Turner Bitton is the Founding Executive Director of Wasatch Advocates for Livable Communities (WALC). Raised on a cattle farm in Ogden, Utah, he brings a lifelong commitment to community and hard work to his leadership in housing, transportation, and urbanism. Turner serves in several civic and nonprofit leadership roles, including the Salt Lake City Transportation Advisory Board (TAB), Housing Authority of Salt Lake City, and as Chair of the Salt Lake City Police Civilian Review Board. He lives in Salt Lake City’s Glendale neighborhood with his husband, Chase, and their dogs, Moose and Melon, and plays too much pickleball in his free time.

Lauren Cole - Policy Manager is an attorney whose commitment to the pro-housing movement is grounded in a belief that strong communities begin with abundant, accessible homes. Her work across justice and equity issues reinforced that housing affordability shapes nearly every social outcome, motivating her focus on the policy and systems needed to expand opportunity and stability in Utah.

Lauren earned her J.D. from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah and her B.A. in journalism and political science from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Before joining WALC, she served as a judicial law clerk for Magistrate Judge Jared C. Bennett in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah. Earlier in her career, she was part of an investigative journalism team awarded the grand prize in the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Book and Journalism Award and received multiple Hearst Journalism Awards.

Originally from the Midwest, Lauren now lives in Salt Lake City's Marmalade neighborhood and values its walkability, community feel, and diverse housing. Outside of work, she can usually be found sharing a good meal with loved ones or out on a trail getting her hiking boots dirty.

Jessica Kjar - Communications Manager at Wasatch Advocates for Livable Communities (WALC), where she leads communications, public engagement, and external partnerships to advance equitable and sustainable housing solutions across the Wasatch Front. She brings more than a decade of experience across public policy, compliance, government operations, and community-focused program management, including key work during the COVID-19 pandemic overseeing Utah's K-12 testing strategy and nearly $1 billion in federal relief funds. This experience strengthened her expertise in crisis response, regulatory oversight, and large-scale stakeholder coordination. Jessica is known for building coalitions, navigating complex systems, and translating complicated policies into clear, actionable solutions. She lives in Davis County, Utah, with her husband and son, whose support and perspective ground both her work and her commitment to the community.

Ro Bandeirinha (pronoun indifferent) is a communications and design professional based in Salt Lake City with a background in architecture, urbanism, and community-centered storytelling. Born and raised in Portugal, Ro earned a Master’s Degree in Architecture and Planning from the University of Coimbra before working for four years as an architect in Madrid. After immigrating to the United States, Ro shifted into nonprofit communications, driven by a passion for equitable cities, public art, and accessible design. Ro has worked with several Utah nonprofits, using storytelling and visual communication to advance community advocacy. Ro loves riding their bike and walking their dogs through different parks and neighborhoods, and they bring a deep commitment to livable, connected urban spaces to their role on the WALC Board.

Alessandro Rigolon lives in Sugar House, and he envisions Salt Lake City as a place where everyone can truly belong. He loves his family, riding bikes, the great outdoors, and Salt Lake City. He has a Ph.D. in Design and Planning from the University of Colorado Denver, and he has worked in planning and architecture for over 15 years. He believes that abundant housing of different types is a fundamental building block to making our city more inclusive and affordable. He is also a big fan of data, community engagement, and evidence-based policies.

Jacob Richardson is a clean energy policy advisor living in Millcreek with his wife and son. Seeing the cost of housing increase so drastically motivated Jacob to get involved in his community. This led him to run and be elected to the Millcreek Community Council in 2022. In 2024, he was appointed to the Millcreek Planning Commission where he continues to advocate for policies promoting housing affordability and accessibility.

He holds a Masters of Statistics from the University of Utah, and believes data-driven, grassroots activism can empower residents and improve the lives of individuals in the community.

Kayla Harris loves living in Liberty Wells, a neighborhood she treasures for its bike-ability and local charm. Having spent more than a decade in Utah, Kayla is deeply invested in shaping Salt Lake City into a thriving, innovative community that welcomes future generations. When she’s not working on building a better Salt Lake City, you can find Kayla dreaming up what an impossibly cool 21st century could look like at the Abundance Institute.

Jarod Hall is a licensed architect that has worked on projects across the United States and abroad. He has been working in the building and construction trades for 21 years. He has experience both from the building and design side as well as experience developing his own projects.

Brandon Dayton is an artist that has worked in video games and comic books. He spent four years as a member of the Rose Park Community Council, playing critical roles in designing and installing new neighborhood monuments, installing the first street painting project in Salt Lake City, and organizing the Slow Down Six North campaign. In 2018 he organized the first Small Scale Developer's workshop in Salt Lake City, working with the Incremental Development Alliance and local partners, training over 90 participants in a day-long development workshop. Brandon is a certified relational mindfulness facilitator and has been leading weekly practice groups online and in-person since 2022. He lives in the Rose Park neighborhood with his wife and 3 kids.

Browne Sebright is an urbanist and planner who lives in downtown Salt Lake City. He is a project manager with the Salt Lake City Community Reinvestment Agency, where he works on housing development and community investment initiatives that advance affordability, neighborhood revitalization, and equitable growth. Browne holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. Browne has worked for various municipalities in northern Utah, including Bountiful, Park City, and Salt Lake City. With a background in urban planning and public policy, he focuses on connecting development opportunities with broader community goals. He enjoys spending time with his cat, traveling, attending live music performances, and ice skating.

