MountainWest Capital Network: Welcome to the Winners' Circle cover art

MountainWest Capital Network: Welcome to the Winners' Circle

MountainWest Capital Network: Welcome to the Winners' Circle

By: MountainWest Capital Network
Listen for free

About this listen

 Meet Cheri Waldron and Jason Roberts, your hosts for the MountainWest Capital Network Podcast—the gateway to Utah's Winner's Circle. For nearly two decades, Cheri has been the driving force behind MountainWest Capital Network as Executive Director, orchestrating Utah's most prestigious business celebration, the Utah 100. Jason brings 22 years of global business consulting expertise as Managing Director of Protiviti's Salt Lake City office, having grown the local team from 2-3 people to over 70 professionals.

Together, they've created something unprecedented: intimate access to the exclusive Winners’ Circle—that electrifying pre-event gathering where Utah's fastest-growing company CEOs and founders connect before taking the stage. Now, for the first time, they're bringing that same energy and insider access directly to you through candid one-on-one conversations with the business leaders shaping Utah's economy.MountainWest Capital Network Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Politics & Government Relationships Social Sciences
Episodes
  • One Utah Family’s Sweet Success | Building Andersen’s Crazy Candy with The Andersens

    One Utah Family’s Sweet Success | Building Andersen’s Crazy Candy with The Andersens
    Mar 12 2026
    In this week’s episode, Jason and Cheri sit down with Jared and Heather Andersen, founders of Andersen’s Crazy Candy. What started with the simple decision to buy a freeze dryer unexpectedly turned into one of Utah’s fastest-growing confectionery brands. A fun hobby to share with friends and family quickly grew into a candy business that is now recognized nationwide. Their story shares the grit, innovation, and sacrifice that come with building a family business, especially in a category that literally did not exist.

    Jared and Heather share every detail of their story, the good and the bad, highlighting the cost and reward that come with running your own company. Through it all, they learned to rely on one another and remember the purpose behind what they are building. This is more than just a candy story; they are building something meaningful to share for generations to come.

    What You’ll Learn:
    • What it takes to create a brand new product category
    • The power of distribution partnerships in scaling
    • How to pivot when facing setbacks
    • How to balance a fast-growing business with family life
    • Having courage in high-stakes business decisions
    • Avoiding fear-based decisions when scaling
    • How coaching and mentorship can accelerate your growth
    • How Utah’s business ecosystem supports fast-growing companies

    Connect with The Andersens:
    • Andersen’s Crazy Candy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crazycandyfun/

    • Andersen’s Crazy Candy Website: https://crazycandy.com/

    • Jared Andersen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-andersen-b18691324/

    • Heather Andersen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-andersen-750689324/



    Want to Connect?
    Cheri@MWCN.org
    zachary.reed@pwc.com
    Meet the dedicated members of our podcast committee who curate content, organize interviews, and ensure the success of The MountainWest Capital Network Podcast “Welcome to the Winners’ Circle.”

    Cheri Waldron, MWCN Executive Director
    Jason Roberts, MWCN President and Managing Director, Protiviti
    Kevin Jessop, MWCN Podcast Vice-Chair and Chief Marketing Officer, IMA
    Garit Lawson, MWCN Podcast Chair, Managing Director, Forbes Partners
    Zachary Reed, MWCN Podcast Producer, Senior Associate, PwC LLP
    Katie Brown, MWCN Business Operations Specialist
    The LaunchPod Media Team
    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
  • Leading Through Hypergrowth to Reinvention | Crofter Market with Bobby Clayson

    Leading Through Hypergrowth to Reinvention | Crofter Market with Bobby Clayson
    Feb 26 2026
    This week, Cheri and Jason sit down with entrepreneur and early TaxBit co-founder Bobby Clayson to explore what it takes to build, pivot, and rebuild in rapidly changing industries. From helping launch a billion-dollar fintech startup during the early days of cryptocurrency compliance to founding Crofter Market—a platform connecting consumers directly with local farmers—Bobby shares how solving real problems and staying adaptable has shaped his journey.

    The conversation moves beyond startup milestones into the realities of leadership, growth, and starting again with purpose. Bobby reflects on lessons learned at TaxBit, the humility required to pivot, and why he turned his focus toward strengthening local food supply chains. It's a candid look at execution, resilience, and building companies that create meaningful impact for customers, communities, and teams.

