Titan Awards 2024
Come meet the award winning businesses in Utah's south valley
Titan Awards 2024
Sandi Hendry was born and raised in Orem, Utah. Sandi has always been one that stood out in a crowd and is loved by all with her beauty, both inside and out, and her warm and loving personality. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Education & Business and was a school teacher for 30 years (grades 1st - 6th).
In 2009, she added a third career - that of owner and founder of Minky Couture. That year, when Sandi’s daughter became very ill and was hospitalized for several months, her daughter asked for a “big baby blanket” to snuggle up with during her recovery. Sandi had a hard time finding the perfect cozy blanket for her daughter - one that was both fashionable and cozy. It was at this time that Sandi created the first adult-size Minky Couture blanket. Everyone in the hospital loved it! Sandi started having more blankets made to give as gifts to friends and family members. The blankets she gave were an instant hit, universally loved and used daily. She started designing her own blankets, using different combinations of fabrics. Each blanket was unique, created specifically for the recipient. Family and friends started asking if they could purchase the blankets to give to their own loved ones, and Minky Couture was born!
Minky Couture has now grown to be a very successful and popular brand of blanket, not only in Utah, but all over the United States and the world. Sandi has now opened six beautiful retail stores throughout Utah with over 250 employees. Her flare for beauty and fashion makes her stores a wonderful experience for all her customers.
Sandi is a wonderful leader. Her love and concern for others is infectious and draws people to her. She is a joy to work for and her love for the product and her customers is top priority. Sandi has received much recognition and many awards through the years, including Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 and the Athena Leadership Award in 2020. Minky Couture has also repeatedly earned the “Best of State” award.
Sandi has a heart of gold and is always giving to others. People who know her know she loves to give and would do anything for those around her. She has always kept “giving back to the community” top of mind as Minky Couture has grown. Her “Heart of Minky” program donates thousands of Mini Minky blankets to NICUs all over the country. These little Mini blankets bring such comfort and love to these tiny babies who are born a little earlier than expected, and to their families who have something comforting and beautiful to provide for their baby. She literally loves to “blanket the world with love” one blanket at a time.
Sandi’s incredible business mind, her outstanding leadership qualities, and her kind and giving heart have made her not only an incredible business woman, but an incredible friend who is loved by all who are lucky enough to know her.
James Clarke is a founder, investor, and operator of private and public companies on five continents with over 36,000 employees globally. He currently serves as the CEO of Clearlink, a company he founded in 2001, sold in 2011, and returned to lead a decade later.
James is a graduate of BYU, Harvard, and holds a master’s degree in management from Oxford University. He serves on several boards of private and public companies, as well as regional and global nonprofit organizations. James serves as the Honorary Consul to the United Kingdom for the State of Utah and recently finished his tenure as the governor appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees for Utah Valley University, Utah’s largest university.
The Labor and Honor Foundation, the Clarkes’ family charity, focuses on poverty alleviation, education, and the arts. The name of the foundation is derived from the Clarkes’ English family crest dating back centuries, which instills that whether a task be great or small, ALL work should be done with honor. Their hope is that through their efforts, they might improve the lives of others by giving back with humble thanksgiving for life’s many blessings.
Keith B. McMullin — former Chief Executive Officer and President of Deseret Management Corporation from April 2012 to December 2023, now retired — has distinguished himself in business, leadership, and service.
His perspectives on business, leadership, and the needs of society blend in important ways. He says, “Business interests, the needs of families, and challenges in society are uniquely tied together. A community grows stronger as business leaders and their enterprises unite in furthering the interests of all three. Such unity produces economic growth, productive workforces, wholesome families, and vibrant communities.”
Keith is an ardent supporter of the work done by Chambers of Commerce, having served as chair of the Salt Lake Chamber. He is a graduate of the University of Utah and serves on the Advisory Board of the David Eccles School of Business.
As a general authority and member of the Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1995 to 2012, he traveled to countries across the world training Church leaders and members, overseeing Church ecclesiastical and temporal operations. He participated in the improvement of local communities, including Salt Lake’s city center.
Prior to his call as a general authority, Keith was the managing director of the Church’s welfare and humanitarian activities. Earlier, he worked for Ford Motor Company and in several small businesses.
In June of this year, Keith and his wife, Carolyn Gibbs McMullin, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. They are parents of eight children, twenty-nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Past Honorees
2023 Honorees
Abby Cox
First Lady, State of Utah
Chuck and Crystal Maggalett
CEO Maverick, CEO FJ Management
Brandon Fugal
Chairman, Colliers
Michelle Zarlengo － Small Business of the Year
Owner, Cookie Advantage
2022 Honorees
Mark and Sally Dietlein
Founders, Hale Centre Theatre
Cyndi Tetro
CEO, Brandless
Steve Starks
CEO, Larry H. Miller Company
Shellee Spafford － Small Business of the Year
President & CEO, Abacus Accounting & Bookkeeping
2021 Honorees
Fred Lampropoulos
Chairman and CEO, Merit Medical
Peggy Larsen
Former Senior Vice President, WCF
Mike Leavitt
Founder and General Partner, Leavitt Partners
2019 Honorees
Nick Rimando
REAL Salt Lake Goalkeeper, #18
Natalie Gochnour
Director, Kem C, Gardner Policy Institute; Associate Dean,
David Eccles School of Business
Governor Gary R. Herbert
Utah Governor 2009-2021
2018 Honorees
Ann Romney
Best Selling Author & Philanthropist
Jay Francis
EVP Corporate Affairs & Miller Family Philanthropy,
Larry H. Miller Group of Companies
Sterling Nielsen
Persident and CEO, Mountain America Credit Union
2017 Honorees
Kem Gardner
Chairman, Gardner Company
Jeanette Herbert
First Lady of Utah
Ron Jibson
Chairman, president & CEO, Dominion Energy
2016 Honorees
Rabbi Benny Zippel
Chabad Lubavitch of Utah
Deanie Wimmer
News Co-Anchor, KSL
Ray Pickup
President & CEO, WCF Insurance
2015 Honorees
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Pat Richards
President & CEO, SelectHealth
Larry Krystkowiak
Head Coach, University of Utah Basketball Team
2014 Honorees
Greg Miller
CEO, Larry H. Miller Group
Pamela Atkinson
Community Advocate
Kyle Beckerman
U.S National Soccer Team, REAL Salt Lake Captain
2013 Honorees
Jesselie B. Anderson
Civic Volunteer
Wayne Niederhauser
President, Utah State Senate
Dell Loy Hansen
CEO, Wasatch Property management and Owner of REAL Salt
Lake
2012 Honorees
Tom Dolan
Mayor, Sandy City
Dr. Cynthia Bioteau
President & CEO, Salt Lake Community College
Lavell Edwards
Head Coach, Brigham Young University Football
2011 Honorees
Lane Beattie
President, Salt Lake Chamber
Pat Jones
President, Dan Jones & Associates
Larry and Jim Olson
Owners, Les Olson Company
2010 Honorees
Jerry Sloan
Head Coach, Utah Jazz
Jon Huntsman Sr.
Founder, Huntsman Chemical Corporation
Deborah Bayle
President & CEO, United Way of Utah
2009 Honorees
Gail Miller
Owner, Larry H. Miller Group
David Entwhistle
CEO, University of Utah Healthcare
A. Scott Anderson
President & CEO, Zions Bank
Bob and Randy Harmon
Owners, Harmon Grocery
David S. Layton
Owner, Layton Construction
Sponsors
Title Sponsor
Major Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
