Board of Directors

Vibert L. Kesler

Executive Director and President
World Peace Parents Foundation
The Begin with the Children Project

Vibert began his professional career in Washington D.C. as a Field Agent Auditor with the Internal Revenue Service. He then transferred to the National Office as a Tax Law Specialist, issuing private ruling letters on transactions involving complex corporate transactions such as corporate reorganizations, liquidations and foreign transfers of property.

 

Read More About Mr. Kesler

After leaving the IRS, he joined a Salt Lake City law firm. A few years later organized a new law firm with a fellow graduate of George Washington University Law School. For the next 25 years he managed Law firms in which he was a partner until retiring from the practice of law in the 1990’s. He was also the co-founder of the Salt Lake City Law Firm of Kesler & Rust. During his legal career, he was active in the Utah Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the International Bar Association based in London. He served in leadership positions in all three bar associations, including the Board of Directors in the International Bar Association’s Business Law Section. After retiring from the daily practice of law, Vibert provided consulting services for transferring large family businesses from one generation to the next. During his career he served on several boards of directors and was CEO of a company importing automotive goods from England.

Allison Calder

Co-Founder Anson Calder; Utah Chapter Director for the FSHD Society 

Allison began her career as a registered nurse in Englewood, Colorado. She enjoyed
the challenging work environment in the intensive care unit.

From Colorado, she and her husband moved to Geneva, Switzerland for his work. While there,
she was recruited to work as the Training & Education Coordinator for TriVascular, a medical
device startup company. This was her introduction to the entrepreneurial business world. As
part of her duties, Allison became very involved in the problem-solving and innovative
environment of TriVascular.

Read More About Mrs. Calder

After two plus years in Geneva, her husband was transferred to New York City. TriVascular asked Allison to continue working for them from NYC—which she did for several more years.

While living in NYC, she and her husband co-founded Anson Calder, a luxury leather goods company. They continue to own and manage this business.

Allison also appreciates opportunities to serve in her local community. Currently, she serves as the Utah Chapter Director for the FSHD Society, the world’s largest research-focused patient organization for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), one of the most prevalent forms of muscular dystrophy. In addition, she serves in the local elementary school PTA and on the Board of Directors of Upper Ellison Ditch Company, a local irrigation water supplier.

Allison graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She and her husband have five children and live in Holladay, Utah.

Craig Thatcher

CEO Thatcher Group, Inc.

Craig is CEO of Thatcher Group, Inc., a major chemical manufacturer and distributor with 500 employees in 14 U.S. facilities. Thatcher Group is a diversified company serving nine different industries and has customers and suppliers outside the U.S.

 

Read More About Mr. Thatcher

Craig is a 3rd generation chemist. His grandfather, Nathan D. Thatcher Jr., taught chemistry and founded Wasatch Chemical Company in 1923. His father, Lawrence, with degree in chemistry founded Thatcher Chemical Company in 1967. This company later became Thatcher Group, Inc. Craig started working for the company in 1976 and became CEO in 2007. He graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry. Then he attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and earned an MBA degree. Craig is proud of the company his family founded and built. The chemical industry is a key part of our society. Everything, in some way, depends on chemicals. Thatcher Group employees appreciate working for a stable company with excellent career opportunities. The company has no debt, which allows it to have a long-term vision and stay true to its values. Providing high quality products, staying close to its customers and providing excellent service and value are the keys to their company’s success. Craig’s life goals are to stay true to his values, constantly improve himself, and to help others who are less fortunate. To this end, he looks forward to working with the World Peace Parents Foundation as a director to help strengthen families through better parenting. Craig met his wife, Connie, while attending Northwestern University. They were married in 1977 and are the proud parents of three daughters and a son and the grandparents of 14 grandchildren.

Dean England

Co-Chairman of C.R. England, Inc.

C.R. England, Inc is North America’s largest refrigerated transportation carrier with operations throughout the United States and Mexico. It is one of the top private employers in Utah.

