Meet the people pushing us forward.

Jennifer Davies

J.W. is the visionary Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Aspen Center for Learning. He and his wife, Jen, launched Aspen three years ago with a clear and deeply personal mission: to create an educational environment where adults with special needs can continue to grow, learn, and thrive beyond high school. Their inspiration came from their son, Tate, who has Down syndrome. After Tate graduated, J.W. and Jen realized that while his desire to learn remained strong, the opportunities for continued education were limited. Aspen was born from that gap—a place where individuals like Tate can pursue lifelong learning in a supportive and enriching community. Outside of Aspen, J.W. is a Certified Public Accountant and the founder of Davies Allen, a successful CPA firm. He brings years of business leadership and strategic vision to Aspen’s mission. He and Jen are proud parents of five children, including Tate, and are passionate advocates for inclusion, education, and opportunity for individuals of all abilities.

Todd Thompson

Todd Thompson serves on the board of the Aspen Center for Learning, where he combines personal commitment with professional expertise to support lifelong education for individuals with disabilities. As the father of twin daughters with Down syndrome, Todd has been deeply involved in creating inclusive opportunities for young people with special needs. He has been a board member of the United Angels Foundation since 2014, serving as Board Chair for nine years, and is currently the Mission Chair for the Best Buddies Utah Development Committee. Todd and Julie co-chair the Advancement Board for Wolverines Elevated at Utah Valley University and serve together on the Disability Advisory Council for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Professionally, Todd has more than 20 years of experience as a Chief Information Officer, overseeing technology for major companies including JetBlue, Starwood Hotels, Vivint, doTERRA, and currently LifeVantage. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and an MBA, both from Brigham Young University. Todd brings both business leadership and personal passion to advancing Aspen’s mission of lifelong learning.

Julie Thompson

Julie Thompson is a board member of the Aspen Center for Learning and a dedicated advocate for individuals with disabilities. Her passion for lifelong learning and inclusion is rooted in her experience as the mother of twin daughters with Down syndrome. Julie has worked for years to create opportunities for individuals with special needs, from helping to found the Wolverines Elevated program at Utah Valley University to initiating a parent support group at Timpview High School that connects families with resources and school faculty. She also serves on the Utah State Board of Education Special Education Advisory Panel and the Disability Advisory Council for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Julie holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mathematics from Brigham Young University and brings vision, experience, and heart to Aspen’s mission.

Wyatt Davies

Wyatt Davies grew up with a brother who has Down syndrome, an experience that inspired his lifelong commitment to serving people with disabilities. He volunteered with Unified Sports and later worked as a Support Professional providing companion services, gaining firsthand experience supporting individuals and families. Wyatt went on to earn his Master’s in Accounting from Southern Utah University and became a CPA, blending personal passion with professional expertise. He began his career at giv.care, an Utah-based home care provider, where he managed the financial side of a disability services provider including processing medicaid billing and support professional payroll. Today, Wyatt is the founder and operator of Simpl Care, a tech-enabled home care provider focused on giving individuals with disabilities and their families more control, transparency, and peace of mind in the care they receive.
Wyatt serves on the board because he is committed to champion individuals with disabilities in their pursuit of a fulfilling life. The Aspen Center for Learnings mission to provide education opportunities aligns perfectly with his commitment.

Don Adamson

Don Adamson serves on the board of Aspen Center for Learning because he recognizes the critical need for individuals with special needs to have meaningful educational, social, and vocational opportunities as adults. Don and his wife, Summer, are the proud parents of four children, including their sixteen-year-old daughter, Jayne, who has Down syndrome. Together, they are passionate advocates for the inclusion of individuals with special needs and the many benefits it brings to the entire community.
A Utah native and graduate of Brigham Young University, Don has built his career in commercial real estate as a broker, landlord, and general contractor. Most recently, he completed a five-year tenure as the founding Executive Director of HomeAid Utah, a nonprofit that partners with the homebuilding and construction industries to build and renovate shelters and facilities for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Don finds great fulfillment in connecting people and resources to solve problems and create lasting impact. He believes there is no greater work than lifting those in need.

Brandon Mackay

Is the Owner and CEO/ President of SnugZ USA based in Salt Lake City, Utah. His laidback and employee empowered leadership style has taken a small family company of 6 and transformed it into an industry leading top 10 vertical supplier employing nearly 1,000.
Brandon has served on various boards, committees, work groups inside and outside the promotional products industry. He is a Six Sigma Lean Certified and is a strong advocate of process improvement and employee development.
He currently resides in Utah with his wife of 30 years Liz, 4 children 2, grandchildren, 3 in-law children, 2 dogs and 4 grand-dogs. In his free time you’ll be sure to find him highly engaged outside enjoying all that Utah has to offer from Skiing, Traveling, Flying and most any other activity in the sunshine.

Mindy Hardy

Mindy has always felt passionately about helping her children learn, develop and thrive in all aspects of their lives. When she adopted her youngest daughter Rosie, who has Down Syndrome, this passion only grew stronger. She watched as 2-year old Rosie soaked up knowledge in her new home, quickly learning to understand a new language and communicate using American Sign Language. Over the years, Rosie has continued to learn, develop, and thrive, and Mindy is committed to making sure that never stops. She is inspired by the opportunities for continued learning and growth available to Rosie and all people with disabilities through organizations like Aspen, and is thrilled to be a part of this mission.
Mindy feels strongly that people with disabilities are a great asset to our families, neighborhoods, and communities, and that as organizations like Aspen help these individuals integrate well into society, the world becomes a better place for all.