Steve Starks | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1979 (age 45–46) |
| Alma mater | Weber State University |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Former president of the Utah Jazz and Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment company |
| Movement | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
| Spouse | Camilla Starks |
| Children | 3 |
Steve Starks is an American businessman from Utah. He is the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Larry H. Miller Company, a firm with interests in real estate, sports, entertainment, and senior healthcare. He previously served as president of the Utah Jazz and Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment.
Starks was born in northern Utah, where he spent his early childhood. His family later relocated to the Ogden area. Starks' father was a police officer in Los Angeles and a long-haul truck driver. His family moved numerous times due to financial difficulties. [1]
In the late 1990s, Starks graduated from Weber High School and then enrolled as an undergraduate at Weber State University in Ogden. He paid for his tuition by driving bread trucks, working as a golf-course landscaper, and doing construction. He took a break from his studies to complete a two-year mission in Mississippi. He also studied abroad at Cambridge University. During his time at Weber State, he was involved in student government. He served as student body president from 2001 to 2002, where he represented student interests and collaborated with university administrators on policy initiatives. He also served as a member of the university's board of trustees during the same period. Starks graduated in 2003. [1] [2]
Starks' early career focused on politics and public policy. In 2003, Starks interned for Senator Orrin Hatch in Washington, DC. In 2004, he managed Nolan Karras’ campaign for governor of Utah. Later that year, he managed Rob Bishop’s congressional campaign. In late 2004, Starks joined the transition team for Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr., assisting with administrative planning. In 2006, Starks became managing director of the Utah Policy Partnership, a public-private initiative focused on improving state government efficiency. [1]
In 2007, he joined the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, working on mergers and acquisitions in the automotive dealership division. In 2015, Starks was named president of Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment, managing the Utah Jazz, the NBA G League’s Salt Lake City Stars, the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees, Vivint Smart Home Arena (now Delta Center), Megaplex Theatres, and other entities. He oversaw the $125 million renovation of Vivint Smart Home Arena, completed in 2017. In 2019, he led the effort to secure Salt Lake City as the host of the 2023 NBA All-Star Game. [3] [1]
On August 7, 2019, Starks became CEO of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, overseeing its operations in real estate, automotive, sports, entertainment, and healthcare, while serving as an alternate NBA governor. [3] [4]
Starks has held several board positions related to both civic life and business. He has served as chair of the Salt Lake Chamber's board, chaired the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, served on the Zions Bank advisory board, and the Utah Board of Higher Education. In June 2021, Governor Spencer Cox appointed him as Utah’s Olympic and Paralympic Advisor to support the bid for the 2034 Winter Games. In January 2023, he became chair of Big League Utah, a group trying to bring Major League Baseball to Salt Lake City. In February 2025, he was named vice chair of the Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Organizing Committee. [5] [6]
Starks is married to Camilla Starks. They have three daughters. The family resides in South Jordan, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. [1] [7]
Starks has served as a bishop and stake president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [1] [7]