Latter-day Profiles (Latter-day Profiles)

Emmy Eaton is a 9-year-old journalist who hosts the popular online segment “7 Questions with Emmy”. Emmy has interviewed TV and movie stars, professional athletes, and church leaders. She’s also appeared on The Today Show, The Drew Barrymore Show, and other national TV programs. Emmy and her parents, Nate and Erica, share how the segment came about and some of their many experiences. Nate is the news director for EastIdahoNews.com, an online news service in Southeast Idaho. https://www.facebook.com/7QuestionsEmmy/https://www.eastidahonews.com/

Courtney Rich is a baker and cake maker whose culinary masterpieces have garnered her 180,000 Instagram followers under the cakebycourtney account. The success of her account, as well as her blog of the same name, has landed her on television shows like Good Morning Lala Land and KTLA 5 News.

https://cakebycourtney.com/

https://www.instagram.com/cakebycourtney

Alvin F. Meredith III became the 18th president of Brigham Young University-Idaho on August 1, 2023. He was sustained as a General Authority Seventy on April 3, 2021, and continues to serve in that role today. Prior to his call as a General Authority, President Meredith served as president of the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission. He also served as an Area Seventy in the North America Southeast and Asia Areas, and in a number of other Church callings, including as a full-time missionary in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission. In his professional career, President Meredith worked as a senior executive of Asurion in Tennessee, Hong Kong, and Singapore. He also worked for The Boston Consulting Group and GE Capital. President Meredith earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brigham Young University and a Master of Business Administration in finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. President Meredith married his wife, Jennifer Edgin, in 1998. Sister Meredith served a full-time mission in the Argentina Salta Mission and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Brigham Young University. They are the parents of six children.

Marshall and Michelle Moore became the new owners and co-directors of Zions Indie Film Fest in 2021, formerly the LDS Film Festival. The couple has over 45 years of combined film industry experience and they are extremely passionate about helping connect filmmakers, friends, and audiences. 

Marshall is currently the VP of Operations and Marketing at Utah Film Studios in Park City, Utah which was home to the Paramount Network television series Yellowstone for three seasons.

Michelle is the owner/operator of Moore PR Group, and with the help of her talented team, they work year-round on media campaigns, movie premieres, and special events.

Gale Sears grew up in Lake Tahoe, California, and spent her high school years in Hawaii. After graduating from McKinley High School in Honolulu, she went on to receive a BA in playwriting from Brigham Young University, and an MA in theater arts from the University of Minnesota. She is an award-winning author, known for her historical accuracy and intensive research. She is the author of the bestselling The Silence of God, Letters in the Jade Dragon Box, Belonging to Heaven, and several other novels, including The Route, Christmas for a Dollar, Autumn Sky, Until the Dawn, and Upon the Mountains. She and her husband, George, are the parents of two children and reside in Sandy, Utah.

Cydni Tetro, CEO of Brandless, is an innovator of experience, a growth leader, technologist, STEM advocate, author, and speaker.

Cydni recently raised $118M, the largest fundraiser led by a woman in Silicon Slopes.

She has built her career on a foundation of building experiences through technology storytelling and product innovation. She grew companies, marketing & product teams, developed customer experience strategies and go-to-market programs that ensure market leadership, customer relationships and growth strategies across large enterprises and venture-backed startups.

Cydni is CEO of Brandless, a mission-driven omnichannel commerce platform that is growing through technology and the acquisition of mission-driven brands. The art of storytelling and how to apply it for business growth and market leadership is woven through her career. From building a product experience platform and services with Fortune 100 companies, to a 3D printing platform working with Marvel, NFL and Target to help fans become part of their favorite stories, to leading technology commercialization at Disney, to building the largest family network on the Facebook API of more than 100 M users, to building a peer-to-peer document compliance system. Her deep experience in using stories, experience, technology and relationships has helped her lead companies and teams that expand customer acquisition and grow companies.

