About Us

We generate relevant, disruptive
and innovative ideas.

Byron Russell

Founding Principal Partner

Byron founded Byron Russell LLC based on his years of experience in academics, national and international politics, journalism, fundraising, finance, economic development, higher education, public relations, philanthropy and social advocacy and enterprise. With a wide network in varied sectors, Byron Russell LLC was formed based on a need of facilitating corporations, foundations, and individuals to connect, hence the brand ideas. connections. results. which has been a standard of performance for well over a decade.

Byron’s political career began in Washington, D.C. with the USA Foundation to design, create and plan an international youth conference in South Africa. His next international political experience was as Personal Assistant to British Member of Parliament David Atkinson. Assignments in the House of Commons included constituent engagement, research, speaking and a special designation to facilitate South West Africa’s independence as Namibia. His work in the international arena specialized in international human rights. His journalism career began as a writer at the Washington Post Style Section, then as a political reporter for the Washington Times where he covered the U.S. Congress and Executive Branch. His career in Utah began with the Utah Symphony in Development and managing the Zoo Arts and Parks Campaign. After working at Zions Bank as Vice President for Private Banking, Byron was a Zions Bank loaned executive to the Salt Lake Chamber, creating new programs and launching the Salt Lake Cultural District Development. Byron worked as Vice President of Development for Western Governors University, then in Public Relations at Method Communications. The culmination of past experiences abroad, nationally, and in Utah compelled Byron to establish Byron Russell LLC, which has created value for a wide range of companies in and out of Utah, including the University of Canterbury in Christchurch New Zealand.

Byron currently serves on many boards and commissions, such as co-chair of the Utah Multicultural Commission; co-chair of the Utah Multicultural Committee to the COVID-19 Response, Utah Film Center, PBS Utah, Salt Lake Education Foundation, Encircle, Westminster College Emeritus, Governor’s Mansion Foundation Board, Christian Center of Park City Board, co-chair Christian Center of Park City National Advisory Board, and Utah Economic Response Taskforce.

Byron is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park in Government Politics, Journalism and French. Byron also treasures his enrollment in a culinary program at London’s Prue Leith’s School of Food and Wine. Born in Washington, DC, Byron now regards Utah as home.

Monte Caldwell

Managing Partner

Monte became managing partner for Byron Russell LLC in August of 2011, and is responsible for all organizational aspects of the LLC. He specializes in creative strategies, project management, logistics/operations, agency/client relationships, asset standards and strategic initiatives. He has extensive professional experience with contract management and documentation, financial services reporting, and database customizations and integration (CRM).

Monte’s prior professional experience includes positions in the financial sector with Fidelity Investments where he obtained financial certifications, administered internal communications, reviewed corporate sponsorships, and later held analyst positions with regional finance and administration.

Monte has also worked in the corporate travel sector with Morris Travel as an analyst/database administrator where he implemented customized platforms which transformed the industry in terms of tracking and reporting, in addition to Pohlad Companies, where for fifteen years he served as a Vice President of Operations funding complex financial structures throughout the country in excess of $100MM annually.

Monte serves on the Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) Tier II Board, the ENCIRCLE Advisory Board, and is Co-Chair along with Byron Russell to the Christian Center of Park City Advisory Board.

Monte was also named an Honorary Alumni of Westminster College by Dr. Beth Dobkin in 2023, and serves on the University of Utah Fine Arts Advisory Board, the University of Utah Music Advisory Board, and is a graduate of the University of Utah in piano performance. He is active as an amateur road-biker, rollerblader and classical piano teacher.

Ronnie Peters

Design & Technology Partner

Ronnie is a creative designer, art director, and strategist, with a focus on digital, UX / UI and graphic design, and has collaborated with countless start-ups and some of the largest brands in the world. He uses design and technology to enhance lives.

Ronnie is the Founder and CEO of 360 Design. 360 is a digital design firm collaborating with global brands and emerging companies to design UX and UI experiences that result in strategy, websites, mobile apps, touch screens, social media, short films and animations. 360 is led by design, driven by strategy, and is inspired by technology, writers, and thinkers—and bring their collective energy, insights and ideas to every project. Among many start-up brands, he is proud to be affiliated with American Express, Merrill Lynch, Accenture, Time Warner, The New York Times, Office Depot, HP, Turner Broadcasting, SAP, McGraw Hill, Scholastic, The Hospital For Special Surgery and UBS as clients, to name a few. Prior to founding 360, he was Creative Director at Bertelsmann (the largest book publisher in the world), and Time Inc. New Media, where he art directed Time.com, Money, Fortune, People, Entertainment Weekly and about 20 other major publishing brand websites. The most interesting design project he has worked on was early website UX and UI design for the blind at WGBH in Boston in the early 1990’s.

Ronnie earned a masters degree from the Rhode Island School of Design and undergrad in film and graphic design from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Specialties include UX and UI design, strategic design thinking, website and mobile web design, mobile apps, social marketing.

Ronnie loves to photograph the world around him and capture scenes in his studio, around New York City, or anywhere in the world.

Since 2016, 360 Design has been located inside www.the360.space which is a gallery, pop-up and event space in SOHO, New York. Ronnie joined as partner with Byron Russell LLC in October of 2017.

Elizabeth Barlow Gupta

Strategy & Management Partner

As general manager at TRICOR, Elizabeth is responsible for the overall operations, business strategies, client programs and construction development.

Elizabeth has a diverse career and is a leader recognized for strategic thinking, communications and delivering in fast paced and deadline driven environments. Her proven record of delivering high outcomes with the ability enhance strong business relationships across numerous sectors brings a unique strength to projects at TRICOR and allow us to manage client programs in public involvement, communications strategies and long-term planning.

Elizabeth joined TRICOR from Rio Tinto, where she was responsible for the capital infrastructure for three mines in Western Australia. Her accountability included managing the engineering and safe execution of capital projects in fixed plant for Paraburdoo, Eastern Range and Channar mines with an annual portfolio budget over $40M AUD.

Elizabeth held other leadership positions at Rio Tinto in Australia and the United States in change management, communications, training, and maintenance strategies, including significant contribution to the introduction of AutoHaul, the world’s first autonomous heavy haul railway.

In addition to Rio Tinto, Elizabeth has also held positions at Beautone USA, Urban Associates, and the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce. She earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Utah in Anthropology. She joined as partner with Byron Russell LLC in October of 2017.

© Byron Russell LLC 2022