Entrepreneur Leadership Council Members

Executive Vice President at PPC Flexible Packaging

Lynn Abplanalp is the Executive Vice President at PPC Flexible Packaging, which provides comprehensive packaging and merchandising solutions for a wide variety of companies. He has been highly instrumental in making Temkin massively successful. He received a Master’s degree in Accounting and Business Management from the University of Utah.

Your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• Start with Why, by Simon Sinek

Best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs/favorite quote:

• Find a problem and solve a problem then design a product around that. It makes things easy because if you’re coming up with ideas and you’re try to push it, it’s much harder.
• If you can get the market to pull your idea you’ll find that it makes marketing and business a lot easier.

Three notable achievements:

• Grew our company from a garage and sold it for hundreds of millions of dollars
• Raising his kids. Being married to his wife for 25 years
• Married to his wife for over 25 years
• Being a Helitack crewmember and putting out fires

Most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/business:

• A lot of entrepreneurs are really committed to the product or committed to their idea, and they too often don’t look for outside advice and listen to others. They tend to lock on their idea and the way they’re going to do it.
• Sometimes they need to look for outside resources and hire some other people who can help them get to the "next level.”

Areas that you feel most comfortable offering advice to students:

• Operations and executions
• Negotiation
• Purchasing
• Signing Contracts

Charitable interests; boards you serve on, etc.:

• Building schools in Africa
• Foster care is a charitable interest
• Mentoring young men at church
• Serve on the board of the Utah County Economic Development
• Serves on the board for Southern Utah County Employment Development

Founder of Global Vision Consulting

Sheila Mielcarek is a business and marketing strategist, a mentor, and the founder of Global Vision Consulting, Co-Founder of Beneficial Investment Group, Co-Founder of Win Properties & Acquisitions, and Co-Founder of Chiro Match Makers.  She loves helping entrepreneurs unfold their visions, turning them reality; building and empowering world class teams to execute and implement, and developing profitable and scalable businesses.   Sheila graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Masters of Project Management from George Washington University and an MBA from University of Phoenix. 

1. What is your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs?
   • There’s so many good ones -
   • Start with Why by Simon Sinek
   • Vivid Vision by Cameron Herold
   • E-Myth by Michael Gerber
   • Influence or Persuasion by Robert Cialdini- both are great
   • Traction by Gino Wickman
2. What is your best advice – or a favorite quote for aspiring entrepreneurs?
   • Your job is to see opportunities, solve people’s problems and add value
   • Money follows value
   • Ideas are great but implementation is everything
   • Create a Plan then Jump In and Take Action
   • Fail Often and Fail Forward – it’s all a part of Success
   • Never compromise your Core Values
3. What are your most notable achievements?
   • Built space satellite systems that protect our nation
   • Designed and built a Formula 1 race car
   • Built multiple 7 figure businesses
   • Married my soul mate and get to share our entrepreneurial pursuits together
4. What is the most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/new businesses?
   • Lack a vivid vision for what they are creating
   • Lose sight of who their customer is and what it is THEY need or want
   • Focus on the features vs the benefits of their product or services. People buy outcomes.
   • Don’t seek help from a trusted advisor or mentor – think they have to do it all alone
5. What areas do you feel most comfortable offering advice to students?
   • Turning Visions Into Reality
   • Strategic Planning
   • Marketing & Sales Strategy
   • Operations
   • Team Building
   • Leadership
   • Measuring Success – Metrics / KPIs
6. What are your charitable interests and what boards do you serve on?
   • Mentoring young entrepreneurs, Habitat for Humanity, LGBTQIA youth

Founder of WIN Properties, TENx leaders, and Co-founder of Global Vision Consulting

Patty Flock is a Management and Leadership coach and mentor and the Founder of WIN Properties, TENx Leaders and Co-founder of Global Vision Consulting.  She enjoys helping young entrepreneurs see the potential in themselves and unlock their true potential.  She loves brainstorming, solving problems and improving systems and processes.  She graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Education with a minor in Mathematics.

