Southern Utah Business Magazine Winter 2020 by Southern Utah Business Magazine

W I N TE R 20 20

2020 MARKETING TRENDS Word of Mouth Will Emerge as a Major Marketing Initiative

WE ARE THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT Washington County Demographics

RANSOMWARE WILL STRIKE Will You be Ready?

Winter 2020

Southern Utah Business Magazine 1

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Southern Utah Business Magazine Learning Winter 2020 Opportunity Engagement3

WHAT'S INSIDE

WINTER 2020

COVER STORY: Healthcare Cost Containment and Robotic-Assisted Technology comes to Southern Utah

FEATURES MARKETING

2020 Marketing Trends: Word of Mouth Will Emerge as a Major Marketing Initiative......9 TOURISM

Celebrating 2020 in Kanab, Utah....................................................................... 10

ECONOMICS

We Are the Same but Different: Washington County Demographics........... 13 ECONOMICS

Back to my Roots..........................................................................................14 ETHICS

Creating Ethical Space................................................................................................ 16 COVER STORY

Healthcare Cost Containment Comes to Southern Utah...............................20 BUSINESS

Employee or Independent Contractor? The Wrong Answer Can Have Big Consequences....24 TECHNOLOGY

Ransomware Will Strike. Will You be Ready?.............................................26 FINANCE

Retire on Purpose!........................................................................................................28 SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Five Ways to Lower Your Business's Carbon Footprint (and Save Money While You're at it)....30 WOMEN IN BUSINESS

Breaking Away from the Stereotype................................................................32

26 COLUMNS Editor Message...........................................................6 Small Business Section..........................................18 Events Calendar......................................................34

The publisher is not responsible for the accuracy of the articles or advertisements in Southern Utah Business Magazine. The information contained within has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance on this material. Appropriate professional advice should be sought before making personal, professional, or financial decisions. Outside of our staff authors, articles written by providers or professionals are invited authors and represent the opinions of that particular individual, business, group or organization. If an article is a paid advertisement, we will place the word “Advertisement” or “Advertorial” to identify it as such. ©Copyright 2020.

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MESSAGE FROM OUR EDITOR I recently had the opportunity to facilitate a three-day training event for local business leaders. When I train or teach, I usually get more out of the process than the attendees. However, this business retreat was different than those I’d done in the past because we set up some rules of engagement, which we referred to as “keeping the context.” There were four axioms to which we agreed to adhere as we discussed our businesses and the changes we wanted to make. They were: 1. There are no accidents! 2. You are completely responsible for your life’s experiences! 3. You don’t know what you don’t know! 4. You are whole and complete! The reason for these rules of engagement was to keep each person accountable and in control of their business and life decisions. Too often, we go through life feeling out of control and believing that we are the victims of circumstance. This type of thinking only leads to frustration and disappointment. Would you be surprised if I told you that the articles in this magazine will have more value for you when you adopt these principles? Let me explain. The first axiom (There are no accidents!) means that everything in your life that has happened and will happen serves a purpose. Understanding this principle not only gives your life and business meaning, it also creates a sense of control. The second axiom (You are completely responsible for your life’s experiences!) reinforces the notion that you are not a victim; you have complete control of your life. This doesn’t mean that bad or hard things won’t happen to you. Rather, it means you have the power to choose the way you respond and emotionally process these experiences. The truth is, our reality is made up of our experiences, and if we have control of how we react to—and even choose—those experiences, we become very powerful in what we create. The third axiom (You don’t know what you don’t know!) means just what it says. We don’t know everything, and the more we learn, the more we realize we have so much more to learn. Understanding this when you are seeking for answers gives you the freedom to explore a wide range of possibilities and to find innovative and creative solutions. The last axiom is what I consider the foundation of the other three: You are whole and complete! Most people have a “destination” attitude. They think that if they do this, learn that, make this much money, or have this kind of car, they will be successful. It doesn’t work that way. There will always be something else that will have to be done, learned, or achieved. Accepting that we are already whole and complete—not broken or in need of repair—empowers us to enjoy the journey we are on. This doesn’t mean we can’t achieve more or have more. It just means we get better, not fixed. So as you read through this issue and find something that will help you in your business, remember to keep the context. Don’t try to fix something that’s not broken; just make it better. I promise that if you live from a place of control and purpose, you will have better and greater life and business experiences!

Brendan Dalley, Editor editor@subizmag.com

To your increased success,

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GROWIN G TOGETHER SIN C E 1992 THE VISION OF SOUTHERN UTAH BUSINESS MAGAZINE

is to elevate and advance economic growth and development in Southern Utah by showcasing and supporting local industries. SUBM is committed to fostering a culture of courageous leadership, supporting cutting-edge entrepreneurs, and being an advocate for tenacious service.

PUBLISHER Health & Wellness Solutions, LLC EDITOR Brendan Dalley CREATIVE DIRECTOR Erin Taylor OPERATIONS MANAGER Diane Del Toro

A D V E R T I S I N G & PUBLIC RELATIONS

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Eric Baird

Advisory Board Members PAUL HATC H Al l i es

Promo ting Bra nds t hrough I nnovation a nd Quality Ser vice

D ON WI L LI E SG Chamber of Commerce K Y LE WEL LS DS U Busi n ess S c h ool ERI C PED ERSEN D SU Tech n o l o gy D e p t . M ARC MOR TEN S O N Ci ty o f S t. Geo r ge JERI AH THRELFA LL Eco n o mi c Devel o p m e n t LEN ERI C K SON Small Business Resource Center BRI AN TENNE Y TCS Adverti sin g MARI K RASHOW E TZ S U HBA VARD ELL C UR TIS Wash. Co. Board of Realtors K Y LE WEL LS Dixie State University TIE Center STEV E BROUGH Zi o n s Ban k KOBY TAY LO R Fusi o n Phar ma c y K EV I N SMI TH Tuacah n MI C HAEL D UN N Dun n L aw Fi r m MI K E MAD SE N Interstate R oc k MI TC H C LOWA R D D ixie R egi o nal Medi c a l C e n t e r

TCS Advertising & Public Relations 1224 S. River Road, B232

435.674.2846

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Southern Utah Business Magazine 7

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M A R K ETING

BY NICK STAGGE, CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER AT WOOLY INC.

Today’s customers are savvy, no longer accepting marketing hype as truth or blindly acting on clever ad campaigns. Instead, customers turn to the people closest to them for inspiration and advice on what to buy.

In fact, according to a Nielsen report, 92 percent of consumers believe suggestions from friends and family more than they believe in traditional advertising. While these findings are not new, marketers have been slow to respond as the average brand spends less than 2 percent of their marketing budget on word of mouth marketing (WOMM).

As the consumer buying experience shifts, so too must marketing strategies and tactics. In 2020, the most forward-thinking brands will tap into the people who have real-life experiences with their brand and products: their customers. These brands recognize the real power and influence an authentic customer yields.

Think about it. Who did you consult with the last time you made a big purchase? Was it a Kardashian, or Badgalriri, or even Logan Paul? Probably not. Instead, you turned to someone you already knew, someone who already had experience with the product or service in question: your friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. These are the people we actually trust. And in today’s consumer ecosystem, trust is king.

