Introducing the 2022 Element Award Honorees

JESSICA ATKINSON

Jessica Atkinson is the COO of Hygiene Edge and an assistant professor at Dixie State University. She is a pioneering co-creator of resources for dental hygienists at any stage of their careers. These resources, primarily offered as videos, help dental professionals brush up on, refresh, or learn a tip/trick that can improve their practice. Jessica is proud to have learned from the best in her industry and is invested in sharing what she has learned with the next generation of dental professionals.

What contributions have you made to southern Utah in your personal life?

I have been a “leave no trace” participant in recreation here in southern Utah. While leaving no trace is a motto I live by in recreation, I hope that I have left a positive trace everywhere I go. My home has served as an interim home for those working, schooling, and living in Washington County as they have struggled to find an affordable permanent residence.

What is the best career advice you have received?

My friend and one of the co-owners of Hygiene Edge reminds me often that “done is fun.” This helps me not overthink projects since the first take is usually the best.

NINA BARNES

Nina Barnes is a passionate advocate for higher education and believes that service and volunteerism are critical. She is an adjunct professor teaching identity politics and serves as the vice-chair of the Utah Board of Higher Education, co-chair of the Southern Utah University Presidential Search Committee, and vice-chair of the Utah Federation of Republican Women. Having run a successful real estate business for over thirty years, Nina is an entrepreneur at heart, but she became a community champion when she served two terms on the Cedar City Council. She founded the Cedar City Veteran’s Memorial Park and the community-built Park Discovery. Nina is most proud of her work as a wife and mother—she has five children, a daughter-in-law, and one grandchild—and now resides in St. George with her husband, Keith.

What quote has motivated you to excel?

“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier” (Mother Teresa).

Who is a female leader that inspires you?

I am inspired by Gail Miller’s tireless work and generosity in serving, educating, and lifting all Utahns, especially children. If there is a worthwhile initiative or project in Utah, Gail Miller is involved.

LINDSEY BOYER

Lindsey Boyer is the executive director of the Dove Center, which seeks to empower those impacted by domestic abuse and sexual violence. Lindsey began her career with the Division of Child and Family Services, eventually becoming a clinical counselor for the community at large. She is a champion for a better workplace and community, insisting that Dove Center services are available to anyone who needs them with no exceptions. Among her many accomplishments, Lindsey started an evidence-based prevention education program for middle school, high school, and university students. In one year, this program served seventy-three girls in six schools.

What contributions to southern Utah have you made in your professional career?

I have worked hard to promote a better future for our next generation, especially our girls who are growing up to become tomorrow’s women. I hope my contribution has helped promote a culture of love and respect toward women and girls and a community that depends on women in leadership.

What quote has motivated you to excel?

I live by this one: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” (Helen Keller). I’m inspired by this one as a reminder to be courageous and speak up: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” (Martin Luther King Jr.).

KATHY CIESLEWICZ

Kathy Cieslewicz has been a pillar of the Washington County art community for over twenty-five years. She is currently the director and curator of the Dixie State University (DSU) Sears Art Museum. Kathy has hosted the DSU Business of Art Conference, which empowers artists as entrepreneurs, for ten years. She offers private instruction and has dedicated much of her time to providing art classes to students in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona. In addition to her time in the classroom, Kathy has taken students and local artists on immersive art tours in Europe for the past ten years.

What quote has motivated you to excel?

“As our knowledge is converted to wisdom, the door to opportunity is unlocked” (Barbara W. Winder).

Who is a female leader that inspires you?

In my training to become a certified Montessori teacher, I learned from Maria Montessori (1870-1952) to observe what my students needed and then to provide the environment. I have applied this philosophy as I raised our children, as an art teacher, in my career as the DSU Sears Art Museum director/curator, and in the art community. I am energized by teaching and serving. I also believe one of the most important things we can learn in life is to Learn to Love to Learn.

JUDITH COOLEY

Judith Cooley is the CEO of JNC Property Management. In addition to operating her own business, she is dedicated to helping veterans and others in need. She has spearheaded the Christmas for Veterans project, which provides gifts for every resident of the Southern Utah Veterans Home–Ivins and beyond. Judith also created the Vietnam Veterans Monument to give veterans the welcome home and “thank you” that they deserved. She attributes much of her community involvement to a former boss who taught her to give back to the community in meaningful ways.

What quote has motivated you to excel?

“All gave some; some gave all” (attributed to Howard William Osterkamp, Korean War veteran and purple heart recipient).

Who is a female leader that inspires you?

My mom taught me to give my best, no matter what. Like her, I do my best when challenged. She also taught me to respect all and to always give a helping hand. Most importantly, she taught me to never give up.

SHIRLEE DRAPER

Shirlee Draper is a force for change. She is a founder of the Short Creek Community Alliance, which facilitated voter education and registration. Her efforts resulted in a fully secular government in Hilldale, Utah, and the election of Hildale’s first female mayor. Since then, Shirlee has been engaged in finding housing solutions and in rebuilding the community with parks, a community center, and a recreation center. She has trained numerous service providers and government agencies in cultural sensitivity and is committed to creating a more accepting, understanding environment for our FLDS neighbors. Shirlee serves as the director of operations for Cherish Families and is a single mother to four amazing humans.