1. What is your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs?
   • "Start With Why"  Simon Sinek
   • "Pitch Anything"  Oren Klaff
   • "Story Brand" Donald Miller
2. What is your best advice or a favorite quote for aspiring entrepreneurs?
   • Determine your minimum viable product, who are you serving and why.
   • Obtain a deep knowledge of your audience so you know how to market to them.
   • Never forget where you came from
   • Get clear on your vision because you will be chasing it your entire lifetime
   • Be COURAGEOUS = knowing you are afraid of something but taking action anyway
3. What are three of your most notable achievements?
   • Managing a team of 1000s in a very male dominated Fortune 50 Corporation
   • Leaving the comfort and consistency of a corporate job to open a business
   • Starting my own Real Estate Brokerage Office
4. What is the most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/new businesses?
   • Trying to do it ALL alone
   • Waiting too long before you find good people
5. What areas do you feel most comfortable offering advice to students?
   • Processes & Systems
   • Operations Improvements - Optimization
   • Managing & Training People & Developing Leaders
   • Building Teams
   • Accountability
   • Communication
6. What are your charitable interests and what boards do you serve on?
   • Mentoring budding new Leaders
   • The One In Ten QU Scholarship Program
   • Board Member of Highline Canyon HOA

Dean of the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business, and Associate Professor of Accounting at Southern Utah University

Mary Pearson is the Dean of the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business, and Associate Professor of Accounting at Southern Utah University. Additionally, she is a Certified Public Accountant with her own financial firm in Cedar City, Utah. Her recent experience includes serving on the Board of Directors for State Bank of Southern Utah, Chair of the Cedar City Planning and Zoning Commission, Interim Dean and Associate Dean, Digital Faculty Consultant for McGraw Hill, and Specialty Boards for the UACPA, Iron County School District, Beaver County School District, Cedar City Corporation, AACSB, and Cedar City Business Innovation Center.

Founder and President at American Sleep Dentistry

Your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• Pick someone you want to aspire to be like and read their Biography or a Google Analytics book (changes the way you perceive marketing).     

Best advice or favorite quote for aspiring entrepreneurs:

•  Why wait another day when you can start proving your concept today. 

Three notable achievements:  

• Mission, Family, Growing Businesses.

Most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/new businesses:

• They never get past the concept stage.  Get out and prove your business concept as soon as possible.  If it fails, move on.

  Areas you feel most comfortable offering advice to students:

•   Any

Charitable interests; boards you serve on. etc.:

•  Competitive soccer coach, business mentor for existing business, company boards.  

Senior Consultant at CFO International, ELC Chairman

Jon Black is a husband, father, and grandfather. He has founded, built, and successfully sold several companies, including Groviv. As a sought-after consultant, he has spoken nationally and internationally, and been featured on several national media outlets. He graduated from BYU with a degree in Human Resource Development.

Your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• The Zigzag Principle, by Rich Christiansen

Best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs/favorite quote:

• Create rapid prototypes and get that prototype in the hands of potential customers.

Three notable achievements:

• Marrying my wife
• Raising four amazing daughters
• To found and build companies, and to ultimately sell those companies.

Most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/business:

• Not asking customers and getting their feedback often enough.

Areas that you feel most comfortable offering advice to students:

• Innovation
• Sales
• Marketing
• Branding
• Strategy

Charitable interests; boards you serve on, etc.:

• I feel really passionate about a group called Operation Underground Railroad where they are rescue kids that are involved in the sex trade.
• Serves on the advisory board of Groviv.

President & CEO of Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce

Curtis Blair is a mentor, marketing consultant and business alchemist, and founder of Moonshot Marketing, a full-service digital marketing agency. He co-founded Froghair, a Utah fastest-growing company which was recently acquired. He enjoys investing time, talent and treasure in people and companies to accelerate client acquisition, revenue growth and increased market share. Curtis is currently President and CEO of Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce. He graduated from BYU with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Humanities.

Your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• The first entrepreneurial book I ever read was the Portable MBA
• For the seasoned entrepreneur, I recommend Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers
• For the novice, I recommend Zig Zag Principles by Rich Christiansen

Best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs/favorite quote:

• Working 80 to avoid working 40 is worth the effort, time, and engagement.

