Skip to main content

Utah Small Business Development Center Recognizes Female Business Owner for Innovation


The Small Business Development Center has selected Diamond K Gypsum Company as a successful business to highlight for its sustained growth and success. Business owner Karen Palmer founded Diamond K in 1991 as an agricultural supply company. Taking advantage of natural resources plentiful in the area, the company has branched out to offer products for a wide range of industries.

Diamond K initially began as a sole proprietorship; the company has grown significantly since its founding because of hard work and innovative product development. From its inception, the company has utilized and benefitted from the principle of smart networking and resource cultivation. “I was taught at a young age to work hard and be persistent and never give up,” said Diamond K founder and owner Karen Palmer.

To capitalize on the businesses growth, Palmer enlisted the help of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Snow College Richfield for loan packaging support. The SBDC worked with Palmer to secure debt funding and submit a variety of loan applications, which helped the business attain 2.3 million dollars to purchase new equipment and enhance operations.

“Palmer’s persistence and positive approach is quite apparent in their business today,” said SBDC advisor Keith Church. “After two decades in business, Diamond K has grown to be a stable provider of high-quality gypsum products, not only for the agricultural industry but also for food, pharmaceuticals, plastics and ornamental landscaping.”

The company has also introduced innovative products and processes to support customer growth. One of the new products it has developed is called the Aqua-Drive, which is designed to improve how treated irrigation water penetrates soil. Another innovation created by Diamond K is the DK Applicator, a patented applicator that blends water and Diamond K’s products into a solution that is distributed through an irrigation system.

While product quality and exceptional work ethic have made Diamond K the success it is today, Palmer acknowledges the importance of having a supportive business network. “The SBDC has helped me develop my business plan, provided needed research and aided me with my financial applications and projections,” Palmer said. “My advisors’ expertise helped guide the business in the right direction. I appreciate the SBDC’s moral support, and hope to continue the relationship.” In addition to ongoing business counseling, the SBDC introduced Palmer to the Custom Fit Training partnership, an initiative that is helping Palmer improve operational efficiency and employee skill development.

Diamond K’s sales are strong and continue to increase annually. The business is a significant employer for Sevier County; the company currently provides 23 full-time jobs to area residents. 

The UT SBDC provides consulting, training and other resources to emerging and existing small business owners in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), the Lead UT SBDC Center at Salt Lake Community College, and other colleges and universities in the state. To learn more about the UT SBDC program, please visit www.utahsbdc.org.  For more information on Diamond K Gypsum visit www.gypsum.com.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...

SLCC Alumnus and U.S. Diplomat to Speak at 2025 Commencement

Salt Lake Community College’s 2025 Commencement speaker Branigan Knowlton will share his perspectives drawn from a 12-year career as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. In serving his country, Knowlton has honed his foreign relations and diplomacy skills in Hong Kong, Mexico, Colombia and Italy. Knowlton is also a proud Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) alumnus (2002).     Knowlton currently serves at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. Before reporting to the embassy, he was detailed to the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport as part of the Transatlantic Diplomatic Fellowship program. In Bogotá, Knowlton worked for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, and in Hermosillo, Mexico, he worked for the Bureau of Consular Affairs. His first assignment abroad was in Hong Kong, where he worked for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.     "I've actively sought opportunities that push me into the unfamiliar, even when ...

Recognizing SLCC's 2025 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering

The Distinguished Faculty Lecturer is a recognition of quality work by one of Salt Lake Community College’s full-time faculty and a charge to develop that work over an academic year into a public presentation. A committee chosen by the Associate Provost for Learning Advancement selects the faculty lecturer each year. The lecture takes place in the spring. Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering Dr. Andrew Vogt’s teaching philosophy is guided by two principles, curiosity and efficiency.  “Curiosity leads us to study a topic and allows us to really understand the ins and outs of research, while efficiency is all about sustainability,” he says. Andrew describes curiosity as a pure, open-minded impulse to explore, such as the ease with which children learn new concepts with virtually no instruction. Efficiency adds maturity to that childlike impulse, creating structures and pathways for accomplishment.  Andrew’s work has alwa...