Michael K. Winder
Encyclopedia
Michael Kent Winder; is an American historian, businessman, and politician. He was elected to be the seventh mayor of West Valley City, Utah
on November 3, 2009 with 76% of the vote over opponent Kevin Fayles. Four years earlier he was elected to an at-large seat on the West Valley City Council in November 2005 with 71% of the vote. At 29, he was the youngest councilperson in city history, and when sworn in on January 4, 2010 at age 33 he became the youngest mayor in city history.
, one of West Valley City's oldest businesses. He has also chaired the Chamber West Economic Development Committee, was a founder of the Granger
Crossings Business Improvement District, and was named as one of "40 Rising Stars Under 40" by Utah Business magazine.
Winder's political experience includes serving as a member of the State and Salt Lake County Republican Party
Executive Committees, deputy campaign manager for Congressman James V. Hansen
, vice president of the Utah League of Cities and Towns, and chair of the Research and Policy Committee for the Huntsman for Governor campaign. He is also the founder of the GenX GOP Network.
An historian, he is the author of six published books on Utah
and LDS history, including the regional bestseller Presidents and Prophets
: The Story of America's Presidents and the LDS Church. In 2005 Winder was appointed by Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr.
to a four-year term on the Utah Board of State History, and reappointed in 2009.
Winder holds a Masters in Business Administration and a B.A. degree in History from the University of Utah
. He has also completed executive leadership programs with the Walt Disney
Institute of Management and at Harvard University
's John F. Kennedy School of Government
.
Winder is married to the former Karyn Hermansen, a native of West Valley City and a piano teacher. They are the parents of four children.
Winder wrote articles on West Valley City government under an assumed name in response to newspaper cutbacks. He was further criticized for lifting direct passages from numerous sources for a 1999 biography of his great-great-grandfather, John R. Winder. While the review did not accuse Winder of malicious plagiarism, it did point out a careless and sloppy approach to history and citations.
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
on November 3, 2009 with 76% of the vote over opponent Kevin Fayles. Four years earlier he was elected to an at-large seat on the West Valley City Council in November 2005 with 71% of the vote. At 29, he was the youngest councilperson in city history, and when sworn in on January 4, 2010 at age 33 he became the youngest mayor in city history.
Biography
As a businessman, Mike Winder is director of public affairs for The Summit Group Communications and a strategic advisor for Winder FarmsWinder Farms
Winder Farms, headquartered in West Valley City, Utah, is an online grocer providing dairy and other grocery products to households in Utah and Las Vegas, Nevada.-History:The business was started in 1880 by John R. Winder...
, one of West Valley City's oldest businesses. He has also chaired the Chamber West Economic Development Committee, was a founder of the Granger
Granger
-Places:In the United States:* Granger, Indiana* Granger, Iowa* Granger, New York* Granger, Texas* Granger Township, Ohio* Granger, a neighborhood in West Valley City, Utah* Granger, Washington* Granger, Wyoming-Other:...
Crossings Business Improvement District, and was named as one of "40 Rising Stars Under 40" by Utah Business magazine.
Winder's political experience includes serving as a member of the State and Salt Lake County Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Executive Committees, deputy campaign manager for Congressman James V. Hansen
James V. Hansen
James Vear "Jim" Hansen was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Utah.Hansen was born in Salt Lake City, graduating from the city's East High School. From 1951 until 1955 he served in the United States Navy. He attended the University of Utah, receiving a business...
, vice president of the Utah League of Cities and Towns, and chair of the Research and Policy Committee for the Huntsman for Governor campaign. He is also the founder of the GenX GOP Network.
An historian, he is the author of six published books on Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and LDS history, including the regional bestseller Presidents and Prophets
Presidents and Prophets
Presidents and Prophets: The Story of America's Presidents and the LDS Church is the title of a book, talk CD, and DVD documentary by Michael K. Winder, a member of the Utah Board of State History. All three were published by Covenant Communications, a division of Salt Lake City based Deseret Book...
: The Story of America's Presidents and the LDS Church. In 2005 Winder was appointed by Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr.
Jon Huntsman, Jr.
Jon Meade Huntsman, Jr. is an American politician and diplomat who served as the 16th Governor of Utah. He also served in the administrations of four United States presidents and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.Huntsman worked as a White House staff assistant for...
to a four-year term on the Utah Board of State History, and reappointed in 2009.
Winder holds a Masters in Business Administration and a B.A. degree in History from the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
. He has also completed executive leadership programs with the Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
Institute of Management and at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
.
Winder is married to the former Karyn Hermansen, a native of West Valley City and a piano teacher. They are the parents of four children.
Winder wrote articles on West Valley City government under an assumed name in response to newspaper cutbacks. He was further criticized for lifting direct passages from numerous sources for a 1999 biography of his great-great-grandfather, John R. Winder. While the review did not accuse Winder of malicious plagiarism, it did point out a careless and sloppy approach to history and citations.
Publications
- John R. WinderJohn R. WinderJohn Rex Winder was a leader and general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric from 1887 to 1901, and First Counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Joseph F. Smith from 1901 until his death. He was well-known...
: Pioneer, Temple Builder, Dairyman; Horizon Publishers; ISBN 978-0882906768; (1999; Hardcover). - Counselors to the Prophets; Eborn Books; ISBN 1-8900718-04-1 (2001; Hardback)
- The Christmas Animals: A Children's Book illustrated by Lindsey E. Ayres; Eborn Books; ISBN 1-890718-09-2, (2002; Hardback)
- Ned Winder: The antics and adventures of a Utah Legend; with Bret R. Bassett, (2002; Paperback)
- Presiding BishopPresiding Bishop (LDS Church)The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
s; Eborn Books; ISBN 1-890718-10-6, (2003; Hardback) - Utah in 2050: Glimpses of Our Future; Eborn Books; ISBN 1-890718-11-4, (2003; Hardback)
- Presidents and ProphetsPresidents and ProphetsPresidents and Prophets: The Story of America's Presidents and the LDS Church is the title of a book, talk CD, and DVD documentary by Michael K. Winder, a member of the Utah Board of State History. All three were published by Covenant Communications, a division of Salt Lake City based Deseret Book...
: The Story of America's Presidents and the LDS Church; Covenant Communications; ISBN 1-59811-452-2, (September 2007; Hardback)