MountainWest Capital Network: Welcome to the Winners' Circle

MountainWest Capital Network
  • 5.0 (24)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Biweekly

Meet Cheri Waldron and Jason Roberts, your hosts for the MountainWest Capital Network Podcast—the gateway to Utah's Winner's Circle. For nearly two decades, Cheri has been the driving force behind MountainWest Capital Network as Executive Director, orchestrating Utah's most prestigious business celebration, the Utah 100. Jason brings 22 years of global business consulting expertise as Managing Director of Protiviti's Salt Lake City office, having grown the local team from 2-3 people to over 70 professionals. Together, they've created something unprecedented: intimate access to the exclusive Winners’ Circle—that electrifying pre-event gathering where Utah's fastest-growing company CEOs and founders connect before taking the stage. Now, for the first time, they're bringing that same energy and insider access directly to you through candid one-on-one conversations with the business leaders shaping Utah's economy.

  1. 2d ago

    Failure Doesn’t Define You | Joe Grover on Growth, Risk, and Learning from Failure

    Some people spend their entire careers trying to avoid failure. Joe Grover built an entire podcast around it. This week on Welcome to the Winners' Circle, Cheri and Jason sit down with Joe Grover, Chief Growth Officer at Ampleo, a Utah-based firm that provides fractional executive expertise to growing businesses. Joe shares how his years as an operator in venture-backed companies prepared him to help other businesses navigate the complexities of growth. Since joining Ampleo, he has helped the company grow from a small team into a 400-person organization while navigating eight acquisitions in two years. Joe opens up about what it takes to build a culture of “experts without egos,” how to balance growth through M&A, and why the hardest work of an acquisition begins after the deal closes. He also shares a lesson from earlier in his career about the dangers of scaling too quickly and investing ahead of growth. The conversation also explores how AI could reshape the role of a lean leadership team, what makes Utah’s entrepreneurial ecosystem unique, and why failure can be one of the richest sources of learning in business. Joe leaves entrepreneurs with a philosophy he lives by: failure shouldn’t define who you are, and neither should success. What You’ll Learn:How the fractional executive model gives growing businesses access to experienced leadership without a full-time hire.Why “hyper-optimism” can cause businesses to scale before they’re ready.How to balance organic growth with acquisitions, and why the hardest work begins after the deal closes.What it takes to protect company culture while scaling from a small team to hundreds of people.How fear of failure can distort an entrepreneur’s decision-making.How AI can shift leaders away from production-level work and toward judgment, relationships, and leadership.Why neither success nor failure should define an entrepreneur, and what Joe believes matters more than either outcome.Connect with Joe Grover and Ampleo:Ampleo Website: https://ampleo.com/Ampleo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ampleo_hr/Ampleo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ampleo-solutionsJoe Grover on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelgrover/The Real F Word Podcast: https://www.realfwordpodcast.com/ Want to Connect? Cheri@MWCN.org jason.roberts@protiviti.com Meet the dedicated members of our podcast committee who curate content, organize interviews, and ensure the success of The MountainWest Capital Network Podcast “Welcome to the Winners’ Circle.”  Cheri Waldron, MWCN Executive Director Jason Roberts, MWCN President and Managing Director, Protiviti Kevin Jessop, MWCN Podcast Vice-Chair and Chief Marketing Officer, IMA Garit Lawson, MWCN Podcast Chair, Managing Director, Forbes Partners Zachary Reed, MWCN Podcast Producer, Senior Associate, PwC LLP Katie Brown, MWCN Business Operations Specialist Amanda Wallman, Alpine Edge Marketing The LaunchPod Media Team The views expressed in this program are for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. Any references to specific investments or outcomes are illustrative and not indicative of overall performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

    Failure Doesn’t Define You | Joe Grover on Growth, Risk, and Learning from Failure

  2. Oct 8

    A Century of Thinking Young | How Young Automotive Built a Four-Generation Family Business

