Harris Simmons, Scott Anderson to be presented with business community’s highest honor

 

SALT LAKE CITY- (Jan. 8, 2013) Harris H. Simmons, president, chairman and chief executive officer of Zions Bancorporation, and A. Scott Anderson, president and chief executive officer of Zions First National Bank will both be honored as A Giant In Our City. The award presented by the Salt Lake Chamber, Utah’s largest and longest-standing statewide business association, is recognized as the most prestigious business award given in Utah. Simmons and Anderson will become the 33^rd and 34^th recipients of the award in its 43-year history.

 

“I could not possibly overstate the impact these great men have had—and continue to make—on our community,” said Lane Beattie, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “Harris and Scott have strengthened businesses across Utah, supported important community programs and made incalculable contributions to the quality of life of all Utahns. I’m very gratified with the decision to honor them as Giants In Our City.”

 

“This tremendous honor is really recognition of the very positive role a great local bank can play in building and supporting a vibrant community,” said Simmons. “It is an honor I know Scott and I both feel we share with thousands of our colleagues throughout Zions Bancorporation and Zions Bank.”

 

“There have been so many remarkable individuals who have received this award, and dozens of others who are more deserving of recognition,” said Anderson. “However, I am honored to join Harris in accepting this award on behalf of the incredibly dedicated and talented Zions Bancorporation and Zions Bank employees who work tirelessly every day to build and strengthen our communities.”

 

To register for the Giant In Our City event, which takes place March 27, click here. 

 

Harris Simmons

A native of Salt Lake City, Simmons first worked for Zions in 1970 and has served in a variety of positions with Zions First National Bank and Zions Bancorporation in his more than 30 years with the organization. Today he leads a $51 billion bank holding company that operates approximately 500 full-service banking offices throughout the western United States.

 

Simmons has served as chairman or president of numerous boards, working to strengthen the banking industry, the economy, the community and the arts. He became intimately aware of the financial challenges facing arts organizations while serving as chairman of the board of the Utah Symphony from 1995 to 1996.  He joined with businessman and former Utah Symphony board chairman Ken Knight to develop a ballot initiative that would authorize a levy to generate consistent funding for cultural organizations and recreational facilities.  In November 1996, Salt Lake County voters approved the Zoo, Arts and Parks (ZAP) tax.  The county began collecting one additional penny on every ten dollars spent within Salt Lake County, which now generates millions annually to support the development of cultural, artistic, and recreational opportunities within the county.

 

In 1991, Simmons conceived of the state’s largest single employer volunteer event of its kind: Zions Bank’s annual Paint-a-Thon.  Each summer, thousands of bank employees and their families set aside a week to paint and spruce up the homes of low-income, elderly and disabled residents.  To date, volunteers have painted 887 homes selected with the assistance of state housing agencies, community organizations and local churches. 

 

“There is no person more deserving of this recognition than Harris,” said Anderson. “He and his family have been exceptionally supportive of initiatives throughout the city that have made an enduring difference in how the city operates, its culture, and its vibrancy. In addition to what we all see from Harris in his role at Zions Bancorporation and his involvement in numerous community organizations, he does so much more on a very personal and quiet basis that most people will never see.”

 

Scott Anderson

Anderson oversees Utah’s oldest locally-headquartered financial institution. Founded in 1873, Zions Bank has been serving the communities of the Intermountain West for 140 years.

 

A native of Salt Lake City, Anderson joined Zions Bank in December of 1991 as executive vice president of Retail Banking.  In this position, he was responsible for the growth and operation of the bank’s branch network throughout Utah and Idaho, as well as overseeing other consumer and small business banking activities.  He assumed his current responsibilities as president and CEO of Zions Bank on January 20, 1998.

 

Under Anderson’s leadership, Zions Bank has ranked as Utah’s top provider of Small Business Administration loans for the past 19 consecutive years.  He also made the strategic decision to enter the Idaho market in 1997.  The bank has since expanded to 26 branches in the Gem State. 

