2025 Zions Bank Wasatch Back Economic Summit

Save the Date!

May 13, 2025 | 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Grand Hyatt Deer Valley

Embracing Understanding, Empowering our Future

To learn more about each sponsorship level and how to get involved, please contact membership@visitparkcity.com.

7:30 - 8:45 AM - Check-in/Breakfast

8:45 - 10:00 AM - Morning Keynote: Ron Hetrick

The Rising Storm – How the demographic drought's damage will look like a hurricane

In 2021, Lightcast published a paper called The Demographic Drought which served as a sobering wakeup call, illustrating a future where labor would be the rare commodity. The large and hard-working Boomers population was leaving the workforce, and the population after them was not as big and much more likely to have a college degree. On the surface the problem wasn’t obvious but brought up an important question addressed in another article in late 2022, Who is Going to do the Work? Meaning, if everyone has a college degree, who is going to feed us, build our homes, take care of the elderly, become police or firefighters? Who was going to be in our military? Now in 2024, the future has become clearer, and the math does not add up. As discussed in The Rising Storm: Building a Future-Ready Workforce to Withstand the Looming Labor Shortage, important industries will not have the labor force they need to function in the next 5 years. These industries are in the center of the path of certainty of the approaching storm. They will take damage from the hurricane, and if they are not prepared, the damage will be catastrophic. But, what if actions were taken now to prepare for the storm, could the damage be minimized? We will look at what factors created the storm, which industries are directly in its path, and which may not feel anything but small winds. We will show the only options that exist for these industries to protect themselves from the damage and if they will provide adequate

Ron was a senior and supervisory economist for 8 years with the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington D.C. and had a 20-year stint as an advising economist for the largest staffing company in the U.S. Quoted by CBS, CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and numerous nationally syndicated news channels and magazines on a regular basis, Hetrick has provided analysis for prior Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan, The Council of Economic Advisors to the President, Congress, and numerous Fortune 100 companies and trade associations. Ron was lead author of "The Demographic Drought," co-lead author of "Who Is Going to Do the Work?" and lead author of the recently released update to Demographic Drought, "The Rising Storm." He keynotes at conferences around the country on the current labor situation.

10:00 - 10:15 AM - Break/Networking/Move to Breakouts

10:15 - 11:30 AM - Breakout Sessions

A) Empowering Economic Development: The Role of Transportation and Transit

Join industry leaders in the transportation and transit sectors as they delve into the evolution of our current infrastructure landscape. Gain valuable insights into the economic impacts of transportation and transit systems and discover the pivotal role they play in driving our economy forward.

Robert Stewart – Utah Department of Transportation
Caroline Rodriguez – High Valley Transit
Brady Fredrickson, AICP, CM: SLC Airport
Moderator: Scott van Hartesvelt - Leadership Park City

B) Comprehending Land Use: Key Understandings for Housing and Economic Expansion

Join local experts in development, housing, and planning as they provide valuable context on the evolution of our current housing and development landscape. Gain an understanding of the historical factors that have shaped our present situation and the opportunities and challenges we’ll face to meet the needs of our community, workforce, and economy.

Ryan Davis - J. Fischer
Doug Smith, Wasatch County Planner
Peter Barnes, Summit County Planner
Moderator: Tony Tyler, Columbus Pacific Development

C) Evolving Workforce: Bridging the Gap Between Yesterday and Tomorrow

Gain an understanding of the current workforce landscape and hear from industry experts about the journey that led us here. Explore the future of our workforce and understand the challenges and opportunities in ensuring a sufficient labor supply to maintain our quality of life and economic stability.

Enrique Sanchez - American Business Immigration Coalition
Douglas G. Miller, PhD. - Utah Valley University
Sara Redington – Best Working Place for Parents
Moderator - Becca Gerber – Park City Chamber

11:30 - 11:45 AM - Break/Move to Lunch

11:45 AM - 1:15 PM - Lunch Keynote: Robert Spendlove

Charting the Unknown: Decoding Today's Economic Landscape

Robert will discuss the economic environment facing our nation and our state in 2025. He will discuss how tariffs, federal tax and spending changes, deregulation, and a looming national debt crisis impact our economy. He will explain how to interpret ongoing changes in inflation, interest rates, demographics, and financial markets. Robert will help you gain insights into how you can benefit in times of uncertainty.

Robert is the Senior Economist for Zions Bank. In this capacity he monitors and reports on economic indicators and public policy developments for the bank. Founded in 1873, Zions Bank is a division of Zions Bancorporation, which is one of the nation’s premier financial services companies and operates throughout much of the western United States. Robert's research interests are primarily in the areas of macroeconomics, demographics, financial markets and public policy. He frequently advises and briefs policymakers, as well as business and civic groups throughout the western United States. He is also regularly called on to give expert analysis in the media, through print, radio, and television. He is known for his insightful and understandable approach to explaining economic trends.

1:15 - 1:30 PM - Break/Move to Breakouts

1:30 - 2:45 PM - Breakout Sessions

A) From History to Horizons: Past Lessons, Present Realities, and Future Challenges & Opportunities

Gain understanding of the historical economies along the Wasatch Back from local economic development experts. Discover how these past economic trends have shaped our current economy and understand what trends may shape our future.

Jeff Jones – Summit County
Dallin Koecher – Heber Valley Chamber of Commerce/Visit Heber Valley
Chris Eggleton, Park City Municiple
Moderator: Si Hutt – Intermountain Health Heber Valley Hospital

B) Decoding the 2025 Legislative Landscape: Context and Implications for Utah and Beyond

Join Park City Chamber Lobbyist, Des Barker, and Salt Lake City Chamber Lobbyist, Mary Catherine, for an insightful legislative recap. Gain a deep understanding of how recent legislation will impact various sectors, from tourism to the trades, and explore the potential future implications of these changes.

Des Barker – Park City Chamber Lobbyist
Mary Catherine Perry – Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce
Moderator: Janna Young, Summit County

C) Exploring The Intersection of Recreation, Open Space, and Energy Production

Join state and local experts as they explore the historical, current, and future impacts of the recreation economy, and how energy production will fuel the economy of the future. Gain a deeper understanding of how we can meet our energy development needs while balancing

Jason Curry – Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation
Emy Lesofski – Governor’s Office of Energy Development
Patrick Parsel – Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation
Moderator: Scott House – Park City Chamber of Commerce

2:45 - 3:00 PM - Break/Networking/Move to Keynote

3:00 - 4:30 PM - Afternoon Keynote: Andreas Mueller-Schubert

Join Andreas Mueller-Schubert, CEO & Chief Strategist at WSI Next Gen Marketing, at the 2025 Zions Bank Wasatch Back Economic Summit as he explores the transformative power of AI. This keynote speech will cover the democratization of AI, its impact on businesses and jobs, and practical advice for AI adoption. Learn how AI is reshaping industries and driving business success with real-world examples and actionable strategies. Andreas Mueller-Schubert believes, "Access to Generative AI for everyone will revolutionize the way we work and enjoy our lives"

Andreas Mueller-Schubert is the co-founder and CEO of WSI Next Gen Marketing, a top 10 marketing agency in the worldwide WSI network of agencies. WSI Next Gen Marketing is located in Napa, CA and celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2014. Andreas is a seasoned professional with a strong background in high-tech industries. He has held senior management positions at Microsoft and Siemens. During his entire professional career, Andreas has been involved in Internet driven business innovations, and his firm belief is that the availability of generative AI for everyone will revolutionize the way we work and enjoy our lives. In his role at WSI Next Gen Marketing he is dedicated to staying at the forefront of technologies and digital marketing trends.