Why UMA?

What Utah Makes, Makes Utah

Legislative Representation on the Hill. UMA is the voice of the Utah manufacturing community.

Networking and events! UMA hosts opportunities to connect all year long!

UMA offers a number of different benefits to members from health insurance, 401(k) savings, and more!

UMA offers free safety trainings to members all year long, and private safety training options.

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Utah Manufacturer’s Association Support and connects 855 Manufacturing and Service companies located in Utah.

uma team

As an association, we strive to support Utah manufacturers by facilitating industry connections and providing valuable resources to strengthen your business. Get to know the team that stands with you.

Todd R. Bingham

President/CEO 

Megan Ware

Senior Director of Workforce Development

Robin Patfield

Director of Operations

Josh Brown

Director of Government Relations

Joshua Davis

Director of Workplace Safety

Martin Moore

Workforce Development Manager

Jenn Sparks

Marketing Manager

uma through the years

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  • 1847 – Industrial Strength from Humble Beginnings

    When our founders entered the valley of the Great Salt Lake in 1847, they quickly set about the business of establishing the state. Farmers planted seeds in soil softened by irrigation water, and industrialists built modest, but efficient, manufacturing facilities such as a plant for making adobe brick, a grist mill, a sawmill, and a system for recovering salt from the Great Salt Lake.

  • 1850 – Sugar Beet Seeds

    In 1850, sugar beet seeds were brought to Utah, which created one of the state’s largest and most durable industries. In the next two years, the local settlers had established industries to make everything from pottery to paper. The founding of the University of Deseret (Utah) in 1850 and the dedication of the Salt Lake Theatre in 1862 show the commitment of early settlers to education and culture.

  • 1860 – A Period of Expansion

    As Utah stepped into the 1860s, four explosive decades lay ahead. Manufacturing expanded rapidly to provide new construction materials such as stone, sand, gravel, clay and limestone. The completion of the transcontinental railroad provided the economic feasibility of developing Utah’s many mineral deposits, and that, in turn, brought about a boom in associated industries.

  • 1870 – A New Wave of Manufacturing Growth

    Despite the period of Civil War, inflation during the early 1860s and the deep depression of the mid 1870s, Utah grew dramatically. Manufacturing grew to provide parts and equipment for the changing transportation scene, and electricity was paving the way for mass production technology.

  • 1918 – Influenza Strikes

    The year 1918 was important because of the Great Pandemic and the airplanes that began to appear in Utah. Utah’s railroads helped the state’s growing industries. In 1918, World War I American soldiers, stationed in military camps across the United States, were among the earliest victims of the pandemic.

  • 1929 – The Great Depression

    The state was enjoying life to the fullest when the disastrous depression of 1929 struck. The nation was quickly humbled, and Utah was among the states hit hardest. In 1933 Utah’s unemployment rate was 35.8 percent, the fourth highest in the nation.

  • 1956 – Manufacturing Boom

    By 1956, manufacturing employment had grown to 35,300 Utahns in such industries as production, meat packing, canning, frozen foods, dairy products, milling, publishing, chemicals, paints, tools and more. Utah stepped into what could be called the “Sophisticated Sixties,” a time of space-age technology and a wide range of industries.

  • 1963 – The Space Age

    By 1963, manufacturing employment had climbed to 54,700, as new companies were being formed in the state; new industry was coming to Utah, and older, established Utah firms were expanding and modernizing facilities. Fast forwarding to today, the manufacturers of the Beehive State make up the largest industry in Utah, totaling nearly $23 billion of annual gross state product.

  • 1970 – A New Commonwealth Economy

    During the late 1970s, a new commonwealth economy emerged from the essentially colonial economy of the 1950s and 1960s as Utah entrepreneurs generated much of the state’s growth internally. By the late 1980s, Utah had developed a postindustrial and postcolonial economy that others might have envied.

  • 1980 – New Heights Along the Skylines

    In the year of UMA’s Diamond Jubilee Anniversary, employment reached 93,300 men and women working in more than 1,600 plants. Manufacturing in Utah was once again expanding into an enviable industry. Approximately $250 million were being invested in manufacturing plants and equipment.

  • 1990 – The Growth Years

    As the age of the internet dawned, UMA created a worldwide website to provide members with timely updates on critical legislative issues. Increasing diversity during this decade prompted the UMA Board of Directors to approve the “Guiding Principles for Supporting Legislation” on December 9, 1997.

  • 2000 – Becoming the Backbone of the Economy

    Despite the economy descending into the worst crisis since the Great Depression, the manufacturing industry held strong. Though Utah was in no way exempt to the effects of the recession, manufacturing still managed to grow into a vital industry.

  • 2007 – Medical Manufacturing

    Of course, the 2000s weren’t all doom and gloom. This decade also saw an incredible expansion of medical research and resources, and with it, an expansion of medical manufacturing. Seventy percent of arterial and vascular access devices used throughout the world are manufactured in Utah.

  • 2010 – The Rise in Technology and Global Expansion

    Similar to the exciting technological advances in the 1920s, there was once again an exciting time of invention and innovation in the 2010s. Smart phones, computers, tablets, laptops — all became easily accessible and necessary during this decade. Once again, manufacturing expanded. You probably don’t think a great deal about the copper, silver, and silicone that go into your electronics, but rest assured, Utah manufacturers are building electronic goods from all these materials.

