Author: cnguyen

Founded in 1919 by F. Orin Woodbury, the Woodbury Corp. has thrived through good times and hard times under the stewardship of his descendants.

On Monday, O. Randall Woodbury stepped down as CEO of the full-service real estate management and development company. After 11 years as CEO, he will now serve as vice chairman and continue as principal broker for the company. E. Taylor Woodbury was named the next CEO of the company, “The past 11 years have been an incredible experience for me,” Randy Woodbury said. “The time has come for the next step in the executive leadership transition from the third generation of Woodburys to the fourth generation.”

While the fourth generation is taking on leadership, fifth generation Woodburys are in the wings, finishing school and preparing for their turn as future leaders in the multi-billion dollar company which has its fingerprints all across Utah County.

The company’s legacy project in Orem is University Place, formerly University Mall, originally built in the early 1970s.

In recent years, the company has gone through a $500 million revitalization of the mall to provide residences, office buildings and open green space in addition to shopping options.

In the past decade, Woodbury Corp. has endured and flourished through several major milestones and highlights including celebrating the company’s centennial anniversary in 2019 and the successful inception and management of Woodbury Capital Funds — including Woodbury Strategic Partners, Woodbury Capital II, III, Legacy and Opportunity Zone Funds — comprising approximately $600 million of investor commitments.

“I am really excited to keep working with family members, both my biological and corporate family, who give so much to this business. It’s an honor to be able to work with them and carry this company into the next 100 years,” Taylor Woodbury said.

Woodbury Corp. is currently working on large-scale projects in Utah County and across northern Utah including:

• Vineyard Station, Vineyard city’s first mixed-use, transit-oriented, walkable community. Located on the eastern shore of Utah Lake, Woodbury Corp. and Flagship Homes are currently developing nearly 300 acres of master-planned new development that will offer places to live, work, shop, dine and more, with a promenade running through the center of it leading to Utah Lake.
• The continued revitalization of University Place will include a hotel, more class-A office space and approximately 1,000 additional residential units.
• Continued development of Falcon Hill National Aerospace Research Park. Falcon Hill is one of the most strategically placed aerospace research parks in the nation at Hill Air Force Base in Davis and Weber Counties. This 550- acre private development is under an Air Force Enhanced Use Lease and currently has over 1.1 million square feet of commercial space.
• Holladay Hills, the redevelopment of the former Cottonwood Mall property. Holladay Hills is a 58-acre mixed-use project, which will include living and office space, along with dining, shopping and entertainment options and a central park for gatherings.
• Continued development of the University of Utah Research Park, including 500,000 square feet of existing research building and a new 260,000 square foot state-of-the-art laboratory building.

“We aren’t afraid to tackle a 20-year project. I know I can speak for my family when I say that we are committed to sticking with projects for the long-term to partner with the state and communities to achieve long-term success. I know I have projects I’ll be working on the rest of my career,” Taylor Woodbury said. “There aren’t many businesses that have the ability to say that.”

With $4 billion in assets under management, the Woodbury portfolio includes retail, office, hotel, residential and industrial projects across 16 states.

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When women walk into a jewelry store, Michelle Luchese says, they tend to get “the red carpet rolled out.”

But when she and her then-fiancé, John Ruggiero, went shopping for his wedding ring, Ruggiero says he heard something more like, “There’s a little table in the back of the store, go look at those.”

He typically saw only three or four rings, all of which he generally thought were unaffordable — and none that fit his large fingers.

“I’m like, ‘This is my wedding ring,’” Ruggiero said. “I’m supposed to wear this the rest of my life. Shouldn’t I be a little excited? And instead, it was just a huge hassle.”

That experience inspired the newlyweds to start their company, Manly Bands, in their garage in Rosemary Beach, Fla., in 2016.

Today, after a move to Utah, Manly Bands offers men’s rings made from tungsten, wood from whiskey and wine barrels, antlers, carbon fiber, meteorites and even dinosaur bone. In a military history series, they have made rings of metal from retired aircraft carrier the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk, a Sherman tank and parts of M1 Garand rifles.

“It’s cool watching guys connect to something other than a traditional gold or silver and white gold band,” Ruggiero said. “They really seem to want something that’s more of their personality than the traditional designs.”

The company has branded lines, with rings inspired by Jack Daniels, Fender guitars — some featuring an embedded guitar string — and DC Comics.

Then, earlier this year, the company found itself drawn to certain rings of power.

One ring to bind them

When Ruggiero heard Amazon Studios was planning a new television series prequel to “Lord of the Rings,” he reached out to Warner Bros. “We asked them, ‘Hey, we’d love to make the One Ring,’” he said.

