By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News
2025 is off to a bang for the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce, which celebrated its first luncheon of the year on Thursday, Feb. 20. As is tradition at these luncheons, three local businesses were spotlighted, with Utah State University Eastern Athletics, Hilliker Tech, and Toby’s Bar and Grill all stepping into the limelight.
Hilliker Tech opened the presentation, which is owned and operated by Adam Hilliker, who also serves on the CCCC Board. “I’ve had the privilege of serving as the I.T. Director at Intermountain Electronics for nearly eight years,” explained Hilliker. “I realized that many smaller businesses in Carbon County often lacked the technical support they needed, which inspired me to start Hilliker Tech.”
Hilliker walked attendees through what services he can provide,” Through my business, I offer a full range of technology services. From Hardware upkeep, printers, security cameras, servers, Wi-Fi, desktops and laptops to software maintenance like backups, password managers, email, Microsoft Office, and others. I also offer Advanced cybersecurity and strategic I.T. consulting.”
Adam Hilliker receives Business Spotlight for Hilliker Tech
Next to take the podium was Toby’s Bar and Grill, with Brianna Gray discussing what the business does. “We realized there is a lot more to Price than we think there is,” stated Gray,” so we’re here to shine a light on everyone’s favorite local spot.”
“After the passing of true legend, Toby Keith, we decided that he had the right idea of how to party. Also drawing from the demographic of Price and the blue-collar people,” said Gray, adding what sets the bar apart from others in the area,” We’re an All-American, laid-back business with signature drinks, live music, entertainment, and just focusing on a small town tight-knit friendship environment where everyone can come as you are.”
Toby’s Bar and Grill honored by the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce
Rounding out the trio of recipients was Jess Brinkerhoff from USUE Athletics, who first spoke on what the Athletic Department is up to,” I’m very excited about our student-athletes and what they’re doing here in our community. Over the last few months since they arrived in August, I believe that they have been in the community over 45 times already doing service projects of interacting with students at elementary, middle and high schools.” Brinkerhoff continued,” We had women’s soccer and volleyball reach a 3.75 GPA as a team. We also have seen an improvement in some of our other student-athletes GPA’s, and so, as of right now, we’re on track to have a better GPA than we did last year. Which really speaks to the quality of students and the people that we’re bringing into this community.”
Brinkerhoff also covered the newest additions to the USU Eastern Athletics family: Archery and Mountain Biking.” We have a big archery demographic here, where our students compete at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels. They have an extreme amount of talent, and we felt like it was really important to try to find a way for those students to continue their athletic careers.”
For Mountain Biking, Brinkerhoff gave a shoutout to Mark Jespersen, the newly ordained coach of the program,” As many of you guys know, mountain biking is really big in our area. I can’t say enough about Mark and what he’s done to build that at the high school level and trying to do that at the Collegiate level as well.”
Jess Brinkerhoff accepts the Community Spotlight Award on behalf of USUE Athletics
Castle Country Radio would like to congratulate and thank these businesses for their work in improving the Castle Country Area.