SandyStyle Style 2010
BUSINESS AND VISITOR’S GUIDE “THE BEST ADVICE I EVER GOT” UTAH’S TOP CEOs SHARE THEIR SECRETS TO SUCCESS
FACT BOOK
SPECIAL PULLOUT SECTION
BRINGING IT HOME RSL AND LOCAL BUSINESSES PUT SANDY ON THE MAP
/X[_Q `[ e[a Our name may be Bank of American Fork but we love Sandy. In fact, we’re devoted to all 12 towns along the Wasatch Front where you’ll find our branches. So are our great employees. You’ll find they are nice folks and smart bankers. They are ready to help you with everything from checking accounts to commercial loans with a smile – making you feel like you are always their best customer. It’s a great reason to switch to Bank of American Fork no matter if you live in Sandy or Spanish Fork. www.bankaf.com ~ (800) 815-BANK
855 East 9400 South, Sandy (801) 566-4161
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(Letter)
Sandy Style is a tremendous publication highlighting the vibrant and exciting developments that have come to define Sandy City. It is stunning projects such as the new Rio Tinto Stadium that bring a renewal and quality of life to our community. As you acquaint yourself with this publication, and more importantly as you have the opportunity to experience our community, you will agree that there truly is a Sandy Style. Set against the magnificent backdrop of the Wasatch Mountains, this style reflects a commitment to well-planned, quality development. In all my years as a Sandy resident, I am constantly amazed at the beauty and inspiration that Sandy has to offer. It is a community built on progress, leadership, volunteerism and values. Sandy offers a wide variety of amenities no matter the season. With 32 parks, 63 miles of trails and close proximity to four major ski resorts, Sandy is truly “The Heart of the Wasatch.” Accommodating the outdoor enthusiast is only part of Sandy’s charm. The Sandy Style is also represented in our business community with corporate citizens such as BD Medical, E-Trade, Comcast and Oracle. A highly educated and dedicated employee base is within minutes of key Sandy locations. Thank you for learning more about Sandy. Visit www.sandy.utah.gov for community updates. It is our hope that whether you are visiting or call Sandy home, you are able to experience the best of the Sandy Style.
Tom Dolan Sandy Mayor
Sandy Style 2010
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(Contents) 32 8
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22 Bringing it Home You’ve probably heard of
mixing business with pleasure. These businesses do it by discovering their contribution to the community reaps success beyond the bottom line. Read how new and established businesses are making an impact beyond the Sandy borders.
32 On the Beaten Path What is it like to be
within minutes of some of the best skiing and hiking trails the West has to offer? One Sandy native shares his love of the city he is proud to call home.
36 Urban Sleek & Country Charm These fine dining establishments couldn’t be more different in ambiance and cuisine, but they share a commonality that has more to do about the people they serve than the fare they create.
Also Inside: 8
Service with Soul. While definitely claiming a presence, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serves handin-hand with other denominations. From Muslims to Baptists to Lutherans, Sandy residents worship in many ways.
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Catch the Fun. A visit to any Sandy park will show you the town goes all out to accommodate every resident, even the four-legged ones.
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Making the Grade. See how the Miller Campus turns genius concepts into gold mines.
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Keeping With Traditions. Parades and festivals are an integral part of the American community tradition. Learn how Sandy celebrates.
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For the Love of It. Keeping Sandy residents slim and trim, or off the path of self-destruction, community volunteers give their time and resources toward the city they love. Read about the differences they make in the lives of their community neighbors.
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“The Best Advice I Ever Got.” The top Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce CEOs share their secrets to success and how their Chamber membership has been instrumental in achieving their goals.
Plus:
Special Pullout Booklet: Sandy Fact Book
Sandy Style 2010
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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church has numerous ministries for children, young adults, men, women and a music ministry.
Photo by Andrew Fillmore
Service with Soul
Diverse Faiths define Unity in the Community By Linda T. Kennedy
T
here’s a story about a Catholic priest, Father Lawrence Scanlon, who lacked a meeting place for his parishioners in the St. George area. Local leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (members often referred to as LDS or Mormon) offered their tabernacle and prepared the Latin musical text for the Mass. When the building did not fill up, Mormons occupied the empty seats as a measure of support. That was in 1879, but several of Utah’s religious leaders, from Muslims, to Catholics, to Lutherans, say that interfaith cohesiveness continues in Utah today, even though nonMormon migrators commonly ask, “Can I find other churches there besides Mormon ones?” “I get e-mails at least monthly from people who are moving to the south valley asking ‘should I accept this job, should I move to Sandy?’” says Pastor Travis Mitchell, who leads the Sandy Ridge Community Church and explains that many people’s fears stem from an us-versus-them mentality.
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“All of their friends [might belong to the same faith] and that brings an element of safety, but now they are moving into an area where they are going to be the minority.” Mitchell explains, for instance, that the evangelical population is less than 2 percent in Utah—his congregation has 60 followers. “So, I tell them ‘if you move here, one of two things are going to happen: your faith will be strengthened because you’re the minority or you’re going to fall apart.’ If they are not willing to be stretched out of their comfort zone, they are not going to make it.” While the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has 1,857,667 members in Utah as of January 2009, LDS church leaders advocate respect for other religions and collaborative humanitarian service. A 2008 LDS church press release said members do not view fellow believers as adversaries or competitors, but as humanitarian partners, and quotes early Church apostle Orson F. Whitney, “God
(Religious Diversity)
Photo courtesy Blessed Sacrament Church
Far Left: Sandy Ridge Community Church pastor Travis Mitchell is a Utah Native. above and Left: The alter and stained glass window at Blessed Sacrament Church.
Photo courtesy Blessed Sacrament Church
couple of months to discuss their different beliefs and experiences in the community. “We want to understand one another and help the people that we lead understand Photo by Ryan Taylor one another,” he says. The meetings have resulted in partnering on projects such as Sandy Pride day, a cityis using more than one people for the accomplishment wide community clean-up, and seminars addressing issues of his great and marvelous work. The Latter-day Saints such as debt and marriage. Viewing himself as a pastor in the community, not just his cannot do it all. It is too vast, too arduous, for any one people.” The release also said that interfaith cooperation church, Mitchell serves as a chaplain for the Sandy City Police does not require doctrinal compromise, and though the Department, giving more than a hundred officers support and LDS church recognizes its doctrinal differences, this counseling. Every three weeks he is on call to respond to does not prevent it from partnering with other faiths in situations such as suicide and death notifications. Pastor Christine Nelson also says her church, the Good charitable projects. Globally, the LDS church joined forces with Catholic Shepherd Lutheran Church in Sandy, integrates into the Relief Services to aid victims of famine and natural community through outreach. For instance, the church organizes an annual Royal disaster, and have worked with Islamic Relief Worldwide and the Islamic Society of Great Salt Lake to provide Family Kids Camp, a week-long ministry to help foster assistance to tsunami victims in Indonesia, Thailand children. The 10-member board of directors are represented and Sri Lanka. Locally, the LDS church has participated by five different faiths. “But the word Lutheran never comes in many interfaith efforts, such as the annual Salt Lake up, nor Baptist, Catholic or Mormon—it just doesn’t come Interfaith Roundtable. Also, LDS President Monson spoke up because Kid’s Camp embraces all religions,” says Nelson, at a 2009 service in Salt Lake’s Cathedral of the Madeleine adding that they host children and counselors from all commemorating the building’s 100th anniversary. denominations. “But what we want to do is show these kids “Enduring are the friendships forged in serving together how much God loves them.” Since serving as pastor in Sandy’s Blessed Sacrament to meet the needs of others,” he said. That’s how Mitchell says he feels about the LDS leaders Church for more than 24 years, the Rev. Monsignor Robert in his community; they are friends he meets with every R. Servatius has seen the relationship between Mormons and
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ABOVE AND RIGHT: The cross on the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and worshipers during a service.
