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CEO + Founder Just Ingredients City Orem

Karalynne created a worldwide community clamoring for clean products and protein powder, but it started with a simple personal commitment to live a healthy lifestyle and eradicate toxins from her daily use. She made this shift after struggling with suicidal depression, where she was ignoring warning signs from her body that were telling her to make changes. “Making this commitment truly saved my life and transformed my family’s future, and I felt a calling to help others do the same,” Karalynne says. The magic began. Karalynne struggled to find health products with high-standard ingredients she was willing to use, so in true entrepreneurial style, she formulated her own line: Just Ingredients. In fall 2019, she launched clean deodorant and face serum, followed by her best-selling protein powder, tooth powder, supplement drinks and more. “As a company, we believe nature provides the necessary ingredients for people to live healthy, happy lives full of energy. It’s our mission to share that with the world.”

GAINING SPEED + CATCHING AIR
After starting my own healing journey, I developed a passion for educating people about healthier swaps. There were accounts that listed things to stay away from, but nothing that shined a light on what products you should be using. When I started sharing product swaps on Instagram, I was blown away by how deeply my content resonated with people. I hit 10,000 followers in December 2018 and it’s snow-balled since! (Now, she has 1 million followers!)

FIRST SNOWFALL MAGIC
Over the years, I’ve tried dozens of protein powders and always ended up disappointed. So, being someone who is always up for a challenge and thinking I couldn’t be the only one facing this struggle, I decided to make my own protein powder — one with multiple sources of protein, nothing artificial added in, and with organic ingredients that nourish the body. After months of hearing it couldn’t be done, after countless taste tests — we finally did it. The very first time we launched our protein powder, it felt like magic. 

SUMMITS
In September, Just Ingredients became the official protein powder of the Utah Jazz. Also, Just Ingredients was recognized as No. 8 in Utah’s Fast 50 growing companies. Both these high-profile accomplishments are so exciting and a testament to the incredible Just Ingredients team! Other great moments include  Bryce Harper holding our protein during a photo op for the Phillies,  and when we moved into our very own warehouse!

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
As a child, I was so afraid of talking to people and never wanted to be on camera. Pretty ironic now considering I spend so much of my time in front of the camera and talking to others! I like to think of it as proof that sometimes our biggest fears can become our biggest strengths. 

THAT’S COOL!
Our core values: 1) Family first. 2) We practice complete transparency when it comes to the testing of our products and ingredients, and we hold ourselves to that same high standard of honesty. 3) Education. We try to teach in every interaction with our customers and are open to learning from one another. 4) Kindness is an overarching value of ours we strive to embody in every interaction. 5) Our team’s commitment to communication helps us hurdle obstacles together.

HATS OFF
’m a mom, wife, sister, aunt, daughter, friend, podcast host, social media influencer, CEO, leader, content creator, blogger, chef, baker — the list goes on!

NOT-SO-CHILL HABITS
Hit the gym, pray, get my kids off to school, enjoy a nutritious breakfast with a Just Ingredients protein shake, then get to work. 

COOL DOWN
I love spending time with my family! I’m so grateful for our game nights and family dinners. They’re so special to me and allow me to be in the moment.

GEAR UP
Helmet! I love to ski, and I can’t stress enough how important it is to always protect your head.

MEETING THE COOL KIDS
My favorite networking event is hands-down Natural Products Expo West! It’s a massive trade show in California that showcases natural, organic and healthy products. I’m always so pleasantly surprised when I see how many companies are working hard to provide better choices for people. It continues to inspire me! 

COOL ADVICE
Problems will always arise — it’s inevitable. But in these moments when stress is high, learning how to manage your stress can make all the difference. That’s going to look different for everyone, but a simple way to help is to breathe properly. Your body will thank you!

Chief Creative Officer Creatably City Orem

Founder/Partner | PillowCube, StairSlide, Bolder Play, Cold Case Ice Cream

“Jokes to create stokes?” Damian Dayton is your guy. Clad in white glasses with a mind full of wildly inventive ideas, he leads as the chief creative officer of Creatably. His imaginative influence also spreads into PillowCube, StairSlide, Bolder Play and Cold Case Ice Cream, where he is a founder and partner alongside Jay Davis (featured in our fall 2023 issue where PillowCube was awarded as UV50’s No. 2 Fastest-Growing Company). Damian was ironically applying to medical schools and working at the Huntsman Cancer Institute when he realized he “was neither very good, nor very passionate” about that path. He closed the curtains on diagnoses and entered scene with a production company. Act I: Producing Emmy-nominated children’s television, feature-length documentaries and the odd corporate video.“I sold my interest to my first partner in 2015, tried it on my own, and eventually joined Jay Davis at Creatably in 2018. We had similar visions, but completely different skill sets.” Those complementary skill sets are giving bold, unforgettable voices to brands across the valley. Quiet on the set — this entrepreneur is giving video marketing a new identity.