Read More About Mr. England

Established in 1920 in Plain City, Utah, C.R. England, Inc. has grown from a simple one-man Utah-based trucking company to more 7,500 drivers and employees. The company’s umbrella comprises over 30 different business units and serves virtually every top brand sold at large grocery retailers nationwide. It is a leader in moving freight via road and rail intermodal. C.R. England, Inc. is a privately held family company; today operated by third and fourth generation members of the England family, grandchildren of founder Chester England. Dean has grown up in the transportation industry and true to family tradition, has worked at every level of the company. At an early age, he traveled with his father Gene on cross-country long hauls. He has worked for the company as a freight handler, truck washer, maintenance manager, terminal manager, operations manager, director of operations, chief operating officer, chief executive officer and most recently president, prior to assuming his current duties in April 2013. Dean graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in finance and continues to be a strong advocate of the University’s academic and athletic programs. He has also served on various industry and community boards including the board of directors of the Utah Motor Transport Association and the Truckload Carrier Association (Refrigerated Division), the alumni board for the University of Utah College of Business, as a board member for the University of Utah Fundraising Committee, as an advisory board member for Wheeler Machinery and the Hope Lodge Board for the American Cancer Society. He is also active in his support of Intermountain Donor Services, National Kidney Foundation, and other community causes. Mr. England and his wife Kim are the parents of 6 sons and 16 grandchildren and make their home in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Gina Daines

Vice President of Marketing

Gina served as Vice President of Marketing for 21 years at Salt Lake City-based Basic Research, a company in the beauty and wellness supplement field. During her tenure, the company launched more than twenty beauty, skin care, and stress supplement products to such retailers as Walmart, Costco, Target, Sephora, Nordstrom, and others. She was instrumental in growing sales to the 300M level.

Read More About Mrs. Daines

In 2015, she co-founded Empire31, launching products in innovative categories such as protein popcorn, nutritional chocolates, and appetite-suppressing beverages. During her career, Gina has served in numerous leadership capacities in her community, working with both youth and adults. She also served as a board member for the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, Utah for six years.

Gina and her husband reside in the Cottonwood, Utah area. They have two sons, ages twelve and nine. Gina earned a B.S. degree in business marketing and an MBA, both from Brigham Young University.

Matthew Cole

Entrepreneur

Matthew Cole (Matt) is a hands-on entrepreneur and has founded multiple successful startups, including his current startup of Beacon Data Inc. where he is currently serving as the Managing Partner and CEO. 

Read More About Mr. Cole

Matthew Cole (Matt) is a hands-on entrepreneur and has founded multiple successful startups, including his current startup of Beacon Data Inc. where he is currently serving as the Managing Partner and CEO. Beacon is a data analytics company that offers consulting, engineering, and advanced analytics services. Beacon’s mission is to help companies increase their business value using their own data. Currently they have a staff of twenty US-based team members and an offshore team of eighteen. Some of Beacon’s clients include Traeger Grills, Azul Airlines, Tosca Services, TodayTix, Jet Edge, Olaplex, Juice Plus, and several large PE firms. Beacon’s mantra is “Less artificial. More intelligent.”

In organizing and managing Beacon Data Inc., Matt adheres to six simple guiding leadership principles: 1) Treat your people right, 2) Do the right thing, 3) Lead by example, 4) Communicate with your team, 5) Encourage initiative and innovation and, 6) Inspire greatness in others. These leadership principles from successfully founding, managing, and selling other startups like BlueStreak.

For seven continuous years BlueStreak lived up to its name by being the #1 franchise group for sales, profit, and customer service out of a network of 160 facilities worldwide.

Another example is Athletic Republic, an affiliate of BlueStreak, headquartered in Park City, Utah. He led and developed best practices for the franchise business model and its franchisees.

As a consultant and board member to Athletic Republic CEO, he developed new franchise prospects progressing them through the sales funnel. Matt was also tasked with on-boarding new franchise locations and owners by developing a five-year proforma hands-on business development including staff training, marketing plan, and sales planning.

