FOUNDER AND BOARD MEMBER

Becky Edwards is a lifelong Utahn and an unabashed champion of women’s civic engagement and political involvement. She served as a member of the Utah House of Representatives for ten years, representing Davis County from 2008 to 2019. Her legislative work focused on issues related to strengthening Utah’s economy, improving air quality, enhancing education, and helping families achieve economic stability. Most recently, Becky was a candidate for the U.S. Senate and House, representing Utah.

In late 2023, Becky founded the Governing Group, a political action committee that supports solution-oriented candidates with the financial and organizational resources they need to win and change Utah’s political dynamics. 

Becky graduated with an MSW and an MS in Marriage and Family Therapy from BYU. Her involvement in politics is a natural extension of her long-standing commitment to community involvement at a grassroots level. 

Becky grew up in Provo and currently lives in North Salt Lake with her husband, John Edwards. She has four children and a dozen grandchildren. Becky has volunteered and served on boards for various local nonprofits. From May 2019 to January 2021, she served with her husband in Samoa as a humanitarian mental health missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Edwards currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Utah Debate Commission.

SENIOR ADVISOR

Gary R. Herbert served as the 17th governor of Utah from 2009 to 2021 and served as Lieutenant Governor from 2005 to 2009. During his tenure, his focus was on economic development, education, energy, and efficiency in government. As a result, Utah is recognized as a premier business destination and a great place to live and raise families with an unsurpassed quality of life.

Herbert was born and raised in Utah County, where he served as a county commissioner for 14 years. He attended Brigham Young University, served six years in the Utah National Guard from 1970 to 1976 and earned the rank of staff sergeant. 

He started a successful real estate brokerage and development company, Herbert and Associates, Inc. While running a successful business, served as the president of the Utah Association of Realtors and the president of the Utah Association of Counties. Herbert also served as chair of both the Western Governors’ Association and National Governors Association and was the president of the Council of State Governments. 

Herbert has long been a strong advocate for excellence in public and higher education in Utah. He is currently dedicating his time and resources to benefit the students at Utah Valley University (UVU), founding UVU’s Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy. The Institute develops future policy leaders, informs the community, and promotes public involvement in government operations and policymaking.

Herbert and his wife, Jeanette, live in Orem and are the proud parents of six children and seventeen grandchildren.

BOARD MEMBER

Amanda Bollinger is a dedicated mom, career-long teacher, and a candidate for the Utah State Board of Education. She brings a strong passion for education, good public policy, and community building. 

Amanda served as a Special Education Teacher, Resource Teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, and Principal in Salt Lake County Schools. She also has brought her skills to high school athletics as the Head Soccer & Basketball Coach at Cottonwood High School. 

In 2024, Amanda decided to run for the Utah State Board of Education with the goal of elevating education in Utah. Her campaign received local, state, and national coverage and was praised for its commitment to tackling difficult issues, utilizing volunteers in creative ways, and fostering collaborative relationships throughout her district. She won the Republican convention and decisively won her November election. She begins her service on the State Board in January 2025.

Amanda gives back to her community as a proud volunteer, with time spent serving on local community councils, as a Jr. Jazz basketball coach, and a USA Soccer Team Manager. She remains committed to thoughtful discussions and elevating community members dedicated to civility who are running for office throughout Utah.

BOARD MEMBER

Mike is a lifelong resident of Utah and was born and raised in Murray, where he currently resides with his wife Kim and 4 boys.

With over 15 years of healthcare experience, Mike started his career in health policy working for the late Senator Orrin Hatch and later worked in healthcare consulting for Leavitt Partners, which was founded by former HHS Secretary and Utah Governor Mike Leavitt.  He currently works for the University of Utah Health as a Director of Finance and Operations overseeing multiple service lines.

Mike has a long history in Utah politics and recently served as the State Treasurer for the Utah Republican Party from 2019-2023.  In that capacity, he was responsible for overseeing all the revenue and distributions of the organizations funds and worked on many campaigns to help candidates get elected.

