VR/AR Association Launches Salt Lake City Chapter, Appoints EducationXR CEO Cory Heizenrader as Chapter President
The VR/AR Association (VRARA) is thrilled to announce the launch of its Salt Lake City Chapter, appointing Cory Heizenrader, founder and CEO of EducationXR, as Chapter President. This new chapter reflects the region’s rising prominence in the global immersive technology industry and its deep talent pool in spatial computing, simulation, and 3D content creation.
Cory leads EducationXR, a Unity Enterprise platform that enables the creation, deployment, and distribution of immersive learning content across phones, tablets, desktops, and VR headsets—making XR accessible and scalable across industries.
Nathan Pettyjohn, Founder & President of the VR/AR Association, said:
“Salt Lake City is emerging as a vibrant hub for immersive technology, combining a strong creative ecosystem with world-class research institutions and entrepreneurial energy. Under Cory’s leadership, we’re excited to build a thriving community that connects local talent to global opportunities.”
Cory Heizenrader adds:
“Utah is home to extremely talented individuals with mature experience addressing the growing global demand for immersive 3D content. It’s a genuine pleasure to help bring this community together.”
Utah is already home to several pioneering immersive initiatives. The University of Utah has led national efforts in using VR for medical training and simulation, and BYU’s Center for Animation continues to produce XR talent working at the highest levels of the industry. Salt Lake City also hosts Sandbox VR, a leading location-based entertainment venue showcasing the potential of group immersive experiences. Major employers like Northrop Grumman and Intermountain Healthcare are actively exploring XR for simulation, remote collaboration, and workforce development. As AI accelerates the capabilities of spatial computing, from generative environments to intelligent avatars and adaptive training systems, XR becomes the canvas on which AI comes to life. Any organization investing in AI without exploring its connection to immersive technology is missing half the picture and potentially falling behind in the next wave of digital transformation.
Join the Movement in Salt Lake City
We invite local professionals, startups, academic institutions, and enterprise innovators to get involved in the Salt Lake City chapter. Whether you're building in virtual and augmented reality or looking to adopt XR for training, design, marketing, or simulation, you’ll gain:
Exclusive networking opportunities
Access to global industry events
Visibility on a global stage
Cutting-edge insights and resources
A supportive community driving the future of immersive technology
To learn more about membership benefits or to become involved, please reach out to slc@thevrara.com or info@thevrara.com, or visit www.thevrara.com.