Find the people your customers trust for advice on what to buy. According to WOMMA, there are approximately 2.4 billion brand-related conversations happening every day in the United States. In 2020, more marketers will turn their efforts to finding out who these people are and listening to what they’re already saying about their brand.

As a seasoned marketer, Nick has built some of the best brands in the world, including GoPro, Skullcandy, and Zumiez as they became publicly traded companies. He's partnered with brands like Reebok, The North Face, Oakley, Purina, and others to build comprehensive marketing strategies, go-to-market plans, and advocacy programs. Nick has experience leading all areas of marketing including B2B and B2C. His specialities include content marketing, advocacy programs, retail, demand generation, consumer acquisition, product marketing, writing, and public speaking.

Companies like Purple Mattress, Salomon, and 1-800 Contacts have already turned their attention to marketing through their existing customers. They’ve identified their most influential customers by looking at who follows them on social media, owns a large portion of their catalog, subscribe to their newsletter, attends their events, and writes product reviews on their website. The people who talk about your brand are closer than you realize. These people are much more than customers or fans. They’re sales-driving advocates, and they’re looking for ways to help build your brand. Build a real relationship with your most influential customers.

Identifying faithful followers will only serve as the first step in building a robust, effective WOMM strategy. Many consumers who have had a positive experience with your product want a deeper connection with your brand. They want to feel recognized and appreciated for their unparalleled devotion to you and your brand. The desire to belong is a universal truth and can be a powerful tool in the world of WOMM. In 2020, more brands will make themselves available to their fans, taking the time to nourish a real relationship and amplify their advocacy. The best word of mouth marketers will provide an infrastructure to help spread the message. Marketers will uncover ways to leverage social media, referral programs, loyalty initiatives, and in-person experiences to build a comprehensive word of mouth strategy. When brands help customers amplify their voice, they are more willing to share their recommendations and help grow the brand. The best brands recognize the immense power of word of mouth, and they’re looking for ways to participate within the conversations about their products. Word of mouth has existed since the inception of commerce, but word of mouth marketing has just recently surfaced as a proactive, viable marketing strategy.

In 2020, WOMM will become the most valuable form of currency in an advertising-saturated world. Now is the time to inspire and empower your most influential customers to spread your message with authenticity and credibility. https://www.wooly.com/drive-sales-with-word-of-mouth-marketing-a-wooly-how-to-guide

2020 Marketing Trends:

Word of Mouth Will Emerge as a Major Marketing Initiative Winter 2020

Southern Utah Business Magazine 9

TOURISM

Celebrating

2020 in Kanab, Utah

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BY KELLY STOWELL

Kanab City is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding and honoring the original people who settled the area and laid the foundation for what area residents know and love today. You’re invited to celebrate with us in 2020! Kanab is the county seat of Kane County and is centrally located in the “Grand Circle.” It is nestled underneath the rim of the vermillion cliffs with Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Lake Powell, Grand Staircase Monument, Coral Pink Sand Dunes, Kodachrome Basin State Park, and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon found right in its backyard. Kanab is known as a basecamp for adventure, where there are a seemingly endless number of majestic slot canyons, toadstools, and outdoor recreation opportunities.

TOU R ISM

Left Page: Coral Pink Sand Dunes; Right Page (top to bottom): Little Hollywood Museum, Sego Restaurant, new Kanab Center

Because tourism is the largest sector of the Kane County economy, the Center is aimed at increasing tourism in the area. Those who are lucky enough to live in Kanab enjoy an unsurpassed lifestyle, and the economy is healthy and thriving in the area. High-speed fiber optic internet is available, and Kanab is the perfect place for remote workers and digital nomads to find a home, even if for a short time. Kanab is known as “Little Hollywood” and has been the backdrop for iconic films going back to the 1920s. It is still a popular place for film and photography, and our backdrops are still seen throughout the world, including in advertising for the Apple iPhone 11, J Balvin music videos, and the popular HBO show Westworld Season 2. In addition to the Kanab Center, outdoor recreation and trails development is a focus of the local efforts. New basketball courts, tennis courts, bathrooms, pavilions, and mountain bike trails and a new skate park, pump track, and kitchen have been built at Jacob Hamblin Park. Jackson Flat Reservoir is full of fish and has new restrooms and a new beach, Frisbee golf course, and paved trail surrounding it. A paved trail is being built connecting Kanab City to the reservoir. The Mansard and Cottonwood trails have been completed and the Greenhalgh trail was opened in October, taking horses and hikers to the top of the vermillion cliffs and offering breathtaking views of the grand staircase. Experience the warmth of Kanab’s newest hotel, Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile, which is not only pet-friendly but is also pet-centric; pets are welcomed with built in pet beds in all the rooms.

To kick off the 2020 celebration, the eleventh annual “Raising Kane” Business Summit will take place on January 10, 2020, at the brand new Kanab Center, a convention/retreat venue that can seat 400 people for dinner and up to 750 people with regular seating. The room can be spacious and open or configured into three individual areas to best suit anyone’s needs. Event planners can choose from a wide variety of food options with our list of approved caterers. The Center’s original gym doubles as an expo space for booths or large displays for conventions and seminars. Breakout sessions can be accommodated, and on beautiful summer days, the Center features two plazas and an outdoor stage for performances. The Kanab Center offers easy access to the wild beauty of southern Utah's greatest natural wonders and is within walking distance of brand and boutique lodging properties as well as world class dining at a variety of restaurants.

Kanab has an amazing abundance and array of local dining options and lodging. Kanab offers traditional options and sit-down dining experiences, including an artisan bakery, vegetarian woodfired pizza, chimichangas at Escobars, American cuisine at Sego, French food at Vermillion 45, and southwestern and Cajun fusion at Wild Thyme Cafe. Kelly Stowell is the Executive Director of the Center for Education, Business, and the Arts (CEBA) and the Kane County Film Commissioner, where he is responsible for advancing economic development initiatives in Kane County. Stowell served as the Kanab Area Chamber of Commerce President-Elect for two terms and the Kane County Republican Party Chair for two terms. He serves as a board member of the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area, Western States Arts Federation, State of Utah Film Advisory Board, Recreation Transportation Special Service District, and State of Utah Arts Culture and Business Alliance. A native of southern Utah, Stowell grew up on a farm in Parowan, Utah, and is a constant adventure seeker and avid outdoorsman. Winter 2020

Southern Utah Business Magazine 11

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Mountains Await

ECONOMICS

BY LECIA PARKS LANGSTON, SENIOR ECONOMIST, UTAH DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SERVICES

Lecia Langston is a senior economist at the Utah Department of Workforce Services. She is responsible for analyzing the economies of ten counties in central and southern Utah.

The United States Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) provides the richest source of demographic information at the county level. This yearly survey replaces the old census long form, which updated detailed demographic information only once a decade. With the recent ACS release of largecounty survey data, it’s an opportune time to compare how Washington County is the same as and different than the nation as a whole. This information covers the year 2018. More detail is available at data.census.gov.

