kelly noorda
Chairperson
Kelly Noorda is the Lead Partnership Director for Promise Partnership Utah, where she facilitates cross-sector collaborations to advance early learning strategies and drive meaningful system change. With more than 25 years of experience in early childhood education, she believes that relationships are the foundation of progress, and that through innovation and collective work we can achieve far more together than alone.
Kelly holds dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Human Development and Family Studies and in Psychology from the University of Utah. Her career has spanned roles as a therapeutic preschool teacher and parent educator at The Children’s Center Utah, a Head Start preschool teacher with Utah Community Action, an education specialist providing coaching and behavior management support to teachers, a program coordinator overseeing multiple sites, and a leader of professional development programs focused on onboarding, training, and teacher growth. She also served as an Assistant Education Manager, where she guided curriculum implementation, data-driven practices, and coaching and mentoring programs.
In her role with Promise Partnership Utah, Kelly leads early childhood initiatives for children ages 0–8, building alignment across networks, local communities, and state policy to strengthen and transform early learning systems. She also serves as Chair of the Early Childhood Utah Early Care and Education Committee, contributes to the Utah Early Childhood Conference Committee, and advises statewide efforts through councils such as the Office of Child Care, Waterford Upstart, and Early Childhood Utah.
Rita Mangum
LCSW
Rita began her career in social work, facilitating parenting classes for at-risk communities in the greater Salt Lake and Park City area. Research has shown that strong parent-child bonding is one of the most important protective factors for decreasing delinquency, substance abuse, child abuse, and negative peer influences on children. Protective factors work to increase safety and emotional well-being, build strong family relationships, and promote healthy social connections. Rita has been facilitating and teaching positive parenting practices for over 25 years. She is passionate about relationships, especially those between parents and children. One of the best ways to build resiliency in both yourself and your child(ren) is to focus on the 4 Pillars of Wellness, which include Health, Home, Community, and Purpose. She is looking forward to sharing ways to decrease stress, identify emotions, make healthy connections with your child(ren), and build strong families. Her wellness classes will explore these pillars and provide knowledge, new skills, home practice exercises, and time to talk with other parents about their experiences with parenting and self-care.
The Sammy Center
Emily Bleyl
LCSW, ACSW Associate Professor UofU
Emily is currently the Director of MSW Practicum Education and an Associate Clinical Professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Utah. Prior to 2020, she served for eleven years as the Executive Director of the National Association of Social Workers, Utah Chapter, where she managed daily operations including budgets, board meetings, conferences, and continuing education, while also working closely with the Utah legislature and DOPL to draft and strengthen social work statutes. Throughout her career, Emily has consulted with state and county agencies on ethics and practice-related issues, served on numerous boards and committees, presented over 150 talks on social work topics, co-authored ASWB licensing prep materials and a state licensing manual, supervised and advised MSW students, and successfully advocated for six pieces of social work-supportive legislation. She has also taught Practice I and II and a summer elective focused on attachment in the MSW program. Her leadership earned her national recognition as the NASW Outstanding Executive Director of the Year (2013), as well as honors including Utah’s Thirty Women to Watch (2014), Utah Social Worker of the Year (2022), and Practicum Professor of the Year (2023). Emily began her social work career as a case manager at Catholic Community Services in 1995, earned her MSW from the University of Utah in 1999, and then completed intensive post-graduate training at the Yale Child Study Center and a concurrent Bush Fellowship at the Yale Ziegler Center for Child Development and Social Policy. She later directed public policy and community initiatives for United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, co-leading the development of a successful early childhood initiative. Upon returning to Utah in 2003, she worked in private practice and as a crisis social worker at the University of Utah Medical Center before beginning her leadership role with NASW. With nearly thirty years of experience in education, clinical work, policy, and administration, Emily brings a deep understanding of the biopsychosocial foundations of social work and remains committed to advancing educational resources and professional policies that support students, practitioners, and the communities they serve.
Sky Lowe
Secretary
Sky brings vibrant energy, enthusiasm, and heart to our board as our dedicated Secretary. As a professional nanny with a deep love for children, she embodies the spirit of care and connection that drives our mission. Sky is our greatest cheerleader and unwavering supporter always ready to celebrate our wins, champion our work, and remind us why we do what we do. Her passion for supporting young children and families is evident in everything she does, and we’re so grateful to have her voice, positivity, and commitment guiding our work at The Sammy Center.
dmitri smirnov
Treasure
Dmitri Smirnov, MBA, CPA (Retired) brings more than two decades of high-level corporate finance and accounting expertise to his nonprofit leadership work. After earning his MBA from the University of Louisville, Dmitri built a distinguished career with global organizations including The Boeing Company, CNH Global, and VTG Rail, where he served as Corporate Controller and oversaw financial reporting, audits, treasury functions, and departmental leadership. Now retired from corporate life, Dmitri devotes his time to community service, contributing his financial and strategic expertise as a board member and treasurer for several nonprofit organizations, including The Sammy Center, St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church, the Mushroom Society of Utah, and Lingua Bear. His commitment to mission driven work and his extensive experience in financial stewardship make him an invaluable member of the organizations he serves.
Kayla Mayers
Promise Director
Kayla is currently the Director of the Promise Department at the city of Millcreek and holds a Master of Arts in Community and Organizational Leadership from Westminster University.
Her background is in out-of-school time education, and she has worked with youth ages 5-20 throughout her career. In Utah, she has had the opportunity to intersect city government, community work, and education.
She enjoys being able to explore ways that a community can work together to show up for all youth on their educational path, from cradle to career. In her free time, she spends time with her spouse, daughter, and two dogs, enjoying all of the outdoor recreation opportunities that Utah has to offer!