    What You’ll Learn:
    • Why solving a clear, real-world problem creates a stronger foundation than starting with a product idea
    • Lessons from scaling a fast-growing startup inside Utah’s collaborative tech ecosystem
    • How cross-functional respect (across engineering, tax, product, and operations) strengthens founding teams
    • Why culture, humility, and self-awareness matter for long-term leadership growth
    • What it means to pivot strategically while maintain forward movement with focus and intention
    • How mentors, advisors, and community networks accelerate learning and decision-making
    • Why building trust, both internally and externally, drives sustainable growth
    • How purpose-driven execution guides founders across multiple ventures and industries

    Connect with Bobby Clayson:
    • Bobby Clayson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyclayson
    Connect with Crofter Market:
    • Crofter Market on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/croftermarket/
    • Crofter Market Website: https://crofter.com/
    • Crofter Market on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crofter-market


    Want to Connect?
    Cheri@MWCN.org
    zachary.reed@pwc.com
    Meet the dedicated members of our podcast committee who curate content, organize interviews, and ensure the success of The MountainWest Capital Network Podcast “Welcome to the Winners’ Circle.”

    Cheri Waldron, MWCN Executive Director
    Jason Roberts, MWCN President and Managing Director, Protiviti
    Kevin Jessop, MWCN Podcast Vice-Chair and Chief Marketing Officer, IMA
    Garit Lawson, MWCN Podcast Chair, Managing Director, Forbes Partners
    Zachary Reed, MWCN Podcast Producer, Senior Associate, PwC LLP
    Katie Brown, MWCN Business Operations Specialist
    The LaunchPod Media Team
    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
  • Turning Private Aviation into a Growth Engine | The Founding of SkyShare with Cory Bengtzen

    Turning Private Aviation into a Growth Engine | The Founding of SkyShare with Cory Bengtzen
    Feb 12 2026
    This week, hosts Cheri and Jason sit down with Cory Bengtzen, Founder and CEO of SkyShare, to explore what it really takes to scale a complex, capital-intensive business while preserving trust, culture, and long-term vision. Cory shares his journey from running car dealerships to building one of the fastest-growing private aviation companies in the western United States—one that’s bootstrapped, values-driven, and deeply rooted in Utah’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

    The conversation dives into SkyShare’s evolution from aircraft brokerage to fractional ownership, charter services, and innovative programs designed to make private aviation more accessible. Cory reflects on leadership lessons learned through rapid growth, the importance of crystal-clear core values, and how trust—among co-founders, teams, and clients—became a defining advantage.What You’ll Learn:
    • Why meaningful recognition leads to better engagement, retention, and performance
    • Lessons about scaling a software-enabled aviation company inside Utah’s growing tech ecosystem
    • The role of friendship and trust in building a strong co-founder relationship
    • How to attract and retain talent through clearly lived company culture
    • What it takes to move from founder-led sales to a sustainable growth engine
    • How community, referrals, and networks accelerate startup growth
    • Leadership habits that keep teams motivated during rapid expansion
    • Why purpose and execution must grow together to build a successful company

    Connect with Cory Bengtzen:
    • Cory on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-bengtzen-95a13216/
    Connect with SkyShare:
    • SkyShare on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skyshare/?hl=en
    • SkyShare Website: https://www.skyshare.com/
    • SkyShare on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbskyshare/


    Want to Connect?
    Cheri@MWCN.org
    zachary.reed@pwc.com

    Meet the dedicated members of our podcast committee who curate content, organize interviews, and ensure the success of The MountainWest Capital Network Podcast “Welcome to the Winners’ Circle.”

    Cheri Waldron, MWCN Executive Director
    Jason Roberts, MWCN President and Managing Director, Protiviti
    Kevin Jessop, MWCN Podcast Vice-Chair and Chief Marketing Officer, IMA
    Garit Lawson, MWCN Podcast Chair, Managing Director, Forbes Partners
    Zachary Reed, MWCN Podcast Producer, Senior Associate, PwC LLP
    Katie Brown, MWCN Business Operations Specialist
    The LaunchPod Media Team
    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.