Utah Technology Council

UITA Founding

Founded in 1991 by Peter Genereaux, the Utah Technology Council was developed as a resource to mentor and aid emerging technical companies within Utah.

During the Utah recession of 1988 the UTC was started and originally known as the Utah Information Technology Association or UITA. In hopes and desiring to determine whether the Governor of Utah would be supportive of this industry-led and specific initiative, Peter Genereaux took the idea to Norman Bangerter who immediately embraced the view that such an industry could help Utah add quality and higher-paying jobs, diversify its economy and expand exports beyond Utah’s borders.

Governor Bangerter appointed a Task Force co-chaired by Senator Ronald Ockey and Milton W Russon. From this task force, a report was submitted to Governor Norman Bangerter on February 6, 1991 recommending among other things the formation of a Utah Information Technologies Association (UITA).Peter Genereaux chaired the report writing committee. The Task Force numbered some 40 persons and was made up of invited top level leaders from 25 Utah IT businesses, 10 Utah service organizations such as legal and accounting firms, and 5 supporting institutions such as state government, education, as well as public and private economic development organizations.

Early work

The Task Force worked very collaboratively for about a year and a half to:

1. Define the Utah IT industry (any business enterprise which designs, produces and/or markets any type of a computer and/or communications-related product or service for sale and that is headquartered or has employees in Utah). It concluded that there were indeed enough such IT businesses (during 1990, roughly 200 had been identified), as well as necessary service and supporting organizations and institutions already in the state to earn recognition as having at least a fledgling IT industry and “critical mass.”
2. Identify and recommend selected items which if attended to, would provide a conducive and competitive environment for IT businesses in Utah in terms of taxes, regulations, laws, quality of living, education, availability of capital, etc.

The Task Force unanimously decided that the needs and opportunities for this industry in Utah were significant and, if they were fulfilled, would economically justify the formation and sustainable operation of an industry-led organization (association, or industry trade group) to implement the Task Force recommendations. Governor Bangerter was supportive of the IT Industry Task Force’s findings, conclusions and recommendations, and he asked government and education sectors to be supportive and collaborate.

Trade association

In February 1991 the Utah Information Technologies Association (UITA) was born, a 501c6, not-for-profit, IT industry-led trade association. Peter R. Genereaux was elected its first President and CEO; a position he held until stepping down at age 67 in 1999.

The initial Board of Trustees of UITA was comprised any of the members of the Task Force who chose to become a Trustee. All but one member of the Task Force volunteered to become a founding UITA Trustee and, in 2001, some 15 of the original 40 remained as Trustees. Initial Trustees were asked on behalf of their organization to pledge and make a financial contribution each of the first three years in an amount at least double what their organizations’ annual UITA dues would be. Because each Trustee had been an integral and collaborative member of the Task Force and had participated in developing the findings, etc., they had bought into the need and potential value of an association such as UITA performing implementation. Accordingly, most continuously provided the requested extraordinary level of financial support and personal participation in UITA’s governance and direction.

Business services

UITA quickly began to attract members and to provide services to its members. Starting with the organizations represented by the 40 Trustees as members, by the end of 1991, the membership totaled about 100 organizations. More than 70% were IT businesses with the remaining 30% being service and supporting organizations.

During 1991, 450 IT businesses were identified by UITA or had identified themselves to UITA. In the fall of 1991, the first of an annual survey of all known IT businesses in Utah (whether or not they were a UITA member) was undertaken by an independent survey research firm. That survey determined that, in 1991, Utah’s fledgling IT industry produced about $800 million in annual aggregate revenues.

Utah Technology Finance Corporation

In the early years, UITA prevailed upon the State Legislature to focus and increase funding of a quasi-governmental organization – the Utah Technology Finance Corporation (UTFC). UTFC provided loans to early-stage technology businesses. Their record was remarkable. Further, UITA began the never-ending process of lobbying for increased funding for public sector technology education for all citizens everywhere in the state. In 2000, Utah was ranked high in the quality and availability of classroom and interactively delivered technology education—throughout the state.

Further, UITA set forth to advocate deregulation of the telecommunications industry and for the provision of quality, speed, bandwidth and competitive price of data communications everywhere in Utah. By 2000 there were many providers, and services and features had proliferated and were better, and prices had tumbled. Most businesses, education and government institutions, community organizations and many citizens in their homes throughout Utah had such access, services and prices. Utah had the highest per capita penetration of PCs as well as those with Internet connectivity of all states in the U.S. Another early initiative was to encourage the expansion and inclusion of IT businesses in an existing university research park. In 1999, at least 2 additional research parks/business incubator sites with a focus on IT were in full operation. UITA encouraged technology transfer from Utah’s higher education research institutions to Utah’s IT industry.

Directory

By 1992, UITA published the first edition of a directory (paid for by selling advertisements), a spiral bound compendium of information about all UITA Members and other known IT businesses headquartered or operating in Utah, as well as Utah’s IT industry characteristics and statistics resulting from the annual industry survey. Each year’s updated edition was distributed to all government, education and community organizations and public libraries throughout the state. Also, copies were made available to economic development and Chamber of Commerce organizations who in turn gave them to those interested in locating an IT business or related service organization in Utah and/or providing investment capital, and to people considering IT employment in Utah.

Technology Alliance

During the 90’s and, starting in 2000 under the Silicon Valley Alliance initiative that became called the Utah Technology Alliance, Utah's then governor, Mike Leavitt, consistently focused and championed IT and through his collaboration with UITA and on his own, did much to foster the growth and awareness of the industry inside and outside Utah, and to attract capital and IT businesses and suppliers to locate in Utah. He also was a driver of enhancing classroom and interactive delivery of technology education as well as increasing government’s use of technology to better serve Utah’s citizens.

Increase of tech business

By the end of 1999 – about nine years after the birth of UITA—the number of IT businesses in Utah was up to about 2,500 and their aggregate revenues were approximately $8 billion; about $6.5 billion of which were exports beyond the borders of the state. In 1999 average annual wage of an IT employee in Utah reached approximately $43,500, which was 63% higher than the state’s average wage of about $26,600 for all public sector and non-agricultural private sector workers. The average starting wage of a Utah IT business entry-level worker then was about $29,000, which is 9% higher than the aforementioned state average.

By 2000, Utah’s IT industry was among, if not the largest, of the state’s industries measured both in gross revenues and exports, and it ranked within the top ten regions of IT in the US as was recognized by numerous sources including Newsweek magazine in November 1998. Major IT businesses headquartered or with significant operations in Utah in 1999 included: Intel, Novell, Iomega, Evans & Sutherland, Canopy Group, IBM, Compaq, Gentner Communications, Phonex Broadband, TenFold, Alpnet, I-link, Fonix, 3Com, Qwest, Fairchild Semiconductor, Gateway, Inc., PowerQuest and Micron Technology.

Merger

In 2006, the UITC merged with the Utah Life Science Association to become the Utah Technology Council, or UTC, representing both high tech and life science companies. In 2009 the UTC Board voted to add another sector – clean tech.

The Utah Technology Council has become an essential business resource for life science, clean-tech and high-tech companies seeking to achieve greater success. At its core, the UTC exists to foster the growth of the state's more than 5,700 technology companies, ensure Utah develops the highest quality work force in the nation and attract an ever-increasing array of funding. Members join the UTC to share insights with industry peers, counsel with government and academic leaders and receive help from professional service providers and funding resources.

Recognition

Each year the UTC recognizes the outstanding achievements and contributions of its members.