Q: How do you find out about the “Best Kept Secret” companies? — Jason Bringhurst
A: Let’s be honest. We can’t keep a secret. When we find out about a cool new venue, an accomplished musician or a boutique-to-shop-for, we want to tell 80,000 of our closest friends. We receive a couple dozen e-mails per day with story ideas and press releases. We also have a network of clients who keep us informed. We strive to send a representative to as many community events as possible and bring back ideas and names. No secrets here, people!

Q: How do you decide on companies and people to spotlight? — Brenda Thompson
A: This is the most common question we are asked. When we started Utah Valley Magazine, we anticipated that coming up with stories would be our most difficult task. Wrong! We have more story ideas than we can wrap our pens around. Editor Jeanette Bennett’s inbox and desk (she’s a piler) are proof that we’ve got ideas a-plenty. But picking which ones to feature is not so black and white. A year in advance, we create a framework for the next six issues. We do our best to spread the love from Alpine to Santaquin with a balance of gender, ages and religion.

Q: How do you get on the cover? — Veronica Chapman
A: If your last name is Osmond, that helps (we’ve featured Donny, Marie and Merrill). But most of our 60 covers have landed on the newsstand with non-household names. In our first 10 years, we’ve turned 22 women and 27 men into cover models. Ten of our covers have included both genders, and one mouthwatering cover highlighted Magleby’s deliciously frosted chocolate cake. Our ideal cover is timely (Kurt Bestor at Christmas and Matt Holland as he took over UVU). It also helps to give a good interview and to endure an hourlong photo shoot (it’s harder than you’d think to smile nonstop and absorb light in the eyes without crying).

Q: I always wonder about “behind the scenes.” Who are the makeup people? How many hours did you spend scheduling the interviews? — Suzanne Reeve
A: Movies like “The Devil Wears Prada” make magazine life look glamorous. It’s true that we have photo shoots and meet Utah Valley’s accomplished faces. But none of us has a personal assistant who hangs up our coats and makes our calls. The only time we’ve hired a makeup artist was for a Utah Valley Bride photo shoot when our unpaid models showcased the valley’s fashion forward dresses. Day-to-day life at Utah Valley Magazine involves sales appointments for ad reps and computer time for the writers, editors and designers. For more details, visit the Utah Valley Magazine blog and Jeanette Bennett’s personal blog at jeanettegazette.com

Q: What mistakes have you made along the way that taught you important lessons? — Laura Horton Lawrence
A: This seems like an easy one to answer. But after interviewing hundreds of local success stories who repeatedly tell us that adversity leads to bigger and better things, it’s hard to truly qualify anything as a mistake. But here are some setbacks …
We tried to start a BYU sports magazine but put the idea on hold before we printed an issue due to lackluster subscription requests. At times we’ve allowed clients to run a handful of ads before receiving a bankruptcy notice. An oversight on postage requirements doubled our mailing costs one issue, which took the profit margin to pennies.
But given the economic climate of the past decade and Utah Valley’s (somewhat true) stereotype of being cheap, we count more successes than failures in our first 10 years.

Q: How far in advance do you complete the magazine?
— Andrea Barney
A: Typical magazines are in production six months before the issue hits newsstands. We aren’t typical. Partly due to our high ratio of magazine pages to staff members, most of the magazine is completed within six weeks of landing in mailboxes and waiting rooms.

Q: Will magazines still be in business in 10 years? — Jason Gray
A: While it’s true that our friends in the newspaper business are seeing their industry change, magazines have been largely untouched. Newspapers deliver timely news. With smart phones and laptops at our fingertips, we access news 24 hours a day without waiting for the yellow baggie to hit the driveway in the morning. Magazine websites are much less important than the glossy, portable version. However, our magazine is available online at uvmag.com, and we intend to add more interactive features in the future.

Q: What is it like to work with family? — Lanae Wilson
A: Bennett Communications is a family business. Matt and Jeanette Bennett started the company in 1998 doing national newsletters and then added Utah Valley Magazine in 2000, which is when Kendall and Roxanne Bennett came on board to run the advertising side. Greg Bennett was hired as an editor in 2002 (he also worked under sister-in-law Jeanette on the junior high yearbook staff). But there are a dozen other staff members who don’t share a last name but do share the goal of creating the best magazines in the valley. We’re all family!

Q: Is Utah Valley Magazine subscription-based? — John Christensen
A: When we started Utah Valley Magazine in 2000, we mailed sample copies to the top 20,000 households in the county based on income. Since then we have built our subscriber base and our newsstand distribution. We do still send sample mailings to parts of the county based on income and age. So if you want to guarantee a copy will land in your mailbox, pony up the $10. If you are lucky enough to be on our sample list, we hope you’ll fall in love with the magazine.

Mary Crafts owns Culinary Crafts, an award-winning catering company in Orem. Mary also hosts “Culinary Creations,” which airs Saturday mornings on KBYU. She is the president-elect of the International Caterers Association.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MAGAZINE ONLINE

Age 25
occupation UVU student and legal assistant at
Bartholomew Silva & Associates
current Weight 214 (down from 265)
Height 5 feet 11 inches

This summer has been wonderful. My summer goal was to get outside more, and I have accomplished that by going twice a week on the Provo River trail. Micah and I went camping in Idaho and had an amazing time. It was difficult with all of the yummy food our friends brought, but when I wanted to eat something off my meal plan I kept my end goal in mind. My workout and menu plans are both going well. I have enjoyed the variations in food and workouts. Loriol has been wonderful to work with. She is doing a great job keeping me motivated. I never regret it when I make it to the gym, but I always regret it when I don’t. I have also found if I do my workout in the morning I get it off my to-do list for the day. Then at 6 p.m. I don’t have to question whether I should go to the gym or rest after a long day. I am amazed at how well we are all doing in our respective programs thanks to all of our trainers!

Alan Houtz
lost 47 pounds

Age 46
occupation Production manager at Barlow’s Wood Classics
Height 5 feet 11 inches
current Weight 182 pounds (down from 229)
Inches Waist 36.5 inches (down from 45)
Body Fat 21.5 percent (down from 41.5) as of last issue

The past two months were a reality check due to unforeseen life challenges. The high stress levels I was dealing with really challenged my discipline in regards to my diet and impacted my motivation and energy. However, I still managed to improve my results and move closer to my ultimate goals, which I am recommitted to achieving in the last two months of the challenge. The peak of the past two months was hiking Timp and being able to keep up with my teenage daughter, Cydnee, and her friends who are in excellent shape. I also noticed my improved fitness and enjoyed myself more on a Zion canyoneering trip. In spite of the stress I experienced the past two months, I’m glad that I stuck with the diet and exercise, which helped me get through it all as the workouts were great stress relief. So I’m committed to sticking with it and making my last two months of this challenge my best yet.

Kim Haynes
lost 7 pounds
Age 34
occupation Stay-at-home-mom
Height 5 feet 4 1/2 inches
current Weight 176 pounds

Hello, Utah Valley! I hope everyone had a fabulous summer. I know I did. In the past few months, I have been to Colorado and Oregon for vacations and I participated in the Stansbury Triathlon, which went well. I took 13 minutes off my time from last year, and I’m going to do the Yuba Triathlon in September. Last year after I finished my first triathlon I set a goal to add one triathlon each year, so this year I’ll be doing two! I know all of my working out is paying off. I am so much stronger and have way more endurance when I compare this year’s triathlon to last year’s. I have also added spin classes three days a week to my workout routine, which has helped, too. I’m excited to report on my next triathlon in the next issue. Until then, have a great fall!