‘Matt earned his Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management and Marketing from Fordham University where he earned dean’s list honors. He played football for the University of Utah and Fordham University. As the starting weak side defensive end for Fordham, Matt was respected by his teammates for his strength, leadership, work ethic, and energy. He earned his MBA in 2014 from Babson’s Olin School of Management MBA program—ranked # 1 in for 24 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report, Princeton Review, and Financial Times.

Matt grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he excelled in football, wrestling, and rugby. He was awarded numerous awards in football including First team All-state, Defensive MVP, and Team Captain for two years. For two years, he was the Utah 5A state wrestling champion and team wrestling captain.

Matt was a four-year starter and two-year captain with the renowned Highland Rugby squad, which won four national championships and finished third in the High School World Cup in Zimbabwe, Africa. He was named team MVP and earned 1st team All-American selection. He was invited to play rugby professionally abroad but decided, instead, to serve a two-year service mission for his church to Sydney, Australia. He currently resides in Holladay, Utah with his wife Ashley and their six children, two boys and four girls ages 15 months to 14 years. He enjoys coaching his boys in football.

Advisory Board

James Mayfield, Ph.D.

Co-Founder CHOICE Humanitarian; Professor Emeritus, Public Administration & Middle East Studies, University of Utah.

Matthew Cole (Matt) is a hands-on entrepreneur and has founded multiple successful startups, including his current startup of Beacon Data Inc. where he is currently serving as the Managing Partner and CEO. 

Read More About Mr. Mayfield

Jim is a Professor Emeritus of Public Administration and Middle East Studies at the University of Utah, where he served as a full professor for 35 years. He is a former member of the Civil Service Commission in Salt Lake City and Past Chair of the Section on International and Comparative Administration (SICA) of the American Society for Public Administration, Washington DC. He has conducted research and management training in 18 countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Dr. Mayfield is the author of five published books including Go To the People (forward written by Muhammad Yunus & widely used by Peace Corps), The Time Has Come, and One Can Make a Difference. In 2013, he launched the Nepal Self Developing District Program – an initiative supported by the Nepali government to end extreme poverty in a designated area that will help Nepal to become the first developing country in the world to end extreme poverty and which can be replicated worldwide. With 40 years of experience in village development, Dr. Mayfield continues to define and shape CHOICE’s approach to poverty alleviation, specifically the CHOICE Humanitarian Model of Leadership Development, in self-developing villages and districts based on a rural networking and empowerment strategy. Jim and his wife, Rosalind, live in Murray, Utah. They are the parents of 10 children.

John Babyak

CEO Wolverine Investments

John is a Registered Investment Adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He manages Portfolio and Financial Management for both individuals and institutions.

Read More About Mr. Babyak

Wolverine provides a wide range of services including investment management, tactical asset allocation, separate account, management, capital raising/structuring, financial reporting, and budgeting & cash management. John’s formal training includes courses taken at the New York Institute of Finance: Investment Management and Securities Analysis, 1994 –1996; New York University: Investment Management and Securities Analysis, 1993 – 1994; IBM Management Development: Managing Organizational Change, 1993; MIT Executive Education: Transformation and Client-Server Technologies, 1992; Executive Education at U-Penn – The Wharton School: Strategic Planning and Analysis 1991; Executive Education at Harvard Business School: Presidents Class 1989. Prior to his affiliation with Wolverine, he spent ten plus years with IBM Corporation in Sales and Marketing Management. He has served on the boards of directors of several business and community-oriented organizations. As a published market commentator, John has written numerous articles about the financial markets, and has been interviewed and quoted in the financial news media, including The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s Magazine, CNN fn, CBS News Radio, Bloomberg Business News, Dow Jones Newswires, TheStreet.Com, and the Wall Street Transcript. John is a graduate of the University of Vermont with a B.S. in Engineering, with a Major in Management Engineering and a Minor in Electrical Engineering. He is active in community affairs including the Weston, Connecticut Kiwanis Club, Weston City Justice of the Peace, Scoutmaster of Weston Boy Scout Troup 788 and Venue Manager for the Weston/Westport New Year’s Eve First Night celebration. As a Connecticut Justice of the Peace he officiates at civil marriages and unions. John resides in Weston, Connecticut with his wife, Nancy, and their two children.

