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Oct 5
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Today I attended a conference on Nanotechnology at the University of Utah called NanoUtah 2006. This was a statewide conference including scientists from Utah State University and Brigham Young University in addition to the University of Utah.
The welcome to the conference was provided by Fred Lampropoulos, Founder and CEO of Merit Medical (Nasdaq:: MMSI), and Jack Brittain, Dean of the David Eccles School of Business and Vice President of Technology Venture Development.
 The morning featured two keynote speakers, Gurtej S. Sandhu, from Micron Technology, Inc. (NYSE: MU), who discussed nano scaling in silicon and Mohamad A. Sawan, of Intelligent Medical Devices, who discussed bio-implants. He set out the basic design for glasses that would allow the blind to see, using a nano implant.
The conference also featured a sampling of nanotechnology companies in Utah.
The afternoon included a session about the strategic and economic imperatives for Utah to support and encourage nanotechnology. One of my firm's clients, Paul Clayson of nCoat, Inc., participated in this panel discussion.
The afternoon featured three breakout sessions. I attended the session on finding resources.
The upshot of the day for me is that nanotechnology is still in its infancy and it will likely change the world in ways I can't understand or foresee. Utah's nanotechnology community is beginning to thrive.
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Jun17
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 Jack Brittain, Dean of the David Eccles School of Business and Vice President of Technology Venture Development at the University of Utah spoke to the MountainWest Capital Network on Thursday to explain USTAR.
The news media picked up the story and did a better job than I could do reporting what happened. The Deseret Morning News, Salt Lake Tribute, and Utah Business all wrote articles.
I was honored to have had the privilege of introducing Jack. His leadership of the USTAR initiative is indicative of his impact not only on the University but on the State of Utah.
I was also proud that our firm, the Thorpe Capital Group, sponsored the event.
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May22
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 A great friend and hero of mine, Jack Brittain, will introduce the state's new USTAR initiative to the MountainWest Capital Network in June. My firm, the Thorpe Capital Group, is sponsoring the event.
Jack is the Dean of the David Eccles School of Business and Vice President of Technology Commercialization at the University of Utah. He is also providing leadership to the Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR).
The MountainWest Capital Network (MWCN) is a not-for-profit organization founded to foster capital formation and corporate growth in Utah. The group publishes an annual deal flow report and keeps the data on-line, real time. The MWCN also organizes the annual Utah 100 program, recognizing Utah's fastest growing companies.
The luncheon will be held at the Little America Hotel downtown Salt Lake City at noon on June 15, 2006. To register, contact Cheri at info@mwcn.org.
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May 6
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Yesterday, the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah, recognized three people with Distinguished Alumni awards at graduation ceremonies.
 The three were Mary Kay Griffin, John A. Scowcroft and yours truly, Devin D. Thorpe.
A public statement from the school said:
The David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah will honor three outstanding alumni with the Distinguished Alumni award. The award is given to alumni who have made significant achievements in business and for their involvement at the School. The awards will be presented at the Graduation Ceremony on Friday, May 5 at the Huntsman Center.
The three who will be honored are: Mary Kay Griffin, director, CBIZ Accounting, Tax and Advisory of Utah, LLC, and shareholder, Mayer Hoffman and McCann P.C for her successes in accounting, and her service to the School’s National Advisory Board and the School of Accounting and Information Systems Advisory Board; John A. Scowcroft, Chief Operating Officer and member of the Board of Directors for Wasatch Advisors, for his business successes and involvement with the School’s National Advisory Board and the department of finance’s Advisory Board; Devin Thorpe, Managing Director of Thorpe Capital Group, LLC, a leading regional investment bank, for his service as Chair of the University of Utah Business Alumni Association and business successes.
Jack Brittain, Dean of the David Eccles School of Business, said this award sets an example for current and graduating students. “The Distinguished Alumni awards honor individuals whose achievements and contributions are invaluable,” he said. “These people serve as role models for the current generation of students.”
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Apr10
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 The David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah launched a $30 million capital campaign on Friday. The money will be used to dramatically upgrade (see rendering at right) two aging facilities, built in the 1960s.
The campaign was kicked off by the George S. and Delores Dore Eccles Foundation's challenge gift of $12 million. Spencer F. Eccles, former Chief Executive Officer of First Security Bank (acquired by Wells Fargo - NYSE: WFC) spoke on behalf of the foundation, challenging alumni to step up and join his family in supporting the school.
Under the direction of Dean Jack Brittain, the school has gained a national reputation, especially in entrepreneurship. The University Venture Fund recently closed with a total of $18 million under management, making it far and away the largest student managed venture fund in the United States.
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Apr 2
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Know More:
Barbara Baker, Challenger Schools, Companies, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, Executive, Governor Jon Huntsman, Jack Brittain, Martha Eining, NAWBO, Organizations, University of Utah, Barbara Baker
Last Friday, Jon Huntsman, Utah's Governor, presented the Business Woman of the Year award from the Utah Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners to the founder of Challenger Schools, Barbara Baker. (See more photos on the Governor's web site.)
 Her story and the event were quite inspiring. Motivated by all the right reasons, Barbara launched Challenger Schools more than 40 years ago in San Jose and now has 20 schools in several western states.
I attended the event with one of the women from our office. It was a great event and I was proud to be one of the few men in attendance. The Utah Chapter of NAWBO is closely affiliated with the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah; Jack Brittain and Martha Eining (Dean and Associate Dean) were both in attendance.
The history of the company from the website says:
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Mar13
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Jack Brittain, Dean of the David Eccles School of Business and Vice President of Technology Commercialization at the University of Utah, announced on Friday that the Board of Regents, the final authoritative body for this decision, has approved a special 10% tuition differential for the business school.
 Approximately 3,000 students attend, meaning that a few million dollars will be provided by the increase, allowing the school to maintain or even improve the quality of education and the reputation of the program.
Utah's tuition is remarkably low and business graduates will earn much more than most other UofU grads, meaning that even with the differential, they are still getting a better deal.
I wholeheartedly support the new initiative. Below, I have copied a few key excerpts from the Dean's Announcement:
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Feb10
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This morning started early up at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. A special committee of the National Advisory Board was meeting for a discussion with faculty and administration, including Dean Jack Brittain, on the topic of ethics.
What struck me this morning was how murky the water is in a pool that you'd expect to be so clear. Right and wrong runs deeper than legal and illegal.
We think of ethics, especially lately, as being so clear. We've looked at Enron and stand convinced that those scoundrels deserve everything they get. I don't doubt it. But I think there are good people who discover, sometimes only with the clarity of hindsight, that they have themselves engaged in unethical behavior.
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The morning featured two keynote speakers, Gurtej S. Sandhu, from Micron Technology, Inc. (NYSE: MU), who discussed nano scaling in silicon and Mohamad A. Sawan, of Intelligent Medical Devices, who discussed bio-implants. He set out the basic design for glasses that would allow the blind to see, using a nano implant.
