Jeff Gochnour: finding opportunities.

• Author: Bjorklund, Todd
• Position: People - Business and Economic Development director

JEFF GOCHNOUR, THE NEW DIRECTOR of the Utah State Department of Community and Economic Development s Division of Business and Economic Development, believes that the strongest asset he brings to his position is his "belief in the state of Utah as a tremendous place to do business, to live and to raise a family."

This Utah native began his career working for KSL on the news show Dimension 5 while completing his degree in journalism at the University of Utah. After graduation, he became a sports producer, working with such figures as Paul James and Jim Nantz. Realizing, however, that the difficult schedule of TV news was not compatible with the life he wanted, Gochnour decided to pursue graduate studies in business. He chose Duke University because of its strong business program (and maybe a little because of the Blue Devils basketball team). After graduating with an MBA in 1986, he and his wife stayed in North Carolina, where he managed the land developments for a real estate development company.

Gochnour and his family returned to Utah in the mid'90s, when Gastronomy approached him about managing their restoration of the Salt Lake Hardware building on 400 West and West Temple and later the Ford Building on 400 West and 300 South. Gochnour values his association with Gastronomy, describing its principals as "visionary business leaders," and adding that "they fed me very well over the years. tool" But after eight years managing Gastronomy's properties and with-no new projects in sight due to a stormy economic climate, it was time to move on.

Gochnour accepted the directorship of the Division of Business and Economic...