 

Prior to joining Zions Bank, Anderson spent 17 years with Bank of America in San Francisco.  While at Bank of America, Anderson held a number of positions including:  merchant banking officer, investment officer, high-tech lending specialist, commercial lending officer, business banking manager and manager of the San Francisco main office.  He also spent seven years working in Bank of America’s Asia division, headquartered in Tokyo.

 

Anderson encourages Zions Bank’s employees to give their time and talents to their local neighborhoods.  A leader by example, he also rolls up his sleeves to volunteer to teach financial literacy in local schools and participates in United Way Day of Caring.

 

In 2004, Anderson was concerned that Utah’s average salary had slipped to 82 percent of the national average. Searching for a possible solution for the issue—specifically the creation of more high-paying, high-technology jobs—Anderson joined with University of Utah, Utah State University and Salt Lake Chamber representatives to launch an idea for a state-funded program to keep Utah competitive.  His efforts helped drive the passage of  Senate Bill 75 in 2006, formalizing the state’s support for Utah Science, Technology and Research Initiative (USTAR).

At launch, the initiative represents more than $200 million in economic development funds. Over the next 30 years, the state’s $673 million investment in USTAR is expected to generate 242 new Utah-based companies and 73,000 new jobs paying $5.5 billion a year in wages.

 

”Scott is perhaps the most tireless and effective community leader I’ve ever known – and I believe I’ve known almost every significant contributor to Utah’s growth and success over the past half century,” said Simmons. “He’s a banker with a great heart, and one who is focused from early every morning until late every night on how he can employ his personal resources, and those of the bank he leads, in making this a stronger state and a better place to live for every one of its citizens.”

 

Anderson served as chairman of the Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors in 2002 and 2003.

 

“There is no greater honor the business community can bestow than to name one A Giant In Our City,” said Ray Pickup, chair of the Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors and president and CEO of WCF. “We are very proud to honor these two men who have been so successful in business and added to that success by giving so much to our community.”

 

This marks the fourth time the Chamber has honored more than one person as A Giant In Our City at a single event. In 1977 John M. and Glenn Wallace were honored jointly. Don Cash and Nick Rose were each presented with the award in 2003. President Gordon B. Hinckley was also in 2003, but in a separate event. Ellis Ivory and Roger Boyer were each honored on the same night in 2009.

 

About A Giant In Our City

The Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors established the Giant In Our City award in 1969. The award was created to honor exceptional and distinguished public service and extraordinary professional achievement. It is considered the Chamber’s most prestigious award and is given periodically by the Chamber Board of Governors.

 

Giants In Our City

1970: Eric C. Aaberg
1972: Clarence Bamberger
1974: E.M. Naughton
1977: John M. and Glenn Wallace
1978: N. Eldon Tanner
1981: John W. Gallivan
1982: George S. Eccles
1984: Richard A. Van Winkle
1985: Wendell J. Ashton
1986: Arch L. Madsen
1987: B.Z. Kastler
1990: S. Chris Johnson
1992: Gov. Calvin R. Rampton

1994: G. Frank Joklik
1995: Fred S. Ball
1998: Kenneth Y. Knight
1999: Scott S. Parker
2000: Verl Topham
2001: Spencer Eccles
2002: W. Mitt Romney
2003: Don Cash

2003: Nick Rose
2003: President Gordon B. Hinckley
2005: Jon M. Huntsman
2006: James LeVoy Sorenson
2007: Larry H. Miller

2008: William H. (Bill) Nelson

2009: Roger Boyer

2009: Ellis Ivory

2010: Bishop Carolyn Tanner Irish

2011: Bishop H. David Burton

2012: Kem Gardner

2013: Harris Simmons

2013: Scott Anderson

 

About the Chamber
The Salt Lake Chamber is Utah’s largest business association and Utah’s business leader.  A statewide chamber of commerce with members in all 29 Utah counties, the Chamber represents 7,700 businesses and approximately 500,000 Utah jobs—nearly half the workforce of our state. With roots that date back to 1887, the Chamber stands as the voice of business, supports its members’ success and champions community prosperity.