Agenda

8:30-9:00 a.m.

Check-in and breakfast

9:00-9:15 a.m.

Welcoming Remarks

Natalie El-Deiry, Director of Immigration | Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity

A message from Governor Spencer J. Cox 

Courtney White, President | Utah Tech University

Lisa Nichols, Vice President, Community Health | Intermountain Health

9:15-9:40 a.m.

Keynote Address

Bassam Salem, Founder & Team Coach | AtlasRTX & Mindshare Ventures

Introduction by Sam Stoddard, Co-Founder | Simple Citizen 

9:40-10:30 a.m.

Research Briefing on New Americans in Southern Utah 

Micaela McConnell, Senior Policy Associate | American Immigration Council

Presenting the latest research on New Americans in the southernmost counties of the state, the American Immigration Council will highlight the changing demographics of the area while sharing the economic contributions New Americans make that are vital to the area's growth. 

Moderator: Josh T. Smith, Immigration Policy Director | Center for Growth & Opportunity at Utah State University

10:30-10:40 a.m.

Break

10:40-11:30 a.m.

The Business Imperative for Immigration Solutions

Jennie Murray, CEO | National Immigration Forum

The National Immigration Forum's Jennie Murray will present the business imperative for investments in an immigrant workforce and how immigration advances our country and economy when we bolster the skills and career pathways that meet businesses’ operational needs. Murray will highlight the federal immigration policy solutions and bring an industry perspective on the impacts on business.

Moderator: Shawn Christensen, Executive Director | St. George Chamber of Commerce

11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.

Recruiting & Retaining Internationally Trained Professionals

Anson Green, Senior Manager | Behind Every Employer / Tyson Foods 

Cathy Blomquist, Member Services Manager | UAMMI

Alexander Bybee, Research & Policy Specialist | Utah Department of Commerce

Utah is leading the way in economic growth, and with that comes increasing demands for skills and talent to help businesses thrive. Anson Greene, Technical Consultant with World Education Service, will share the best practices in recruiting, retaining, and upskilling internationally trained professionals for businesses looking to expand talent strategies to include an immigrant workforce. The presentation will include panelists from the Utah Association of Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI) and the Utah Department of Commerce on Foreign Credentialing.

Moderator: Ryan Wedig, CEO│Vasion

12:20-1:00 p.m.

Lunch 

New American Voices Student Panel

Aspiring leaders from Utah Tech University's student body will share their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges New American students experience integrating into campus life in university settings. The panel will highlight refugee, immigrant, and international student perspectives.

Moderator: Darlene Dilley, Associate Provost for Enrollment Management | Utah Tech University

1:00-1:50 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

1. Welcome Corps on Campus  

Shadman Bashir, Executive Director | Utah Tech Office of International Programs

Olivia Issa, Program Lead | National Association of Systems Heads (NASH) 

This session will highlight a new federal sponsorship program designed to expand opportunities for refugee resettlement through partnerships with college campuses. 

Moderator: Mario Kljajo, Director of State Refugee Services | Utah Department of Workforce Services 

2. Building a visa sponsorship program 

Jeff Joseph, Immigration Attorney | Berry Appleman & Leiden (BAL)

Matthew Gale, Operations and strategy leader | Berry Appleman & Leiden (BAL)

Hannah Somers, US Program Manager | Talent Beyond Boundaries

This session will cover the nuts and bolts of how to start, build, and grow an immigration sponsorship program and highlight new opportunities to recruit skilled professionals from displaced countries. 

Berry Appleman & Leiden (BAL), is a leading corporate immigration law firm serving U.S. and global companies worldwide. 

Moderator: Natalie El-Deiry, Director of Immigration & Integration | Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity

1:50-2:00 p.m.

Break

2:00-2:50 p.m.

Utah Thriving | Championing the Well-Being of Utahns Through Meaningful Engagement & Meeting People Where They Are

Claudia Loayza, Planning & Policy Engagement Coordinator | Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs 

Lisa Nichols, Vice President, Community Health | Intermountain Health

This session will highlight the need to engage communities with their strengths at the forefront. When you serve communities it requires care and intention to truly meet their needs by creating solutions with them. It's important to create environments that invite collaboration, co-creation, and trust. The objectives of this session are as follows: 1) Understand the principles of Utah Thriving in engagement, 2) learn about community asset-based approaches in meeting communities' needs, and 3) putting things into practice through an engagement framework to encourage ways to creatively celebrate community strengths.

Moderator: Ze Min Xiao, CEO | Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging 

2:50-3:00 p.m.

Closing Remarks 

Colette Cox, Outreach Manager | Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity

Ze Min Xiao, CEO | Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging