They’ve put their stamp on Utah over decades, weaving threads of economic impact, cultural influence, social change and compassion into our community tapestry. When we ski next to a double amputee, cheer at a Jazz game, enjoy cuisine prepared by a culinary-trained refugee, take in community theater, serve food at a homeless resource center, or see a 12-year-old sporting his very first pair of new shoes, there’s a good chance that Gail Miller, Lavanya Mahate, Celeste Edmunds or Meeche White were involved. Get to know these long-standing women of influence.
Gail Miller
Co-Founder and Owner, Larry H. Miller Company
Gail Miller says it was her dream to be a mom. “I loved raising our five children, but because of Larry’s crazy schedule, I did it mostly by myself,” she says of her husband, Larry Miller, whose major automotive group with a portfolio of over 70 dealerships still bears his name. By the 1980s, the Millers became a powerhouse capable of building megaplexes and buying a failing NBA franchise, building a 20,000-seat downtown arena, and transforming the Utah Jazz not just into a goldmine, but into a truly unifying organization for the people of Utah.
With twinkling eyes and an easy smile, the soft-spoken Gail describes their clearly defined roles. “He was the breadwinner and I was the homemaker.”
CO-Founder and Owner, Larry H. Miller Company
The plot twist: while he went to the office and she stayed home, Gail and Larry were more than life partners—they were business partners, too. Gail describes daily discussions of nearly every detail of the Larry H. Miller Company (LHM). “I was always plugged in as an equal partner and we made company decisions together, even though I didn’t work in the office.”
When Larry died from complications of diabetes in 2009, Gail, then 65, was enjoying her grandkids and looking forward to their quiet retirement. Instead, she stepped in to take over.
“Before he died, he knew there were things that needed to change and he asked me to stabilize the ‘now’ and create a bridge for the future,” she says. Although he acknowledged Gail as his business partner throughout his career, Larry’s role was highly visible and she preferred flying under the radar. Now, there was no avoiding it. “I had to preserve what we’d built,” she says.
What happened next may have surprised even Larry. “I think he knew I’d meet the challenge, but I don’t think he’d believe how far we’ve come since then,” she says of the company’s extensive growth.
Right away, she set up a board of directors, describing it as a tough sell to a company that didn’t see itself as broken. “I was a little unpopular for the decision at first, but everyone eventually realized it was a good change,” Gail says.
She admits she suffered from imposter syndrome, with fears and self-doubt. “I think as women we sometimes wait for someone to give us permission to move forward with an idea,” she says. “We let timidity and fear get in the way. We
may have to fight a little harder, but we have the right to put ourselves and our ideas forward.”
At LHM, Gail directed the focus of the company’s growth and diversity of its operations. She oversaw the eventual sale of the dealerships and the Jazz and the subsequent investments in healthcare and real estate.
“I think as women we sometimes wait for someone to give us permission to move forward with an idea…We let timidity and fear get in the way. We may have to fight a little harder, but we have the right to put ourselves and our ideas forward.”
During the past 15 years, LHM has doubled in both size and revenue, making Gail the wealthiest individual in Utah.
She deflects praise and attributes her success to the confluence of many minds. She sees her leadership style as a gatherer of viewpoints, rather than a commanding executive.
“You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room, you don’t have to be the smartest person in the room, you just have to be willing to learn,” she says.
While the “Grand Matriarch of the Beehive State” remains highly involved in all areas of LHM, Gail recently stepped down as chair to turn more attention to her family foundation and many community endeavors. Founding arts venues, fighting child abuse and campaigning for Major League Baseball to bring top level a team to Utah is all in a day’s work for Gail.
Her work with homelessness is something she’s especially proud of. The Gail Miller Resource Center provides a comprehensive network of support for unhoused individuals, and her work with the Utah Impact Partnership helps to humanize homelessness and encourage compassion.
As for her legacy, she says she’d like to be remembered for her values. “I think women have to understand who they are and not deviate from it to please someone else,” she says. “My values come out in whatever I do and I think that’s why people notice me. I haven’t tried to change who I am for anyone.”
Annual Impact
- Pledged $22 Million to Ballpark development fund
- Served 5,000 Thanksgiving Day meals
- Donated $3 million and launched $500,000 grant initiative to improve lives on the SLC west side
- $25 Million to Salt Lake County for new South Jordan Regional Arts Center
- $2.2 million to for water conservation and water education
- $850,000 for mental health resources at SUU
- $1 million to the OTECH Foundation for a new Pathway Building
- $394,500 toward new center for Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation
Larry H. Miller Family Foundation Community Organization Grants
The Miller Family Foundation supports community programs with missions related to health and medicine, shelter and food security, education and skill development, jobs and economic self-reliance, and cultural and spiritual enrichment. Learn more or apply for a grant for your organization at
lhm.com/doing-good.
Discover more leaders who influence and shape life in Utah, here.