Photos by Andrew Filmore
non-Mormon’s change. “It has become much more neighborly and cordial as the years have gone by,” he says. “I think in the past, there was kind of a rift that existed because this whole Utah valley was settled by Mormons and it became their domain. But now, the non-Mormon population has grown a great deal, so there is a need for people of other faiths to have access to their house of worship.” The Blessed Sacrament Church was the first Catholic parish in Sandy, established in 1972. Now it has 800 member
families and is one of three parishes in the Sandy area. And Servatius says interfaith occasions, such as the 1897 Mass in the St. George LDS Tabernacle, continue in his parish today. When the parish recently built it’s new church, a local stake made a cash donation to the project, and offered 30 volunteers to assist with the landscaping. “It was really an interfaith and community effort for which we were very grateful. People who come [to Sandy] who are not LDS certainly will have the availability of houses of worship of their own faith.”
Do Alta View Hospital’s patients benefit most from our proven technology, skilled caregivers, or compassion? Yes. ?he people at Alta View Hospital go the extra mile to provide high-quality care to everyone in need. Two
examples: We’re increasing the size of our emergency department to improve our care — and we’re pampering new moms with elegant dinners and plush robes after their babies are born. When you need care, remember the extra mile is right in your neighborhood.
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Sandy Style 2010
Sandy’s Urban Fishery gives residents an opportunity to catch bluegill, trout, trout small mouth bass and catfish. Patrons can keep the fish they catch and clean them at the fish-cleaning station.
Catch the Fun Sandy’s Playgrounds hook Residents By David Kennard
F
ur, fins and wheels. Take a trip to the Sandy neighborhood playground and you stand a good chance of finding all of these. Sandy City has designed its parks with a new approach to getting more people outside to enjoy the community, and the response has been overwhelming. The city’s newest park, the Sandy Urban Fishery, is just one example of how the city is serving its residents. “She caught 12 fish yesterday,” says Marshall Lundberg about his daughter’s visit on opening day. Summer proudly explained how she kept the two largest trout and ate them for dinner that night. On any given evening, you’ll find anglers lining the shore of the 3-acre lake with hopes of landing a big one. Sandy’s Urban Fishery opened in September of 2009, offering a stocked pool just east of the Jordan River on the south end of River Oaks Golf Course. In fact, a piece of the lake doubles as a water hazard for golfers as well as a shallow breeding area for the lake’s fish. The park, which includes about an acre of grass for picnicking and a fish themed playground, promises to be a destination for local anglers. A shallow well feeds the lake to create a clean habitat for bluegill, trout, small-
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mouth bass and even catfish. The park’s designers took advantage of two nearby wetland areas to act as drainage for the lake before it re-circulates back into the Jordan River. Trails circle the property taking visitors through the varied terrain where deer, birds and other wildlife are commonly seen. Visitors will also find a pavilion complete with a fish cleaning station.
Fins to Fur Sandy’s four-legged residents have enjoyed the city’s first off-leash dog park so much that the city is considering more locations for a second similar park. “The dog park has been extremely popular since its opening in 2003,” says Scott Earl, Sandy City director of parks and recreation. “We would love to add an additional dog park in another area of the city as we are able to. We constantly look at the variety of uses in all of our parks and duplicate the most popular uses as new parks are built.” The park, located just south of the tennis courts at Dewey Bluth Park near 9800 S. and 300 East, sprang from a suggestion from the Parks, Recreation and Trails Committee, a group of residents that works with city leaders to provide
(Parks)
Clock-Wise Left to Right: Playground at Sandy Urban Fishery; Offleash dog park at Dewey Bluth Park; Skate park; Walking path at Dewey Bluth Park. direction. It was built by city employees at a cost of about $80,000 and is one of only a handful in the Salt Lake metro area. Dogs and their owners enter through a double gate system that allows owners to remove their dogs from a leash before entering the grass and bark landscape. “You don’t want to open the gate and have a bunch of dogs running out,” Earl says, talking about the design of the entry way. Access to the park is located at the main parking lot or from an entry point off the paved Porter Rockwell bike trail that runs along the west side of the park adjacent to the TRAX rail line.
The Place to Spin Your Wheels A quick drive past Lone Peak park at 10140 S. 700 East will show you one of the best investments in the park department’s holdings. A 1-acre skate park attracts more visitors than the rest of the park’s 28.8 acres of developed soccer fields, softball diamonds, playgrounds and basketball court. “It’s hugely popular,” Earl says. “More people use that one acre than all the rest of the park.” Earl compared the park to a swimming pool that begins with a “shallow end” at the entrance and takes skaters to progressively more difficult obstacles. The skate park is also open for bikes, skateboards and inline skates.
Unique Visits While Sandy has worked hard to create unique ways to draw people to its parks, it’s the topography that makes it truly unique, Earl says. “I think one of the best things the city has going for it is its trailheads,” he says. “I don’t think a lot of people know about the trailheads that lead up into the mountains.” Hikers now have access to a number of mountain trails that begin at points all along the front range. One of the most popular is the Granite Trailhead that begins at the mouth of the Little Cottonwood Canyon. Future plans include connecting the existing trail that leads to Lower Bell Canyon Reservoir all the way to Hidden Valley park on the city’s southeast boundary. The section of trail will be part of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, which will connect Logan to Nephi along the bench. “We’ve kind of matured as a parks department,” Earl says. “We are moving into developing more open space parks and passive spaces.”
Find out more about Sandy Parks & Recreation at
www.sandy.utah.gov/parks
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(Education)
MAKING THE Grade Small Campus Develops Global Results By Peri Kinder
L
arry H. Miller, one of Utah’s most philanthropic business executives until his passing in 2009, was known for building business in Utah. But many people might not know that one of the ways he did that was through building several buildings on the Salt Lake Community College Campus and then donating those buildings back to the college as part of the Miller Campus, located near the Civic Corridor in Sandy. “That allowed us to build to our specifications of quality and do it in a timely manner,” says Miller’s wife. In 2001, classes were in session and the Miller Campus became a hub of multiple business-related activities, giving SLCC an innovative business and entrepreneurial arm that services numerous students each year. Dozens of business-oriented courses are available to students at the Miller Campus, including digital media, business communications, Adobe Photoshop and Website design. Training certificates are offered in specific areas such as yoga instruction, aircraft dispatch and administrative professional planning, or event and meeting planning. There is also state-of-the-art law enforcement training, and a 10,000square-foot facility housing a culinary arts program to meet the rising popularity of careers in the culinary industry. It is the only culinary arts program in Utah accredited by the Photos courtesy Salt Lake Community College Miller Campus
THE BUSINESS OF CREATING BUSINESS Encouraging entrepreneurial spirit, the Miller Business Resource Center (MBRC) on campus provides support and resources for small businesses and workforce development services. It offers a variety of solutions for business owners searching for assistance. Established companies can contact the MBRC to provide short-term intensive or customized training, corporate contract training and continuing adult education. Business counseling, along with other resources, is also available. “It’s a business center where professionals can receive support for what they do,” says Joy Tlou, SLCC director of public relations. “We can custom-fit programs for specific businesses. It’s been a phenomenal idea.” Startups can also set up shop in their first office space and receive administrative support from the center. “We give them training to get their business going and we end up becoming business partners with them,” says Tlou.
