Executive Board

  • Steve Waldrip serves as the Senior Advisor for Housing Strategy and Innovation in the Office of Governor Cox, a role he began in December 2023 to support the ambitious goal of building 35,000 new starter homes by 2028. Drawing on his extensive background in real estate development, law, and government operations, Waldrip previously spent over a decade as a partner and co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Homes Fund, which focused on providing homeownership opportunities for middle-class professionals. He's also an experienced public servant, having served two terms as the state representative for Utah House District 8 from 2019 to 2022 and having chaired the Utah Commission on Housing Affordability. Furthermore, he continues his community leadership by serving on the boards of United Way Northern Utah and the Utah Housing Corporation. Waldrip holds a bachelor's degree in English from Brigham Young University, a law degree from the University of Utah, and a Master's in Taxation (LLM) from the University of Washington School of Law.

  • Greg Miller is an American businessman, philanthropist and adventurer. His passions for off-road vehicles and the great outdoors are paired in Salt Lake City’s Land Cruiser Heritage Museum. Greg led an expedition that was the first instance of a single vehicle driving on all seven continents. Long before Greg was crossing continents in Land Cruisers, he was sweeping the lot at his family’s Toyota store. In the decades that followed, Greg’s responsibilities increased, and in 2008, he become CEO of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies. By the end of Greg’s tenure in 2015, the Group was better honed and prepared for future success. Miller serves on the Utah Office of Tourism Board of Directors and is a member of Solamere Capital’s Executive Partner Group. Greg and his wife, Heidi, support communities through the Sherry Black Education Foundation. They reside in Salt Lake City, have six children and are grandparents to seven.

  • Craig co-founded Estimate.com, later sold to Homestore.com. After which, he founded BuilderFusion, which in 2008, became the nation's 11th fastest-growing software company which was sold to Growthzone. Following the sale of Builderfusion, Craig volunteered as the Chief Operating Officer of CharityVision, helped lead the day-to-day operations that resulted in a tenfold increase in donations which resulted in more than 100,000 annual sight-saving surgeries being performed by partner organizations.

    Craig is driven by ideas and focus on long-term goals rather than short-term returns. Things that interest him get all of his attention. He has started many businesses, some have had exits, others middling success, and a few total failures. He knows what it's like to see both ends of the spectrum and knows how much work and timing are involved in building value. He's an active angel investor and loves to game plan ideas and concepts. He excels in taking ideas from concept to market. Craig earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University and has an amazing wife and four great kids.

  • Shaleane Gee is the Senior Fellow at the University of Chicago. She has previously worked as a senior advisor in the Salt Lake County Mayor’s Office and an instructor of City and Metropolitan Planning at the University of Utah’s Eccles School of Business.

  • Thayne has been serving the members of America First Credit Union for the past 33 years and will continue to do so as only the 5th President & CEO in our 82-year history. He is known for his steady and thoughtful leadership, his love for America First Credit Union, and his genuine care and concern for our members and the communities we serve. Outside of the credit union, Thayne enjoys the outdoors, photography, and spending time with his family.

  • Ari Bruening is an attorney at Parr Brown that has extensive experience in visioning and implementation efforts for regions, large areas, and critical growth-related topics. While at Envision Utah, he helped lead the Your Utah, Your Future statewide vision that engaged 52,845 Utahns to tackle eleven different topics, as well as the recommended State Water Strategy, the Point of the Mountain vision, the Vision for Teacher Excellence, and numerous other critical efforts. Prior to joining Envision Utah, he managed visioning and entitlement projects for the San Diego region; Laie, Hawaii; the 175,000-acre Superstition Vistas Arizona state trust land parcel; and the 300,000-acre Deseret Ranches of Florida landholding near the Orlando International Airport. He represented Kennecott Land Company in the land use planning and approval effort for over 90,000 acres on Salt Lake's West Bench, including the 4,000-acre Daybreak community that has received widespread acclaim.