GAINING SPEED + CATCHING AIR
There are a lot of great innovators in Utah when it comes to video marketing. Early on, Jay Davis was wise enough to push us to sacrifice profit for quality. We made a name for ourselves (among a field of talented people) for delivering high-value performance. 

FIRST SNOWFALL MAGIC
Watching the first comments flood in when we launched PillowCube, it was like, “Our silly videos work!” But it’s the work that’s fulfilling. Every once in a while, filming on a boat in Puerto Rico, convincing a client that they need a trained monkey, or sitting around with friends telling jokes, and looking over at your friends/co-workers and saying, “Can you believe we get paid to do this?”

SUMMITS
PillowCube’s videos reaching over a billion views was neat. I recently realized I am doing something I absolutely love, and I am surrounded by people doing different things that they love, and we are making magic together. I have always wanted to be on a winning team, and since I am a horrible athlete, this may be the closest I ever come.

CRASH + BURN
We like to say that our brainstorming room is “a safe place for dangerous ideas” — sometimes bad ideas need just a little love to become great ideas. But we signed this one client, and in our enthusiastic fervor, we were spitting out ideas in volume, and we had one idea that was so very, very bad that we got fired the next day. I don’t want to talk about it. But now I do some filtering, but only a little bit, before sharing an idea. 

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
I’m not naturally a manager. I want to make everything myself and I want to make everyone happy. Finding people better than me and letting go has been the key to creating greater work. 

NOT-SO-CHILL HABITS
Naps. I am not a “conquer-the-day” sort of guy, but I find that good ideas often spring up in the fertile earth of the waking mind. Wandering is also important. Staying on task gets things done, but wandering makes good ideas great. 

COOL DOWN
At the office there is a company-wide D&D campaign, and nothing is less-cool than D&D, but we have so much fun. I also love to draw; it develops a new way of imagining that I think is very important. My family and faith are also hugely important in helping me find peace regularly. 

GEAR UP
Comfort is one of my core values. My winter gear must-have is a fireplace; there is also this small Utah company — Fjellmark — that makes beautiful smokeless tablehearths. I also have a lovely scarf that a friend knitted for me when my mother passed away, and it makes me feel warm and loved. 

LEARNING CHILLS
In general, I think business books are too myopic. I’d rather read fiction. But Daniel Staker just wrote a book called “To Market: How to Give a Damn & Take Things to the Next Level,” and I love that he covers the importance of passion in marketing.  

STAY WINTRY COOL
Last year I was asked to dress up as Santa and hop on a firetruck as it drove through the neighborhood. I lost my voice by the end, but I can’t wait to do it again. 

COOL ADVICE
It’s the people who matter most. Your company is a baby that will never love you back, but invest in the people and they will return sevenfold. And take a nap. Either you’ll wake up with a solution or the same problem, but you’ll be rested.

Founder + Owner PROLOOK City Orem

Dusty Rhodes has developed a pro perspective through his venture with PROLOOK. As a biology major at SUU in the ‘90s, he made countless trips to the Philippines to learn and improve manufacturing of custom team apparel with his Filipino partner. Then, with a plan to pursue med school at the University of Utah, Dusty set that aside to learn to sell the product. They built their first factory in 2003 and have since added three more unique factories to their stable. PROLOOK had immediate traction, hitting No. 199 on the 2004 Inc. 500. Go team! Dusty’s business acumen has led PROLOOK to an impressive feat: “Today, we manufacture about 2 million custom team units for our own brand and others annually that outfit tens of thousands of teams around the world,” he says. With a mission to challenge the industry’s status quo and a winner’s attitude to match, Dusty and PROLOOK are playing in (and dressing) the big leagues.

GAINING SPEED + CATCHING AIR
We had moved up to Salt Lake City in the summer of 1998 for me to go to med school at the University of Utah. My wife and I dropped that dream during that summer and started to learn to sell our product. I quit my sales job a year later, borrowed $35,000 from my wife’s uncle and went for it.  PROLOOK was the first to offer custom sewn-on numbering and lettering on jerseys to high schools and colleges. We had immediate traction.