WE’RE DIFFERENT • Washington County shows a far higher percentage of marriedcouple families than the country as a whole: 88 percent compared to only 66 percent nationwide. • Fertility rates for Washington County women in the prime childbearing years (twenty to thirty-five years of age) are much higher (140 births per 1,000 women) than they are nationally (eighty-six per 1,000 women). • Roughly 93 percent of Washington County residents twenty-five years of age and older have a high school diploma compared to only 88 percent for the United States. • Washington County residents are more likely to have a computer (96 percent) and a broadband internet subscription (89 percent) than their United States counterparts (92 percent and 85 percent respectively). • Nearly 29 percent of Washington County residents indicate their ancestry is English compared to only 7 percent nationally.

WASHINGTON COUNTY DEMOGRAPHICS

“I realized that my strength was being different.” – Betsey Johnson

• Washington County has a higher percentage of population both under eighteen years old (26 percent) and over sixty-five years old (22 percent) than the rest of the United States (22 percent and 16 percent respectively). • Only 11 percent of Washington County’s population identifies as Latino compared to 18 percent nationally. • In Washington County, 92 percent of the population is white; in the United States, only 72 percent is white. • Washington County workers are more likely to work from home (13 percent) than their United States counterparts (5 percent). • The Washington County population is slightly less likely to have health insurance (88 percent) than the United States population (91 percent) despite the fact that older residents are eligible for Medicare. • While Washington County in general shows lower median household and family incomes than the United States, retirement and social security incomes measure here. • Because of its high senior population, Washington County residents are far less likely to participate in the labor force (54 percent) than the rest of the United States population (63 percent). • More than 26 percent of Washington County workers are employed in the education/healthcare/social service industry in contrast to only 23 percent nationally. We’re the Same • The average family size in Washington County (3.28 persons) is similar to the average family size nationwide (3.24 persons). • There’s a relatively small gap for the percentage of residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher—31 percent for Washington County compared to 33 percent for the United States. • Disability rates for Washington County and the United States both measure at 13 percent. • The shares of the Washington County and United States populations with German ancestry are 11 percent and 12 percent respectively. • The median age in Washington County and in the United States is identical: 38.2 years old. • Females make up approximately the same share of the population (51 percent) both in Washington County and the country. • Washington County and United States workers are equally likely to drive to work (76 percent). • Roughly the same percentage of Washington County and United States workers (17 percent) are employed in service occupations.

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ECO NO MICS

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ECONOMICS

BY VAL HALE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE UTAH GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Left Page: Downtown St. George Boulevard cir. 1960's; Right Page (top to bottom): Sugar Loaf Cafe-309 E St. George Blvd. contributed by Cindy Alldredge; George Cannon in front of the A&W drive-in on west St. George Blvd.; People on the Dixie Red Hills Golf Course cir. 1970's-contributed by Washington County Record Archives.

In late October, I spent three days in St. George attending the Utah Outdoor Recreation Summit. Each year, the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation team in my office organizes the Summit in various locations around the state. As usual, my visit to St. George was a pleasant experience punctuated by splendid red-rock scenery, friendly people, and lots of great food. It’s what I have come to expect from my trips to Utah’s Dixie. As I drove along St. George Boulevard and around town, I couldn’t help but notice how much Washington County is booming. A quick fact check confirmed my suspicions about population growth in southern Utah: St. George is now America’s third-fastest-growing city. Businesses are thriving and continuing to expand as new developments like Tech Ridge take shape. Tourism continues its red-hot pace as visitors stream to Zion National Park and other locales throughout the area. But it hasn’t always been this way.

This trip reminded me of my excursions to St. George in the late ’60s and early ’70s when I visited my grandparents who had retired in the picturesque red-rock country. At that time, the population of Washington County was about 13,000, and I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge had just been completed. Dixie Red Hills was the only golf course in the county.

My thoughts went back even further to the days of my greatgreat-grandfathers, Casper Bryner, Oliver DeMille, John Dennett, and Tarlton Blair. Each of them left their homes in northern Utah to help settle Dixie. In those days, St. George wasn’t somewhere people went to relax and enjoy the sun. True, it was breathtakingly beautiful and sunny, but it was rugged and desolate. Imagine Washington County without air conditioning, running water, or even golf courses. (I know! Dixie without the golf courses; it’s hard to imagine.) Most things we love about Dixie, except for the spectacular scenery, weren’t here when

Val Hale is the executive director of the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development, which promotes state growth in business, tourism, and film. He received his bachelor’s degree in public relations and a master’s degree in communications, both from BYU. Hale has made many cherished contributions to the Utah valley area throughout his career, most recently drawing from his many years of service to author Living a Life That Matters: 7 Keys for Purposeful Living. Hale and his wife reside in Orem, UT. They have three children and 11 grandchildren.

those first settlers came down Black Ridge in their wagons. For them, the primary goal was obvious and straightforward. It was survival.

Finding water to drink and irrigate their crops was a significant ordeal. They tried over and over to tame the Virgin River, but floods kept washing out the dams. They described the water as “too thin to plow and too thick to drink.”

Food was scarce in the early years, and many settlers battled starvation. There were no hospitals, and doctors were almost nonexistent. My great-great-grandmother, Rebecca Stout Dennett, became a midwife/nurse for the communities of Springdale, Rockville, Virgin, and Grafton. She was called upon at all hours of the day and night and in all types of weather to tend to expectant mothers and the sick in those communities. She would drive her buggy through the Virgin River five or six times on the way to and from a visit, sometimes when the river was in flood stage. After telephones became more common, she would call a doctor in St. George and describe the symptoms of the sick person. Then, he would prescribe the treatment, and she would administer it. My point in recounting a bit of my own southern Utah family history is to remind us that the Washington County we enjoy today—with drinking water, golf courses, hospitals, a steady stream of tourists, electricity, and transportation infrastructure—is the product of the hard work and dogged determination of those early settlers who rumbled into Dixie in their wagons and wondered what they had gotten themselves into.

There are plenty of successes to be proud of in southern Utah. It is one of the best places to live in this country, and the economy is humming along. The next time you drive down St. George Boulevard, I challenge you to picture in your mind’s eye this country as it would have been when those early settlers came along and beat the odds to tame the wilderness. We owe them a lot.

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Southern Utah Business Magazine 15

ethics

BY BARRY RELLAFORD

Barry Rellaford is the CEO of The Strength of 10 and an adjunct professor of business ethics at Brigham Young University. He cofounded CoveyLink, the predecessor to FranklinCovey’s Global Trust Practice, and is the co-author of A Slice of Trust.

Your counterpart in a business negotiation accidentally sends you an email meant for his supervisor about their negotiating strategy and inside information. Should you tell your counterpart he sent it to you?

He read, “Between stimulus and response there is space. In that space lies our freedom to choose. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

You discover your company’s online store has a security risk. You fix it before there’s a problem (you believe). Do you let your clients know there may have been a possible data breach?

Think of “SPACE” as an acronym for five verbs—five actions that we can consciously take to deal with the situations that emerge in our lives inside and outside of the workplace.

