2025 Hall of Fame Spotlight Recognition

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About the UNA Hall of Fame

The UNA Hall of Fame honors those hardworking nonprofit employees who have made a lasting impact on their team, organization, and mission. Whether it's their exceptional work ethic, their positive attitude, or their unwavering dedication, this is an opportunity to recognize those who embody the values of their nominating organizations and make a difference to our community.

2025 UNA Hall of Fame Nominees

Cassie Brood

Cassie Brood is one of those rare leaders whose impact is both immense and invisible—because she works behind the scenes to ensure everything and everyone runs smoothly. As Vice President of Operations at YWCA Utah, she leads the logistics and infrastructure that power the oldest and largest provider of domestic violence services in the state. But Cassie doesn’t just manage operations—she transforms them with compassion, strategy, and care.

Cassie oversees everything from facilities and IT to food services and safety across a six-building campus that includes emergency shelter, deeply affordable housing, early childhood education, and the Family Justice Center. In the last two years, she led a sweeping safety transformation that reduced external threat incidents to nearly zero, built trauma-informed outdoor spaces that promote dignity and healing, and created streamlined systems to ensure that advocates and teachers always have what they need.

Her philosophy is simple and powerful: take care of the people who take care of the people. Whether she’s sourcing pillows for residents, updating security cameras, building a dog park, or troubleshooting a data system, Cassie shows up with heart, humility, and excellence. She is the reason others can do their jobs well—and the reason our organization can serve so many with integrity and love.

Cassie embodies everything the Hall of Fame was designed to honor: hard work, dedication, and impact that lasts.

Cassie Brood

VP of Operations
YWCA Utah

David Cannon

David Cannon is the financial backbone of Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake Area—quietly powerful, relentlessly precise, and deeply mission-driven. As our Chief Financial Officer, David brings a unique blend of financial expertise, strategic foresight, and heartfelt commitment to affordable housing that strengthens every corner of our organization.

Under David’s leadership, our financial systems have not only become more efficient and transparent, but more aligned with our long-term vision for growth and sustainability. He has guided us through budget planning, grant management, audits, and complex development deals with a steady hand and a clear head—ensuring every dollar we steward is used to further our mission.

But David’s impact goes far beyond spreadsheets and reports. He’s a trusted advisor, a thoughtful collaborator, and someone who always keeps the mission front and center. Whether he’s forecasting future opportunities or helping staff understand the “why” behind the numbers, David leads with both excellence and empathy.

David Cannon

Chief Financial Officer
Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake Area

Kassitey Craudell

Kassitey started as a volunteer and then became a pantry supervisor in Springville. She took the pantry to new heights by getting to know her clientele and building relationships. She was then moved to our Provo pantry, where she has set a new tone for shoppers. She is engaged and always helpful. The clientele, volunteers all she comes in contact with look forward to seeing her. She will also help in any department that needs help and will always go the extra mile. Kass is a self-starter and sees the bigger picture.

Kassitey Craudell

Pantry Supervisor
Community Action Services and Food Bank

Kandace Diggs

For two decades, Kandace Diggs has been a steady, compassionate force at the heart of Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake Area. Kandace has worn many hats. But the most impactful roles include —Director of Human Resources and Director of Family Services—Kandace has served not only as a trusted leader but also as a champion for people, purpose, and possibility.

In her work with families, Kandace has walked alongside hundreds of individuals through some of the most transformative chapters of their lives. She has held space for their hopes, their struggles, and their triumphs—guiding them with patience, wisdom, and unwavering care as they journeyed toward homeownership. Her deep empathy and fierce belief in every family’s potential has helped shape a stable and successful community.

At this time, Kandace leads with integrity and heart in the HR space, building a workplace culture rooted in respect, equity, and support. She has been the quiet architect behind our staff’s well-being, ensuring that every team member feels seen, valued, and empowered to do their best work in service of our mission. We are grateful for her dedication to our mission

Kandace Diggs

Human Resources Director
Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake Area

Rachel Garrett

Rachel Garrett is the heartbeat of Common Thread. She leads with grit, compassion, and an unwavering belief in teens who have been let down by every system around them. She deserves this recognition because of her relentless commitment- not only to the programs she’s built, but to the young people whose lives she changes every day.

Rachel doesn’t clock in and out of her role; she lives it daily. When a teen calls in crisis, she answers, no matter the hour. She has driven across town in the middle of the night to pick up a youth with nowhere to go, and she has stayed on the phone for hours to talk a scared teenager through a panic attack. For Rachel, leadership is more than strategy- it’s showing up when it matters most.

She founded Common Thread to fill a gap for youth in foster care and trauma-impacted communities: a lack of safety, belonging, and connection. Under her leadership, the organization has grown into a lifeline. She launched Roots & Wings, a trauma-informed mentorship program; coordinated more than 200 free activities annually; and built a network of partners, including Utah Foster Care and Trauma-Informed Care Utah to ensure teens have consistent, trusted support.

What makes Rachel extraordinary is how she brings people together. Volunteers describe a “Rachel magic” that pulls in resources, builds collaboration, and creates spaces where teens feel truly safe. Young people who once trusted no one now call her family. Professionals who once worked in silos now work side by side because of her steady, bridge-building leadership.

Rachel models the kind of presence and humility our communities need. She has built something that didn’t exist before and done it with both courage and care. Rachel Garrett isn’t just deserving of this award- she is exactly the kind of leader it was created to honor.

Rachel Garrett

Founder, Executive Director
Common Thread

Laila Hakkarinen

Laila Hakkarinen is the Community Engagement Manager for WasteLess Solutions. We are a very small but mighty non-profit organization focused on diverting edible food from the landfill to folks in our community who are food-insecure. Being such a small team means that our staff members wear many hats and are spread across many programs. Laila is the epitome of a team member who goes above and beyond in her expansive role. She has only been with WasteLess for less than two years but she has quickly risen to the occasion and was promoted early on from a part-time coordinator to a full-time manager. Her passion for not only diverting food waste but educating our community to SOLVE the problem shines through in everything that she does.