FIRST SNOWFALL MAGIC
Early on, I was excited to go prove the concept by visiting high schools around Nevada (where I’m from). I scheduled 20 visits to basketball coaches over three days. At the end of the three days, 19 had purchased.

SUMMITS
I open bottles of valuable whiskey as different goals are met. We’ve fortunately opened quite a few. The biggest summit lately is this year, having been ranked by the National Sporting Goods Association as the custom team apparel brand with the highest quality, best tech platform and best overall brand in our industry (just ahead of Under Armour).

THAT’S COOL!
Definitely the team — our team is so cool, so good. We all love being around each other and working together. Nepotism has actually worked well for us; there are so many friends and family of family working with us. Everyone works their tails off. It’s an inspiring atmosphere. Our vendors and customers are also awesome. We have these amazingly powerful relationships on all sides of our business! My wife and I flew out to Virginia Beach for a wedding of a customer’s daughter. He used to coach at Norfolk State University. We’ve always stayed friends, even after.  We use the PRO in PROLOOK to remind us to up our game in all manners … we are definitely PRO-PEOPLE!

NOT-SO-CHILL HABITS
Definitely a morning workout. My dad always said to get a good sweat going every single day. I love that idea. Right now my wife and I love Orange Theory Fitness. It’s the 7:15 a.m. class if you are interested in joining. *winks*

COOL DOWN 
I like to go to dinner with my wife, Jane, who is also our chief brand officer — she is always so damn good at laying it all out and seeing through a problem to the solution.

GEAR UP
I’m an Uggs guy. I have a pair of slippers I wear at home and I have to take them everywhere with me in the winter.

GIVES ME CHILLS
I love Rich Roll … so good! (The Rich Roll Podcast and author of multiple books.) Adam Grant, Tim Ferriss or Malcom Gladwell books are always inspiring and thoughtful.

MEETING THE COOL KIDS
I have a surf group with about 10 other business leaders that Ryan Napierski (president and CEO of NuSkin) and I put together. We go surfing twice a year to be with each other and help think through different business issues we are each having.

STAY WINTRY COOL
A favorite winter activity is definitely skiing. I was a ski instructor at SUU to help pay for school. We will make an ice skating rink in our front yard once in a while if the winter is cold enough. That’s really fun!

COOL ADVICE
Figure it out. Approach it like a battle. I love the Ulysses S. Grant quote, “The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving on.” The problem is the enemy.

Founder Simple Ending City Pleasant Grove + Sandy

Co-founder + Managing Partner, Moxie Law Group | Founder + Managing Partner, CoilLaw

Jill Coil always planned to be a lawyer, but never imagined that decision would lead her to an entrepreneurial journey as well. In 2014, when she was pregnant and working for one of the largest law firms in the state, she realized a flaw in the system — the firm had no maternity leave policy. “I decided I wanted to be able to blaze my own trail and create something that would give other women a place to shine as well,” she says. Attorney acumen, determined resolve, and a focused passion proved to be the perfect recipe for starting CoilLaw, which has become one of the largest family law firms in the state. Her passion for championing women — plus a dash of exasperation at men-centric law billboards — led to Moxie Law Group, the first female-founded personal injury law firm in Utah. Her current venture is Simple Ending, a digital platform for divorce documents. She’s also the author of “No One Dies from Divorce: How to Survive and Thrive When Your Marriage Ends.” No business school? No problem. Jill creates the changes she wishes to see — and that’s a ruling we won’t overturn. 

FIRST SNOWFALL MAGIC
We got to be a part of the WeROC Conference at the University of Utah in September. There were around 30 women pitching amazing companies, and I was one of the three women who got voted best pitch. It showed that people appreciate what we’re doing, and they recognize I’m not just doing it to make money, but I’m doing it because it’s needed.

SUMMITS
At CoilLaw, we have 13 attorneys. We’ve got several women who work for us, and we have created a space where they can be successful in their career in any way they want to do that. We have women who work half-time, and we have women who work full-time and manage, and their husbands are stay-at-home dads! I’m so proud of what we’ve been able to create for these women. The women get full paid maternity leave at my firm. The men who work for us get paid paternity leave. We wanted to create a place that allows people to shine, and I think we’re doing a really great job of that. As well, Moxie Law was recognized as one of the top 100 Utah Companies Championing Women in 2023. 

