Josh Dorrell, CEO of the Wyoming Business Council, called into the Weekday Wake-Up to discuss the future direction of the business council and the results from a recent 3rd party audit.

The following transcript of the above interview is AI generated. Minor spelling errors are likely to occur.

(0:00) Weekday Wake Up, SVI Radio on SWIFT 98 and The Spur. (0:04) A chance to catch up with the Wyoming Business Council, (0:06) CEO of the Business Council, Josh Durell, (0:08) joining me over the phone today. (0:09) Josh, good morning, how are you doing today? (0:12) Good morning, Duke, I’m doing great.

(0:13) Hey, appreciate your time as always, (0:15) and a chance to catch up with the Business Council (0:18) and see how things are going. (0:19) I don’t think you and I have talked (0:20) since the legislative session, (0:22) and of course, the business council (0:28) was a big focal point of the legislature, (0:30) and so a chance to kind of go back to that. (0:33) But first, you guys have been traveling (0:35) around the state of Wyoming a little, (0:37) trying to talk with the residents of the Cowboy State.

(0:40) Tell us about these listening sessions (0:41) that you’re doing this summer. (0:45) Yeah, you bet, Duke, those are really important (0:46) because in addition to working in all of the communities (0:51) across the state and utilizing our programs, (0:54) we really want to make sure that we understand (0:56) how people are feeling on the ground. (0:58) What we’re hearing is that people want opportunities (1:01) for new jobs and better jobs, (1:05) and they’re also saying they want opportunities (1:06) for their kids to be able to stay here (1:08) or to be able to have that mobility in their jobs.

(1:11) And so we’re hearing a lot from people, (1:14) and they’re also telling us a lot about (1:15) what they think the role of the state should be in that. (1:19) And it’s just important to us to make sure (1:21) that we know what’s happening on the ground. (1:23) You know, a lot of times you’re making policy, (1:25) you’re making investments, (1:26) and you can easily lose touch (1:29) if you’re not really paying attention.

(1:30) And so that’s something that’s really important to us. (1:33) Well, you have multiple locations across the state. (1:35) It doesn’t look like any in Lincoln County, (1:37) but you do have, on the 13th of August, (1:39) a virtual statewide listening session (1:41) that our listeners can check into.

(1:43) Tell us how that will work (1:45) and what people can expect to participate in (1:48) when that happens. (1:50) Yeah, that’s great. (1:51) Thanks for asking about that.

(1:53) That is pretty exciting for us (1:54) because it’s gonna be a little bit of a culmination. (1:57) We’re going to have done listening sessions. (1:59) And while we don’t have a big one in Lincoln County, (2:02) we are listening to our connections there in Lincoln County (2:05) and going through, you know, (2:07) whether it be the county commissioners (2:09) or folks in the communities there.

(2:11) But what we’re gonna do on the 13th (2:13) is really bring a lot of that information (2:15) back to the public and say, (2:16) this is what we heard, is it right? (2:18) And we’re also going to be breaking in to smaller groups (2:24) and showing people what businesses care about, (2:27) what businesses care about when it comes to development, (2:30) what entrepreneurs care about (2:31) when it comes to starting a new company. (2:34) What does it look like (2:34) when you’re trying to expand your business? (2:36) What does it look like for communities (2:38) to be able to expand their infrastructure? (2:40) And so we’re really gonna be breaking in (2:41) to some really important themes (2:43) that communities face and businesses face (2:45) so that our community leaders or business leaders (2:48) and people in the public can see (2:50) what’s going on in those different areas. (2:52) And then we’re gonna bring it back together (2:54) and just remind everybody, (2:56) hey, we’re all in this together, (2:57) we’re all in Team Wyoming, (2:59) and we’re gonna have to figure out some ways (3:00) to make sure that our families have opportunities for growth (3:03) and that our communities can be great places for families (3:06) to really set themselves up for success.

(3:09) So again, that virtual statewide listening session (3:12) will be August 13th. (3:14) It’s open to all of Wyoming (3:15) and more details and registration can be found (3:17) on the Wyoming Business Council website (3:19) as we get a little closer. (3:20) Josh Terrell, CEO of the Wyoming Business Council (3:22) on the air with us today.

(3:24) So Josh, let’s go back to the legislative session. (3:26) Of course, lawmakers had a lot of discussions (3:29) about the Business Council and state funding (3:31) and how that should work. (3:31) And one thing that came out of that (3:32) is they requested an audit of the Business Council.

(3:36) And that audit has recently been completed, (3:39) that third-party audit. (3:40) Tell us what came out of that. (3:42) Yeah, first of all, a lot of people don’t realize this, (3:45) but we do our own audit.

(3:47) We have an independent third party (3:48) that we do a financial audit of us every year. (3:52) So this was nothing new for us. (3:54) This was a little bit deeper though, (3:56) and which we appreciate.

(3:58) And it found a couple of things (3:59) that we are going to pay attention to. (4:01) When it comes to the financials though, (4:03) it found nothing that was not spent in accordance (4:06) with the statute or any wrongdoing on the financial side. (4:10) What it did find is that there were a couple instances (4:12) where the documentation for those expenditures (4:15) were not as complete as the auditors (4:17) would have liked to seen it.

