PRESS RELEASE

December 12, 2003

Contact: Steve Kroes, Executive Director
(801) 272-8824, ext. 5
steve@utahfoundation.org

Utah Foundation Names New President, Vice President; Houston Promoted to Director of Research

At this week's meeting of the Board of Trustees, Utah Foundation selected its new President and Vice President. Doug Larson, who has served as Utah Foundation's Vice President for two years, was chosen to serve as President beginning in January 2004. Mr. Larson is Vice President of Regulatory Affairs with PacifiCorp and has volunteered as a Utah Foundation trustee for five years. Alan Allred, President and CEO of Questar Regulated Services, was elected to serve as Utah Foundation's Vice President. Mr. Allred has served on the Foundation's board for two years.

Outgoing President Scott Peterson, who is an Area Managing Partner for Ernst & Young, said that the Board of Trustees was quite pleased to have new leaders of such high caliber. "Both Doug and Alan bring tremendous leadership resources and vision to the helm of Utah Foundation," he said. "Their contributions on the Board of Trustees have been outstanding, and I commend them for their willingness to volunteer their valuable time for such an important organization."

Doug Larson said, "I see an extremely bright future for Utah Foundation as we continue to focus on public policy issues affecting Utah citizens. This organization is unique in encouraging informed public policy by providing independent, factual research that is trusted by policymakers, the business community, and citizens. I am honored to be able to help Utah Foundation succeed.

Alan Allred remarked that "Over the years, Utah Foundation has provided extremely valuable research on important policy issues facing this state, and I'm looking forward to continuing that important role."

Also at the Board of Trustees meeting, Executive Director Steve Kroes announced the promotion of Janice Houston to Director of Research. Ms. Houston has worked for Utah Foundation since December 2001 as the Senior Research Analyst. While Janice will continue to perform research and author reports on a variety of public policy topics of interest to Utahns, this promotion means she will be more involved in the management of the research department and in the crafting of Utah Foundation's research agenda. "This is an opportunity for me to ensure Utah Foundation is in touch with the interests of the average Utahn and that we are crafting research to answer citizens' questions about the effects of public policy decisions in the state," said Ms. Houston.

Regarding Houston's promotion, Mr. Allred said, "I'm very pleased to see Ms. Houston accept the responsibility to serve as our Director of Research. During her tenure as Senior Research Analyst, Janice showed a natural talent for leadership, coupled with strong skills for performing accurate, insightful research."

Prior to joining Utah Foundation in 2001, Ms. Houston managed the research program of the Wyoming Business Council in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She has a BA in Political Science from Colorado State University and will graduate from Brigham Young University in April with a Master of Public Administration degree. During her tenure at Utah Foundation, Ms. Houston has authored reports on Utah's water policy, welfare reform, taxes and government spending and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as well as co-authoring reports on K-12 education in Utah, school choice and charter schools, the economy and the recession.

Utah Foundation is a nonprofit, non-advocacy research organization. Our mission is to encourage informed public policy making and to serve as Utah's trusted source for independent, objective research on crucial public policy issues. For more information, see www.utahfoundation.org.