Three notable achievements:

• Started 6 businesses
• "Attitude is Altitude" at top tech firm
• Managing 2 companies into top 10 status
• I named the SUU Entrepreneur Newsletter!

Most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/business:

• Working harder as though everything depended on him/her. It’s important to delegate everything BUT 1) Culture 2) Fiduciary accountability and 3) Vision

Charitable interests; boards you serve on, etc.:

• UVU Foundation Board
• SUU Entrepreneur Council
• SUU College of Performing and Visual Arts

Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Southern Utah University

Rich Christiansen is a thought leader, mentor, entrepreneur, best-selling author, founder of the ELC, and humanitarian. He has founded or co-founded 52 businesses, does business in 14 countries, and loves to climb big mountains. He served on the Board of Trustees for Southern Utah University from 2017-2022 with 2 terms as Board of Trustee Chair. In May of 2022 he was appointed by Governor Cox to serve on the Utah Board of Higher Education. He is the co-founder of Legado Family, an organization to help families create a financial and cultural legacy. Christiansen earned a bachelor’s degree in Electronic Engineering Technology and an MBA from Brigham Young University.

Your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• Zig Zag Principle, by Rich Christensen
• The Art of the Start, by Guy Kawasaki
• Give and Take, by Adam Grant

Best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs/favorite quote:

• Get a mentor
• Put guard rails around what you are doing
• Embrace your fail efficiency
• Get in and start learning

Three notable achievements:

• Having an incredibly, highly-functional family and marriage, and still being able to maintain and find that delicate balance between business, reality and success.
• Crossing the bridge from a hardcore corporate career to entrepreneurship.
• Founding a bunch of companies, and learning so much in an incredibly diverse life.

Most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/business:

• Cash flow. I’ve seen multiple times businesses start to succeed, but they get the cash flow wrong.
• Prematurely diversifying. Too quickly people start holding on to stuff that is not working and they dilute themselves prematurely.

Areas that you feel most comfortable offering advice to students:

• Anything but retail

Charitable interests; boards you serve on, etc.:

• Taking an active role in educating the next generation so they can take control of their future.

Founder of The Academy (ACE)

Stephen W. Gibson has created or funded more than a dozen entrepreneurial ventures, including being the first investor in 1-800-Contacts, Omniture and Ancestry. He also co-founded Utah’s first Angel investing group. Steve and his wife, after selling their Inc. 500 oxygen company, started The Academy for Creating Enterprise that has taught 17,000 poor residents living in the Philippines, Mexico and six South American countries.

Your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• The E Myth, by Michael Gerber

Best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs/favorite quote:

• Start Small, Think Big.
• You will never make more money per hour than when you are negotiating.”
• Don’t give away equity for things that can be bought, like accounting services, or the most common, for legal fees.”

Three notable achievements:

• Starting a nonprofit that now has 321 chapters with more than 5,000 meeting every month in the Philippines, Mexico, Peru and Brazil.
• First investor with “1-800 Contacts,” Ancestry.com, and Omniture. All three companies went public.
• Sold my oxygen homecare company with eight offices to a public company, Lincare, and increased the price they paid me by $637,000 in a 20-minute negotiation.
• Purchased 110-acre development in Boise, ID, and have sold 463 lots to builders in eight years with 145 more lots and 22 acres left to sell.

Most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/business:

• Giving away equity in exchange for services or to early employees with big titles like Vice President.

Charitable interests; boards you serve on, etc.:

• Educational institutions and scholarships.

