Former director of UVU's Entrepreneurship Institute. Instructor of the Reed and Christine Halladay Entrepreneurship Lecture Series.
Tom Macdonald is an Assistant Dean of the Woodbury School of Business. Mr. Macdonald has over 25 years’ experience in senior management including international, CEO and Board positions. He received the 2007 Businessman of the Year Award from the Provo/Orem Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Macdonald has served as a member of the Orem City Council since 2014 for the 2014-2018 term. He is a partner in several real estate projects; a former President / CEO of two Utah businesses; former VP International operations for a technology company and a personal care company; and a former Manager / CPA of Grant Thornton, an international CPA firm.
Mr. Macdonald is married to the former Kaye Mangum of Orem with 4 married children and 16 grand children.
Jeff Burningham has started, run, or been an early investor in over a dozen companies in tech and real estate valued at over a billion dollars. He got his start building a tech startup as an undergrad and then selling it to a NASDAQ-listed company. Later, he co-founded Peak Capital Partners, a real estate investment firm with over $5 billion in assets, and Peak Ventures, one of Utah’s premier early-stage VC firms.
In 2020, Jeff ran for Governor in Utah and now sits on the boards of many of the companies he’s invested in, mentoring some of Utah’s brightest and best entrepreneurs. He also hosts a podcast, champions various philanthropic efforts, and teaches a college class on entrepreneurship to thousands of students.
What’s most important to him are the moments and memories, big and small, shared with his soulmate Sally and their four children (plus one grandchild!)—whether that’s wakesurfing, snow skiing, or just laughing and exploring the mysteries of the Universe together.
To follow Jeff and his work, visit www.jeffburningham.com.
Alex Bean is a managing partner at Tandem Ventures, an investment group focused on leveraging operator experience to drive investments in promising startups.
Before Tandem Ventures, Alex co-founded Divvy, a business expense and budget management platform. Under his guidance, Divvy experienced rapid growth, leading to a $2.5 billion exit.
Originally from Seattle, Alex lives in Highland, Utah with his family. Alex has been married to his wife Megan for 18 years, and they have four children, two girls, and two boys. Alex enjoys playing golf, pickleball, skiing, and spending time with his family and friends.
Pamela Culpepper is a Managing Partner at CAA, Leadership Advisory, specializing in leadership development and human capital management. She has extensive experience coaching C-level executives and HR professionals to achieve personal and professional success.
Prior to CAA, Pamela served as the Chief Human Resources Officer at Cboe Global Markets, Inc., providing crucial talent advice to the executive team and Board of Directors. She also held leadership roles at Golin, PepsiCo (including Chief Global Diversity and Inclusion Officer), McKesson Corporation, Clorox, and Wells Fargo.
Pamela holds a Master of Public Administration in Organizational Change from California State University, Eastbay, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She currently serves as an independent director on the boards of Cambia Health Solutions and Prada S.p.A. Pamela resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Lloyd Roberts isn't just a speaker; he's a force for transformation. Born with Cystic
Fibrosis and blind in one eye, Lloyd faced death before he could even walk. At age
ten,
a devastating accident severed his foot from his body and snapped his femur in half.
And yet, from these impossible beginnings emerged not a victim but a visionary. You
don't have to wait for life not to be hard before you decide to become personally
fulfilled.
Today, Lloyd is known as The Fulfillment Architect, a title he's earned by turning
struggle into a blueprint for joy, meaning, and lasting fulfillment. He co-founded
LoanPro, a fintech unicorn valued at over $1 billion, has built a beautiful family
with his
loving wife, and is also co-founder of Become More, a charity focused on increasing
personal fulfillment and decreasing poverty in rural Cambodia through their village
adoption program. Lloyd's true mission lives in the G Cubed Formula, his
groundbreaking framework for fulfillment through Gratitude, Growth, and Giving.
Discover how the groundbreaking book G Cubed and its companion app, The
Fulfillment Formula, are for the first time making fulfillment measurable, trackable,
and
actionable.
