Kori Ann Edwards is the Chief Strategy Officer for 47G Utah Aerospace & Defense. In this capacity, Kori Ann leads the organization’s strategic initiatives to accelerate the growth of Utah’s aerospace and defense ecosystem. She possesses over three decades of public and private-sector experience in economic development, strategic leadership, program development and stakeholder engagement.

Most recently, Edwards served as the managing director of strategic initiatives for the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) where she developed Utah’s economic vision for the 2034 Winter Olympics, led the agency’s COVID-19 response, overseeing the rapid distribution of $200 million in relief funds, and launched forward-thinking programs such as the state’s telework and returnship programs.

Prior to her service at GOEO, Edwards worked as senior vice president and chief operating officer at Logistics Specialties, Inc. (LSI). During her 20-year tenure at LSI, Edwards instituted and managed the company’s economic development division, overseeing more than $40 million in revenue allocation. Edwards has served on numerous executive boards and committees across the state. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Political Science from Utah State University.

Since 2018 Beth Holbrook has served as a full-time Board Trustee for the Utah Transit Authority (UTA). She has worked in several different capacities over the years including Real Estate sales, the financial sector as a Director of Business Development, Public Sector Manager - a government relations role for the private sector as well an elected official. She was a Bountiful City Council Member since 2008 and has served on numerous boards including the Utility Facility Review Board, Planning Commissioner, and President of the Utah League of Cities and Towns (ULCT) in 2018. Beth earned her BA Degree in Policial Science from the University of Utah.

Dr. Jeremy Pearson serves as the Director of the Utah Office of Energy Development’s Utah San Rafael State Energy Lab in Emery County where he works with universities and industry to research and commercialize groundbreaking energy technologies including nuclear, fossil, hydrogen, battery, water and other technologies. Dr. Pearson received an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering in 2002 from Brigham Young University and worked in manufacturing and process development at Amgen prior to returning to school to pursue a graduate degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Irvine. During his graduate work, Dr. Pearson studied the backend of the nuclear fuel cycle and used nuclear fuel recycling. In 2015 Dr. Pearson worked in Senator Hatch’s office as a AAAS Congressional Science and Engineering fellow advising the office on science and energy policy and briefly as an Energy Security Fellow for SAFE (Securing America’s Future Energy). Following his time in D.C. and prior to joining the State Energy Lab, Dr. Pearson moved to Utah to work as a Development Scientist at Red Leaf in the fossil fuel industry pursing economical solutions to synthetic fuels development. Dr. Pearson is from Los Angeles California has enjoyed the mountains and outdoors in both California and Utah.

Marian Rice is the Associate Director for the Energy Futures Research Engine (Energy Futures) and PEAK Water Sustainability Engine (PEAK Water). An experienced high-level administrator, Marian previously served as the Deputy Director of the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities (SLCDPU). Prior to that, she served as the Watershed Planning & Restoration Section Manger for Salt Lake County. Marian completed a Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Utah focusing on the energy-water nexus and environmental justice (EJ). She also holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) focused on renewable energy implementation and completed the Environmental Dispute Resolution Program in the S.J. Quinney College of Law. Marian’s undergraduate degree is in Biology from Portland State University. She supports multiple research efforts at the University of Utah. In addition to leading Energy Futures and PEAK Water, she leads the Critical Minerals Working Group, and is on the Utah leadership team for the NSF-funded Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine. Further, she serves as PI of the EPA Solar for All University of Utah Coalition and Chair of the Jordan River Commission Technical Advisory Committee.