You’re on a much-needed date with your spouse when your phone rings. Glancing at it, you see it’s your business partner, probably updating you on something important at work. Being alone and focused on your spouse is really needed right now in your marriage. Do you answer the call? These situations represent real choices you face every day as a business leader. How can you best navigate them ethically? The first of Stephen R. Covey’s famous 7 Habits was inspired by a quote he randomly read while searching through books in a library. 16 Southern Utah Business Magazine

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Covey said this thought captivated him. It captivates me, too. Not only can we choose our response to whatever happens to us, but the “space” gives us insight on how to do so.

S stands for Sense. When a choice arrives, do you see it? If you can’t identify more than one option, you don’t have a choice. We discern dilemmas (when you need to make a difficult choice between two or more alternatives, especially undesirable ones) in various ways: physically, intellectually, emotionally, and morally. If you’re aware of what’s going on inside you, especially with your conscience (moral compass), you can create the SPACE needed to make a wise determination. P means to Pause. Like using a physical compass, consulting your moral compass means to stand still. Slow down your physical and mental reactions by taking three deep breaths. Outpace your racing thoughts or triggered desire to fight or flee by repeating what was

ethics

requested. Buy yourself some time to formulate your chosen response. A is Ask. Be curious. Pose insightful questions before giving an answer you may later regret or need to change. What are some important questions you can have available in your metaphorical hip pocket when you’re faced with a dilemma? How about these: What are the facts? What do I really want? Who are the other stakeholders? Can I consult with them? What are the options? What’s right in this situation? Clarifying questions will help you increase the distance from the dilemma sufficient to provide a measured answer. C represents Choose. Make a right decision. Notice I wrote “a” not “the.” Ethical dilemmas aren’t usually a choice between right and wrong (when courage, not discernment, is needed); they’re a choice between various alternatives that aren’t so clear. Many times, we’ll delay decisions interminably, which is a choice in itself. Sometimes there is a right option that is clearly superior to others, and in that case, choose it. Make a good choice and then move on it.

If you’re aware of what’s going on inside you, especially with your conscience (moral compass), you can create the SPACE needed to make a wise determination.

E is for Engage. Once you make a right decision, you’ve got to make your decision right. You need to move out of neutral into gear by getting others to support your decision. Do so persuasively, factually, confidently. Creating SPACE will not only help you lead your business and career in the right direction, it will help you achieve the great work for which your life was meant. Take the time to practice these steps and reap the rewards that follow.

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The Painted Pony Restaurant

As the Painted Pony Restaurant enters its 20th year, we reflect on all of the wonderful people who have supported our efforts in bringing thoughtful, contemporary, seasonal cuisine along with genuine hospitality to our little haven of southwestern Utah. Inspiration comes in many pathways, but staying true to our commitment to real food and real friendships keeps us wanting to do better each day. A sunny day on the tree-top patio, a fresh harvest from our one-acre garden, a vine-ripened, local, organic heirloom tomato, a wine dinner with new ideas and flavors from around the world are just a few of the things that inspire us. With 2020, we look forward to bringing fresh ideas and inspired cuisine to our loyal supporters and meeting new faces of our great community.

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Southern Utah Gem and Jewelry Appraisals

Contemporary Seasonal Cuisine | Casual Fine Dining Lunch & Dinner

Patrick B. Stout, Owner Graduate Gemologist SPECIALIZING IN INSURANCE REPLACEMENT EVALUATIONS AND TRUST & ESTATE DOCUMENTS

Voted "Best Restaurant"

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Painted-Pony.com | 435.634.1700

Patrick@suappraisals.com www.suappraisals.com

Historic Downtown St. George | In the Tower Bldg. at Ancestor Square

(435) 414-1404

Winter 2020

Southern Utah Business Magazine 19

COVER STO RY

Health Care Cost Containment Comes to Southern Utah 20 Southern Utah Business Magazine

Winter 2020

COV ER STORY

BY MARIA K. TODD, PHD, MHA

outhern Utah business runs on the good health of its employees and their loved ones. Without access to healthcare, employees come to work sick or injured or stay home, nursing these maladies without the assistance of a qualified professional. As a result, productivity suffers, costing employers an average of $1,685 per employee per year. Employers have become aware of the need for essential health care coverage, and a tightening job market has mandated they offer coverage to both maintain and retain talent. Unfortunately, high costs often limit their ability to offer employees a quality product without breaking the bank. Annual renewals have now outpaced the average employee’s wage increase. Employers juggle difficult options, wondering whether to shoulder increases themselves, share the increase with employees, or dramatically lower the plan quality and coverage. Employers and employees are clamoring for another option to procure health services and save money. In the past, they’ve made $10,000 health-care purchases (sometimes considerably higher) without understanding the product they are purchasing. They want to understand the true components of costs of care, and they want to pay a fair price for health services. Most direct-care providers realize only 25 percent of billed prices while the balance is swallowed up Maria Todd, PhD, MHA, is the Director of Business Development at St. George Surgical Center.

in administration, excessive overhead, and hidden payments and commissions to network organizers and third party administrators. No other American business model consistently operates on those unimaginable margins. It’s time to change that model. How do we do it? There is now a more affordable solution in sight,and several of southern Utah’s employers have already implemented it and are saving hard dollars, year over year. The market is hot on this trend, and St. George Surgical Center’s (SGSC) forward-thinking healthcare providers are wellestablished in transparent, reliable, “shoppable” advertised pricing. That’s where the ingenuity and pioneering spirit of St. George comes into play. With the collaboration of select physicians in the community and some physicians who travel in from elsewhere in Utah and with a sincere desire to provide employers and employees with a significantly improved model, local health benefit advisors from Leavitt Insurance Group have teamed up with SGSC to give some much-needed hope. For the past thirty-one years, SGSC has been quietly innovating and growing into an outpatient surgical powerhouse. Respected sources such as Johns Hopkins and the United States Senate have reviewed SGSC’s efficiencies and rendered high praise on their innovation, quality, safety, and clinical outcomes. SGSC continually reworks its quality management to achieve “quadruple aim” associated with value-based healthcare by: • Improved care,

• Improved patient experience, • Lower health care costs, and

• Higher clinician integration and practice satisfaction. Winter 2020

Southern Utah Business Magazine 21

COVER STO RY

SGSC offers over 230 bundled procedures in thirteen medical specialties and attracts patients from across Utah and throughout the United States and Canada. SGSC is also a trailblazer in purchasing some of the latest state-of-the-art technologies for eye surgery, full and partial knee replacement surgeries, and anterior hip replacement surgeries. Nationally accredited, they boast lower documented infection rates than hospital averages and extremely low complication rates, both of which directly impact the cost of care and improve overall value to patients, employers, and doctors. Five years ago, SGSC launched a special alternative pricing program, bundling the total cost of procedures and eliminating all hidden fees. This did away with the multipleprovider billing confusion inherent with standard system billings: one procedure; one price; no surprises. For the last three years, the Leavitt Insurance Group in St. George, Utah, has been introducing SGSC to employers of all group sizes and opening negotiations for direct-contract agreements. The transparency provided by this agreement has the potential to save groups 15-20 percent on their total plan cost. Leavitt Group has also found that the outcomes of these procedures have fewer procedural complications. The resulting savings and plan improvements have been nothing short of transformative. One of the best examples of the potential savings resulting from partnering with SCSG comes from Utah Navajo Health System (UNHS), located in southeast Utah. This company of 350 employees contracted with SGSC for all available procedures and encouraged employees to consider them as an option wherever available. After implementation, UNHS realized over $150,000 in plan savings in the first year. Surveyed employees remarked overwhelmingly

