Women Who Mean Business: Spring 2025 Banking on Women Graduates

 We're here to say a big congrats to our Spring 2025 graduates of Banking on Women!

Launched in 2010, Banking on Women is our entrepreneurship program for women in Utah who are looking to start or grow their own business. ​The curriculum covers all aspects of running a small business including business planning, market research, marketing, financial management, growth, and leadership and is offered in both an in-person cohort as well as a virtual cohort for women in rural areas. 

Our favorite part? While going through this class, our participants often find that they make lifelong connections and friendships with the other ladies, which couldn't be more true with these two groups.
 
These ladies committed 15 weeks of their lives to this program, which entailed weekly three-hour night classes + homework all while juggling running their businesses, families, and beyond. It takes a lot of grit to commit to working on your business and taking it to the next level, so these ladies deserve a huge round of applause! ​

Virtual Rural Graduates

Our virtual Banking on Women cohort is designed to support women across Utah, especially those in rural areas or requiring special accommodations. With classes conveniently hosted on Zoom, we can ensure accessibility for all participants. We are always excited to see our cohorts come together with women from all over the state!

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Katherine Harkness 

Journey through time and discover vintage to new jeeps at The Jeep Guy Museum and make sure to visit their Dirt & Coffee coffee shop. 

• www.instagram.com/dirtandcoffee
• https://thejeepguymuseum.com

​📍- Fillmore, Utah

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Lori Nawyn​

​Huckleberry Moose is a happy place with happy things heartcrafted by artist Lori Nawyn. Visit her retail space or order online. 

• https://lorinawyn.com
• www.instagram.com/hb_moose

​📍- Hyrum, Utah

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Kimberly Carlile-Brinkerhoff

On The Brink is a developing social enterprise founded by Kimberly, a mom of a child with special needs, that aims to create inclusive job opportunities through an adventure course and RV park where individuals with special needs can earn a fair wage and build valuable work experience.

• 435-592-2762
  
• [email protected]
  

📍- Cedar City, Utah

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Wendi Shipley

Wendi owns Menchie's Frozen Yogurt in Payson, Utah. Follow her social media to see fun specials and community offerings. 

• www.menchies.com/locations/frozen-yogurt-payson-u
• www.instagram.com/menchiespaysonut

📍- Payson, Utah

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Lauren Doucette

Feel Good Body integrates flexible, functional nutrition and fitness for straightforward, holistic health.

• www.feelgoodbodycoach.com 
• www.instagram.com/feelgoodbodycoach

📍- Moab, Utah

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Tara Tucker - Beaver, Utah

Tucker High Adventure Tours, owned by Tara Tucker, is a family-run adventure company in Beaver, Utah, offering year-round guided experiences like snowmobiling, UTV tours, and climbing for outdoor lovers of all skill levels.

• https://tuckerhighadventuretours.com
  
• www.facebook.com/tuckerhighadventuretours​

📍- Beaver, Utah

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Jennifer Gulareck 

Legacy Partners is a sustainability-focused company that develops affordable housing solutions like tiny homes and container homes, and builds solar farms to drive innovation in renewable energy and agriculture.

• www.legacy-partners.us
• [email protected]​

​​📍- Duschene, Utah​

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Chelsea Rogers

BRONXII offers pet sitting, overnight boarding, grooming, and specialized care to senior dogs, puppies, cat and kittens. 

• Book now: [email protected]
•  www.instagram.com/bronxii.thehusky

​​📍- Duschene, Utah
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Banking on Women In-Person Graduates

Our in-person Banking on Women cohort is tailored for women residing in Salt Lake and the surrounding counties, offering an engaging classroom experience at Westminster University in Sugar House. 

In-Person Pitch Night

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Brittany Feala

Brittany owns Lilac Press Co, a bookish lifestyle brand that blends fantasy, fashion, and a little rebellion against the ordinary. Whether you’re a cozy reader, a quote collector, or the main character in your own dark academia novel, she wants to create things you actually want to wear, gift, and fall in love with.

• www.instagram.com/lilacpress.co
  

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Kira Brooks

​Moone Light Fades is a mobile barber shop in the Salt Lake Valley specializing in haircuts, shaves, and more.
 

• Book an appointment
• www.instagram.com/moonelightfades​
• www.facebook.com/moonelightfades

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Halee Windley

 Taste SPUDS serves up the best baked potato you will ever have in your life. With flavors like jalapeño popper, Thanksgiving, and more you will be ordering her catering or visiting her truck. 

