Managing close to $2.5 billion in revenue, Clyde Companies Inc. former CEO, Wilford W. Clyde, was honored as the 44th Giant in our City on the evening of Thursday, April 27, at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors established the Giant in our City award in 1969. The award was created to honor exceptional and distinguished public service and extraordinary professional achievement. It is considered the Chamber’s most prestigious award and is given periodically by the Chamber Board of Governors. In addition to celebrating his professional accomplishments in business, the event will recognize Clyde’s outsized contributions and decades of dedicated service to our chamber, community, and state.
The Salt Lake Chamber is Utah’s largest and longest-standing business association. A statewide chamber of commerce with members in all 29 Utah counties, the Chamber represents the broad interests of the state’s 63,000-plus employers, which employ more than 1.4 million Utahns. This includes thousands of Chamber members and their employees. With roots that date back to 1887, the Chamber stands as the voice of business, supports its members’ success, and champions community prosperity.
Wilford was a graduate of Springville High, where he played basketball, football, and tennis. He served a two-year LDS Church mission to New Zealand, after which he attended Brigham Young University and earned a bachelor's degree in accounting. Following graduation, he began working at Geneva Rock Products, a family construction business, as the controller. He served as the vice president and general manager and, following the death of his father in 1987, was elected President of Geneva Rock Products.
In 2001, Clyde was named CEO of Clyde Companies Inc. (CCI), and has overseen a time of unprecedented growth in its mission to “Build a Better Community.” As he helped expand CCI, the company went from generating $50 million to $2.5 billion a year. As an extension of that growth, one of Clyde's proudest legacies was providing meaningful careers for nearly 5,000 employees. Throughout his career, he followed in the footsteps of his grandfather and company founder, W.W. Clyde, by staying true to the values and principles embedded in the heritage of Clyde Companies. Clyde Companies’ subsidiaries include WW Clyde, Geneva Rock, Sunroc, Sunpro, IHC Scott, Bridgesource, GWC Capital, and Beehive Insurance.
Along with his personal financial achievements, Wilford has also dedicated much of his time in service towards the community as chair of the SL Chamber, the Utah State Board of Regents, chair of the Utah Manufacturers Association, president of the Utah Associated General Contractors, chair of the Provo/Orem Chamber of Commerce, chair of the Board of Trustees of Utah Valley University, and national president of the BYU Cougar Club.
PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
- Chairman & CEO, Clyde Companies
- President, Associated General Contractors of Utah
- President, Vice President, and Board Member, Beavers Inc.
- Chairman, Utah Manufacturers Association
- Chairman, Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce
- Chairman, Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce
COMMUNITY SERVICE
- Springville City Mayor (2009-17)
- Springville City Council (1989-92)
- Utah State Board of Regents
- Chairman, Board of Trustees, Utah Valley University
- National President, BYU Cougar Club
- Founding Member, UVU Wolverine Club
- Co-Chair, Springville Museum of Art Annual Ball
- Co-Chair, Utah Valley University President’s Ball
- Commissioner of Multiple Youth Softball Leagues
