Salt Lake magazine’s Women in Business special section is an acclaimed and respected part of our September/October issue. Over the years, we have profiled and spotlighted successful women business leaders and owners across the state of Utah. These leaders are shining examples of success. Here, they share insights into their entrepreneurial journeys so others like them can follow their leads.

Inside Out Architecturals Boasts a Female Staff of Tile Experts and High-Quality Designers

Leah Wynn calls herself a “tile nerd.” She could tell you almost anything about any given piece of the decorative material; what year it was made, which region of the world it comes from, even if the color it shows now was its original or not.

“What got me into it was when we had a lot of people looking for certain tile to restore their bungalows and there was no one around here to provide that material,” Wynn recalls. “So we started looking for those types of historical collections.”

“It was like a rabbit hole for me,” she laughs.

Since that first dive down the rabbit hole, Wynn has built a reputation as one of the state’s leading experts on tile, in addition to running her own successful tile showroom, Inside Out Architecturals.

“In such a changing world, you have to maintain the ability to be creative.”

—Leah Wynn

With nearly two decades of experience under her belt, Wynn has also found another outlet for her expertise and passion: fostering the next generation of tile nerds. At least once a year, she visits Salt Lake Community College to give guest lectures to design students and is active year-round with several interior design societies.

The future, she says, is bright for the interior design scene in Utah. “We have quite the growing community right now with a lot of new young girls coming into it and going out on their own,” Wynn says. “We’ve got some fabulous designers who are doing some really good work. I hope the builders are listening to them.”

Wynn would know all about the up-and-comers in the local design world; she employs a handful of very talented young women.

“They can draw on CAD software to design a room to scale, they can provide drawings for a charge, do all these great things,” Wynn says. “We’re out to finish the puzzle from start to finish.”

Her advice, from one tile nerd and accomplished designer to the next up-and-coming designer slash tile geek: dive into the rabbit hole.

“It’s all about learning,” Wynn says. “Learning all about sources, gathering resources, using materials, and learning how to find them. It’s such a changing world, you have to maintain the ability to be creative.”

Inside out Architecturals
801.487.3274  |  insideoutarchitecturals.com
3410 s. 300 west, south SLC

Meet more Women in Business, and learn about their entrepreneurial journeys. And while you’re here, why not subscribe and get six annual issues of Salt Lake magazine’s curated guide to the best of life in Utah.

Salt Lake magazine’s Women in Business special section is an acclaimed and respected part of our September/October issue. Over the years, we have profiled and spotlighted successful women business leaders and owners across the state of Utah. These leaders are shining examples of success. Here, they share insights into their entrepreneurial journeys so others like them can follow their leads.

K. Rocke Credits Eyes, Ears and Imagination for her 20-Year Anniversary

This year, K. Rocke Design is celebrating 20 years of doing business and creating some of the most jaw-dropping interior designs in Salt Lake and beyond.

While she’s known for her eye for design, to ask owner Kristin Rocke what her secret to success over the last two decades has been, she’ll tell you: Her ears.

“I would say listening has probably been the biggest thing that’s made the most difference,” she says. “Listening to clients, listening for possibilities and opportunities with vendors and trades people, listening to needs and expectations and listening to ourselves when it comes to our vision.”

Having a vision, something that had yet to be realized except in her imagination, was another key to building a thriving business. When she started her business 20 years ago, Rocke trusted herself and her abilities. Now, it’s all come together just as she envisioned.

“What I set out to achieve, I did,” she says. “I feel like I had a lot of ideas I wanted to see realized. The only thing I really needed was to have partners and clients and that could help me do what I set out to do.”

“I feel like I have a lot of ideas I want to see realized. I am so grateful to have the partners and clients that transform dreams into reality.”

—Kristin Rocke

Twenty years later, and with a portfolio of more than 500 satisfied clients including 50 custom homes, Rocke is thankful for the folks who also saw her vision and helped bring it to life.

“I’m extremely grateful to a lot of people,” she says. “I’m grateful to my team, I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to showcase my work in local publications and with a top-notch design community here.”

Not to mention, Rocke is thankful for the trust her clients have given her to put her unique stamp on their homes.

“I’m honestly so thankful for my clients, who regularly allow us to push boundaries,” she says.

