Regional collaboration, AI innovation, and workforce development take center stage at 2025 Wasatch Back Economic Summit

Keynote speakerRobert Spendlove offers a detailed analysis of the 2025 economic landscape at the 2025 Wasatch Back Economic Summit. Photo: Carla Boecklin/Boecklin Creative

PARK CITY, Utah — Local leaders, business professionals, and policymakers gathered earlier this month at the 2025 Zions Bank Wasatch Back Economic Summit to explore the region’s most pressing economic challenges — and opportunities. Hosted on May 13 at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley, the annual event highlighted workforce development, the role of AI in business, land use strategies, and the importance of regional collaboration.

Organized by the Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau in partnership with the Heber Valley Chamber and Summit Events, the summit emphasized that the Wasatch Back’s economic, housing, and workforce issues are deeply interconnected and must be addressed collectively.

Jennifer Wesselhoff, President and CEO of the Park City Chamber, said the event served as a reminder of the community’s strength. “From housing and workforce needs to the rapid evolution of technology, it reminded us of the strength and potential of our community. When we come together with a shared purpose, we can build a bright future,” she said.

Among the top themes of the day:

• Regional Unity: Economic development and housing solutions cannot happen in silos, speakers said. Collaboration between communities is essential.
• AI Integration: Rather than fearing artificial intelligence, the summit encouraged local businesses to embrace it as a tool for innovation and productivity.
• Workforce Strategy: A focus on alternative post-secondary pathways, support for working parents, and diversification of the labor pool was cited as critical to addressing the ongoing labor shortage.

Keynote speakers included Rob Hetrick, a senior labor economist and author of The Demographic Drought, who outlined the looming workforce crisis, and Robert Spendlove of Zions Bank, who offered an economic forecast for 2025. The day concluded with Andreas Mueller-Schubert, CEO of WSI Next Gen Marketing, who discussed the transformative potential of AI.

Select sessions were recorded and will be available for replay at parkcitychamber.com/wasatch-back-economic-summit.