The Utah Rural Summit is the premier rural summit with a rich history of convening Utah’s top leaders and decision-makers to influence the economic viability of rural Utah. Hosted in Cedar City on Southern Utah University’s campus, the summit provides the ideal platform where partnerships will discuss some of the most influential topics impacting rural Utah.
Summit Launch
Summit in-person attendees are invited to attend a social experience as we enjoy light refreshments, safe socialization, experiences with the SUU Aviation team, and onstage entertainment with DryBar Comedian Jordan Makin.
Jordan Makin - Dry Bar Comedy
Jordan Makin is a stand-up comedian and ginger-haired man. He overcame his red hair and uneventful childhood by learning the art of funny. He has worked with many comedy greats, such as Marc Maron, Ryan Hamilton, and Ron Funches. His comedy has been featured across the country at the North Hollywood Comedy Festival, 2018 Devil Cup in New York City, and Golden Spike Comedy Festival where he was named "Best of Fest". Jordan and his wife, Adrienne, host the weekly "My Wife Thinks" podcast. His first comedy special, "The BFFG" is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.
Jordan Makin on YouTube
In Utah
Hear about how Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) launched a public information campaign to encourage wellness and foster economic growth and support of Utah business with the “In Utah” campaign, prepared by Salt Lake City-based RUMOR Advertising.
Summit Party
Enjoy a LIVE music experience, “Billy Joel & Elton John” performed by rural Utah musicians Luke Randall and John Houston while you enjoy refreshing drinks from Apple Beer.
Derral Eves - YouTube Expert
Derral is CEO of Creatus, a video marketing and strategy company, and the founder of VidSummit, an annual event in Los Angeles for video creators and marketers. He has helped 24 YouTube channels go from zero to more than a million subscribers, and he has generated 54 billion views on YouTube.
Speed Pitch
The Southern Utah Speed Pitch competition is designed to encourage and support local business ideas and innovations that are in their early stages. The competition is intended to help identify and support high-potential businesses and business ideas. With cash prizes and additional awards, all entrepreneurs who meet the criteria are encouraged to consider entering the competition to have their idea heard, evaluated, and receive feedback from professionals.
Last year’s winner
Featured Speakers
Gary Herbert
Governor of Utah
Stephen Lisonbee
Executive Director - SUU Regional Services & Utah Center for Rural Life
Spencer Cox
Utah Lieutenant Governor
Abby Cox
State of Utah, Second Lady
Derral Eves
CEO of Creatus - Founder of VidSummit - Executive Producer of The Chosen
Miles Hansen
President & CEO - World Trade Center Utah
Byron Russell
Co-Chair, Utah Multicultural Commission
Nubia Peña
Director - Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs
Jess Anderson
Commissioner - Utah's Department of Public Safety
Ze Min Ziao
Director - Mayor's Office for New Americans at Salt Lake County
Ryan Starks
Managing Director - Governor's Office of Economic Development
Scott Sandal
Senator - Utah State Senate
Carl Albrecht
Representative - Utah House of Representatives
Natalie Randall
Director - San Juan County Economic Development & Visitor Services
Brandy Grace
CEO - Utah Association of Counties
Logan Wilde
Commissioner - Utah Department of Agriculture and Food
Deidre Henderson
Senator - Utah State Senate
Carine Clark
CEO - Banyan / Executive Board - Silicon Slopes / Chair - Governor’s Economic Development Board
Eric Schmutz
President & CEO - State Bank of Southern Utah
Scott L Wyatt
President - Southern Utah University
Brad Cook
President - Snow College
Jon Black
Chair - SUU Entrepreneur Leadership Council
Rich Christensen
Chairman - SUU Board of Trustees
Michelle Tullis
Business Development Officer, AVP
Tyler Stillman
Director - SUU Larry H. Miller Entrepreneurship Program
Dave Durocher
Executive Director - The Other Side Academy
Pete Codella
Director Marketing and Communications - Governor's Office of Economic Development
Tyler Sohm
Vice President and Executive Creative Director - RUMOR Advertising
2020 Agenda
Monday, October 5, 2020
4:00 P.M. Southern Utah SpeedPitch Semi-Final
- Participate in the semi-final round as 25 of the best businesses ideas are presented in front of judges from across rural Utah.