But what does the future hold for K. Rocke’s next chapter? More of the same, but with a wider reach, the owner predicts.

“We are so grateful for the trust we’ve been given by so many and we’re looking to grow by entering new markets and fostering a culture of innovation and excellence,” Rocke says. “By investing in the latest technology, sustainable practices, and our talented team, we’ll attract top professionals and deliver creative design solutions that exceed our clients’ expectations. This reinforces our feelings of gratitude towards each other, our clients, and our partners.”

Here’s to the next 20 years!

K. Rocke Design
krockedesign.com
3910 S. Highland Dr., Millcreek

Meet more Women in Business, and learn about their entrepreneurial journeys. And while you’re here, why not subscribe and get six annual issues of Salt Lake magazine’s curated guide to the best of life in Utah.

Salt Lake magazine’s Women in Business special section is an acclaimed and respected part of our September/October issue. Over the years, we have profiled and spotlighted successful women business leaders and owners across the state of Utah. These leaders are shining examples of success. Here, they share insights into their entrepreneurial journeys so others like them can follow their leads.

Owner’s Global Style Creates One-of-a-Kind Showroom at Madison McCord Interiors

It wouldn’t be a stretch to call Marsha Holfeltz the “artisanal pillow queen of Salt Lake City.” It’s a title she’s more than earned as owner of Madison McCord Interiors. 

Among many other tasteful and unique furnishings on Madison McCord Interiors’ massive showroom floor, the store also boasts the state’s largest collection of designer pillows in a section called “Pillow Talk.”

The Pillow Talk section features an enormous array of pillows you won’t find anywhere else in the state. At the moment, the most intriguing pillows—which Holfeltz considers more like statement or conversation pieces for someone’s home—are literally works of art. Officially licensed and sold by the Picasso Museum in Barcelona, Spain, Madison McCord’s Picasso pillows are sure to stand out in any home, Holfeltz says.

“They’re like owning a Picasso painting, but without having to pay millions of dollars,” she laughs.

You don’t get to own the title of SLC pillow royalty without doing your homework. Holfeltz, a seasoned interior designer who has worked in some of the country’s premier design hotspots, is always thinking about ways to make her store stand out. Even when she’s away on travel, she’s working, looking for pieces or patterns that would truly pop in Salt Lake City.

“I’ve tried to be impeccable with my own style and I think that translates into what I’m selling” —Marsha Holfeltz

“I think your personal style kind of parlays into what your inventory and showroom looks like,” Holfeltz says. “I’ve tried to be impeccable with my own style and I think that translates into what I’m selling.”

The more unique, the better. If she likes something and has never seen it before in Utah, chances are, it’ll be brought home to share with her customers, Holfeltz explains. “I’m always sourcing products for the store. I want to have things that are different so people’s homes don’t look so cookie-cutter,” she says. “We’re kind of an exotic, one-of-a-kind shop here.”

Holfeltz earned her impeccable eye for great design early in her career when she was a textile buyer for an advertising agency and sourced products from all over the world. She admits it can be costly to import fabulous designs from the other side of the globe, but ultimately it sets her store apart.

Her customers love it, and the ability to take things home right away. Imagine bringing a piece of Picasso straight from Spain to your living room sofa.. “They love coming in here because there are one-of-a-kind items,” Holfetlz says of her customers. “They’re always going to find something new.”

Madison McCord interiors

801.277.5555  |  madisonmccordinteriors.com  |  Instagram @madisonmccordinteriors
3960 S. highland dr., SLC

Meet more Women in Business, and learn about their entrepreneurial journeys. And while you’re here, why not subscribe and get six annual issues of Salt Lake magazine’s curated guide to the best of life in Utah.

Salt Lake magazine’s Women in Business special section is an acclaimed and respected part of our September/October issue. Over the years, we have profiled and spotlighted successful women business leaders and owners across the state of Utah. These leaders are shining examples of success. Here, they share insights into their entrepreneurial journeys so others like them can follow their leads.

Women in Business: Successful Entrepreneurs Talk Evolving Landscapes, Avoiding Burnout
and the Power of Relationships

Talking to three successful, Utah-based businesswomen, it’s clear that the landscape is continuing to change for the better for female entrepreneurs in the state. 