Warner Bros. replied that it couldn’t connect the company to the television show, but it agreed to license rings from the trilogy of books and original movies, Ruggiero said.

Manly Band’s designers started brainstorming ideas for the collection back in March. “We’re really trying to make it fun … a lot of the team love Lord of the Rings,” Ruggiero said.

Of the nine rings made, The Gandalf, The Frodo, The Aragorn, The Legolas, and The Gimli are based on characters that form the fellowship of the ring — who seek to destroy the ever-corrupting One Ring created by the dark lord Sauron.

The company is also making rings for Sauron, the ringwraiths — corrupted men who do his bidding — and Gollum, who obsessed over the One Ring to the point of murdering to obtain it.

And, arguably a chilling choice for a wedding, the One Ring itself, an evil gold band that empowers the wearer to control others “and in the darkness bind them.”

The rings are each designed from different materials — for example, The Frodo contains moss trapped in epoxy resin. The Gimli features the pattern shown on the dwarf’s helmet in the movies. The Legolas has an embedded recurve bow string and The Sauron contains lava rock.

Warner Bros. had to approve each individual design before the launch about a month ago. Since then, The Lord of the Rings line “has been super successful for us,” Ruggiero said. “It’s been among our best sellers.”

Kaelin Douglas, who lives in Fort Worth, Texas, ordered the wedding band based on Gimli for her partner.

“My fiancé was complaining about other selections and how boring the offerings were. Mostly gold or black simple bands,” Douglas said, “while there’s a world of different customizations and flash for women.”

She liked the Gimli design because “it’s subtle enough that no one but a fan would know on first glance,” yet was intricate and gave the impression that “they did their research on the characters,” she said.

“My fiancé is a huge Lord of the Rings fan,” she said, “and we wanted a wedding band that incorporated that without being too overt about what it was.”

‘Who buys the groom’s ring?’

Manly Band’s headquarters and manufacturing space is in Lindon, where it has about 65 employees.

Its staff machines rings from materials that are harder than precious metals, such as tungsten and Damascus steel. Rings made of wood, or with wood inlays, are carved on a lathe, and some rings are coated in Cerakote, a hardy ceramic finish that is used to paint guns and airplane parts.

Most of the rings in the best-selling category run between $300 and $1,000 and the company makes a wide range of sizes.

Manly Bands opened two retail stores in the last year, one at University Place in Orem last February and one in Fashion Place in Murray in September, said Eric Farlow, the company’s chief operating officer.

But the company still sees most purchases made online, where it began its sales.

Because some people hesitate to spend hundreds on a ring they can’t see, “we heavily invested in content creation,” Ruggiero said, in order to show the products up close and explain the differences between materials.

“We do a lot of YouTube content. We help people learn about rings, wedding rings, men’s wedding rings, we talk about the different materials, the different styles, why they should buy from us,” he said.

In these videos, often shot against a backdrop of sports equipment, whiskey bottles and gaming gear, company reps show off closeups of rings, compare their composition (”Pros and cons of wood rings”) and talk about wedding-related questions.

“Who buys the groom’s ring?” gets into ring history — American men didn’t start widely wearing wedding bands until the 1940s — and “WTF Did They Put On Their Ring?” shares what recent customers asked to have engraved on their bands. (Examples include ”I’m in it for the sex,” “No more diets for me,” “Put me back on” and “Don’t lose this one,” and on the sweeter side: “Wife’s B-Day” with the date, and “Two wishes left.”)

Manly Bands plans to make upcoming rings from a 1940s Willys Jeep fender and scrap metal — with authentic damage — from a B-17 bomber.

Designing rings is “a fun challenge,” Luchese said, as they ask with each new project, “how can we be different, better, more interesting, more innovative?”

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Growth at the University Place campus in Orem is taking another leap in 2023. By fall of next year, the Courtyard by Marriott hotel will be completed and open to the public.

Located near where the old Utah Transit Authority bus terminal was, this hotel will bring numerous amenities with it, according to Guy Woodbury, senior vice president of Hospitality at the Woodbury Corporation.

According to Woodbury, the hotel will be five stories high and contain 140 rooms, with a goal to provide customers with Utah Valley’s notable mountain views.

“There is the Bistro Restaurant with American fair that serves breakfast and dinner. There will also be a Starbucks,” Woodbury said. The hotel will also offer a business center along with a 1,500-square-foot meeting space, a 420-square-foot board room and multiple collaboration areas.

“This is the hub of Utah County and the hotel adds another synergistic piece — a place to stay at the hub,” Woodbury said.