(4:18) I’ll give an example. (4:20) One of the pieces of documentation (4:22) that we use to justify a charge was at a hotel (4:27) and the documentation was a reservation (4:30) rather than the actual bill. (4:31) And there was an 86 cent difference between those two.

(4:35) And auditors say, that’s a problem. (4:37) And it’s like, well, it’s 86 cents (4:39) and we have about $48 million (4:42) that were extended in that period of time. (4:45) So I think we’re not feeling too bad about that.

(4:48) The one area though that we really want to dig into (4:51) and do a little bit better job (4:53) is just on the documentation (4:55) and making sure that things like out-of-state travel requests (4:58) are taken care of appropriately. (5:00) But all in all, it’s very clean. (5:03) I think if we were to put that up against any business (5:06) or any other organization, (5:07) I think you’d find that we are squeaky clean, Duke.

(5:11) So what do you think that means now (5:14) when we talk about the future (5:15) of the Wyoming Business Council (5:17) and how much funding should or should not (5:20) the Business Council have? (5:21) And as those kinds of conversations continue, (5:23) what do you think this audit says (5:24) to that type of conversation? (5:28) Well, I think what that audit says is that, (5:30) one, we’re a trustworthy organization (5:32) that has processes in place to make sure (5:35) that we’re good stewards of state funds. (5:36) That is job one. (5:38) And we’ve done that very well.

(5:39) This audit proved that (5:41) and there shouldn’t be any question there. (5:43) So we’re a really good and safe place (5:45) to invest state funds in. (5:47) The other thing that it should say, (5:49) and it gives people that trust, (5:51) but what we are seeing is that in communities (5:54) where the state is not making investments (5:56) and the communities are not making investments, (5:59) the job opportunities go down.

(6:01) And in places where the state makes investments (6:04) and communities invest in their own growth, (6:06) the job opportunities go up. (6:08) And we’ve got data that shows county by county, (6:11) when you invest in yourself (6:13) and when the state can be there to help out, (6:16) job opportunities increase. (6:17) And so those two things to me say, (6:19) one, we’re a very safe place (6:20) and we are good stewards of state funds.

(6:23) And two, we make a difference for Wyoming families (6:26) who are looking for job opportunities (6:28) and want to increase their success in the economy. (6:32) When I look at it, it says, (6:34) we should invest more in an organization (6:37) like the Business Council, (6:38) because it makes such a big difference (6:40) in communities in Wyoming. (6:42) And ultimately that’s for families in Wyoming.

(6:45) Speaking with Josh Terrell, (6:46) CEO of the Wyoming Business Council this morning, (6:48) let’s talk about some of those investments (6:50) that have recently been made, (6:52) including $8.8 million in housing infrastructure (6:55) that went to a couple of different communities, (6:58) specifically Douglas and Wright in the state. (7:00) Tell us about these types of investments (7:02) and what you’re seeing on the return of investment (7:06) to the communities in Wyoming that you make those to. (7:09) Yeah, thanks, Duke, (7:11) because those investments are for infrastructure.

(7:13) And I think that’s one of the things (7:14) that people sometimes forget. (7:16) We’re not buying houses for people. (7:17) What we’re doing is we’re putting (7:19) in that arterial infrastructure.

(7:20) So that’s water, sewer, urban gutter, (7:23) the basics that a community needs to expand. (7:26) And when you look at a lot of the energy projects (7:29) that are going along, (7:30) what some might call that energy corridor in Wyoming, (7:33) it’s really important that communities are ready for growth. (7:36) And that’s what this infrastructure does, (7:38) is it puts them in a position (7:40) so that they can develop out housing developments.

(7:43) We’re not putting in, again, (7:45) we’re not putting in the housing. (7:46) We’re not giving away subsidized housing. (7:48) We’re just helping those communities pay (7:51) for the water and sewer lines that they need (7:53) to the mains that they need to expand.

(7:56) And so I think when you see that, (7:58) it’s really an important component (8:00) because we know that housing (8:01) is a constraint to economic growth. (8:04) Well, Josh, we appreciate your time as always. (8:06) Anything else that you’d like to bring up (8:08) in regards to the Wyoming Business Council (8:10) while we have you this morning? (8:13) Duke, I think that we nailed some of those things.

(8:15) What I would like to say is that (8:16) that virtual meeting across the state (8:19) on August 13th is incredibly important. (8:22) We’d like to get a thousand people (8:23) to join in on that webinar, (8:25) learn about what’s going on in the economy, (8:27) learn about what they can do in their communities. (8:30) And really, again, it’s all about (8:32) how do we help our families succeed here economically (8:35) and how do we keep our kids (8:37) or give them opportunities to be here long-term? (8:40) And I just appreciate the time today.

(8:41) Thanks, Duke. (8:42) Perfect. (8:42) You can find info on that listening session, (8:45) virtual listening session (8:46) on the Wyoming Business Council website.

(8:47) We’ll also put a link on our website (8:49) when we post this interview as well (8:50) at svinews and svikember.com. (8:52) Josh Turrell, CEO of the Wyoming Business Council. (8:55) It’s all part of the weekday wake up on SBI Radio.