2012 Issue

6 Lane Beattie is the president and chief executive officer of the Salt Lake Chamber, a position he has held since 2003. He can rightly be called “Utah’s business leader.” Under his direction the chamber has embraced a new era of business leadership that blends the best of a traditional chamber with top-notch and powerful business advocacy. During his tenure at the helm of Utah’s largest and longest-standing statewide business association, the chamber has strengthened Utah’s economy by investing in transportation, reforming our health s y s t em, improv i ng educa t i on and expand i ng international business. The chamber was also the driving force behind Downtown Rising, a movement to enhance Utah’s Capital City that supported unprecedented investment in Salt Lake City’s central business district. Today under Lane’s leadership, the chamber continues to support pro-business policies that will provide enduring benefits for the state economy. A long-term effort to promote prosperity through education and the development of a first-class workforce was launched in 2009. The chamber has convened the Energy Resources Task Force to conserve energy, develop new sources of energy and preserve low-cost energy that attracts business to our state and benefits all Utahns. A real-estate professional for over 25 years, Lane was elected to the Utah State Senate in 1988. He became majority whip in 1991, majority leader in 1992 and in 1994 was elected senate president, a position he held until he left the Legislature in 2000. During his senate career, Lane proposed and implemented some of the most sweeping changes in the legislative process in several decades, including use of the Internet to increase citizen involvement and to make the legislative process significantly more efficient and transparent. Lane played a crucial role in the success of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, the largest international event in Utah’s history. In June 2000 he was named chief state Olympic officer by Gov. Mike Leavitt and played a prominent role in what was called by NBC President Dick Ebersol, “Far and away the most successful Olympics, summer or winter, in history.” Along with the many honors and accolades he’s received over the years, including an Honorary Doctorate from Utah Valley University in 2008, Lane is a member of the National Advisory Council of the Marriott Business School at Brigham Young University and a recipient of the 2007 Local Distinguished Service award from the American Public Transportation Association. Lane plays an active role on a number of boards. He is the chair of the Rio Tinto Kennecott Land Advisory Board, is a member of the American chamber of Commerce Executives Board and is one the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100. He was named to the U.S. chamber board of directors in June 2011. Lane enjoys golf and skiing, and raises quarter horses. He is a Utah State Quarter Horse Team-Penning Champion. Lane and his wife, Joy, have three children and nine grandchildren: seven boys and two princesses.  FEATURED SPEAKER OF THE ENGINEERS WEEK 2012 BANQUET