Stephen W. Wade

Utah Businessman and Community Philanthropist

Stephen has been a new car automobile dealer since 1973, and currently owns and operates Toyota, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Nissan, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Ram, Honda, Mazada, Mercedes Benz, and Sprinter Utah franchises.

Read More About Mr. Wade

Stephen serves as Chairman of Stephen Wade Auto Center St. George and Brent Brown Toyota Orem, Utah. In 1981, he served as the president of the Utah Automobile Dealers Association and as Utah’s representative to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). In 2011, he served as Chairman of NADA, and in 2013 he was inducted into the Utah Automobile Dealers Hall of Fame.

He has been active in Utah community and business affairs including:

State Chairman of the American Cancer Society of Utah and Chairman of the American cancer Society for Salt Lake County, Utah.

Richard I. Winwood

Entrepreneur

Dick co-founded what is now Franklin Covey Inc. founded WinAir and was owner and Chairman of Keystone Aviation LLC (dba Million Air Salt Lake City).

Read More About Mr. Winwood

Richard “Dick” Winwood is a native of Portland, Oregon, where he received his elementary, secondary, and university education. After his service as a U.S. Navy fleet communication specialist, Dick had a career in the computer services industry working for General Electric Company, Computer Sciences Corporation, Automatic Data Processing, and International Paper Company. In 1983, he co-founded what is now Franklin Covey Inc. Dick served as the Chief Operating Officer until 1991. He was the author of the Franklin Time Management Seminar, the Time Effective Meetings Seminar, and was the principal designer of the Franklin day planner. He has written several books on personal and organizational productivity. In 1999, Dick founded WinAir Airlines Inc., a B-737 based regional airline headquartered in Long Beach, California. He was owner and Chairman of Keystone Aviation LLC (dba Million Air Salt Lake City) – an aircraft sales and services company headquartered at the Salt Lake International Airport. He was also on the board of directors for CHOICE Humanitarian and MyJobChart.com, and is now a member of the President’s Leadership Council at Brigham Young University. In April of 2001, Dick received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Southern Virginia University. Dick has been a guest lecturer at Weber State College, Brigham Young University – Marriott School of Management, Utah Valley University, Southern Virginia University, BYU Hawaii, Dalhousie University (Halifax, Nova Scotia), and the University of Manchester (England). Dick and his wife, Judy, moved to Utah in 1988 and currently live in Holladay City. They have four children and 14 grandchildren.

Foundation Staff

Vibert L. Kesler

President, Executive Director, Chairman of the Board

Vibert's Bio

Vibert began his professional career in Washington D.C. as a Field Agent Auditor with the Internal Revenue Service. He then transferred to the National Office as a Tax Law Specialist, issuing private ruling letters on transactions involving complex corporate transactions such as corporate reorganizations, liquidations and foreign transfers of property.

After leaving the IRS, he joined a Salt Lake City law firm. A few years later organized a new law firm with a fellow graduate of George Washington University Law School. For the next 25 years he managed Law firms in which he was a partner until retiring from the practice of law in the 1990’s. He was also the co-founder of the Salt Lake City Law Firm of Kesler & Rust. During his legal career, he was active in the Utah Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the International Bar Association based in London. He served in leadership positions in all three bar associations, including the Board of Directors in the International Bar Association’s Business Law Section. After retiring from the daily practice of law, Vibert provided consulting services for transferring large family businesses from one generation to the next. During his career he served on several boards of directors and was CEO of a company importing automotive goods from England.