    Since its beginnings in 1924, Young Automotive Group has grown from a single Utah dealership into a fourth-generation family business with more than 30 locations across three states. Cheri and Jason sit down with Spence and Oliver Young, president and innovation director of Young Automotive Group, to explore what it takes to keep a family business growing for more than a century. They share what it was like growing up on the automotive lot, why they each chose to stay in the family business, and the lessons passed down from earlier generations. Spence and Oliver also break down the decisions that helped Young Automotive grow from five stores into the business it is today. They discuss why people matter more than capital, how a shared culture helped break down silos between stores, and why tracking the activities that drive results can be more valuable than focusing on results alone. Oliver also explains his “kaleidoscope marketing” approach and why every employee has a role to play in building the brand. Beyond growth, they share how Young Caring for Our Young has made community service part of the company's culture, how AI is changing the way they work, and why human connection may become even more valuable as technology advances. Through a century of change, the Young family continues to look ahead while staying grounded in the people, values, and communities that helped build the business. What You’ll Learn: How a family business can stay together across four generationsWhy the right people can matter more than capital when growing a companyHow tracking the activities that drive results can fuel long-term sales growthWhat “kaleidoscope marketing” means and why every employee can play a role in marketingHow community involvement can strengthen relationships with customers and employeesWhere Young Automotive is using AI—and why its leaders believe human connection will remain essentialHow family councils, goal setting, and open communication have helped the Young family navigate a multigenerational business Connect with Young Automotive and Spence & Oliver Young: Young Automotive Group Website: https://www.youngautomotive.com/Young Automotive Group on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngautomotivegroup/Young Automotive Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/young-automotive-group/Spence Young on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-young-ii-33661548/ Oliver Young on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/youngoliver/KIND Fund Connects educators with volunteers who can provide essential items to local children in need. Want to Connect? Cheri@MWCN.org jason.roberts@protiviti.com Meet the dedicated members of our podcast committee who curate content, organize interviews, and ensure the success of The MountainWest Capital Network Podcast “Welcome to the Winners’ Circle.”  Cheri Waldron, MWCN Executive Director Jason Roberts, MWCN President and Managing Director, Protiviti Kevin Jessop, MWCN Podcast Vice-Chair and Chief Marketing Officer, IMA Garit Lawson, MWCN Podcast Chair, Managing Director, Forbes Partners Zachary Reed, MWCN Podcast Producer, Senior Associate, PwC LLP Katie Brown, MWCN Business Operations Specialist Amanda Wallman, Alpine Edge Marketing The LaunchPod Media Team The views expressed in this program are for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. Any references to specific investments or outcomes are illustrative and not indicative of overall performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

    A Century of Thinking Young | How Young Automotive Built a Four-Generation Family Business

  3. Sep 24

    Building a Company That Lasts | Chad Fraughton’s 33-Year Cornerstone Story

    Cornerstone Technologies, one of Utah's premier event production companies, has been around for 33 years. So what has allowed the company to keep growing, adapting, and building relationships for more than three decades? Cheri and Jason sit down with Chad Fraughton, founder and CEO of Cornerstone Technologies, to talk about his 33-year journey of opportunity, relationships, and people-centered leadership. Chad opens up about the mentors who helped shape him, and the culture that has helped Cornerstone retain employees for decades. Chad reflects on his family through all of this. The legacy of his father and watching his own children build alongside him has given meaning to his work. He explains what it means to run a company where “you're either Cornerstone for life, or you're there for a year or less,” reflects on more than three decades in event production, and looks ahead to where the industry is going next. His story is one about family, loyalty, and building something lasting. What You’ll Learn: How mentorship and chance opportunities helped shape Chad’s early careerThe story behind Cornerstone Technologies' founding What makes a lasting company culture, and why "good people find you" How Cornerstone has retained employees for 20-30+ yearsWhat it's like working alongside family in a growing businessWhat Chad has learned from decades behind the scenes of large-scale eventsHow experiential events are changing, and where Chad sees the industry headed next Connect with Cornerstone and Chad Fraughton: Cornerstone Website: https://cornerstoneav.com/Cornerstone on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cornerstone-technologies-llc-Chad Fraughton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-fraughton-b45984159/Want to Connect? Cheri@MWCN.org jason.roberts@protiviti.com Meet the dedicated members of our podcast committee who curate content, organize interviews, and ensure the success of The MountainWest Capital Network Podcast “Welcome to the Winners’ Circle.”  Cheri Waldron, MWCN Executive Director Jason Roberts, MWCN President and Managing Director, Protiviti Kevin Jessop, MWCN Podcast Vice-Chair and Chief Marketing Officer, IMA Garit Lawson, MWCN Podcast Chair, Managing Director, Forbes Partners Zachary Reed, MWCN Podcast Producer, Senior Associate, PwC LLP Katie Brown, MWCN Business Operations Specialist Amanda Wallman, Alpine Edge Marketing The LaunchPod Media Team The views expressed in this program are for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. Any references to specific investments or outcomes are illustrative and not indicative of overall performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

