Alexandrina Mic-Podar
Entrepreneur, business owner, high achiever.
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"Never forget where you came from."
Alex Mic-Podar was born in 1982 in the small village of Sant, Romania, where her early years laid the foundation for a life defined by love, faith, and hard work. Growing up in Sant, Alex was deeply influenced by her grandparents, who instilled in her the values of perseverance and the importance of dreaming big, regardless of the circumstances. These formative lessons have remained central to her journey.
In 1990, after the Romanian Revolution, Alex’s mother relocated the family to Hungary, where Alex spent the majority of her youth. Circumstances required her to leave school at the age of 14 and enter the workforce full-time. This early introduction to hard work was her real education, teaching her that effort and determination lead to transformation and success. Alex embraced every job she took on, finding satisfaction in every workplace and appreciating how her work helped provide for her family.
In 2005, with the help of generous friends, Alex immigrated to the United States and saw possibilities of the American dream. Bringing with her an unyielding work ethic and a belief in limitless possibilities, Alex began her entrepreneurial journey. Her passion for business had already been piqued from a young age—when she traded with classmates to cover her school expenses or ran a thriving massage therapy business as a teenager.
After arriving in the U.S., Alex became the first in her family to earn a college degree, a milestone that demonstrated her commitment to self-improvement. She went on to found multiple businesses, including Backyard Bookkeeper, which launched in 2008. Under Alex’s leadership, the company has grown to nearly 40 employees and serves hundreds of clients nationwide, helping businesses achieve financial clarity.
In 2023, Alex was honored as a recipient of Utah 40 Over 40, a prestigious award recognizing women over 40 who have achieved remarkable professional success. This accolade is a testament to her contributions to the business community and her dedication to empowering others.
Alex’s entrepreneurial spirit goes beyond building her own companies. She is deeply passionate about supporting startups and mentoring new entrepreneurs, helping them turn their dreams into reality. Her journey is a testament to the power of hard work, resilience, and unwavering belief in oneself.
Despite her success, Alex has never forgotten where she came from. Giving back to her community is a driving force in her life, as she remains committed to helping others achieve their own version of success. Her story inspires others to dream big, work hard, and make a lasting impact.
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Professional Achievements
2008 - Present
CEO, Backyard Bookkeeper
"Starting a business in the middle of a recession while you still have college debt is the worst decision you could ever make," they said. My business partner Julie DeLong and I had other opinions. We needed to survive by doing what we love. She did the accounting, I created jobs. Fifteen years later, we are still standing strong as one of the most recognized brands in Utah and nationwide.
2018 - Present
Co-Founder, Backyard Payroll
"I can't get hold of anyone." "They are not listening to our needs." "They have filed things wrong." These are the things we often hear about their payroll providers, so we decided to change that. We started Backyard Payroll as a separate venture so small business owners can always be heard.
2019 - Present
Co-Founder, SPC Strategies
What is the point of learning something if you don't share your knowledge with others? We started SPC to teach and help others with Systems, People, and Controls. We recruit, educate, and set up suitable systems for any business of any size. But most of all, it is my goal in life to show anyone that hard work can be enjoyed if you have the right frame of mind.
November 2024 - Present
Board Of Directors, Utah 40over 40
Representation Matters. Across age, gender, race, skill, experience, opinion and thought. We are inspired by women taking chances, changing lives and making an impact later in life. Our mission is to acknowledge these women while cultivating a thriving community celebrated for their unique achievements and success stories.
June 2022 - June 2023
Board Member, Tacos Together
Tacos Together is a community-building organization focused on making connecting with others simple and fun. We revel in organizing pain-free, no-pressure networking parties. Notice that we don’t call them “events”; that’s old school and certainly not fun, so that’s not us. Our goal is to bring people together and build real, genuine, relationships, expecting nothing in return. Nothing accomplishes this better than sitting down to get to know people over tacos.
June 2022 - June 2023
Executive Director, Podul Dragostei
Working in the nonprofit world is not an easy task. Most nonprofits struggle because they lose themselves in the mission and they forget to run the organization as a business. Podul Dragostei is a Romanian charity helping abandoned kids in foster care. I came in as executive director when it struggled to find its vision and structure, and I stayed until they were back on their feet, while helping them gain national recognition for the foundation in Romania.
In the media