positively on their experience, leading to more expected savings for the group in the upcoming year. Another group from Page, Arizona, partnered with SGSC for orthopedic procedures on their thirty-eight enrolled employee entity. When an employee recently needed a hip replacement, they chose to be treated at SGSC and saved over $40,000 while receiving the high-value care and technology provided by SCSG and its vetted, board-certified surgeons and anesthesiologists. This type of direct-provider contracting, available for large and small employers, has resulted in plan cost refunds for Page Steel averaging 20 percent in each of the last three years. As an ambulatory surgery center (AMC), SGSC does not sacrifice quality and safety in order to lower costs. National statistics indicate that improved outcomes at ambulatory surgical centers are possible over the hospital setting because ASCs use the ASA Physical Status Classification System, promulgated by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, to predict and mitigate perioperative risks. As a result, ASCs tend to be more selective and overly cautious about the patients accepted for surgery. Patients must be in good health or have only mild health conditions (diabetes,

hypertension, obesity, mild lung disease, or pregnancy) in good control. There are also fewer patients and visitors milling about who bring in colds and other illnesses to the environment of care at the hospital. As a result, ASCs deliver care at a lower than average cost compared to hospitals. Industry statistics indicate that average savings for identical procedures with the same surgeon and with the same instrumentation and prosthetic implants or hardware are about 60 percent lower in the ASC. Local comparisons specifically demonstrate the savings: tonsillectomies are charged at $2,545 through SGSC versus $16,800 at hospitals; knee replacement are charged at $15,000 through SGSC versus up to $50,000 at the hospital. These savings result in lower plan costs and annual increases—music to the ears of employers throughout southern Utah. Over the next few months, expect to see St. George Surgical Center’s logo around town. While many employers using their bundledprice surgery program waive copayments and deductibles if plan participants opt to have surgery at SGSC, SGSC also offers plan participants with high deductibles and copayments the option of having outpatient surgery and obtaining affordable financing for their out-of-pocket cost share and full-service medical travel coordination.

Is knee pain keeping you from enjoying the things you love to do? St. George Surgical Center now offers robotic-assisted partial and total replacement using the NAVIO◊ surgical system. NAVIO◊ uses real-time imaging during surgery to deliver more consistent and accurate results. The system works in conjunction with your NAVIO◊-certified orthopedic surgeon’s skilled hands to customize each procedure to achieve precise placement of components during knee replacement surgery. This adds up to improving the function, feel, and longevity of your knee implant. The only NAVIO◊ certified surgeons in southern Utah are on staff at St. George Surgical Center. Get back to enjoying life with the help of NAVIO◊! To learn more about the NAVIO◊ surgery system or to consult with a NAVIO◊-certified orthopedic surgeon, call 435-673-8080 today or visit StGeorgeSurgical.com/naviokneereplacement. NAVIO ◊ is a trademark of Smith + Nephew.

St. George Surgical Center is leading the way, providing solutions for cost containment in southern Utah. Call 435-673-8080 or visit StGeorgeSurgical.com to learn more. 22 Southern Utah Business Magazine

Winter 2020

Southern Utah Business Magazine 23

BUS INESS

Employee or Independent Contractor?

The Wrong Answer Can Have Big Consequences

24 Southern Utah Business Magazine

Winter 2020

BY B. CORY LEE

As a tax attorney, I often get asked about the difference between employees and independent contractors, the reasons why proper classification matters, and the way to choose the proper classification. Properly classifying employees and independent contractors impacts expenses now and in the future, and it has substantial ramifications for those classified as employees and those classified as independent contractors.

Independent contractors are responsible for paying their own self-employment taxes. Hiring independent contractors alleviates the company from paying its share of employment and social security taxes and Medicare for the contractors. Additionally, the company does not typically have to pay benefits for independent contractors nor cover them under workerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s compensation. From the independent contractorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s point of view, they are not entitled to typical workplace benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and vacation days, and they are not entitled to claim unemployment.

BU SINESS

Employees, on the other hand, have half of their payroll taxes paid by the companies they work for, may receive health insurance, may have the opportunity to contribute to retirement plans, receive worker’s compensation coverage, and have other fringe benefits often offered to employees at the expense of the company.

Given this list of benefits and costs to companies, it is easy to see why employers want to classify their workers as independent contractors whenever possible. While classifying workers as independent contractors may be cost-saving for the company, if the workers are improperly classified as independent contractors, the costs will quickly outweigh any short-term cost-saving the company enjoyed. Both federal and state governments take an interest in the classification of workers. In fact, there are at least five different government agencies that have a vested interest in the proper classification of workers, each for a different reason. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the

Utah State Tax Commission are interested for withholding and payroll tax purposes; the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is concerned with minimum wage and overtime pay; the Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS) is interested for unemployment insurance requirements; and the Utah Labor Commission is interested for worker’s compensation purposes. To top it all off, each agency uses its own set of criteria for determining whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. The IRS has three categories it considers; the DOL has seven factors; the Utah State Tax Commission relies on seven factors; DWS has fifteen factors; and the Utah Labor Commission has four statutory factors it relies on. While many of the factors overlap, it is imperative that employers and businesses make sure they are complying with each agency’s set of factors.

A few of the common factors that are considered are the amount of control the company exercises over the worker, the length and permanency of the company and worker’s relationship, the risk of profit and loss undertaken by the worker, and the importance of the worker’s performed services to the company’s business. It is important to note that all the agencies say each situation is based on the facts and circumstances and that no one factor is determinative. While the agencies will look to the contract between worker and company, the employee classification cannot be contracted around just because the contract states the worker will be an independent contractor. If a majority of the other factors point to the worker being an employee, the independent contractor will likely be reclassified as an employee.

Any of the five agencies listed above can investigate the classification of a company’s workers, and each agency can reclassify

independent contractors as employees. The consequences for improperly classifying employees as independent contractors will vary depending on which agency makes the determination to reclassify. However, all the agencies tend to play nice with the other agencies, so if the DOL decides an independent contractor is really an employee, the IRS, DWS, and the Utah Labor Commission are likely to receive that information and may begin their own investigations.

As an example, if the IRS determines that independent contractors should have been treated as employees, the company misclassifying the workers will be subject to pay its back share of payroll and withholding taxes, plus interest and penalties, which can be as high as 100% of the owed taxes and may result in criminal charges as well. A misclassification determination by other agencies can result in the company paying liquidated damages for not paying minimum wage or overtime. The company will be liable for benefits that should have been provided, including unemployment taxes and worker’s compensation coverage, plus interest and penalties. The cost savings enjoyed by classifying a worker as an independent contractor do not outweigh the potential cost of having the worker reclassified, especially given that an investigation by one agency is likely to lead to four additional investigations.

It is important to classify independent contractors and employees properly at the beginning of the working relationship. Fortunately, there are tools and resources that can help in making this determination. For help in making sure you are properly classifying independent contractors and employees, reach out to a good tax attorney for assistance.