MILLER CAMPUS: Several Centers at Salt Lake Commuity College offer training in professions such as the culinary arts.
Photos courtesy Salt Lake Community College
SANDY STYLE 2010
American Culinary Federation. But a handful of individual centers and academies on campus provide unique business services beyond vocational training for future professionals.
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(Education) There is also the Miller Business Innovation Center on campus, an incubator program where new small businesses and business courses are developed. Karen Gunn, dean of the School of Professional and Economic Development on the Miller Campus calls it “The screwdriver drawer school” it incubates new business ideas and launches them into the community. “We’re called a ‘screwdriver drawer school’ because when you look in the drawer, you have screwdrivers, nails, glue and fix-it stuff—everything you need to build something,” Gunn says. “We construct new courses.” Once a business is launched, it can learn what it needs to become successful at The Small Business Development Center, which helps companies with market research, business plan development, community contacts and provides access to business software. The mission of the center is to strengthen the economic model in Utah by assisting entrepreneurs with education and resources.
Filling Special Niches
Businesses of all sizes are recognizing the prominence that green initiatives are having in the business community. Consequently, the Miller Campus launched The Green Academy
to meet the interest. Courses are dedicated to sustainability, green design and construction, energy efficiency, and reducing the carbon footprint on the earth. The Green Mechanical Awareness Certificate is a 30-hour, non-credit course covering green concepts, systems and terminologies. SLCC, in partnership with the Women’s Business Center at the Salt Lake Chamber and the U.S. Small Business Administration, also promotes the development of business skills for female entrepreneurs and professionals. At the Women’s Business Institute, the Women’s Network for Entrepreneurial Training matches participants with an experienced mentor who guides them through the ins-andouts of owning and operating a business. Other programs on the campus include a Global Corporate College Network offering training to Fortune 1000 companies, and the Women’s India Trust, which works to bring low-income women in Mumbai, India out of poverty through education and training. “We are a comprehensive resource center,” Gunn says. “No one has the combination of quite the set of resources we do.” “It’s a business-like campus but it’s based on a model of promoting small business.” adds Tlou.
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Sandy Balloon Festival: Numerous balloons launch at the annual event.
Keeping with
Traditions
Sandy’s Numerous Activities Keep People Smiling By Candace M. Little
T
here is magic happening in Sandy. Not the kind with wizards or wands, but the kind that happens when we forget about our stressful lives and enjoy the exact moment at hand. Concerts at the Sandy Amphitheater, the Sandy Balloon Festival and the Fourth of July celebration give you ample opportunities to leave your troubles behind and enjoy the city’s magical traditions.
Sandy City Balloon Festival Thousands of people attend Sandy’s unique urban Balloon Festival each year. A professional balloon meister runs the show, orchestrating balloon pilots’ launchings and landings. The balloon launch fits in perfectly with the August sunrise as you watch the puffed balloons drift out across the morning sky. Bring your cameras and your photographing eye because there is a photo contest with cash prizes. You can also meet the pilots and their balloons face-toface at the balloon glow, where crowds of adults, kids and
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balloon enthusiasts gather to hear the crackle of the lamps illuminate the dozens of brightly colored fabric balloons. As the balloons line the dusk sky at the Centennial Parkway, they hover and glow above the entranced faces in the crowd. A professional musician performing on stage adds to the sublime atmosphere. The balloon festival is an annual event the second weekend in August. You can catch the launch at Storm Mountain Park Friday or Saturday morning at sunrise (around 6:30 a.m.). The glow event is on Saturday evening only.
Fourth of July Celebration Sandy City celebrates the Fourth of July over a one-day, action-packed celebration. The event attracts 40,000 people throughout the day, and gives about a million opportunities to feel like a kid again. When Sandy City community events director, Mearle Marsh, started his position eight years ago, he heard Sandy had a
LEFT TO RIGHT: Sandy’s firework display is one of the largest in the south valley area; Sandy Amphitheater gives performances May through September; The Sandy Balloon Festival is an annual tradition.
good fireworks show, but he thought people were just saying that. When he experienced the show for the first time, he was astounded. “My mouth fell open and my jaw hit the ground,” Marsh says. “This show is 20 minutes jam-packed with fireworks and music—a truly impressive show.” Since then, Marsh watches the fireworks every year with thousands of people—scattered across back yards and parks, where families and neighbors celebrate being part of Sandy and the nation. But the fun starts long before the fireworks show. Activities, food and craft vendors, and live music fill the grassy South Towne Promenade at 10000 S. 175 West beginning around 10 a.m. Anticipating lemonades, barbecue pork sandwiches, bratwurst, cotton candy and other favorites have people drooling months before this event, which Sandy says draws people far beyond the city limits. Beginning around 6 p.m., Sandy tops off the celebration with an evening parade. The smell of popcorn, sounds of laughter and marching bands send off a small-town feel that really gets
the party started. Parade-watchers keep an eye out for their favorite float, the roller skaters extraordinaire, the National Guard and other participants. Live music keeps the fun going as crowds get ready for the upcoming fireworks show.
SANDY AMPHITHEATER If you’re from Sandy, you might be acclimated to your beautiful surroundings, so much that you take them for granted. But for visitors who come from neighboring cities or as far as the other side of the globe, the area’s ambiance is truly oneof-a-kind, especially the view from the Sandy Amphitheater. From the amphitheater, one can easily see the mountains to the east and Salt Lake valley to the west—a completely visual treat. With an outdoor theater experience like this, it’s easy to get caught up in the magic.
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(Doing)
Country Superstar Taylor Swift performs at the Sandy Ampitheater. May through September, the amphitheater, located on the corner of 9400 South and 1300 East, has been home to a wide variety of shows. Local dancing groups perform Russian, Slovak, Israeli and Mexican folk dancing at the International Folk Festival, and other local artists, like Peter Breinholt, Ryan Shupe and The RubberBand, Jon Schmidt, as well as worldfamous artists like Kansas, Air Supply, Clint Black, The Beach Boys and Taylor Swift have taken center stage in Sandy.
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“Artist after artist comment on how beautiful it is,” says Marsh. “When Glen Campbell performed, he even stopped mid-song to comment on the surroundings. ‘You hung me a moon,’ he said. As the crowd turned to see, Marsh says, there was a bright moon hanging right over the silhouetted mountains.” On any night, fans can spread a blanket and enjoy a picnic while they watch the show. Though the outdoor theater can at times mean dealing with temperamental weather, not even the clouds can stop the show from going on. Some shows bring in more than 3,000 adoring fans, filling the theater. “We’re hardy pioneer stock here, not afraid of a little rain,” says Marsh. Fans prove it, waiting out a storm in their cars and returning once the downpour stops. Whatever way you celebrate, whether it’s Sandy’s outdoor theater or fun-filled parades, you’ll find plenty to keep you smiling.
