By Peri Kinder | [email protected]

In 2015, Zions Bank President and CEO A. Scott Anderson founded the Women’s Leadership Institute, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to making Utah a better place for women. At an awards ceremony on Oct. 13, Anderson was presented with the inaugural Women’s Leadership Institute A. Scott Anderson Ally Award, named after him to honor his advocacy for women.

Anderson was surprised by the award and said he didn’t deserve the honor because he’s not the one doing all the work.

“But all of you are,” he said. “And you have the courage to stand up. You have the courage to speak out. You have the courage to help our community move forward. I truly believe that the most, the best resource, the best untapped resource we have in the country are Utah women. And I think that we just need to change some of the perceptions so that we can lead the nation in this. And you're doing the work. This is touching to me. Thank you very much. My grandmother would be proud."

Moving forward the Women’s Leadership Institute A. Scott Anderson Ally Award will be presented to men or women who are exceptional allies in the efforts of supporting and promoting women in Utah in business and political leadership roles.

Along with Anderson, more than 60 organizations were honored for their exceptional commitment to promoting and elevating women in the state. WLI CEO Patricia Jones recognized the businesses as a hope for future growth and their commitment to WLI’s cornerstone ElevateHER Challenge.

“These companies and organizations are examples of the leaders in Utah, and even across the nation, who are committed to create change now and for the next generation,” Jones said. “We are honored to work with them and prove the business case for gender diversity.”

The businesses receiving the honor are: AlphaGraphics in South Ogden, Alzheimer's Association, Analytic Orange, Associated Builders and Contractors Utah Chapter, Boncom, Bridge Source, Burnaby Velodrome Club (Canada), Cache Valley Bank, Catholic Community Services of Utah, City of Logan, City of St. George, Clozd, Creative Energies Solar, Department of Government Operations (State of Utah), DPS Skis, Elase Spas, Evans Companies, FUEL Marketing, Geneva Rock, Hippie Skin, HireVue, HYVE Homes, In-Group Hospitality/The Advenire, Autograph Collection, Intergalactic, Intermountain Precision Genomics, JPMorgan Chase, Ken Garff Automotive, KLAS Research, Leavitt Group, Leavitt Partners, Liiingo, Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, Mountain America Credit Union, Myriad Genetics, National Institute of Medical Aesthetics, Outdoor Gear Exchange, Parr Brown Gee & Loveless, Pepsi-Cola, Prism Philosophy, Progressive Leasing, Real Salt Lake, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, Ronald McDonald House Charities Intermountain Area, SelectHealth, Service Robotics Technologies, SirsiDynix, SnugZ USA, Spectrum Recruiting Solutions, St. George City, St. George Police Department, Stapley Pharmacy & Compounding, Sunpro, Sunroc, Tech-Moms, The Community Foundation of Utah, The Wayne Brown Institute, Usana Health Sciences, Utah Jump$tart Coalition, UWM Men's Shop, Vivint, Walker Edison, Wilson Electronics, World Trade Center Utah, WW Clyde and Xevant.

As part of the ElevateHER Challenge, the companies agree to focus on key areas that influence a woman’s ability to serve in leadership roles including increasing retention rates for women, addressing the gender pay gap, supporting women who run for political office and adding women to boards and committees. Nearly 300 businesses now participate in the ElevateHER Challenge.

For more information, visit wliut.com.