He attended Salt Lake Community College where he served on the Board of Trustees as the Student Body President and currently chairs the SLCC Alumni Board. He graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelors in Business and a Masters in Finance.

Mike loves spending his free time in the beautiful mountains of Utah, camping, fishing, and recreating with his family.

BOARD MEMBER

Scott is the Founder & CEO of Alpen Associates, a boutique management consulting firm specializing in economic development strategies and technology. Scott’s professional career has been defined by a commitment to finding long-term solutions, building community, and fostering durable relationships with business, municipal, county and government leaders.

Previously, he was the President & CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah) and the COO of The Point Utah, a state land authority, where he helped create a nationwide model for sustainable and innovative mixed-use development. He began his career as a management consultant working for Booz Allen Hamilton and PwC in Washington, D.C.

Scott has served as a Commissioner on Governor Spencer Cox’s Unified Economic Opportunity Commission (UEOC), a housing advisor to Salt Lake Mayor Erin Mendenhall, holds a national board seat on the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Public Infrastructure & Development Council, and volunteers on several economic and non-profit organizations in Utah. Additionally, he won the Republican Party’s nomination for state senate in district 15 in the Salt Lake City area.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from BYU and master’s degrees from Georgetown University and the University of Oxford.

Scott lives in Cottonwood Heights with his wife and three daughters. They enjoy serving in their church community, hiking, skiing, and mountain biking.

BOARD MEMBER

Christa Hinton has been a proud Santa Clara resident for over 30 years. Currently serving her first term on Santa Clara’s City Council, she focuses on maintaining the city’s exceptional quality of life, emphasizing transparency, planning thoughtfully for growth, engaging citizens in the process, and preserving and honoring Santa Clara’s rich heritage.

Professionally, Christa is the Communications Manager at St. George Regional Hospital, where she helps keep caregivers and the community informed and connected. She holds a master’s degree in Professional Communications from Southern Utah University.

Her dedication to public service extends statewide. She currently serves as 2nd Vice President of the Utah League of Cities and Towns and as a member of the Utah Outdoor Adventure Commission and the Fifth Judicial District Nominating Commission. She also serves on the boards of Utah Women Run and the Southwest Symphony.

Christa and her husband, Michael, have four children and two spirited mini schnauzers—Rocco and Scout. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking the Southern Utah trails, exercising, and traveling.

BOARD MEMBER

Representative Anthony Loubet began serving in the Utah House of Representatives in 2023 and currently represents District 27, which encompasses the west side of Salt Lake County.

Anthony's career began in local government, where he held a variety of roles that provided valuable experience in policy analysis, community engagement, and leadership. He was appointed Utah County Property Tax Officer, where he filed and defended tax actions before the Utah County Board of Equalization and the Utah State Tax Commission. He also served as legal counsel to several county departments and boards, building a strong foundation in public service that ultimately led to his role in the state legislature.

Outside of his legislative duties, Anthony enjoys spending time outdoors mountain biking, camping, and hiking. He also loves playing basketball and cherishing time with his family.

Anthony and his wife, Kira, live in Kearns, where they are raising their six children.

BOARD MEMBER

Dr. Susan R. Madsen is the Karen Haight Huntsman Endowed Professor of Leadership in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University. She is also the Founding Director of the Utah Women & Leadership Project, which focuses on strengthening the impact of Utah girls and women. Through the years, Professor Madsen has written a host of Utah research and policy briefs and snapshots, reports, and editorials. She is also leading a statewide societal change movement titled “A Bolder Way Forward.” 

