30 Women on the move.

• Author: Spendlove, Gretta
• Position: Cover Story

They live and work along the Wasatch Front and in small towns; they are buttoned-up professionals and avant-garde creatives; they represent high-tech industries, traditional businesses and niche markets; they range in age from their 30s to their 60s; they are rookies and veterans; they illustrate burgeoning careers and seasoned lifework; they are women who have been in the news and women who are about to be. They are all distinctive yet all demonstrate that women are crucial to the economic prosperity of Utah.

One attribute these 30 women share is energy. According to the American heritage Dictionary, energy is the capacity for accomplishment. It could also be defined as power in action. These women are on the move. They have made great strides in business but they aren't slowing down. They continue to evolve, to take risks, to create, to challenge the status quo and to inspire others.

These innovators are only a sampling of the successful women in our state, but their stories illustrate the diversity and breadth of Utah's businesswomen. They are dynamic, eclectic and energetic. They are power in action.

Kathy Barnes

Meetings America

Founded by Barnes and her partner Judith Cannon in 1986, Meetings America, a destination management company (DMC), provides meeting planning services in Utah. Barnes has served on the boards of the SL Chamber of Commerce, the SL Convention and Visitor's Bureau, the Governor's Mansion Foundation and the Tourism Committee.

Margy Campbell

Age Connections, Inc.

Campbell owns a cluster of businesses that serve senior citizens. Age Connections was the first private-care management company for older people in Utah, coordinating a variety of services such as nursing, house cleaning, errands and financial planning. Through other businesses, Campbell and her staff act as court-appointed guardians and provide psychotherapy.

Bernie Santiago Knight

A Beauty Zone Day Spa

Five years ago, Knight started A Beauty Zone Day Spa with only $5,000. Today, all equipment is paid and the spa is debt free. In 1998, Knight's business was named one of the Top 40 Women Owned Business of Utah. "My strength and motivation come from my beautiful family," she says. Knight grew up in family of eight children. Her parents immigrated to Utah from Puerto Rico in the 1950s. Spanish was the only language spoken in their home. Knight's initial business success came with Knight Demonstrators, which she owned and operated for twelve years. This product demonstration and event staffing business expanded to seven states in the intermountain Region sometimes servicing up to 1,700 events per week. Knight decided to apply her business acumen and managerial skills to another venue and created A Beauty Zone Day Spa in the Holiday area. "I've learned to always surround yourself with hardworking, hones people that love what they do, and let them do their jobs."

Susan Felner

Community Wireless

Working with Park City's local radio station KPCW is "real democracy at work" for Feulner co-founder and financial manager of non-profit Community Wireless, which operates public radio stations in Park City, Coalville and Salt Lake. Feulner developed a fundraising model used by public radio stations across the country.

Kimberley Eklund

Absolute! Restaurant & Brasserie and Dijon Provencale Bistro

On a ski trip, Eklund fell in love with Utah and a Swede she met at Alta. Eklund and husband, Staffan, founded Absolute! in 1996 and created Dijon in 2000. The SL Chamber of Commerce awarded Absolute! and Dijon Small Business of the Year for 2002. Both restaurants became the official "Austrian House" during the 2002 Olympics.

Heidi Swinton

Independent author and screenwriter

Swinton has been writing articles, books and screenplays for over 20 years. About 15 years...