    Building a Company That Lasts | Chad Fraughton’s 33-Year Cornerstone Story

  4. Sep 10

    Building Trust in Business | Leadership Lessons from PwC’s Ryan Dent

    What does it really take to build 26 years of trust with your company and clients? This week on Welcome to the Winners' Circle, Cheri and Jason sit down with Ryan Dent, the Office Managing Partner at PwC in Salt Lake City and currently serving as Vice-Chairman of MWCN. With 26 years at the firm and deep roots serving Utah in various ways, Ryan brings a career's worth of insights on what it actually takes to build lasting relationships in business. He shares the leadership philosophy that has guided him since college, and how he uses it to build a team that is centered on trust and reliable work for others. Ryan opens up about the people who shaped him: his father, whose work ethic taught him the value of time management, his four sisters, who kept him and his brother grounded, and his mentor, who saw potential in him before he saw it himself. He also gives a look behind the scenes of the Utah 100 validation process and explains why that rigor is exactly what makes the list mean something. Ryan’s story is all about trust, consistency, and building a community one relationship at a time. What You’ll Learn: Why passion for your career often has to be built through effort and timeHow PwC is approaching AI's potential across its teams and clientsWhy reliability matters more than trying to impress othersThe two things Ryan credits most for building long-lasting professional relationshipsHow to encourage employees to give back to their communities, and why it mattersThe rigor behind the Utah 100 validation process, and why that trust mattersHow mentors can shape your career and your belief in yourselfLeadership qualities that set people apart early in their careers Connect with PwC and Ryan Dent: PwC Website: https://www.pwc.com/us/en.htmlPwC on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pwcus/PwC on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pwc/Ryan Dent on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryandentpwc/Want to Connect? Cheri@MWCN.org jason.roberts@protiviti.com Meet the dedicated members of our podcast committee who curate content, organize interviews, and ensure the success of The MountainWest Capital Network Podcast “Welcome to the Winners’ Circle.”  Cheri Waldron, MWCN Executive Director Jason Roberts, MWCN President and Managing Director, Protiviti Kevin Jessop, MWCN Podcast Vice-Chair and Chief Marketing Officer, IMA Garit Lawson, MWCN Podcast Chair, Managing Director, Forbes Partners Zachary Reed, MWCN Podcast Producer, Senior Associate, PwC LLP Katie Brown, MWCN Business Operations Specialist Amanda Wallman, Alpine Edge Marketing The LaunchPod Media Team The views expressed in this program are for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. Any references to specific investments or outcomes are illustrative and not indicative of overall performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

    Building Trust in Business | Leadership Lessons from PwC’s Ryan Dent

  5. Aug 27

    Building a Business from a Kitchen | All About Beehive Meals with Allyse Jackson

    Cheri and Jason welcome Allyse Jackson, founder and CEO of Beehive Meals, to the Winners' Circle for a conversation about her business journey. What started as a single Facebook post turned into $10,000 in sales in a single day. From there, Allyse walks through the years that followed: navigating food safety regulations, scaling through a global pandemic, and growing a business from a home kitchen, all without ever taking outside investment. Allyse shares everything that makes Beehive Meals' growth so remarkable. She opens up about imposter syndrome, and how the experience of watching her own father shaped her own leadership philosophy. Whether you're building a business from your home or leading a company through growth, this conversation is full of hard lessons on resilience, culture, and staying true to your customer. What You’ll Learn: The food safety and licensing realities most food-based entrepreneurs don't know about.When a growing business might need to start leveraging debt instead of paying cash for everything.Why testing small, low-risk ventures before going all-in can set you up for long-term success.How to recognize and work through imposter syndrome as a leader.How Beehive Meals differentiated itself in a crowded meal-kit market.How strong company culture and good benefits can drive employee retention.How regional identity and community shaped Beehive Meals' customer base and growth.How industry award recognition can serve as validation for founders battling self-doubt.Connect with Beehive Meals and Allyse Jackson: Beehive Meals Website: https://beehivemeals.comBeehive Meals on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beehivemeals/?hl=enBeehive Meals on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beehive-meals/Allyse Jackson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allysejackson/?hl=enAllyse Jackson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allyse-jackson/Want to Connect? Cheri@MWCN.org jason.roberts@protiviti.com Meet the dedicated members of our podcast committee who curate content, organize interviews, and ensure the success of The MountainWest Capital Network Podcast “Welcome to the Winners’ Circle.”  Cheri Waldron, MWCN Executive Director Jason Roberts, MWCN President and Managing Director, Protiviti Kevin Jessop, MWCN Podcast Vice-Chair and Chief Marketing Officer, IMA Garit Lawson, MWCN Podcast Chair, Managing Director, Forbes Partners Zachary Reed, MWCN Podcast Producer, Senior Associate, PwC LLP Katie Brown, MWCN Business Operations Specialist Amanda Wallman, Alpine Edge Marketing The LaunchPod Media Team The views expressed in this program are for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. Any references to specific investments or outcomes are illustrative and not indicative of overall performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

