UAC STAFF

Brandy Grace was appointed CEO of the Association in July of 2019. Brandy's 24 years in county government, service as a county elected official, experience as UAC's President and most recently as COO, and her understanding of UAC's members all make her uniquely qualified to fulfill this role.

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Brandy's experience gives the association a new outlook on member relations and program development. Brandy has been a strong advocate for members and is committed to building value by meeting member needs through collaboration, education, and outreach.

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Current Projects

UAC Affiliates Relations Coordination, Local Government Associations Collaboration, Corporate Partnership Development, Staff Coordination, and Program Oversight

Sheri Dearden joined the Utah Association of Counties in May 2023.

Zeke Lee joined the Utah Association of Counties in September 2019. Prior to joining UAC, Zeke worked as a public affairs consultant for Bank of America. Additionally, he has worked on several successful local government campaigns and in 2016, he began working at the Olene S. Walker Institute at Weber State University where he coordinated congressional, state, and local government internships. He was also responsible for organizing institute events.

Zeke is a proud Weber State Wildcat and enjoys golfing, sport shooting, and traveling. He speaks Spanish, German, and sometimes English.

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Current Projects

Legislative Advocacy and Coordination, UAC Legislative Committee Coordination, and Lobbying

Bryan Rodgers joined the Utah Association of Counties in November of 2017. He was raised in South Jordan, UT and graduated from the University of Utah in 2009 with a B.S. Degree in Political Science. After graduation, Bryan was hired as the Southern Utah District Manager for the Associated General Contractors of Utah in St. George. Bryan, his wife Jessica and their three children enjoyed their time in beautiful Southern Utah for seven and a half years. Bryan served as Chairman of Leadership Dixie, a notable leadership group in Washington County.

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Bryan works with Corporate Partners of the Association. He recently received a master’s degree in Public Administration from Southern Utah University.

Katherine Rhodes joined the Utah Association of Counties in March of 2020 after six years of employment in the Utah Attorney General’s Office. While there, she focused on the Opioid Task Force, the Mental Health Crisis Line Commission, and the SafeUT App and Commission. She also ran the AGO internship program and youth program, developed the White Collar Crime Offender Registry, and managed special projects. Her work with the AGO has garnered over ten Best of State Awards. She is passionate about making behavioral health services available to all Utah residents.

Katherine was raised in Cottonwood Heights. She received her undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University in Political Science. Katherine lives in West Jordan.

Laura Barlow joined the Utah Association of Counties in April of 2021. She started her career in Utah in 2007 as a Majority Assistant for the Utah State Senate after graduating from Utah State University in Logan. Although she grew up in California, Laura has spent the last 14 years sharpening her skills her in Utah as a political fundraiser and elite event planner. Her years of experience include the following: coordinating the 2011 National Governors Association Annual Conference in Salt Lake City; working on a US Senate campaign in Las Vegas in 2010 and the Mia Love Congressional Campaign in 2012; lobbying with Hunter & Company for many years; acting as the Executive Director at the Canyons School District Education Foundation for three years; and working as the primary fundraiser for the Utah State Senate Republicans and the Utah House of Representatives.

Laura most recently spent a few years as an event consultant for a national mobile bidding company, working with non-profit organizations from around the country to raise funds for their causes.

Melanie Stark joined the Utah Association of Counties in April of 2022. Prior to her time with UAC, she attended Dixie State University and graduated with a Bachelors in Elementary Education in 2020. Melanie worked with the Marketing and Communications department at DSU as an Executive Assistant. She considers herself a jack-of-all-trades; not an expert in anything (except quoting Harry Potter movies) but excited to help with a little bit of everything. 

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Melanie was raised in Layton where she currently lives with her family. She loves photography, design, fashion, and the Oxford comma. She loves to travel, watch movies, eat bread, and make everything around her pretty.