Leadership
More than 100 diverse individuals make up the extraordinary YWCA Utah leadership and staff team. Their skill, dedication, and passion strengthen YWCA Utah’s presence and impact in our community every day.
Senior Leadership

Liz Owens
Chief Executive Officer
Liz Owens thrives when working with those around her to achieve the grand, beautiful mission of YWCA Utah to eliminate racism and empower women. More than two years as CEO grounds her in the direction of promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity.

Kiki Chmielewski
Chief Development Officer
A recent Utah transplant, Kiki Chmielewski brings 10 years experience to lead fund raising efforts, donor relations, and external communication. She thrives when she is building connections, and enjoys engaging the community in our mission.

Jessica Andrews
Chief Financial Officer
Jessica Andrews joined the YWCA Utah as Chief Financial Officer in March of 2021. She has worked in the accounting field for the past 15+ years and feels passionately about quality leadership and anti-oppression practices in the workplace.

Maggie Utgoff
Chief People Officer
Maggie is passionate about challenging systems rooted in white supremacy that have dominated workplace culture. She loves to encourage managers to challenge the things they have learned about management and think of new ways to invest in employees.

Saundra Stokes
Chief of Staff to the CEO and Chief Mission Impact Officer
Saundra has worked within the nonprofit sector for over 20 years, and her passion for racial equity, transformational justice, inclusion and belonging is present in all she does. Her goal is to work alongside others to create collective understanding
Program Directors

Alma Solis
Volunteer & Community Engagement Coordinator
YWCA Utah engages with the community and uses volunteers in multiple capacities to fulfill the needs of the organization through tabling opportunities, in-kind donation drives and events, and engagements with all local municipalities.
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Cassie Brood
Vice President of Operations
The Vice President of Operations oversees YWCA's internal operations focused on systems, technology infrastructure, logistics, project management, facility maintenance, business office, etc.
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Chris Hanson
Vice President of Finance
The Vice President of Finance leads all of YWCA Utah's financial data collection, budgeting, and grant requirements. Advising all organizational programmatic needs and leadership in their strategic financial planning.
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Ermiya Fanaeian
Marketing & Communications Manager
The Marketing & Communications Manager handles external partnerships for fundraising, campaigning, and media opportunities including interviews and speaking engagements or questions regarding content on the website and social media.
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Evelyn Cervantes
Director of Organizational Transformation & Belonging
The Director of Organizational Transformation and Belonging leads and supports the development and implementation of YWCA Utah’s Race and Gender Equity Initiatives internally and in the community.
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Gabriella Archuleta
Vice President of Race and Gender Equity and Director of Public Policy
With an emphasis on race and gender equity, YWCA's advocacy efforts are lead by Gabriella who works alongside policy makers, coalitions, and community members to promote meaningful policy change.
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Heather Grauke
Director of Development
Development is the fundraising arm of the organization, and the Director of Development (DoD) supports the frontline fundraisers with data tracking, reports and analysis to raise funding needed to meet the needs of the people we serve.
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Jakey Siolo
Senior Engagement & Major Gift Officer
The Senior Engagement & Major Gift Officer plans and executes a major giving program, corporate and donor engagement strategies, and supports annual campaign activities and signature fundraising events.
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Kami Neves, CMHC
Director of Clinical Services
Clinical services at YWCA Utah include mental health resources for residents living on campus and programming that helps our internal community with trauma recovery. Kami Neves has been at the YWCA for 3+ years and implements trauma-informed help.
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Kaylynn Lance
Controller
YWCA Utah's Controller leads our finance department by nurturing it's development, analyzing and interpreting intricate financial data, upholding accuracy and compliance, and working towards organizational fiscal well-being.
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Laura Dalton
Director of Food Services
Having been the Food Services Director of YWCA Utah since 1997, Laura directs all kitchen staff, ensuring families on our campus receive fresh meals three times a day, and are able to work towards empowerment without worrying about their next meal.
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Marcella Viladiu
Assistant Director of Children's Services
The Assistant Director of Children’s Services coordinates in the daily oversight for all programs within the department and assists in all aspects of compliance, program regulation, accreditation, licensing, staffing, and development of curriculum.
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Maya Reyna
Director of Salt Lake Area Family Justice Center
The Director of the Salt Lake Area Family Justice Center is responsible for managing daily walk-in services, establishing partnerships to enrich service provision, and seeks out ways to improve the accessibility of domestic violence resources.
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Mindy Maude
Vice President of Domestic Violence and Residential Services
Domestic Violence and Residential services are led by Mindy, which include a full service shelter, transitional housing, daily meals, mental health and counseling services, case management, job interview preparation, services for children, and more.
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Rachael Cervantes
Director of Children's Services
The Director of Children's Services leads YWCA Utah's Lolie Eccles Early Education Center, a community based childcare center serving children from 6 weeks to 6 years - and after school services and teen programming for minors living at YWCA Utah.
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Vanessa Colocho
Director of Domestic Violence and Residential Services
The Director of DV and Residential Services co-leads and assists in maintaining resident safety and direct access to campus and community wide resources through managing processes and procedures.
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Veanna Pau'u
Assistant Director of Clinical Services
The Assistant Director of Clinical Services co-leads and assists in supporting participants, from youth to parents, through a trauma-informed practice, to meet their needs to achieve safety and security and work toward healing.
ContactYWCA Utah Board and Community Advisory Council
Shawna Cuan: Chair
CEO, Elevated Energy Solutions and Advisors
Wendy Hobson-Rohrer: Vice Chair
Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine/Health Sciences Education at University of Utah Health
Shireen Ghorbani: Chair Elect
Director of Community Health, Intermountain Healthcare
Lisa Brown Miranda: Secretary
Associate Director of Admission, Rowland Hall School
Petrina Youhan: Treasurer
Director of Risk, Internal Controls & Compliance, Workday
Ashley Anderson
Owner, Promodo
Danielle Norman
Director of Finance, bioMérieux
Kathryn Holmes
General Counsel, Westminster College
Lisa Andrues
Sallie Mae Bank (Retired)
Luna Banuri
Executive Director, Utah Muslim Civic League
Lori Harding
Region Welfare & Self-Reliance Mgr., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Lynne Nilson
Director of Bureau of Maternal and Child Health, Utah Department of Health (Retired)
Marika Jones
Interim Chief Philanthropy Officer, University of Utah Health
Monet Maggelet
Program Officer, Call to Action Foundation
Neelam Chand
CEO, Shift SLC
Nicole Salazar-Hall
Attorney,Parsons Behle & Latimer
Pam Giles
Director Customer Revenue Management, Dominion Energy
Selma Mlikota
Manager of Marketing Award Lines, OC Tanner Company
Board Member Ex Officio
Liz Owens (2020– )
Chief Executive Officer, YWCA Utah
Lori Teske Hudson: Chair
Cindy Yamada Thomas
Dinesh Patel
Jennifer Smith
Julianne Wallace
Kathie Miller
Kiki Chmielewski
Liz Owens
Mary Anne Berzins
Mary Cardon
Mary Schubach McCarthey
Miguel Rovira
Phil Hudson
Paula Green Johnson
Peter Johnson
Ross Romero
Shawna Cuan
Shawn Newell
Tom McCarthey