S9E6: Generations of Success: Continuity and Innovation feat. Jeff Young

This season we are exploring all the different ways the David Eccles School of Business has impacted our alums, and today we are exploring the benefit of generational engagement with the Eccles School and the U, for businesses, communities, and families. We’re back for more stories about the impact the David Eccles School of Business has on their lives and careers, and for this episode, host Frances Johnson is joined by Jeff Young, Executive Vice President at YESCO. In this episode, host Frances Johnson is joined by Jeff Young, Executive Vice President at YESCO, a custom electric sign company. Frances talks to Jeff about his multi-generational family business, its origins, and its evolution, including key projects like the 2002 Winter Olympics and the massive screen installation at the Las Vegas Sphere. Jeff discusses the deep-rooted connection between his family and the University of Utah, including a 100 year legacy of family alumni. He also emphasizes the impact of the David Eccles School of Business on their success. Jeff highlights the importance of continuous learning, leveraging networks, and investing in education for the company's growth. This episode underscores the reciprocal relationship between YESCO and the Eccles School, illustrating how education and community engagement drive long-term business success.Eccles Business Buzz is a production of the David Eccles School of Business and is produced by University.fm.Eccles Business Buzz is proud to be selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 70 Business School podcasts on the web. Learn more at https://podcast.feedspot.com/us_business_school_podcasts. Episode Quotes:Why investing in the U is a growth strategy for business owners [25:34] If you go to the Small Business Administration statistics, we know that businesses just don't… You have a higher chance of failing than not. And with the headwind we have in our economy, in our world, you've got to pursue every possible avenue to create a successful trajectory. And that means hitting all channels. If you are not investing in yourselves and in your organizations and your people, you're going to fail, probably. And the university… I can't think of a more beautiful, well-situated campus, meaning the business school campus, a set of buildings, and a group of more capable people to help host events, and a more capable group of people who can help bring material and content to the training than the University of Utah. I mean, I'm practically looking at it out my window. I'm facing north. Having grown up in, basically, in the University of Utah neighborhood, I have a real deep feeling of love and appreciation for everything that you do and the value you bring. And so, we, as an organization, you just wonder where we'd be without the benefit of having this university so close and all the insights, thoughts, skills, aptitudes that have come because of that.How Jeff’s ties to the U and the Eccles School help sustain a multi-generation family business[10:02] Frances Johnson: I'd love to hear from you how your connection to the U and to the Eccles School has helped sustain your family business into so many generations.[10:13] Jeff Young: That's really a great question. Without the knowledge of how family businesses operate within the state, we've been able to meet dozens and dozens of other family businesses that strangely are also centennial-long businesses, and it's amazing to know that our grandfathers knew each other. Our grandmothers knew each other. Our fathers and mothers knew each other. And in current generations, a lot of them have gone through the University of Utah. And so, it's great to have the familiarity and that point of reference. And so, the business building in particular, we know where to go. We know who the people are, and it just feels like home to us. And we look around the room and see everyone else in that conference, and we say, "Yeah, we started here. We're still here. And we continue to decide to be here for all the right reasons." So, that continuing education and connection is vital. On how Eccles School equipped Jeff for success[4:00] The challenges we're facing today are much different than they were when we went to school. But the aptitude to want to learn, to apply, and to continue to learn and apply remains true. As recently as this morning, I had my face in a book. I've just purchased it. I've got 90 people coming to a training next Tuesday. This training has to be fresh and to the point, and pertinent to what they're facing. It's a sales group, right? And you say, "Okay, here's some additional tools that you can apply in your life to make your lives better." And the idea that we're not fearful of learning more is we've got to continue the learning and the application of that learning. Every day, every week, every month. That spirit of that is as alive today as it was when I was walking in and out, it's a new building, walking in and out those buildings that...