Announcing the THRIVE Symposium’s Business Award Winners

September 18, 2014 is the first day of the three-day THRIVE Symposium, which is an event that gathers business leaders from across the state of Utah. There will be several government leaders including the Executive Director from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Val Hale as well as many published authors, professionals, and other experts offering advice and new ideas to attendees. It will take place at Dixie State University in St. George, Utah. During this event, six people/businesses will be honored with awards for their contributions in a number of areas, including business development, leadership, charity, inspiration, and more.

Everlasting THRIVE Spirit Award: Hyrum W. Smith

Hyrum W. Smith is the Vice Chairman of the Board for Tuacahn Center For The Arts, which is located just north of St. George. In 1981, he founded the Franklin Quest Company, which later merged with Stephen R. Covey’s company to create Franklin Covey. He has written a number of self-help and religious books, and he continues to be an innovator and an inspiring leader.

THRIVE Business of the Year: Breakfast at Tifiny’s

That’s no misspelling. Breakfast at Tifiny’s was created by Earl and Tifiny Rose, a husband-and-wife team of entrepreneurs who have been in the restaurant business for many years. They started small and have moved into larger locations in and around St. George as their business grew. Breakfast at Tifiny’s employs more than 50 people. The Roses are parents to 17 children. They believe in giving kids a second chance. Many of their children are adopted, and some suffer from cerebral palsy, blindness, Asperger syndrome, autism, or other debilitating health problems.

CEO of the Year: Cheryl Snapp Conner

Cheryl Snapp Conner is the founder and CEO of SnappConner PR. She is a popular contributor to Forbes, OpenView Labs, and Yahoo Finance. In fact, she has a book in the works, entitled Beyond Words: How to Communicate Like a Champion in the Digital Age. She is a trustee of the Utah Technology Council (UTC) and has directed its Communications Committee since 2004.

THRIVE Inspiration Award: Barbara Williams Jones

Barbara Jones is the founder and the brains behind the THRIVE Symposium. She has more than 30 years of experience in sales and marketing, working for a variety of companies, including Chick-fil-A, Meirs Prime, and WKS Restaurant Association. She’s an inspiration to all symposium attendees and she’s definitely qualified to organize this event because she served as an Ambassador for the Sandy Chamber of Commerce and on its Women In Business Board. She has also been on the board for The Canyons School District Foundation and helped military families through the Utah National Guard Charitable Trust.

THRIVE Game Changer for Academics Award: Jessica Egbert, Ph.D.

Jessica Egbert has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, a Master of Education in Educational Technology, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. She is currently the Associate Vice President of Institutional Planning and Strategic Initiatives at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. In addition, Dr. Egbert serves on the Board of Directors of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce and as Board of Directors Chair for the American Red Cross – Mountain Valley Chapter.

Humanitarian Service Award: David K. Williams

David K. Williams is the CEO of Fishbowl. For years, he has dedicated one day of every year to serving the community. He and his nearly 100 employees go out and perform manual labor for local schools, women’s shelters, and other good causes. They have also served military veterans. David is the co-founder of the Courage Above Mountains Foundation, which helps under-privileged people in many ways. He and Fishbowl often help by sponsoring charitable events.

Join Us

Reserve your spot right now at the THRIVE Symposium. We hope to see you there. Val Hale, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, said he is “Happy to attend, present, and support the Thrive event. Economic development is a team sport. That is one of the reasons we do it so well in Utah. We have wonderful partners that help make this a great place to start or grow a business. We have quality institutions of higher education and applied technology colleges that prepare our educated workforce. We have government leaders at the state and local levels that keep laws business friendly and our tax rates low. We have an extraordinary entrepreneurial spirit that promotes a strong business climate. We are fortunate to live in a state where people appreciate a strong economy and understand what it takes to keep it that way.”