She is founder and President of the Women Tech Council. As a woman in tech she was compelled to create a non-profit, the Women Tech Council, to amplify the economic impact of women in tech and expand the talent pipeline and she gives back to small businesses through the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business Program. She spends time working with women in tech, on boards and in her community to accelerate opportunity, inclusion, and growth.

She has been recognized as CEO of the Year, Women of the Year, Contributor of the Year, Top 10 Coolest Entrepreneurs, received Stevie Awards for Entrepreneur of the Year and Innovator of the Year and been recognized as a Most Successful Businesswoman to Watch. Cydni sits on the board of SelectHealth, Intermountain Healthcare, Swire Coca-Cola and the Governor’s Economic Forum. She holds a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s in computer science.

Geoff Steurer is a licensed marriage and family therapist, relationship educator, and coach. Geoff has produced workbooks, audio programs, and online courses helping couples and individuals heal from the impact of sexual betrayal, unwanted pornography use, partner betrayal trauma, and rebuilding broken trust. He is the co-author of, "Love You, Hate the Porn: Healing a Relationship Damaged by Virtual Infidelity", and the host of the weekly podcast, "From Crisis to Connection".

Brooke Romney is a writer, speaker, and educator. She has been published in The Washington Post, The Deseret News, Scary Mommy, and a host of other online publications where her pieces have been read millions of times. She writes avidly on her blog and Instagram page, @brookeromneywrites, where she has created a large, vibrant community of learning and growth.

• https://brookeromney.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/brookeromneywrites/

Ganel-Lyn Condie is a popular motivational speaker—known for inspiring others with her unique honesty, authenticity, and spirit. Ganel-Lyn has experienced healing from a major chronic illness and is the mother of two miracle children. After the heart-breaking suicide of her sister, Ganel-Lyn is constantly working toward prevention. She lives with an open heart and feels passionate about sharing principles that will empower others to live life with more joy. Ganel-Lyn’s talks and books have encouraged thousands of people all over the world. She loves growing older with her husband, Rob.

John Fossum was born in Missouri and spent his early years until the age of nine in New Jersey. His formative teenage years were spent in Georgia where he developed a love for playing sports and catching reptiles. After high school, John served as a missionary in the Philippines. Following his missionary experience, he attended college where he met his wife, Sarah, in poetry class. On his way to earning both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in English, John worked in the construction industry and learned the value of manual labor. John has taught for the Seminaries and Institutes arm of the Church for 18 years, and he and his wife are the parents of five children and currently live in Pleasant Grove, Utah. John's hobbies include exercising and going to dinner and a movie with his wife every Friday night.

Dan Davis is the founder of the video story company, Stiry. Stiry produces raw and authentic short films and documentaries about regular people doing extraordinary things for network tv, digital streaming services, and web-based video platforms. Stiry’s mission is to inspire people to discover their divine potential by changing the way they see their story.

Dr. Lili De Hoyos Anderson is a first-generation American. Her mother is French, and her father is Mexican. Dr. Anderson attended BYU and graduated in Sociology. After almost 20 years of being a full-time homemaker, Sister Anderson returned to school to complete a Masters in Social Work degree at UNLV and a Ph.D. in Marriage, Family, and Human Development from BYU, where she taught for several years in the School of Family Life. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has a full-time private practice in individual, marriage and family counseling. Lilli is the author of Choosing Glory and hosts a podcast by the same name. She and her late husband, Chris, have 8 children.

Jen Allen is an event management professional with over 15 years experience running large and small events, including logistics, catering, schedules, stage performances, marketing, broadcasting, design, sponsors, volunteers, and more.

Allen is a hometown girl who grew up in West Jordan, Utah, a small suburb about 25 minutes southeast of Salt Lake City. When she graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in English, she says she “expected to teach high school English for the rest of [her] career.” It didn’t work out that way—but for Jen, that was probably a good thing. She has always had a passion for organization and management. In fact, if there had been an “events planning” major when she was in college, she would have been first in line to sign up.

