What a day! The 2025 UMA Manufacturing Conference brought together nearly 200 manufacturers, leaders, and industry partners together to share ideas, celebrate successes, and look toward the future of Utah manufacturing.
We kicked things off with our first powerhouse keynote speaker, Robert Spendlove, senior economist for Zions Bancorporation. He gave us an insider’s look at the current economic climate and the trends every manufacturer should keep an eye on. His insights were both eye-opening and encouraging, helping us better understand where the economy is headed. At lunch we heard from Bill Briggs, deputy administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, presenting on the funding opportunities for local manufacturers. Hearing about the resources and support available to keep Utah’s manufacturing community thriving.
After hearing from Robert, we broke out into the first of our nine dynamic sessions that dove into everything from strengthening your brand and using AI in HR to smart supply chain management and saving money at renewal time. Each speaker brought a unique perspective, and attendees walked away with actionable strategies to put into practice right away.
Of course, one of the most exciting parts of the day was honoring our safety champions. Safety isn’t just a requirement in manufacturing, essential for a strong and productive workplace. We’re proud to recognize the following winners:
Award of Excellence: Bonnell Aluminum (Clearfield Plant), Hydro Extrusion USA (Spanish Fork), JD Machine Corp, Mechanical Service & Systems, INW Capstone Nutrition, NuSkin Enterprises, Torus Inc., American Alloy Steel, Kaddas Enterprises, Inc.
Most Improved Award: Kaddas Enterprises, Inc.
Superior Safety Award: NuSkin Enterprises, Bonnell Aluminum (Clearfield Plant), Hydro Extrusion USA (Spanish Fork), Torus Inc.
Safety Leaders of the Year: Cameron Ruppe (Sunroc), Dan Rees (Cottonwood Millwork + Cabinets), and Lupko Koetje (NuSkin Enterprises).
Congratulations again to each of you and your dedication to building a culture of safety!
We also want to recognize our sponsors and vendors who truly made the day all about partnerships.
Our Title & Main Stage Sponsor: DBD Investment Bank
Venue: Zions Bancorporation
Breakfast Sponsor: Intermountain Business Lending
Lunch: Utah Labor Commission
Breakout Room Sponsor: CONNEX Marketplace
Keynote Speaker Sponsor: Select Health
Our vendors kept the energy and conversations going between breakout sessions. Our variety of vendors showcased all that Utah has to offer to support Utah manufacturers. If you didn’t get a chance to meet with one of our vendors reach out and we can help you connect! Thank you
CTI Electric
Ossine Work
Coface
Quality Distribution LLC
Safety-Chat
Utah MEP
Beehive Insurance & Select Health
Red Leaf Design
Intermountain Business Lending
Tradesmen International
Spectrum Recruiting Solutions
FactoryFix
Uniquely Abled Machinist Program
Botecha
Gallagher
Everything Utah
CC Bank
AltiusERP
We closed the day with a forward-looking conversation from the U.S. Small Business Administration, sharing insights from their statewide manufacturing roundtables. They highlighted what’s next in lending and how manufacturers can position themselves for growth in the years ahead.
The future of Utah manufacturing is bright, and we’re excited to keep building it together! We hope you join us at our UMA Awards Gala on Friday, November 7 at the Utah State Fairpark.