Board Member at Whitebridge Pet Brands

Associate Dean of the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business at SUU

Ken Hall is an experienced senior executive with a wide range of leadership positions at PetSmart, Bain & Company, and Exxon. He currently is an investor and board member of Whitebridge Pet Brands and the Associate Dean of the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business where he teaches Leadership and Management courses. He graduated from BYU in chemical engineering and has an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• Good to Great, by Jim Collins
• Blue Ocean Strategy, by W. Chan Kim & Rhenee Mauborgne
• Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur’s Handbook

Best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs/favorite quote:

• Manage personal expenses
• Ask yourself: Am I ready for this?
• Create a really good plan

Three notable achievements:

• Rebranded “Pets Mart” to “Pet Smart”.
• Career switch: Went from oil & gas engineer to Chief Marketing Officer at Pet Smart
• Took Pet Smart from a $3 share price to a $50-60 share price during his tenure

Most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/business:

• Entrepreneurs jump into business without a plan
• Fail to stick to a plan
• Failure to get really good customer insight

Charitable interests; boards you serve on, etc.:

• Corporate board for White Bridge Pet Brands
• Issues of Education
• Arts

Founder & COO of Rapid Financial Solutions, LTD

Brad Labrum is the founder and COO of Rapid Financial Solutions, LTD, which provides frictionless payment, access, and identification solutions through technology innovation. He also continues to operate and grow several other businesses. He graduated with his MBA from SUU and a Doctorate in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship from the University of Florida.

Your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• The E-Myth, by Michael E. Gerber – very good job explaining the life of an entrepreneur and it’s challenges and how to overcome them

Best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs/favorite quote:

• Don’t be afraid of failures – think they have something great and then fail; don’t be afraid of that; valuable learning lessons – great education

Three notable achievements:

• Family – greatest achievement; wouldn’t be anywhere without them; being a father.
• Completed Doctorate degree from FL Univ; lifelong dream. Really wants to be an educator someday; his opportunity to give back to a world that has been so amazing to him; pitch competition was a perfect example
• Employ other people; income homes, etc. for employees and amazing work environment where people want to be

Most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/business:

• Truly understanding the revenue model and go-to-market strategy; one thing to have a good idea and another thing to make money with it. What’s your revenue plan? Understanding exit

Areas you feel most comfortable offering advice to students:

• Operationalizing ideas
• Strategist through learning
• Moral
• Employee relations
• Company environment
• Business and financial planning accounting
• Analytics

Charitable interests; boards you serve on, etc.:

• Boards are his own companies; 6 active companies. Homeless shelters; food banks; really important. LDS and church activities

Founder & CEO at innoviHealth and Innoventrum

LaMont Leavitt is the founder and CEO at innoviHealth and Innoventrum. These businesses focus on building industry-disruptive solutions through technology to the benefit of his clientele in diverse markets. He graduated from BYU with a degree in Management Information Systems and Services.

Your most recommended books for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• 12 Rules for Life, by Jordan Peterson
• Zig Zag Principle, by Rich Christensen
• Traction, by Gino Wickman

Best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs/favorite quote:

• Identify a need and fill it.
• When the customer wants to say something, solve a customer's pain point first. They will be much more willing to listen.
• Don't blast them on features, sell them on why their life will become better after using your product or service.
• Never give up! 90% of success is just showing up

Three notable achievements:

• Gathering all the needs and solving them together with Innoventrum.
• Creating a product line outside of everything healthcare.
• Getting outside of the employee treadmill and becoming an entrepreneur.

Most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/business:

• Letting your passions drive you. You must learn to let your business drive you so you don't forget about the rest of your company outside of what makes you comfortable.

Areas that you feel most comfortable offering advice to students:

• Identifying the areas of their business that need to be automated.
• Helping them to understand how crucial it is to get to the most important things first, then figure out the rest when starting their business.

Charitable interests; boards you serve on, etc.:

• Being a part of the Entrepreneurship Leadership Council, and enjoys helping young adults learn how to be excited about entrepreneurship.

Real estate broker of Stratum Real Estate Group

Your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• Rich dad poor dad

Best advice or favorite quote for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• Everything you do needs to be not just about you

Most notable achievements:

• Getting my wife to marry me
• Growing a real estate portfolio while teaching

Most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/new businesses:

• The idea of easy money; they think it's simple but really it comes down to hard work

Areas do you feel most comfortable offering advice to students:

• Analyzing problems and help people think through solutions; different perspective

Charitable interests; boards you serve on. etc.:

• Any growth or success financially gives me time and resources to help others; charter school in Cedar; SURF soccer club president; church and youth service; Alliance Club

Founder at Colt Sampson Insurance

Colt Sampson is an entrepreneur, an insurance agent for State Farm, and cofounder of Live for Levi, a nonprofit organization that raises money to help families with emergency medical expenses. He received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah, where he played football. He has an MBA from SUU.