After facing various challenges and delays, Kevin and Sonja Staples have embarked on a unique journey to become mission leaders in the Utah St. George Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Their mission, originally intended for St. Petersburg, Russia, was thwarted by visa issues. They were released from their mission call in 2021 due to the pandemic. However, the family received a new assignment to serve in Utah, moving from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to St. George.

Skyler Halford is a former BYU Basketball player who has become an expert basketball trainer and Doctor of Physical Therapy. He played High School basketball at Timpanogos High School. As a senior, he earned second-team and third-team all-state honors from the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News. Skylar shares his journey from a walk-on at Utah State, to a starter for BYU to his decision to forgo professional basketball to focus on physical therapy.

Jordan Rushton was selected as the third president of Dixie Technical College by the Utah Board of Higher Education on September 15, 2022, following his role as interim president since April 2022 and years of dedicated service since 2015. With a background as Vice President of Instruction, Rushton oversaw 25 accredited programs, instructors, and curriculum at Dixie Tech. His career has been marked by fruitful collaborations with the legislature to secure funding for technical education and a strong focus on accreditation. Rushton, armed with an undergraduate degree from Utah Valley University, a master's in public administration from Southern Utah University, and post-graduate certification in management from Harvard University, is currently pursuing his doctorate in education at Baylor University. His leadership emphasizes building industry and educational partnerships while upholding instructional quality and growth.

Jon Jeppson is a retired lawyer, former mission president, stake president, and member of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. Bonnie Jeppson has served as a stake and ward Young Women president and many other callings.

Together Jon and Bonnie have endured many trials, including cancer, the loss of family members, and other challenges, all the while strengthening others with their testimonies of Jesus Christ.

Daniel and Kathryn Blomberg are the co-founders of Blomberg Music Productions, a full-service music production company helping Christian musicians reach their potential.

Daniel is a music producer, arranger, songwriter, keyboardist, and vocalist from Sweden who met his wife, Kathryn, the love of his life, and many of his favorite music colleagues while at Brigham Young University. Kathryn is a vocalist, entrepreneur, and homeschooling mother.

After many international moves, The Blomberg family has now settled in Provo, Utah

Aubrey Grossen is the founder of ANYA (A New You Again) where she hosts conferences, events, retreats, memberships, and more to help moms with their mental health journey.

After having her first baby, she suffered through postpartum depression. As a result, she created an online community to support women with their mental health.

Aubrey is a wife and mama to 4 kids who live and love soaking up the sun in Southern Utah.

Amanda Taylor is a lover of all things story, whether it be books, movies, theater - musical and otherwise - art, music, or people. She earned her bachelor's degree in English literature from the University of Utah, which only fueled her passion for classical literature.

She also loves to travel and explore new places with her husband and four teenagers. Though a self-proclaimed city girl, Amanda loves to spend time in nature, preferably the mountains or the ocean - or anywhere that sparks her imagination. Most days, she can be found driving carpool and singing her heart out to her favorite tunes.

Dana Lecheminant has been telling stories since she was old enough to know what stories were. After spending most of her childhood reading everything she could get her hands on, she eventually realized she could write her own books, and since then, she always has plots brewing and characters clamoring to be next to have their stories told. A lover of all things outdoors, she finds inspiration while hiking the remote Utah backcountry and cruising down rivers. Until her endless imagination runs dry, she will always have another story to tell. https://www.lecheminantbooks.com/ https://www.latterdayprofiles.org

Brock Blake is the CEO and co-founder of Lendio, the nation’s leading small business finance solutions provider. Brock believes that access to capital should be simpler and quicker for small business owners, and he’s built a successful company around solving this problem. Brock leads the team that has helped business owners access more than $10B in funding.

An Inc. 500 CEO, national keynote speaker, Forbes columnist, and Utah’s Emerging Executive of the Year, Brock’s dedication extends far beyond the boardroom. He has shaped a superior company culture with a humble and hungry team passionate about driving results and giving back. For every loan facilitated on Lendio’s marketplace platform, Lendio Gives, an employee-contribution, and employer-matching program, provides a microloan to a low-income entrepreneur around the world through Kiva.