Winter 2020

Southern Utah Business Magazine 25

Ransomware Will Strike. Will You Be Ready?

BY RONNIE LEBARON

I have always loved discovering how things work. I recall a day in the fifth grade when I was proudly riding my eighteenspeed bicycle home from school. As I rode, I glanced down at my pedals and became captivated by what I saw. The chain was moving, link by link, across the perfectly spaced teeth of the sprockets. I shifted gears and watched the front and back derailleurs moving the chain up and down the sprockets. It was so satisfying to watch the wheels spinning on their hubs and the brake calipers moving at the ends of their cables as I pulled the brake handles. I was in awe, riveted by the genius of it all. At the height of my reverie, my ponderings were abruptly interrupted as my front wheel fell off, and I found myself face

26 Southern Utah Business Magazine

Winter 2020

down on the asphalt, fresh wounds stinging as I became aware of them. Bleeding and feeling sheepish, I scrambled to my feet, realizing the cause of my predicament. When I had patched my front tire the night before, I hadn’t tightened the quick release on my front wheel, and I certainly hadn’t checked it before my hasty dash to school that morning. Despite my physical pain, my embarrassment stung much worse. I got moving before anyone could see me and hurried to put my wheel back on—this time making sure it was good and tight. I rode the rest of the way home slightly less excited about how my bike worked than before.

inherit human imperfection and are prone to failure, as you may have experienced. With hard drive crashes, server failures, viruses, and more threatening the life blood of your business tech, it is increasingly important to focus on preparing for disaster. With this in mind, a discussion about today’s biggest tech threat—Ransomware—is a priority.

As my fascination with how things work morphed into a love of computers, I was inspired to start my own tech company: GlitchBusters. We provide IT solutions for companies all over southern Utah. Each day as I interact with customers, I am reminded of the importance of being prepared. Computers are incredible, but because they are man-made, they naturally

Build a Human Firewall

I learned a powerful lesson that day. As neat as tools and technology are and as enjoyable and awe-inspiring as they can be, without a little preparation, we can quickly find ourselves in the midst of a crisis. This lesson has stayed with me.

Ransomware is software designed to infiltrate your computer, encrypt your files, and demand a ransom to get them back. It was an $11 billion industry worldwide in 2019, and it’s predicted that global damages will exceed $20 billion by 2021, up from just $5 billion in 2017. I know what you’re thinking; you’re in the wrong industry, right? Me, too! But before we all abandon humanity, quit our day jobs, and become hooded hackers, let’s talk about a couple of ways to protect our businesses from ransomware. The biggest threat to your business’s security is your people’s ignorance of phishing. Phishing happens when hackers send emails, posing to be someone they’re not in the hopes of tricking you. They commonly pretend to be Amazon, Apple, Google, or your bank as they try to get you

to open attachments with malware in them or to go to outside sites that will infect your computer. Your IT staff or managed IT service provider can help your people recognize what’s legitimate and what’s not. This one weakness (people’s gullibility) is a hacker’s favorite thing to exploit, and exploit it they will. Invest in phish threat training. Back Up Your Data

If there’s one thing I’ve learned by being in IT, it’s that there are only two types of businesses: those that have been hit by ransomware and those that will. Redundantly storing your data using the three-two-one method is the golden ticket to surviving an attack. Three-two-one means that you have at least three copies of your business data, two stored locally (on your computer or external device) and one stored in the cloud. Your backups need to be automated to avoid human error, though periodic checks and testing are in order. Ronnie LeBaron is the owner of GlitchBusters, a managed IT provider. To discuss more details about the many facets of ransomware and your business, you can contact Ronnie@ nomoreglitch.com or call him at 435-773-5312.

If you fail to do this, you’ll be no better than fifth-grade me when my wheel fell off, only you have a lot more to lose. A fifth grader’s embarrassment at eating gravel is one thing, but when it comes to your business and critical data, you can’t afford to mess around. Ransomware will strike. When it does, will you be ready?

V. Lowry Snow J. Gregory Hardman Jonathan P. Wentz

Curtis M Jensen Matthew J. Ence Devin Snow

Lewis P. Reece Cameron M. Morby Jeff R. Miles

S o u t h e r n U ta h ’s P r e m i e r B u s i n e s s a n d E s tat e P l a n n i n g L aw F i r m Business Law and Disputes

Real Estate and Construction Law

Government Regulation/Land Use Planning

Commercial Transactions

Litigation and Mediation

Estate and Tax Planning

435.628.3688 | www.SnowJensen.com | St. George

Cedar City

Winter 2020

Kanab

Southern Utah Business Magazine 27

Retire on

Purpose!

BY L. STEVEN WILSON

Steve Wilson retired as CEO of Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Utah. He currently serves as a member of the Washington County School District Foundation and the Institute for Continued Learning at Dixie State University. He is Associate Broker of Utah First Property Management & Real Estate, a company his son Bryan founded. Among his interests is writing and speaking to those preparing to leave career. For more information, go to nextretire.com.

As he left office and public life, Nelson Mandela, world leader and inspiration to countless millions around the world, was asked what his plans were for retirement. He simply said, “I plan to take my retirement seriously.” In a television interview, Paul Newman, the popular actor, seemed confused when the host said she was saddened by his retirement. He paused, sat up in his chair, looked her in the eyes, and said, “Oh, you mean because I don’t make movies anymore? I made eightfive; should I have made eight-six?” Then he made a profound statement, which changed the course of my retirement: “With so many things needing to be done in the world, why would I choose to spend my whole life just making movies?” Most would be quick to suggest twenty million reasons to make another movie but not Newman. He knew when enough was enough, and he saw things “needing to be

done in the world.” I’m sure you’ve noticed products on the shelf at the grocery store bearing the brand Newman’s Own. There is a story behind this brand that illustrates the way Newman used his retirement from the film industry to get things “done in the world.” Paul and his wife, Joanne, rejected the Hollywood lifestyle, preferring to live in rural Connecticut. Among his many talents, Paul loved spending time in the kitchen preparing food for his family and friends. As a Christmas holiday tradition, Paul and Joanne would find antique bottles, fill them with Paul’s homemade salad dressing, and give them to neighbors. One of his neighbors excitedly said, “Paul, you should sell this!” And the idea for Newman’s Own was born. Paul readily admitted he was out of his element and in over his head. In fact, on the door of the company’s first office, he hung this sign: Newman’s Own There are 3 rules to running a successful business.

And we don’t know any of them.

There are 3 rules to running a successful business. And we don't

know any of them.

