Welcome Gordon Haight: Provo's New Public Works Director

It is my great honor to introduce Gordon Haight as Provo's new Public Works Director. Public Works is the largest department in our city, encompassing a variety of crucial divisions including water, engineering, and public services, which covers streets, sanitation, and fleet. Additionally, the department is responsible for the Provo Airport, an essential asset to our community.

Gordon Haight is ideally suited for this role, bringing over 30 years of experience in municipal work covering engineering, public works, and administration. His deep understanding of our community's needs and his proven track record of leadership and innovation are precisely what Provo needs as we continue to grow and thrive.

During his tenure as city engineer and interim public works director, Gordon played an instrumental role in several significant community projects. These include the overhead pedestrian bridge at Provo Central Station, the expansion of Provo Airport, and the enhancement of our trails and bike paths. Moreover, we are eagerly anticipating the opening of our 100-acre regional park this fall—a project that promises to enhance the quality of life for our residents.

Looking ahead, Gordon will lead transformative projects critical to our city's infrastructure, such as the upgrades to our wastewater and water treatment plants. These initiatives are not just about upgrading our facilities—they're about preparing Provo for a sustainable future, ensuring we can meet the demands of our growing population while maintaining the quality of life that makes our city so special.

Gordon’s journey to this pivotal role started in California, where he was raised before making Utah his home at the age of 21. He is a proud alumnus of BYU, where he earned a Bachelor's in Civil Engineering and a Master's in Engineering Management. Outside of his professional life, Gordon enjoys spending time with his family, particularly camping and hiking with his grandchildren—a testament to his deep appreciation for the natural beauty that surrounds us.

In Gordon Haight, we have a leader who not only meets but exceeds our city’s criteria for dynamic leadership, innovation, and engaging communication. We are confident that his vision and dedication will propel Provo to new heights. Please join me in welcoming Gordon as he takes on this crucial role, steering our public works toward a brighter and more innovative future.

MegaDiamond Shines with the Provo Green Business Award

I am thrilled to share an exciting highlight from our recent Earth Day celebrations—a day that resonates deeply with our community's commitment to sustainability. This year, we had the distinct pleasure of presenting the Provo Green Business Award to SLB MegaDiamond Technology Center (MegaDiamond). This prestigious award, which was first introduced in 2017 by our dedicated Provo Citizens’ Sustainability Committee, aims to recognize businesses that are making significant efforts to positively impact our community and environment.

The award ceremony was held in MegaDiamond’s newly remodeled cafeteria, where I joined over 150 employees in celebrating this achievement. Presenting the award to Seth Conaway, the General Manager of MegaDiamond, was a proud moment for all of us. MegaDiamond stands out as a prime example of how a local company can prioritize sustainability and community well-being, setting a high standard for others to follow. Rick Cox, the business liaison for the volunteer committee, highlighted that in the seven-year history of our Green Business Award, only two other businesses have reached the prestigious Max Green level before MegaDiamond. Their unanimous selection for this award marks a significant milestone, showcasing their leadership in sustainability.

MegaDiamond has demonstrated exceptional commitment to environmental stewardship. They have significantly reduced their carbon footprint by 5,000 tons annually, cut water consumption by 4.6 million gallons a year, and recycled or eliminated over 200 tons of material annually through various strategic initiatives. These efforts include investing in LED lighting, utilizing 100% solar power offsets through Provo's Community Solar program, and innovative water reuse practices.

Furthermore, MegaDiamond has actively engaged in the community with initiatives like adopting a section of the Provo River Trail for quarterly cleanups. This not only helps preserve our local ecosystem but also sets an inspiring example of corporate responsibility.

As we move forward, it is clear that MegaDiamond’s actions will inspire other businesses in Provo to adopt more sustainable practices. Their impressive 89% reduction in CO2 emissions is just the beginning of what I believe will be a lasting legacy of environmental stewardship within our business community.

Thank you, MegaDiamond, and congratulations once again on your well-deserved recognition.

Provo Green Business Award Recipients:

Honors Level

Lakeview Car Wash

Fort Laundry

Utah Safety Emission

Mayor’s Award Level

Mozz

Maximum Green Level

NuSkin

Guru’s

MegaDiamond

Bike to Work (Or Anywhere) Day!

If you have been looking for a good reason to park your car and take your bike to work – this is it! Thursday, May 2, 2024 is Bike to Work (Or Anywhere) Day! That means Provo businesses will host breakfast stations located throughout the city and hand out FREE FOOD, DRINKS, AND TREATS to people who arrive by bike from 7:30 – 9:00 am. (Provo City Hall's breakfast station will be open at 7:00 am for early bird riders.)

Get ready to pick up some breakfast, get to know your fellow commuters, have your bike looked at by a pro mechanic, and connect with the BikeWalk Provo team!

To stay up to date on event details, be sure to RSVP to our Facebook Event Page.

Breakfast Stations

Starting to think about your route to work on Bike to Work Day? Well, get ready to pedal to a breakfast station near you! I am excited to announce this year's breakfast stations that will be located throughout our city on Thursday, May 2. Check out the Google Map below and the descriptions of each breakfast station.

🚲 Provo City Hall – Pancakes, drinks provided by Coke, bike safety checks by Mad Dog Cycles, and free bicycle registration (Open at 7:00 AM for early-bird riders.)

🚲 Provo Recreation Center – Hruskas Kolaches, free bicycle safety checks by The Scooter Lounge.

🚲 Utah Valley Hospital – Burritos

🚲 Day's Market – Donuts and fruit

🚲 Dutch Bros Coffee – Coffee, tea, rebel, cold brew, muffin tops

🚲 Starbucks – Banana and Pumpkin breaks

🚲 Beehive Catering - Pastries and Drinks 🚲 Molly's | Marvelous Catering  – French Toast Bake with Cinnamon Buttermilk Syrup, Orange Juice, and Ice Water

🚲 Duncan Aviation – Bagels, breakfast bars, juice, and water for the first 30 cyclists. 

🚲 Shirley's Bakery & Cafe – Breakfast Croissant Sandwiches, pastries, and water.

🚲 Jamba Juice – Smoothies

🚲 Brigham Young University – Muffins and fruit (breakfast will only be served to active BYU employees)

🚲 UTA Frontrunner - Details coming soon!

🚲 UDOT – Light snacks (granola, muffins, and drinks) 🚲 Hales Creative Breakfast Station – Protein bars, BYU Creamery chocolate milk, and fruit 🚲 NuSkin Breakfast Station – Details coming soon!

🚲 The Brunch House Breakfast Station – Shots of green or carrot juice, Orange Juice and pastries.

🚲 Utah County Health Department Breakfast Station – Build your own yogurt parfait. 🚲 Peace on Earth – Details coming soon!

🚲 Wendy's – Oatmeal bars and Frosty Cream Cold Brew

🚲 Pando's Refitters – Details coming soon!

🚲 Kneaders Bakery & Cafe (Shops at Riverwoods) – Details coming soon!

🚲 Revere Health – Details coming soon!

*We'll be adding new breakfast stations and updating details daily. So keep checking back regularly for more information.