- Southern Utah University Campus @ School of Business Room 120
6:00 P.M. Summit Launch Party
- Summit in-person attendees are invited to join for a social experience as we enjoy light refreshments, safe socialization, experiences with the SUU Aviation team, and an onstage experience with DryBar Comedian Jordan Makin.
- SUU Aviation Hangar @ 2410 Aviation Way, Cedar City, UT 84721
- Schedule
6:00 Socialize, Music, & Food
6:15 Summit First Launch - Stephen Lisonbee, Executive Director SUU Office of Regional Services (1st Flights)
6:45 Rural Utah Launch - Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox (2nd Flights)
7:15 DryBar Comedian Jordan Makin
7:45 Summit Final Launch - Justin Harding, Utah's Chief of Staff (Final Flights)
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
7:00 A.M.
- Outdoor Welcoming
- Health Check
- Summit Gear Pick-Up
8:00 A.M. Welcome and Morning Plenary Session
- Resilient Past, Present & Future
Stephen Lisonbee, Executive Director - SUU Office of Regional Services & Utah Center for Rural Life - Rural Utah: Common Threads and Unique Identities
Spencer Cox, Lieutenant Governor of Utah
Abby Cox, Utah's Second Lady - Live Anywhere in Utah and Have the World be YOUR Customer
Derral Eves, CEO of Creatus - Founder of VidSummit - Executive Producer of The Chosen - Global Trends - Local Impacts
Miles Hansen, President & CEO - World Trade Center Utah - COVID-19: Overcoming Challenges by Leveraging the Strengths and Resilience of our Communities
Byron Russell, Co-Chair, Utah Multicultural Commission
Nubia Peña, Director - Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs
Jess Anderson, Commissioner - Utah's Department of Public Safety
Ze Min Ziao, Director - Mayor's Office for New Americans at Salt Lake County
Spencer Cox, Lieutenant Governor of Utah - The Rich History and Promising Future of Utah Women
Deidre Henderson, Senator - Utah State Senate
10:15 A.M. Intermission with Utah Shakespeare Festival
Rise and stretch as Utah Shakespeare Festival spotlights some of their magical moments and introduces what's to come.
10:30
- Rural Economic Influencer
Join in the recognition of an individual who has inspired and impacted our rural communities through participation and influence. - Rural Legacy Leader
Participate as we recognize a leader who has contributed a career of service, making a significant impact to Rural Utah! - Resilient Leadership - How It All Happens: A Conversation with Utah's Governor Gary Herbert
Gary Herbert, Governor of Utah
Stephen Lisonbee, Executive Director - SUU Office of Regional Services & Utah Center for Rural Life - Entrepreneur Speaker Series Keynote
Carine Clark, CEO - Banyan/Executive Board - Silicon Slopes/Chair - Governor's Economic Development Board
12:00 P.M. Summit Stretch
Rise and stretch as SUU Health Scholars guide us from the Hunter Conference Center Great Hall to the Sharwan Smith Center Ballroom.
12:30 P.M.
Join the 2nd annual event in partnership with State Bank of Southern Utah and SUU’s Entrepreneur Leadership Council.
- Welcome & Lunch
Eric Schmutz, President & CEO - State Bank of Southern Utah - Partnership Memorandum of Understanding - Partners
Scott Wyatt, President - SUU
Eric Schmutz, President & CEO - State Bank of Southern Utah
Gary Herbert, Governor of Utah
Brad Cook, President - Snow College
Jon Black, Chair - SUU Entrepreneur Leadership Council
Stephen Lisonbee, Executive Director - SUU Office of Regional Services & Utah Center for Rural Life - Speed Pitch Finale - Moderator & Judges
Eric Schmutz, President & CEO - State Bank of Southern Utah
Carine Clark, Chair - Governor’s Economic Development Board
Rich Christensen, Chairman - SUU Board of Trustees
Michelle Tullis, Business Development Officer, AVP - State Bank of Southern Utah
Gary Herbert, Governor of Utah
Tyler Stillman, Director - SUU Larry H. Miller Entrepreneurship Program
Jon Black, Chair - SUU Entrepreneur Leadership Council
2:00 P.M. Summit Party
Enjoy a LIVE music experience, “BILLY JOEL & ELTON JOHN” performed by rural Utah musicians Luke Randall and John Houston while you enjoy refreshing drinks from Apple Beer.
