05 / About Us
05/ About Us
ONE TEAM, ONE MISSION
Edison House was co-founded by brothers George Cardon-Bystry and Charlie Cardon, 8th generation Utahns who grew up in Salt Lake City but left for a decade to explore and experience some of the country’s most dynamic cities.
During their time away, the brothers gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of a strong social network and real community connection, and how challenging both can be to find and foster.
The arts, culture, and vibrancy that define Big City Living inspired them to bring that energy back home to Salt Lake.
George Cardon-Bystry
CEO & Co-Founder
George is bad at sitting still. When he isn’t cheerleading for Edison House, you can probably find him in front of the barbeque, writing a piano concerto, or adventuring with his husband Matthew and their two dogs. He spent six months backpacking around the world and reluctantly shaved his beard when he returned home. George has a BA in Finance from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the University of California Los Angeles. He has many friends who attended USC but does not care for their football team.
Charlie Cardon
CFO & Co-Founder
Charlie has many loves that don’t seem to have anything in common. In no particular order he enjoys working on his dog food company (still in development), playing in the mountains, anything DIY, learning about history, losing at chess, and tracking planets through his telescope. Charlie has a BA in Finance from the University of Notre Dame and used to work in private equity in Chicago. Go Irish!
Lauren Boyack
Head of Membership
Lauren hails from the Midwest, but has been dropping the ‘T’ in mountain for so long, she considers herself a Utahn through and through. When she isn’t busy misidentifying her daughter’s favorite Paw Patrol characters, Lauren spends her time cooking, camping in the Uintas, and reading all the news that’s fit to print. Lauren’s background is in marketing for hospitality operations, and she has a BS in Communications & PR from the University of Utah.
Kirk Harrison
General Manager
Always smiling with a story to tell, Kirk is the consummate restauranteur. Whether building his own brand in San Diego, opening hotels, bars, and restaurants across the country; it’s the excitement of making friends, serving epic food & drinks, and building memories that brings him to SLC. A huge REI aficionado, you’ll usually find him active in the sun, dancing at a random concert, collecting vinyl, solo travelling or sending unexpecting suspects memes of the day. Kirk went to undergrad and grad school at SDSU, majoring in Sociology focusing on trend forecasting for the fashion industry.
Buzz “Zachary” Willey
Executive Chef
Buzz was born in Utah named Zachary, but before he spoke his first words he was buzzing (literally), hence his not-so-nickname name Buzz. When he is not in a kitchen, he is continuously finding food inspiration through fly fishing, skiing, roaming mountains, or sitting in front of a fire pit. Buzz attended the University of Utah until his pursuit of happiness pushed him to follow his passion in food and move to San Diego. In San Diego he met his best friend/wife. They are proud pup parents of their two dogs Sage and Brie. With an AS in Culinary Arts an opportunity to open a restaurant brought him back to Utah, where he became the Chef Owner of Pallet, which was open for 10 years in downtown SLC.
Lindsay Joyner
Community Manager
Lindsay is a purveyor of many interests: From reviewing movies on TikTok to bringing joy during community events as a Disney princess, she loves pursuing her passions. When she's not streaming video game playthroughs or coaching high school DECA members, you'll probably find her at her favorite place: home, with her cat Moonie. As the Edison House Marketing & Communications Associate, Lindsay is thrilled to combine her love of digital content creation with her desire to cultivate an incredible community in her hometown of Salt Lake City.
Elijah Whisenant
Director of Food & Beverage
Eli split his adult life between Washington and Arizona. He is an avid outdoorsman, pursuing adventures in archery, fly fishing, backpacking, and snowboarding. This is what drove him to Salt Lake City in August of 2021. As our Director of Food & Beverage, Eli brings a passion for exploring different food cultures, wine, and craft cocktails. Whether cooking at home, eating at a roadside food stand, or sitting down at an elegant restaurant, Eli is a firm believer that sharing a good meal is an essential piece to any great culture and the backbone of any community gathering.