28 Southern Utah Business Magazine

Winter 2020

If Newman had gone to business school, he’d have learned that making a profit is the goal of being in business, but he didn’t. So, all proceeds from Newman’s Own are given away. To date, approximately $550 million (and counting) have been donated to charity. With so many things needing to be done in the world…$20 million versus $550 million? Perhaps Paul knew more about business than he led us to believe, or maybe he just knew there was more to life than a job. With all due respect to your chosen career, my belief is that only a few people come close to matching who they were born to be. Most find careers because they want to eat on a regular basis, and they become really good at what they do because they also want to live with a roof over their heads. Our full potential as human beings is bigger and more powerful than a job description can capture. The reality is that all careers conclude. Therefore, everyone retires. Since everyone will live in retirement, the question is this: Where and how will you choose to invest your time in order to help the world, your community, and your neighborhood become a better place? In our book next: Redefining Retirement, Lisa Larson and I invite you to see retirement as a “gift” to share with others while enriching your own life in the process. We believe living a life free from the demands of a job but failing to use some of your gifts to help make the world better is tantamount to committing a crime against humanity. The tools needed to build a productive, rewarding retirement—Network, Experience, X-factor (passion), and Time—form an acronym: next, which is the title of our book. With so many things needing to be done in the world, what contribution will you make? I’d strongly suggest you begin by taking your retirement seriously because as hard as you might try, leisure isn’t a sustainable strategy. Buddha may have said it best: “To be idle is the short road to death.” Human beings must have meaning in their lives. If you are retired, you may have lost the meaning provided by your job, so it is even more critical that you find meaning in your retirement. Take this opportunity to discover your gifts, find what needs to be done in the world, and go to work making the world a better place. In the process, you may become who you were born to be!

BUSINESS INSURANCE AGENCY, INC

Commercial General Liability Employee Benefits Workers Comp Commercial Auto Renters Home Personal Auto Life www.StGeorgeInsuranceAgency.com 157 E Riverside Drive #2A St. George, UT 84790 | Mon-Thurs 9am- 5pm/Fridays 9am -4 pm | 435-628-8738 Winter 2020

Southern Utah Business Magazine 29

SOCIAL RESPO N SIB IL IT Y

BY JUD BURKETT

Global warming, carbon tax, cap and trade, going green, carbon footprint—the buzz words surrounding the topic are endless. What it comes down to, however, is pretty simple. How much pollution is your business responsible for creating on a daily basis? We’ve all seen the massive amounts of pollution trapped along the Wasatch Front every winter. Inversion is a huge issue in this state. While it may not be as pressing a concern here in southern Utah, it won’t be long before that changes. Our valleys will be as polluted as those surrounding the state capitol in Salt Lake City if we continue spewing carbon emissions without regard to the impact. The good news is that it’s fairly easy to lower the amount of pollution your business creates. And the best part of the deal is that it will make your business more profitable at the same time. On top of the financial benefits, the value your business can glean from a boost in reputation and brand awareness for your green efforts shouldn’t be overlooked. Going green isn’t something your business should do quietly. You should make sure everyone knows all about your efforts to make the planet and our community a better place to live and breathe. Here are five simple and easy steps you can take today as a business owner to save on your energy costs and make your business greener: 1. Power your business down at night and over the weekends. It’s an easy step. When your business is closed, turn off computers, lights, anything and everything you can. The simplest way to do this is to engage your employees,and ask them to do their best to create a more environmentally friendly business. If you want to get a bit more sophisticated, you can also monitor your small business consumption with the installation

of an energy monitoring system. Your power bill tells you little more than how much energy your business consumed as a whole and how much it cost you each month. Energy monitors attach to your circuit breaker panel and allow you to get much more detailed reports about which devices are consuming how much power. They’re fairly inexpensive (starting price is about $300), and there are a number of companies that sell them: Sense (https://sense.com), Schneider Electric (https://www.se.com/ us/en/home/smart-home/wiser/), and TED (http://www. theenergydetective.com/) are just a few. Each of these devices comes with access to either an app on your phone or a dashboard on the internet. This allows you to see, in real-time, which individual devices are consuming power and how much power they’re consuming throughout your home or business. Armed with this detailed information, you can easily find ways to reduce your consumption. You may decide it’s time to replace that old power hog of a refrigerator in the break room once you see just how much power it’s consuming. Or you may decide to give the heater a nudge up once you see just how much the space heaters your employees are bringing in are consuming. 2. Set your thermostat properly or install a smart thermostat. If you don’t already have a programmable or a smart thermostat, get one. Adjust the thermostat to shut down the HVAC system when your business is closed and to turn back on just before you open the doors in the morning. Heating or cooling your building is, far and away, the largest source of power consumption for most homes and businesses. Simply turning the thermostat off when no one’s around and adjusting it by a degree or two can save huge amounts of energy and money. Don’t freeze your employees too much during the winter, however. Paying for space heaters can be more expensive than simply turning the heat up a degree or two. Pay attention to your

Five Ways to Lower Your Business’s

(and Save Money While You’re at It)

30 Southern Utah Business Magazine

Winter 2020

SOC I A L R ES P ONSIBILIT Y

business and your employees and manage your thermostat accordingly. 3. Be aware of “peak demand” charges. Depending on the size of your business and your electricity use, you may be seeing a “peak demand” charge on your power bill every month. This is a charge your power company assesses to cover the maximum amount of energy your business uses at a single point in time during the month. Think of it this way: If you bake bread at your business and turn on all of your electric ovens at the same exact time every morning, you’re going to have a very large “peak demand.” Instead, if you bake bread throughout the day and only turn on one oven at a time, you’ll reduce your “peak demand,” and you’ll lower your power bill because the power company won’t have to ensure the availability of all the electricity you were demanding by turning on all your ovens at once. Doing everything you can to ensure you don’t turn everything on at the same time inside your business can help lower your demand charges and greatly reduce your power bill. From staggering the start times of large pieces of electric machinery to setting the programs to turn the AC and heat on at different times in the morning if you have more than one thermostat in your building, there are numerous ways to reduce your peak demand. Remember, many electrical appliances like AC units and heaters use a much greater amount of electricity when they first power on than they do when they’re running, so act accordingly. 4. Switch to LED lighting wherever possible. For years now, most homeowners have been swapping out incandescent bulbs for LED, but many businesses still run hugely inefficient sodium vapor lights in their parking lots or light a store with fluorescent tubes. Swapping out those energy hogging lights for more efficient options can save your business thousands of dollars every month and make the return on the investment very attractive for a business owner willing to swap out all the lights in a large facility. Jud spent over 20 A commercial energy efficiency years working as a photojournalist, expert, like the ones at ACES Lyfe reporter, and editor (http://aceslyfe.com) in St. George, at the Spectrum & can do a quick walk-through of your Daily News before business and let you know just how embarking on a career much energy and money you can save in marketing and by making the switch to LED. advertising. He is currently the vice5. Go solar. There’s a reason large president of marketing corporations such as Apple, Google, at ACES Companies. Ikea, Kohl’s, Target, and hundreds of He’s an avid trail others have gone solar: It saves them runner and enjoys spending time hiking money and fixes their costs. Locking through southern Utah in your power rates can really help and boating at Lake your business’s bottom line. Powell with his wife, Going solar not only gives you a Jill, and their two sons, Ethan and Max. great way to show the public you’re

serious about being a green company, it also means rate increases from the power company for the electricity your business is going to need won’t impact your bottom line. Your business can stay more competitive because your expenses are fixed instead of being at the mercy of the power company’s rate hikes. Even if power rates rise at the same rate as inflation, in twenty-five years, your business will be paying about twice as much for power as it is today. With options for funding through Utah’s CPACE program and federal and state rebates and incentives for businesses that go solar, there’s never been a better time to switch to the clean, green energy that beats down on your businesses rooftop every single day. Again, a local solar and energy efficiency company like ACESLyfe will be happy to put together numbers for your business and show you just how much you can save. After you go green, then what? At the end of the day, what most business owners care about is how much they can save. Adopting these five strategies can help business owners increase profits simply through the savings they’ll see on their fixed costs. What’s not baked into the numbers is the increase in brand reputation and sales a business can realize by leveraging their status as a “green company.” Once you go green, posting frequently to social media to tout your efforts is a must. Let your followers and brand advocates know just how much you care about keeping the community as pollution-free as possible. Pitch the story of your new solar installation to the media. Brag about your status as a green company as much as you can in your advertising efforts. In this age of the internet where every business can be found online, making sure your brand is as well represented as possible in every organic channel you can find is imperative. Your brand, your reputation, is more significant now than ever before because information about your company is so easy to find on the internet. It’s extremely important to ensure that good information about your business can be found online, and your status as a green company is indeed good information. When you couple the incalculable value your brand gets from the good press for going green with the very real and clearly definable value the savings in energy costs provides, it’s surprising there aren’t more business owners taking advantage of the strategy.