Find out more about the Sandy Ampitheater at
www.sandyarts.com
It has been my pleasure to work with Cija Doyle over the past several months on various charitable fund-raisers. She is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. Cija is involved in nearly every community event in the Sandy area. I think Cija is a great example of Walmart's corporate citizenship.
Thurl Bailey
19 better. Save money. Live
Cija Doyle Store Manager Quarry Bend Walmart Sandy, Utah
Sandy Style 2010
(Volunteers)
For the Love of It Community Volunteers Keep Sandy on its Feet By Sarah M. Cutler
A
sk anyone who has been an active community volunteer why they give their time and they will probably say, “For the euphoric feeling of helping others.” Volunteers in Sandy are providing a way for the community to experience this euphoric feeling through programs that benefit the health and strength of the city.
The Healthy Sandy Program Healthy Sandy is a partnership between Sandy, Canyons School District, Salt Lake Valley Health Department and Alta View Hospital. These organizations team up with schools, businesses, foundations, volunteers, government agencies and many others to provide service to the community. The partnerships promote health of all shapes and sizes, including physical and environmental protection, and prevention of disease and abuse. During one family night at the city’s Lone Peak Skate Park, Healthy Sandy gave away 50 bicycle helmets to encourage safety. The organization’s service continues throughout the year, with free eye exams, dental screenings, flu shots and immunizations provided for Sandy’s Title I schools. Arguably the program’s most successful campaign has been “Slim Down Sandy,” a weight-loss event that takes
Left to right: Sandy Youth Court in session; Volunteers working on a Sandy Pride community service project.
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place over a 10-week period. Each participant is weighed in at the beginning and given tips, gear and educational information. Gordon Johnson, chairman of the Healthy Sandy program, has lost more than 20 pounds participating in the program during the last two years. “My doctors said that I would be on a statin [to lower my cholesterol] and an acid blocker [for gastro esophageal reflux] for the rest of my life. As a result of exercising more, eating less and eating smarter, I lost 10 pounds last year plus an additional 12 pounds during this year’s Slim Down program, removing two inches from my waistline,” Johnson says. “But, even more important, I feel better, look better and I’m off all medications. I lowered my cholesterol more than 30 points, without any statins, and I am free from all my past reflux [indigestion] problems. The only down side is that my wife says I’ve got to buy new suits.”
SYCC AND THE SANDY YOUTH COURT Building strong, independent and responsible youth is a goal of Sandy’s volunteer programs geared toward youth. One of these programs is the Sandy Youth City Council (SYCC), an organization that has served the youth of
(Volunteers) Sandy for eighteen years. Its focus is to teach high school students about their own municipal government; to serve others in need; and to learn leadership skills through social and learning activities. Another youth program that offers opportunities to learn, grow and overcome is the Sandy Youth Court. Youth who have committed their first criminal offense are helped to repair the harm, give back to the community and stop the dangerous walk down a path of criminal behavior. Sandy’s Youth Court has three components: court hearings, peer mentoring and peer mediation. The participating youth or respondent has to admit to the charge(s) and voluntarily agree to attend the program and take on the responsibility of the crime committed. The youth is judged by a jury panel of his or her peers. The Sandy Police Department sponsors the program.
The Exchange Club The Sandy Pride community service project has been taking place every year since 1984. In collaboration with about 1,500 volunteers from the community including scouts, clubs,
churches and schools, the Exchange Club of Sandy takes initiatives to help the community clean up the streets, parks and residential neighborhoods. About 35,000 green trash bags are handed out for the various projects, but it doesn’t stop there. Painting, landscaping and community repair projects have been accomplished through the league of community volunteers as well. The Exchange Club provides service to the elderly, distributes hand-held American flags to kids at the 4th of July parade each year, and supports and participates in the prevention of child abuse. Every activity is a step further toward the overall health and sustainability of Sandy. The community grows closer, stronger and happier from the many big and small efforts of volunteers. Service to one another is the accomplishments of the Sandy programs. “This is our way of setting an example and giving back to the community,” says Connie Carter, a member of The Exchange Club. “It also is a good way to build self-esteem and friendship.”
To learn more about volunteer opportunities visit
www.sandy.utah.gov
“Utah Business: Targeted. Relevant. Current. Forward-looking. Utah. Business. Done. Right.” Jeremy Hanks Founder and Chairman Doba
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Sandy Style 2010
(On the Cover)
Bringing
it Home Sandy City Raises the Bar on Mixing Business with Community By Heather Stewart
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wo years ago, April Nielsen began scouting for the perfect location to open the first Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise in Utah. A native of Las Vegas, Nielsen was unfamiliar with Utah and relied on advisors to pinpoint the state’s hot spots. “I talked to a couple of brokers, and they said Sandy is where it’s at,” she says. Sandy is home to high-tech manufacturing firms, construction companies, thriving retail establishments and everything in between. Together, these companies have created a close-knit and dynamic business community in the heart of the greater Salt Lake valley.
New Faces Nothing Bundt Cakes currently has 13 franchise stores throughout the Southwest. The bakery chain, which began expanding rapidly in the past few years, specializes in fresh, creatively decorated bundt cakes. Sandy proved to be the perfect locale for launching Nothing Bundt Cakes in the Utah market. “I wouldn’t trade our location for the world,” Nielsen says, observing that many national retail stores are setting
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Photos by Brandon Flint
Sandy Style 2010
Nothing Bundt Cakes: Owner April Nielson says Sandy is the perfect location to sell her specialty cakes.
LEFT TO RIGHT: The Rio Tinto Stadium is home to MLS Cup Champion, Real Salt Lake; BD Medical; South Towne Expo Center; Aerial view of Sandy.
up shop in the city. Sandy is positioned in the middle of the metropolitan Wasatch Front along major east and west transportation corridors—a tremendous advantage for most businesses, but particularly for Nothing Bundt Cakes. The bakery does a brisk delivery business, and Nielsen’s drivers can reach any destination in the valley within 20 minutes. Additionally, the city boasts a population of approximately 100,000 with average household incomes nearing $100,000, providing a plentiful customer base for the city’s shops and eateries. And now that she has been in business for a year and a half, Nielsen has found more to love in Sandy than a great setting for her business. She has stumbled upon a tremendously supportive business community through the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce and its Women in Business committee, as well as the team of Sandy City leaders. “I try to donate to community events and help the community in any way that I can,” Nielsen says. “The more you’re connected with the other businesses, the more it helps everyone.” But new retail stores and restaurants are not the only businesses eyeing the prime real estate in Sandy. Workers Compensation Fund of Utah (WCF) chose to build its new headquarters there. Founded in 1917, WCF serves a client base of more than 24,000 companies. When the organization began to grow out
SANDY STYLE 2010
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of its current facility, it turned to Sandy to develop a new sixstory building. “We had previously developed two buildings as investment property in Sandy,” explains Ray Pickup, president and CEO of WCF. “Those buildings were a significant asset for us.” WCF also owned some land in the city, and decided to sell the other two buildings and develop its headquarters on the land. “We found Sandy easy to work with when we built the other two buildings—so we knew this development would go smoothly as well,” he says. Indeed, Sandy boasts not only Class A office space and ideal commercial units, but several prime locations for future development. Under construction now, WCF’s new building will be 160,000 square feet when completed. Pickup expects the facility to earn a LEED-Gold certification for environmentally sustainable construction. “We are going to occupy two-thirds of it and lease the remaining two floors,” he says. In all, 300 WCF employees will be housed in the new Sandy headquarters when it is completed in late 2010. Pickup says the company is thrilled to be working within the Sandy community, and not only because of its existing relationship with Sandy business and government leaders. “It’s a good central location with quick access to I-15 and the TRAX light-rail line. And for our employees, it’s also conveniently close to shops and restaurants.”