CRASH + BURN
When I decided to start Simple Ending, we said, “Let’s hire an engineer and just try to create a product.” I will write a book one day about what not to do (*laughs*), because I should have mapped out how we were going to build it. I should have sought expertise in the field of legal tech to see where to start. I just didn’t do that. It took our product way longer than it needed to get to MVP because we didn’t have an architect or a road map.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
I’m a very emotional person by trade and I’m very good at communication — but I was good at that through being a lawyer. I realized I can’t be a lawyer to my employees; I have to be pragmatic. 

THAT’S COOL!
We have created a really special space. We have had some amazing people who have continually supported this journey and are committed to building our companies. We don’t have to advertise much anymore for employees because we have people coming to us saying they want to work at CoilLaw or Moxie Law.

HATS OFF
I’m a mom of four. My husband and I have a charity where we find causes to donate to. I put the hat of executive producer on this year and I executive-produced a musical (@KalynaTheMusical). We’re hoping to get money to bring the musical to Broadway.

COOL DOWN
I always have to have a vacation coming up, because that’s a time I can turn my phone off and just be present.

GEAR UP
Hoodies. I’m a sweatshirt girl.

LET’S GO
Every December for our anniversary, my husband and I go to Disneyland with our best friends and no kids. It’s magical!

GIVES ME CHILLS
“Crucial Conversations.” Also, anything by Brené Brown.

MEETING THE COOL KIDS
I got invited to the VIP event for Utah Business when they named their 30 Women to Watch. I love Utah. We have some of the best women and it’s been so fun getting to know them. As a lawyer going into this entrepreneur world, I didn’t know anybody because most legal people aren’t entrepreneurs. Now, I’m meeting so many people who are so supportive.

COOL ADVICE
There will be low points where entrepreneurs feel like giving up. The ones who are successful are the ones who recognize they have something special, and they keep going.

Founder + CEO Shine Cosmetics City Lindon

The coolest part about Darcey Wilde and Shine Cosmetics? “We get to help women feel beautiful every day! It doesn’t get any better than that!” Darcey grew up with a full-time working mother, so she envisioned herself as “the stay-at-home mom who had fresh baked cookies on the counter” when her kids got home. After years of trying to fit that mold, she realized she would shine brightest — and be able to give more to others — when she was doing something for herself. In 2014, as a mom, volunteer and all things good, she decided to enter the corporate world again as a social media manager. In a few short years, she became the first female in the history of that 20-year-old company to be made a member of the executive team. While she still worked there, her friends invited her to Zupas for lunch, and an idea over soup and salad turned into Shine Cosmetics. As three women spent two and a half years brainstorming at their kitchen tables late at night, something beautiful was born that echoed the message, “We are good enough as we are.” Shine Cosmetics launched in 2019 and has been helping women shine as their truest selves ever since.

GAINING SPEED + CATCHING AIR
My career gained traction when others believed in me and gave me a chance — a stay-at-home mom with little work experience — and then really took off when I started to believe in myself, too.
Also, we made a big shift toward affiliate marketing. Once we got the program introduced to a few influential women, our business really took off. 

FIRST SNOWFALL MAGIC
It felt like magic on the morning that an order came in where none of us had a personal connection to her. We realized, we can do this! I still like to imagine what the lives of the women who order from us are like and take a second to send a prayer up for them.

SUMMITS
First female promoted to the executive team at a 20-year-old software company. Named one of Utah’s 40 over 40 Women in 2023. Shine Cosmetics is known as a leader in affiliate marketing.

CRASH + BURN
In the summer of 2021, we released a new product: LipVelvet, a matte lip gloss. Our launch was a huge success. But after about a week, we heard from a customer that one of the shades didn’t feel the same as the others. We realized the formula wasn’t exactly right, and it had already been sent out to thousands of women. We quickly made the color in the correct formula and sent it out to every woman who ordered, for free, with our apologies. The investment in doing the right thing always pays off, even if it hurts a little at first.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
1) I’ve had to trust that there was a reason I was at that table, that I do have valuable insight and it is my responsibility to share it, even if my voice shakes. 2) Making mistakes is part of the game. I had the opportunity to be in a meeting with Ed Catmull of Pixar, and he said, “If you aren’t experiencing failure, then you are making a far worse mistake: You are being driven by the desire to avoid it.” 3) Comparison is the thief of joy — it is also the thief of creativity and innovation. 

HATS OFF
I’m a wife, mom and Mimi (I have 3 grandchildren). I spent years as a Lone Peak High School Football and Wrestling Booster. BYU Female Athlete Mentorship Program Co-founder. I actively serve in my community and church.