Angie and Frank Daybell

Angie
lost 64.6 pounds
Age 37
occupation Cosmetologist and mom
current Weight 148.6
(down from 213.2)
body fat 24.5
(down from 33.9)
total inches 174.25 (down from 213.5)

Frank
lost 100.2 pounds
Age 37
occupation Principal for Taylor Elementary in Payson
current Weight 239.6 (down from 339.8)
body fat 56.9
(down from 32.8)
total inches 216 (down from 260.75)

Because of our lifestyle change, we have enjoyed this summer more than most. The option has been great to exercise outside rather than being limited to the gym. Despite our struggles of hitting plateaus, both physically and mentally, we have surpassed the things we thought we could achieve during our time with Dan. Angie is looking forward to starting a maintenance program, and Frank is striving for another 20-pound loss and an increase in lean body mass. There is not a day that goes by that we don’t hear a kind word of encouragement from friends and even those we don’t know who have followed our progress through the magazine. Thank you for the support!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MAGAZINE ONLINE

Reducing sticker shock
To help you determine how much money you will need to pay for an education once your child reaches college age, there are a number of online calendars such as those at www.finaid.org, www.collegeboard.com and www.nmfn.com. Involve your child in the process to determine if your child:
• plans to attend a private or public college or university, community college or technical institute.
• wants to live at home or on campus while attending school.
• may take more than four years to finish school.
It is never too early to begin saving for college. A great place to start includes any of the most popular plans used today such as Section 529 plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESA), Custodial Accounts and life insurance. In addition to the possible benefits of compounding, these plans may also provide some great tax advantages.

Better late than never
No matter how late in the education savings game you get started — and if after factoring in the amount you’ve already saved you still fall short — various options may be available including the following:
• Grants and scholarships: Your child need not be a budding Einstein in order to qualify for some of the existing scholarships. Grants based on such factors as your income, place of employment, or even a relative’s military service, are available to qualifying individuals.
• Student loans: The Federal Student Aid Information Center provides a variety of free publications that are available by calling 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). Their Web site www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov allows you to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. It also provides tips on reducing college costs, finding non-federal scholarships and other helpful topics.
• Home equity loans: In some instances, the best option to help pay for college education can be leveraging the equity in your home. Banks offer a variety of programs, from flat loans at a fixed interest rate to lines of credit that can be accessed on an “as needed” basis.
• Life insurance: The cash value of a life insurance policy is one of the few assets not considered in determining eligibility for financial aid. If you have a permanent life insurance, you may have an additional source of cash. Your insurance representative can help you determine how much cash is available in policies you own as well as any potential implications that may arise.
Above all, don’t be afraid to ask for advice when planning for your child’s education regardless of how late you might be starting this process. Financially, emotionally and psychologically, it is probably one of the biggest investments you will ever make. And, the impact on your child’s future will last a lifetime.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MAGAZINE ONLINE

Oldroyd’s OPINION
Utah continues to work hard to improve its station as both a great place to live and a great place to make a living.
And national experts are starting to take notice. For example, Business Facilities Magazine recently said, “Across all of our key rankings categories, Utah clearly exhibited the most dramatic improvement of any state in the nation.”
Downtown Provo offers a perfect example of these types of improvements. The 140,000-square-foot Zions Bank Financial Center on University Avenue is completed, and by early 2011, construction projects totaling more than $100 million will be under way.
Nu Skin Enterprises also announced plans for a new office tower on Provo’s Center Street, just west of its existing tower. The two towers will connect via an enclosed atrium-community meeting area flanked by outdoor plazas for both corporate and community events.
Construction on the 120,000-square-foot Utah County Convention Center, which includes an exhibit hall, large ballroom, meeting rooms, indoor and outdoor reception areas, and other hosting facilities, will commence in August.
The Freedom Plaza will occupy the entire block north of the new convention center and will feature a 156-room select-service hotel, retail, office and residential space. It also includes a 560-car parking garage to serve both convention center and Freedom Plaza patrons. Hotel and parking construction will be completed by the time the convention center opens.
As Provo continues to grow, these improvements support why the area is recognized as a top city for business. The growth of Provo’s current businesses reflects the admirable conditions that attract other organizations to the area and continually earn Provo national recognition.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MAGAZINE ONLINE

What are the benefits of belonging to the Future Business Leaders of America? Being part of Future Business Leaders of America gives a sense of success. You are contributing to something bigger than yourself, giving service to the community and bettering yourself for your own personal financial decisions. You make friends and are also given opportunities to make a difference in all age levels in the community. Also, it looks good on a job application and college resume!