A VISIONARY COMPANY While WCF will be the newest member of the Sandy community, medical products manufacturer BD Medical has
(On the Cover) Photo by Ryan Taylor
thrived in Sandy for more than 40 years. When the company built its manufacturing plant in the late 1960s, it was surrounded by acres of farmland. Cal Alexander, vice president of operations, remembers the orchards and pastures that used to encircle BD Medical’s 600,000-square-foot manufacturing plant. “It’s been interesting watching the development move this way,” he says. BD Medical still sits on a secluded 27-acre site—but now it has several neighbors, including Jordan Commons, a planned development that includes office space, a movie theater, shops and restaurants. Other neighbors include the South Towne Expo Center and the Rio Tinto Soccer Stadium. “All of this is growing up around us,” Alexander says. Big, new developments in Sandy may grab the headlines, but BD Medical has been a quiet economic force in the city for decades. Its Sandy plant is only one part of a $7 billion global operation. The company researches and manufactures infusion therapy systems at the Sandy facility—itself a $900 million portion of the company’s overall business. BD Medical employs 1,000 people in Sandy, most of them in high-paying manufacturing positions. “The Sandy site is the headquarters for our worldwide infusion therapy business. Our plant is the biggest of BD’s 10 manufacturing plants,” says Alexander. “We provide very good jobs here with above-average wages and excellent benefits, including an educational benefit.” The company is certainly a valued employer in the city. But it also contributes to the local community in other significant ways. “We’ve got a reputation for volunteerism,” says Alexander. “Our corporate purpose is helping all people live healthy lives.” BD Medical employees are active in programs like Meals on Wheels and food drives, and they also participate in multiple fundraisers every year. In fact, the company has a service committee that searches for new, meaningful
ways for employees to get involved in the community. But along with having an interest in community involvement, BD Medical has an interest in community impact—it has tackled some major environmental initiatives. The Sandy plant was among the first companies to earn ISO 14000 Certification for its environmental management systems. And the company has converted to 100 percent renewable energy. “We’re also doing everything we can to minimize air emissions,” says Alexander. Over the years, BD Medical has proved a valuable asset to Sandy’s community and its economy. In turn, the company has been well pleased with its visionary decision to build in the midst of Sandy’s sleepy farmland so many decades ago. “We’ve been here for 42 years and counting,” says Alexander. “And we’re looking forward to many more years to come.”
Small Business, Big Impact When it comes to making a difference in the community, it doesn’t take a major corporation to have a major impact. Troy Apolonio decided to dive straight into community involvement when he opened his Chick-fil-A franchise in Sandy’s South Towne Marketplace. When the restaurant opened in 2003, he immediately joined the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce and began searching for ways to contribute to the city. “We want to build great relationships,” he says. “We look for whatever we can do to help people out, to see if we can assist with moving their cause forward with meals.” Chick-fil-A has contributed free breakfasts and lunches for city volunteers, particularly for activities through the Parks & Recreation department. Further, the restaurant always joins in the “Taste of Sandy,” a major event hosted by the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce. Apolonio also participated in the city’s State Street Reconstruction Advisory Committee to try to minimize the impact of roadwork on local businesses and residents. “I find city leaders to be very proactive when it comes to promoting their events or communicating about new projects,” he says.
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Sandy Style 2010
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Sandy Style 2010
(On the Cover) Photo by Ryan Taylor
Photo courtesy Del Sol
Left to Right: Workers Compensation Fund of Utah’s new home being built in Sandy; Del Sol’s headquarters located near Sandy’s civic corridor.
But Apolonio is particularly proud of Chick-fil-A’s involvement in the “Keys to Success” and “Road to Success” programs spearheaded by Ken Garff Auto. These programs reward students for academic achievement, attendance and community service, among other things. “We don’t have a big marketing budget, so we try to do a lot of grassroots outreach in the community to both get our name out there and to give back to the community,” he explains. The strategy seems to be working. Apolonio’s Chick-fil-A consistently achieves the second-highest sales volume among free-standing Chick-fil-As on the West coast—beating out the eateries in major California cities. The restaurant has become a favorite spot for local families, especially on Wednesday nights when children eat free with the purchase of an adult meal. But it’s more than just free food—the night often includes arts and crafts projects, balloons and entertainment. “Kids Night has become quite popular in the community,” says Apolonio. “Kids love it and parents especially appreciate it.”
Building the Future Layton Construction Company has built some of the largest and most innovative projects in the Southwest— The Utah Olympic Oval, the Huntsman Cancer Hospital and the Mesa Arts Center in Arizona are some of the notable projects that can be attributed to the company, which specializes in large commercial projects. “Our work is scattered all over the United States,” says Alan Rindlisbacher of Layton Construction. But Layton Construction also built Sandy City Hall, the South Towne Exposition Center, the One Sandy Center, the Rio Tinto Soccer Stadium and a variety of office buildings in the city.
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“We’re sure grateful to the community for all the opportunities it has offered to us,” Rindlisbacher says. Layton Construction employs about 600 workers in the region and has offices in Sandy, Arizona and Idaho. The Utahbased company was founded in 1953 by Alan W. Layton and is now operated by the family’s second generation. In 1994, Layton Construction made the strategic decision to build its new headquarters in Sandy. “As the company continued to grow, we saw the need to expand our headquarters,” explains Rindlisbacher. “Moving into Sandy was a little bit of foresight. Alan Layton was insightful and global in his thoughts and could see that Sandy was going to develop into the hub of the entire valley.” Indeed, Layton Construction has participated in Sandy’s building boom and watched businesses of every variety make Sandy their home. “We’ve got an international engineering company on our campus right here in Sandy,” Rindlisbacher says. “And that’s just one example.” People who live, work and play in Sandy drive past buildings built by Layton Construction everyday, but they may not realize the full impact of the company’s contributions to the community. “It’s important to be a part of the local community,” says Rindlisbacher. “We’ve tried to take an active role through service.” Dozens of company leaders volunteer on boards of directors for various nonprofit organizations and associations. The company also provides charitable contributions and in-kind donations to organizations in the community. “Even though we’re not really visible in the area—our office isn’t very noticeable if you’re not looking for it—we have become a big part of the city,” says Rindlisbacher.
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Sandy Style 2010
(On the Cover) Colonial Flag has sold flags in every state in the country.
