development, Snowbird is offering to put more than 1,000 acres of unused land it holds in LCC into a conservation easement in partnership with Utah Open Lands. The protection of that land, which includes much of Mount Superior and the surrounding area, would offer some consolation for conservationists opposed to increased canyon infrastructure.
UDOT wrapped up its 45-day public comment period last month and is hoping to choose a solution before the end of the year. By many measures, the bus solution appears to be fighting an uphill battle. The road would need to be widened to 84 feet, which is roughly as wide as Highway 189 through Provo Canyon. That scale is unfathomable to those familiar with the geography of LCC, who are concerned about water quality for the rapidly-growing population along the Wasatch Front. “The erosion and increased turbidity (clouding) would impact the water supply for a million people. These are our watersheds and they’re congressionally mandated to be managed as such,” says Carl Fisher, executive director of the conservation group Save Our Canyons. The widened roads would also negatively impact the climbing population, Fisher says, by decimating some of the roadside climbing areas enjoyed by generations of climbers. Using public funding to prioritize one user group over another is rarely a good look.
“We don’t believe anything with tires on it is the answer,” says Dave Fields, General Manager of Snowbird, a member of the Gondola Works Coalition—the group which supports the gondola concept. “Highway 210 is the most avalanche prone road in the country, and it only works as well as the worst car on it.” Fields is far from an impartial commenter on the subject, but his observation is astute. One driver can slide off and back up the whole roadway, a frequent occurrence when AWD and chain rules aren’t enforced.
The gondola will work during heavy snowfall, is unaffected by avalanche activity in LCC, offers carbon-neutral operation and is frankly more elegant than a bus. “You have to ride a bus. You get to ride a gondola,” Fields notes. Still, nothing here is perfect. An angle station on the route would wipe out what is now Tanner’s Flat Campground, and parking capacity remains a problem. Current plans call for 1,500 paid parking spots at the gondola base, an inadequate number to serve the number of people that need to use the gondola to eliminate the target of reducing 50 percent of cars. Plus, a toll to help pay for gondola operation would be implemented for drivers in LCC, including dispersed recreation users whom the gondola does not serve.
There are valid concerns about the social equity of a publicly funded transit project that primarily benefits two private businesses, Snowbird and Alta, along with landowners where the base station will be built. Fisher questions whether the debate is actually occurring on a level playing field. “The bus alternative as proposed seems like it’s just there to run interference and clear the way for the gondola,” Fisher says. “Gondola proposals have been very politically popular, and that influences the way UDOT approaches the issue.”
The toughest question facing the $600 million decision is if it’s even solving the right problem. Adding canyon infrastructure to deal with crowds will ultimately lead to more crowds, thus requiring further infrastructure. “It’s a positive feedback loop, and that’s not sustainable,” Fisher says. “It doesn’t connect our communities to the resorts. It purely serves a political and economic development purpose. Even if it were successful, it doesn’t address Big Cottonwood Canyon, so we’d have to revisit the issue again.”
BY 2016, DAVID LOCKE SHOULD HAVE been satisfied. He was seven years into his dream job as the radio voice of the Utah Jazz, after more than two decades in sports talk radio in SLC and Seattle.
But at 46 years old, Locke wanted more. A new challenge. He looked around the media landscape and spotted a business opportunity—a network that would give sports fans a constant flow of shows about their favorite teams. Locke hosted his own daily show about the Utah Jazz and he wondered, “Why isn’t there one of these for every team?”
So he set out to build a national podcast network. On his summer vacation.
While Locke and his wife toured America in an RV, he spent his nights scouring the internet for talent, hunting for local bloggers and journalists willing to host a daily podcast. He called them, urging them to join the as-of-yetnonexistent Locked On podcast network.
Fueled by Locke’s relentless drive, the network took off—launching shows for every single NBA and NFL team later that year. Baseball, hockey and college sports followed. Over the next few years, advertising income grew, outside investors backed the venture and the network surged forward.
Soon, big media companies started to take note of what a hard-working NBA broadcaster had built during his free time.
Less than five years after it was born during a family RV trip, the Locked On podcast network produces 170 daily podcasts which are listened to nine million times each month.
“I don’t know of any other person who could have pulled this off,” says Locked On chief operating officer Carl Weinstein. “He has boundless energy and drive. It’s remarkable to create a company out of thin air.”
Locke’s tenacity was present immediately when he landed in Utah to ski after college. To get his first radio gig, he waited each morning in the lobby of the only AM sports radio station in Salt Lake City until the manager finally gave him his break.
Within just a couple of years, he was not only hosting his own call-in show but had been promoted to station manager. Young David Locke was brash, taking on outraged listeners who were eager to respond to the host’s latest provocation.
When Locke left Utah sports radio in 1998 for Seattle—he would work in radio and print there for nine years—Salt Lake Tribune sportswriter Gordon Monson penned a farewell column calling him “aggressive and aggravating, combative and bumptious, informed and self-satisfied.”
Locke winced when those words were read aloud to him at a cafe in Park City in May. He hopes, now age 51, he has matured since he was in his 20s. But, he points out, his style succeeded—those shows in the 1990s drew huge ratings.
