The state must continue to build a strong capital investment environment and improve infrastructure — in the form of attorneys and other professionals — who serve technology companies, he said.

"We have a natural resource many states don't have. We have a highly educated work force and a lot of people that are entrepreneurial-minded. It is alive and thriving in Utah, and it is a genuine natural resource," he said.

"Now we need to enable it, and the good news is we have some models like Silicon Valley we can look at and say, 'OK, what does it take to make that happen?' And I think that partnering with Capitol Hill we've taken some great strides down that road."

Bolstered by its growth figures, the singing-with-one-voice council wants to create a three-part harmony, working with elected leaders and education on a variety of issues.

"There really are three parts to growing an economy. Business can't do it by itself, certainly in the absence of government involvement, support and cooperation, and if you look at any of the great economic centers, you also find great higher education. And it's clear that structure of economic development needs to be a partnership between business, government and education," West said.

The council can work to provide unity with government and education "because we all want the same thing," he said. "Our legislators are good people, and they want Utah and Utahns to be in a good economic environment. . . . If the business leaders are saying, 'Look, we are the economic engine of the state and here's what's going to make a difference for businesses and families in Utah,' that's something that resonates pretty loudly if we can speak with one voice."

UTC this year also wants to start what Nelson calls "a serious dialogue" about improving the state's K-12 curriculum, continue to be results-driven rather than activity-driven, broaden its peer-to-peer forums and find ways to help Utah companies get access to capital.

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