Local Pride Many of Sandy’s businesses have put the city on the map. For instance, Sandy-based Del Sol sells color-changing products and apparel on all the major cruise lines, in airports and in popular ports-of-call throughout the world. Other companies serve Sandy’s residents and visitors with eateries like Café Rio and Smokey Mountain Pizza, shops such as Tai Pan Trading Company, and medical services like InVision Eye Health and the highly ranked Alta View Hospital. But one home-grown company has truly brought together the community and shined a national spotlight on Sandy. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Sandy-based Colonial Flag inadvertently launched the Healing Field movement to memorialize the fallen and heal the country’s spirit. Paul Swenson, owner of Colonial Flag, had the simple idea to create a public display of flags—one for each person killed on September 11. He began searching for the perfect spot for the display and realized that the grounds in front of Sandy City Hall provided both adequate space and easy public access. Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan quickly signed on to the idea, and local businesses sent a willing troop of more than 500 volunteers to set up the display of 3,031 flags. Late at night after the display was completed, Swenson drove by to check for vandalism. He vividly remembers watching a lone woman wandering from flag to flag and pausing for a moment at each. He watched her for at least an hour before he finally drove away. “I realized the display was more than a demonstration of the enormity of the loss on 9/11. It was more about personal and community healing.”
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The response to the heartbreaking display of flags was tremendous. “Around 50,000 cars drove by the first day,” says Swenson. “And 250,000 people visited the display that year.” Colonial Flag and Sandy City did nothing to publicize the Healing Field, but word spread quickly and local and national media broadcast images of the field around the world. “After the terrorist attacks, the flag really became a demonstration of unity and almost a defiance of terrorism,” Swenson says. Colonial Flag began getting calls from across the country from communities that wanted to create their own Healing Field. “The next year we did five fields. The year after that, we did 35. And it branched out from there,” Swenson says. Colonial Flag eventually created a nonprofit foundation to coordinate the numerous Healing Fields—and there have now been more than 300 fields in communities nationwide. The purpose of these fields has also expanded: some now commemorate victims of child abuse, for example, or those lost to cancer. Colonial Flag celebrated its 30th year in business in 2009, and its founding is a true American success story. The company was launched by Paul Swenson’s brother in his basement. It started out as a distributor of flag poles, but quickly expanded to include flags and flag-related memorabilia. Now, the company is one of the largest flag and flag pole distributors in the country. “We probably sell as many flags as four or five of our competitors in the region put together,” Swenson says. Colonial Flag provided flags for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and again for the 2004 Olympics in Greece. It has sold flags in every state and in numerous countries worldwide. “What we do here in Sandy affects communities across the country,” says Swenson. The company’s building, which is visible from I-15, has become a beloved landmark in the valley. Decorated with a changing display of flags of every variety, the company is often a shining symbol of celebration—or, when its flags are at half mast, a visible expression of the community’s mourning. Swenson is proud of what Colonial Flag has accomplished, and to be a member of the Sandy community. “I live in Sandy. I work in Sandy. This is my home,” he says.
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Sandy Style 2010
Snowbird’s aerial tram lifts skiers to 11,000-foot Hidden Peak.
Path Sandy Connects Outdoor Lovers to Trails of Dreams
By Alex Koritz
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y drive to work is, in many ways, a torturous one; not because of traffic or the miles I drive, but because of the many temptations along the way. I have about a 25-minute commute along Wasatch Boulevard, a scenic road that hugs the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains. I pass Little and Big Cottonwood canyons and countless hiking trails. On sunlit winter mornings where fresh, untracked powder lies from the previous night’s snowfall, I’m particularly tempted. The powderhounds pass me along the way, ski gear sticking out of their cars as they lean over their steering wheels, like insects drawn to a light. I was born and raised in Sandy City, Utah. And after spending a few years in Ohio and various other places, I found my way back home. Why? Simply put, it’s an outdoorsman’s paradise. Sandy offers the benefits of a major city, but it also offers easy access to breath-taking scenery and recreational areas, making it one of the unique cities of the world. Some outdoor enthusiasts are willing to sacrifice their careers in order to live in a city that gives them the lifestyle they’re seeking. I wasn’t one of those. I couldn’t afford to sacrifice, halt or hinder in any way, my career. But because Sandy is also an entrepreneurial hub, I didn’t have to make that choice. I was able to move back, advance my career and enjoy the outdoors I had so desperately missed. Sandy, thus, becomes the ideal destination for those looking for a healthy, if
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Sandy Style 2010
(Recreation) Photo by Steve Greenwood
Left to Right: Hikers enjoying the Albion Basin trail; Sandy nestled next to the majestic Wastach Mountains; The rising generation learning to ski; Fresh powder in the back country. not adventurous, work/life balance. The city is only minutes from skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, bobsledding, ice-skating, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. In fact, four world-class ski resorts are only 30 minutes from the city limits. Each of those resorts receives an annual snowfall of more than 500 inches a year from the jet stream driving storms from the Pacific Ocean. When the clouds then hit Utah’s mountains, the jet stream pushes the moisture upward into the frigid, high air. Moisture is squeezed out at extremely low temperatures creating light, fluffy snow containing less water. This natural process validates Utah’s slogan, “The Greatest Snow on Earth®.” But the mountain recreation doesn’t end when the snow melts; Sandy boasts 63 miles of hiking trails. I’ve enjoyed the Albion Basin Trail hike many times and reaching Albion Basin, Lake Catherine and Sunset Peak. The hike leads me through dense pines, quaking aspen and to glacial lakes. Unless you live near one of those resorts, Sandy is about the closest you can get to the slopes, roughly 12 miles away. I recently spoke to Snowbird’s marketing director, Dave Fields, about the city’s draw. “Sandy has one of the highest concentrations of outdoor photographers and professional skiers in the world,” he says “Because of the unique Utah snow and terrain, there are many people who buy vacation homes in Sandy. It’s an affordable place to live.”
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The city also draws accolades from outside Utah, too. Outside magazine recently named Alta-Snowbird the No. 1 ski destination in North America for the 2008-09 season; and since 2006 Sandy is ranked in Top 100 Best Places to Live by CNN/Money. Snowbird, and other adjacent ski resorts in Big and Little Cottonwood canyons, Sandy City and local businesses, are making it easy for people to at least give the city a trial run; together they are spreading the word about how affordable a ski vacation can be if one stays in Sandy. Vacationers are given free transportation to the resorts and have the option to buy a Super Pass that gives access to all four resorts. (It is only 10 miles from Sandy’s border to Snowbird.) Sandy doesn’t want to attract only ski vacationers, however. “We are looking to recruit businesses and families that want to live in a thriving city but also want access to unmatched outdoor recreation,” says Sandy City’s communications director, Trina Duerksen. There are two particularly painful parts along my commute every day. The first is when Wasatch crosses the road that leads up Little Cottonwood Canyon, and the second is when Wasatch crosses the road that leads up Big Cottonwood Canyon, and I can’t turn off on either one of them. But I must confess, on occasion I’ve veered from my commute and somehow found myself winding up the canyon, my skis mysteriously strapped to the roof of my car.
