in BUSINESS Women

BY CINDY JONES PHOTOS BY DAWN PAUL

When asked about their career choices, each of the women I reached out to for this year’s Women in Business feature said it came down to their desire to connect with others. Each is dynamic, intuitive, and creative in her career. What sets each apart is the ability to meet people wherever they are in their lives–whether running a well-loved business while building and giving back to the community or teaching, speaking and serving families in need. It was a great privilege and an inspiration to learn about each nominee, and I hope their stories inspire you too.

As a detective for Syracuse Police Department, Erin Behm wants to encourage any woman who’s thinking about a career in law enforcement to follow through with that goal.

“As women, we bring skills to the table that are so necessary in a tough and complicated field.”

As an investigator, Erin handles mainly sex abuse crimes against kids. She interviews young victims, working closely with (DCFS) the Utah Dept. of Child & Family Services to make sure the children are not only protected and removed from dangerous situations, but that each child has the resources they need to recover and go on to lead happy, productive lives. Some of the qualities that are natural strengths for her, like compassion, patience, and multi-tasking, are a critical part of her job.

Fueled by a passion for leadership and a deep appreciation for connecting people to needed resources, Amanda Tullis often feels energized by her career.

“In the small business world, there’s something exhilarating about identifying the gap between where we are and where we could be, and creating a service or a product that helps fill that gap.”

Amanda and her team oversee business resource centers in Davis and Morgan counties. Her role often involves connecting business owners with resources they didn’t know existed. She attributes her own achievements, as well as those of her clients, to the belief in oneself despite perceived limitations.

“Within everyone lies the seeds of greatness. We must water them, believe in them, and watch them flourish!”

As co-owner of ReJuvU Day Spa, Shannon Bass often finds her days filled with administrative tasks. But she makes time for interactions with guests because it’s the relationships that keep her inspired.

“It’s important to me that our guests trust us, to know that we care about them as people and not just as clients.”

Working as the director for a beauty school, Shannon felt drawn toward the beauty industry and decided she wanted to open her own spa.

She and her husband, Dr. Clay Bass, opened ReJuvU in 2019, offering both preventative and corrective treatments such as chemical peels, laser hair and tattoo removal, dermal fillers, Botox, and more.

“It isn’t about vanity. It’s about how people feel. When people feel good, it helps them become their best possible selves, inside and out.”

BY ANN PARK

MMichelle Giacoletto has worked for Ovation Homes for four years. She is a key team-member responsible for handling accounting, accounts payable, payroll, bonds, taxes and much more.

Herfocus and attention to detail are vital to the function of this fast-growing company. And she shares a close bond with her fellow team members. “I feel like I found my second family working here,” Michelle says.

During her time with the Ovation family, Michelle has played a vital role in developing company systems, facilitating growth, overseeing the internal processes, and managing collaboration between organizations. Land acquisition and building is a complex process, and Michelle helps keep all the moving parts working together. Ovation Homes has grown rapidly in our area. For over twenty years now, they have specialized in providing single-level floor plans that can be personalized to the needs and tastes of homeowners. “We create homes that allow residents to enjoy the lifestyle they’re looking for,” Michelle says, “every detail of our work goes toward that goal.” Working with numbers comes natural to Michelle, who has always loved math. She loves to figure things out and find solutions to intricate problems. With her background in math and analytics, she runs the financial systems and internal processes that help them continue to grow and serve their customers.

“I worked for another company for many years, and I was ready for a change,” Michelle says. “My network of business connections helped me so much as I advanced in my career. The people working around me, who recognized my abilities and helped me gain more education and skills, were a tremendous support. They helped me move forward, and I’m very grateful to be where I am now. We all need a network. As working women, our friends and coworkers are important.” Her advice to others considering accounting as a career: “Make sure you enjoy a challenge. Accuracy is very important to me and to my company.” While much of Michelle’s work happens behind the scenes, Ovation Homes wouldn’t be able to run smoothly without her. “I’m excited to see what comes next. I love being part of the growth happening now.”