Speakers

What the Evidence Tells Us: The Connection between Land Use and Family Health, Stability, and Formation

Dr. Jess Lucero is Professor and Head of the Department of Social Work at Utah State University. Her scholarship focuses on housing, homelessness, and the ways communities and systems shape individual and family well-being. She has worked extensively with local governments, nonprofits, state agencies, and people with lived experience to conduct applied research that informs policy and practice. Dr. Lucero also brings direct experience in local planning and community development, including 5 years of service on the Logan City Planning Commission. She earned her BSW and MSW from the University of Wyoming and her PhD in Social Work from Wayne State University. 

Accessory Dwelling Units in Your Town – Addressing New Legislation Relating to ADU’s
Francis Xavier Lilly grew up in the Salt Lake Valley, attended Judge Memorial Catholic High School, and went to the University of Utah — twice! He has a BS of Urban Planning and a Master’s of Public Administration. Ever since he was a kid, he wanted to be involved in government and urban planning. Currently, he is the assistant city manager and planning director for Millcreek. Previously he worked for South Salt Lake City as their deputy director of community development and housing administrator. He also serves as the Legislative and Policy Committee Chair for the Utah Chapter of the American Planning Association and is a site visitor for the Planning Accreditation Board. In 2026, he received the Utah Chapter’s Ted Knowlton Planning Leadership Award.  When he’s not planning, he loves to cook, garden, read, hike, volunteer, and — most importantly — spend time with his family and friends. He loves to travel whenever he can, he is a proud Star Trek geek, and he still plays with Legos. 

Nibley Forward: The New Nibley City General Plan and How to Plan Your Town to be Generally Awesome: Developing a Common Vision for Your Town through General Plans

Levi Roberts, AICP is the City Planner for the rapidly growing community of Nibley, where he oversees the City’s development review and master planning processes. Levi has over a decade of experience coordinating transportation and land use plans in support of broader community goals. Levi previously worked as a Strategic Planner for Utah Transit Authority and as a Senior Regional Planner for Five County Association of Governments. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from Utah State University and a Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning from Portland State University. In his spare time, you can find Levi racing his kids down the slopes on his snowboard or bike.

Entrepreneurship Embedded: Weaving The Entrepreneurial Spirit Through the Fabric of Our Communities, Nibley Forward: The New Nibley City General Plan and How to Plan Your Town to be Generally Awesome: Developing a Common Vision for Your Town through General Plans

Brandon Bell serves as the Lead Regional Planner for the Bear River Association of Governments. In this capacity, he engages in long-range planning responsibilities and assists cities with their planning needs. He worked previously for Cache County, Pleasant View City and North Ogden City. Given his deep interest in walkable communities; Brandon is an accredited member of the Congress for the New Urbanism, and an expert in form-based code as a tool for creating those walkable environments, and ownership opportunities within those neighborhoods. Brandon graduated cum laude, and with departmental Honors from Utah State University, as part of earning his Bachelor's of Landscape Architecture degree, and a minor in Sociology. As part of that degree, he completed an extensive thesis on the relationship between walkable environments and Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Municipal Budget Compliance Essentials

Kerri Nakamura spent 30+ years in public service, specializing at the intersection of public policy and budget. Kerri has also operated an active consultancy for over 20 years, advising governments, non-profit organizations, and small businesses, on performance improvement, strategic planning, public policy, budgeting, and grant acquisition and management. Kerri's current client list includes the Utah League of Cities and Towns where she provides budget consulting services for the Local Administrative Advisor Program and Promise Partnership Utah where she is guiding implementation of an economic mobility program throughout rural Utah. Kerri also contracts independently with towns and cities in Utah, assisting with completion of truth-in-taxation and general budget consultation. 

Kerri’s public career included time serving the Salt Lake city council and mayor, Utah League of Cities and Towns, State of Utah, University of Utah, Salt Lake county council, and most recently as Chief of Staff to the Salt Lake County mayor.

Ask Me Anything: A Conversation with ULCT Leaders

Cameron Diehl has been the Executive Director of the Utah League of Cities and Towns since October 2017. He started at the League as an intern in January 2006 and first interacted with the League when he was in high school and attended Local Officials Day as a member of the Murray City Youth Government. He graduated from the University of Utah and from the University of Colorado School of Law and is a huge Utes and Jazz fan. He and his wife Rachel are the proud parents of two daughters and a son who love meeting mayors and city leaders. 