3:00 P.M. Afternoon Plenary Session
- Strengthening Our Local Food Supply
Logan Wilde, Commissioner - Utah Department of Agriculture and Food - IN UT: GOOD FOR YOU, GOOD FOR UTAH
Pete Codella, Director Marketing and Communications - Governor's Office of Economic Development
Tyler Sohm, Vice President and Executive Creative Director - RUMOR Advertising - Rural Review: A Panel Discussion on Rural Economic Development
Ryan Starks, Managing Director - Governor's Office of Economic Development
Scott Sandal, Senator - Utah State Senate
Carl Albrecht, Representative - Utah House of Representative
Natalie Randall, Director - San Juan County Economic Development & Visitor Services
Brandy Grace, CEO - Utah Association of Counties - Changing Lives by Changing Behaviors
Dave Durocher, Executive Director - The Other Side Academy - Rural Innovator Awards
Celebrate some of the most amazing innovations in 2020 that are making a difference in our rural communities.
Watch Party
Stay connected to this year's Utah Rural Summit without leaving the comfort of your community. Email your local partner below to find out how to join their onsite watch party.
Department of Workforce Services
| Employment Center | Contact | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Logan | Sherry Stevens sjstevens@utah.gov | Yes |
| Brigham City | Sherry Stevens sjstevens@utah.gov | Yes |
| Vernal | Toni Ansel tansel@utah.gov | Yes |
| Roosevelt | Toni Ansel tansel@utah.gov | Yes |
| Price | Nicole Steele nsteele@utah.gov | Yes |
| Moab | Kelly Thornton kthornto@utah.gov | Yes |
| Richfield | Kim Washburn kwashbur@utah.gov | Yes |
| Cedar City | Ben Baldonado blbaldonado@utah.gov | Yes |
| St. George | Ryan Reeder ryanreeder@utah.gov | Yes |
State Bank of Southern Utah
| Branch | Contact | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar City | Bryce Drawe bdrawe@sbsu.com | Yes |
| Richfield | Lance Stott lstott@sbsu.com | Yes |
| Delta | Justin Taylor jtaylor@sbsu.com | Yes |
| Escalante | Kami Brinkerhoff kbrinkerhoff@sbsu.com | Yes |
| Kanab | Daniel Johnson djjohnson@sbsu.com | Yes |
| Parowan | Steven Barton sbarton@sbsu.com | Yes |
Health & Safety
For those participating in person for the Utah Rural Summit, it is vital that we embrace and adapt to new practices for traveling, socializing and learning. At the core of these practices is protecting the health and safety of every attendee. Each of us plays an important role in ensuring we can meet safely on SUU’s campus. The Utah Rural Summit health and safety plan applies Southern Utah University’s protocols and the CDC’s Guiding Principles.
Event organizer will:
- Provide a touchless experience and sanitary environment whenever possible
- Group attendees for contact tracing
- Limit number of participants
We expect participants to:
- Only attend if you are healthy
- Wear a mask and maintain proper social distancing where possible
- Agree to a temperature and symptoms assessment at check-in
- Provide your phone number for contact tracing and updates
- Contact the organizer at ruralutah@suu.edu if you develop symptoms or test positive within two weeks after the event
Driving Directions:
- From I-15, take Exit 59 Turn East on 200 North.
- Turn right (south) on 800 W.
- At University Blvd, proceed for four and one half blocks, turning right into parking lot #3 or across the street in parking lot #2.
Summit events will be happening in the Hunter Conference Center and the Sharwan Smith Student Center.
Rates are based on availability, first come first served. In order to get the discounted rate, you must call the hotel directly and request the "Utah Rural Summit" rate.
| Name | Telephone | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Abbey Inn | 1-435-586-9966 | $80 plus tax |
| Courtyard Marriott | 1-435-867-7300 | $89 plus tax |
| Hampton Inn | 1-435-586-5000 | $89 plus tax |
| Holiday Inn Express | 1-435-865-7799 | $89 plus tax |
| Ramada by Wyndham | 1-435-586-8888 | $56 plus tax for King $60 plus tax for 2 Double Beds |
| SpringHill Suits by Marriott | 1-435-586-1685 | $89 plus tax |
Receive Conference Reminders
Phone: 435-865-7707
