Board of Directors

HEIDI WESTFALL originally from British Columbia, finds inspiration in remote places that bring us together in an urban world. With a rural upbringing planting the seeds of constructive creativity, making due with less led to an early entrepreneurial spirit and successful business career that took her around the world.  As a financial Advisor with Waddell and Reed creating structure that has balance comes naturally. Specializing in the art of numbers and logistics, Heidi brings a focus to the world of the creative arts that helps provide growth and direction. Described as inspiring, empowering, energetic and thought provoking yet caring Heidi lets others explore deeper levels of self-awareness and experience.

Andrea Beecher. After earning her degree in interior design, she immediately set it aside, as she pursued a career in retail management. It wasn’t long, though, before her design skill started forcing its way into her retail world. Soon enough, she found herself being flown to Los Angeles every other month to help create the corporate floor-set that was the the template for all 400+ locations of a major world-wide fashion retailer. When she finally gave in and devoted herself to interior design full-time, she quickly became a go-to designer, especially for modern and midcentury looks. Along with countless private homes, Andrea’s work includes local favorites like Table X, Laziz Kitchen, and Spitz restaurants, Salon O, Image Studios, and Keller Williams’ new Sugarhouse offices. 

Now she has branched out again, teaming up with local design luminaries Brian Garrett and Jason Frederick to form M3LD (pronounced Meld). While continuing the interior design work that Andrea has become known for, M3LD also offers a whole line of modern home furnishings and lighting. M3LD has garnered accolades and features in magazines and websites across the country, and their line is carried in stores nationwide, as well as being available through several major online retailers. 

Marc Christensen is the CEO of Dented Brick Distillery, a pretty big jump from barricades, but having a dented cranium, seems to work. Marc lives in Landrum, SC. Over 20 years experience as a developer of safety devices and business owner. 18 Letters of Patent now issued on designs sold through OTW Safety. Expertise in areas ranging from business administration to marketing safety and security products. Key Accomplishments: Entrepreneur who grew the businesses from start-up to millions in annual sales through effective business planning, creative sales techniques, and innovative marketing. Expert knowledge and skills in all facets of product development, design, fulfillment and marketing. Recognized by clients and colleagues as a consummate professional with a high degree of personal integrity. Known for a contagious passion for excellence, a talent for resourceful business solutions, and a capacity for motivational leadership. Possess outstanding communication and presentation abilities. Effectively market products; skilled in persuasive presentation and profitable negotiation. Offer excellent customer relations skills. Specialties: Plastic product concepts, design, and fabrication techniques. Especially with regard to portable safety and security devices.

Robert Wood is a Venture Partner of RenewableTech Ventures. He previously was a consultant to EPIC Ventures (formerly known as Wasatch Venture Fund). Robert has consulted for several venture funds in Utah and has taken management and board positions in venture fund portfolio companies including Crystal Canyon, Industrial Training Corporation, eTagz, IntelliSchematic, First Choice Solutions and CopperKey.

Prior to his 21-year consulting career, Robert cofounded and served as CFO for 10 years and as CEO for a short period of time for a publicly traded independent power company that developed and financed renewable energy power projects with capacity of over 300 MW and financing lines of over $400 million. Robert also previously served as the CFO for a real estate development and consulting company, a tax specialist at a major CPA firm and a senior researcher for a university based economic and business research bureau.

Robert's current non-profit activities include serving as Immediate Past President of the Board of Directors for the Utah Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, where he has served as President, Treasurer and has been a board member for 12 years. He also teaches as an Adjunct Professor in the Global Program at Sofia University (formerly known as the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology). He has served on the Boards of Trustees for Rowland Hall St. Marks Schools and the Legal Aid Society.

Robert holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, and a Master of Science degree both in Economics from the University of Utah and a Master of Business Administration degree and a Juris Doctor degree both also from the University of Utah. Additionally, Robert has a Ph.D. in Psychology from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology and a Master of Arts in Transpersonal Psychology from Naropa University.

Thank you also to our previous Board members:

Gary Vlasic, Jesse Walker, Casey Crawford, Cody Derrick, Debra Andersen, Amie Tullius, Colby Brewer, Kate Crews Linsley, Kay Cummings, Scott Hinton, Tatiana Subbotin, Mary Dickson, Jeffrey Berke, Elpitha Tsoutsounakis.