May 14, 2024, Sandy, UT – Stratus HR, the leading Professional Employer Organization (PEO) in the Intermountain West for human resources (HR) outsourcing, is proud to announce Chase Heywood, CPA, has been named as President and Chief Operations Officer (COO). Heywood has been with Stratus since 2012, serving in capacities that include Controller, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and, most recently, COO.
“Chase has been an integral part of our journey for nearly 12 years and has proved unwavering dedication, exceptional leadership, and a deep understanding of our company's values and vision,” said John Farnsworth, co-owner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stratus HR. “I have no doubt he will continue to inspire and empower all of us in his new role.”
Farnsworth has worn the President hat for Stratus HR since the company’s inception nearly 25 years ago. “I’m not going anywhere,” insisted Farnsworth. “Handing Chase the reigns as President simply enables me to focus on business development and HR tech while he handles the strategic planning and decision making.”
Heywood is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds a master's degree in professional accountancy from Weber State University. Prior to joining Stratus HR, he worked for several years as an accounting professional in the public and private sector.
“I am deeply humbled by the trust placed in me to lead Stratus HR,” said Heywood. “Together, with our outstanding leadership team, I am excited to forge the path forward. We have grand visions and a clear purpose—committed to enhancing the relationship between employees and employers. This next chapter of our business promises to be transformative, and I am eager to embark on this journey with our entire team.”
About Stratus HR
Stratus HR® is a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) headquartered in Sandy, Utah, that solves problems for companies in human resources, workers’ comp, risk management, employee benefits, and payroll. Companies that partner with Stratus experience an increase in profitability by maximizing employee productivity, saving time spent on transactional HR, reducing employment-related liability, and ultimately lowering their employment costs.
In the last four years, Stratus HR has been a four-peat winner of Utah Top Workplaces and recognized three times as a Best Company to Work For by Utah Business Magazine. Other recent awards include Best of HR Services, Salt City Best, and Best Business Consultants.