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What is “What’s Up Down South”?

St. George Area Economic Development is proud to present our 27th Annual “What’s Up Down South” Economic Summit. Join us on Wednesday, February 1st, 2023 for Southern Utah’s largest business gathering. This event is designed to provide you with all the business information you need to help plan for the year ahead. The summit includes inspirational keynote speakers, informational breakout sessions led by industry experts, and valuable information to keep you up-to-date on “What is Up Down South” in Utah.

2023 Sponsors

Title Sponsors

Public Sponsors

Corporate Sponsors

Summit Schedule

7:00am

Location: Concourse

Summit registration, buffet breakfast

8:00am

Location: Ballroom

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Washington County Commissioner, Adam Snow

8:10am

Location: Ballroom

Economic Insights – What Drives Utah’s Strong Economy?

Phil Dean

Chief economist and public finance senior research fellow at the University of Utah Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.
Former Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget

9:00am

Location: Ballroom

What’s Up Down South Video Series – St. George, Santa Clara, Ivins

Presented by Shawn Christensen, President & CEO of the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce

9:25am

Location: Ballroom

The Economic Importance of Water

Zach Renstrom

General Manager of the Washington County Water Conservancy District

10:05am

Location: Ballroom

What’s Up Down South Video Series – Washington Area Chamber of Commerce

Presented by Ed Tracey, President of the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce

10:15am

BREAK

10:30am

Breakout Session #1

Where We’ve Been And Where We’re Headed

Emily Merkley

CEO, Washington County Board of Realtors

Room: Garden Room

How Your Company Can Thrive By Living Intentional Values

Adrian Dayton

Room: Sunbrook A

Employee Drought, A Local Solution

Dave Busk, Maria Twitchell, Dr. Chris Healy SHRM-CP PHR CEBS, & Melynda Thorpe

Room: Sunbrook C

Trends & Outlook For Southern Utah’s Economy

Benjamin Crabb

Room: Entrada B&C

Revenue Operations & CRM: Organizing and Automating Your Customer Lifecycle (To Make $$$ Hand-Over-Fist)

Peter Fuller

CEO, The Workflow Academy

Room: Entrada A

11:15am

BREAK

11:30am

Breakout Session #2

Commercial Real Estate Market Update

Travis J Parry, SIOR

Room: Garden Room

How Your Company Can Thrive By Living Intentional Values

Adrian Dayton

Room: Sunbrook A

The Power of Strategic Framework

Brad Plothow

Chief Growth Officer of Intergalactic

Room: Sunbrook C

Trends & Outlook for Southern Utah’s Economy

Benjamin Crabb

Room: Entrada B&C

Exponential Sales Partnerships: Building a Global Distribution Network

Jim Porter

Director, Service Operations & Client Strategy at World Trade Center Utah

Room: Entrada A

12:15pm

BREAK FOR LUNCH

12:45pm

“One Utah”

Governor Spencer J Cox

1:00pm

What’s Up Down South Video Series – Hurricane Valley Chamber of Commerce

Presented by Victor Iverson, Washington County Commissioner

1:10pm

Location: Ballroom

Meet with Success: The Essential Role of the Leader in Changing Meeting Culture

Dr. Steven Rogelberg

Chancellor’s Professor of Management, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Author: The Surprising Science of Meetings

2:10pm

Closing Remarks

Gil Almquist

Washington County Commissioner

2:20pm

What’s Up Down South – Bus Tour

Private Partner/Corporate Sponsors