Business Veteran Alex Dunn Joins Larry H. Miller Company As Firm Continues New Trajectory

Former Vivint SmartHome President and veteran entrepreneur Alex Dunn has joined Larry H. Miller as Managing Partner.

The Larry H. Miller Company continues its trajectory of growth and recalibration after striking major deals in recent years, selling the Utah Jazz and Larry H. Miller franchises.

The company announced Thursday that it will add veteran business expert Alex Dunn to its roster as a new managing partner.

Dan is a graduate of Brigham Young University and was recently appointed CEO of Executive Network Partnering Corporation, a special purpose vehicle that closed a $1.2 billion deal for an oil drilling company in October 2022. Dan has also held leadership positions as President of Vivint SmartHome, Co-Founder of Vivint Solar, Vice Chief of Staff for former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, and Founder and CEO of business intelligence software company Lavastorm.

Dan's name has also appeared in political circles in Utah.

In 2015, Spencer Zwick, responsible for raising an estimated $1 trillion for the 2012 Romney primary, pushed Dan to challenge Sen. Mike Lee, who was preparing to run for a second term.

“I'm not actively trying to find people to rival Mike Lee. This is especially true of Alex Dunn. I hope Alex will consider running,” Zwick, of Boston, said at the time, pledging to support the race if Dunn ran.

Dunn eventually dropped out of the race, and Lee defeated Democratic candidate Misty Snow to win her second term in the November 2016 election.

Dan said he had a longstanding relationship with the Miller family and Miller CEO Steve Starks, even before Dan was involved in negotiating the naming rights deal that would change the Delta Center Jazz's home into the Vivint SmartHome Arena. in 2015 which later became Vivint Arena.

"At this point in my career, I'm really interested in what I contribute," said Dunn. “When I look at people like the Millers…they really helped create the conditions for so many people and businesses to thrive, including myself. I want to be able to convey that, and being here allows me to join the organization and the family that make it so great.”

With the new capital raised from the Jazz sale and dealers, LHM is well-positioned to continue its string of strategic acquisitions, and Dunn said he's excited to "help identify and invest in the next great companies, great entrepreneurs up and coming." "The Great Leaders". groups"

"I have known and admired Alex for many years and am thrilled to welcome him to the Larry H. Miller Company," Starks said in a press release. “He is a proven leader with high integrity and extensive experience investing in, building and leading exceptional companies. Alex's expertise and connections help improve the organization.”

The last few years have been occupied by the Larry H. Miller Company, formerly known as the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies.

Back in January, Starks told the Deseret News that the past year was unprecedented for Miller, as the company acted as buyer and seller in more than $5 trillion in transactions.

These deals included the sale of Larry H. Miller Auto Dealerships, a portfolio of more than 70 car dealerships in the West, all of which have owned the brand for more than four decades; sale of Utah Jazz to Qualtrics CEO Ryan Smith; Acquisition of Advanced Health Care Corp. ; and the acquisition of Daybreak, one of the largest proposed communities in Salt Lake County south of Jordan.

One of the more interesting acquisitions occurred just a few months ago when The Miller Company announced a deal to acquire the "dirty soda" Swig chain in Utah.

Other than the simple business affinity of selling Swig soft drinks at Miller-owned Megaplex cinemas, Starks said, it's the kind of business that fits in with other ventures in the company's portfolio.

"We love Swig's growth trajectory, world-class customer service, strong employee culture and commitment to providing a positive customer experience," Starks said in announcing the deal in November. “We are thrilled to welcome the Swig team to LHM and look forward to helping accelerate their national expansion.”

Dunn said Miller has "a lot of dry dust" in terms of its finances to find and acquire additional business interests, noting that while the company isn't specific to business types, it is always looking for healthy, creative companies. Family business management.

Dunne noted that community involvement and strong corporate citizenship are always important factors in determining which projects Miller should invest in.

"The Miller family and this company are committed to finding ways to support the needs of the community," said Dan. "This is a very important party and the driving force behind everything that is done here.

“It's very exciting for me. Life isn't just about making money. It's about relationships, people, and giving back.