OUTSTANDING DIRECTORS.

• Author: Bicknell, Lindsay
• Position: AWARDS

Every year, Utah Business and NACD Utah honors the board members of companies, nonprofits, and organizations for the inspirational work they do behind the scenes to create lasting innovation and growth for future generations. These are our 2021 Outstanding Directors honorees.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

HARRIS H. SIMMONS

CEO | ZIONS BANCORPORATION

[tweeter] @HarrisHSimmons

in linkediin.com/in/harris-simmons-74218a77/

The boards he currently serves: Zlons Bancorporation & subsidiaries, OC Tanner Co., National Life Group of Vermont, Shelter the Homeless, Inc., Utah Board of Higher Education, and Utah Youth Village

What is the most rewarding thing about the work you do? Why?

I love my work because it provides an opportunity to help so many others, especially entrepreneurs and business owners who are putting their all into building great businesses. It's rewarding to help enable their growth.

What has prepared you for the responsibility of corporate directorship?

Studying economics in college--it's a great foundation for learning how to think about a problem. Also, simply learning by doing. I've learned a lot through observing others, especially in board rooms. The best directors listen well, think analytically, and "pick their spots" in terms of offering opinions.

Have you seen the role of boards change over time?

For publicly traded companies, there are more laws, rules, and regulations with the passage of time. More board time is spent on compliance. That's not a bad thing in itself, but there are only so many hours to devote to all the issues at hand, and sometimes the really important, long-term issues are overshadowed by the minutiae with which boards can become consumed.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

SCOTT ANDERSON

PRESIDENT & CEO | ZIONS BANK

[tweeter] @AScottAnderson

in linkedin.com/in/ascottanderson

The boards he currently serves: American Banker's Council, Business Committee for the Arts, Days of '47 Rodeo, Envision Utah, Gardner Policy Institute, Governor's Advisory Team, Hatch Foundation, Huntsman Cancer Foundation, Idaho Business Education Board, Intermountain Foundation, Inland Port Authority Community, Intermountain Healthcare (various committees), Kennedy Center/National Committee for the Performing Arts, Maliheh Clinic, Merit Medical, Salt Lake Tribune, Silicon Slopes, Spike 750, Utah Inland Port Authority, Utah Taxpayers Association, Voter Education Advisory Council, and World Trade Center Utah

What has prepared you for the responsibility of...