Altabank recently sat down with Shonie Christensen, owner of The Shonie Insurance Group, Jennie Tanner, owner of Tanner Glass & Hardware, and Andrea Wilson, who works as the Principal Broker at Dwell Realty Group for a discussion about women in business.

Tanner, who has owned her business since 2000, has seen a tremendous rise in female entrepreneurs. Technology, she explains, has helped her see many women succeeding.

“Social media has taken a huge step forward for women in business,” Tanner says. “There are so many organizations that help women through LinkedIn or Facebook or even YouTube.

That said, there is still work to be done. To Christensen, change and growth for women in business may be accelerated in the home, outside of the boardroom and office.

“I would like to see equity for all aspects of life, not just equity in the workplace, but also equity at home too,” she says. “We’re expected to play the old-fashioned role at home with our families and in our communities but then also want to be a powerhouse at work and that’s just not equitable.”

Finding a balance is key. It’s not a stretch to suggest that Wilson was a workaholic. In her role as Principal Broker at Dwell, her day is largely spent helping her staff, coordinating with contractors and agents, and doing all the behind-the-scenes work.

“I would go home, eat dinner quickly, and then open my laptop and work until midnight,” Wilson remembers. “That’s not a sustainable or realistic model, but I did that for years and years.”

After the birth of her daughter, things changed. Now, when 5 p.m. strikes, Wilson shuts down her laptop and gets to work, as a mom. She’s much happier, she says.

To find success, personal connections are what matter most. Luckily, these women are in a great place to forge meaningful professional relationships.

“I surround myself with people who are smarter than me, and I grow by growing with people who know what they’re doing,” Christensen says. “Utah is a unique place to do business, it’s a relationship-orientated state and we live by that.”

Altabank (23 locations from cache valley to St. George)
801.428.1046  |  Altabank.com

Meet more Women in Business, and learn about their entrepreneurial journeys. And while you’re here, why not subscribe and get six annual issues of Salt Lake magazine’s curated guide to the best of life in Utah.

Salt Lake magazine’s Women in Business special section is an acclaimed and respected part of our September/October issue. Over the years, we have profiled and spotlighted successful women business leaders and owners across the state of Utah. These leaders are shining examples of success. Here, they share insights into their entrepreneurial journeys so others like them can follow their leads.

Moms Make the Magic Happen Every Day at Culinary Crafts

When Mary Crafts started Culinary Crafts 40 years ago, she wasn’t thinking about building the state’s most successful catering company. She wasn’t planning to win 27 Utah Best of State awards or be recognized by the International Caterers Association as one of the top caterers in the world. She just wanted to take care of her family.

“We were losing our condo because of a non-payment on the mortgage,” Mary explains. She and her husband Ron had just had their car repossessed. “I had two little kids to take care of, and I didn’t even know where our next meal was coming from,” Mary says. So (in an act that she admits was as much desperation as bravery) she decided to start her own catering business.

Even though Mary has now retired and passed the reigns to her children, the company continues to thrive on its legacy of bold choices by strong women.

Today, half of Culinary Crafts’ leaders—both directors and managers—are female. “We are so lucky to have the talents and perspectives that women bring to our team,” says Meagan Crafts-Price, Director of Marketing. “Catering is an incredibly demanding industry. You have to have people who are flexible, personable, attentive, extremely organized, incredibly creative, and who work together seamlessly as a team…all while remaining calm under ridiculous pressure. And smiling.”

Perhaps that’s why so many teammates at Culinary Crafts are also moms.

“Our diversity gives us a constant flow of fresh ideas and perspectives.”

—Kaleb Crafts

“A lot of our team is made up of moms, and thank goodness!” says co-owner Ryan Crafts. “The way they can juggle multiple tasks at once, react to constantly changing situations, dive in and do the dirty work when needed, and make every client feel special and taken care of, that takes a level of grace and know-how that comes from being a parent.”

Having a hive of female minds gives Culinary Crafts a huge edge in the hospitality industry, explains co-owner Kaleb Crafts (Meagan and Ryan’s brother). “I love that we have a pretty good mix in our team: women and men, old and young, experienced and newcomers. Our diversity gives us a constant flow of fresh ideas and perspectives. But diversity on its own doesn’t make a team stronger. You have to have a company culture where people know it’s safe to speak their minds and share their ideas. You need organization, but not hierarchy. You need people who will both lead and listen. The women on our team help make that a reality.”

