Richard Nelson is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Utah Information Technology Association (UITA), the premier industry-driven, high-tech professional organization in the state. UITA is recognized also as one of the top information technology councils in the country. He has represented the industry since 1999, with highlights ranging from leading the industry's enormously successful passage of the $100 million Fund of Funds with the 2003 Legislature (which will significantly increase venture funds in coming years) to providing industry testimony before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee. He likes to refer to his industry role as the "community builder" in fostering Utah's highly-recognized IT community -- with over 2600 IT companies.
Mr. Nelson has an MBA from Northwestern University in marketing and finance and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Brigham Young University. In 2000, Governor Leavitt appointed him to the state's Board of Business and Economic Development. Mr. Nelson is on a number of boards, including the executive committee of the Council of Regional Information Technology Associations - the world's largest high tech council with over 22,000 technology-related companies.
Mr. Nelson has held responsible industry positions, including: Managing Director of a successful merger and acquisition intermediary firm; co-founder and Executive Vice President of Dayna Communications (a successful high tech start-up where he raised the early stage and LBO funds); National Finance Administrator for the Reagan for President national campaign staff, and a successful marketing representative for an IBM development company. In addition, he had an appointment with Governor Leavitt as the director of the state's Bond Authority and Incentive Funds.
Mr. Nelson currently serves on the following boards: Board of Governors, Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce; Economic Development Corporation of Utah Board; Industry Advisory Board, College of Engineering, University of Utah; Rollins Center for eBusiness @ BYU; Technology Entrepreneur Advisory Board, Westminster College; and the Utah Technology Industry Council. Mr. Nelson has served on the board of directors of Fidelity Trust Company, a national credit card bank of Fidelity Investments; eCharge Bank board; past president of the Salt Lake BYU Management Society; committee chair of the Salt Lake Rotary Club; and past president and current board member of the National Kidney Foundation of Utah. In 1991 he received a highly successful transplant and continues to be proactive with top genetic research authorities at the Mayo Clinic. He loves working and living in Utah with his spouse Karen, four sons, and one daughter.