Madsen is also a well-known global scholar, publishing nine books and hundreds of articles, chapters, and reports. Madsen’s research has been featured in the U.S. News and World Report, The Atlantic, The New York Times, Parenting Magazine, Chronicle of Higher Education, The Washington Post, and she is a regular contributor to Forbes. She speaks globally, and in recent years has done keynotes in Ireland, Costa Rica, the United Arab Emirates, England, Lithuania, Germany, Denmark, and other countries. She serves on or advises many nonprofit, community, and education boards and committees, including the Utah Governor’s strategic initiatives, Envision Utah, South Davis Communities that Care, Utah Financial Empowerment Coalition, Women’s Work Utah, and others. 

Madsen received a bachelor’s degree from BYU, master’s from Portland State University, and a doctorate from the University of Minnesota.

BOARD MEMBER

Representative Tracy Miller began her legislative service in the Utah House of Representatives on January 1st, 2025. She represents House District 45 which covers parts of South Jordan and Sandy in Salt Lake County.

Tracy has lived in South Jordan for the past 18 years. She is a proud mother of three children and one daughter-in-law and has been married to her husband, Mike, for 28 years. She left her career in healthcare administration when her second child was born and loves being with her kids. As their kids grew older, Tracy began volunteering in schools and served on district, city, and state-level committees. She served on the school board of Jordan School District for 8 years, including 4 years as President.

She is currently the Director of Development for the Jordan Education Foundation. She loves Utah and is grateful for the opportunities she's had to serve and make a difference.

BOARD MEMBER

Shawn is a graduate of the University of Utah and Salt Lake Community College and holds a Master of Management degree from the University of Phoenix. He has completed executive leadership training at the University of Utah School of Business, holds diversity and inclusion certifications from Cornell University and the University of Utah, and additional credentials in ethical leadership from the University of South Florida. He is a retired vice president of business development at Industrial Supply Company, where he worked for 37 years.

Shawn is deeply engaged in civic and community leadership. He serves as vice president of the Salt Lake branch of the NAACP, co-chair of the Utah Black Round Table, and a member of the Utah Black Caucus. He has held numerous state and local appointments, including service on the Governor’s Martin Luther King Jr. Human Rights Commission, the Utah System of Higher Education Board, the Utah State Board of Education, and multiple judicial and civil rights advisory committees.

Currently, Shawn serves on the Cottonwood Heights City Council and several nonprofit, higher education, and workforce boards. He is an entrepreneur who owns and operates Waves Enterprises, LLC and Waves Life Coaching, LLC. Shawn is married, the father of three, and a grandfather of seven. In his spare time, he officiates youth sports and enjoys barbecuing.

BOARD MEMBER

Kristan Norton is a lifelong southern Utahn who is currently in her 29th year as an elementary teacher in the Washington County School District. She has utilized her time as an educator to serve the people of Utah as a member of the Utah State Board of Education (USBE). 

As a member of the USBE, Kristan is a leading voice for rural schools and students. She initially was selected by the USBE leadership to serve as the Vice Chair of the Finance Committee, then later selected as the Chair. During her time on the Finance Committee, she has worked closely with the legislature to stabilize education funding during years of revenue decline. She also currently serves as a board member on the Utah Rural School Boards Association.

Prior to her time on the USBE, she was included on the state science core writing team, due to her work as a facilitator for math and science professional development throughout Utah. Kristan was also the a committee lead for the development of the STEM professional endorsement curriculum in Utah.

Kristan is a lifelong Republican who served for the last four years as a member of the Washington County Republican Party Executive Committee, twice being elected by the county delegates in House District 75 as their legislative chair. She is committed to ensuring that optimistic, solutions-oriented conservatism remains in Utah.

BOARD MEMBER

Lorin Palmer has proudly called Herriman home for over a decade, where he and his wife, Christi, have raised their family. Originally from Price, Utah, Lorin brings a wealth of experience in business management, sales, and community leadership. He spent much of his career managing industrial retail businesses before transitioning into sales, eventually serving as the Western U.S. Sales Manager for a hydraulic hose manufacturer.

