If the state’s top technology leaders are to be believed, Utah has the greatest technology sector in the nation. Since the merger of the Utah Information Technology Association and the Utah Life Sciences Association a year ago, the council has continued to make news. Utah’s technology industry was ranked first in economic dynamism by the Kauffman Foundation’s 2007 State New Economy Index. It also ranked fourth in the category of fastest growing firms and fifth in venture capital.

“If you were going to pick the categories you were number one in, wouldn’t it be the categories that are summarized there?” asked Richard Nelson, CEO of the Utah Technology Council in his report at the group's annual members meeting Thursday.

After the merger, the council created a focus framework based on feedback from CEO’s across the state. They produced three pillars of achievement for the council: increasing capital, developing management talent and developing the business environment. The council also decided it would serve as an advocacy group and an educator.

“Quite frankly, before, we hadn’t been this focused,” said Nelson. The sharpened commitment has paid off. Nelson cited the success that stemmed from passing the Fund of Funds bill in 2003, a $100 million plan to provide more capital for IT companies. Nelson called the fund an ambitious plan, but a necessary one for education and growth in the industry.

An additional success came in 2006 when the council worked with the Economic Development Corporation of Utah and the Salt Lake Chamber to support USTAR, which brings together technology companies and the research at the University of Utah and Utah State University. “It’s hundreds of millions of dollars committed to maximize the economic benefits of these two amazing research universities that we have and tying in other colleges and universities to that system,” said Nelson.

Though the technology association is relatively new to Utah, its growth and development have brought security and respect. “In five years the IT industry has become the strongest economic sector in Utah and is leveraging this strength to continually attract resources necessary for industry growth and enlargement,” said Nelson. The state of the industry continues to stay strong with 3,300 IT companies providing 43,000 Utah jobs.

The council welcomed the addition of several new members, mainly life science companies, which Nelson said are an asset to the group. “I’ve learned a lot about life science and it’s really the future,” said Nelson. The council itself is up 97 percent in paid memberships from last year.

Keynote speaker Shane Robison, executive vice president of Hewlett-Packard, spoke about an issue that all sizes of companies have in common: growth. He outlined HP’s plans for future growth through research and development and continued mergers and acquisitions.

A Utah native, Robison congratulated the state for its success in the technology field but cautioned industry leaders to stay connected with what’s happening worldwide. “My biggest concern is Utah getting too isolated,” he said. “Spend time making sure you’re in touch with those economies of China, India and Russia because that’s where a lot of new ideas are taking off.”

UTC also announced the keynote speaker for the association’s annual Hall of Fame dinner. Paul Otellini, president and CEO of Intel, will speak at the event which honors the state’s best and brightest in the technology community. The date for the dinner has not been announced.

UTC also presented its annual awards at the meeting. Association Chairman Will West honored the group’s own Richard Nelson as CEO of the Year. West expressed appreciation for Nelson’s tireless efforts raising funds for UTC, working with legislators and bringing in new membership. Other awards went to John Valentine, Utah Senate president, for Legislator of the Year and Alan E. Hall, chairman of Grow Utah Ventures, for Trustee of the Year. HR Executive of the Year went to Glade Nelson, North America head of HR for Novell. Emerging CXO of the Year went to Brock Blake, CEO of FundingUniverse.com. Ken Knapton of ContentWatch was given CTO of the Year.