  • 2014 – The Made in Utah Initiative

    In 2014, the average worker earned $64,204 annually, but the average manufacturing worker earned $79,553 annually, including pay and benefits. Over the past 25 years, exports of U.S. manufactured goods more than quadrupled. In 2014, it reached an all-time high, for the fifth consecutive year, of $1.4 trillion.

  • 2019 – First Annual Coolest Thing Made in Utah

    Raising the awareness and competitiveness of the Manufacturing Industry The first Annual Coolest Thing Made in Utah Contest was held. With a focus on products manufactured if Utah 222 products were nominated to compete against one another. Four voting rounds based on public vote were held narrowing down the products to Top 25, Top 10, Final 3 and ultimately the winner. After 45,000 votes cast Bean Trailer was named the 2019 Coolest Thing Made In Utah. The contest brought a huge awareness to the manufacturing industry with over 617,000 social media impressions. The Utah Manufacturers Association continues to provide avenues to manufacturing success. In November 2019 UMA announced the creation of the Utah Manufacturers Association Center for Business and Continuous Improvement. The Center helps Utah manufacturing companies by enhancing their competitiveness, productivity, and performance.

  • 1905 – Association Organization

    The Merchants and Manufacturers Association of Utah was organized in 1905 to help encourage and develop industrial growth in the Beehive State, and to help foster the dedication for outstanding quality established by the state’s founders in 1847. In 1905, only 8,000 people were engaged in manufacturing in the state. During World War I, Utah manufacturing rallied around the national war effort, while pausing in personal pursuits.

Investor testimonials

Utah Manufacturers’ Association Investors have the ability to showcase their commitment to manufacturing which is the lifeblood of the economy. They are recognized as leaders in the manufacturing arena. Hear what they have to say about UMA.

“Chevron greatly values our membership in the Utah Manufacturers Association.  UMA makes it possible for companies to collaborate, learn from one another, and create a strong voice for manufacturing to help Utah succeed.”

 

Chevron

“I appreciate the Utah Manufacturers Association’s dedication to working with state government and manufacturers to ensure that the industry continues to be strong in Utah.  I also appreciate the trainings, events, and opportunity to visit and learn from other manufacturers in the area.  It is good to have a strong support group and presence for manufacturing and the UMA does a great job organizing this!  Thank you.”

Hydro

“Working with UMA has been great. They have given Lockton exposure to Utah Manufacturing companies that we wouldn’t otherwise have. They have a great team and they do a fantastic job on staying up to date with emerging risks to the manufacturing industry.”

Lockton

“KeyBank is proud to be a yearlong Sponsor of UMA as manufacturing is a major economic driver for the State of Utah,” said Drew Yergensen, KeyBank Commercial Banking Sales Leader and incoming Utah Market President.  “We are a solution-oriented bank that can help employers in many ways and we support the efforts of UMA to serve as a one-stop shop for companies to make running their business easier.”

KeyBank
See all testimonials

Uma board of directors

Matt Wardle

UMA Chair
CEO/Owner
JD Machine

Karen Griffin

UMA 1st Vice Chair
Program & Compliance Director
JAS. D. EASTON, Inc.

Erin Barry

UMA 2nd Vice Chair
VP Business Development
Merit Medical

Gregg Robison

Secretary/Treasurer
CEO
RAM Aviation, Space, & Defense

Johnny Ferry

Immediate Past Chair
VP Business Development
Honeyville, Inc.

 

Todd Bingham

UMA President/CEO
Utah Manufacturers Association

Alex Dobsky

Director
VP of Operations
Mity Inc.

Bill Johnson

Director
EHS /Compliance Manager
Barnes Bullets

Brad Shafer

Director
Government Affairs
Marathon Petroleum Company

Brett Barton

Director
Senior Director Human Resources
Fresenius Medical Care

Brett Burningham

Director
Plant Manager
Hydro Extrusions

Darren Degraw

Director
Vice President
Cleasby Manufacturing

Evan Hill

Director
Senior Business Partner
Rio Tinto

Erik Willis

Director
Lehi Ramp Manager
Texas Instruments

Jason Glade

Director
President
Taffy Town

Jenniffer Clark

Director
General Counsel
Dominion Energy

Kristina Brown

Director
Corporate Affairs Manager
Chevron

Maricarmen Ventura

Director
Director-Manufacturing
Edwards Lifesciences

Mark Walker

Director
Vice President of Marketing & Media
EnergySolutions

Matt Wariner

Director
Director of Manufacturing
Swire Coca-Cola, USA

Michael Gleason

Director
Marketing Manager
Hexcel Corporation

Ryan Carlile

Director
Director of Manufacturing
L3Harris

Russell Mann

Director
Director of Manufacturing
Northrop Grumman

Steve Young

Director
Partner
Holland & Hart

Thom Carter

Director
Governmental Affairs
Rocky Mountain Power

Todd Groll

Director
Director
Orbit Irrigation

Mike Robinson

Director
VP Global Manufacturing
doTerra

Gustavo Ferraro

Director
Asset Care, Reliability & Facilities Sr. Manager
BD Medical

Jason Sumsion

Director
Director of NA Manufacturing 
SMITH Optics

Adam Zewe

Director
Vice President & General Manager
Nucor Steel

Cyndi Bajema

Director
Plant Manager
Parker Aerospace

UMA Events & News

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