La Caille at Quail Run is nestled stream-side in the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Photos by Dana Sohm
&
Urban Sleek
Country Charm
Sandy’s Culinary Best Brings a World of Flavor to the Community By Pamela Ostermiller
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here could not be two more distinct restaurants in Sandy than La Caille and Asian Star. La Caille, which is housed in a 17th century-style French chateau, sits on a 22-acre estate nestled in a grove at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Asian Star offers a sharp-edged modern structure perched atop a hill along a busy thoroughfare. Though both restaurants offer unique menus and unmatched ambiance, both restaurants’ owners, La Caille’s Steve Runolfson and Asian Star’s Gary Lee, share at least this much in common—dedication to their restaurants, customers and community.
A Gentleman’s Farm Life One late summer morning, Runolfson poked his head in through the antiqued front doors into the foyer of La Caille and, after our quick introductions, asked, “Walk with me?” Then we were off, briskly crossing the cobbled, circular driveway and an expanse of lawn, then sliding down a muddy pathway along a small stream. We were searching for lost goslings. “They’re grown up, but I don’t want them to get swept down the creek!” Later, over a platter of chilled crab legs and shrimp, Runolfson explained how he worked on
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some overflowing beaver ponds that morning and had rescued a turtle. But he says, it’s all in a day’s work at La Caille, where peacocks and swans also roam about the gardens, ponds and vineyard. “I have a wonderful life,” Runolfson says, as Canadian geese, a few of the many nesting pairs that return each year, swim in a nearby pond. “Technically, I make a living in fine dining, but I’m a gentleman farmer.” A rapid conversationalist, Runolfson, with his business partner, David Johnson, has spent the last 35 years turning an old steakhouse named Quail Run into La Caille (French for ‘the quail’), arguably the state’s most picturesque restaurant setting. Runolfson was the chef for 25 years, while Johnson is the green thumb. They both live on the property and the restaurant has become a family business; Runolfson’s daughter, Mary, is now the lead event coordinator. An alumnus of Jordan High, Runolfson’s roots have always been connected to the area. From the beginning, he believed that a small, quaint French restaurant could succeed in Utah. “The best thing that ever happened to us was that everyone said it couldn’t be done,” he laughs. Besides traveling the world participating in working eco-vacations (he’s a self-described
Sandy Style 2010
(Food)
naturalist), Runolfson now finds great joy in philanthropy by giving back to a community that has supported him and in encouraging others to do the same. “I love to help people help themselves,” he says. Runolfson co-founded The Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation to help successful business owners share their success with others and recently hosted the second annual “101 Ways to Give Back” event for the foundation, to raise funds for organizations such as the The Sandy Club, A Safe Place for Boys & Girls. Although he describes himself as a hermit, Runolfson keeps himself busy fulfilling his philosophy that the more you give, the more you get back. “If you want something done, ask a busy person!”
Eastern Style Meets Western Work Ethic Gary Lee knows something about being busy. “I’m just an ordinary hard-working guy,” he says. But anyone who knows Lee, and the long hours he logs, understands this is a major understatement. Lee is particularly known for being adaptable to changing trends and the economy, and the unique vision he uses to set his restaurants apart. Before the current Asian Star, Lee had a restaurant at the Canyon Racquet Club for eight years, and owned Ocean City on Murray-Holladay Boulevard for five years. During that time, Lee quickly discovered that his established clientele of businesspeople in the real estate, mortgage and title industries, conducted business primarily near Union Park Avenue. “My customers at the racquet club would say, Gary, this is too far!” Lee has also recognized the popularity of sushi, especially among younger customers, so he added an upstairs sushi bar
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Left to Right: The dining areas at Asian Star and La Caille. Below: Exterior view of Asian Star restaurant.
with big screen TVs to his new location. “We intend to be here for a long time to come,” he says. Asian Star opened its doors almost four years ago, and Lee was there for every step of the conception and construction. Designed by VCBO Architects, Lee says he was involved in all aspects of practicality, from the position on the lot to the gorgeous views of the Wasatch Range. A two-story building with jutting edges, bright colors and an airy, open feel, Asian Star is considered one of the most innovative and modern buildings in Sandy. While Gary’s tastes in architecture lean toward modern designs, he says he is a conservative type. “I believe in old-fashioned values,” he says, adding that Asian Star is a family business because he wants his sons to know a good work ethic. His brother and the oldest of his three young sons are on the staff. And while Lee is not all business, he is never gone for long or too far away. “I’m on call, always!” he says. The exception is when he travels to his 500-year-old ancestral home, the village of Lee in China, and he hopes to return there again, soon. In the meantime, he says he enjoys traveling within the state especially to some of its notorious fishing spots within an hour’s drive from Asian Star. “I enjoy the peace and tranquility of fishing Utah’s waters; I have many favorite spots.”
Utah Business does an exceptional job of capturing the many aspects of business in our fine state. Whether they are profiling significant company success stories or featuring Utah executives who demonstrate effective leadership, the magazine enables us to celebrate with our contemporaries through an uplifting reading experience. There are a few magazines that I look forward to reading each month, and Utah Business is right at the top.
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801.568.0114 3911
Sandy Style 2010
Now more than ever, organizations are realizing the full benefit of membership in the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce and are building a powerful competitive advantage to survive and even thrive in the new economy. Business owners recognize that more exposure means more money for their businesses and the Sandy Area Chamber has a full line of programs to optimize the marketing dollar of any business, large or small as well as increase their sphere of influence. Nancy Workman President, CEO Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce
The following pages are a demonstration of the kind of support and edification that the leaders in the Sandy Chamber are willing to offer the business community.
Photos courtesy Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce
801.566.0344 • www.sandychamber.com Sandy Style 2009
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The Sandy Chamber’s top CEOs and Sandy’s Mayor Tom Dolan freely share their secrets to success . . . that’s Sandy Style!
Sandy’s Mayor
Tom Dolan Get Involved
C
ontrary to some popular beliefs, there is entertainment in Utah and it is bustling in Sandy, the heart of the Wasatch. Not long ago, Sandy was merely a suburb of Salt Lake City. But during his 16-year tenure as mayor, Tom Dolan has turned Sandy into a boom town and an entertainment destination. With many new developments emerging across the city, such as state-of-the-art hotels to the gorgeous new Rio Tinto stadium, there is an atmosphere of growth, opportunity and prosperity. As a progressive, forward-thinking advocate of economic development, Dolan began forming strategic relationships early in his stewardship of this great city by working closely with members of the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce. The result of those relationships is a thriving community enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. People come from near and far to participate in shows
and events at the South Towne Expo Center or enjoy sell-out concerts and soccer games at the world-renowned Rio Tinto Stadium. The stars come out all summer with shows for the whole family at the Sandy Amphitheater. One of the country’s top-ranked movie theaters, Jordan Commons, plays one blockbuster after another and with more than 70 restaurants in the downtown Sandy area, there’s never a dull moment. Besides providing a busy night life, Sandy serves as the ultimate “base-camp” for skiing enthusiasts who frequent Utah’s popular ski resorts. And nestled in the foothills of Little Cottonwood Canyon, most Sandy hotels are a short 20 minutes from 2002 Winter Olympic venues and the greatest snow on earth! Mayor Dolan attributes the phenomenal growth and success of Sandy to advice he received from a mentor who said, “Get involved in your local government, you CAN make a difference.”
