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.

Saundra Stokes
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

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.

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.

Maggie Utgoff
Chief People Officer
Maggie is passionate about challenging systems rooted in white supremecy 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.
Program Directors

Gabriella Archuleta
Director of Public Policy
With an emphasis on race and gender equity, YWCA's advocacy efforts are lead by the Director of Public Policy who works alongside policy makers, coalitions, and commmunity members to promote meaningful policy change.
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Cassie Brood
Director of Operations
The Operations Manager oversees YWCA's internal operations focused on systems, technology infrastructure, in-kind donations, logistics, business office, etc.
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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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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
Assistant Director of Residential Services
The Assistant Director of Residential Services co-leads and assists in maintaing resident safety and direct access to campus and community wide resources through managing processes and procedures.
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Laura Dalton
Director of Food Services
I began my career as the food services Director at the YWCA in 1997. My why is “ My goal is to help provide the basics of comfort and health with fresh healthy food”
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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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Mindy Maude
Director of Residential Services
Residential services at YWCA Utah lead by the director includes the 181-bed Women in Jeopardy domestic violence licensed emergency shelter and the 36-Unit Kathleen Robison Huntsman Housing Program for single parents with dependent minor children.
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Valeria Sandoval
Volunteer & Intern Programs 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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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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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.
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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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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
This director will implement the systems management work needed to support the further domestic violence resources offered outside of shelter like housing and legal aid, and supervise up to six staff members including hiring at least 2 positions.
ApplyYWCA Utah Board and Community Advisory Council
Trina Eyring, Chair
Shawna Cuan, Chair Elect
Phyllis Hockett, Vice Chair
Lisa Brown Miranda, Secretary
Lisa Andrues, Treasurer
Luna Banuri
Neelam Chand
Pam Giles
Shireen Ghorbani
Lori Harding
Wendy Louise Hobson-Rohrer
Kathryn Holmes
Lynda Jeppesen
Marika Jones
Kaletta Lynch
Monet Maggelet
Selma Mlikota
Lynne Nilson
Susan Speirs
Heather J. Trecker
Petrina Youhan
Lori Teske Hudson, Chair
Pamela J. Atkinson
Phil Hudson
Peter and Paula Green Johnson
Dinesh Patel
Thomas & Mary Schubach McCarthey
Kathie Miller
Mary Anne Berzins
Mary Cardon