Katharine Lindemann is a seasoned executive with years of experience leading business operations and a variety of functions across multiple brands, focused on driving operational excellence and customer satisfaction. Lindemann’s last position was senior vice president of retail support services for Panera, LLC. Most of her career was spent at Starbucks Coffee Company where she held a variety of executive roles in North American Retail, International Operations and Store Development, and Starbucks Foodservice. She currently serves on the Board of Advisors for Marble & Granite and the Board of Directors of Mother Brook Arts & Community Center. In June of this year, Lindemann retired from the Board of Directors of Cambia Health Solutions, where she served since 2009.
Brad Bonham is one of Utah’s top entrepreneurs, investors, developers, philanthropists, and community leaders. He is the founder of Walker Edison, an international ready-to-assemble furniture company. He sold the business in 2021 in what became the largest consumer product deal in Utah history.
Brad is the former Entrepreneur-in-Residence for the State of Utah. In this role, he advised state leaders on policies to bolster Utah’s entrepreneurial spirit and launched the Startup State initiative—a statewide campaign to establish Utah as the startup capital of the world.
He is the founder and CEO of Rizz Lending, CEO of BONCO, and co-founder of Twenty & Creek, alongside his wife, Megan Bonham, who is the founder and visionary behind Utah’s most prestigious event venue.
Brad has been recognized as a Utah Business Leader of the Year, Utah Business CEO of the Year, a 40 Under Forty honoree, and an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year winner.
In addition to their charitable work through the Bonham Family Foundation, Brad serves on the boards of several of Utah’s most high-profile nonprofit organizations and is the elected National Committeeman for the Utah Republican Party.
Brad studied economics at the University of Utah and is a graduate of Harvard Business School.
@squeegeeboysdetailing
Truxton McSpadden
A native of Lindon, Utah, Truxton McSpadden has been passionate about sports, the
outdoors, and business from an early age. He graduated from Pleasant Grove High School
before earning his degree in Business Management from Utah Valley University, where
he developed a strong interest in entrepreneurship.
Truxton co-founded Squeegee Boys Detailing with his longtime friend Casey Brown nearly three years ago, turning a shared vision into a thriving business. For him, running and growing the company is both a profession and a hobby, as he continually seeks new ways to expand his skills and expertise.
Married to his wife of three years—his greatest supporter—Truxton enjoys balancing business ownership with quality time outdoors and pursuing his love for sports.
Casey Brown
Casey Brown grew up in Pleasant Grove, Utah, where his love for sports—especially
basketball—shaped much of his early life. After graduating from Pleasant Grove High
School in 2019, he spent two years in Bolivia on an LDS mission. Upon returning, Casey
played basketball his freshman year at BYU before deciding to step away from the sport
to begin a new chapter.
In late 2022, he and his longtime friend, Truxton McSpadden—teammates since their 4th-grade basketball days—co-founded Squeegee Boys Detailing. Together, they’ve built a thriving business dedicated to keeping vehicles in top condition across Utah.
Casey lives in Orem with friends, and outside of work he enjoys playing and watching sports, traveling, spending time with family, and soaking up the sun.
Guy Woodbury has worked in the hospitality industry since 1989, overseeing the development and management of Woodbury Corporation’s hotels. Guy is passionate about creating successful hotels through partnering with strong brands, developing quality product, hiring and retaining great talent, providing memorable guest service, and maintaining an enjoyable work environment. He served for many years with Visit Salt Lake as a Trustee, on the Executive Committee and as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He is a member of the Utah State Bar. Guy earned a BS in marketing from the University of Utah, earned an MBA from Northwestern University where he was an Austin Scholar, and earned a JD from University of California, Berkeley. He and his wife, Carie, have three children and 10 grandchildren (hopefully 11 grandchildren by the date of this lecture).
Rachelle Rutherford is a visionary business leader, author, and philanthropist dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families facing extraordinary challenges. As CEO of Kids on the Move (KOTM), a multimillion-dollar nonprofit providing essential therapies, education, and family support for children with developmental delays and disabilities, she has doubled the organization’s operating capital and launched Hope in Motion, a campaign to build a Center of Excellence campus with expanded programs and a state-of-the-art autism center.