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Sandy Style 2009
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There are numerous reasons that Fred Lampropoulos, chairman and CEO of Merit Medical, chooses to build his business in the Sandy area. Not only are the operating costs very competitive and the tax incentives for research and development great, but it is the overall quality of life in the Sandy area that impels Lampropoulos to continue expanding his Utah campus, rather than exporting jobs overseas. Lampropoulos, and many of his employees, host many luncheons and dinners in Sandy. His business partners stay in Sandy hotels when they’re in town and conduct much of their business in the Sandy area. Most importantly, he says, “Sandy is tough on law and order—it’s a safe and clean atmosphere.” During the next 5 to 7 years, Merit Medical’s Utah campus will expand more than another 15 acres and 350,000 square feet of space, creating more than 1,000 jobs for Sandy area residents. Those who know Lampropoulos, or have seen him in action, suspect that Merit Medical’s aggressive expansion and explosive growth is solely due to Lampropoulos’ tenacious personality, but he insists that it is a clear vision of his goals that helps him make quick decisions and act immediately towards accomplishing them. “I know exactly what I want and I set my sights on achieving it,” he says. As a military man, Lampropoulos says he received a golden nugget of advice from one of his mentors, Lt. Gen. Hall Moore, and repeats the words of wisdom throughout his workday at Merit Medical: “You don’t get what you expect, you get what you inspect.” However, Lampropoulos says, the best piece of advice he ever received was from his father who said, “Let’s go as far as we can see, then we’ll see how far we can go.”
Fred Lampropoulos Merit Medical Acting Quickly, Going Far Sandy Style 2009
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Greg Miller, Larry H. Miller Group
Taking Experienced Advice to Heart
andy Mayor Tom Dolan helped Earl Hurst, president of Humana of Utah, cut the ribbon on the company’s new office space on May 29, 2008. Hurst, a devotee of Stephen Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly Successful People” was already focused on end results. He says the best advice he has followed is in Habit No. 2: Begin with the end in mind. “Begin each day with a clear vision of your desired outcome—put your goals in focus,” Hurst says. ”Create a mental vision of what you want to accomplish, and then follow through to make it happen.” His personal motto? “Never give up!” Humana is the only national insurance carrier participating in the Utah Health Insurance Exchange. Hurst believes that Humana is focused on health and wellness,
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reg Miller, CEO of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, believes some of the best advice he received came from his father: “Watch everything, watch real close and watch right now.” Since Miller became CEO in 2008, he says that advice has proven invaluable. By systematically reviewing and reducing the expenses and revenue growth opportunities in each entity within the Larry H. Miller organization, Miller and his executive management teams have been able to significantly reduce expenses and, in some cases, increase revenues. “I appreciate my dad’s conservative approach to servicing debt and building equity. Those two things gave us a great advantage during this [economic] downturn that has allowed us to move the organization forward,” says Miller. “We have been able to maintain growth in a period when many companies are fighting to survive.” With its corporate headquarters located in Sandy, Utah, Miller wants the organization more involved in local business affairs and events. He noted that having a member of the Miller organization’s advisory board on the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors is important and has helped the group become more involved in local events and business functions. The Sandy Chamber helps promote not only the Larry H. Miller businesses in Sandy, but it promotes and hosts events at many of their other locations in the Salt Lake Valley. “This is important to me,” says Miller. “I was raised in Sandy, my wife Heidi and I are raising our family here, and many of our businesses are here.”
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isitors to the Sandy area can expect a family friendly atmosphere at the stateof-the-art Rio Tinto Stadium. The stadium is home to the Real Salt Lake soccer team, and has hosted a number of world-class sporting events such as the MLS All-Star Game and the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match. It also hosts concerts and entertainment events like The Eagles and Kenny Chesney’s Sun City Carnival Tour. And Bill Manning, president of Real Salt Lake & Rio Tinto Stadium, says the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce has not only been instrumental in facilitating relationships with local Sandy area businesses, but has also played a crucial role in the stadium’s success. Real Salt Lake owner, David W. Checketts, selected Manning in March of 2008 to carry the franchise to new heights. Manning’s experience as the former vice president of sales and service for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, in addition to his many leadership roles in professional sports, made him the ideal candidate to make the business end of Real Salt Lake successful. As vice president of the Philadelphia Eagles, Manning was responsible for the team’s corporate sponsorship and premium seating. Therefore, he understands the importance of relationships in building a successful business. He credits his successful career to some advice he received while leading his first professional franchise as a team president. Harvard Business School professor Bill George, told Manning that success would follow if he stuck to three major business principles: keep your sights set high, always look for the breakthrough opportunity and keep fiscal discipline in the organization.
Earl F. Hurst, HUMANA Utah
Working With the End in Mind proactive health insurance consumers and transparency in health care. He says there has been a sizable increase in health care in recent years due to lifestyle choices in food, beverage and recreation. But he says his company urges consumers to take better care of their bodies in order to bring down the cost of health care. An important part of Humana’s mission is actively participating in local community affairs. Involvement with the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce provides Humana of Utah with a unique opportunity to personally work with local business leaders.
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Bill Manning, Real Salt Lake
Hitting Business Goals
Sandy Style 2009
S
teve Creamer, CEO of Energy Solutions, an international nuclear services company headquartered in Salt Lake City, is proud of his participation in cleaning up and safely managing some of the world’s largest and most complex environmental hazards. As a Utah native and Utah State University graduate, Creamer is not only pleased to be involved in the environmental cleanup of nuclear legacy sites in the state, but also enjoys being highly active in the local community, particularly the Sandy area. He demonstrates commitment to civic service by funding several local initiatives such as the Energy Solutions Foundation, which provides scholarship programs in every high school throughout Utah. Energy Solutions’ contribution to the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce provides education, marketing and networking opportunities to several hundred small businesses in the Sandy area. Creamer says his father taught him to work hard and to work smart, and that the key to success is persistence and a willingness to finish any job you start.
Steve Creamer, Energy Solutions Finishing the Job Sandy Style 2009
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2010 Governing Board of Directors
Dan Simons
Jeff Barnes
Jay Francis
Tyson Mullineaux Earl Hurst President & CEO Mullineaux Financial
President HUMANA Utah
Cija Doyle
Doyle Smith
Steve Fairbanks
Darlene Dipo
Steve Runolfson President & CEO La Caille
David Doty, JD PhD. Superintendent Canyons School District
John Kimball
Monica Liban
Jim Wall
Eric Hauenstein
Broker Agent NAI Utah
Councilman Sandy City
Senior VP of Operations Real Salt Lake
Brad Snow
President & CEO Map Play Corporation
President & CEO Distinctive Properties
Senior Vice President Media One
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Managing Partner J&J Technical
Store Manager Walmart
Publisher Deseret News
Senior VP of Operations Larry H. Miller Group
Branch Manager Zions Bank
Vice President Citadel Broadcasting
Sandy Style 2009
7 Sandy Style 2009
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Business Building Blocks
Sandy style and independant elegance
10720 So. Holiday Park Drive Sandy UT, 84704 801.572.5177 carversutah.com
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Sandy Style 2009