ANNUAL TRAINING

“Change Makers” March 15, 2025

This dynamic training is designed to help women who want to become more engaged in politics gather the skills and relationships they need to succeed.

Experts will provide valuable insights on the nuts and bolts of how to run a successful campaign, engage in policy advocacy, or become a more informed voter.

2025 Schedule

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  • Representative Verona Mauga
    Representative Hoang Nguyen
    Salt Lake County Councilmember Natalie Pinkney

  • Camie Hodlmair, Author, Deputy Campaign Manager, Suzanne Harrison

  • Anna Macfarlane, Founder of MARJ MEDIA

  • McKenzie Bauer, Entrepreneur, Co-founder of Thread Wallets

  • Sarah Sun Kanell, BYU Student Body President, Miss Utah 2023

8:00am - Check-in and Breakfast

8:30am - Morning Session

11:30am - Break and Lunch

12:00pm - Breakout Sessions

  • Race Makers - Choosing a Race
    with Amber Shill, President, Canyons School District Board of Education

    Money Makers - Fundraising
    with Erin Rider, Attorney and Candidate, Salt Lake County Mayor, Congressional District 2

    Team Makers - Building a Team
    with Gabby Saunders, Marketing and Communications Director, Black Peak Signatures and Persuasion

    Community Makers - Grassroots support
    with Alisa Mercer, Member, Davis School District Board of Education

  • Impact Makers - Nonprofits
    with Tami Pyfer, Co-creator of the Dignity Index, Chief External Affairs Officer for UNITE

    Policy Makers - Government Work Panel
    with Representative Karen Peterson
    and Bountiful City Councilmember Kate Bradshaw

    Decision Makers - Boards & Commissions
    with Brooke Scheffler, Director of Boards & Commissions, Utah Governor’s Office

    Voice Makers - Advocacy
    with Bethany Crisp, Systems Director, Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Hinckley Institute
Gardner Commons, rm 2018
260 S Central Campus Dr.
Salt Lake City, UT 84112

 

2025 Mentors, Panelists, & Presenters

  • Entrepreneur, co-founder of Thread Wallet

    In 2015 McKenzie and her husband Colby founded Thread, a business that sells carry accessories online and in thousands of retail locations throughout the USA, Canada, Japan, and Latin America. Based in Provo, Utah their goal is to empower individuals to 'carry on' through both the products they sell and the lifestyle they promote. Since the early days, McKenzie gravitated toward the marketing aspects of their business and was the CMO until the spring of 2021 when she stepped back to pursue personal projects and to focus on their family. In the years that she was CMO, Thread was ranked one of the fastest growing companies in Utah and appeared twice on the INC. 500. McKenzie is a Forbes 30 under 30 alumni and was recently recognized as one of Utah Businesses Leaders of the Year.

    McKenzie is a fearless advocate for women's equality and bettering the lives of minority individuals around the state of Utah. When she is not with her family or working on her own business, you can find her mentoring, cheering on, and championing other female entrepreneurs on their journeys.

  • Bountiful City Councilwoman

    Kate Bradshaw is in her 7th year serving on the Bountiful City Council. She serves as the 1st Vice President of the Utah League of Cities & Towns and as a Commissioner on the State’s Utah Outdoor Adventure Commission representing municipalities.

    She has spent her career working for and with elected officials at all levels of government in a variety of capacities from staffer to advocate. It has given her a deep background in how to get things done that informs how she now personally carries forward the policy engagement and financial stewardship of her community on the city council. Professionally, she is the Director of Government Affairs for the law firm of Holland & Hart and oversee the firm-wide government affairs program for 9 western states. She is a graduate of Westminster University and a past Co-Chair of the Utah Business Coalition and past Chair of the Westminster College Alumni Board.

    In her free time, Kate & her husband Michael are most likely to be found outdoors. As a family, they are avid campers, mountain bikers, skiers, and hikers along with their dog Henry who comes along on outdoor adventures.

  • Deputy Campaign Manager for Suzanne Harrison

    Dr. Camie Platt Hodlmair, DPT is an experienced professional specializing in advocacy and public relations. At her core, Hodlmair is a tenacious community builder. Her broad work in healthcare, local politics, and event organization generously combine to magnify her understanding of community challenges.