THE NEW HOT ROD IN TOWN
The Utah Jazz hired Locke in 2009 to replace retiring broadcasting legend, Hot Rod Hundley, who had called the Jazz games for 35 years.
From the start, Locke innovated. He would cut from the game to highlights from other games happening around the country. While a player shot a free throw, he would insert a clip of an interview with a coach or a player. With evident pride, Locke says, “We changed how a game sounded on the radio.”
Even as Locke has added media mogul to his resume, he remains a passionate basketball broadcaster. “I get a huge thrill every night I call a game,” he says.
Locke doesn’t have a classic radio baritone—his tone is higher-pitched and raspier—but as the Jazz rallied back during the second half of Game 1 of the playoff series against Memphis in May, his voice rose with the intensity of the action on the court. After a key Bojan Bogdanovic three-pointer, Locke shouted, “Let’s see if that gets Bogey going! He’s very animated, backpedaling the other way, banging his chest, clenching his fists, flexing.”
His enthusiasm for the team—the Jazz enjoyed enormous success in 2020-21, ending the regular season with the NBA’s best record before falling to the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round of playoffs in June— is fed by his connection to its players and staff.
Like All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, who is just 24 but already the face of the franchise, with influence that stretches far beyond his sharpshooting. Last summer, during the peak of Black Lives Matter activism, Mitchell emerged as one of the NBA’s most thoughtful young stars, unafraid to speak openly about racism.
Locke applauds those efforts and believes Mitchell and other outspoken young stars in the NBA are “incredible human beings who happen to be great basketball players.”
He has a close relationship with Utah Jazz Coach Quin Snyder, who Locke has interviewed hundreds of times, along with countless conversations while traveling together on the road.
Locke calls the Jazz’ brash leader “the most brilliant person I’ve ever met” and says the coach is “a gift to me.” The pandemic disrupted sports broadcasting—Locke didn’t travel with the team this past season—and he mourns that lost time with his friend and colleague. “I miss him dearly,” Locke says, tearing up.
GAME CHANGER
Tegna, a company once part of the Gannett newspaper chain that owns 68 television stations around the country, bought the Locked On podcast network in January. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the sale price must have been in the millions.
Locke, who remains the network’s president, is eager to see what Locked On can do with Tegna’s resources. The network is looking at adding video and live programming. Perhaps the Locked On podcast network will, for example, offer live analysis of the NFL or NBA drafts, checking in with its local hosts, a hyper-local alternative to ESPN, available on your smart TV.
Locke worries he sounds like he’s bragging when he talks about his success. But in his quiet moments, he admits, he thinks about his legacy: “If I can leave the world with a happy wife, with two happy kids, and I’ve made some changes to the way sports talk radio is done, the way that NBA play-by-play is done, the way podcasting is done, that would be awesome.”
LET’S MAKE IT WEIRD
Strange Scenes Along Scenic Byway 89
BY CHRISTIE PORTER
INSIDE THE “JEWEL OF KANAB,” the first modern home in Kane County, feels more like a mausoleum than a museum, preserving the remains of the day-to-day life of Mormon polygamist settlers, down to the home’s original furniture. Around every corner, I expect to find a 19th-century ghost, hunched over a writing desk, gazing out one of the wide windows, and it would feel perfectly natural, even mundane. After all, I am the intruder here.
The 127-year-old home has been restored and transformed into the Kanab Heritage House Museum (115 S. Main Street, kanabheritagehouse.com). My museum guide, Tina, acts surprised when I show up for the tour as if I am the only visitor she has seen in days. When the tour starts, it is just the two of us. She conducts me through each room with hushed tones. I wonder who she is afraid will overhear her. In the dining room, Tina proudly shows me a family photograph of the home’s inhabitants as if it were a picture of her own brood. The photograph hangs above one of the many fireplaces, the frame stretching from one end of the mantle to the other to make room for the six wives of Thomas Chamberlain (a wool merchant) and their 55 children.
In the dining room also hangs a photograph of Chamberlain in black and white stripes, in prison for the crime of polygamy. Beside it, is a picture of five women standing: the newly-elected 1912 mayor, Mary Woolley Chamberlain, and the city council of Kanab. It was the first time in the history of the United States that a town council and mayor were comprised entirely of women—eight
PHOTOS CHRISTIE PORTER
ABOVE: Kanab Heritage House Museum TOP: Toadstool Hoodoos LEFT: Moqui Cave enterance
LEFT: Smokin’ Hot Antiques & Collectibles at The Old Firehouse BELOW: Inside the Heritage House
years before it would become legal for any of them to vote in the U.S.
When Tina takes me upstairs and shows me where the children slept (original bed, antique dolls and all). I ask if I can stay the night. She instead recommends a couple of local B&Bs in similarly preserved turn-of-thecentury homes.
