Carol Walker, Vice President

Carol Walker is a seasoned public relations executive with over 20 years of experience shaping strategic communications. With a track record of success at companies such as Intermountain Healthcare, First Night Provo, the Utah Governor's Commission for Women and Families, Zion's Bank, America's Freedom Festival and Mercedes Benz of Draper, Carol excels at building integrated communications strategies that elevate brand reputation, manage crises, and drive stakeholder engagement across global markets.

Carol has served on numerous boards and continues to serve since "retiring." She is recognized for her ability to navigate complex communications landscapes with clarity and impact, and she brings a collaborative, insight-driven approach to every initiative. Carol is passionate about mentoring emerging communications leaders.

caroljohnwalker@gmail.com

Heidi Parker, Secretary

Heidi Harkness Parker practices family law with an emphasis on divorce, custody, alimony, decree enforcement and decree modifications. Heidi graduated summa cum laude from the University of Utah with a Bachelor’s in English, and cum laude from Brigham Young University Law School, where she was a member of the BYU National Moot Court Team. She also received an MBA from Brigham Young University. Prior to joining Moody Brown, she practiced business and zoning law in Charlottesville, Virginia.

heidijean@comcast.net

Michael van der Wekken, Treasurer

 Michael was born and raised in West Valley City, Utah, as the youngest of five boys. He graduated from Cyprus High School and then attended Salt Lake Community College for almost two years. He is currently a student at Western Governors University and is working towards earning a degree in accounting. Six months ago he married a wonderful woman and currently lives in Pleasant Grove, Utah.

Michael is bipolar and has been for many years. Because of this, he understands and relates to the many different and difficult problems associated with mental illness. He has a great desire to be able to help those suffering with mental health issues.

themichaelpieter@gmail.com

Dr. Karen Redd, EdD, LCMCH, Board Member

 Dr. Redd has a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership and is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. She is a practitioner of Helix therapy which focuses on person-centered therapy through mindfulness, CBT, psycho-ed, and creative therapies, teaching not only self- awareness but also a robust sense of self with which to navigate difficult feelings and advocate for their own needs. She was the Director and Therapist for Center for Anxiety and PTSD, has served as a part-time missionary for LDS Family Services, Addiction Recovery Program and she was the Volunteer Area Mental Health Advisor for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, South America South Area, Buenos Aires, Argentina areas where she assisted missionaries and mission presidents in 19 missions in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.

karenredd1@gmail.com

Zendina Mostert, Board Member

Zendina Mostert is an anthropologist, sociologist, applied researcher, and educator, with decades of global and local experience.  Her skills include needs assessments, organizational advising, and innovative problem solving.

Her work has always focused on promoting dignity, advocacy and education for and about the most vulnerable communities: from the homeless of Calcutta to the rural subsistence communities of the Sahara and Rift Valley, to Utah children in foster care and individuals incarcerated at the State Prison.

Zendina is passionate about using ethnographic research, best practice and accountability to improve organizational approaches in a way that meets individual needs.

xendinam@gmail.com

Sharon Evans, Executive Director

In addition to extensive professional leadership positions, including as Director of a nonprofit serving disadvantaged women and teens, Sharon's life experience has offered many opportunities to serve and know a variety of people.

Sharon has a reputation for service and working to create solutions for those in need. She finds joy in helping others. A memory from early grade school is of her first service project. The painted bottle cap project lacked artistic talent but came from a well-intentioned 6-year-old who delivered a box of them to a nearby orphanage.

She and her first husband wrote a grant and created a first of its kind group home, which took children from the Montana State Hospital, for what at the time was called, the mentally retarded. At the time, it was common for children who were developmentally disabled to be placed in an institution in early childhood. The grant was part of a project to bring children into the community and teach them skills that would lead to placement in foster homes. They developed training programs and created the environment needed to best prepare the children for life in the community.

Sharon also had the opportunity to foster over 25 children with a variety of needs, including teens from the juvenile justice system, and provided a home for 15 foreign exchange students and a Cambodian refugee family.

When the need for housing to assist those with mental illness became apparent, it was natural to decide to ‘just do it’. Her personal and professional experiences led to her feeling that everything she has ever done has prepared her for the mission of Oasis Housing.

oasisnonprofithousing@gmail.com