How long has your organization been associated with UCCU? Three years. As partners, we have been building up the BeMoneySmart program with three age group components: an elementary school presentation, high school lunch-time seminars and the community night.
What skills did you develop during your time in the club? To make this project a success, we had to have the help from every member in our chapter. In total we had 24 members give service. Everyone who was involved spent hours planning, organizing and implementing the Timpanogos FBLA partnership with business project. I personally feel that I improved my leadership skills. In order to succeed, I had to learn how to create business partnerships, to delegate, to maintain an organized schedule, and how to be a better teacher for our student presentations.

How has UCCU helped your team? Without the partnership from UCCU, our nationally ranked projects could not exist. Each partner has to complete certain components to keep the program running. UCCU helped with the development of the PowerPoint presentation we use, with financial aspects of the project and with training and support to our chapter members.

Tell me about your experience at nationals. The FBLA national competition was a life-changing experience! Besides having the opportunity to fly across the country to Nashville, Tenn., we were able to compete against 7,500 other FBLA members from all across the country. We met students from New York to Puerto Rico. We heard what other clubs across the country are doing in their communities, and it gave us ideas to bring back home and make our program even better.

How did you get the idea to teach money management skills to elementary students? We set annual chapter and national goals. We wanted to give our service in an area that we felt would have the most impact for our community. We immediately implemented the elementary component. After our first year, we received enormous amounts of positive feedback from our students’ teachers. We knew we started in the right place and have been building up the program by taking in more students and teaching more age levels ever since.

What feedback have you received from the elementary children? The students are quite excited when we are able to come into the classroom. We feel that we make a connection with the kids because we are different than the everyday teachers in the classroom, and it is always a wonderful experience.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MAGAZINE ONLINE

GETTING THERE
Heading up Provo Canyon from Provo you make a right turn at Vivian Park. Drive 3 miles up the small South Fork Canyon until you reach a small park. Drive to the end of the park to a large parking area. The trail begins at the opening of the fence on the north end of the parking lot.

THE TRAIL
The loop trail in Big Springs Hollow is considered to be a classic in the Utah County mountain bike community. It is a fairly short trail but gives you a chance to climb 750 feet in 3.5 miles and get a great downhill experience. The trail is a firmly packed single track and is great to ride until the snow flies.
The trail begins in thick trees near the small creek. It winds up the small canyon on a perfect single track. You will cross the creek several times on wooden bridges ,and before you know it you forget about the 750 vertical feet you are climbing to get to the top of the loop. At the crest of the trail, hang a left and start your fun through the trees. This is a great spot to stop and catch your breath and grab a drink of water. The downhill portion of the loop is one of the finest in the valley, crossing through thick forest and peeking out at open meadows. It is the perfect mix for a perfect ride.
There are several variations to the trail, but they all loop back to the main parking area and canyon. There is even a chance to continue up along the Great Western Trail for some serious mountain bike climbing. This is for the die hard bikers.
If you only have a few hours to get away for a ride, this is your trail. It is short and sweet and gives you majestic views of Cascade Mountain and Provo Canyon.
The trail is for intermediate riders and those willing to slug up the first mile of climbing. There are no major obstacles and the riding is straight forward.
Get out and give the trail a try.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MAGAZINE ONLINE

The details
Remedez is looking for a handful of Utah Valley residents (ages 18 and up) who are ready for a makeover. To apply, submit a photo and writeup about why you are ready to go from “before” to “after.”

The judges
The Remedez stylists will select the makeover participants. In December, top clients of Remedez will select their favorite makeovers during the annual VIP day at Remedez.

The winners
The “afters” will be revealed in the January/February 2011 issue of Utah Valley Magazine.

How to enter
• Drop off your picture and writeup at Remedez in University Mall
OR
• E-mail your photo and writeup to nielsen2663@msn.com

Deadline
October 1, 2010