Eight years ago, Lorin stepped away from his corporate career to focus on family as a stay-at-home dad. He remained active in the community through part-time work with the Utah Youth Soccer Association (UYSA), where he oversaw recreation soccer programs.

Lorin’s dedication to Herriman began well before public office. He was a passionate voice for balanced growth and quality of life, leading to his appointment to the Herriman Planning Commission in 2018. He served with distinction until being elected mayor.

As mayor, Lorin champions economic development, better infrastructure, and transparent government. He works closely with local and state leaders to guide Herriman’s growth in ways that benefit everyone. With a vision for a thriving, sustainable city, Lorin is committed to building a strong future alongside the people of Herriman.

BOARD MEMBER

Tami Pyfer is the Chief of Staff and VP of External Affairs for UNITE, a national organization dedicated to bridging divisions across political and cultural differences. She is also the co-creator of the Dignity Index, an innovative eight-point scale that evaluates the level of dignity or contempt in the language used during disagreements. Pyfer seeks to promote respectful dialogue and understanding in contentious discussions through this initiative.

Prior to her work with UNITE, Tami served for seven years as the Education Policy Advisor to former Utah Governor Gary Herbert. In this role, she was pivotal in shaping state-level education policy, building coalitions, and engaging with key stakeholders to enhance education in Utah. Tami’s public service extends further, with 12 years of experience in elected office—eight years on the Logan City Council and four years on the Utah State Board of Education.

Tami’s academic background is in Special Education, and before joining Governor Herbert’s executive team, she served as a faculty member at Utah State University. There, she prepared future educators to work with students with disabilities, a cause she remains passionate about.

Tami and her husband Aaron are proud parents of five children and grandparents to 15. They currently reside in the Salt Lake Valley, where they remain active in their community.

BOARD MEMBER

Lowry Snow obtained his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University and his Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University. He currently practices in St. George, Utah at the law firm Snow Jensen & Reece.  

Snow began serving in the Utah legislature in 2012 as a member of the House of Representatives where he served for 11 years until retiring at the end of 2022. While serving in the House, he chaired the House Public Education committee and was a member of the Judiciary Standing Committee. While serving in the legislature he successfully sponsored significant legislation in the areas of criminal justice reform, education, protection of children and victims of abuse, water law, and protections for military veterans and the elderly.  

He currently serves as Co-Chair of the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority which oversees the planning and development of the state project known as the Point and located on the recently vacated prison site in Draper. He is a past chair of Utah’s Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission, past president of the Utah State Bar and past Chair of Utah’s Juvenile Justice Oversight Committee. 

He remains engaged in and committed to public service. He continues his service as:  Board member of the national non-profit Human Rights for Kids, a bi-partisan entity dedicated to the protection of vulnerable children, board member of the Utah Bar Foundation, Chair of the Central Utah Red Cross Advisory Board, Chair of the Southern Utah Performing Arts Foundation, and member of the Utah Crime Victims Council.

BOARD MEMBER

Marcia White was raised in a family that believed in leaving the world better than they found it. Originally from Nebraska, she moved to Utah in 1997 to work at the University of Utah and quickly developed a deep appreciation for the region’s natural beauty, strong work ethic, and family-centered values. Those early experiences shaped a lifelong commitment to service and community-building.

A former Ogden City Council member, Marcia was elected in 2012 and earned a reputation for thoughtful, results-driven leadership. During her tenure, she helped create Ogden’s five-year Strategic Plan, established the Natural Resources and Sustainability Committee, and supported the adoption of a five-year financial model to strengthen long-term fiscal stability. Her approach to public service reflects a consistent focus on smart governance, accountability, and sustainable growth.

Marcia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Management Systems Engineering and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Nebraska. Her career began in healthcare as a management engineer, where she focused on improving hospital operations and financial performance. She has since owned a successful business and served as a consultant and director working across housing, transportation, planning, and real estate. She currently works as a regional economic development planner, aligning economic growth with housing and transit planning across the Wasatch Front.