Stephen Lisonbee

Associate Vice President of Community Outreach & Engagement Southern Utah University

  • Cedar City UT

Specializing in workforce and economic development, community outreach, and leadership development

Contact

Southern Utah University

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Biography

Stephen Lisonbee is assistant vice president of the Office of Regional Services at Southern Utah University. He oversees departments and centers who focus on community, economic and workforce developments programs and partnerships.

Lisonbee has been involved in community, economic, and workforce development throughout Utah for the past 20 years. He has been recognized as a leader who develops relationships and partnerships. His leadership is most notable through his convening power and vision creation.

Most recently, Lisonbee was appointed as the senior advisor to the Governor for rural affairs for the state of Utah.

Prior to SUU, Lisonbee held the appointed position as Division Director for Utah’s Workforce Development Division where he was tasked with administering federal and state programs to fuel Utah's economic engine and sustainable workforce through a career and educational approach. He has played a leadership role in some very impactful efforts to include the Utah Rural Summit, InUT: Learn & Work, Operation Rio Grande, Intergenerational Poverty, 25K Jobs, 100K jobs in 1000 days, Talent Ready Utah, TANF: Family Focused Case Management, Workforce Opportunity Investment Act, and Utah Employability to Careers.

Lisonbee earned a master's degree in business administration from Southern Utah University and is also a graduate of Utah’s Certified Public Managers program.

Spotlight

1 min

New Utah Rural Leadership Academy to Mentor State's County Leaders

The new Utah Rural Leadership Academy is now accepting applications for its inaugural cohort set to kick off in October at the One Utah Summit in Cedar City. Open to the state’s rural county leaders, the Academy is uniquely designed to assist emerging and established leaders in Utah’s rural county communities and to equip participants with relevant administration and management skills in multiple learning settings. “We are honored to offer this program through SUU and appreciate so many leadership stakeholders who are taking the time to help in teaching and mentoring our first cohort of rural county leaders,” said Stephen Lisonbee, Governor’s senior advisor to rural affairs and assistant vice president for the SUU Office of Regional Services. Managing partners include Southern Utah University, Office of the Governor and Utah Association of Counties. Key relationship building is combined with growth and development opportunities for assisting counties in operating vibrantly, responding to demands and preparing for Utah’s future. To be considered for participation in the 2021-2022 cohort, applications must be submitted no later than Aug. 5.

Stephen Lisonbee

2 min

Students Help Rural Businesses Protect Their Communities During COVID-19

Over a six-week period this fall, Southern Utah University students made over 10,000 calls to inspire employers throughout the state of Utah to do their part in supporting the health and safety of their communities. With the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affecting businesses across the state, the goal of both the students and the Stay Safe to Stay Open campaign is to help businesses make informed decisions to keep their local economy open and running. Stephen Lisonbee, assistant vice president for the Office of Regional Affairs at SUU, recognized both the importance of helping Utah address the health and economic objectives, and the opportunity for students to serve their local community. Lisonbee applied for a grant from the Stay Safe to Stay Open campaign to financially support the efforts of the students. As a part of these rural communities, the student team was dedicated to the job and helping employers learn more. After a training period, students spoke directly with thousands of business owners sharing the Stay Safe to Stay Open pledge. Businesses were asked to keep themselves, their employees and the community safe and businesses open by following health and safety guidance from the Utah Department of Health including: Check symptoms before work and stay home when sick. Wash our hands frequently and avoid touching our face and eyes. Practice social distancing including wearing face coverings in close common areas. Learn about high-risk groups and help protect them. Cover our mouths when we cough or sneeze. Clean high-touch surfaces frequently. Follow public health guidance as updated. The statewide Stay Safe to Stay Open campaign hopes to meet the imperatives of helping Utah address the health-related objectives to prevent and recover from the coronavirus while at the same time assisting the business community in an effort to appropriately strengthen our state’s economy. Visit stayopenutah.com for more information.

Stephen Lisonbee

2 min

Governor Cox Focuses on Rural Utah with SUU Office

Underscoring a campaign promise to focus on the interests of rural Utah, Governor Spencer J. Cox opened a new rural office location on the campus of Southern Utah University on January 11. The space includes a Governor’s office, as well as an office for Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson and staff. The office will be used to host meetings with elected officials and convene regional events. As the state’s first branch campus of the University of Utah, SUU has been a leader in distance education since its founding. The Cedar City community banded together to found the university in 1897, serving students who were unable to move to achieve their educational goals. “Our founders mortgaged their homes and risked their lives retrieving lumber from the mountains near present-day Brian Head to construct SUU’s Old Main,” said President Scott L Wyatt. “Today, we don’t have to go up the mountain in the middle of winter to build opportunities for those that live in rural Utah. The path to expand is already laid before us, we just need new paradigms, we need to energize our cooperative efforts, and deepen our commitment to innovate. We are well on our way.” As part of the administration’s rural initiatives, Governor Cox appointed SUU’s assistant vice president of the Office of Regional Services Stephen Lisonbee to serve as the newly created senior advisor for rural affairs. “This campus has a long history of innovation and collaboration and it’s resulted in building some of the most amazing communities,” said Lisonbee. “That’s why the world is coming to us. During 2020, we’ve seen a wave of individuals coming into our communities. It is a safe haven and has great access to a high quality of life. I look forward to helping rural Utah have a voice within this administration and working closely with our rural communities to help them find success.” “The symbolic and practical effect of Governor Cox planting an office in this historic building and rural Utah is huge,” said President Wyatt. “We are happy to be a part of it.”

Stephen Lisonbee

Industry Expertise

Government Relations
Training and Development

Areas of Expertise

Partnership Development
Workforce and Economic Development
Leadership Development
Community Outreach
Government Relations

Education

Southern Utah University

M.A.

Business Administration

Accomplishments

Chapter Honorary: Beta Gamma Sigma

Southern Utah University School of Business, 2022

Rural Health Care Champion

Utah Center for Rural Health, 2021

The Spirit of Southern Utah Award

Larry H. Miller Entrepreneurship Leadership Council, 2020

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Affiliations

  • Governor's Rural Partnership Executive Board
  • Iron County Economic Development Board
  • Governor's Rural Partnership Executive Board
  • Iron County Economic Development Board
  • Unified Economic Opportunity Commission

Languages

  • French

Media Appearances

Top Utah Leaders Convene In Southern Utah

Fox 13  online

2022-10-06

Join Utah's best and brightest at One Utah Summit this October. This year marks the 35th consecutive year of the Utah Rural Summit as a gathering place for bringing together Utah’s top leaders and decision-makers

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The Rural Online Initiative

Utah State University  tv

2021-09-28

The Rural Initiative is going to create opportunities for rural residents to live where they work.

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Why Utah agencies will be asked to review whether jobs can be worked remotely, moved to rural areas

KSL  online

2021-01-11

Stephen will be in the room when all of these meetings are happening, representing Utah's rural communities and helping to align resources with opportunities and raise the profile of rural issues when we're together," Cox said.

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Articles

Commentary: One Utah Roadmap offers a balanced approach to supporting rural communities and energy goals

The Salt Lake Tribune

Stephen Lisonbee, Brian Steed, Thom Carter and Redge Johnson

2021-01-29

When it comes to energy development and what’s best for the state of Utah, all too often we find ourselves failing to listen to those most impacted by policy decisions. Gov. Spencer Cox took this listening approach as a transition team made up of rural voices led the development of the Rural Matters report. This team worked collaboratively with stakeholders and constituents from rural Utah to identify and address their most immediate and urgent needs, many of which are outlined in the One Utah Roadmap.

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