About the Board

UAD’s Board meets 10 times a year on the 2nd Wednesday of every month (except July and December) at 5:00 pm virtually via Zoom.

Occasionally meetings are held in person at the Robert G. Sanderson Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (aka Deaf Center) at 5709 S 1500 W Taylorsville, UT 84123.

Meetings are called to order at 5:30 pm. The public is welcome to join. 
 

We strongly encourage you to check the UAD Facebook page or subscribe to UAD’s mailing list to be informed of the location of the board meeting and for the Zoom link if the meeting will be held virtually.

Board members are elected at the biennial UAD Conference to serve a two-year term. 

Current Board Members

Portrait of a smiling woman with light brown hair and freckles wearing clear-framed glasses, photographed against a soft neutral studio background.

Ashli-Marie Grant
President

Ashli-Marie Grant currently serves as President of the Utah Association of the Deaf (UAD). She is committed to strengthening the Deaf community through advocacy, leadership, and collaboration.
Professionally, Ashli-Marie works in social services supporting vulnerable adults and helping improve access to services for Deaf and disabled individuals. Her work focuses on building stronger systems, supporting community members, and creating opportunities for people to thrive.

Through her leadership with UAD, Ashli-Marie works to bring people together and support Deaf leadership. She believes strong communities are built through connection, shared leadership, and trust.
Ashli-Marie was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and spending time with her two Deaf dogs, Buzz and Woody.

Jodi Becker
Vice-President

Jodi Becker was born in Germany and grew up as an Air Force brat. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Gallaudet University. After moving to Utah with her spouse, Duane Kinner, who is a native of the state, she began working as an accessibility advisor, providing classroom accommodations for college students with disabilities since 2000. Jodi, a proud parent of two Deaf children, Joshua and Danielle, has a personal understanding of the challenges that fueled her advocacy for deaf education. As a community historian, joining the UAD is her way of giving back to the Utah Association of the Deaf for all they have done for us, which we take for granted. She enjoys reading, watching documentaries, collecting Demijohns, and researching history.

Rachel Enggas
Secretary

Born and raised in suburban Chicago, Rachel graduated from Hersey High School before moving to Utah, where she fell in love with the mountains. Now working as a Deaf Mentor, Rachel is passionate about supporting the Deaf community. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, volleyball, and reading.

Ryan Layton
Treasurer

Ryan hails from Steeler country (Pittsburgh) and has held numerous jobs in the tech industry. He and his wife, Susan, own Access Simplified, a Deaf-centric company here in Utah that specializes in ASL translation and video production. His biggest reason for joining UAD is his strong desire to give back to the Deaf Community by sharing his expertise and talents for the betterment of the community.  He and Susan are the proud parents of four children.
A headshot of a smiling man, short gray hair, side-part, glasses, wearing a navy blue polo with the Utah Association of the Deaf logo, inside a circular frame.
Headshot of BJ Aldridge, a man with light skin, blue eyes, and a full reddish-blonde beard, smiling warmly into the camera. He is wearing a button-down burgundy shirt against a plain, light-colored background. The image is cropped into a circular frame.

BJ Aldridge
Board Member

A native of Utah, BJ has spent his life deeply involved in the state’s Deaf community, actively participating in its events and traditions. The strong sense of culture, connection, and belonging he has experienced has shaped his values and inspired him to give back. Motivated by gratitude and a commitment to advocacy, BJ proudly serves as a steward for the community that has given him so much, working to support its continued growth and representation for future generations.

Kristi Lee Mortensen
Board Member

This Utah native with multiple degrees and certificates has dedicated her career to counseling, teaching, and guiding individuals, especially the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, being influenced by her father, W. David Mortensen. She served on the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Committee and now serves on the UTA Committee on Accessible Transportation. She’s also a Life and Health Coach and is known as the “Jet-setter Deaf Grandma.” Happily married to her ‘Big Bird’ for 40 years, she enjoys writing, reading, sewing, sports, canning, gardening, and recently added a greenhouse.

Headshot of Fernando Sanchez, a man with light-brown skin and reddish-blonde hair, smiling broadly. He is wearing a simple olive green t-shirt against a neutral grey background. The image is cropped into a circular frame.

Fernando M. Sanchez
Board Member

Fernando M. Sanchez was raised in Florida, where he developed resilience, independence, and a deep appreciation for diverse communities. Growing up in such a dynamic environment shaped his understanding of advocacy, connection, and the importance of strong community support.

Fernando’s goal is to help Utah move forward by strengthening accessibility, encouraging leadership, and creating opportunities for Deaf individuals to thrive. He is committed to building unity, increasing awareness, and ensuring that every member of the community feels valued, respected, and heard. Through collaboration, service, and vision, Fernando strives to create lasting progress that empowers future generations.

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Board Member

We currently have several vacancies on our Board. Get in touch if you’re interested in serving with us.

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