Sue Ellen Cummings

Foundation Secretary and Data Base Manager

Sue's Bio

Mrs. Cummings is a full-time mother to four children. She resides with her husband Matthew in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is a graduate of the University of Utah in Sociology. Prior to rearing a family, Mrs. Cummings worked for AT&T Wireless as a marketing representative. Mrs. Cummings has served as PTA President at Oakwood Elementary School in Holladay, Utah and is active in other community assignments.

Chelsie Penman

Chair, Millennial Advisory Committee

Chelsie's Bio

Chelsie earned her BS in Elementary Education with an ESL endorsement from Utah State University. After graduation, she worked as a first-grade teacher at Birch Creek Elementary school in Smithfield, Utah for four years. She now enjoys teaching English online while being a stay-at-home mom to three beautiful girls. Chelsie is married to her best friend, Cody Penman. She enjoys cooking, organizing, online shopping and crafting. Her favorite treat is cookie dough!

Consulting Team

Meghan Row

The Row Agency
Marketing and Digital Program Consultant

Meghan's Bio

Meghan has dedicated her career to making a positive difference in the community by accelerating the impact of organizations through powerful communication and marketing strategies. She is the Owner + Principal of The Row Agency, a marketing and communications agency serving social good organizations and businesses throughout the County. Meghan graduated from Arizona State University with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies, with concentrations in Communications and Family & Human Development. She resides in Monterey, CA with her husband and two daughters – Brynlee & Addison.

Russell Bailey

IT Consultant

Russel's Bio

Mr. Bailey IT Director for South Davis Community Hospital in Bountiful, Utah. Mr. Bailey worked for WordPerfect and Novell in the 1990s before changing careers and earning a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy.

Carson Buttars

Website Developer

Carson's Bio

Mr. Buttars has been a Software Engineer for 5 years and graduated from BYU with a Bachelors Degree in Cybersecurity.

Kathleen Stone

Retired Members of the KrincleKronicle Editorial Staff

Kathleen's Bio

Mrs. Stone has been an artist for more than 45 years. After graduating from college she worked in several advertising agencies before starting her own marketing and graphic design company.

Kristina Kugler

Retired Members of the KrincleKronicle Editorial Staff

Kristina's Bio

Mrs. Kugler resides with her husband and two children in Layton, Utah. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA and an MA in English from Brigham Young University. She has worked as an editor since 2002, as KinderKronicle editor since 2014, has served as the PTA reading specialist at Layton Elementary for the past three years, and is active in her community.

Foundation Advisory Parents

Mariah Anderson

Millennial Advisory Committee

Mariah's Bio

Mariah received her bachelor’s degree in Health Science and Master’s degree in Health Promotion from Utah State University, where she competed in Track and Field. After moving to Las Vegas, her professional career included working (four years) as a wellness coach for seniors and as a Community Health Educator focusing on families and children. She particularly enjoyed facilitating support groups for postpartum  moms. She is also a Certified Lactation Consultant and group fitness instructor. In 2021, Mariah, her husband, and two (nearly) perfect children moved to Nashville, Tennessee for her husband’s surgical residency.

Allison Calder

Millennial Advisory Committee

Allison's Bio

Allison was born and raised in Utah and, after living around the world for years, recently returned to Utah with her husband and five children, ranging ages 9 months to 9 years. She received her BS in nursing from Brigham Young University, co-founded a business (Anson Calder) with her husband, and has enjoyed volunteering as the Utah Chapter Director for the FSHD Society. In her spare time, you can find her motorcycle riding, baking, running, gardening, and playing games.

Todd Shaffer

Millennial Advisory Committee

Tods's Bio

Todd has a master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling from Utah State University. He worked for 14 years as a vocational counselor for Deseret Industries in Logan, Utah. For the past three years, he has provided instructional design and product management for a welfare and self-reliance organization. Todd and his wife, Amy, reside in Clinton, Utah with their three boys. He enjoys spending time playing and coaching sports, hiking, engaging with animals, and getting to know people.