Business Blog
Bee-lieving in the power of partnership
The state seal of Utah famously depicts a beehive, a symbol of industry and cooperation. Industry and cooperation also have been the hallmarks of the long-standing relationship between the FTC and the Utah Department of Commerce’s Division of Consumer Protection. That’s why we’re proud to announce that the Division is the latest recipient of the FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Partner Award.
Under the leadership of Francine Giani, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce, and Daniel O’Bannon, Director of the Department’s Division of Consumer Protection, the Division has been a devoted champion for Utah’s consumers, advancing effective enforcement and outreach in their state. And they’ve been an invaluable partner with the FTC in furthering our shared enforcement and outreach initiatives.
The list of their contributions is impressive:
- In 2015, the Division co-hosted a highly successful Common Ground conference, the Utah Consumer Protection Summit, in Salt Lake City that brought together more than 300 people to consider strategies for fighting fraud and scams.
- They co-sponsored a second Common Ground conference, a Consumer Fraud and Business Symposium, in 2018 that built on the success of the earlier event. As is appropriate for the Beehive State, both Common Ground conferences generated considerable public buzz.
- The Division shared its substantial expertise in helping the FTC bring cases to shut down promoters of “coaching” outfits, including Coaching Department, Vision Solution Marketing, Internet Teaching and Training, and Lift International.
- The Division made a major contribution to the FTC’s action challenging deceptive big-money claims made by Sellers Playbook.
Like the beehive on their state seal, the Utah Department of Commerce’s Division of Consumer Protection is a hub of cooperative productivity. But like the residents of that hive, injure Utah consumers and these folks can sting. For what we’ve learned from our Utah colleagues and for what we’ve been able to achieve together, we’re honored to present them with the BCP Partner Award.