Val: Utah Valley Chamber members recently cast their ballots for the 2013 Business Awards. It was not an easy thing to do. Trying to select an outstanding Utah Valley business in each of the several categories is a lot like being a judge at a baby contest–you are surrounded by lots of qualified candidates, and they are all worthy of a blue ribbon. Nevertheless, our members voted and selected five businesses for their superlative efforts.

Innovative Business: All it takes is a visit to the “clean” room at IM Flash in Lehi to realize that science fiction is reality at the plant. The brilliant scientists and engineers at this joint venture between Intel and Micron walk on the cutting edge of innovation every day. They have to innovate because of the stiff competition with competitors like Toshiba and Samsung in the NAND flash memory market.

About 1,600 employees in the Lehi facility manufacture a significant percentage of the world’s memory chips. These are the chips that provide memory for our telephones, tablets and computers. In fact, much of what we do in our modern world is driven by this technology.

The process of creating flash memory is mindboggling. The details printed on the chips are measured in nanometers, or the equivalent of bacteria and red blood cells. That type of exactness requires incredibly strict and reliable procedures and processes.

The chief executives of IM Flash are Jason Dunn and Keyvan Esfarjani. Hats off to them and the many employees who have created a successful business of innovation and science. We are fortunate to have them here in our valley.

Small Business: Is there anyone in Utah Valley who has yet to experience a J Dawg? J Dawg is the Holy Grail of hot dogs. The combination of delicious sauce and a perfectly cooked hot dog have created a cult-like following throughout Utah Valley. I have come to believe some high school and college students are addicted to them.

Started by Jayson Edwards in a small shack south of BYU’s campus in 2004, J Dawgs has expanded to three locations: Provo, Orem and American Fork. If you tell people coming to your party you are serving hot dogs, you will likely get a wrinkled nose or two. Tell them you are providing J Dawgs, however, and the reaction will be heads nodding approval and smiles all around. These hot dogs have a magical ability to make peoples’ mouths water.

Jayson has found the formula for success in the fast-food business. He has a product that people love, and they can’t wait to tell their friends and neighbors about it.

Community Partner: Located in Orem, Fishbowl Inventory does more than just produce the most-requested inventory management tool for Quickbooks. The company of nearly 100 employees loves to make a difference in the community. Its culture of engaging in the community is primarily a byproduct of CEO Dave Williams and President Mary Scott. They are just as concerned about being good citizens as they are about making a profit.

The company has created the CAM Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing socially responsible services to individuals in need. It also has the Courage Above Mountains LLC, which helps people and businesses succeed through software training, funding and other services.

Most recently, Fishbowl entered a partnership with the new Living Plant Aquarium in south Salt Lake County to help the facility keep track of its inventory of exotic fish and animals.

Donna: For the new business category the nominees were an impressive list of candidates and included companies, such as Paragraph Convert-a-Book, a cutting edge ebook publishing opportunity quickly gaining national recognition, and other cutting edge technology, which seems to abound in our valley. Among these great new businesses it was very exciting to see our 2014 New Business: Swagger Card emerge as the winner.

Swagger Card is what might in some areas be called a ‘benefit corporation,’ a new classification of businesses that have a significant social or community giving component to their mission but are not non-profits in the strictest sense.

As a for-profit tech business, Swagger Card has become hugely successful since their launch in 2012 through helping charitable organizations with fundraising. The coupon card has innovated discount book fundraiser for sports teams and school children. Rather than carrying around giant books full of one time coupons to be ripped out and expended once a year before they expire, the Swagger Card is a completely portable individual coupon card. Patrons buy the card online on behalf of the charity they choose, ie a little league team or kindergarten class, and select twelve reusable year long deals from their favorite haunts and then receive in the mail their personalized card with their deals on it. It is an easy sell and a fun way to get great discounts.

I loved the idea before they even hit the market and am so thrilled to see the success they have had because it means that non-profits all over the Utah County and the country are succeeding as well. The non-profit gets 50% of the proceeds from sale of the cards.

Finally we have Business of the Year: doTERRA Essential Oils. While Utah County abounds with fantastic nutraceutical companies from essential oils to supplements to topical skin care, doTERRA is certainly a rising star among them. With a new headquarters going up in Pleasant Grove, this company focused on helping people increase comfort, energy and wellness is growing fast.

I was first introduced to the Past Tense oil blend nearly two years ago. It was my gateway oil. From there I have developed a dependency on Deep Blue Rub for muscle ache and runner’s strain. I attribute my ability to complete four half marathons last summer to two things, an inflated amount of determination and Deep Blue rub. Without the liberal application of this therapeutic cream to knees and feet I’m not sure I would have made it past the initial training runs.

doTERRA is a company with a clear vision and purpose to make peoples’ lives better. They have found success in many ways from relieving tension headaches to providing opportunities to grow a business. The opportunities to create their own business through doTERRA have helped many families I know through difficult times and given them hope and purpose. Whether you become a distributor for your own family or grow your business to include hundreds of people working with you, it is a great opportunity.

doTERRA has also been a strong supporter of Utah Valley and the Chamber. They are involved in the community and we are proud to have them as this year’s Business of the Year for the Chamber.

• Val Hale is president and CEO of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce. Donna Milakovic is Executive Vice President of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce.

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