KANAB (START HERE)
Historic tableaus like that are on full display all over Kanab. Just like the actors who once graced the sets of the westerns that gave it the nickname “Little Hollywood,” Kanab has been through more than a few costume changes. Chamberlain’s descendants owned and operated the nearby Moqui Cave (4581 Hwy. 89, moqui-cave.com). The natural sandstone cave was once used as a bar and dance club to entertain the stars of Little Hollywood. Parts of the original bar are still there, but the rest of the space is now dedicated to an eclectic array of Native artifacts, dinosaur tracks, football memorabilia and glowing rock collections. It’s as weird as it sounds. Nearby, there are two short, but worthwhile, hikes to the Belly of the Dragon and Moqui Caverns, located along the same stretch of Highway 89.
Kanab’s reputation as a perfect starting point for adventures in Southern Utah has forced the desire to preserve its small-town vibe into conflict with the need to accommodate its ever-growing tourism industry. It’s facing labor and home shortages and rising housing prices. While not everyone who lives there is happy about its effects, its reputation is well-earned. Kanab is the lynchpin of the Grand Circle, within spitting distance of Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, the Grand Canyon’s North Rim and Lake Powell.
OFF THE PATH (BUT NOT TOO FAR)
If you don’t stay in Kanab, there are plenty of places around to camp, but that doesn’t mean you have to rough it. About one hour east, along Highway 89, a new luxury campsite by Under Canvas has popped up on the rim of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. And it is on the rim of an actual canyon. The on-site concierge directs me to a number of hiking trails spiraling outward from the campsite into hidden sandstone slot canyons. You’re also perfectly poised to head deeper into the National Monument and just minutes away from the Glen Canyon Recreational Area and Lake Powell.
The nearby BLM Big Water Visitor’s Center can also assist in the launch of any outdoor adventures. The Ghost Town Pahreah trail is a must for anyone as fascinated with abandoned, potentially haunted things as I am. It is a four-mile, out-and-back trail not far off of Highway 89. The eponymous Pahreah, or Paria, was another Mormon settlement, eventually abandoned by its inhabitants after one too many hardships. Terrible
Wild Thyme Cafe
Where to Eat: Kanab
Kanab Creek Bakery (238 W. Center St., kanabcreekbakery. com) keeps the case full of laminated pastries and the coffee fresh and hot, which you can take to-go or sip while sitting with a croque for breakfast. For lunch, Wild Thyme Cafe (198 S. 100 East, wildthymekanab.com) sources much of their menu from their own organic gardens. Their specialty bowls come in varieties like Yellow Curry and Falafel over tasty coconut rice. And for dinner, try the offering of French home-style food— an intriguing find in Southern Utah—at Vermillion 45 (210 S. 100 East, vermillion45.com).
Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase
yearly flooding that washed away crops and homes proved to be the last straw. It saw second life for a short time as a backdrop for western films, but film crews likewise struggled with the periodic flooding. So much so, they built their own staged Old Western town not far away, which you can also visit.
If you like your strange sights to be a little more ancient, it’s a two mile out-and-back hike for the Toadstool Hoodoos. Keeping on Highway 89, there is only one place in the Glen Canyon Recreational Area where you can camp just feet from the water and
Horseshoe Bend
swim, and boat and ride. In addition to out-of-place stretches of soft, sandy beaches, Lone Rock Beach Campground offers spectacular views, the centerpiece of which is the aforementioned Lone Rock—a monolithic pillar of sandstone, carved out by water over millennia. For an even more stunning vista, Horseshoe Bend Lookout is an easy mile hike from the parking lot in Page, Ariz. and could not be more worth the money to park.
On the way, you can stop at the Glen Canyon Dam Overlook to see up close the manmade marvel generating five billion kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power annually to keep lights on in much of the Western United States. It’s probably also haunted, as 17 workers died on the job during its 10-year construction. (A fitting monument to dedicate to Ladybird Johnson, I suppose.) You can see where some of those workers used to live, and even sleep where they slept, in one of the mid-century motels on the aptly named Street of Little Motels in Page.
ON THE WAY BACK (TAKE A PIECE OF IT WITH YOU)
If you’re returning to the Wasatch Front or points north, don’t go by way of I-15 unless you have to. Instead, stay on Scenic Byway 89. Besides, the trip is not over until you have a souvenir to take home. Skip the many gift shops and rock shops (or not, rock heads) and instead, acquire something with a little history to commemorate the experience. Go for the antique shops. Almost every town you drive through on Highway 89 will have one.
Not far past the turn-off for Scenic Byway 12 and Bryce Canyon (an adventure for another time), I hitch my horse in Panguitch and I am not disappointed. The small historic Main Street is home to Smokin’ Hot Antiques & Collectibles at the Old Firehouse (38 N. Main St.), which, as advertised, is inside an old Firehouse. The employees are friendly and helpful in their way, so I spend hours inside, picking over cracked leather cowboy and rancher gear, handmade beaded purses, tiffany lamps and more tin crockery than anyone could ever need. In the end, I go home with the creepiest antique doll I can find.
