Home | Raising Kane Business Summit

Thank you to everyone who attended, presented, and participated!
Watch this space for news about upcoming summits.

JANUARY 10, 2025

Kanab event center

kanab, utah

"MORE in '24"

raising kane BUSINESS summit

The Raising Kane Business Summit (RKBS) is Kane County's premier business event, gathering the area's top leaders and business owners in support of the county's economic development. Hosted in Kanab, Utah at the Kanab Event Center, RKBS provides the ideal platform for networking, innovation, sharing, and growth, where participants will discuss some of the most influential topics impacting the economy of Kane County, Utah.

2024 KEYNOTE

Brad Bonham

Brad Bonham is a successful entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and community leader.

He is the founder and retired CEO of Walker Edison - A Utah based, international leader in ready-to-assemble furniture. Brad is the Founder and CEO of BONCO, a family of companies that invest in promising startups, private equity, and real estate.

Brad also serves as Utah’s first ever volunteer entrepreneur in residence and advises Governor Spencer Cox on policies and initiatives that bolster Utah’s entrepreneurial spirit. He and his wife Megan are residents of Draper and are the parents of four beautiful children.

2024 SPEAKERS

Wyatt Anderson

Business Resource Center

Outreach Manager

Melissa Griffiths

Founder, Owner
Bless This Mess

Don Jennings

General Manager

Southern Utah News

Stephani Lyon

Director of Development

Zion Forever

Janette Peatross

Executive Director
Kane County Office of Tourism

Josh Beitler

Project Manager

ZONOS, Inc

Pat Guerrero

President, Kanab Area
Chamber of Commerce

Stephen Lisonbee

Senior Advisor, Rural Affairs

Office of Governor Cox

Jeff Mather

Director, Utah Small Business Development Ctr

Kelly Stowell

Director, Center for Business,
Education, and the Arts

Colette Cox

Outreach Mgr, Governor's

Office of Econ Opportunity

Wade Heaton

Chairman

Kane County Commission

Kyler Ludwig

City Manager

Kanab, UT

Buck Montgomery

Trail Boss GM, Once Upon a Time in America Museum

Camille Johnson Taylor

Dir of Community Relations, Utah Office of Tourism

Cam Findlay

Associate Dir, Utah Small Business Development Ctr

Sen. David Hinkins

Utah State Senator

(R) District 26

Rep. Phil Lyman

Utah State Representative

(R) District 69

Sen. Derrin Owens

Utah State Senator

(R) District 27

2024 SCHEDULE

( MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE )

7:30 AM Breakfast by Parry Lodge

8:30 AM Speakers

Welcome - Kelly Stowell
Kane County Update - Wade Heaton
State Legislative Update - Sen David Hinkins, Sen Derrin Owens, Rep Phil Lyman
City Updates: Kanab, Orderville, Fredonia
County Tourism Update - Janette Peatross
Kanab Area Chamber of Commerce:
The Year in Review - Pat Guerrero
Southern Utah News: Caring for a Smalltown Newspaper - Don Jennings

Break

10:15 AM Speakers

Local Business Spotlight: Once Upon a Time in America Museum, Buck Montgomery
Social Media Spotlight - Melissa Griffith, Bless This Mess

East Zion Update - Stephani Lyon, Zion Forever Project
Regional Economic Support - Colette Cox, Wyatt Anderson, Camille Johnson, Melinda Thorpe, Lance Soffe, Stephen Lisonbee.

11:30 AM Lunch & Exhibitor Area Open

12:30 PM Keynote Speaker

Brad Bonham - Founder & CEO, BONCO, Inc

1:30 PM Afternoon Session 1

Using A.I. to Build Your Business - Josh Beitler, ZONOS, Inc

2:15 PM Afternoon Session 2

Rural Economic Opportunities Panel: Kelly Stowell, Oscar Alba, Melinda Thorpe, Jeff Mather, Cam Findlay, Colette Cox, Camille Johnson, Stephen Lisonbee

3:00 PM Exhibitor Area Open

4:00 PM Summit Ends