Mohith Reppale was born in India and raised throughout the Salt Lake Valley, in Taylorsville, Holladay, Sandy, Central City and Sugar House, since he was 7 years old. He went to Skyline High School in Millcreek and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Economics and Information Systems along with a Masters in Information Systems from the University of Utah. His movement throughout the valley has given him a unique perspective in what makes cities and neighborhoods feel vibrant and liveable. He is passionate about ensuring Salt Lake City provides access to housing that people can afford and want to live in. He believes that data-driven policy can create better communities and cities that can meet the challenges of the 21st century. He currently lives in Downtown Salt Lake City with his fiancé. He enjoys reading, skiing, hiking and spending time with friends.

Thomas Christiansen moved to what is now Millcreek at age 15, when his parents returned to their hometown after 30 years away. When his own family moved back to the neighborhood in 2005, his neighbors included a plumber and a mail carrier. Today, only doctors and Silicon Valley tech workers can afford to live there. He believes the Wasatch Region is strongest when people from all walks of life can afford to live in every neighborhood, as was true for much of the region’s history. Professionally, he is an independent management consultant who primarily works with McKinsey’s social sector practice. His work focuses on supporting philanthropies as they set strategic and grant-making priorities in education, economic and workforce development, and behavioral health.

Ian Sumner is a resident of Salt Lake City and an MBA candidate at the University of Utah, who believes in the power of community-driven change. He works professionally in climate tech, where he helps grow mission-driven startups and has founded multiple climate summits that have helped thousands of individuals transition into green careers. Outside of his work, he is a dedicated volunteer and outdoor enthusiast. Ian is passionate about applying his technical marketing and strategy skills to local political campaigns and is excited to bring them to WALC.

Matthew C. Morriss, PhD, PG is a proud resident of the Glendale neighborhood of Salt Lake City. By training, he is a geologist who works for the Utah Geological Survey. Matthew first became involved in transportation and housing affordability after seeing coworkers and friends struggle to afford homes in the Salt Lake City area. This led him to serve on the Salt Lake City Bicycle Advisory Committee and Transportation Advisory Board. He also served on the board of Neighbors for More Neighbors prior to its transition to WALC.

Matthew holds a PhD in Earth Sciences from the University of Oregon and enjoys maps, data visualization, and finding creative ways to communicate complex information.

Steve Jackson is a real estate development executive and housing advocate based in Utah, currently serving as Vice President of Land for a regional homebuilder. With extensive experience in land acquisition, entitlement strategy, and community development, Steve is passionate about creating attainable housing opportunities and fostering sustainable growth across the Wasatch Region. He brings a practical, solutions-oriented perspective to conversations surrounding housing policy, land use, and regional planning. Steve holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California and is committed to helping build more livable, connected communities throughout Utah.

Marcus Stevenson works for Garbett Homes on the land acquisition and entitlements team, while leading their government relations efforts, negotiating land deals, and working with elected officials and advocacy groups to expand access to housing across Utah. He previously served as Mayor of Midvale City, where he championed an $11.2M recreation bond, revitalized the city's historic Main Street, and led regionally on public safety and homelessness.

Before entering public office, Marcus spent more than a decade in political advocacy and campaign strategy, working with environmental nonprofits and leading political campaigns across Utah. He currently serves on the Utah Property Rights Coalition, the Utah Land Use Task Force, and the Mountainland Economic Development District board.

Amy Tomasso is a real estate and housing policy professional passionate about finding solutions to today’s affordability crisis. As Vice President of Policy & Partnerships at Ivory Innovations, a housing think tank at the University of Utah, she leads strategies to strengthen state and local housing ecosystems, and previously worked in public sector land use and community planning. Amy’s research especially focuses on missing middle, infill, and workforce housing innovations. Originally from New England, Amy holds a B.A. in Urban Studies from Stanford University and a Master in Real Estate from Harvard University. When she's not thinking about housing, you can find her training for triathlons, exploring Utah’s mountains, or practicing Italian.

Riley Wheeler was born and raised in the Ogden area and developed a love for Northern Utah at a young age, and a desire to see it continue to grow into a welcoming and sustainable community. His professional work is in government affairs and policy, primarily focusing on promoting water conservation, responsible land management, and clean energy throughout the state. He was appointed to the Clearfield Planning Commission in 2024 and has used that position to advocate for meaningful zoning reform and housing opportunities in the city.

Riley and his wife, Sloane, live in Clearfield and use all their free time to travel around the state and the country in search of new adventures and opportunities.

Tallie Viteri Beach is a community development professional with a background in public service, grantmaking, and policy work. Her experience includes supporting survivors of trauma and working alongside community partners to expand access to housing, services, and resources. She cares deeply about strengthening communities and finding practical, collaborative ways to respond to complex challenges.

Tallie holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Utah and a Bachelor of Social Work. She hails from Davis County, Utah, and enjoys reading and spending time with her dog Daisy.

Bennion Gardner is a lifelong resident of the Salt Lake Valley’s westside, currently living in Daybreak. After watching sprawl continuously march further out, he founded The Oquirrh Foundation to protect open space within those ruggedly beautiful mountains. He sees promoting infill development as a key way to retain more of the natural areas we all love. His professional career has been spent in the banking industry, where he currently works as Vice President of Business Services for Cyprus Credit Union. He is an avid trail runner, especially on the lesser known trails of the Oquirrh Mountains, and loves spending time outdoors with his family, or playing Minecraft with his boys.