Bill Elliott is Media Director for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he works developing inspirational media content, documentaries, and short film series. He also teaches digital content creation as an adjunct professor at Ensign College.

Maria Eckersley is a stay-at-home mom of six by day and a sleep-deprived graphic designer by night. She has a passion for two big things, my family and my faith (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).

As much as I love my kid-filled day job, I also find a lot of mothering tasks to be a bit mundane. I tend to seek out tech, ideas, and products that make my mothering life easier. Many of my designs and posts focus on tips & tricks I have picked up over the last 17 years of mistake-riddled parenthood.

I'm also a big believer in the power of a good teacher...especially when it comes to building a core foundation of faith. The LDS teaching tips I post come from my desire to pass along what I've learned from my many years of teaching youth and adults in the LDS church. This site is a work in progress but I hope you enjoy it.

As a highly sought-after inspirational speaker and author, Dr. Jack R. Christianson has lectured and given seminars to organizations of all ages and types across the United States and Canada. He is the author of numerous inspirational books and audio recordings. Jack has been fortunate to have been a leader in large organizations in the public and private sector; including Special Assistant to the President for Engaged Learning at Utah Valley University, Executive Director of the Center for Engaged Learning at Utah Valley University, Visiting Scholar at Brigham Young University, Chief administrator, principal and trainer of leaders in a world-wide private educational system. He is married to Melanie Harris. They are the parents of four daughters and one son. Jack currently serves as a patriarch in the Orem, Utah, Northridge Stake.

Jenalee Marshall is a seasoned graphic designer with a rich tapestry of experience. Her journey in the design world has taken her from her hometown in Utah to the picturesque landscapes of Italy, shaping her into the well-rounded person she is today. Jenalee shares her inspiring journey that led her to Brigham Young University-Idaho, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design with a Minor in Advertising. This solid foundation in the gospel and design principles have greatly influenced her life’s path. Jenalee is the owner and design guru at Jenalee Marshall Design. She and her husband, Ryan are the parents of two children and live in Taylorsville, Utah.

Utah Tech men’s basketball head coach Jon Judkins is the all-time winningest collegiate coach in the state of Utah. While at Utah Tech (previously Dixie State), Judkins’ teams have won seven conference championships and made nine NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run during the 2010-11 campaign

Prior to Utah Tech, Judkins served as head coach at Snow College for 12 full seasons and posted a 284-128 overall record. 

Coach Judkins served in the Ohio Columbus Mission and played a year at Dixie State before transferring to Utah State.

Jade Koyle is President at Grand Teton Ancient Grains, a  family-owned and operated farm, and mill committed to restoring ancient grains to the family dinner table.

Koyle’s mission is to restore the finest organically grown ancient foods from around the world into our modern lifestyles. One of those ancient foods is Einkorn, the most primitive wheat available on earth. Einkorn contains a different type of gluten than modern wheat. 

As sixth-generation farmers, Koyle and his family cultivate their farmland using proven organic and biological methods that build up the soil and pack nutrition into the foods they grow.

https://www.ancientgrains.com/

Jennifer A. Nielsen is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 15 books for young readers. Her titles have been published in 21 languages, two have been optioned for film, and several have been the recipients of multiple awards and notable lists.

Nielsen was born and raised in northern Utah, where she still lives today with her family, a dog that won’t play fetch, and a cat that hallucinates. She is the author of The Ascendance series, beginning with THE FALSE PRINCE; the TRAITOR’S GAME series, the historical novels, RESISTANCE, A NIGHT DIVIDED,  WORDS ON FIRE, RESCUE, and several other titles. She loves chocolate, old books, and lazy days in the mountains.

http://jennielsen.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Nielsenwriter

https://www.instagram.com/nielsenwriter/

Jenifer Greenwood has worked for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 27 years—writing, editing, strategizing, and, most important, listening, learning, and being grateful to see closeup the building up of the kingdom of God.

