New Americans in Southern Utah Symposium
Building Bridges With Utah’s International Talent

Feb. 23, 2024 
9 a.m.-3 p.m. 
Utah Tech University

This event elevates Utah’s thriving economy by bridging and accelerating the talent pipelines for refugees and immigrants. It convenes national experts and local practitioners to present data to help attendees understand the New American population in southern Utah. Additionally, the role of businesses in the immigration and workforce space will be discussed, and innovative strategies will be shared, including examples from national and local employers who attract and retain global talent.

This event also provides a platform to cultivate dialogue between local government entities, organizations, institutions, businesses, and the community on opportunities for sponsorship and building connected communities.

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Presented By
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Agenda

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

Sponsored by
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Speakers & Moderators
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Executive Director
Utah Tech University

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Member Services Manager
Utah Advanced Materials Manufacturing Initiative (UAMMI)

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Research & Policy Specialist
Utah Division of Professional Licensing

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President & CEO
St. George Area Chamber of Commerce

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Outreach Manager
Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity

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Associate Provost for Enrollment Management
Utah Tech University

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Director of Immigration & Integration
Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity

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Operations and Strategy Leader
Berry Appleman & Leiden

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Senior Manager
Behind Every Employer / Tyson Foods

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Program Lead of Refugee Resettlement Initiative
National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH)

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Partner, Denver Office Head
Berry Appleman & Leiden

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Director and Refugee State Coordinator
Utah Refugee Services Office

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Planning Policy & Engagement Coordinator
Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs

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Senior Policy Associate, State and Local Initiatives
American Immigration Council

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President & CEO
National Immigration Forum

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Vice President of Community Health
Intermountain Health

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Founder & Team Coach
AtlasRTX & Mindshare Ventures

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Immigration Policy Director
Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University

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U.S. Program Manager
Talent Beyond Boundaries

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Co-founder
SimpleCitizen

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Director of Refugee Student Initiatives
Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration

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CEO
Vasion

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President
Utah Tech University

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President & CEO
Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging

About the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity

Under Gov. Spencer J. Cox’s direction, the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity provides resources and support for business creation, growth, and recruitment. It also drives increased tourism and film production in Utah. As stewards of the world’s best economy and quality of life, the Economic Opportunity office utilizes federal, state, and private sector resources to administer programs in areas demonstrating the highest potential for economic development and the most opportunity for Utahns. 

The Utah Center for Immigration & Integration assists individuals and businesses in navigating pathways to recruit and retain global talent. It also engages with state and federal government partners to convene, facilitate, and advise on immigration policy and strategies that promote economic opportunity for New Americans or foreign-born individuals living in Utah.

About Utah Tech University
Located in the heart of St. George, Utah Tech University prepares students to graduate career-ready by offering hands-on learning experiences as part of the university’s “active learning. active life.” approach to education. As an open-access institution, Utah Tech offers a personalized learning experience to all students across all disciplines — humanities, arts, education, health sciences, business, and STEM. With more than 275 academic programs and small class sizes, UT also offers the most affordable tuition in the state. For more information, go to utahtech.edu.
About the Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging
The Center for Economic Opportunity & Belonging is a Utah-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to engage with communities and catalyze private, public, and philanthropic partnerships to remedy gaps in economic opportunity, education, health, and housing in Utah. The center provides a process and a structure to identify, activate, and evaluate community-led innovations so that diverse residents experience a sense of belonging and access to opportunities to contribute to the growth and enhancement of the state.