Where to Stay
Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Stair-
case has luxury canvas safari-style tents with working showers and toilets as well as dining options on-site. 555 S. Jacob Tank Rd., Big Water, 888-496-1148, undercanvas.com
Purple Sage Inn is a redone turn-of-thecentury home built in 1884. 54 S. Main Street, Kanab, 435-644-5377, purplesageinn.com
Grand Circle Bed & Breakfast is another converted home built in 1912. 250 N. 100 West, Kanab, 435-644-8008, grandcirclebnb.com
Quail Park Lodge is a classic ’50s hotel, redone. 125 N. 300 West, Kanab, 435644-8700, quailparklodge.com
Cave Lakes Canyon offers tipis, hogans and conventional rooms, 435-644-3812, cavelakescanyon.com
Canyons Hotel, a boutique hotel, 190 N. 300 West, Kanab, 435-644-8660, canyonshotel.com
On the Water: Lake Powell
Lake Powell was created when the Glen Canyon Dam was built in 1963. The lake’s shore is the red rock spires of what was once Glen Canyon and all those nooks and undulations add up 2,000 miles of shoreline which is more than the combined states on the Pacific Coast. It is best explored on the water.
The Lake Powell resort at Wahweap Marina is the perfect base to explore the lake. The resort, situated on a bluff overlooking the lake offers beautiful views as well as a selection of rentals and tours to get you out on the water.
PHOTOS: (HORSESHOE POINT) ADOBE STOCK; (UNDER CANVAS) COURTESY UNDER CANVAS
arolynCTannerIrish
1940 – 2021
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved leader on June 29, 2021
Carolyn led O.C. Tanner for 26 years as Chair of the Board and was a passionate supporter of the jewelry stores. Our beautiful flagship store is a direct result of her desire to continue her father’s dream of having the most beautiful jewelry store in America. She was a strong leader, had a compassionate soul, and a generous heart.
Under her leadership, the company purchased and renovated the historic Hansen Planetarium building to become the home of O.C. Tanner Jewelers' flagship store. She rightfully viewed this as a gift to the city.
INFLUENTIALWOMEN IN BUSINESS
Salt Lake magazine’s “Women in Business” is an acclaimed and respected part of our September/October issue. Over the years, we have profiled and spotlighted successful women business leaders across the state. At this point in history, when so many women are community and business leaders, you could ask why we still feel the need to highlight Utah women-led businesses?
While increasing every year, the current ratio of women to men business owners in Utah is 1 in 5. Our state is lower than the national average of 1 in 3 women to men privately owned businesses. How is it that in Utah, women account for the creation of 60% of all new companies and still trail men in ownership? These numbers don’t add up—but they do tell us something.
Without going on and on with a list of why about patriarchy, me-too and misogyny, let’s read between the lines: Women who hold the title of owner are statistical outliers. Even with resources and assistance available, the message doesn’t always reach those who need it to hear it; unfortunately, many women-operated businesses lack funding and thus can’t continue to develop as required and die out.
As leaders, our women in business are shining examples of success. Here they share insights of their entrepreneurial journey so others like them can follow their lead.
ALPHA-LIT SLC & POP! PARK CITY
alphalitletters.com (435) 757-2605 saltlake@alphalitletters.com Instagram: @alphalitslc popparkcity.com (435) 640-6920 and (435) 901-1614 hello@popparkcity.com Instagram: @popparkcity
JULIE JOHNSON, JENNIFER BARBER & SARA TURNER
THE PARTY LADIES OF SALT LAKE CITY
With constant events, like a revolving door of weddings, happening throughout Utah at any given time, it’s a wonder there wasn’t anything like Alpha Lit in Salt Lake City 18 months ago. “Utah has all these event venues and creative people. I thought it would be perfect here,” says Julie Johnson, who, seeing the possible demand, seized the opportunity and brought the first Alpha Lit to Salt Lake City. The company rents out three-foot tall illuminated letters, symbols and numbers to create bright, unforgettable displays, and it’s given Johnson an opportunity she’s never had before: to quit her day job and become her own boss. “Having the ability to own my own business and make my own schedule is something I always wanted to do. That was a path that I wanted to pursue,” she says. Now she co-owns Alpha Lit locations in L.A. and Jackson Hole as well as Salt Lake City. Johnson even uses the Alpha Lit for her events in her personal life. For her fiance’s birthday, she teamed up with Jennifer Barber and Sara Turner of Pop! Park City to create a display around her fiance’s gift: a brand new motorcycle. “It was legendary,” says Johnson, gushing over Pop! Park City’s elaborate balloon displays. Mother-daughter duo Turner and Barber of Pop! Park City strives to create the “premiere bespoke balloon experience,” including hand-lettered balloons, balloon installations and event rentals. For them, it’s all about elevating their clients’ special events. Like Turner and Barber, Johnson is grateful to be able to celebrate with their customers, even in a small way. “A daughter reached out for us to spell out ‘cancer free,’’’ says Johnson, describing one of their most memorable events. “We set it up on her mom’s lawn as she came back from her last cancer treatment. It was one of the most special things we’ve ever been apart of. We became part of their family for a night.” “We have such happy products,” Johnson says. “It should be a breeze and a joy. It’s supposed to be a celebration for you or somebody you love. So we try to make it as joyful as possible from start to finish.”
CACHE TOFFEE COLLECTION
cachetoffee.com (863) 333-5453 Instagram: @cachetoffee
LORI DARR
FOUNDER
We know the feeling. You’re walking through Harmon’s or Whole Foods and suddenly you see it. Wrapped in luminous gold packaging, that creamy, crunchy, meltin-your-mouth toffee bursting with pecans or pistachios, dried cranberries, layered and drizzled with rich artisan chocolate and sprinkled with sea salt—it calls to you. Let it, because Lori Darr’s Cache Toffee Collection is not only locally made in Salt Lake City, Utah, it’s handcrafted in small batches using fresh butter, renowned Solstice Chocolates and an array of high-quality natural ingredients for out-of-this-world flavor. “I learned the art of toffee making from my mother, who made it for our family and friends during the holidays,” Lori says, adding that she continued the tradition of toffee gifts for loved ones. Her creative juices began flowing, however, taking inspiration, she says, from Utah’s beautiful seasons, her garden, and her love for spices and good food. “I love putting my own spin on toffee—like adding spices, marinating dried fruits in brandy, adding pumpkin seeds, a touch of lime sea salt—creating unique taste sensations is my passion”. Once she started, Lori says she couldn’t stop, because friends and family kept asking for more. “I continue to work out the perfect balance of ingredients and temperature, experimenting with flavor and texture combinations until I get the recipes just right,” she says. The clamor for her confections compelled her to launch Cache Toffee Collection in 2016. Her first retail customers were Mick Chandler at Bon Appetit and the Market at Park City. She quickly expanded into the hospitality industry at the St. Regis, Stein Eriksen Lodge, and the Grand America Hotel and from there into grocery stores like The Store in Holladay. But demand quickly outstripped supply, and Lori decided to move operations into her custom-designed commercial kitchen, expanding her team and introducing her products into other retail stores beyond Utah’s borders in Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. Cooking and sharing her creations is Lori’s way of showing love— that’s why building Cache Toffee Collection has been so rewarding. The fact that her toffees have received Gold and Bronze medals at the last two Chocolate Alliance global festivals, or that Nordstrom chose to sell her toffee at their stores as one of only a handful of “guest artisan vendors”, is merely the icing on the cake—or rather the drizzle on the toffee. As Lori says, “with eleven varieties and more scrumptious flavors on the way, now there’s a toffee for every sweet and savory tooth, every season, and every occasion.” If you run into her, she’ll no doubt give you her winning smile and likely offer you a taste of her newest creation. “My joy in sharing what I am excited about motivates me, so it’s fun for me to reach out and say, ‘Try this one!’”
CUTLER INVESTMENT GROUP
(801) 783-1833 Cutler.com
SUSAN NIEDWICK
CFP®, SENIOR WEALTH MANAGEMENT ADVISOR
One of the most satisfying aspects of Susan (Taylor) Niedwick’s work as a Senior Wealth Manager with Cutler Investment Group is helping people see the forest in spite of the trees. “There is a season for everything, fluctuations both in the market and, of course, in life,” she says, adding that helping clients get back on their feet after a divorce or the death of their spouse is especially rewarding. “I can help them focus on where they want to go from here, and life can feel manageable again.” As a full-time wealth advisor managing a home with two teenage daughters, Susan knows firsthand about life’s tendency to throw curveballs and she feels a deep sense of responsibility to help those in her path become financially literate. “Understanding the value of money can add to a life with intentional savings and investments or subtract from life with mindless debt and living paycheck to paycheck,” says Susan, who’s own financial lessons began as a young girl growing up in Salt Lake City. “I remember tracking mutual fund investments with my dad on graph paper and helping my mom write checks and organize the family finances.” Now 25 years in the industry, the University of Utah grad heads up Cutler Investment Group’s office in Southern California, servicing western states including Utah. She helps individuals create and maintain wealth, and helps businesses set up and manage retirement plans. “The fact that I am also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ allows me to dig deeper into the whole financial picture for all my clients,” she says, adding that she is especially passionate about teaching other women keys to money management. “I’ve always been in the minority as a female advisor and I recognize that I bring a unique perspective to women investors.” She also acts as a fiduciary which means her advice is in the client’s best interest. Susan says she tries to live by the simple words of Fred Rogers: “Real strength has to do with helping others.” She believes her greatest asset is acting as the voice of reason, steering folks toward sound, diversified investment plans rather than headline-grabbing investments where too often, the bottom falls out. “We all work hard to earn money, I want to help people grow it so they can retire exactly how they plan.”
ESTABLISH DESIGN
3233 S. 900 East, SLC 801-467-1268 establishdesign.com Instagram: @establishdesign
KIMBERLY RASMUSSEN & ELIZABETH WIXOM JOHNSEN
CO-OWNERS/PRINCIPAL DESIGNERS
AAlthough both Kimberly Rasmussen and Elizabeth Wixom Johnsen boast interior design’s educational accolades, nothing can replace 25 collective years of experience, as well as an eye for style and the ability to discern the needs and desires of each client. Their company, Establish Design, employs every aspect of creating custom homes—from architecture to interior details to furnishings.