What quote has motivated you to excel?

There are two: “I love when people that have been through hell walk out of the flames carrying buckets of water for those still consumed by the fire” (Stephanie Sparkles); “I said, ‘Somebody should do something about that.’ Then I realized, I am somebody” (Lily Tomlin).

What is a personal accomplishment for which you are proud?

One of my biggest achievements is the health and vitality of my daughter, Angel. She was very fragile and quite disabled and is now thriving. It was a lot of work, but she is the light and heart of our family, and I’m grateful for her every day.

Terri Draper is one of southern Utah’s most respected community leaders. She has directed communications at Intermountain’s St. George Regional Hospital since 1995 and currently oversees marketing and communications for fifteen Intermountain hospitals across Utah. Her greatest joy at work comes from sharing the inspiring stories of patients who overcome adversity, those who are living well, and the healthcare heroes who help them do both. She was the founding president of the Southern Utah Public Information Officer Association and has served on the Dixie State University School of Business Advisory Board, St. George City Arts Commission, and the Leadership Dixie Board. She and her husband, Brian, are the parents of three children and grandparents of eleven beautiful grandchildren.

What quote has motivated you to excel?

This quote by Lyman Hafen helped me to understand the power of story-telling: “Time is made up of minutes, hours, days, and years. Life is made up of stories.”

Who is a female leader that inspires you?

My great-grandmother Margaret Reese Williams was kind and resilient. In the face of great hardship, she stayed physically, mentally, and spiritually strong. She went to work in the coal mines of Wales at age six and for years, saved the money to come to America. When she was nineteen, she emigrated to Utah and met Grandpa Williams. They had thirteen children. She had a wonderful gift as a midwife, cared for others, and saved the lives of many women and children.

SHARMANE GULL

Sharmane Gull has spent her career helping to craft government policy that drives both immediate and long-term positive change. As program director for Washington County, Sharmane secured over $1.3 million for Washington County’s behavioral health and justice system, $225,000 for an intergenerational poverty project, and $3.2 million to build a new crisis care receiving center for Washington County. Her efforts have helped create a more fluid and cost-effective justice system and software integration to share information, enhanced public safety with pretrial supervision, opened access to treatment services, increased court operations, reduced jail population, and lowered the reoffense rate. Sharmane is the mother or two wonderful children who inspire her to live life with purpose.

What quote has motivated you to excel?

“It always seems impossible until it’s done” (Nelson Mandela),

Who is a female leader that inspires you?

I look up to my mother. She helped raise her younger siblings as my grandmother, a single mother of ten children, worked as a registered nurse. My mother missed out on a lot of life experiences to sacrifice for her family, including attending school regularly. She nurtured and raised five children of her own, worked tirelessly to graduate from school later on in life, and supported my father throughout his career. She demonstrated gratitude and a willingness to serve, and she taught me by example that there is more to life than oneself.

LUANN LUNDQUIST

LuAnn Lundquist has been a leader in senior services in the St. George area since 2002. She has served on the Caregiver Advisory Board of the Area Agency on Aging for almost twenty years. She also served as a regional manager and statewide education coordinator for the Utah Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. With the help of her husband, Kurt, and sister, Mitzi Sullivan, LuAnn started a nonprofit to continue services to local seniors. This year, Memory Matters Utah will celebrate ten years providing direct, personal services to meet the needs of local families dealing with the challenges of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Who is the female leader that inspires you?

The female that I look up to the most is my hero mother. She was a child of the Great Depression with an alcoholic father. She was a young wife caring for little ones alone in a house where she had to thaw the pipes every winter morning while her husband served in Burma during WWII. She became well educated through her own means and ran my father’s business. She instilled in me the love of learning and serving.

What quote has motivated you to excel?

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well” (Ralph Waldo Emerson).

JILL NAYLOR MORTENSEN

Jill is a fierce and proud Mama Dragon. Over the past five years, her journey of leaning in, listening, and learning to become a better LGBTQ+ advocate and ally has opened the door for many fulfilling opportunities to serve the community. Through her volunteer work as advisory board chair with Encircle St. George, she has connected with numerous beautiful LGBTQ+ individuals and their families. Jill is committed to reducing teen suicide by shining a light on the daily challenges that many gay teens face. She is a freelance graphic artist and a t-shirt designer, and she is a volunteer for Switch Point, Encircle, and the PTA.

What quote has motivated you to excel?

“Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It’s a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity” (Perma Chödrön). This serves as a powerful reminder to me that our own struggles can become our greatest strengths.

What is a personal accomplishment for which you are proud?

I’m incredibly proud of the way I have chosen to lead with love in every aspect of my life. If it doesn’t feel warm, true, good, kind, or loving, I want no part of it! Love invites curiosity, encourages honesty and integrity, celebrates authenticity, rewards vulnerability, and deepens relationships.

