University of Wyoming alumnus Chuck Brown, Jay Kemmerer and the family of John and Jane Wold comprise the newest class of the Wyoming Business Hall of Fame.
The announcement was made by the University of Wyoming College of Business, the Wyoming Business Alliance, the Daniels Fund and the Wyoming Business Council.
“These inductees reflect the leadership qualities we strive to instill in our students -- qualities grounded in integrity, vision and a commitment to serving others,” says Kent Noble, the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative service chair in UW’s College of Business. “Their legacies will encourage the next generation of Wyoming leaders to build with purpose and lead with character.”
“It is humbling to consider the legacy of this group. They are and were job creators, innovators and civic leaders,” says Renny MacKay, president of the Wyoming Business Alliance. “I draw inspiration from each of them and hope many others will join us in celebrating their contributions this November.”
The 2025 class of inductees will be celebrated at the Governor’s Business Forum in November. The state’s pre-eminent business conference will take place Nov. 11-13 at UW’s Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center. The event is hosted by the Wyoming Business Alliance and brings together more than 500 of the state’s top business leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers and changemakers for three days of insight, innovation and impact. Tickets are on sale now at www.wyomingbusinessalliance.com.
The Governor’s Business Forum also will celebrate Bill Schilling for his role as a founder of the Wyoming Business Hall of Fame and for his contributions to the larger business community.
“Bill Daniels believed true success is measured not just by achievement, but by integrity, vision and respect for others,” says Hanna Skandera, president and CEO of the Daniels Fund. “The 2025 Hall of Fame inductees and Mr. Schilling embody these values by building enterprises that create opportunity, strengthen Wyoming communities and leave a lasting legacy. The Daniels Fund is proud to honor their enduring impact.”
“These worthy honorees have leveraged their business acumen to inspire, and often lead, big ideas for the betterment of Wyoming and its businesses, workforce and, perhaps most important, families,” says Wyoming Business Council CEO Josh Dorrell. “They continue to inspire all of us as more people step up to confront existing and new challenges that will again require collaboration, innovative thoughts and big ideas. Personally, I am grateful for the opportunity to see this in action, as Chuck Brown continues to serve on the Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors.”
Brown is a longtime business owner from Wheatland. Under his leadership, C.H. Brown Co. grew over several decades from a local farm implement company into a company with national reach. He has influenced Wyoming’s construction, infrastructure and land development industries, and has served on the UW Board of Trustees, the Wyoming Business Council and the Denver Board of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank.
“Having been in business in the great state of Wyoming for almost six decades, I am constantly reminded of its favorable business environment, its wonderful people and its majestic beauty. Yes indeed, its citizens are very fortunate to live and work here and are mightily blessed as well,” Brown says. “I also want to take this opportunity to thank the Wyoming Business Alliance for this recognition; I’m very humbled and honored to be included among a very distinguished group of outstanding Wyoming business leaders.”
Kemmerer is an entrepreneur and philanthropist who has owned and launched several businesses in Wyoming, leaving a profound mark on the state’s tourism industry. As owner of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, he transformed it into a world-class destination. He also owns the CM Ranch, and UW’s Jay Kemmerer WORTH (Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality) Institute bears his name in recognition of his transformative gift to the university.
“It’s a great honor to be considered for the Wyoming Business Hall of Fame. As I look at the list of past inductees, I am humbled to think of being in the company of such Wyoming legends,” Kemmerer says. “When I was a teenager on geology expeditions in Wyoming with my father, I never dreamed that I would one day be included among the state’s business leaders. Success in business depends on having an excellent team, and I would not be where I am today without the outstanding support and contributions of many colleagues, partners, advisers, family and friends. I am grateful to be a Wyoming resident and proud to be a representative of the Equality State.”
Former U.S. Rep. John and Jane Wold had three children: Peter, Jack and Priscilla. For two generations, they have been respected figures in Wyoming’s oil and gas industry and have made lasting contributions to the state’s economy through their entrepreneurial spirit, leadership and philanthropic support of local causes. John Wold was a founding member of the Wyoming Heritage Society, which became the Wyoming Business Alliance.
“Our father believed in dreaming big and acting boldly, always with Wyoming’s future prosperity in mind. His founding of the Wyoming Heritage Society and what would become the Wyoming Business Alliance reflected his deep commitment to educating citizens about the value of free enterprise,” says Peter, Jack and Priscilla Wold. “This induction honors not just his legacy, but the values he lived by -- integrity, innovation and a tireless commitment to community. On behalf of our family, we are deeply honored to be inducted into the Wyoming Business Hall of Fame and to carry on those values.”
About the Wyoming Business Hall of Fame
Created in 2013, the Wyoming Business Hall of Fame recognizes business and industry leaders who have demonstrated substantial business merit while making a virtuous impact on their community. The Wyoming Business Hall of Fame Award is a joint venture among the Daniels Fund, UW’s College of Business, the Wyoming Business Council and the Wyoming Business Alliance/Wyoming Heritage Foundation.