“We offer a true collaboration from architecture down to accessories. Our projects are tailored to a life, a story and a vision,” says Kimberly, who sees the opportunity for refinement in every space—offering clients a gathering of treasured fabrics and custom furniture, art and accessories—all with the aim of elevating and enhancing the established vision at hand. “This isn’t about getting through a to-do list, we offer an exhilarating journey to clients where their vision fuses with our expertise to create something special.” Co-owner and Principal Design partner, Elizabeth, agrees, adding that the process of creating a thoughtful home is thrilling not just for the client, but for the entire team. “Each detail is weighed in the balance of the realization of someone’s vision,” she says. “A home is not simply made of sticks and bricks but built by breathing life into ideas and dreams.”
The designers founded the company, formerly Elizabeth Kimberly Design, in 2006 after recognizing not just a common aesthetic but also a common set of values. Guided by their love for family, friends and all things beautiful, they saw new potential for growth working side by side. Elizabeth had spent years working as an interior designer for an established firm while Kimberly’s training in business administration and finance, as well as in interior design helped them meet the ever-growing demand and bring on top-of-their-craft team members.
People are the most important element in the home design process. “Some clients come with clear ideas and desires and look to us to distill the many fragments into a clearly established, consistent vision for their project,” Elizabeth says. “Other clients look to us to present possibilities from which they can adopt and create a style all their own. Nothing brings more joy than to create for your family a place that will nurture and build your loved ones for years to come. Carefully considering dreams, tastes, values, memories and traditions set us on the path of creating homes that speak of our clients and their people”
Kimberly says she considers caring for her family of six as one of her highest qualifications. “Nothing beats practical experience when choosing items or personalizing design solutions,” she says. “I always have efficiency, longevity and operation in mind.”
The company’s growth over the past 15 years is celebrated with a new building in the Millcreek area, with competition anticipated for next spring.
INSIDE OUT ARCHITECTURALS INC.
3410 S. 300 West, SLC Insideoutarchitecturals.com
LEAH J. WYNN
OWNER
Leah Wynn couldn’t have guessed that a research assignment about decorative tile would lead to a lifelong passion. “I worked as an intern during my senior year of college for a designer trade showroom,” she says. “One day, someone from a company specializing in tile and fireplace parts came in to ask if we could help his company properly price its three-dimensional cast tiles.” No one at her firm had answers, so, in the grand tradition of internships, Leah was assigned to slog through heaps of information in order to correctly price the tile. “I did so much research on it that I decided to make it my school project,” she says. “But in the process, I came to really love the artistic beauty of tile and recognized its boundless creative possibilities.” During Leah’s digging two decades ago, she found it hard to find a showroom in Utah dedicated to handcrafted tile—although so many tile artisans were creating lovely pieces. At the same time, demand for specialized tile was increasing as historically accurate home renovations in Salt Lake’s older neighborhoods—especially among arts-and-crafts style homes, became commonplace. She convinced the owners of the firm to bring in two arts-and-crafts lines and pursue other interesting tiles as well as customization options. By the time the owners retired in 2007 and left their business to Leah, Inside Out Architecturals (IOA) was best known as a decorative tile showroom, pushing tile’s usual boundaries well beyond backsplashes, fireplaces and showers—thanks, in many ways, to Leah’s expertise. Under her direction, Leah transformed IOA into a retail showroom, with a team that not only advises clients but often creates layouts and tile compositions for everything from impactful focal points to finishes to space delineation. “The tile world has changed so much in the last 20 years,” says Leah, who has pioneered work in tile layout design, becoming an artist in her own right. “I have been very fortunate to see tile go from simple and sterile to exciting and innovative.” The company is a playground of creativity, boasting over 40 exclusive tile lines ranging from handmade ceramics to glass, leather, metals and porcelain. It also showcases multidimensional elements such as 3D designs, hand-carved and inlaid tile and offers a wide selection of other architecturals from metal screens to corbels. “The showroom at IOA is more like an art gallery,” Leah says. “You might find you want to wander for a while. It’s pretty fascinating to take in all the possibilities.”
K GROUP UTAH
2180 S. 1300 East #140, SLC (801) 558-5063, (801) 368-3430 kgrouputah.com Instagram: @kgrouputah
KARYN LUKE & KIMBERLY PEINE
REALTORS, FOUNDERS
When Don and Lynda came to realtor Kimberly (Kim) Peine looking to relocate to Utah, they were facing a heart-breaking situation. Their adult daughter was battling cancer for the third time, and they were looking for a home close to hers where they could offer her family help and support. “Kim drove us around for those two entire days,” reads the couple’s letter of appreciation. “She listened carefully to our needs and concerns—never rushing us, and always willing to show us another house when we just weren’t satisfied.” Kim Peine and Karyn Luke, founders of K Group, recognize that the decision to buy a home is stressful, emotional and likely the biggest purchase of one’s life—even in more traditional circumstances. Making themselves available to clients, they say, is an important part of their job. “We want to help as many people as we can to have a piece of the American dream,” says Karyn. “We know our industry expertise is vital, but we’ve tried to remember the most important part of any transaction is the human touch.” Kim and Karyn were friends long before they were business partners. Entering the real estate industry, they each had a unique skill set to enhance their profession. “My work in sales and interior design and Kim’s background in banking led us to recognize an opportunity,” says Karyn. “We merged our strengths to create a different, full-service real estate team.” K Group professionally stages each listing and uses proven marketing strategies to sell homes quickly. The team negotiates the purchase contract, arranges financing, oversees the inspections, handles all necessary paperwork and supervises the closing. “We do our homework, studying market trends and we have an incredible team of lenders and title professionals,” says Kim. “Most importantly, we think of our clients like family.”