Laila is new to the nonprofit world and she has always been eager to learn. She wants to learn everything. When taught something new like budgeting, grant writing or building a new program she always says yes and immediately grasps it, learns about it on her own and runs with it. We continue to be amazed with her wisdom, drive, passion and positivity. She is an invaluable asset to WasteLess and is an example to others in what one is capable of accomplishing when they are passionate about what they do.

Laila Hakkarinen

Community Engagement Manager
WasteLess Solutions

Benée Larsen

Benée Larsen has dedicated her career to advancing suicide prevention across Utah. For over eight years, she has served as the Suicide Prevention Director at NAMI Utah, where she works closely with statewide partners, families, and people with personal experience to reduce suicide risk and promote connection, hope, and healing.

She works to advance policies that promote mental health and reduce suicide risk, while helping communities learn how to talk about suicide and offer meaningful support. As co-chair of Utah’s Suicide Prevention Coalition and Committee, Benée helps guide strategic goals and initiatives that align with the state’s comprehensive approach to suicide prevention.

She has been a key organizer of Utah’s annual Faith Summit, which equips faith leaders with tools to reduce stigma, support their congregations, and foster life-affirming dialogue. She is also a skilled trainer in a number of evidence based suicide prevention trainings.

Through education, collaboration, and advocacy, Benée helps communities talk about suicide and seek support. Her compassion and leadership have created spaces where people feel seen, heard, and not alone, and lives have been saved because of it.

Benée Larsen

Suicide Prevention Director
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - Utah

Sean Marchant

Sean has worked with the Columbus Adult Education Center for the last ten years, as well as with many other organizations. In my hometown, Sean is currently employed as the Sales Director for U.S. Novelty & Party Supply. He is involved in various chambers of commerce, including as an ambassador for the Sandy Chamber. Sean is always helping others in need

Sean Marchant

President
Columbus Adult Education Center

Kate Nielsen

As Chief Operating Officer, Kate brings not only a wealth of operational expertise, but also a deep sense of purpose to everything she touches. From construction logistics to homeowner services, staffing to systems improvements, Kate ensures our mission of building homes, communities, and hope runs with precision and heart.

What makes Kate extraordinary isn’t just her ability to juggle dozens of priorities at once—it’s how she does it with grace, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to the families we serve. She leads by example, building trust across departments and turning challenges into opportunities for collaboration and growth.

Kate has played an instrumental role in expanding our reach across counties, streamlining our internal processes, and strengthening our organization for long-term success. Her impact is seen not just in the homes we build, but in the culture of excellence and empathy she cultivates within our team.

Kate Nielsen

Chief Operations Officer
Habitat for Humanity Greater Salt Lake Area

Maribel Real

Maribel Real has dedicated over 25 years to empowering Utah’s immigrant community through her work at Holy Cross Ministries. She began her journey in 1998 as a Promotora in Midvale, later launching the first clinic-based Promotora Program at South Main Clinic in Salt Lake City—a pioneering effort in partnership with Dr. Karen Buchi, the University of Utah Pediatrics Program, and Salt Lake County’s Prenatal Program.

In 2004, Maribel became Director of the Promotora Program and expanded her impact by working with HCM’s immigration legal team. Alongside attorney Sister Sharlet Wagner, she helped launch HCM’s U Visa program, a vital pathway for immigrant survivors of domestic violence and serious crimes to gain protection and legal status. In 2010, Maribel became a BIA-accredited legal representative, enabling her to represent clients directly.

Her compassion, courage, and commitment have helped hundreds of women break the cycle of abuse and begin new lives with safety, stability, and dignity. Maribel’s work has not only changed individual lives—it has strengthened entire families and communities. She represents the very best of Utah’s nonprofit sector: culturally responsive, justice-oriented, and deeply rooted in service.

Maribel Real

Immigration Services Manager
Holy Cross Ministries

Lisa Tensmeyer Hansen

Dr. Lisa Tensmeyer Hansen brings a rare blend of visionary leadership, clinical expertise, and lived advocacy to everything she does. As the founder and Executive Director of Flourish Therapy Inc., she has created a space where LGBTQ+ individuals and families can access affirming mental health care—regardless of financial circumstances. Her leadership has transformed Flourish into a vital community resource, offering free and low-cost therapy, medication management, and support groups across Utah and surrounding states.

Lisa’s impact goes far beyond administrative leadership. She is a practicing clinician, a trusted mentor, and a passionate educator. She has spoken at major conferences, sharing her expertise in affirming care and helping mental health professionals understand how to serve LGBTQ+ communities with compassion and competence. She is deeply involved in training the next generation of therapists, ensuring that inclusive care continues to expand in both quality and reach.

What sets Lisa apart is her ability to lead with both heart and strategy. She centers the dignity and humanity of every person—clients, staff, and community partners alike. Whether she’s advocating at the local level or sitting with someone in crisis, her commitment to justice, healing, and access is unwavering.

Lisa’s work has created real, measurable change—and her influence will continue to ripple out for years to come. Flourish would not exist without her, and the queer community in Utah is stronger, safer, and more supported because of her.

Lisa Tensmeyer Hansen

Founder and CEO
Flourish Therapy Inc.

Megan Young

Megan Young has supported our organization since inception with unwavering monthly donations to ensure all patients have access to care. As a very small, new non-profit, she has obtained no recognition or flow of revenue to her own business, and still continues to give. She is generous beyond measure, and SWFN would not have survived its first two years without her steadfast allyship to our cause.