Risk takexs: 30 woman to watch.

• Author: Sweeten, Elizabeth
• Position: Cover Story

Achieving success as a professional woman can often seem like performing a high-wire act. Each move -- whether calculated or spontaneous -- involves taking a risk. Conquering the high wire takes poise, a level head, determination, practice, practice, practice, and most of all, courage.

The following is just a sample of the women daredevils in Utah. Their stories are inspiring. Keep your eyes on these 30 women. They're taking big risks - negotiating the high wire. Please, hold your applause.

Webster's defines a daredevil as "one who performs dangerous stunts professionally." The 30 Utah businesswomen profiled here regularly perform amazing acts of derring-do in their lives. Some made deliberate professional decisions; others surmounted challenging personal circumstances to create job opportunities. All have kept their careers aloft while balancing work and family, contributing to their communities and mentoring other women.

Peggy Ablin

ARUP Laboratories

Senior Vice President, Director of Quality & Compliance

Involved with ARUP from its inception, Ahlin began-as a clinical microbiologist, but her position evolved along with the company, and she now serves as a member of the Executive Committee and directs regulatory oversight. Of her colleagues she says, "We all strive to do the right thing and to do it well." Her riskiest professional moves? "I make decisions, with calculated risk, in the name of good patient care, and am willing to deal with any consequences. Thus far, this has been the right decision always."

Angie Anderson

Novell

Vice President, Identity Services Group (ISG)

Anderson began her career with Novell 11 years ago as a software engineer. But her riskiest business challenge was accepting the role of VP over ISG one year ago. Experienced as an engineer, Anderson says her new position "presented an interesting opportunity to grow my business-side skill set." ISG delivers Novell's eDirectory a leader in the directory services market space. A past member of the Utah Math Sciences Network, Anderson hopes-to "see more women succeed in technical industries."

Dianna Cannon

Cannon & Match, P.C.

Managing Partner

The focus of Cannon's legal practice is to serve the disabled community by, helping individuals obtain Social Security Disability benefits. "I have been successful in hiring-lawyers and paralegals whose goal is to serve the client and who are idealistic enough to think that we can make the world a better place by our work," she says. Last year, Cannon's firm won 96 percent of their administrative level cases. Cannon also serves as president of Women Lawyers of Utah.

Betsy Burton & Barbara Hoagland (not pictured)

The King's English Bookshop President & Vice President

Co-founded by Burton and a partner in 1977. The King's English is an icon of independent bookstores. After three years, Burton's partner moved on, leaving her to run the bookstore alone until Hoagland joined her in 1987. King's English maintains its independence despite competition from large book chains, largely due to Burton and Hoagland's grassroots efforts to increase local business owners' visibility Burton began Vest Pockt Coalition with other business owners to promote locally owned businesses, while Hoagland serves on the SLC Business Advisory Board Additionaly customer service and helpful staff ensure a personalized shopping experience for book buyers. "We are convinced that, in the end, readers want good books and knowledgeable service," says Burton. The King's English has hosted such noted authors as Isabel Allende, Tony Hillerman, E.L. Doctorow and John Mortimer. Both women are avid readers, of course, and committed to "matching books to people."

Tracey Cannon

Cannon Associates, Inc.

Real Estate Developer and Broker

"The riskiest thing I've ever done? When I bought and closed on 340 acres of land now worth $11 million before I received density zoning or plat approval. My business philosophy? It's a toss-up between 'Jump and decide in midair' and 'Problems are just inconvenient bumps in the road.' " As one of Utah's few female developers, Cannon is developing 538 home sites in Heber City and 347 lots in Herriman. The next riskiest (and most satisfying) thing Cannon says she has done? Raising three sons as a single mother.

Laura Thomas Carver

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