Affiliated real estate agents are independent contractor sales associates, not employees. ©2020 Coldwell Banker. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker logos are trademarks of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. The Coldwell Banker® System is comprised of company owned offices which are owned by a subsidiary of Realogy Brokerage Group LLC and franchised offices which are independently owned and operated. The Coldwell Banker System fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.
K ROCKE INTERIOR DESIGN/ GLASS HOUSE
3910 S. Highland Dr., Millcreek 801-274-2720 Krockedesign.com Instagram: @krockedesign
KRISTIN ROCKE
PRINCIPAL, INTERIOR DESIGNER
Designer Kristin Rocke’s magic lies in her ability to conjure solutions from thin air. Owner of the award-winning design firm K Rocke Design, she says her greatest challenge and deepest satisfaction comes from giving the client what they want before they know they want it. “We work on entire homes from the ground up starting with interior architecture, materials and detailing all the way to finish details,” she says of her all-female leadership team. K Rocke is most experienced with new-build residences, energized by working with architects, contractors, and clients. Rocke adds that she also gets excited about remodels. “I’m a solutions person, and remodeling is all about unmasking ideas and solutions.” However, with awards including “Top 10 Designers to Watch” by Traditional Home and features in Utah Style and Design, Luxe, House Beautiful, Florida Design, Boca Design, Park City magazine and The Salt Lake Tribune, K Rocke Interior Design has moved beyond merely problem-solving and into the realm of astonishment. “You can find ideas on Pinterest, you can find solutions in magazines, but my clients want to be taken somewhere unexpected,” she says. Her art lies in tapping each one’s individuality and creating a space where form and function harmonize into an exuberant life. “A home and its contents are the ultimate manifestations of human expression. How we live influences who we are.” While you’ll find K Rocke’s residential and hospitality work gracing numerous structures in Deer Valley, Park City and elsewhere statewide, it also boasts a coast-to-coast and international presence. Her team’s design work can be found in places as diverse as a renovated Manhattan apartment to the Rancho Santana resort in Nicaragua, five ski resort lodges, to the Lion’s Club and Audi Executive Club at the Rio Tinto Stadium. In an industry saturated with creative minds, those who also possess a “get it done” ethos rise above, says Kristin, who attributes the firm’s success “during the best and worst of times” to both her team’s artistry and their dogged work ethic. “It’s part of what makes us truly stand out,” she says. Kristin expanded her business to include Glass House, a curated boutique featuring unique, and unforeseen items to elevate tastes. Glass House sells original, ever-changing art, contemporary light fixtures, rugs and eye-catching baskets, pillows, vases and planters.
LUCIENNE SALON
RIVERPARK LOCATION
10690 S. River Front Pkwy., South Jordan 801-601-8282
DAYBREAK LOCATION
4709 W. Daybreak Pkwy., Ste A, South Jordan 801-201-9990
luciennesalon.com IG: @luciennesalon.spa.boutique
SHEILA ITOKAZU
FOUNDER
Sheila Itokazu says she originally founded Lucienne Salon & Spa five years ago with her husband, John, to stay connected to their two daughters, Candice Itokazu and Staci Itokazu-Scripter, both of whom worked in the beauty and wellness industry. “We definitely felt like there was an opportunity to do something special given our daughters’ expertise and passion for the business,” says Sheila. “That was the beginning of our journey.” As with any new business, getting Lucienne off the ground came with challenges that the Itokazus faced together, including developing a business plan, surveying the market, finding the perfect location and refining their negotiation skills. When John took another position with a local company, however, Sheila faced running the company on her own. “I needed a lot of support stepping into that role those first few years, I really depended on John,” Sheila remembers. “In time, I came into my own, developing the confidence I needed to run my own business. It’s hard work but also rewarding and fun.” Surrounding herself with the right people—including her daughters and other team members who share her vision and remain enthusiastic about educating themselves on industry topics and trends, she says, has also been key to Lucienne’s growth. “Now with two locations, we’ve grown from a fullservice salon into a spa, med spa and boutique,” says Sheila, listing offerings from hair services, body contouring and laser hair removal to chemical peels, massage and injectables. “We want to stay on the cutting edge by making sure we implement the latest tools, treatments and products available at competitive prices.” Although starting a new business came with its share of difficult choices, one easy decision, says Sheila, was choosing a name for the company. “We are all about gracefully inspiring change—we want to encourage clients towards a gradual, elegant, patient approach rather than an instant, dramatic or harsh one,” she says. Her mother-in-law, Lucienne, who passed away in 2008, was not only generous and kind, according to Sheila, she was the embodiment of beauty, grace and elegance. “She was everything I hope to personify as a business owner and everything we hope to inspire in our clients.”