Policy Board

  • Trustee Holbrook brings a wealth of experience to UTA. She began her career in the financial sector, established a real estate firm in 2002 and in 2010 went to work for Zion’s Bank as the Director of the Business Resource Center in Salt Lake City. Trustee Holbrook would go on to become the Public Sector Solutions Manager for Waste Management of Utah. Trustee Holbrook was first elected to the Bountiful City Council in 2007 and has served on several boards including the Bountiful Power Commission, Planning Commission and the Utility Facility Review Board. She is the outgoing President of the Utah League of Cities and Towns; having served there since 2011. Trustee Holbrook joined the Utah Transit Authority on November 1, 2018.

  • With over 10 years of experience in public policy, government affairs, economic development, and education, I am passionate about creating positive impact for businesses and communities in Utah. I am currently the Executive Vice President of Public Policy & Government Affairs at the Salt Lake Chamber, the largest and longest-standing business association in the state.



    In this role, I lead the Chamber's advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels, representing the interests and needs of more than 8,000 members. I also oversee the Chamber's policy research, analysis, and communication, as well as its engagement with various stakeholders, partners, and coalitions. Some of my recent achievements include securing a large contract for the Chamber's Women's Business Center, launching a new initiative to support rural businesses, and facilitating multiple legislative wins for the Chamber's priority issues.



    My skills include conflict resolution, fundraising, leadership development, public speaking, resume writing, event planning, and career counseling. I am honored to have received the Davis Chamber ATHENA Leadership Award in 2019, which recognizes individuals who excel in their profession, contribute to their community, and mentor other women. I am always looking for new opportunities to learn, grow, and collaborate with others who share my vision of building a prosperous and inclusive Utah.

  • I am passionate about working collaboratively with elected officials, stakeholders, and community partners to build consensus around decisions that empower communities to achieve their vision. I am driven by my strong desire to serve local communities and can leverage my experience working in local government to strategically implement those visions.

  • Wilf Sommerkorn retired as the Director of Regional Planning and Transportation for Salt Lake County in 2019, where he served from 2014. Prior to that, he was Salt Lake City Planning Director from 2008 to 2014, and Director of the Davis County Community & Economic Development Department for 14 years. He was a planner in various positions with that Department from 1981. Wilf has also served as the Community Development Director for Centerville City, and as an adjunct professor of urban planning at the University of Utah, where he taught a class in The Politics of Planning, something every planner should know! Wilf has served as Legislative Chair for the Utah Chapter of the American Planning Association since 1990, where he has had a role in writing the state codes regarding land use. He was President of the APA Utah Chapter from 1986 to 1988. Wilf holds a BS in Physical Geography and Geology from the University of Utah, and an MS in Urban Planning from the University of Tennessee. Wilf now works with the non-profit Utah Land Use Institute as Deputy Executive Director, and also does planning consulting work through his firm, Sommerkorn Consulting. He is currently serving on the Kaysville City Planning Commission.

  • Lance Miller founded Momentum Loans. Founded in 2017, Momentum Loans is a leading residential mortgage lender located at 9490 S 300 W #100, Sandy, UT. They provide high quality mortgage services to loan officers and realtors, with a focus on building strong partnerships with builders and real estate companies. Momentum offers a range of mortgage products, including conventional loans, FHA loans, VA loans and more. More recently, as rates have moved higher, Momentum has developed innovative new programs, including securing forward commitments that have helped deliver 30-year mortgage rates as low as 4.875 percent.

  • Ted Knowlton is the Deputy Director at the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC.org). Ted is an expert at coordinating transportation, land use, and economic development. Prior to joining WFRC, he worked with the non-profit organization Envision Utah as well as in private consulting. His experience includes efforts in Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City that have garnered two prestigious Daniel Burnham awards from the American Planning Association. In Utah, he facilitated the development of Wasatch Choice, the region’s official vision for growth and transportation. Ted has a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from Portland State University, is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Utah, and is a distinguished Alumni of the College of Architecture + Planning at the University of Utah. He is a past president of APAUtah and serves on the City Council for North Salt Lake City.