The new hotel will be sleek and modern with all rooms complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act, but at least 12 specific rooms for various kinds of disability.

Wendy Woodbury, vice president of Hotel Procurement, said that if weather and supply chains remain open than the hotel will most likely be ready for the October opening.

University Place was redesigned to keep relevant with modern changes and a place to live, work and play. Now, it will be designed for short stays, including for those coming to the area for sports and other events.

“This is going to be leisure and business with a broad swath of people coming to town. It will be the place for you to stay,” Guy Woodbury said.

University Place, once known as University Mall, first opened in 1973 and maintains its value for people in the area.  “We hope to keep incredibly relevant as part of the community” he said.

Also coming to the campus are more living spaces at 800 South and 800 East as well as a McDonalds and other food and drink options.

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OREM, Utah–  The University Place Mall in Orem is running a special “Quiet Santa” for kids with special sensory needs like those with Autism.

The mall has partnered for years with the Melissa Nellesen Center to help kids with sensory needs meet Santa.

Parent Sierra Draper said this is special for the children to have one-on-one time with Santa without all the distractions.

“Honestly, me and my husband just sobbed,” said Draper. “We had Santa come in and they had bubbles and balls for her to play with.”

Draper said it was “the best opportunity” because its hard for her severely autistic daughter to be in public spaces.

“It’s really brought the magic into Christmas,” said Draper.

The event, which runs through Dec. 10, starts before the mall opens to keep distractions low for the children as they meet Santa.

Event Planner, Jared Mower said the event has had the same Santa since it started and he said it’s the highlight of the year.

“The only word I can think of is magical,” said Mower. “The kid doesn’t event want to see Santa and over the course of the twenty minutes they have, they don’t want to leave Santa.

The slots are filled this year but registration occurs every year in November through the Melissa Nellesen Center.

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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The crowd pressed forward with phones held high to catch singer-songwriter Adassa performing songs from Disney’s Encanto in front of the Giving Machines at City Creek Center on Tuesday, Nov. 22.

Then, as she switched to Christmas hymns, some of the people remarked to each other how they felt the holiday season had truly begun — with the lighted trees and the now-traditional red vending machines allowing patrons to select something for others instead of for themselves for Christmas.

Elder Hugo E. Martinez, General Authority Seventy and second counselor in the Church’s Utah Area, spoke to those gathered about how the Giving Machines allow the opportunity to share blessings with others in meaningful ways.

“You stand in front of the machine and look at what is being offered. You just feel it in your heart and in your mind that you are to give. Nobody reports it but the mere fact at that precise moment you feel inspired to do it — that fills your heart with joy,” Elder Martinez told the Church News afterward.

The first Giving Machine debuted in the lobby of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building on Temple Square in November 2017. Since then, $15 million have been raised for charity, with the Church covering all the operating costs. And this year, the machines have expanded to 28 locations, including mobile options.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox spoke in his remarks on Tuesday about the initiative’s beginning efforts. “We so appreciate The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and everyone who went in on this crazy idea, like, ‘Will this even work?’ Not only has it worked, but it has become a worldwide phenomenon.”

Cox said in a divisive world, it is crucial to maintain a sense of community: “We do that by giving back, we do that by serving and by charitable giving.”

Mentors International is one of the charitable organizations involved in the Giving Machines. President Curtis Beesley said while they are headquartered in Utah, they operate in 14 different developing countries to help people become self-reliant.

The group is represented in Giving Machines not just in Salt Lake City, but also Denver, Colorado; Nashville, Tennessee; Bellevue, Washington, and New York City.

“People can buy ducks — we have many of our clients who raise and sell ducks so this will help fund some of their operations. We also have many of our clients who are agricultural farmers, so there are seeds that can be bought,” Beesley said, adding that being in the Giving Machines raises awareness for the organization in addition to the donations.

“We are very blessed to be a part of this.”

Elder Martinez hope that as people give — either at the Giving Machines or online — and participate in other Light the World activities, they will have a Christ-centered Christmas.

“I don’t think that it will stop with just the 28 locations that are currently represented. Because this is something that is universal for all mankind in all walks of life in every country,” he said.

Orem Giving Machines

Later Tuesday evening, the Orem Giving Machines opened at University Place, with the Truman Brothers performing to kickoff the evening. The machines benefit five local charities in Utah County and three international groups.

Elder Evan A. Schmutz, General Authority Seventy and first counselor in the Utah Area presidency, spoke during the event and said how delighted he was to see so many children in the crowd.