    Dr. Hodlmair earned a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Utah and forged a celebrated 25-year career with Intermountain Health and Mountainland Physical Therapy before joining the team at Avec-Me as the Vice President of Community Relations. She has cultivated a passion for connections and collaborative problem solving with her extensive volunteer work with Free Mom Hugs Utah Chapter, A Bolder Way Forward, and Men’s Athletics at Juan Diego Catholic High School. She served as a Regional Volunteer Coordinator for the Becky Edwards campaign and the Deputy Campaign Manager for Dr. Suzanne Harrison.

    Hodlmair supports and empowers every community she touches.

  • Systems Director for the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault

    Bethany Crisp is the Systems Director for the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault (UCASA). Previously, she served as Outreach Manager for UCASA, where she helped launch and manage Utah’s statewide sexual assault helpline. Before entering the field of victim services, she was the Communications Director for Girls Lobby, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching Utah girls how to lobby their state legislature. She has also worked on political campaigns and at The Refuge Utah, supporting survivors as sexual assault services coordinator. Bethany is an active community volunteer, serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and a victim advocate for The Refuge Utah. She is passionate about local politics and community outreach, especially among women and within Utah’s Latino population.

  • Tami Pyfer is the Chief External Affairs Officer for UNITE and co-creator of the Dignity Index. Tami leads the Dignity Index government and corporate partnerships. Before joining UNITE Tami served as Education Policy Advisor to former Utah Governor Gary Herbert, where she was involved in state level policy development, coalition building, and stakeholder engagement. She held local and state elected offices for 12 years including 4 years on the Utah State Board of Education. Tami’s professional training is in Special Education and before her appointment to serve on the Governor's executive team she taught at Utah State University in the Special Education teacher preparation program. Tami and her husband Aaron are the parents of 5 children, grandparents of 16. They live in South Jordan.

  • Utah State Representative, D-District 23 (Salt Lake)

    Hoang is the managing partner of Sapa Investments and served as the chief executive officer of Holding Dragons at its inception in 2019. In November 2024, Hoang was elected to serve in the Utah State House of Representatives, making history as the first elected refugee and Vietnamese-American to ever serve in the Utah State Legislature. She earned her Bachelors at the University of Utah and went on to earn her Master of Business Administration.

    She comes from a long line of female entrepreneurs that have owned and operated various businesses. She has spent the last decade developing a culture that is people-centric through initiatives that have empowered individuals to realize their professional and personal goals.

    Hoang serves Utah through her commitment and involvement with local organizations that are dedicated to ignite change through equity, prosperity, and inclusivity.

  • Davis School Board Member

    Alisa Allred Mercer is a passionate advocate for public education, currently serving on the Davis School District Board, representing Precinct 1, which includes North Salt Lake, Bountiful, and Woods Cross. Elected in January 2025 after a competitive and hard-fought campaign, Alisa demonstrated her dedication to education and community by engaging with voters and building strong grassroots support. In her role, she focuses on promoting quality, individualized education, supporting teachers, and empowering students and families.

    Her professional background includes serving as Client Services Manager at the Bountiful Food Pantry, where she supported families across Davis County, and as Volunteer Coordinator for Becky Edwards’ Senate and Congressional campaigns, successfully leading signature-gathering efforts and mobilizing thousands of volunteers.

    A proud mother of spirited ginger teenagers, Alisa embraces the chaos and humor that come with raising strong-willed kids who regularly challenge her expertise on just about everything.

  • Candidate, CD-2 and SLCO Mayor, Attorney

    Erin Rider is a local attorney and former political candidate. She was the 2024 Republican nominee for Salt Lake County Mayor, and ran for the US House in 2022, becoming the first Republican woman to get on the primary ballot in the 2nd congressional district. Erin is currently the Vice Chair of Utah Women Run and a co-host on KSL NewsRadio's Inside Sources. She and her adorable dog, Penny, live in Millcreek.

  • Campaign management, marketing and communications

    Gabby is a seasoned Digital Marketing and Campaign Communications professional based in Salt Lake City, Utah. With over 11 years of experience, she has crafted and implemented impactful campaigns across political, nonprofit, and commercial sectors, excelling in both digital marketing and strategic communications- particularly in field work.

  • Director, Boards and Commissions Office of Governor Cox

    Brooke Scheffler is the Director of Boards and Commissions and helps oversee the process of recruiting and appointing members to the state’s boards or commissions. Prior to her appointment as director, she worked as the special assistant for Lt. Governor Deidre M. Henderson. Brooke previously served in the Herbert administration working multiple positions on the communications team. Before that, she worked in the Office of the Utah Attorney General. She graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in communications.