DR. JACQUELINE POWELL

Dr. Jacqueline Powell works to inspire the medical students she teaches at Rocky Vista University (RVU) to be leaders in their community. Her diverse background gives her a unique perspective and an appreciation of all cultures. Dr. Powell is chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Committee at RVU, faculty advisor to the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association. and a member of the Vista Charter School Board. She also holds an executive leadership position in the Black Lives Matter Southern Utah Chapter and collaborates throughout the community to support and highlight minority-owned businesses and leaders. Dr. Powell’s greatest accomplishment is raising her “incredibly awesome” teenage son.

What is your advice to women seeking a career in the healthcare field?

Be passionate and follow your dreams; the world of healthcare and academia needs you. Be powerful as you lead with purpose so that you can shatter glass ceilings with ease. Be fearless and unapologetic in advocating for yourself and other women. Be supportive as you help other women in the field find strength in their voice. Be intentional in always remembering that, no matter what you look like or where you come from, you are intelligent enough, innovative enough, and impressive enough to be widely successful and excel beyond measure.

What quote has motivated you to excel?

“If you’re going to live, leave a legacy. Make a mark on the world that can’t be erased” (Maya Angelou).

DR. SHARON RICHENS

Dr. Sharon Richens is the founder and CEO of Richens Eye Center, an advanced eye care and surgical center. Since 2001, she and her team of professionals have brought the best ophthalmic technologies to St. George as quickly as possible, raising the standard of care in southern Utah and providing a way for patients to stay in the area for treatment. She has served as president of the Utah Medical Association and as the Utah delegate to the American Medical Association. Dr. Richens volunteers at the Physicians Free Clinic and mentors premedical students at Dixie State University. Her example has been an inspiration to women and girls in the community.

What is a personal accomplishment for which you are proud?

My husband, David, and I helped Tuacahn High School obtain approvals to host their first international exchange student, Sheena Luy, through the U.S. Youth Exchange Studies program. Later, Sheena returned to St. George and graduated from Dixie State College. We are proud of her and the other exchange students who have graced our family.

Who is a female leader that inspires you?

My mother has a sparkling intellect, a commitment to truth, an incredible work ethic, a sense of humor and curiosity, and a strong commitment to family and friends. She is also an accomplished attorney, but being a mom is a harder job.

DR. TASHA TOY

Dr. Tasha Toy serves as the assistant vice president and senior diversity and inclusion officer at Dixie State University. She has been a force for diversity and inclusion in Washington County and is a fierce advocate for women, the BIPOC community, and her students. Dr. Toy excels in her field by building momentum for transformative work to occur. She does not seek the spotlight; rather, she works to make sure people around her feel empowered to lead. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she secured a grant to address food disparities for the local community. Through this grant, her team bridged the gap and supported neighbors with fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat during an uncertain time.

Who is a female leader that inspires you?

Ida B. Wells-Barnett is a female leader I admire. She was a prominent journalist, activist, and researcher who lived in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Mrs. Wells-Barnett used her intellect to bring attention to societal issues and made efforts to address them. She was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and was one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

What is the best career advice you have received?

“Be brave and take chances! It isn’t like you haven’t been told ‘no’ before.” This advice has allowed me to be comfortable taking calculated risks and voicing my opinion.

KATHIE THAYNE

Kathie Thayne is a household name in the St. George area. As the former CEO of the Huntsman World Senior Games, she led efforts to grow participation in the games from several hundred to over 10,000 participants. Through her work promoting the games and a healthy lifestyle, many lives were saved through health testing. Kathie has served on the Dixie State College Board of Trustees, St. George Area Chamber of Commerce Board, Hospital Ethics Committee, Leadership Dixie Board, and the Dixie Technical College Board. She also brought the Dickens’ Christmas Festival to southern Utah. Currently, Kathie serves as the vice president of the Huntsman World Senior Games Board of Trustees.

What quote has motivated you to excel?

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body but rather, to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, ‘Wow! What a ride!’” (Hunter S. Thompson).

Who is a female leader that inspires you?

I am inspired by my own mother, Florence Boulton, who was a teacher for over sixty years. For many of those years, she taught special needs children and was even substituting well into her eighties. She never hesitated to help anyone—friend, relative, or complete stranger. Up until my retirement, she sewed every one of the giant butterfly flags used in the opening ceremonies of the games.

ALISSA URZI

Alissa Urzi has worked for the St. George Police Department as the victim witness coordinator for the last decade. She has served on several multi-disiplinary teams and coalitions that focus on ending domestic violence and sexual assault and has maintained a positive working relationship with sister city police departments as well as other community partners, including the Dove Center and the Children’s Justice Center. Additionally, she volunteers each year to be a member of the sexual assault response team at Burning Man. Alissa is the proud mother of two amazing boys.

What contributions have you made to southern Utah in your personal life?

I try not to miss an opportunity to serve whether it is helping with suicide prevention, volunteering at one of the many races, supporting local business, or joining a search for a missing person. Anytime I can connect in a meaningful way with others in my community and do something for the greater good, it’s a win in my book.

What is a personal accomplishment for which you are proud?

Since most court hearings are taking place online, I recently created a virtual courtroom in my office. It’s a safe space with good audio and video so victims who may not have the technology skills, computer equipment, or even a safe place to be can attend court hearings. Without this, many victims would have lost their orders of protection or not had their voices heard in court.