Your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• Man's Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl

Best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs/favorite quote:

• “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over”

Three notable achievements:

• I managed to get myself born somehow.
• My family.
• I managed to make it on the ELC committee.

Most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/business:

• It’s going to be harder than you think it would be, and it’s going to usually take longer than you think it will.
• Giving up and giving in too easily.

Charitable interests; boards you serve on, etc.:

• Live For Levi foundation.

Head of Agile Delivery at Overstock.com

Jeremy Smith is the Head of Agile Delivery at Overstock.com. He previously served as the Chief Technology Officer at Medici Ventures. Additionally, he was the Co-Founder and Director of Information Systems for Castle Inspection Service, which was later acquired by an investment firm. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Ravencoin Foundation. He graduated from the University of Utah with a B.S. in Economics.

President & CEO at Cedar Band Corporation

Your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs:

“Zero to One, Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future,” Peter Thiel with Blake Masters

Best advice or a favorite quote for aspiring entrepreneurs? 

• Don’t forget who you really are, including where you came from, and  who/what helped you get there, as you are learning how to improve, and then  as you are changing, the world around you 

Three of your most notable achievements: 

• Sydny, Dakodah, Holland and Berkeley 

Most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/new businesses:

• Not fully understanding their target market, and thus potential for exponential growth and legacy market cap 

Areas you feel most comfortable offering advice to students:

•  Wherever I can assist and provide any insight to any of the SUU  

 entrepreneurship students 

Charitable interests;  boards you serve on, etc.:

• Social-based charitable orgs/Social entrepreneurship 
• Humanitarian-based charitable orgs/Humanitarian entrepreneurship 
• Chairman-elect of the Iron County School District Foundation Board 
• Member of the Cedar City Rotary Club 

EVP/COO at Integrated Lending Technologies

Roger K. Seegmiller is a Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer for Integrated Lending Technologies, LLC. He graduated with honors from SUU with a degree in Business Administration and from BYU with an MBA. Roger has been twice honored by the State of Utah for his efforts as a volunteer in Public/Private partnerships.

Your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• Zig Zag Principle, by Rich Christiansen
• The Goal, by Eli Goldratt

Best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs/favorite quote:

• Find somebody who doesn't think the same way that you do. If your partner has a different set of skills rather than the same skills you have, you have a better chance for success.

Three notable achievements:

• Having a good marriage and family life.
• Starting and growing the business that I am in.
• I always try to find a way to give back. I think that’s actually where true success is.

Most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/businesses:

• Thinking that marketing is the easy thing to do and the easy part of getting something started.

Areas that you feel most comfortable offering advice to students:

• I’m more process-oriented than most people. I think that being able to see where they are at, and where they want to be, and try to develop a plan to get there is probably my strength.

Charitable interests; boards you serve on, etc.:

• As far as charities are concerned, most of it is SUU.
• I’m very passionate about the Shakespeare festival and supporting theatrical and musical events in our communities.

Managing Partner at TouchMD

Kary Smith is a Managing partner and cofounder at TouchMD and NoviHome. His professional career consists of 30 years in technology and development, all in Southern Utah. His business experiences include running, growing, and selling companies to IKON, Staples, and Alphaeon. Kary studied and played football at SUU where he received a business degree.

Your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• Rich Dad, Poor Son, by Robert T. Kiyosaki
• The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell
• Positive Intelligence, by Shirzad Chamine
• The Richest Man in Babylon, by George Samuel Clason

Best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs/favorite quote:

• Don’t be afraid to fail. If you’re not willing to take the chance, you’ll never succeed.

Three notable achievements:

• Marrying my wife and fathering my four children.
• Having grandchildren.
• Being able to successfully build and sell companies.