The hospitality industry is infamous for high employee turnover, but many of Culinary Crafts’ team have been with the company for years or decades. “You may even see three generations of a family working at the same event,” Ryan points out. “We’re proud to be a family-friendly place to work. A lot of our team will work for a while, take time off for their families, and come back to work when they choose. We want to support their career and life choices, wherever that takes them.”

For some women at Culinary Crafts, those career/life choices have taken them to the top of their field. As a mother herself, Meagan relates. “One of the women on our event team really struggled at first, but she was determined to do whatever it took to be a great mom and a great employee. She was there every day busting her hump and jumping in to help. Once, she literally jumped into a dumpster to fish out a wedding ring that had been accidentally thrown away. A decade later, she’s become one of our very best managers.”

Not all the women on our team are mothers,” Ryan points out, “but many of them are, and that makes it feel like a family. A new employee has so much to learn, but they have all these talented women around them to guide, teach and support them. It’s incredible to watch a nervous, new employee come in, and by the end of the night, they’re smiling and serving like a pro. It is magic.”

Culinary Crafts
801.225.6575  |  culinarycrafts.com
357 W. 200 South, SLC

Meet more Women in Business, and learn about their entrepreneurial journeys. And while you’re here, why not subscribe and get six annual issues of Salt Lake magazine’s curated guide to the best of life in Utah.

Salt Lake magazine’s Women in Business special section is an acclaimed and respected part of our September/October issue. Over the years, we have profiled and spotlighted successful women business leaders and owners across the state of Utah. These leaders are shining examples of success. Here, they share insights into their entrepreneurial journeys so others like them can follow their leads.

‘Find Your Passion,’ Says New Local Head of Philanthropy at Shriners Children’s SLC

Kristin Lehman Bingham recently assumed the role of Senior Director of Philanthropy at Shiners Children’s in Salt Lake City. To her, the new job is a “terrific match” for her skillset and passions.

Formerly working for the March of Dimes and the Alzheimer’s Association, Bingham credits her mother with laying the foundation for her career of giving back to others.

“My mom was very philanthropic and set a great example for me getting behind worthwhile causes,” Bingham says. “She passed away while I was in college, and I have dedicated my career in her honor.”

Growing up, the Shriners fraternity and Shriners Children’s services were vital to many in Bingham’s circle of friends and family. As the Salt Lake City location nears its 100th anniversary, she sees it as a time to celebrate the incredible legacy these institutions have built in our community.

“Serving as a role model
is a way to pay forward the mentorship i have received from other women in my career.”

—Kristin Lehman Bingham

“It is very humbling to be a part of an organization that is so deeply integrated into the fabric of our community, and it motivates me to continually strive for ways to strengthen these bonds, expand our reach, and ensure that Shriners Children’s Salt Lake City remains a pillar of hope and healing for generations to come,” Bingham says.

Her vision as the Senior Director of Philanthropy is simple: get active in the community, particularly with those who share a hope of providing amazing care to children regardless of their family’s ability to pay.

“I envision deepening our community engagement efforts to raise awareness and funds that directly benefit our patients. This includes giving everyone the opportunity to support us in a way that is meaningful to them,” Bingham says.

With her new role, Bingham hopes to offer the same meaningful support to other women in business and serve as a mentor for the next generation of leaders.

“Serving as a role model is a way to pay forward the support and mentorship I have received from other women in my career,” she says. “I have had several wonderful mentors along the way for whom I’m forever grateful.”

Her advice to women embarking on a business career: build your network, identify what you care most about, and center your work around it. 

“Find those causes that truly resonate with you,” Bingham says. “You will always do more and be more fulfilled if you are truly passionate about something.”

Shriners Children’s SLC
801.536.3500  |  Shrinerschildrens.org
1275 E. Fairfax RD., SLC

Meet more Women in Business, and learn about their entrepreneurial journeys. And while you’re here, why not subscribe and get six annual issues of Salt Lake magazine’s curated guide to the best of life in Utah.