NAME DROPPERS
MAIN STORE
3355 S. Highland Drive, SLC 801-486-1128
OUTLET STORE
2350 E. Parley’s Way, SLC 801-474-1644
shopnamedroppers.com Instagram: @namedroppers
TIFFANY COLAIZZI
FOUNDER
Name Droppers is a high-end designer resale boutique specializing in women’s and men’s designer luxury clothing and accessories and was founded in 1995 by Tiffany Colaizzi. Tiffany’s love for people and fashion has led her to create the perfect place to shop for any occasion or event. When you walk into Name Droppers you may feel like you’ve just entered a high-end designer boutique. “Don’t be fooled by the beauty of the shop— the deals are there!” Tiffany says. Items are priced half to a third of retail prices. Most clients stop by often, as new items are put out daily. (Follow the store on Instagram @namedroppers where Tiffany and her team post first looks at the new arrivals.) Tiffany and her team of expert stylists make you feel like family upon arrival. They also have in-house styling available to help you find your perfect look. If you are looking to resell some of your gently used designer goods, Name Droppers works on a consignment model. The higher end your items are, the higher the commission. Not everything in the shop is gently loved, however. They also carry brand new inventory. Name Droppers receives merchandise daily from individuals, boutiques and reps from all over the country. “That’s why Name Droppers is so special, you never know what you’ll find,” Tiffany says. “Name Droppers has something for everyone!”
PROTIP
On the last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of every month, Name Droppers has a 50-percent off clearance sale at both locations.
SKIN SPIRIT
160 E. 2100 South, SLC 385-343-5300 skinspirit.com Instagram: @skinspirit
LIBBY BAUMAN
RN, (CANS) AESTHETIC NURSE SPECIALIST
Libby Bauman, RN, says she loves being affiliated with a company run by women who understand their largely-women clientele-after all, women undergo approximately 87% of the minimally invasive cosmetic procedures administered in the United States, according to the American Med Spa Association’s 2019 Medical Spa State of the Industry Report. “I love that SkinSpirit recognizes the unique role of women in this business and seeks to build careers,” she says. “We pride ourselves on hiring those with strong and specialized medical backgrounds, all of whom have the unique ability to empathize and understand those we serve.” According to the American Med Spa Association, medical aesthetics is a uniquely women-run business both on the corporate side and on the treatment side, especially when compared to other industries in the medical field. “Women administer treatments, own practices, run advocacy groups and even oversee the companies that provide medical supplies to the practices. The women of the industry help create a level of empathy and understanding with their predominantly female patients that result in meaningful experiences for all involved.” The certifications and degrees of the practitioners at SkinSpirit could fill a wall, and that makes a big difference, says Libby, an Aesthetic Nursing Specialist certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons with over 11 years of experience. She specializes in cosmetic injectables like Botox, Dysport and fillers and knows a weekend training seminar is no substitute for years of medical experience. “SkinSpirit is a national company that prides itself not only on a highly-trained staff but one encouraged to experience treatments themselves and share their feedback with clients,” she says.”I can’t tell you what a difference that makes in terms of more favorable and beautiful, science-based results with far less pain.” CEO and Co-Founder Lynn Heublein is an inspiration to Libby, whom she says transformed medical aesthetics into its own industry when she started Skinspirit in 2002. Together with M. Dean Vistnes, MD, Heublein grew the company from one location in Palo Alto, CA to 17 SkinSpirit locations in California, Texas, Utah and Washington. Libby says she’s grateful to work for a company that takes care of its employees and values the work of its staff. Although the pandemic created challenges for Libby and others, SkinSpirit took care of them. “Many of us are head of household women and fully supporting our families,” she says. “SkinSpirit wanted to make sure we were looked after, and that means a lot.”
SME INDUSTRIES, INC.
5801 W. Wells Park Rd., West Jordan 801-280-0711 smesteel.com
MONET JOHNSON
VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING
Joining SME Steel in 2010, Monet spearheaded marketing, public relations, business development and community outreach program for one of the largest and preeminent fabricators/erectors of structural steel in the nation. With a background in commercial development, the mother of six went back to school to finish her degree after the economic collapse of 2008—all while working full time and raising her children. “The position I hold now didn’t exist until changes in the construction market demanded it,” says Monet, citing the nowcomplex bidding process as just one example of the industry’s rapid evolution. Her work involves messaging across multiple platforms such as web development, social media, digital marketing, advertising, executive-level communications and published articles. “I was drawn to marketing due to the research component,” she says, pointing to the business development process as her source for inspiration. “I have a very strong skill set in researching, writing and compiling data into meaningful presentations. I believe one of my greatest strengths lies in being able to see the challenges and the bigger picture at the same time.” Monet says leadership takes mindfulness, and she tries to incorporate her core values in her practice. These include being confident in herself and empowering others to do the same; being accessible and authentic while honoring others’ authenticity; being a fair and transparent decision-maker and being tough-minded on performance standards while remaining compassionate with individuals. “Commercial development, building projects, and teambuilding coupled with the ability to create, inspire and delight are daily motivators for me,” she says. “It’s highly rewarding to watch someone’s vision and dream become a reality, participate in the fulfillment, and celebrate the successful delivery together.”