Her commitment extends globally through KOTM’s outreach in Latin America, where she partners with government leaders to establish sustainable early intervention programs and advocate for neurodiversity and inclusion. She chronicled KOTM’s transformative work in her Forbes Books publication, Chasing the Impossible, sharing powerful stories of resilience from children, families, and community members.
A survivor of abuse, homelessness, and trauma, Rachelle overcame personal adversity to earn dual degrees in Business Management and Finance, an MBA, and spend over 20 years in executive leadership roles across multiple industries. She has helped establish an American university in Mauritius, coached business leaders worldwide, and uses her platform as Mrs. Universe to advocate for children and survivors globally.
Recognized as a 2024 Utah Business Most Influential Women Honoree and recipient of the “Giving Like Mandela” Award, she has delivered keynote speeches across the U.S., Latin America, Africa, and India. Balancing her roles as CEO, mother of six, and international speaker, Rachelle credits her success to discipline, faith, and an unwavering commitment to creating impactful solutions that inspire hope and change worldwide.
Taylor Napierski has spent his career building powerhouse operations teams at companies like ZocDoc and ZipRecruiter, and now leads Operations at Pronto—where he's helping teams communicate faster and work smarter. With a unique ability to blend an entrepreneurial mindset with the operational rigor needed to turn ideas into real businesses, Taylor thrives at the intersection of vision and execution. He’s been married for 20 years, has three awesome kids, and when he’s not streamlining systems, you’ll find him ultra-running or rappelling off cliffs just for a bit of an adrenaline kick!
Clint Pulver is an Emmy Award Winner, a Hall of Fame Speaker, Author, Pro-Drummer, Helicopter Pilot, Speaker Coach, and Workforce Expert. Known as the leading authority on employee retention, Clint has transformed how corporations like Keller Williams, AT&T, and NASA create lasting loyalty through his work and research as the Undercover Millennial. He is also the author of #1 bestselling book I Love It Here: How Great Leaders Create Organizations Their People Never Want to Leave. He has been featured by Business Q Magazine as a “Top 40 Under 40,” and is the president and founder of Dream Machines, a youth foundation that gives children with disabilities the gift and magic of flight.
Sean Kennedy is a seasoned marketing executive with over 25 years of experience building globally recognized brands, driving revenue growth, and leading high-impact teams. As Senior Vice President of Marketing at Ultradent Products, a $400M+ multinational dental manufacturer, he oversees global marketing efforts and a team of more than 100 professionals across 10 countries.
During his 18-year tenure at Ultradent, Sean has played a pivotal role in quadrupling revenue, launching and managing multi-million-dollar brands, expanding into consumer markets to create a $50M channel in just three years, and leading a global brand refresh that positioned Ultradent among the world’s top five dental brands. He has also built new marketing departments from the ground up, enhancing capabilities in creative services, market research, and strategic pricing.
Sean holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Marketing and Business Management, an MBA, and advanced certifications in Behavioral Science, B2B Marketing, and Marketing Management. He has completed post-graduate work in Northwestern University’s Chief Marketing Officer program and is currently pursuing a master’s in Strategic Management and Executive Leadership at Penn State University. His thought leadership includes contributions to Cases in B2B Marketing by Philip Kotler and the European Case Clearing House.
Outside of work, Sean enjoys Formula 1 racing, Lego car building, and immersive video games. He is a proud husband and father of three adult children, each pursuing their own academic and professional paths.
Nanette joined Mountain America Credit Union just over three decades ago as a part-time
teller.
Since then, she has continued to progress, leading teams in mortgage sales, member
services,
training, technology, public relations, compliance and risk.
In November 2022, Nanette joined the Executive Leadership team as the senior vice
president of
enterprise risk management. As the SVP and chief risk officer of governance, risk
and
compliance, Nanette develops, communicates, and executes Mountain America’s risk
management strategy; overseeing the compliance management system; and collaborating
on all
compliance risk-related issues for new initiatives, products, and services.
She also ensures all team members receive education on the regulations and compliance
requirements that are critical to MACU’s continued success.
Prior to joining Mountain America, Nanette joined the U.S. Army Reserve in high school
and
served for eight years. Nanette is also an avid golfer and cook and loves to spend
time with her
husband Jeff and their children.
