Linda Wardell: from the ground up.

• Author: Ritter, Patrick
• Position: Around Utah

As general manager of the City Creek Center project, Linda Wardell leads the most expensive, highest-profile development project in Utah. Wardell, an experienced businesswoman, moves from one subject to the next with grace and a rock-solid set of skills dealing with people and projects.

"In one day, I'll talk to 100 to 200 people ... maybe more," she says with a smile that belies her dexterity not only as a businesswoman, but also as a person confronting challenges at all levels. Organizing the parts, pieces and personalities associated with the $2 billion project and keeping them in order is a tremendous undertaking in anyone's book. Wardell takes it in stride, confident that this project, like others she's been involved with, will come off on-target, on-schedule and with minimal ripples on the pond.

Her background as a general manager developing multi-use projects includes projects with upwards of 200 retailers combined with a variety of real estate entities and property developers.

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When asked about any concerns meeting the March 22, 2012 deadline for City Creek Center's opening, Wardell says, "I'm not concerned about the deadline, really. We have a...