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.

How We Help

We provide you with a personal mentor, online training and opportunities to learn with a group of women business owners just like you.

Business Advising

Meet with a Business Advisor for a one-on-one session, free of charge.

Online Learning

Access courses, links and videos to educate yourself to run a successful business.

Training

Join a group training to increase your business knowledge and learn from your peers.

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

What We Help With

We help clients on a range of topics, including:

Business Management
Business Plan
Marketing Sales
Contracting
Start-up Assistance
Financing/ Capital
Cash Flow Management

Who We Serve

In 2018, these were our clients’ businesses industries:

13% professional, scientific & technical service

11% educational service

11% retail trade

6% construction

6% arts, entertainment & recreation

6% admin, support, waste management & remediation

5% accommodation & food service

4% manufacturing

4% transportation & warehouse

2% Healthcare & social assistance

1% Finance & Insurance

1% real estate & rental/ leasing

1% agriculture, forestry & hunting

30% Other services

50% of Clients were Already in business

Our Impact

Each year we measure what we offered and, most importantly, the impact it had on our client’s success. Here are some cool stats from our clients in 2018:

Clients individually assisted

new businesses created

new jobs created

Annual Reports

We’ve been helping women start and grow their businesses for over twenty years. Take a look at the our accomplishments over the past three.

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.

Clancy Stone

Northern Business Advisor

Clancy was an officer in the U.S. Army and then transitioned to corporate America, where she was often the only woman at the table. She realized women need a better understanding of their strengths and how to leverage them to become leaders. Later she started her own coaching business. Clancy joined the WBCUtah team where she continues to help women live their best lives, both professionally and personally.

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.

Elli Lavon

Rural Outreach AmeriCorps VISTA

Elli is a recent graduate of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio with a degree in Communications Studies specializing in community development and women, gender, and sexuality studies. As a recent midwest transplant to Utah, she is extremely excited to explore Utah's communities and bask in Utah's outdoor spaces. She is an avid reader, musician, and deeply community-oriented. she cannot wait to assist rural Utah by growing female networks.

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.

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.

Neely Evanoff

Community Outreach AmeriCorps VISTA & Kiva Capital Access Manager

Neely is thrilled to engage female entrepreneurs in the great state of Utah! Her early career in environmental conservation led her to study green economics and female entrepreneur empowerment. Neely looks forward to eventually enrolling in graduate school to learn how to support communities in renewable resources management. On her off days, she is an avid hiker and fish enthusiast.

Teresa Bagdasarova

Northern Program Coordinator

Teresa graduated from Westminster College in Business Management. She worked for Westminster’s Center for Entrepreneurship. During her time, she provided mentoring and networking opportunities for students and the community to create and grow their own businesses. She loves art, architecture, coffee and traveling.

Tara McHugh

COVID-19 Business Advisor

Tara is looking forward to helping women entrepreneurs overcome challenges they didn't think they could do and accomplish their goals. She wants them to know she'll be their support system during this pandemic and will still be there after this is over to help them succeed in our new normal. She is excited to build new relationships and grow with them in these challenging times.

Careers

Help us reach more Utah women.

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

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.