    Building a Business from a Kitchen | All About Beehive Meals with Allyse Jackson

  6. Aug 13

    Inside LVT’s Growth | How Ryan Porter Built His Business to a National Level

    How does a company go from surviving 15 years without outside funding to a national leader in mobile security technology?  Cheri and Jason sit down with Ryan Porter, co-founder and CEO of LVT. They walk through the company's journey from a small idea born out of construction finance to a full-fledged business now protecting some of the highest-risk locations in the country. What started as "HomeView Technologies" evolved through the 2008 housing crash to eventually become a full-scale mobile security company. Today, LVT serves in retail, law enforcement, and critical infrastructure nationwide. Ryan opens up about the long 15 years of cash-crunch survival, the founding partnership that held everything together, and the moment that made it clear LVT had built something real. He shares his reflections on leadership and why he credits much of LVT's success to genuinely listening to their customers. It's a story about patience and building something durable in an industry that didn't even exist yet. What You’ll Learn: How Ryan and his co-founder survived the 2008 housing crashWhat it takes to bootstrap a company for 15 years without outside funding Why a strong partnership is critical to navigating the early and uncertain years of a businessHow genuinely listening to customers can shape product direction and long-term successWhat qualities to look for when choosing long-term investors Why financial guardrails are important to set up before starting a companyHow Utah's culture and talent pool shape business and economic growth Connect with Layton Construction: LVT’s Website: https://www.lvt.com/LVT on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lvt_usa/LVT on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lvt/Ryan Porter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-porter-1897672/Want to Connect? Cheri@MWCN.org jason.roberts@protiviti.com Meet the dedicated members of our podcast committee who curate content, organize interviews, and ensure the success of The MountainWest Capital Network Podcast “Welcome to the Winners’ Circle.”  Cheri Waldron, MWCN Executive Director Jason Roberts, MWCN President and Managing Director, Protiviti Kevin Jessop, MWCN Podcast Vice-Chair and Chief Marketing Officer, IMA Garit Lawson, MWCN Podcast Chair, Managing Director, Forbes Partners Zachary Reed, MWCN Podcast Producer, Senior Associate, PwC LLP Katie Brown, MWCN Business Operations Specialist Amanda Wallman, Alpine Edge Marketing The LaunchPod Media Team The views expressed in this program are for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. Any references to specific investments or outcomes are illustrative and not indicative of overall performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

    Inside LVT’s Growth | How Ryan Porter Built His Business to a National Level

  7. Jul 30

    Revisiting Layton Construction | Building a Business Through People, Not Projects

    In this episode, Cheri and Jason revisit their conversation with Dave Layton, president of Layton Construction. Layton Construction was founded by Dave’s father and built on a family legacy of hard work, loyalty, and long-term thinking. Dave grew up on job sites and in vegetable gardens his dad affectionately called his "golf course," and he never once considered a different path. Dave’s story is one of a leader who has scaled his business through a relentless focus on people and what really matters to them. This conversation digs into what makes Layton Construction's culture so distinct: an employee-ownership model that has turned careers into real wealth. Dave has built this give-back philosophy and a leadership style by watching his father rather than by formal executive coaching. He also opens up about the emotional cost of running a business that never turns off, and how his company is investing in AI and data technology to modernize their industry. Whether you're building a company, a team, or a legacy, this conversation is a true example of what it means to invest in people for the long haul. What You’ll Learn: How a family construction business learned to scale across multiple generationsWhy a "team sport" mindset beats individual talent in the construction industryHow employee ownership can build real generational wealthWhat it takes to retain top talent in a competitive industryLeadership lessons passed down from a father, rather than a frameworkHow to lead a business through economic downturns and hardshipsWhy giving back builds a stronger company cultureHow AI and tech are modernizing the construction industryWhy protecting personal time matters for busy business leadersWhat counts as a true measure of success Connect with Layton Construction: Layton Construction Website: laytonconstruction.comLayton Construction on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laytonconstruct/Layton Construction on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/laytonconstruction/Want to Connect? Cheri@MWCN.org jason.roberts@protiviti.com Meet the dedicated members of our podcast committee who curate content, organize interviews, and ensure the success of The MountainWest Capital Network Podcast “Welcome to the Winners’ Circle.”  Cheri Waldron, MWCN Executive Director Jason Roberts, MWCN President and Managing Director, Protiviti Kevin Jessop, MWCN Podcast Vice-Chair and Chief Marketing Officer, IMA Garit Lawson, MWCN Podcast Chair, Managing Director, Forbes Partners Zachary Reed, MWCN Podcast Producer, Senior Associate, PwC LLP Katie Brown, MWCN Business Operations Specialist Amanda Wallman, Alpine Edge Marketing The LaunchPod Media Team The views expressed in this program are for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. Any references to specific investments or outcomes are illustrative and not indicative of overall performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

