About Us

We’re here to help you.

The mission of Women’s Business Center of Utah (WBCUtah) is to help Utah women build confidence, create opportunities, and experience success in business ownership.

Where We Are

We have two offices; one in Salt Lake City and the other in Cedar City, and a dozen virtual centers. Chambers of commerce throughout Utah have partnered with us to create a network of Virtual WBCs. On each chamber’s Virtual WBC webpage you will find local resources for their women entrepreneurs and online training powered by WBCUtah. Find your local Virtual WBC:

Tell Me More about virtual WBCs

Meet Your Award Winning WBCUtah Team

We have collectively owned 7 businesses, speak 3 languages and are your champion, advocate and accountability partner to help you get your businesses moving and guide you through your entrepreneurial journey.

Ann Marie Wallace

State Director

Ann Marie grew up on a dairy farm in northern Utah. Her cow milking days ended when she started attending Snow College and later transferred to USU where she graduated in marketing. After working in hotel management she became a WBCUtah Client, launched her own small business, and was later hired to mentor other women. Now she oversees the center which helped her become an entrepreneur.

Debbie Drake

Southern Program Director

Debbie Drake is affectionately known as a ‘squirrel girl’ by her close and crazy friends! She has a lot of interests and always wants to learn new things. Debbie has had careers in banking, construction and higher education and has been a home designer, artist and is passionate about helping women being successful in building their businesses and following their dreams.

Sarah Barstow

Southern Business Advisor

Sarah Barstow moved to Moab, Utah in 1997 and quickly joined the ranks of strong female business owners in the desert. She taught herself everything she needed to know to successfully run her clothing & jewelry boutique, The Rave’N Image, and even found some spare time to raise 2 children, hike, make jewelry & write 2 children’s books. She knows how incredible it feels to turn a dream into a reality (& then to grow & pivot), and can’t wait to share her knowledge with you.

Connie Yengich

Northern Lead Business Advisor

Efigenia Neofitos

Business Advisor & Kiva Capital Access Manager

Efi is trilingual in Spanish, Greek and English. She loves helping women with their dreams of opening a business. She would love to help you with your business so schedule an appointment today and you can meet in the language you're most comfortable with to achieve your business goals and find the funding you need to open your business.

Brigetta Uta'i

Northern Program Coordinator

Brigetta is a proud Utahn and was raised in Sandy. When she’s not at work, you can usually find her Instagram feed consisting of watching or participating in sporting events, traveling to a bucket list location or trying out a new food place. Brigetta has a huge passion for women’s representation in the workplace especially in the world of sports. She is beyond excited to be a part of the Women’s Business Center of Utah.

Lisa Jensen

Southern Program Coordinator

Lisa graduated from Southern Utah University with a BA in Psychology. She has worked in nonprofits for 21 years, first as a retail store manager and then as a professional Scouter for the Boy Scouts of America. She enjoys spending time with family and making crafts. She is excited for the opportunity to work with women and to help them achieve success both in life and in their businesses.

Eve Rickles

Digital Media Coordinator

Eve recently moved to Utah from the East Coast. She enjoys climbing, hiking, and cooking, and is overwhelmed by the amount of outdoor activities around Salt Lake. She has a degree in Art History from Binghamton University and most recently worked for a public park in New York City. She is excited to grow WBCUtah’s social media by sharing women’s stories.

Careers

Help us reach more Utah women.

Digital Media Specialist

Please visit our Support page to see other ways to get involved.

Our Board of Directors

The Women’s Business Center of Utah is governed by a board of directors and our services are enhanced by two advisory boards, each made up of women who are passionate about improving the lives of Utah women business owners.

WBCUtah Board of Directors

Brittany Westover, Chair
Vice President, Commercial Banker
Chase

Kathy Luke, Vice Chair
Senior Director, Member Services
Ancestry

Jen Parsons-Soran, Secretary & Treasurer
Owner
Nonprofit Development Partners

Heidi Walker
COO
Salt Lake Chamber

Juanita Damon
Global Risk, Banking & Compliance
American Express

Ginger Chinn
Managing Director of Urban & Rural Business Services
Governor’s Office of Economic Development

Janice Boes
Owner
Pierpont Place

Sasha Taylor
Owner
Snap Shop Photo

Chris Bray
Community Investor, Utah and Colorado
Boeing Global Engagement

Tori Williams
Deputy Chief Compliance Officer
Zions Bancorporation

Advisors
Ann Marie Wallace
State Director
Women’s Business Center of Utah

Marla Trollan
Utah District Office Director
U.S. Small Business Administration

Northern Utah Advisory Board

Judy Thimakis
President
National Association of Women Business Owners – Salt Lake Chapter (NAWBO)

Cindy Johnson
Owner
Hair Love Salon & Wigs

Cheryl Mansen
Retired Librarian

Laurie Seron
Utah’s Own Program Director
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food

Sasha Polak Taylor
Owner/Photographer
Snap Shop Photo

Nicole Walters
Sr. Marketing Specialist
CBIZ & Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.

Melinda Workman, SBA DOTR Women’s Business Ownership Rep./DOTR
District International Trade Officer
U.S. Small Business Administration

Yvonne Tran-Estrada
Director
Utah Asian Chamber of Commerce

Michelle Whitley (Box Elder County)
Owner
Monarch Tea House

Roxana King (Cache Valley)
Founder
321 Forms & Professional Women’s Roundtable

Maggie Mondragon (Tooele County)
Owner
Deviant Tattoos

Sonja Norton (Uintah Basin)
Owner
Ashley Valley Realty

Onita Fangu (Davis County)
Owner
Passion Home Care & Hospice, PLLC

Southern Utah Advisory Board

Kathy Luke
Senior Director, Member Services
Ancestry
WBCUtah Board of Directors

Melinda Workman
Women’s Business Ownership Rep.
SBA

Colette Cox
Acting President
Kanab Chamber of Commerce

Kelly Bueno
Director
Blanding SBDC and BRC

Jamie Riley
Advisor
SUU Entrepreneurship Center, School of Business

Cindy Clemens
Owner
Cindy Clemens Coaching
Board Member
St. George Women of Influence

Tessa Douglas
Board Member and Fundraising Chair
Canyon Creek Women’s Crisis Center

Annual Reports

Salt Lake Chamber and SBA

Women’s Business Center of Utah was established in November 1997 as a partnership between the Salt Lake Chamber and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Our team is lucky to be employed by the Chamber yet focused on a separate but complimentary mission; to assist women business owners statewide. With our federal funding and backing, your tax dollars are coming back around to help you, your sister, friend and daughter.