Annual One Utah Summit Brings Statewide Leaders to SUU to Build Long-Term Prosperity

Statewide leaders, industry innovators, small businesses, and changemakers gathered at Southern Utah University (SUU) this week for the annual One Utah Summit to shape strategies for long-term economic growth across the state. Centered on the theme “Building Prosperity for Generations,” the three-day summit brought public and private partners together to address critical topics including public lands, water stewardship, nuclear innovation, regional workforce development, and preparations for the 2034 Winter Olympics.

Inspired by the ancient Bristlecone Pines of southern Utah, which thrive through steady resilience rather than quick growth, the conference focused on creating sustainable momentum for every community. Highlighting the event’s opening, Utah Governor Spencer Cox delivered a keynote address celebrating Utah earning the top spot in the national Independence Index, which evaluates state performance in job growth, volunteerism, educational freedom, and overall quality of life.

“If we invest in people, steward the places that make Utah special, and create opportunity that reaches every community, we won’t just remain the best state in America,” said Governor Spencer Cox. “We’ll continue to show the rest of the country what One Utah really means.”

A central highlight of this year’s summit was the debut of a Summit Service Project led by Utah First Lady Abby Cox and UServe Utah. Demonstrating the power of community-minded collaboration, summit attendees worked together to assemble 2,246 literacy kits for first- and second-grade students in Iron and Beaver counties.

The summit also recognized dedicated organizations and leaders who are actively expanding economic opportunities and strengthening neighborhoods throughout rural Utah.

2026 One Utah Summit Award Recipients:

Utah Business of the Year: Intermountain Electronics (IE) is recognized for its manufacturing expansion in Price, Utah. IE has created hundreds of technical jobs, constructed a residential campus, and partnered with regional colleges to develop local talent for the digital and utility sectors.
Statewide Investor: LS Electric Utah is recognized for its advanced manufacturing investment in Iron County. The company is expanding its campus in Enoch with a $168 million investment, which is expected to create over 250 jobs and add nearly 294,000 square feet of manufacturing capacity by 2030.
Horizon Award: Valar Atomics is recognized for breaking ground on its Ward 250 reactor in Emery County.
International Business of the Year: Merit Medical Systems is recognized for its international expansion across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Africa.
Distinguished Service: Lauri Garfield is recognized for her administrative efforts supporting campus operations at Southern Utah University (SUU).
Utah Rural Influencer: Geri Gamber, executive director of SERDA, is recognized for securing resources and implementing regional strategies in southeastern Utah.
Utah Rural Rockstar: Lesha Coltharp, Director of Tourism and Events for Uintah County, is recognized for her marketing initiatives promoting Dinosaurland tourism.
State Bank of Southern Utah Rural Legacy Leader: Carl Albrecht is recognized for his career of service in rural Utah.
Transformational Leader Awards: Nate McDonald (URLA), Michelle Tullis (ILA), Larry Jensen (CULA), and Derrin Owens (ELA) are recognized for their engagement in workforce and industry development.
Transformational Leader Legacy Award: Christine Watkins is recognized for her career in leadership and service.

“Utah’s rich culture and strong sense of community are built on the dedication of people who pour their hearts into making our state better every single day,” said Donna Law, associate vice president of community and government relations at SUU. “The contributions of this year’s award winners uplift our neighborhoods, preserve our vibrant quality of life, and inspire us all.”

The three-day gathering concluded with interactive breakout panels, industry networking sessions, and collaborative roundtables focused on linking education, government, and business leaders to support regional workforce readiness and build momentum for communities across the state.

“Hosting the One Utah Summit on our campus brings the future of Utah industry directly to our doorstep,” said Mindy Benson, President of Southern Utah University. “When we bring innovative state and business leaders together in Cedar City, we create direct employment pathways for our students, strengthen our regional workforce, and ensure our rural communities have the tools to thrive for generations to come.”

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