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Jerry Atkin stepping down as chief executive of SkyWest

After four decades with the airline, Jerry Atkin is stepping aside Jan. 1 as chief executive of St. George-based SkyWest, Inc. He will be replaced by Chip Childs, who has been SkyWest's president since 2014. Atkin will remain chairman of the airline's board.

"Leading this company for over 41 years has been the experience of a lifetime," said Atkin. "We set out to do something a little better and a little different than everyone else and succeeded immeasurably."

Childs praised Atkin as an industry "icon" and pledged to "maintain our focus on our operation, our people and our customers" to keep SkyWest strong in a competitive regional airline industry.

He joined SkyWest in 2001, soon becoming its controller. Childs was the airline's president and chief operating officer from 2007 to 2014.

IHC partnering with Velano Vascular to improve blood draws

Intermountain Healthcare is partnering with Velano Vascular to improve one of the most basic medical procedures — inpatient blood draws.

The collaboration will begin with studies of the processes, costs and implications of drawing blood through "needle sticks" or the use of intravenous (PIV) lines, said Intermountain chief nursing officer Kim Henrichsen. These studies will take place at many of Intermountain's 22 hospitals and 185 clinics.

Researchers will assess the performance of San Francisco-based Velano Vascular's technology that collects blood without a needle. The device is designed "to reduce unnecessary pain and anxiety for patients receiving medications and hydration via IV delivery, while providing a safer work environment for healthcare providers conducting blood draws," said Velano CEO Eric Stone.

Huntsman buys Cedar City chemical firm

An investment firm founded by the prominent Huntsman family of Utah announced Tuesday it will buy a Cedar City supplier of chemicals used in rocket fuel.

Huntsman Family Investments did not disclose its purchase price for American Pacific Corporation Specialty Chemicals. It makes a widely used fire retardant as well as rocket-grade ammonium perchlorate used in solid-propellant rockets, booster motors and missiles used by NASA and the U.S. military.

Paul Huntsman, president and CEO of Huntsman Family Investments, or HFI, said in a statement the firm was "thrilled" to be investing in a Utah company and looked forward to growing the business.

"American Pacific represents the ideal investment for HFI and builds upon our longstanding heritage in the chemicals industry," said the CEO, son of Jon Huntsman Sr., investment firm chairman.

With nearly $11 billion in assets and $12 billion in yearly revenues worldwide, Huntsman Corp. manufactures and markets chemical products for industry and consumers.

Utah business people on the move

• Jill Franklyn and her husband, Mark, have opened The Original Oil Shop at 150 S. State in Salt Lake City. She has worked with essential oils for five years and training in alternative heating practices.

• Paul Shakespear , an attorney in the Salt Lake City office of Snell & Wilmer, has joined the board of the Utah chapter of the American Lung Association. He has a bachelor's degree from Southern Utah University and received his law degree from BYU.

• Cameron Jensen has been made chief executive and Brett Allred president and chief technology officer at NUVI, a Lindon company in the social media monitoring and research industry. Chairman Keith Nellesen said the company has 130 employees.

• Christy Tribe is the new president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Utah, which was established in 1956 to educate Utah's students in work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through hands-on programs. A 12-year JA veteran, she will succeed Phil Cofield, who is retiring at year's end after 30 years with the organization. Craig Wagstaff, president of Quester Gas Co., also is joining the JA of Utah board.