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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
Utah is home to an outstanding environmental services, transportation and industrial cleaning company known as Champion Industrial Services. What's remarkable is that although the Champion was organized just over two years ago, it has already garnered prestigious awards and gained notable clients throughout the western United States.
The Champion story began in July of 2000, and it's a good example of how a company can be organized utilizing the financial and personal assets available to small business owners here in Utah. It began with an initial round of funding invested by the owners. The company was further strengthened by cash infusions from the Utah Technology Finance Corporation, now known as Utah Financing Solutions, and a Small Business Administration loan.
Three qualified individuals who have long-term successes in the industrial, environmental and financial services arena own the company equally. Tom Pritchett and Trent Garnand initially laid the groundwork for Champion when they decided to join forces following years of subcontracting the expertise of each other. As Tom and Trent discussed the merits of combining their talents, they sought the advice of a long-time friend of Tom's‹Radd Berrett. Radd's background as a merger, acquisition and finance specialist with private and publicly-traded companies assisted in the efforts of organizing, funding and launching the company. Shortly into the venture, Radd was asked to join Tom and Trent as an equal equity owner and serve as chief financial officer.
Champion Industrial has grown from its modest beginnings into what is today a multi-million-dollar enterprise employing 30 full-time specialists, drivers and technicians. Recently, the company was listed among the Utah Valley Entrepreneurial Forum's Top 25, and this year it was named to Mountain West Venture Group's Top 15 Emerging Elite.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
