Center for Financial Wellness
The mission of Westminster University’s Center for Financial Wellness is to:
- Improve the financial well-being of the broader Westminster community
- Increase financial literacy and preparedness for the community’s individuals and households
- Strengthen the small businesses and non-profit ecosystems
- Improve outcomes for start-ups and entrepreneurs needing resources to overcome cultural and economic barriers to success
While our focus begins with students, staff, and faculty, we also provide for needs throughout the community, with a special focus on low-income, minority, female-led, underrepresented, and otherwise marginalized groups.
Business Certificate Series
The Business Certificate Series is designed for non-business students wanting to learn business language for career advancement. Offered by Westminster’s Center for Financial Wellness and the Bill and Vieve Gore School of Business, it includes online courses in various business topics such as accounting, finance, and entrepreneurship.
Courses are available live, hybrid, or self-paced and are free, non-credit bearing, but noted on transcripts. They provide practical knowledge without requiring a business degree and can prepare students for further education or refresh existing skills.
Gore Consulting
Gore Consulting features well-trained undergraduate and graduate consultants who assist small businesses in the region for free. They support various projects, including marketing plans, cash flow projections, and business valuation analysis, providing students with hands-on experience while helping local entrepreneurs succeed.
Under Professor Richard Haskell's guidance, Bill and Vieve Gore School of Business students work with small businesses in the community, enhancing their understanding of business concepts while transitioning to professional careers. This hands-on experience fosters skills in communication, expectation management, and accountability.
The program offers more than coursework; it provides businesses with insights and solutions while giving students practical experience. This collaboration enhances students' professional readiness and supports local business success.
Financial Counseling Clinic
The Financial Counseling Clinic provides vital support for personal and household financial issues, offering resources for financial literacy and personalized assistance from trained professionals. Its mission is to empower individuals and families to achieve financial goals amid economic challenges, focusing on skills like budgeting, banking, credit, and savings. Services are free for Westminster students, staff, faculty, and the community. Additionally, the clinic combines counseling with the Personal Financial Wellness Series courses to enhance financial skills and promote overall financial wellness.
Utah Business Stories: Showcasing Success and Growth
Utah has achieved significant economic growth, gaining recognition for its advancements in advanced manufacturing sectors such as aerospace, finance, life sciences, healthcare, and IT. This success is attributed to a skilled workforce and a supportive business ecosystem fostered by state agencies, chambers of commerce, and educational institutions, promoting small businesses and innovation.
The Utah Business Stories initiative captures the journeys of small businesses, aiming to:
- Showcase the impact of local resources on growth
- Highlight successes to inspire entrepreneurs and attract investments
- Provide data for policymakers to enhance program effectiveness
Sharing these stories across digital channels, the initiative aims to boost businesses' marketing efforts, leading to increased revenues and stronger communities while emphasizing Utah's commitment to economic innovation.
Deal Flow Report
The deal flow report provides an extensive overview of capital market activity within a state, offering insights for investors, business leaders, and policymakers. Developed by student-led teams using PitchBook for data collection, the reports highlight key trends, sector performance, and regional distributions. They are categorized into:
- Deal Type Segments transactions into Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions, Venture Capital, Debt Transactions, and Public Offerings.
- Sector Analysis Examines investment trends by industry to identify growth sectors.
- Geographical Distribution Analyzes capital activity by economic regions, highlighting localized investment variations.
The report serves as a valuable resource for understanding state-level capital market dynamics through data-driven insights and in-depth analysis.
Talk About Business Conference
Talk About Business is an annual small business conference from the Bill and Vieve Gore School of Business that includes strong student involvement through planning and execution. The event focuses on practical solutions for pressing issues through workshops and keynote speakers and is designed to help small business owners. To make the event accessible, attendance is free for Westminster students and low cost for the community.
The 2025 Talk About Business conference hosted over 265 attendees from diverse industries like finance, healthcare, tech, consulting, and more. Event Speakers, interactive panels, and breakout sessions covered topics including:
- Using AI for productivity
- Hiring and retention
- Small business lending and equity investment
- Social media marketing
- Government contracting and tax strategies