She started her career as an editorial intern and then spent 16 years as an editor, copyeditor, and assistant managing editor of the Liahona. Her current assignment is as the director of policy and General Officer support in the Priesthood and Family Department, where she works to publish general conference every six months and has been privileged to work on the rewrite of the Church’s General Handbook. She recently accepted an appointment as the executive secretary to the Priesthood and Family Executive Council.

Jenifer graduated from BYU with a bachelor’s degree in English and immediately began work on an MA. Before she wrote a thesis, however, she started working for the Church. Twenty-six years later, she graduated from BYU with a master’s degree in public administration.

She’s a self-taught amateur in anything she does but particularly enjoys tasks that involve neatly ordered squares: especially the New York Times crossword puzzle, patchwork quilts, Wordle, and family history.

Alvin F. Meredith III became the 18th president of Brigham Young University-Idaho on August 1, 2023. He was sustained as a General Authority Seventy on April 3, 2021, and continues to serve in that role today.

Prior to his call as a General Authority, President Meredith served as president of the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission. He also served as an Area Seventy in the North America Southeast and Asia Areas, and in a number of other Church callings, including as a full-time missionary in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission.

In his professional career, President Meredith worked as a senior executive of Asurion in Tennessee, Hong Kong, and Singapore. He also worked for The Boston Consulting Group and GE Capital.

President Meredith earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brigham Young University and a Master of Business Administration in finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

President Meredith married his wife, Jennifer Edgin, in 1998. Sister Meredith served a full-time mission in the Argentina Salta Mission and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Brigham Young University. They are the parents of six children.

Brothers Brad ­Wilcox and Roger Wilcox worked together on the book, “Blessed Are Ye: Using the Beatitudes to Understand Christ's Atonement and Grace. The book ­examines ­possible ­connections between the Beatitudes, the first principles and ­ordinances of the gospel, and ­temple covenants. 

Brad Wilcox is a professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University the second counselor in the Young Men general presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Roger Wilcox is retired after a career teaching seminary and institute.

Hal Boyd is Editor of the Deseret News. He was an associate professor of Brigham Young University’s School of Family Life and previously worked as the opinion editor and enterprise reporter for the Deseret News. He is a fellow of BYU’s Wheatley Institute, a think tank focused on fortifying family, religion, and constitutional government.

Steven Sharp Nelson is widely considered one of the most watched musicians in the world and a pioneer of “classicool music” via his twelve years of cello work with The Piano Guys. His content is listened to or watched 3 million times every day. Steven has performed or spoken to over 2 million people from Tooele to Tokyo, including appearances on Today, Good Morning America, and The Tonight Show. He draws his inspiration from his soulmate Julie, his “superpower” ADHD, the great composers in history, and most of all from his best friend, Jesus. His favorite thing in the world is that all four of his children, ages 10–17, still call him “Daddy.” Sometimes even out of love.

David and Serena Essuman are entrepreneurs and social media influencers. David is an entrepreneur/investor and mentor who works in real estate investments, franchising, and e-commerce. David owns and manages Havoya Real Estate, a real estate brokerage firm. He graduated from BYU with a degree in Psychology. Serena was born in Italy and moved to the Canary Islands during her high school years. She moved to the US to attend Brigham Young University, where she studied Spanish and minored in Italian, and most importantly, she met her husband David. Together they have owned several businesses. Serena started a lifestyle blog and Instagram page called Life at Casa, where she shares everything from family recipes to fashion and beauty insights.

John Pearce is a Co-Founder of Bloom. Pearce, along with Bloom co-founder Eric Engebretsen, has a  mission to improve people’s standard of living in emerging markets through remote work. Bloom’s goal is to create 10,000 jobs abroad while providing easy access to diverse and qualified candidates for US businesses.

