“America’s best kept secret for job growth and entrepreneurship is in Salt Lake City. At the heart of it is the small business owner, one of the hardest working and underserved engines of our economy. I am so excited to join the team and be part of this next phase of growth,” says Roberta Reichgelt.

Roberta is joining the Business Development division of Salt Lake City’s Department of Economic Development as the new Local Business and Entrepreneurship Manager. In this role, Roberta will facilitate connections, provide on-the-ground services to businesses needing assistance, and advocate for policies and service changes to improve Salt Lake City’s business climate.

Under the direction of the Economic Development Director Lara Fritts, Roberta will be directing small business initiatives, working closely to help businesses utilize the Economic Development Loan Fund, and recruitment and retention efforts. As a leader in the Business Advisory Board (BAB) she will be assisting with the collection of business and economic data, and using it to support the small business owner.

Roberta began her career working in international economic development at the Foreign Fulbright Program in New York City.  There she managed the budget of the largest funded program in Pakistan and assisted with program policy for the Afghan Junior Faculty Program.  Following this, she joined the Dean’s Office at New York University Schack Institute of Real Estate where she worked on the graduate programs in Real Estate and designed study trips to leading global cities.  Since relocating to Salt Lake City, she has worked at Salt Lake Community College partnering education with industry to provide training for skill gaps in Utah’s workforce.

An avid traveler, Roberta has visited 40 countries and lived in four major cities around the world including Chicago, Madrid, Santiago, and New York.  Her favorite part about traveling is the culinary experience and the challenge of being outside of her comfort zone. She was drawn to Utah for its strong economy, beautiful landscapes, and easy access to outdoor recreation. She is already planning her next camping, hiking and lake adventure.

“New and small business owners need someone who is collaborative, experienced with workforce management, and a leader who can network at a local, national, and international level,” said Economic Development Deputy Director Ben Kolendar. “Roberta is ready to take this on.”