The Utah Inland Port Authority has hired Lori Haslem as associate vice president of business development. Haslem supports business development efforts across the state and will oversee the Pony Express, Verk and Black Gold project areas. Haslem has experience in rural economic development, entrepreneurship, infrastructure planning and community partnerships.
Haslem has spent much of her career helping strengthen rural communities and expand economic opportunities. She helped develop and launch the Vernal Innovation Hub, one of Utah's first innovation hubs, where she served as a startup specialist, advising entrepreneurs and creating programs to help new businesses succeed. She also served as an ambassador and business advisor with the Women's Business Center of Utah and later worked with the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development's Center for Rural Development and Community Outreach as a rural economic development manager serving six counties in northeast Utah.