“This is an important thing to learn for children and for all of us about giving,” he said.

Elder Schmutz said he and his wife, Sister Cindy Schmutz, were serving in the Philippines Area presidency when the first Giving Machines arrived in Manila, and they saw some of the gifts actually delivered to people.

“I can testify to you that those people actually are there, waiting to receive educational supplies or medical treatments or examinations or goats and chickens or food and so many things they stand in need of,” he said. “In our abundance, my dear friends, we have the opportunity to give.”

He said the light of Jesus Christ motivates people to give, and as they recognize the true light of Christ in them, they can become a light to other people far and wide.

“I’m very grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel that provides this kind of giving,” he concluded. “When we consider the light of Christ in our lives, we will seek to share that light with others.”

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On Tuesday, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints annual Light the World initiative started its rollout of more than 28 Giving Machines worldwide beginning in Salt Lake City and Orem.

Among the guests to celebrate the start of the giving season were Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and other leaders from the church and across Utah. All eyes and ears though, were on Adassa, the 35-year-old singer who recently voiced Delores Madrigal in Disney’s “Encanto.”

Adassa helped share the church’s message — that the Giving Machines help those in need through donations of items from goats to medicine and from food to soccer balls. The donation machines are there to light the world through love and giving, according to the church.

“To do this in Salt Lake City means so much to me,” Adassa told the Daily Herald. “I lived here for a while and it’s like coming home.”

The Giving Machines are a beautiful thing, she said. “We can give a little of who we are and with a little of what we have to share and we can light the world together.”

As a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Adassa proudly shares the opportunities she has had to share her light and talents throughout the world.

Learning about love, light and giving came in an unexpected way for Adassa, now a mother of seven children. Six are her biological children with one more from her husband, Gabriel Candiani’s, first marriage. She said family is everything.

Just one day after Adassa got her call back for Delores, she fell extremely ill. She had COVID in January 2020 and then again in March. The effects were devastating, and made it so she couldn’t stand, move and could barely speak. Her husband had to carry her from the bathroom to her bed.

Adassa ended up in the hospital just three weeks before recording for “Encanto.” Her faith and desire wouldn’t let her give up on her dream.

“COVID changed everything for me,” Adassa said.

She started pondering her life, examining what she was doing. You start thinking about your values, what love means, she explained.

“It’s okay to be happy and sad,” Adassa added. “I just wanted to hold my kids.”

Adassa was born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and was raised in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, and Houston. Both of her parents are from Colombia while her grandfather, and several generations back, are Africans who lived in Colombia. She says she is 100% American and 100% Latino.

Her parents didn’t have a lot of money, but Adassa had a dream. She wanted to sing. She even took the GED rather than wait graduate from high school and then went to college in Tennessee and continued to pursue her music career.

“When I heard Ariel from ‘The Little Mermaid’ sing she wanted to be ‘part of that world,’” Adassa said. “I wanted to be part of that world, but I thought the dream was over.”

But in reality, the dream was just getting started.

Adassa’s dynamic four-octave vocal range and artistry have resulted in her appearing on songs with Pitbull, Flo Rida, Snoop Dogg, Daddy Yankee, Ciara, Missy Elliott and Luis Fonsi, among others. She has performed in concert halls from New York City to the Hollywood Bowl.

Adassa’s debut as Delores brought her into the world of acting for the first time, and is giving her new opportunities and projects.

After working back from illness and turning down numerous opportunities so she can live her faith, Adassa wants to make a difference in the world.

With the love of her husband and children, the Gospel testimony and opportunities to share them, Adassa feels blessed — that she is doing the right things, for the right reasons.

“It feels surreal. I can share a movie that keeps going. Our daughter was one of the children in it,” Adassa said. “It gives a sense of joy to share.”

Just like the Giving Machines and the Light the World Initiative, Adassa seeks to share her light, talents and heart in a world that can be, too often, dark.

At the 7 p.m. Orem opening of the Giving Machines at University Place on Tuesday, the Truman Brothers shared their talents with guests as they unveiled the Giving Machines, which will be there until Dec. 31.

Ben and Chad Truman, brothers from Nashville, formed their group in 2005 while attending Brigham Young University.

Since 2017, Giving Machines have raised $15 million for humanitarian organizations in local communities and across the world.

More information about the Light The World initiative, Giving Machines and what can be done to “light the world this Christmas season” can be found at http://LightTheWorld.org.

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Utah County residents looking for Christmas lights and activities are in luck. Public events are scheduled throughout the valley for people to enjoy the spirit of the season.