    Revisiting Layton Construction | Building a Business Through People, Not Projects

  8. Jul 16

    Building a Business From Scratch | Frameworks for Scaling a Business with Derrick Porter

    What is it like to build a business from nothing? Today, we’ll share the things that actually matter on your business journey. Cheri and Jason sit down with Derrick Porter, executive chair of Clean Simple Eats and founder and former CEO of Beauty Industry Group. Derrick traces his path back to a childhood spent painting curbs, which led him to co-building the world's largest hair extension company. His journey is full of long stretches of uncertainty, a lot of pivoting, and a willingness to say yes to opportunities that didn't always make sense. Derrick dives into the frameworks he uses for scaling companies and leading people, as well as what the personal side of scaling a business looks like. The group reflects on Utah's business culture, the role education played later in Derrick’s life, and what it means to truly become a better version of yourself. It's a conversation as much about mindset and inspiration as it is about entrepreneurship. What You’ll Learn:What it takes to build a business from scratch and scale itDerrick’s two frameworks for evaluating business opportunitiesThe "intangible value chain" that links leadership to customer valueHow to recognize and recover from burnout in businessWhy it matters to predefine success for yourself and your businessWhat makes Utah's business culture distinct from othersHow to reframe your thoughts on wealth, possessions, and joyA simple filter for long-term decision-makingConnect with Derrick Porter, Beauty Industry Group, and Clean Simple Eats:Beauty Industry Group Website: https://www.beautyindustrygroup.com/Beauty Industry Group on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beautyindustrygroup/Clean Simple Eats Website: https://cleansimpleeats.com/Clean Simple Eats on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cleansimpleeats/Clean Simple Eats on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleansimpleeats/Derrick Porter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrickporter/ Want to Connect? Cheri@MWCN.org jason.roberts@protiviti.com Meet the dedicated members of our podcast committee who curate content, organize interviews, and ensure the success of The MountainWest Capital Network Podcast “Welcome to the Winners’ Circle.”  Cheri Waldron, MWCN Executive Director Jason Roberts, MWCN President and Managing Director, Protiviti Kevin Jessop, MWCN Podcast Vice-Chair and Chief Marketing Officer, IMA Garit Lawson, MWCN Podcast Chair, Managing Director, Forbes Partners Zachary Reed, MWCN Podcast Producer, Senior Associate, PwC LLP Katie Brown, MWCN Business Operations Specialist Amanda Wallman, Alpine Edge Marketing The LaunchPod Media Team The views expressed in this program are for informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice. Any references to specific investments or outcomes are illustrative and not indicative of overall performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

    Building a Business From Scratch | Frameworks for Scaling a Business with Derrick Porter
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Meet Cheri Waldron and Jason Roberts, your hosts for the MountainWest Capital Network Podcast—the gateway to Utah's Winner's Circle. For nearly two decades, Cheri has been the driving force behind MountainWest Capital Network as Executive Director, orchestrating Utah's most prestigious business celebration, the Utah 100. Jason brings 22 years of global business consulting expertise as Managing Director of Protiviti's Salt Lake City office, having grown the local team from 2-3 people to over 70 professionals. Together, they've created something unprecedented: intimate access to the exclusive Winners’ Circle—that electrifying pre-event gathering where Utah's fastest-growing company CEOs and founders connect before taking the stage. Now, for the first time, they're bringing that same energy and insider access directly to you through candid one-on-one conversations with the business leaders shaping Utah's economy.

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