Bloom’s talent network includes more than ten thousand college-educated English speakers who have studied at accredited American universities. The company currently has thousands of team members actively working for clients in over 65 countries globally.

Eric O. Leavitt, the Executive Chairman and CEO of Leavitt Group, a national insurance brokerage, has been named one of this year's distinguished honorees for the Utah Business CEO of the Year award. Overseeing Leavitt Group since 2003, Eric's strategic leadership and industry acumen have fueled remarkable growth, leveraging marketplace opportunities for acquisitions of insurance agencies and establishing a support structure for new affiliates.

Waldo Galan is the accomplished President of Waldo D. Galan and Associates, Inc. With extensive experience as an International Automotive Consultant, he has a remarkable track record of establishing thriving businesses and expanding markets in the automotive industry. Waldo has served in many church callings, including the Stake President in Dubai. He is currently a sealer in the Cedar City, Utah temple.

Levi Heperi is the director of intercultural strategy at Deseret Book, where he oversees the company’s DEI initiatives and develops the strategy to take Deseret Book to international markets. He studied communications at BYU and earned a master’s degree in adult learning and higher education from the University of Oklahoma (OU). He has worked as an inner-city elementary school teacher in Oklahoma, at OU’s school of social work, and at BYU in admissions and as the assistant director of multicultural student services. Levi is Mohawk Native American and Māori.

For Ed Willis, life was one harsh blow after another. Born into generational poverty within a system that was not designed for the success of Black men, most of his options led to dead ends. But in between jail time, drug addiction, unemployment, the struggles of racism, and family strife, there were brief flashes when the light of Christ touched Ed's heart, instilling in him a desire to know and to be more. 

Ed and his wife Wanda share how a lifetime of struggles and hardships prepared them to receive the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Rex Davis is Vice President at Educational Tours, providing custom group travel for pre-formed groups. Rex graduated from the University of Utah - David Eccles School of Business. He currently serves as a YSA Bishop in St. George, Utah.

Chad Lewis played football for Brigham Young University and professionally for the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2005 caught the game-clinching touchdown pass in the NFC Championship game. However, during this reception, Lewis suffered a Lisfranc injury to his left foot that kept him out of the Super Bowl XXXIX loss to the New England Patriots.

In 2009, Lewis released a memoir, Surround Yourself With Greatness, and in 2010, he returned to BYU as an Associate Athletic Director.

Chad’s wife Michele is a former All-American volleyball player at Brigham Young University. Michele is a mother of seven and a grandmother who just completed her executive MBA at BYU.

Julie Rose is a broadcast journalist, interviewer, and radio show host. She hosts “Top of Mind” on BYUradio. Her show features “smart, informative conversations and interviews that go beyond mere headlines and sound bites.” She is a seasoned journalist and a multiple winner of Edward R. Murrow Awards (two national for radio writing and multiple regional for continuing coverage, hard news reporting, writing, use of sound, features, and other categories). She earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Brigham Young University. She started in radio at KCPW in Salt Lake City. She has produced spots and feature news stories for National Public Radio’s (NPR) Morning Edition and All Things Considered. Prior to her work at BYUradio, she worked as a regional reporter for political, social, and economic stories in North and South Carolina at WFAE Public Radio, in Charlotte. She has also worked as a nonprofit fundraiser and a public relations manager in the San Francisco Bay area. #byuradio #topofmind / https://www.byuradio.org/top-of-mind

After serving 8 years in the United States Marine Corps, Dr. Will Pierce began a career in the electrical industry. He owned a successful contracting business before transitioning into higher education. Dr. Pierce worked for Salt Lake Community College for five years managing technical programs. He joined the Davis Technical College team and served as Vice President of Quality and Development. He was named Vice President of Instruction and Accreditation at Southwest Technical College in Cedar City in 2016. Pierce has been in his current role as Assistant Commissioner for Technical Education in the Utah System of Higher Education since July 2021. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Workforce Education, a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership.