40 under forty: Utah's rising stars.

• Author: Lewis, Di

Being this outstanding takes a lot of work, but our Forty Under 40 honorees make it look easy. Every year we recognize those in the community who do more--more service, more involvement, more hard work--all before they've turned 40. Our Forty Under 40 are serial entrepreneurs, technology innovators and finance gurus--each bringing something unique to Utah's dynamic business community. From volunteering for nonprofits to growing businesses to spending time with their families, these rising stars find the right balance and inspire others in the process. They are the hardworking core who are building Utah's future economy, while helping better everyone around them. Join us as we celebrate today's rising leaders.

Erik Adams

President and CEO, Simplicity Laser, Inc. I Age: 39

In October 2009, Erik Adams took the helm of Simplicity Laser, Inc. and found himself leading a company that was in debt and under pressure to succeed with a flawed business model. He spent the next six months reorganizing the staff and refocusing the company with a new operating model.

Under Adams' leadership, Simplicity began promoting its laser hair removal memberships, which enable clients to immediately begin receiving treatments while paying a low monthly rate--instead of paying thousands upfront. The company also partnered with doctors who already owned laser equipment, which lowered costs for Simplicity even more.

"When we met, Simplicity was a struggling small business with many angry shareholders, several disappointed partners and a lot of doubt about its business model. Within months, Erik and his team ... created a successful company with large profit margins and a long list of excited potential investors and partners," says Mark Marshall, president and CEO of the Accend Group.

Brent Andrewsen

Shareholder, Kirton McConkie | Age: 38

Brent Andrewsen is committed to bettering the community in his personal and professional endeavors. As a shareholder at Kirton McConkie, Andrewsen practices tax, estate planning and nonprofit law. He is able to serve many nonprofits throughout the state by lending his tax and estate planning expertise to organizations such as the Community Foundation of Utah, the National Planned Giving Council and other organizations. Andrewsen also serves as the program chair for the nonprofit section of the Utah State Bar.

"It's really fun to have someone come in and say we have this great idea, we think we can solve this need either domestically or in a foreign country and then to be able to use my skills to help them accomplish that," he says.

Andrewsen says he also enjoys helping people deal with the realities of estate planning. "I enjoy sitting down with a family and hearing their concerns and then helping share with them that there are things that we can do together to achieve their objectives."

Paul Belcher

Co-owner, Mountain Crane Service | Age: 34

After earning an MBA from Utah State University, Paul Belcher was approached with many employment offers--and declined them all. Belcher had always aspired to be an entrepreneur and wouldn't settle for anything less. He developed a business plan for Mountain Crane Service and was able to secure financing from family members to turn the plan into action. Over the course of five years, Belcher and partner, Lon Stam, were able to grow the company to more than $20 million in revenue. Today, Mountain Crane Service is the 37th largest crane company in the United States.

Belcher says what he enjoys most about his position is seeing his company's work throughout the community. "I have the opportunity to go out and see amazing things in the community that I've been part of," he says. "I've been part of building the downtown City Creek project. I've been part of building the 1-15 freeway projects. We've been part of projects both small and huge."

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Brian Bowers

Chief Operating Officer, Mity-Lite | Age: 37

As chief operating officer for Mity-Lite, Brian Bowers has infused his team of nearly 200 employees with a spirit of competition that has enabled the company to bring products back to the United States for manufacturing in Utah. "Every day I come to work, and we're in competition--we're a manufacturing facility and we're competing against Asian outsource [companies] and we're trying to do our very best to be competitive," he says.

Bowers oversees two manufacturing facilities, logistics, warehouse operations, engineering and the supply chain. Through his leadership, the company has increased its productivity by more than 100 percent, reducing labor costs from 13.9 percent of sales to about 9 percent of sales.

As a mentor and coach to his employees, Bowers establishes meaningful goals and rewards that inspire employees to stretch themselves, resulting in a significant impact on the company's overall performance. Through his reward-for-performance plan, production employee base compensation has increased by 22 percent and incentive compensation has increased by 300 percent.

Sam Bruni

General Manager and Acting Director of Customer Experience, Backcountry.com | Age: 36

Building on a history of success, Sam Bruni is now guiding the complex world at Backcountry.com. After three years at Ancestry.com, Bruni joined Backcountry.com as director of customer service, where he built the company's service, sales, training and fraud prevention divisions. Bruni later moved into the role of general manager of One-Deal-at-a-Time and then Closeout. Bruni's team of 270 employees has won multiple awards for great customer service.

Bruni actively gives back to others through GivesLove.org, a nonprofit he and his wife, Jenny, run. By partnering with DropintheBucket.org, GivesLove helps build water wells in Africa. "We know there is much suffering and hardship around the world and even here in the United States, but for many, the most basic necessity to sustain life isn't available to them. So that's where we started," Bruni says.

Tiffany Burnett, MPC

Communications Director, Lakeview Hospital, MountainStar Healthcare | Age: 32

As communications director for Lakeview Hospital, Tiffany Burnett serves as the vital link between the community and the hospital. "By connecting with so many people in our community, I have been able to accomplish a variety of Lakeview Hospital's strategic goals," Burnett says. "From a personal perspective, I have made some wonderful friends and been impacted by others in ways I could've only imagined."

Burnett joined the Bountiful-based hospital in 2003 as a marketing coordinator and in just six months was promoted to marketing director. Today, Burnett is responsible for all internal and external communications, public relations, community relations, advertising and marketing.

"I am fortunate to work in an industry that is driven by helping others," Burnett says. "It is so rewarding to know that at the end of the day I've impacted someone, directly or indirectly, by the work that I've done."

Kim Casaday

Mortgage President, Zions Bank | Age: 38

Kim Casaday has held many roles during her 20-year tenure at Zions Bank. She has served in the private banking department and as director of regional credit in the resort banking division. And just last month, she was promoted to president of Zions Bank's mortgage division, where she now oversees all aspects of the bank's residential lending.

Casaday took on a particularly difficult challenge for the bank when she worked in its special assets division from April 2009 to February 2010. In this role, she managed a complex portfolio of substandard leases, real estate, commercial, construction and SBA loans. With her knowledge and experience, Casaday was able to formulate and implement strategies to maximize bank returns and minimize loss.

"[It] is the collection of my challenges that has molded me into who I am today. I am grateful for each one of them--great or small--because they allow me the opportunity to recognize areas in need of refining," she says.

Joel Clark

President, Kodiak Cakes | Age: 37

Joel Clark always had his sights set on owning his own business. In his early adulthood, Clark joined a consulting firm with one goal in mind: save enough money to start his own company. At age 23, Clark took over Kodiak Cakes, while still working full-time at the firm. It took years of work and dedication before Clark was able to quit the consulting firm and devote himself fully to his company.

"Although I wanted to throw in the towel as an entrepreneur many times through the years, I think my biggest professional accomplishment is that I actually stuck with Kodiak Cakes on a bootstrap budget, while working other jobs in the beginning, with no significant outside investment, for over 14 years now," says Clark.

Clark says success often comes down to hard work. "I went from being temporarily kicked off the football team in high school because of poor grades to graduating Magna Cum Laude at the U in economics, then to Oxford University for an MBA. I think it's a lot more about working hard."

Nicole Cottle

Deputy City Manager, Government Relations, Community and Economic Development; West Valley City | Age: 38

"I absolutely enjoy being told over and over again that something cannot be accomplished or that something will never happen in West Valley City," says Nicole Cottle. "I savor the opportunity to accomplish the impossible."

Under her direction, the city is experiencing its most aggressive economic development period ever. Projects include the Valley...