The Larry H. Miller Company is building communities: With a shift in focus from the Utah Jazz and dealerships to real estate and healthcare.

• Author: Starks, Steve

WHILE WORKING WITH GOV. JON HUNTSMAN in 2005, I became acquainted with Larry Miller--a larger-than-life business leader who suggested I forego business school and join his company instead. The opportunity to work with Larry, alongside other great leaders in the company and community, helped prepare me for future responsibilities within the organization and in capacities outside of work.

I am inspired by something Gail Miller recently said to a small group of community leaders: "Change is inevitable, but we must do more than simply change. We need to improve, and improving takes knowing what needs keeping and what needs fixing. Having that kind of discernment requires being involved."

As leaders, we must resist the temptation to implement change simply for change's sake. Wise leaders discern when and where to evolve and innovate while honoring the past and recognizing the values, guiding principles, and proven strategies that enable success.

Over the years, the Larry H. Miller Company has worked to balance this dynamic as the organization transformed from a single Toyota dealership to a sprawling portfolio of companies and investments.

THE PANDEMIC: A CATALYST FOR CONTINUED TRANSFORMATION

When I became CEO in late 2019, I could have never imagined that our organization would be significantly impacted by a global pandemic just a few months later. Rudy Gobert's positive COVID test thrust our organization into the forefront of the pandemic and led to the postponement of the NBA season, the canceling of March Madness, and the shuttering of public venues and gatherings across the country.

Just months into this new role, I needed the support of a great team and the opportunity to think collaboratively with the Miller family and other leaders throughout Utah and across the country. These conversations served as a catalyst for our company to innovate and transform, including the decision to sell the Utah Jazz and Larry H. Miller Automotive. Both transactions were driven by specific points of view on the industries and a desire to build a more diverse portfolio of companies and investments.

Fast forward two years, and you will see the company's transformation in earnest. While Megaplex Theatres, the Salt Lake Bees, and Prestige Financial remain part of the Larry H. Miller family of businesses, we have also made several acquisitions and are building an incredible team to support and lead the future growth of the organization.

INVESTING IN COMPANIES

As...