Winter 2020

Southern Utah Business Magazine 31

WOMEN IN BU SINESS

BY TARA THOMPSON

Tara Thompson was born and raised in St. George, Utah. She is currently the general manager of Dixie 4 Wheel Drive’s two location: St. George and Moab. Tara is the chair of the St. George Young Professionals and serves on the board for Leadership Dixie and Girls on the Run. Tara also works with the Women's Influence Center on the mentor committee and marketing committee and serves as a Sunshiner chamber ambassador.

I moved back to St. George, Utah, in 2014 to help our family business, Dixie 4 Wheel Drive, while it was growing from a small “mom and pop” establishment into a flourishing business. My youngest brother, Bryce Thompson (who is now part-owner of the shop), had expanded the business to the point that it couldn’t grow in its current operational set-up. After careful consideration, my brother and I felt that I could bring some added value to the business and that I could help push it to another level.

I jumped right into the hardest learning curve of my life up to that point, memorizing gear ratios and components that I had never even heard of while working the sales, inventory, accounting, and HR departments and when writing handbooks and procedures, looking for software, and luckily, not turning wrenches. When I hit my sixth-month mark and as I was easing into the chaos, I had a conversation with my brother, who at that time was the general manager of the company. He threw out the question, “What do you see yourself doing here?” I paused for a slight second and responded, “I want your job.” Well, we really should be careful what we ask for 32 Southern Utah Business Magazine

Winter 2020

because two months later, I took over as general manager of Dixie 4 Wheel Drive. As an employee, I never understand the pressures of a manager or business owner. The pressure of the title change was almost immediate and even more so when the whole future of the company seemed to rest on my shoulders. I have made countless mistakes as a manager and spent many sleepless nights playing them over in my head, but as we all know, if we don’t fail, we don’t grow. Being a woman in a male dominated industry has its own unique aspects. I have taken many classes and read many articles on women in leadership roles, but one of my favorite eye openers happened to me recently. Over the last six years that I have been with the business, we have been through ownership changes, worked on-site under construction, and opened a new location in Moab, Utah. Through all the changes, the business has experienced a large employee turnover, and as a manager, it is easy to take this personally. A question that tends to come up in conversation is “Do you think it is because you are a woman?” I never really bought into the idea, but the idea has lingered in my mind that it might contribute to the issue of employee turnover. Recently, I attended SEMA (Special Equipment Market Association), the largest automotive show held in the country. Without fail, I always attend the women’s classes offered as part of SEMA’s education program at the show. In one class I attended, Men as Allies, we had a discussion about how various managers had dealt with situations that had happened in their business and employee

WOM E N I N BU SINESS

interactions. It was like deja vu for me except the roles were reversed; I had heard the same things out of my male employees’ mouths. It helped me to realize that all managers—whether they are men or women—experiences the same situations and the same challenges with employees. I have concluded that leadership is all about building good relationships and communicating effectively; these two things lead to failure or success, whether you are a man or a woman in a leadership role. Often, people jump to the easiest male/female stereotype to label a bad manager (such as assuming the business is not profitable because the manager is a woman or assuming the reason for high employee turnover is that the manager is a woman). As women, we can choose to let labels stick or continue to grow and outshine the stereotype. We no longer live in the nineteenth century, and the playing field of business has changed and will continue to change. The best advice I can give is to lead with empathy and never stop growing.

"All managers – whether they are men or women – experience the same situations and the same challenges with employees."

Winter 2020

Southern Utah Business Magazine 33

CALENDAR OF EVENTS JANUARY 2020 JAN State of the Chamber Luncheon 29 2020 A Clear Vision 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Atwood Innovation Plaza - 453 South 600 East Saint George, UT 84770 2020 A Clear Vision â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Don Willie, New St. George Area Chamber President/CEO will be speaking about the new initiatives for the upcoming year. Open networking begins at 11:30am, program starts promptly at 12pm.

FEB 2020 Dixie 11 Transportation Expo 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Dixie Convention Center - 1835 Convention Center Drive, St. George, UT 84770 The 2020 Transportation Expo is an excellent venue to learn about local transportation trends and provide meaningful input that may shape the future of Washington County. For more information, contact Karen Roundy karen.roundy@sgcity.org

Fees/Admission: $20 Chamber Members $25 Non-Members For more information, call Tammy at 435-628-1650 ext 3, or go to stgeorgechamber.com

FEBRUARY 2020 FEB Young Professionals: Habitat for 1 Humanity Community Service Project 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Habitat for Humanity - 835 S Bluff Street St. George, UT 84770 We will be building some grow/flower boxes for the next Habitat homeowner, at the Restore at 835 S Bluff. We'll be working outside so everyone will just have to dress for the weather and in clothes they don't mind getting dirty or paint on. Fees/Admission: Free

FEB Chamber Training Luncheon 12 featuring Dr. Tasha Toy 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Dixie Technical College - 610 S. Tech Ridge St. George, UT 84770 Join us for our Training luncheon as Dr. Tasha Toy speaks to us about diversity. Dr. Toy works with senior administrators to direct and promote the University's diversity and inclusion initiatives and commitments as designed by the Strategic Plan. She promotes the success of underrepresented faculty, staff, and staff and directs the operations and staff of the Multicultural and Inclusion Center. Lunch sponsored by Dixie Tech Fees/Admission: $20 Chamber Members $25 Non-Members For more information, call Tammy at 435-628-1650 ext 3, or go to stgeorgechamber.com

For more information, call Tammy at 435-628-1650 ext 3, or go to stgeorgechamber.com

FEB State of the City: 2020 Vision Address 5 with St. George Mayor Jon Pike 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Dixie State University - Gardner Center Ballroom 225 S. University Ave, St. George, UT 84770 Come join the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, February 5th at 12 pm as we host St. George Mayor Jon Pike for his sixth annual State of the City: 2020 Vision address. Open networking begins at 11:30am, program starts promptly at 12pm. Fees/Admission: $20 Chamber Members $25 Non-Members

FEB Chamber Connect with Dox Cox-History of Trucking in 19 Southern Utah 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Best Western Abbey Inn - 1129 South Bluff Street, St. George, UT 84770