What's IN OUT Back

Keynote Speakers

Breakfast Keynote

Jeff Peters - Senior Producer Electronic Arts

Jeff’s eclectic career began in the early eighties, within the peak of the arcade industry, including achievements such as being listed in the “Guinness Book of World Records” for video game related achievements and founding the one and only, “U.S. National Video Game Team,” including creating and competing in international competitions on its behalf.  He further went on to co-found a publishing company to create the industry leading “Electronic Gaming Monthly” magazine.

Jeff has been a successful game industry Consultant, Game Designer, Artist, Director, Producer and has also worked with major industry publishers such as Acclaim, Disney, Viacom, THQ, Midway, and Electronic Arts, including creating and bringing over 25 video games to market on just about every gaming platform ever made during his ongoing career.

Currently, Jeff is an Executive Producer for Electronic Arts and has been growing a world-class, development studio within Salt Lake City for EA, focusing on games for families and the rapidly growing social gaming industry.

Jeff seems to rarely sleep, enjoys writing, any and all outdoor activities and is highly involved in the classic arcade and pinball restoration community, with a personal collection of 50+ arcade games and pinball machines.

Lunch Keynote

Tom Dickson - CEO Blendtec

As an inventor, Tom’s drive to simplify people’s lives helped him design many home use products starting with The Kitchen Mill, revolutionizing the home grain milling business.  His innovations didn’t stop with one success.  He then designed an all in one kitchen machine with a mixer and a blender built with only a 12 inch foot print.

As an engineer, Tom has been blending crazy things in his blenders for years.  In October 2006 we captured Tom’s extreme blends on film and they became a viral sensation. Since then, Tom has become a celebrity with his whacky extreme blending videos seen on WillItBlend.com and YouTube. Viewed by millions all over the world, Tom has become an icon and has been featured on many local and national news and entertainment programs, newspapers, magazines and blogs.  Tom is still innovating, continues to sit on multiple boards and has received many accolades and awards for his inventions.

Blendtec today has over 220 employees and is a privately held company. Blendtec is the leading manufacturer of innovative blending and dispensing equipment which is used daily in homes and in the most prestigious restaurants and smoothie shops around the world.  If you’ve ever had a smoothie from a high powered blender, odds are you’ve tasted Blendtec’s technology.

Tom doesn’t believe that any challenge is too hard and is always seeking to find innovative solutions to everyday problems.

“Oh boy! This is fun!” – Tom Dickson

2011 Sponsors

If you are interested in sponsorship information for What's IN OUT Back 2012, please contact Kati Dodge.

Email: event@gohebervalley.com  Phone: 435.654.3666

2011 Lion's Den VC Competition

Lion's Den Venture Capital Competition

Congratulations, Jerry Owens, the owner of Owens Gourmet USA, LLC.  He is the winner of our first annual Lion's Den Venture Capital Contest.  We had a pool of six excellent candidates for the Lion’s Den competition.  With a unanimous decision of our expert judges and the popular vote of the attendees, we are excited to award Mr. Owens’ a $4000 grant and a no-cost lease on a 700sqft furnished office space in Heber City.

Watch a video about Jerry’s business

The Heber area has been recognized as one of America's 50 hottest little boomtowns by Money magazine and a best value in second homes by Real Estate Journal (a division of The Wall Street Journal) and Parade Magazine. American Cowboy magazine also named Heber City one of the Top 20 Places to Live in the West. The American Community Survey report released December 2008 names Wasatch County as the seventh fastest growing midsize county in the country with a population growth of 35 percent since 2000. In July 2010 the State of Utah estimated the population of Wasatch County at 23,845.

A recent survey by The Pathfinders of Dallas Texas found that approximately 27% of our heads of households commute outside the area for employment.  Of these commuters, 77% indicated that they would consider taking a job in the area if one became available.  These 1,900 workers represent a pool of potential workers for local employers.  The same study surveyed local companies who rated 95% of their Wasatch County workers as good to excellent in reliability, attitude, and teamwork skills.  Local workers also scored 89% good to excellent in productivity and reading competency. 

One of the primary draws to Heber Valley is our small-town atmosphere in close proximity to the nearby cities of Salt Lake and Provo. The Salt Lake International Airport is less than 50 minutes away via 4 lane divided freeway. Another draw is the scenic beauty that surrounds the valley. Nestled in and between the Wasatch and Uinta Mountains, Heber Valley has a variety of year-round recreational opportunities including boating, camping, fishing, golfing, hiking, hunting, mountain biking, skiing, and snowmobiling. Come visit and discover for yourself why we say "Wasatch County - Where Else!" You'll find there isn't another place like it on earth.

If you are interested in competing in next years Lion's Den Venture Capital Contest, please check back April 2012 for the new guidlines and application.

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Info from Previous Summits

Past Summit Information and Presentations

Explore the links below to view agendas and presentations from past economic summits.