By Trevi Ogilvie
When Devon and Anna Rice graduated from Utah Tech University, they didn’t just leave with diplomas—they left with a shared dream of becoming entrepreneurs. Now, the couple is living that dream as the proud owners of dinkers, a gourmet glazed nut company based in southern Utah.
The couple has combined their entrepreneurial spirit with a dedication to social impact. Devon and Anna are dedicated to empowering neurodivergent adults by providing meaningful employment opportunities that build career skills and independence.
“With Dev’s background at NeuroDev, a vocational school for neurodiverse adults, and my own experience with my autistic sister, we saw first hand the challenges neurodivergent individuals face in finding stable employment,” Anna said.
Providing employment through a mission-driven approach
Behind the scenes, Austin Harrison, dinkers general manager, ensures that daily operations reflect the company’s values.
“My main goal is to make sure we’re scheduled for various events over the next few weeks, with both students and employees ready for those,” he said.
Event planning requires patience and flexibility, as every event presents unique challenges that push the team to adapt quickly.
Additionally, one of the cornerstones of dinkers mission is creating an inclusive work environment.
“It takes patience,” Austin said. “Creating a routine, encouraging the students to have fun, be social, and preparing them for a real work environment, all of that is essential.”
This patient, adaptive approach helps neurodivergent team members feel confident and grow in a supportive setting.
Building community through connection and fun
For the founders, dinkers represents more than just a business; it’s a chance to change lives.
“Nothing is better than being the one thing that a neurodiverse adult needs to gain that dose of confidence that they are perfectly capable of living an independent life,” Anna said.
This is the spirit behind dinkers new sister company, Neurodivergent Nuts, an online platform where NeuroDev students gain valuable work experience, from managing social media to processing shipments.
Austin also highlights the fun side of working at dinkers, saying that being “part of a team of nuts” makes every day an adventure.
“Just being able to be goofy, it’s so much fun,” Austin said.
This playful, lighthearted energy fosters a close-knit community within the company, where employees are both supported and empowered to be themselves.
Looking to the future
The team is currently exploring new opportunities to expand, with plans to bring dinkers mission to North Carolina.
“We are very ambitious to grow, but right now we are throwing out a bunch of nets and seeing what is catching,” Anna said. “We are excited to look back in five years and see where dinkers is.”
dinkers has built a strong community impact, connecting with families and individuals who share their commitment to supporting neurodivergent adults.
Anna encourages those with neurodivergent loved ones to reach out, as they aim to be a resource for others looking for meaningful ways to support the neurodivergent community.
As dinkers continues to grow, its vision remains grounded in the mission that inspired it: to empower neurodivergent adults with work opportunities that build confidence and independence.
Through dedication, a bit of goofiness and a love for their team, dinkers is creating something special—one nut at a time. Visit dinkers.co to learn more about their mission and products.