NOT-SO-CHILL HABITS
1. Listening to something uplifting while I get ready.
2. A good cup of Perk Energy every morning.
3. Doing something everyday that tomorrow Darcey will be grateful for. 

COOL DOWN
A cold Diet Coke with fresh lime and a good Netflix series or book helps. Adding a beach doesn’t hurt. I also love football! 

GEAR UP
A cozy blanket inside a warm house. If I am forced to go out into the cold, my current favorite is the Iglu — a wearable sleeping bag!

GIVES ME CHILLS
My all-time favorite is probably “Shoe Dog” by Phil Knight. 

MEETING THE COOL KIDS
The most impactful event I have attended is a retreat with a small group of women business owners and influencers where we go away for three days to brainstorm, energize, connect and learn. There is magic when we cheer each other on. There is enough success out there for everyone!

COOL ADVICE
My grandmother always said, “This too shall pass” — the good and the bad. Just breathe and know that you’ve got this!

Founder Influence.VC City Draper

Bubba is an angel — angel investor, that is — with the startup experience to back his syndicate ventures. His career started as a student entrepreneur, and led to business highs and lows while building LaunchLeads in 2009 (which he sold in 2020) and Outro in 2014. He joined his wife, Jordan Page, to help grow ThePageCompany.com, an influencer-driven business, until 2023 when he felt compelled to work on his current venture, Influence.VC, where this Inc. 5000 entrepreneur combines his previous experience of growing and scaling companies with angel investing. 

GAINING SPEED + CATCHING AIR
My career gained speed because of networking and continual learning. I have focused on networking and building relationships since the beginning of my career, and it has created a powerful relationship-based network of support, mentorship and growth. 

FIRST SNOWFALL MAGIC
I was invited to be a mentor at a Google startup weekend event in 2014. I went hoping I could network and help entrepreneurs. In the end, they said anyone present could pitch an idea. I thought, “What the heck.” I pitched QuotaDeck, which became my venture-backed startup Outro. From that pitch, we went on to win the whole event and compete at a national level with Google startup weekenders from all over the country. It led me to get accepted as the very first Utah company to ever enter the Techstars Boulder Accelerator program, and to raise venture capital and introduce me into the world which I now love and live in with Influence.VC. All of it happened like magic.

SUMMITS 
Some of my highlights include mentoring college student entrepreneurs through BYU Founders group and Entrepreneurs Association. I was in Utah 40 Under 40. MountainWest Capital Network Top 100 (multiple years). (Plus so many more!) LaunchLeads was awarded Inc. 5000 across three different years and ThePageCompany.com reached Inc. 500 and Inc. 5000 in two different years while I was there. In 2009, I received the Emerging Executive of the Year award from Utah Technology Council. 

CRASH + BURN
One of the hardest moments of my career was having to shut down Outro. Having put our blood, sweat and tears into that business for almost three years, it took a huge toll on me. You definitely learn more from failures than you do successes. It’s a big reason I got involved with investing as an angel — to be there and help other entrepreneurs navigate tough challenges … and even if they fail, to make sure they feel loved and supported.  

THAT’S COOL
At Influence.VC, we are includers: We want all to be invited, to be involved, to be a part of it. We collaborate, co-invest and partner with others to create the optimal result for the company and syndicate investors.  

HATS OFF
I’m a lucky husband and a father to our eight kids ages 3-13. I’m on the board of Junior Achievement, I mentor student entrepreneurs all over Utah, and I’m a speaker and podcast guest on topics like entrepreneurship. I coach some of my kids’ sports teams, and I manage our lodge’s Instagram @aspenhilllodgeco (which is for sale). 

NOT-SO-CHILL HABITS
CrossFit! I love mountain biking, snowboarding and volleyball. Audiobooks all the way — either business, self-help or religious. I love networking events.

COOL DOWN
Play the guitar. Sleep. Get a massage. Hug my wife. Kitchen dance parties with the kids. 

GEAR UP
Snowboard and puffy coat.

LET’S GO
My ideal getaway is our cabin, Aspen Hill Lodge in Huntsville. Seventy-five acres of snowmobile magic. Zip lines, hot chocolate, fireplaces, good food, friends and family make it magical.

LEARNING CHILLS
“How Will You Measure Your Life?” by Clayton Christensen. “The Beautiful Outlaw” by John Eldredge. 

MEET THE COOL KIDS
Silicon Slopes Summit. I got to meet Tony Robbins backstage this year — he is someone I look up to and respect.