Salt Lake Chamber Salt Lake Chamber

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Café Rio is a Utah-based Mexican restaurant, with over 50 locations across the state and headquarters in the Brickyard area of Salt Lake City. President and CEO Steve Vaughan joins us with more.
Steve Vaughan :
Café Rio was created in St. George Utah, in 1997, by Steve Stanley, a classically trained French chef. 27 years later, we continue to serve the “fresh modern Mexican” recipes Steve conceived when he spent the earlier part of his career in the Rio Grande Valley.
At Café Rio, our mission is to create opportunities and change the lives of everyone we serve, including our team members. One of my favorite stories involves one of our multi-unit supervisors, who started her career at Café Rio as a cashier. She now oversees six locations and recently purchased her own home with the help of an incentive program we have for our management team.
We are proud to be a Utah company, and we believe we are making a positive impact on the lives of our 5,000 team members in Utah and across the 10 other states where we do business.
Derek Miller:
In addition to providing fast, easy-to-order meal options, Café Rio also offers catering services for parties, events, business meetings and more. To learn more, visit their website. I'm Derek Miller with the Salt Lake Chamber, Speaking on Business.

Originally aired: 4/17/24

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Motherly is an all-in-one parenting platform that is on a mission to help every mother thrive with expert advice, inspirational stories, curated solutions and more. Cofounder Jill Koziol joins us with more.

Jill Koziol:
In 2015, Liz Tenety and I founded Motherly, determined to redefine what it means to be “motherly” for a new generation of mothers. Since then, we have created a woman-centered, expert-driven, empowering platform guiding modern mothers through parenthood, from conception to college.

From viral moments to longer-form reporting and personal essays that dig deep on pain points that weigh on mothers' hearts to curated product recommendations that make our moms' lives easier, our content shines a light on the current state of motherhood.

We know from experience that the journey requires real support, real answers and real solutions so you can not only survive but thrive in motherhood. Through our expert-driven articles, digital classes, podcast, books, and curated shopping guides, Motherly is there for moms, whenever and wherever they need us.
If you’re a mother, or if you know someone who is, check out our vast array of resources aimed at supporting you and your family.
Get started at mother.ly.

Derek Miller:
Whether you’re a new or experienced mother, join the 30 million plus users that consume Motherly content each month for inspiration and parenting support. Learn more at their website. I'm Derek Miller with the Salt Lake Chamber, Speaking on Business.

Originally aired: 4/16/24

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Vinson Home Inspections is a home inspection company providing trusted property inspections to the Salt Lake Valley. They inspect everything from foundation to roof, empowering future homeowners to feel confident in their decisions. Co-Owner Lisa Vinson joins us with more.

Lisa Vinson:
Vinson Home Inspections is an award-winning company that provides homebuyers with high quality inspections so they don’t get stuck with unpleasant surprises once they move into their home. We started our company in Salt Lake City over 20 years ago, and we’ve done thousands of inspections since then.

Our goal is to provide our clients with the information they need about the home they’re buying in a clear and concise manner, allowing them to be well-educated about the property. This gives them an opportunity to negotiate repairs with the seller before closing.

We also encourage home sellers to get a pre-listing inspection so they can be made aware of defects in their home before they list it for sale. This allows sellers to get issues repaired on their own terms, saving them money and preventing re-negotiations!
To learn more, visit us at vinsonhomeinspections.com.

Derek Miller:
Whether you’re a future homebuyer looking to make a responsible, informed decision or a seller seeking pre-listing inspection services, Vinson Home Inspections is here for you. You can learn more at their website. I’m Derek Miller with the Salt Lake Chamber, Speaking on Business.

Originally aired: 4/18/24

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Did you know that Utah is home to over 300,000 small businesses? This achievement is thanks to our state’s premier business resources, including the new Startup State Initiative. Ryan Starks, Executive Director at the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, joins us with more.

Ryan Starks:
With a young and educated workforce, low corporate tax rate, high government support for startups, and a thriving economy, Utah is the perfect place to start a business. At the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, we know our state has a strong entrepreneurial community.

However, we also know starting a business can be challenging. That’s why our office — in conjunction with Governor Cox’s economic vision for Utah — has launched the Startup State Initiative.

As part of this initiative, we’ve developed a website that unifies the state’s business resources into one place. The step-by-step entrepreneur journey guide, business plan generator, and comprehensive list of resources will support you in every step of the business journey. We want to make it easier for anyone to start a business here. Visit startup.utah.gov today and get ready to Start Something Here!

Derek Miller:

Utah is called the Startup Capital of the World for a reason! If you’re a small business owner or soon-to-be entrepreneur, check out startup.utah.gov for resources tailored to your needs. I’m Derek Miller with the Salt Lake Chamber, Speaking on Business.

Originally aired: 4/15/24

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Loki Coffee is a Salt Lake City-based specialty coffee shop that offers an array of beverages, small bites and merchandise — as well as a comfortable space for getting work done and meeting with friends. Owner Hermie Dela Cruz He joins us with more.

Hermie Dela Cruz He:
At Loki Coffee, one of our values is building community. While we love coffee, our goal is to create a space where it’s not just about the coffee but creating community, connection and growth.

One way we achieve this goal is by partnering with local businesses such as Tomodachi Bake Shoppe, Mims Bakery, Bedlam Baking Co., The Dang Bakery, Salsa Del Diablo, and more, allowing us to source the freshest food items available. For our coffee beans, we partner up with Idle Hands Roasting Company. They’re a local roaster that focuses on single-sourcing beans and having a direct relationship with the farmer, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship.

Your experience matters, and at Loki Coffee, we are dedicated to creating an unforgettable farm-to-cup experience for everyone. We are open every day, from 7 am to 5 pm. Come in for a cup of coffee and say hi to the team!

Derek Miller:
Whether you’re looking for a cup of coffee, a locally-made pastry or a place to make new connections, Loki Coffee has something for you. They also host events, workshops and classes. You can learn more at their website. I'm Derek Miller with the Salt Lake Chamber, Speaking on Business.

Originally aired: 4/12/24

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Westminster University is a private, independent and comprehensive university dedicated to student learning. Dax Jacobson, Dean of the Bill and Vieve Gore School of Business at Westminster University, joins us with more.

Dax Jacobson:
At Westminster University, we are dedicated to providing distinctive academic programs that prepare students for life-long learning and help professionals adapt to a changing social, technological and economic world.

In addition to traditional undergraduate and graduate business programs, we are a pioneer in online, project-based undergraduate business courses and degrees.

For example, our Bachelor of Business Administration degree is an online program that takes just 12 to 18 months to complete — ideal for working professionals and adult learners.

Rather than attending lectures and taking tests, students receive one-on-one mentoring from faculty as they complete real-life projects that are relevant to their career, skills and interests.

Plus, thanks to a generous donation from the Fenton Family Foundation, BBA students can apply for a scholarship that reduces the cost of the program to as little as 2,500 dollars per semester. Visit westminsteru.edu to learn more.

Derek Miller:
If you're seeking to complete your degree, progress in your career, or simply enhance your skills with the convenience of an online program, Westminster’s Bachelor of Business Administration might be for you. I'm Derek Miller with the Salt Lake Chamber, Speaking on Business.

Originally aired: 4/10/24