• www.facebook.com/TasteSpudsUtah
• www.instagram.com/tastespudsutah​

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Selama Dickerson

Rollin’ Harvest, founded by Selam Dickerson, is a mobile farmers market that brings fresh, culturally diverse produce directly into neighborhoods while supporting small-scale growers, accepting SNAP/EBT, and breaking down barriers to food access in underserved urban areas.

• www.instagram.com/farmerselam
  

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Clarysa Park

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Discover Japantown Utah is a community-driven project that celebrates and revitalizes Salt Lake City’s historic Japantown through cultural events, storytelling, and local partnerships, honoring its legacy while creating space for future generations to connect and thrive.

• www.slcjapantown.com
  
• www.instagram.com/slcjapantown
  
• [email protected]
  

Kerri Clement

Jake’s Bakes is a small, Utah-based business founded by Kerri, a devoted dog mom who turned her love for baking and her pup Jake into a line of homemade, all-natural dog treats. Using only human-grade ingredients and added collagen, Keri creates fun and snacks like Pup Tarts and Canine Cannoli to help dogs feel as loved and spoiled as they deserve.

• www.instagram.com/jakesbakestreats
• [email protected]
• https://jakesbakesllc.com

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Kathleen Sykes

Coming soon - Yardstick Studios, founded by Kathleen Sykes, creates custom-sized sewing patterns for sewists who value high-quality, well-fitting clothing, offering both digital and printed options tailored to individual measurements and designed to make garment-making easier and more rewarding.

• [email protected]

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Kate Anderson

Ternion Coaching, founded by Kate Anderson, helps individuals and teams build clarity, resilience, and meaningful progress through personalized coaching that blends mindset, strategy, and action.

• www.instagram.com/ternioncoaching
• www.ternioncoaching.com

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Deborah Brown

PaRicDe Enterprise & Ministry, LLC is owned and operated by Deborah De’ Brown, an ordained minister and certified holistic practitioner who offers wholistic health products and services, including her handmade De’ Balm, to support natural healing, spiritual wellness, and sensitive skin care.

• 385-489-4445
• www.facebook.com/PaRicDe

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Jessica Belmont

Founded by Jessica Belmont, Cookie Keepsake is a luxury, on-site dessert experience that transforms event photos into edible memories using custom-printed cookies, offering guests a fun and personal treat they can take home from weddings, corporate events, and special occasions.

• [email protected]
  

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Apply Now for our Fall Cohort of Banking on Women

This could be you! Whether you dream of launching a new business or growing the one you already have, our Banking on Women program is here to help you make it happen. Join a community of women entrepreneurs across Utah who are building confidence, gaining essential business skills, and turning their ideas into reality. Our fall cohorts are filling up fast, so don’t wait. Apply now at www.utahmicroloanfund.org/bankingonwomen. The deadline to apply is May 15th.

Thank You to the Westminster University Team

We are so grateful for our amazing partners at Westminster University who make this program what it is today. A special shoutout to Program Manager Deborah Marzano, who is truly the glue that holds everything together. Deborah not only teaches the marketing sections of the course, but she also leads each cohort, coordinates all the moving parts, and supports the women every step of the way. Thank you for everything you do, Deborah!

​We also want to thank Dr. Richard Haskell for taking on the ever-dreaded (but essential) financials section, Professor Chelsea Dye for teaching accounting, and Professor Charlie Warner for her inspiring intro to entrepreneurship classes. We could not do this without you!

Over A Decade of Impact: Synchrony’s Commitment to Women in Business

Alan Urie Senior Vice President, VP of Community Dev Alysa Peterson

Since 2010, Synchrony has been an invaluable financial partner of our program, recognizing the vision of empowering women business owners in Utah to thrive. Thanks to their unwavering support, over 25 cohorts have successfully graduated, creating a lasting impact on our entrepreneurial community. Their commitment to fostering success and building meaningful relationships has been instrumental in shaping the program and its participants. Thanks to Synchrony this program is offered via scholarship to each of the participants. ​

​We extend our heartfelt thanks to Synchrony for their exceptional dedication to supporting women in business. This program would not exist without your vision and continued partnership!

Not to Toot Our Own Horn...

Utah Microloan has been a partner of Banking on Women since the very beginning. As a non-profit microlender and Community Development Financial Institution, we are dedicated to make the dreams of small business owners a reality, with a focus on underserved communities across Utah. Growing women business owners has always been a top priority for the UMLF and last year 50% of our loans went to female founders!

Over the years our role in the program has changed but now we are the proud outreach managers of the program, handling the marketing and community engagement about the program to all corners of the state. We also serve as judges for the Pitch Night where each of the ladies pitch their business to a panel. We are so grateful to be a partner of this program!​

Executive Director Doug Keefe and Program Manager of Training & Outreach Sara Day