The annual Orem Stand-Out Business Awards were presented by Councilmember LaNae Millett at a luncheon on Tuesday, December 13th, 2022 at Orem Library Hall.
Over 40 businesses were nominated in the three award categories:
- Community Engagement
- Innovation
- Historic
If you would like to learn more about these awards or the Orem Business Alliance, contact Kathi Lewis as 801-229-7079.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WINNER: PilmerPR
PilmerPR, a Benefit LLC and Orem-based public relations firm, has been serving community businesses since 2003. One of their focuses this year has been to offer support to refugees. This fall they arranged a partnership with their client, Spry, and Utah Refugee Goats, a local non-profit that helps refugees from Somali Bajuni, Somali Bantu, and Burundi adapt to life in Utah by operating a goat farm. In light of the recent passing of Gail Halvorsen, Utah’s beloved Candy Bomber, the partnership was named “Spry’s Operation Sunshine” with a mission to spread Halvorsen’s sunshine and joy to neighbors affected by war. PilmerPR organized a colorful mural painting at a goat farm with the help of refugee children, local high school art students, and a professional painter. The mural was then replicated in a Ukrainian refugee camp in Berlin.
Another community cause PilmerPR has assisted with this year was an event by Iron County Care & Share, a private non-profit in Cedar City dedicated to providing housing and additional assistance and resources to individuals and families in need. PilmerPR helped raise over $10,000 in dodgeball team admissions and silent auction donations.
PilmerPR understands the importance of corporate social responsibility and community engagement. They have sought opportunities to use their time and resources to better the community and help those in need.
INNOVATION AWARD WINNERS: TIMPANOGOS REGIONAL HOSPITAL & DevPipeline
Timpanogos Regional Hospital achieved Magnet recognition in November as a reflection of its nursing professionalism, teamwork, and superiority in patient care. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program distinguishes organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence. Although the public may not be familiar with the award, it is the most prestigious nursing award that a hospital can receive and is widely recognized in the healthcare community.
With this credential, Timpanogos Regional Hospital joins the global community of Magnet-recognized organizations. Just a small, and select group of U.S. healthcare organizations have achieved Magnet recognition. Timpanogos Regional Hospital is the only Magnet-recognized hospital in Utah!
Research demonstrates that Magnet recognition provides specific benefits to healthcare organizations and their communities, such as
– Higher patient satisfaction with nurse communication, availability of help, and receipt of discharge information.
– Higher job satisfaction among nurses.
– Superior nurse-sensitive outcomes such as fewer falls with injury, pressure ulcers, and bloodstream infections.
– Better patient ratios and higher nurse retention rates.
– Magnet recognition is the gold standard for nursing excellence and is a factor when the public judges healthcare organizations. U.S. News & World Report’s annual showcase of “America’s Best Hospitals” includes Magnet recognition in its ranking criteria for quality of inpatient care.
Orem is honored to have one of the highest quality places of healthcare right here in our community. Even in the midst of the pandemic, Timpanogos Regional Hospital innovated in order to put their nurses and patients first!
DevPipeline is an Innovative Stand-Out business because they are flexible and adapt fast to change. This small software engineer education company is helping individuals learn and grow in software development. The apprentices are people from all walks of life and are gaining on-the-job training as they work on real-world projects in the web/app incubator. These apprentices will go on to work in the tech industry as full-stack software engineers, providing for themselves and their families in ways they have not been able to do before, thus helping to build and improve the community.
A current DevPipeline shared the following experience:
“Covid hit my family hard. I was no longer able to maintain my employment in the food/customer service industry and after years of struggling as a single mother, we were abruptly thrown into homelessness, fear, and desperation. Forced to move back into my parent’s home, I was blessed to be introduced to DevPipeline by one of the current students. DevPipeline has given me the gift of choice. Now I and many others are able to choose to work remotely or in an office. I now have the ability, as an apprentice, to be paid while being trained in a secure and lucrative industry.”
DevPipeline is helping people change their lives. They provide education, mentoring, and on-the-job training for individuals wanting to start a career in software development. DevPipeline partners with employers in, and outside, of the state of Utah to provide employment opportunities for their apprentices. They also work closely with businesses and organizations looking to upskill their own workforce.
DevPipeline’s apprenticeship program is registered with the Department of Labor and the Department of Workforce Services and has focused on helping those in need, which has provided opportunities to many who otherwise were unemployed or severely underemployed. It is an innovative approach to software development training that is changing lives and careers!
HISTORIC AWARD: BORDER STATES & SCERA
Border States (Formerly Electrical Wholesale Supply of Utah) was ranked the sixth largest electrical distributor in the United States in June of 2021 and provides innovative supply chain products and services to the construction, industrial, and utility markets. The Orem location has been a fixture in the City along State Street for over 40 years, since the 1980s. EWS, at the time, was a 50-year-old family business headquartered in Salt Lake City, with eight branch locations in Salt Lake City, Orem, Layton, St. George, Logan, Springville, Heber City, and Park City, UT. EWS has a rich history of customer service and consistent growth. EWS was acquired in September 2013 by Border States, a 100% Employee Owned American company. Border States has continued the rich tradition of growth and civic partnership in the Orem market and plans to continue this trend well into the future.
Founded in 1933, SCERA (Sharon’s Cultural, Educational and Recreational Association) is a non-profit charitable arts organization dedicated to the development and advancement of arts and culture, arts education, and wholesome and affordable family entertainment. The SCERA presents affordable, family-friendly year-round performing arts and education, and donates thousands of free tickets to local schools, businesses, benefits, etc.
SCERA was founded in a spirit of volunteerism and loyalty that remains today. Over 400 young people ages 12 and older – adults and seniors, too — serve annually at SCERA facilities, sharing talents, learning skills, and developing a lifelong love of community service. More than 500 volunteer cast members perform in our stage productions in the true spirit of community theatre. Each year, these nearly 1,000 volunteers give more than 172,000 hours of service.
As SCERA grows and improves, the dream of its founders has become an evolving reality that continues the family tradition and dedication to the arts. SCERA has a saying: “Every time the curtain rises, so does the quality of our lives.” SCERA strives to lengthen the legacy of SCERA so generations to come can be proud of this unique organization that has garnered attention statewide and nationally.