Most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/business:

• Not understanding cash flow versus profitability
• Thinking an idea is a business when you need to make sure you have a solid product offering and a sellable product.

Areas that you feel most comfortable offering advice to students:

• I’m good at identifying building and selling, and I’m very good at negotiation.

Charitable interests; boards you serve on, etc.:

• I'm involved with Silicone Slopes

Principal at SRX Advisors

Dennis Sponer founded ScripNet, a pharmaceutical technology company in 1997. After fifteen years of amazing growth and class leading industry recognition, Dennis sold his business. Dennis earned a bachelor’s degree from SUU, a JD from BYU, and advanced degrees from the University of San Diego, NYU, the London School of Economics and HEC Paris.

Your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• Let My People Go Surfing, by Yvon Choinard, Founder of Patagonia

Best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs/favorite quote:

• “You don't hire for skills, you hire for attitude. You can always teach skills.” – Herb Kelleher, Founder of Southwest Airlines
• Everyone has great ideas – the key is to move on them and act. Don’t be afraid of others stealing your great ideas – get as much input and advice as possible.
• Cash flow is king. Do not take outside money.
• Never give away equity.
• Don’t be afraid to share your financials – practice open book management.
• Be generous with your employees and customers.
• Never lie (but a good salesman can puff).
• Your job as the Founder & CEO is to sell. You are a salesperson.
• Hire great people to do the things that you are not good at.

Three notable achievements:

• My wife and I founded ScripNet in 1997 when I was 26 years old. We kept the company for 17 years and sold it for a 12x multiple. When I see my ex-employees, they always tell me that ScripNet was the best place they ever worked and that we were the best bosses they ever had.

Most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/business:

• Entrepreneurs jump into business without a plan.
• Fail to stick to a plan.
• Failure to get really good customer insight.

Areas that you feel most comfortable offering advice to students:

• Setting up the corporate structures and how to get started

Charitable interests; boards you serve on, etc.:

• Corporate board for White Bridge Pet Brands
• Issues of Education
• Arts

CEO of NeONBRAND and Work In Progress

Kurtis Wankier is the CEO at NeONBRAND and Work In Progress, owner of Envision Management & Marketing, LLC, and president of CoMetryx, a new software startup for Ophthalmology. He specializes in management and marketing consulting, business consulting in strategic management, and Operations & Finance consulting. He graduated from SUU with a degree in Finance.

Your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• Execution – This is What Really Matters

Best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs/favorite quote:

• • Double up on research (research market itself, macroeconomic, general trends, global, regional, national markets, twice as much time identifying competitors to create realistic picture of where they fit in the market and what’s likely to set them up for the most success; and or not try at all) and don’t let fear be confused with risk.

Three notable achievements:

• • • Starting my first business in a recession
    • Learning how to escape the elements of fear and analysis paralysis to give something a try
    • Completing business school and leverage that into success in entrepreneurship
    • Leading one of the top refractive surgery practices in the southwest to a 300% increase in 4 years

Most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/business:

• • • Lying to themselves about how they really fit into the market; there’s no new ideas; believing you’re the only one that does something.

Areas that you feel most comfortable offering advice to students:

• • • Decision-making
    • Doing better research and being able to challenge every assumption so decisions are the best they can be with the info available. Too susceptible to confirmation bias.

Charitable interests; boards you serve on, etc.:

• • Active in church (bishop)
  • Coaching youth sports
  • Mentorship program for no cost for entrepreneurs and small businesses in LV and southern Utah.

Business Owner, Custom Dreams LLC

Alice Gaye Christiansen attended SUU. She graduated from BYU where she received her RN with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing Degree. She owns and manages Custom Dreams LLC, a real estate and rental property company. She has also played an integral role in the building and growth of many businesses. She is actively involved in her community and spends significant time volunteering in causes she believes in.

