Dr. Michael Lacourse has served as the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Utah Tech University for the past eight years, overseeing a period of significant transformation within the Division of Academic Affairs. During his tenure, he has been instrumental in reshaping the organizational structure to meet the demands of a comprehensive university, instituting new policies, expanding the management team, and spearheading the development and implementation of over 150 academic programs across all levels.

Dr. Linda Yu is the Dean of the College of Business at Utah Tech University. She earned her Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Memphis and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). With a rich background in higher education leadership, Dr. Yu served in various prominent roles before joining Utah Tech. She is a passionate advocate for experiential learning and financial literacy, dedicated to empowering students with practical skills and knowledge that enhance their professional and personal lives.

Dr. Wayne Provost has been involved with various patents since the early 1970’s.  In the 1970’s he worked on the insulin pump, the portable dialysis machine, and received a patent for the re-sealable box top.  He is associated with multiple patents ranging from mechanical devices, dental products, medical devices, medical software products, and multiple environmental green products.  He has 62 published USPTO patent applications, of which, 27 of those applications have been granted.  Dr. Provost has started multiple companies predicated on the patents he has received.  He is a community minded individual who served as the Chairperson for the March of Dimes Walkathon two years in a row for the State of Utah, and served as the Chairperson for the Utah American Diabetes Association’s Walk America fundraiser.

Paul Morris has served as the Vice President of Administrative Affairs at Utah Tech University (UT) since 2013. In this capacity, VP Morris oversees UT’s $175-million-dollar annual budget and key operational areas, including Auxiliary Services, Business Services, Budget and Planning, Event Services, Campus Planning and Facilities Management, Human Resources, Information Technology, Audit, Risk, and Compliance, and Public Safety. He has led the charge in budgeting and building UT’s newest student-housing precinct, Campus View Suites I, II, and III, and he has prioritized academic space with the construction of the Human Performance Center and the upcoming General Classroom Building, which is expected to open in Fall 2025.

Bryant Flake has been the Executive Director of Planning and Budget at Utah Tech University since November 2013. Prior to UT, Bryant served in the Budget Office at Southern Utah University as well as holding financial positions in healthcare, food retail, and technology manufacturing. Bryant received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Brigham Young University and a Master of Accountancy from Southern Utah University.

Steve Brough is executive vice president and director of the Utah South Commercial Banking Group for Zions Bank. Brough oversees all aspects of commercial lending in the southern half of Utah, from Utah County to the state’s southern border.

Maaike Everts, PhD, a pharmaceutical scientist with broad experience in drug delivery, discovery, and development, is Executive Director of the Critical Path Institute’s Translational Therapeutics Accelerator. Prior to C-Path, she had a leadership role with Parenteral Drug Delivery Solutions at Evonik Health Care, responsible for shaping the drug delivery technology and manufacturing platforms offered by the organization as well as positioning them in the marketplace.

After completing his PhD in Medieval and Renaissance Literature, Rob spent a career as a higher education administrator overseeing a variety of university programs: distance education, innovation campus development, technology transfer and spin-out companies, marketing and communications, and university fundraising.

Tara Spalding is the Chief Experience Officer and Managing Director of International Programs for World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah), based in Salt Lake City. WTC Utah elevates Utah’s global status and international engagement. WTC Utah helps Utah companies increase revenue and create jobs by expanding international sales, attracting foreign investment, and facilitating international partnerships.