2024 Distinguished Alumni
Jim Russell, AAS
Electrician Apprenticeship Program, 1984
Associate Vice President, Facilities, University of Utah
For Jim Russell, completing SLCC’s Electrician Apprenticeship program was the first step in building a highly successful career in the construction industry. Eventually, he became the director of the Utah Division of Facilities and Construction Management, and this March, he accepted a position with the University of Utah, overseeing its facilities division.
SLCC’s electrician program was a good place to start for Jim. “I love to learn and understand things, and I’m a hands-on learner. Working in the field while I was going to school worked well for me.”
Over the years, Jim has reconnected with SLCC professionally. He oversaw the renovation of the South City Campus, which he attended as a student when the facility was known as South City High, and he was instrumental in building other structures on the college’s Taylorsville Redwood Campus. He also served as an adjunct instructor in SLCC’s electrician program from 2008 to 2012.
“I like watching projects evolve, going from bare dirt to something spectacular and to see all the craftsmanship involved,” says Jim. “It’s fun to see what you’ve created so clearly and concretely.”
Jim is emphatic that a bachelor’s degree is not the only path to a well-paying, fulfilling career. “I really love the mission and concept behind technical colleges and the value they bring to the state by encouraging people to go into the trades.”
Lianna Kinard
Associate’s Degree, General Studies, 2004
Chief Marketing Officer, The Buckner Company
When Lianna Kinard began her journey at Salt Lake Community College, she had recently relocated from Mililani, Hawaii, to Utah, where she worked full time to support her education. SLCC provided an excellent starting point, and she remembers feeling a sense of belonging on campus.
In one of her classes, Lianna met a student from Japan who had recently moved to Utah. “Where in the world does a girl from Hawaii end up sitting next to a girl from Japan in a classroom,” says Lianna, who valued SLCC’s small class sizes. “When I think of inclusivity, I think of SLCC.”
Lianna’s start at the college ultimately led to a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business and a Master of Liberal Arts in General Management from Harvard University. Today, Lianna serves as the Chief Marketing Office for The Buckner Company, a premier insurance brokerage firm headquartered in Salt Lake City.
Her professional excellence has resulted in numerous recognitions, including Insurance Business America's Elite Women in Insurance and Utah Businesswoman of the Year. “I love working in an industry that is built around taking care of people,” says Lianna, who has worked for Buckner for 16 years.
Lianna is known for her community service and involvement in many local organizations. She has served as a mentor, board member and chair of the David Eccles School of Business Alumni Network and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Hale Centre Theatre. She is also chair of the American Heart Association Board and a member of the Forbes Communication Council.