Chris Redgrave is new voice of 'Speaking on Business'

SALT LAKE CITY — The career of Chris Redgrave, a veteran of the radio industry, has come full circle.

The former vice president/general manager of KSL Radio who retired last year was back in the KSL studios on Wednesday taping Zions Bank's "Speaking on Business" program.

The show is aired every day in Utah and twice a week in Idaho on several radio stations.

"The most important thing for me is to support business growth in Utah and Idaho," Redgrave said.

She is delighted that Utah is one of the top states for business start-ups and likens the state's entrepreneurial spirit to the courage and hard work of those who moved here during the 1800s — "it's almost a Western type of spirit."

The brief segments of "Speaking on Business" focus on people who have either started their own firms or who are doing what they can to keep things going during the difficult economic times.

"I want to highlight them, publicize them, make sure we acknowledge their success and share their best business practices for listeners so they could learn from them and may implement these in their own business," she said.

The show previously was hosted by Fred Ball, whom Redgrave characterizes as an "icon" in the business community.

"It's going to be very similar to what Fred did, but we have a different style," Redgrave said. "I certainly want to carry on the tradition, and I have every intention of taking it and extending it."

Redgrave began at KSL Radio in 1989 and worked her way up. She had a 20-year career with the Bonneville Salt Lake Radio Group, which included such stations as KSL Newsradio, FM100.3 and 103.5 The Arrow.

During an introduction to her new show by A. Scott Anderson, president and CEO of Zions Bank, he noted that Redgrave also has been active in the Salt Lake Chamber. She was the second woman to chair its board of governors and made several changes there, and in 2009 she received its prestigious Athena Award for her efforts on behalf of the community and business people.

Redgrave said she is inspired by the business owners she has met who will be the subjects of the show.

Take Nanette Mathieu, who created City Cakes & Cafe, 292 E. 900 South in Salt Lake City.

Her business offers traditional foods and cakes for all occasions, as well as vegan, gluten-free and other specialty cakes.

"She's a wonderful woman," Redgrave said. "She really had dreamed about starting her own business since she was 18. She went to her bank where she'd banked for 20 years for a loan. Her bank said, 'Be in business for two years and then come back to us.'

"She went to Zions Bank, she got her loan and she got her business started. She told me, 'Zions Bank said we believe in you.' It was amazing."

e-mail: lindat@desnews.com