Nicole Flores-Harvey
Culture & Team Success Manager (she/her/hers)
Originally hailing from Los Angeles , California , Nicole bleeds Dodger blue. She once took a nap in left field of Dodger Stadium and stood at third base before being politely asked not to do it again. Some say this is why she left the Golden State for the mountains of Utah, but that’s in the redacted part of her file. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing, eating her way through the SLC food scene with her wife, and napping with their two dogs. Passionate about revolutionizing how HR functions in organizations, she is currently pursuing her BS in Business Admin/Industrial Organizational Psychology from SNHU.
McKenzie Fredette-Roman
Member Programming Manager
Always up for an adventure, McKenzie relocated from the hot Arizona desert to the cool mountains of Utah. She spends her free time with her equally courageous dog, Val, enjoying the outdoors as much as possible hiking, camping or just going on a walk. McKenzie earned her BA in Tourism Development and Management with a certificate in Special Events and her Masters in Sustainable Tourism, both from ASU. (Go Devils!) She is in her element when she is planning events, socializing, or trying something she has never done before with friends (and, of course, Val).
Amie Collier
Private Events Sales Manager
Amie is a lifelong dancer, avid concert goer, and forever a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. She grew up here in Utah and loves being located near several weekend getaway destinations. When Amie is not arranging events at Edison House, she is hammocking up the canyon, playing a board game, or rocking her duties as the cool aunt. Amie is a proud alumni of Utah Valley University's new advanced Hospitality Management & Event Planning Program. Having worked previously in sales and events for Auberge Resorts, Amie is excited to now oversee Private Events here at Edison House.
Kylee Thacker
Private Events Assistant Manager
Always ready to coordinate the next big event, Kylee is an avid event planner and dog mom. If she is not at Edison House or planning a friend’s wedding, you can find her either traveling, or in the candy isle stocking up for movie night. Her favorite time of day is when she gets to snuggle with her dog, Thor, at home or finding a new favorite restaurant with her husband. With a BS in Communication Studies, Kylee is ready to bring joy to others through successful events.
Aubrianna Carrillo
Food & Beverage Manager
Aubri is an adventurous individual who loves to explore new places and things. You can usually find her rock climbing, hiking, sitting by a campfire, or swimming in a lake. She has a passion for traveling and learning about different cultures. She’s also a foodie who enjoys trying local cuisine and she’s certainly going to try the street food. Aubri’s love for food and people brought her into the hospitality industry where she continues to thrive doing what she enjoys.
Brian Schultz
Food & Beverage Manager
Brian has worked in the service industry for 20 years. From his experience opening restaurants to managing, he has done it all. Great customer service and creating a comfortable environment for members and guests is his priority. He loves staying active by playing basketball, softball, and skateboarding. "I have worked in the hospitality industry since I was 17 and I enjoy making peoples experiences memorable and building positive relationships with regulars, new and old. Creating long term meaningful relationships with the community is what it's all about. I believe strangers are just friends you haven't met yet." Brian plans on opening his own restaurant and running his own business one day.
GIVING BACK
First Ascent
We care deeply that Edison House be a positive force in our community. Bringing people together from all backgrounds is at the core of our mission. That is why we are proud to support the First Ascent Scholarship Program:
“The First Ascent Program provides opportunities through the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah to young men and women in our community that have all the talent, drive and creativity to achieve success and make a difference in the world. The program focuses on providing one-on-one mentoring, academic support, financial aid, and international and domestic travel opportunities.”
We are proud to sponsor membership for all First Ascent Scholars for two years post-graduation to support their ongoing education and professional development. We are excited to welcome these young professionals into our member community!
Edison House Illuminates
Edison House Illuminates is a charitable initiative powered and led by Edison House members. Illuminates is a member-led "club within the club" designed to drive change in the local community. Illuminates meets regularly, organizes frequent community service projects, helps build education and awareness on important topics, and is the driving force behind the annual Edison House charitable gala.