    She was born and raised in Salt Lake City and now resides in Layton with her husband, Tanner and two kids, Scottlynn and Beckham. She enjoys the moments of being a new mother and cares passionately about her career and helping make a difference.

  • Founder of MARJ MEDIA

    Anna Macfarlane is a marketing expert who coaches companies and brands how to connect with their audience and maximize their social spaces. She is the founder of MARJ MEDIA, as well as popular Instagram accounts @kidsaretheworst and @annaistheworst, among other social media accounts and has a fan base of more than 1,000,000 internationally & growing.

    Anna was one of People.com’s 10 Favorite Moms on the Internet, and has been featured in The Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Real Simple, and The Daily Mail, among others. She has created multiple courses and guides to help brands and individuals find the RIGHT people to make sales and make change. Anna and her husband Alan live in Cottonwood Heights with their four children and two dogs.

  • Utah State Representative, D-District 31 (Salt Lake)

    Verona Mauga is a community advocate and small business owner serving in the Utah House of Representatives for District 31. Elected in 2024, she made history as the first Samoan in the Utah Legislature and the first Samoan woman elected to any state legislature in the continental U.S.

    A first-generation immigrant, Verona’s passion for service began in 2009 as a community organizer. She owns Sagato Bakery & Cafe and Renew Wellness & Recovery, bringing firsthand experience in economic growth and small business challenges. In the Legislature, she focuses on economic development, innovation, and expanding opportunities for all Utahns.

  • Salt Lake County Councilwoman, D-At-Large

    Natalie Pinkney is a dedicated public servant and community advocate serving on the Salt Lake County Council. She made history as the first Black woman elected to a countywide office in Utah’s most populous county. With a background in public service, she previously served as vice chair of the South Salt Lake City Council, where she championed financial empowerment, environmental sustainability, and neighborhood protection.

    Raised in a working-class household, Pinkney’s passion for advocacy led her to earn degrees from Marquette University and the University of Utah. She brings experience as a small business owner and policymaker, focusing on government efficiency, working-family support, and transparency. Committed to building an inclusive and thriving community, she prioritizes issues like housing affordability and air quality to ensure all residents feel seen and supported.

  • Utah State Representative, R-District 13 (Davis)

    Karen Peterson was elected in a 2021 special election to represent Utah House District 13. She is the Community Development Manager at Sunrise Engineering and previously advised Governors Spencer Cox and Gary Herbert.

    Focusing on education and growth, she chairs the Higher Education Appropriations Committee. She also served two terms on the Clinton City Council.

    Karen holds a bachelor’s from Utah State University and an MPA from Southern Utah University. She and her husband, Eric, have three children and an energetic Australian Shepherd, Lucy.

  • BYU Student Body President, Miss Utah 2023

    Sarah Sun Kanell was the first Asian-American Miss Utah and was invited to speak to over 60,000 young adults about faith-based leadership during her year of service. She was a keynote speaker at the BYU Women's Conference in 2024, and her remarks will be published by Deseret Book in “Made for This: Inspirational Messages for Women,” available in hard copy this spring. As the current BYU Student Body President, she was recognized by the Utah Department of Education for driving the highest voter turnout for a student election in the state. She is a BYU Wheatley Scholar with and a former Young Ambassador. After graduation, she will work as a management consultant at Bain & Company in Austin, TX.

  • Canyons School District Board

    Amber Shill was first elected to the Canyons Board of Education in 2014 and re-elected in 2018 and 2022. She is currently serving her second term as Board President and was a candidate for State Senate in 2024.

    A lifelong Utah resident, Ms. Shill has been deeply involved in civic engagement for 20 years, serving in school leadership roles and on multiple district committees. She has held leadership positions with the Utah School Boards Association, including as President, and represents Canyons on statewide boards such as Salt Lake County Parks & Recreation and the Utah High School Activities Association Board of Trustees.

    She holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Finance (cum laude) from BYU. Her civic involvement includes volunteering in Cub Scouts and serving as a Salt Lake County Precinct Delegate.

Event Partners

Presenting Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

2023 - “Spring Event” Annual Training

On April 15th, 2023, Utah Women Run hosted a training event to help current and aspiring candidates learn the nuts and bolts of how to run a successful campaign. With workshops and panels led by the pros who have done it all before, this event was a great way to build networks and find mentorship.