Hailey Kirlin is an Environmental Scientist at the Utah Division of Water Resources. She works primarily with communities implementing water resource topics into their general plans. Hailey graduated from Whitman College in Washington State with a B.S. in Geology and holds a master’s degree in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Denver. Prior […]
Kaden Figgins serves as the director of planning and economic development for Garfield County, Utah, where he leads long-range planning, land use policy, and economic development strategy across one of the West’s most iconic and resource-rich regions. His work focuses on balancing community growth with the stewardship of public lands, expanding rural infrastructure and housing […]
Bret Howser has been in ski resort community management for 22 years, first in Park City and now in Brian Head. While his background is primarily in public finance, as a Town Manager in a small gateway community, he has to do a little of everything — including occasionally walking up to strangers to let […]
Claudia Loayza is a developer and community builder with a background in planning and public service. As a developer with Developed. By Women., a nonprofit and sister organization to Giv Group, she works on projects ranging from affordable housing and mixed-use developments to rural initiatives and trauma- informed design. Her work centers long-term community impact […]
Love Your Block is a resident-driven mini-grant program focused on neighborhood improvement, civic participation, and community empowerment. In his role, he manages the full lifecycle of a competitive grant program, including community outreach, application review, cross-departmental coordination, contracting, compliance, and post-project evaluation. Chimalli’s work emphasizes equitable funding practices, resident capacity building, and strengthening partnerships between […]
Divya Chandrasekhar is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of City & Metropolitan Planning at the University of Utah. She has expertise in community recovery from disasters. Her research has examined post-disaster community participation and capacity building, networking and coordination among recovery institutions, and disaster recovery policy in South and Southeast Asia, the […]
Michael Rymer was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, where he seldom saw the night sky in its natural state. Later in his life, though, he came to discover a love for astronomy and astrophotography, searching for dark skies and how he can help protect them. Michael enjoys hiking in the mountains and deserts of […]
Cory Shurtleff is the Community Development Director for the City of Moab, Utah, with a professional background rooted in land use planning and small/rural community development. Born and raised in Summit County, Utah, Cory earned degrees in City & Metropolitan Planning, Political Science, and Leadership Studies from the University of Utah, later earning his AICP […]
Ryan Maye Handy is an urban planner whose work has included development permitting, workshop facilitation, and running technical assistance programs to help communities plan for the effects of a changing climate. Connecting with people, learning about their worldviews and challenges, and helping them live well within their chosen landscapes are guiding principles in her work. […]