Ask Me Anything: A Conversation with ULCT Leaders

Lyndsay Peterson is the Mayor of North Logan, Utah, where she is currently serving her second term and has learned that running a city involves equal parts long-range planning, problem-solving, and answering questions about potholes.

During her time in office, she has focused on thoughtful community growth, infrastructure investment, regional collaboration, and making local government as responsive and accessible as possible. Beyond North Logan, Lyndsay has served in several regional and statewide leadership roles, including on the Board of Directors for the Utah League of Cities and Towns, as Chair of the Cache Valley Mayors Association, and as Vice Chair of the Cache County Council of Governments. She is especially interested in bringing communities together to solve problems that refuse to stay neatly inside city boundaries like transportation, public safety, water, recreation, and planning for the future.

With a background in law, Lyndsay has also dabbled in adjunct professorship and enjoys opportunities to teach, mentor, and connect with young people.  She is currently coaching two 6th grade volleyball teams. She and her husband, Erik, are raising three children in Cache Valley, which provides plenty of additional experience in negotiation, logistics, and crisis management. They are proud to call North Logan home.

Checking the Boxes: Do’s and Don’ts of Processing Land Use Applications

Jared C. Tingey serves as the Legal Director for the Utah League of Cities and Towns (ULCT), where he advocates for and advances the municipal interests of communities throughout Utah. With well over a decade of dedicated service representing local governments, Jared currently manages the legal affairs of ULCT, which includes collaborating with state legislators, drafting legislation, providing training to and answering legal questions from local officials and staff. Jared earned a Political Science Degree from Brigham Young University and holds a Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law.

The Seen and Unseen- Data Privacy and Digital Accessibility

Cassidy Hansen is the Communications Director at the Utah League of Cities and Towns. Cassidy’s expertise lies at the intersection of policy, data, and communication. She joined the League in 2023 and prior to that worked for the City of West Jordan. Cassidy holds a BA in News Media with a minor in Political Science from Brigham Young University and an MA in Communication from Purdue University, with emphases in Data Analysis and Political Communication. When she isn’t working, you can typically find her in the outdoors, traveling, or practicing relief printmaking.

You’re Not Alone: How the BRAG Community Advisor Program & ULCT Are Here to Help

Alexa Oldham is a Policy Analyst on the advocacy team at the Utah League of Cities and Towns. She recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Utah with a BS in Political Science. When she wasn’t cheering on the Utes at football games or out on the slopes, Alexa interned in the Salt Lake City Office of the Mayor and in the Governor's Office, working for his Senior Advisor for Housing Strategy & Innovation. At the League, Alexa works primarily on housing, land use, and taxation issues with the goal of achieving the best policy outcomes for Utah's municipalities. She loves riding her bike to the office, running in City Creek Canyon, and trying out all of the best restaurants in the valley. 

You’re Not Alone: How the BRAG Community Advisor Program & ULCT Are Here to Help

Stephanie Gittins is the Lead Community Advisor at BRAG. Born and raised in Cache Valley, Stephanie has a bachelor’s degree in history from Utah State University and a master's degree in historic preservation from Boston Architectural College. After ten years in Tennessee, where she worked for the Metro Nashville Historic Zoning Commission, Stephanie is excited to be back in northern Utah and serving communities in the Bear River region. She currently serves on the boards of Preservation Utah and the Preservation Advocacy Foundation. Stephanie lives in Providence with her family and three rescue cats. 

You’re Not Alone: How the BRAG Community Advisor Program & ULCT Are Here to Help

Originally from Rexburg, Idaho, Emma George earned a bachelor's degree in English from Brigham Young University and a master's degree in Folklore Studies from Utah State University. She currently works in Logan, Utah, as the Folk Arts and Heritage Coordinator for the Bear River Heritage Area (BRHA), as well as a community advisor at BRAG. Her areas of focus include IT and data security. 

You’re Not Alone: How the BRAG Community Advisor Program & ULCT Are Here to Help

Derek Davidson is a CIB Specialist and Community Advisor at BRAG. He is currently in the final year of his undergraduate studies at Utah State University, where he is completing a Bachelor of Science in Political Science, a minor in Geography, and an Applied Geographic Information Science (GIS) Certificate. Derek’s academic background is distinguished by his work as a research assistant, which earned him an acknowledgement in the American Political Science Review, as well as his practical experience as a Regional Planning Intern. Outside of his professional and academic pursuits, Derek can be found taking kayaks out to nearby lakes, attending local sports events, or simply watching and reviewing classic films online.