Your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• 7 Habit of Highly Effective People
• Rich’s Bootstrapping Business
• Landlording

Best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs/favorite quote:

• Got to be agile and flexible and willing to adjust. Best opportunities found in down markets.
• Ray Noorda – Change and die

Three notable achievements:

• My family, my boys, being a mom
• Rental properties, their my other children; paid off
• She edited all of Rich’s books; Doug Bonzo, CHS teacher taught her everything
• Home health hospice; RN

Most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/business:

• Don’t watch their cash flow; got to keep your finger on your finances

Areas that you feel most comfortable offering advice to students:

• Real estate; rentals; HGTV version
• Medical; RN
• Financial viability of new businesses

Charitable interests; boards you serve on, etc.:

• Being a part of the Entrepreneurship Leadership Council, and enjoys helping young adults learn how to be excited about entrepreneurship.
• NEBO supervisory committee; auditing committee
• PTA president for kids high school
• Elk Meadows special service district; Beaver Mtn. water, roads, etc.
• Humanitarian; 3rd world countries medical needs

Education:

• 1 year at SUU
• Transferred to BYU – every single credit transferred – Bachelor’s of Nursing degree

Director of Entrepreneurship & Associate Prof Marketing

Your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs:

12 Rules For Life, By Jordan B. Peterson

Best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs/favorite quote:

• “When all is said and done, more is said than done” - Lou Holtz
• There’s no greatness in the future. Or clarity. Or insight. Or happiness. Or peace. There is only this moment. -Ryan Holiday

Three notable achievements:

• As a researcher, I have an h-index of 27
• As an instructor, I was awarded Outstanding Educator
• As a director, I was awarded Board of Trustees Award of Excellence

Most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/business:

• Waiting to start something

Areas that you feel most comfortable offering advice to students:

• Personnel
• Low-budget and early-stage marketing and promotion

Charitable interests:

• Hustle 2.0, which is an educational program designed to equip incarcerated people with the tools to transform their lives, impact, and hustle.

Tyler F. Stillman is an award-winning researcher, instructor, founding director of the Larry H. and Gail Miller Center for Entrepreneurship at Southern Utah University. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah and has a PhD from The Florida State University.

Founder & Chairman of the Board at Lunere

Shellie Black is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She is the founder and Chairman of the Board at Lunere, an all-natural anti-aging Skincare brand, where she helps her customers look as youthful on the outside as they feel on the inside. She is passionate about helping aspiring entrepreneurs build their own successful businesses. Shellie completed her general education at SUU and received her Bachelor's degree from BYU.

Your most recommended book for aspiring entrepreneurs:

• There are a lot of books that talk about this same concept, but The Lean Startup by Eric Ries started it all. Ideas are a dime a dozen. Get out there and try things! If it doesn't work, try something else.

Best advice or a favorite quote for aspiring entrepreneurs:

I like these quotes because they apply to life as well as entrepreneurship;

• Don't wait to live. This isn't a rehearsal; this isn't a dry run; this isn't a pre-performance rehearsal. This is it. Don't wait. Savor every minute. -Jeffrey R. Holland
• Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. -Albert Schweitzer

I would say, find something you're passionate about, and find a way to make that into a business. Then, be patient, make adjustments, keep going, and be resilient!

Three of your most notable achievements:

I have raised four wonderful daughters and I'm now helping to raise their kids! I have been married to a serial entrepreneur for over 30 years! I founded the Lunere Anti-Aging Skincare line and I love helping my customers look as youthful on the outside as they feel on the inside.

Most common mistake you observe in entrepreneurs/new businesses:

They try to do too much. To be all things to all people, when they should focus on one thing and do that one thing well. I like the fact that Bill Gates and Warren Buffet were in the same meeting and they were both asked to write down one word they would use to account for their success. Without knowing what the other had written, they both wrote the word FOCUS! Learn to say no to anything that would distract you from what you do best.

Areas you feel most comfortable offering advice to students:

Well, I'm not a traditional business person, so I'm not really sure. But I think I have a good business sense and could offer insights into the businesses our student entrepreneurs are starting and what they're trying to accomplish.

Charitable interests; boards do you serve on, etc:

I have a lot of passion for the SUU Entrepreneurship program and I love our student entrepreneurs. I am the Chairman of the Board for Lunere.