The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation generously underwrote this lecture series so it can be offered free of charge to all interested business participants.
Navigating COVID-19 Series
Description
Experts from the Marriner S. Eccles Institute at the David Eccles School of Business provide actionable insights for businesses of every size throughout Utah.
This unprecedented forum is provided free of charge to business leaders through the generosity of the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation.
Upcoming Opportunities
Results from the Health & Economic Recovery Outreach (HERO) Project
Friday, June 26 | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Livestream
Past Sessions
Navigating COVID-19: How to Rebuild Your Business and Reactivate Our Community
A forum conducted every week in May to provide clear and actionable direction to help local businesses navigate the COVID-19 health and economic crisis.
[Originally aired on May 1, 2020]
Moderator: Mike Leavitt
Former Secretary, United States Health and Human Services; Former Utah State Governor; President and CEO, Leavitt Partners
Speaker: Natalie Gochnour, Associate Dean at the David Eccles School of Business; Director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah
Speaker: Mark Zandi, Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics
[Originally aired on May 5, 2020]
Moderated by: Natalie Gochnour, Associate Dean at the David Eccles School of Business; Director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah
Speakers:
Dejan Eskic, Research Associate, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, David Eccles School of Business
Linda Wardell, General Manager, City Creek Center
Brad Wilson, President, Destination Homes
Angela Eldredge, Vice President for Operations, Price Real Estate
Brandon Fugal, Chairman, Colliers International in Utah
David Layton, President and CEO, Layton Construction
[Originally aired on May 8, 2020]
Speakers:
Mike Leavitt, Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Former Utah Governor
Jesse Graham, George S. Eccles Professor of Business Ethics at the David Eccles School of Business
Andrea Thomas, Assistant Dean and Marketing Professor at the David Eccles School of Business
David Neeleman, Founder & CEO of Jet Blue, Azul, and Breeze Airlines
Chid Liberty, CEO & Founder, Liberty & Justice
[Originally aired on May 15, 2020]
Moderator: Mike Leavitt, Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Former Utah Governor
Speakers:
Sydnee Dickson, Utah State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Dickson addresses questions such as:
- How are Utah’s schools planning for students to return in the fall? How are you making the decision?
- What are the long-term implications to students of not being in school?
- How did lack of internet and level of student engagement impact the success of online learning?
- How did the CR/NC grading system impact learning outcomes?
Mark Harlan, Athletics Director for the University of Utah
Harlan addresses questions such as:
- How will we be able to attend athletic events when the University of Utah brings students back to campus?
- What is the status of recreational sports camps and how does this inform local recreational sports.
- Do you have any advice for parents and sports-related businesses to help them open up and allow kids to engage in sports?
- How will the experience look different for student athletes and fans? Does crowd size make a difference?
Erica Hansen, Community Relations Manager at Hogle Zoo
Hansen will address questions such as:
- How did Hogle Zoo adjust its practices to manage large groups since it reopened on May 2?
- Are there any lessons learned that could help other businesses reopen to large groups?
[Originally aired on May 22, 2020]
Moderator: Mike Leavitt, Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Former Utah Governor
Speakers:
Crystal Maggelet, Chairman & CEO of FJ Management Inc.; Co-Owner of MacCall Management
David Muhlestein, Chief Strategy and Chief Research Officer at Leavitt Partners
[Originally aired on May 29, 2020]
Moderator: Mike Leavitt, Former Secretary of Health and Human Services Former Utah Governor
Speakers:
Rep. Brad Wilson, Utah Speaker of the House
Rep. Angela Romero, House Minority Assistant Whip
Jonathan Ball, Utah State Fiscal Analyst
Navigating COVID-19: How to Save Your Business Series
This unprecedented forum originally aired in April 2020. Provided free of charge to business leaders through the generosity of the George S. and Dolores Dorè Eccles Foundation, recorded sessions are archived below.
[Originally aired on April 3, 2020]
Speaker: Mike Leavitt
Former Secretary, United States Health and Human Services; Former Utah State Governor; President and CEO, Leavitt Partners
Participants will leave with an enhanced ability to navigate this novel coronavirus in a way that helps businesses adapt, innovate, and overcome with answers to questions like these:
- What steps can I take now to position my business for a more rapid recovery?
- Where do I get immediate business assistance?
- What assumptions should I make to inform my business planning?
- What sources of information should I listen to?
- How long will it last?
[Originally aired on April 7, 2020]
Moderated by: Scott Schaefer
John W. McIntyre Family Endowed Chair for Free Market Economics and Professor of Finance at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business Marriner S. Eccles Institute for Economics and Quantitative Analysis
Participants will gain context about the pandemic and practical Main Street business intelligence that addresses questions like these:
- What is the economic outlook for business in Utah?
