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September 2021

Sep

Entrepreneur Leadership Series: Ashley Smith

Panel Discussion/Presentation

This week’s speaker is Ashley Smith, who is the founder of Smash Dance Academy and co-owner of the Utah Jazz. Ashley began dancing at the age of 7 and her passion for dance over the years led her to earn many different teaching credentials. In 2007, she opened a dance studio in her basement and in 2011 she moved to a bigger location allowing her team to teach multiple dance genres to over 600 students.

In October 2020 Ashley and her husband Ryan, who is the co-founder and CEO of Qualtrics, became owners of the Utah Jazz. Together they enjoy working on their businesses and raising their family.

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Eccles Conference Center Auditorium | More Info

Sep

Entrepreneur Leadership Series: Russell Davies

Panel Discussion/Presentation

This week’s speaker is Russell Davies who is the founder of the non-profit P.T.S.D. (Professional Transformation Sports Development). Russell served 5 years in the military and was deployed overseas to Iraq and Afghanistan. When he returned home, he realized that kayaking and adventure sports were a source of relief and rehabilitation in coping with post military life.

That realization propelled him to share his love of adventure sports with other veterans of the U.S. military inflicted with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. As the founder of P.T.S.D. Russell focuses on educating veterans on how to overcome P.T.S.D. and/or depression through engagement in outdoor sports such as kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, skiing and snowboarding alongside other veterans who share a similar passion.

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Eccles Conference Center | More Info

Sep

Entrepreneur Leadership Series: Arshay Cooper

Panel Discussion/Presentation

This week’s speaker is Arshay Cooper, who grew up on the West Side of Chicago, raised by a single mom in a neighborhood surrounded by gangs and drugs. In 1997, he joined (and later became captain of) the first All- Black high school rowing team at Manley High School, an experience that changed Arshay’s life.

Over the years, Arshay has coached and helped start several rowing programs for low-income youth across the country, and anywhere a puddle of water exists, so that other young people can experience the profound change that can happen on the water.

Arshay is mostly known for diversifying the sport of rowing and his activism work in Chicago. He is the author of his memoir, “A Most Beautiful Thing”, which has also been made into a major motion picture.

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Taggart Student Center | More Info

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