The people and companies making Utah’s economy go. Founder stories, milestones, and the operators worth knowing — one spotlight at a time.
Owner: Mohammad Naeem | Established in 2016 by Mohammad Naeem, Afghan Kitchen was born from a desire to trade the cold, cavernous feel of a typical restaurant for the intimacy of a home. Stepping inside feels less like entering a business and more like discovering a well-kept secret—a sanctuary where resilience is served alongside recipes that feel like a hug.
Owner: Samiullah Niazi | As a former Afghan refugee and co-owner of Halal Meat Market, Samiullah Niazi was driven by the dream to be his own boss and financially support his family. He also felt a deep responsibility to provide employment for other Afghans seeking stability for their own loved ones.
Owner: Matt Sheridan | Team Thirteen Productions started with three friends, all born on the 13th, making ski movies for the love of it. That was 25 years ago. No strategy deck. No growth plan. Just a camera, the mountains, and a shared drive to create something worth watching.
Owner: Justin Vigh | AMS Inc. is the kind of company you don’t hear much about, even though you’ve probably been inside buildings they helped bring to life.
Owners: Bella & Levi Linchenko | Let’s Go Design didn’t begin with a business plan. It began with a comment about a boring Zoom background.
Owner: Mike Metzger | When Michael Metzger started Lifepoint Design, he wasn’t chasing a trend or a tidy business plan. He was running from something that didn’t sit right.
Owner: Monica Thornburg | Some business stories start with a plan. Monica Thornburg’s started with a conviction: work should lift people up.
Owner: Brian Brown | For most people, a cold plunge sounds like punishment. For Brian Brown, it sounded like purpose.
Owner: Lydia Martinez | While some businesses are carefully planned, Elle Marketing and Events was sparked by something bolder — a moment of clarity.
Owner: Cindy Chia | Some businesses are built to serve clients. Aspire Psychological was built to serve a community.
Owner: Tunisha Brown | Tunisha Brown didn’t set out to make a magazine. She set out to make space for stories that didn’t have one.
Owner: Joshua Lucero | When Joshua Lucero launched Lucero Hair & Wellness in 2023, he didn’t just open a salon — he created a sanctuary.
Owner: Taylor Vance | Most people only learn how pet cremation works when they’re already grieving. Taylor Vance noticed that gap and couldn’t ignore it.
Owner: Adam Frederico | Rooted in Utah, Frederico started as a small family landscaping business built on craft and care.