- What federal resources are available to help me pay my workers while my business slows down or temporarily closes?
- Do I qualify for the new SBA loan program and how do I apply?
- How should I think about whether to retain, furlough, or layoff members of my workforce?
[Originally aired on April 10, 2020]
Speaker: Randal Quarles
Vice Chair for Supervision of the Federal Reserve Board
The discussion between Vice Chair Quarles and former Governor Leavitt will be followed by a panel of academic and business experts addressing the following questions:
- How does the COVID-19 crisis compare to the Great Depression and Great Recession?
- How can banks navigate COVID-19 stimulus?
- How can small businesses survive this crisis?
- How will Congress and the federal government support businesses during these challenging times?
[Originally aired on April 14, 2020]
Moderator: Matthew Ringgenberg
Associate Professor of Finance at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah
Academic and business experts will discuss financial planning to prevent insolvency, paying yourself, talking with the right people for the short-term and long-term, and preparing for the return to more usual business activities as the pandemic ends. They will answer questions such as:
- What changes should I make to my business to manage cash flow in the coming weeks and months?
- What conversations should I have with my bank?
- What conversations should I have with my suppliers, customers, landlord, etc.?
- Are my personal assets at risk? How should I structure new loans?
[Originally aired on April 17, 2020]
Moderator:
Andrew Crowshaw, Chief Executive Officer, Leavitt Partners
Speakers:
Mike Leavitt, Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and former Utah Governor
Dr. Michael Good, CEO, University of Utah Health; University of Utah School of Medicine Senior Vice-President for Health Sciences
Kristen Cox, Executive Director of the Utah Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB)
Dr. Marc Harrison, President, CEO, Intermountain Healthcare
Heather Wall, COO, Civica Rx
Academic and business experts will discuss financial planning to prevent insolvency, paying yourself, talking with the right people for the short-term and long-term, and preparing for the return to more usual business activities as the pandemic ends. They will answer questions such as:
- Where are we right now with the Federal and State Governments and their decision to “turn the economy back on” or implement a “rolling re-entry” strategy?
- When will my business be able to interact with customers again?
- How much will it cost me if my employee gets COVID-19?
- What are the state and healthcare system doing to get the economy re-engaged?
[Originally aired on April 21, 2020]
Moderator: Steve Alder, Ph.D.
Health Ecologist at the University of Utah
A discussion moderated by Steve Adler about how we can manage infections and stop COVID-19 from spreading once we all head back to work. The discussion provides insight to the following questions:
- What do we know about how COVID-19 is transmitted?
- What risks do I have bringing people back to work?
- How can I keep employees and customers safe in the COVID-19 environment?
- How do use the new rating system?
[Originally aired on April 24, 2020]
Moderator: Mike Leavitt
Former Secretary, United States Health and Human Services; Former Utah State Governor; President and CEO, Leavitt Partners
Business experts will answer questions related to how businesses can adjust to the new normal caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and plan for returning to work.
- What business and consumer trends will shape the country’s economic recovery?
- How has the pandemic changed the way independent contractors work?
- How are grocery stores, food services, restaurants, and retail stores adjusting their business models in the short- and long-term?
- Will the state’s recovery plan allow for people to visit the state so the tourism industry can open?
Time will be allotted for questions and answers. Participants will leave with an enhanced ability to navigate this novel coronavirus in a way that helps business adapt, innovate, and overcome.
[Originally aired on April 28, 2020]
Moderator: Andrea Thomas
Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Studies, Director of Business Scholars
Speaker: Lisa Eccles
President and COO of the George S. Eccles and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation
Speaker: Lisa Sewell
Executive Director, Utah Arts Festival
Speaker: Bill Crim
President & CEO, United Way
Speaker: Mike Washburn
President & CEO, Thanksgiving Point
Speaker: LeAnn Saldivar
President & CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salt Lake
Speaker: Frank Mack
Executive Producer, Utah Shakespeare Festival
Leaders from Utah’s nonprofit world will answer questions related to how nonprofits can manage difficult decisions in the short-term to work toward long-term success. Participants will gain context about the pandemic and practical Main Street business intelligence that address questions such as these:
- What are the best crisis communication tools?
- How can your Board become your best asset?
- Are today’s tough decisions worth the risks?
- How can you pivot your business model and maintain your mission?
With Special Thanks To
Salt Lake Chamber | Governor Herbert Economic Response Team | Utah Industry Resource Committee