On Friday, from 6-8:30 p.m, will be the annual Lighting of Shops at Riverwoods, which includes visits with Santa, ice sculptures and life-size photo opportunities. The lights turn on at 6:30 p.m. with fireworks closing out the night.

“We hope the lighting of the Riverwoods is a memorable holiday even for the whole family,” said JJ Haering, general manager.

The event will start with a countdown to light the Shops at Riverwoods with 1.5 million twinkle lights. Utah Valley philanthropist Jeanette Bennett will lead the countdown to begin the lighting festivities.

Community members’ musical performances provide the evening’s entertainment, including SPARK, Timpview High Drum Line, Mikah Wonders and BYU Mariachi Los Pumas. The Truman Brothers will be headlining the show.

“We want our guests to come and celebrate the beginning of the holiday season with us,” Haering said. “This event is performed by the community, for the community.”

On Monday at 6 p.m., Orem will hold its 13th annual Lights On holiday event. Residents are invited to have some free hot chocolate and doughnuts, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The first 450 children will also get a free giveaway.

There will be a short musical program that will feature the Timpanogos Bell Ringers and the Original Dickens Carolers. Nearly every tree across the City Center campus is lit up or decorated.

“Like unto the United States Postal Service, neither rain, nor sleet, nor heat nor gloom of night has stayed our crews in getting the lights installed for this year’s holiday celebration. We are pleased to play a small part in the holiday traditions of so many Orem families and want to make it special for them,” said Pete Wolfley, Orem spokesperson. “Santa’s reindeer are at a work retreat getting mentally prepared for their big night so we asked the Orem Fire Department to saddle up and bring Santa in on the brand new Tiller Truck. Santa likes to arrive in style.”

Following his arrival, Santa will hunker down in Library Hall to interested children.

Vineyard will kick off the season by hosting a tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 28 at Penny Springs Park. Trailside Elementary School’s choir will sing and the city will provide hot chocolate. The official lighting will be at 6 p.m.

Vineyard will also sponsor several families as part of United Way of Utah County’s Sub for Santa program. In the city office foyer, we will have a Christmas tree with tags of needed items, including clothing, books and toys. Tags will be available starting Dec. 1 and unwrapped gifts should be returned by Dec. 15.

Children may drop off their letters to Santa in a special mailbox in the Vineyard Children’s Library from Dec. 1-15. All letters receive a response back from Santa and his helpers!

Provo’s downtown Christmas activities will start at 5:30 on Dec. 3 at Pioneer Park Provo with a special light show against the walls of the new city hall. The annual Christmas Market will be help from 4-8 p.m. prior to the lighting in the park.

While the lights have already turned on at both the Provo Towne Centre and University Place there are many fun things to be aware of throughout the Christmas season.

Santa will arrive at the Provo Towne Centre mall on Wednesday and at University Place on Nov. 25 with a helicopter landing around 10 a.m. Both malls have events planned throughout the coming  weeks for any and all interested people.

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As the days tick away and Christmas draws closer, Utah County residents once again have the opportunity to donate to the Light the World Giving Machines at University Place in Orem.

The big red machines, sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have become a tradition of giving during the Christmas season throughout the world.

According to the church, the 2022 Light the World initiative invites people to ask and act on one question — “Who needs my light today?”

These giving-focused vending machines offer a unique way to share light by serving and caring for others around the world. Giving Machines include items such as groceries, fresh water, child vaccines, beds, hygiene kits, farming equipment, medical care, job training, educational supplies, beehives and livestock, the church noted.

This year, more people than ever can participate as Giving Machines will expand to 28 locations around the world.

In addition to Orem, boxes placed in the U.S. mountain west can be found in Salt Lake City, Colorado, Arizona and Nevada.

Joining the 20 permanent locations are eight additional cities in the United States that are participating in a mobile Giving Machine experience. These mobile Giving Machines will visit cities in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida and Arizona for a short stay before traveling to a new location.

As the number of worldwide locations expands, so does the number of participating nonprofit organizations. This year, nearly 125 local and global nonprofits will join with the church to care for and serve millions of people in need.

This year’s global nonprofit participants are:

• African Girls Hope Foundation
• American Red Cross
• Church World Service
• International Development Enterprises
• Lifting Hands International
• Mentors International
• UNHCR
• UNICEF
• Water For People
• World Food Program

Since the first Giving Machine appeared in 2017, total contributions have reached $15 million. As part of its ongoing global humanitarian efforts, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints covers all operational costs, ensuring that 100% of donations go to the charitable cause of your choice, according to a church statement.

Those unable to visit a physical machine can participate online at http://LightTheWorld.org/give.

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