Our Board of Directors

Brent Salazar-Hall, Chairperson

Brent Salazar-Hall joined the House of Hope Board of Directors in 2015 and currently serves as the vice chairperson. He works as an attorney and has been practicing in Utah since 2004. He received both his Juris Doctor degree and his bachelor’s in psychology from St. Louis University. As an attorney practicing in juvenile court, Brent joined the Board because he has seen the amazing and challenging work House of Hope does for mothers overcoming substance abuse. Brent also volunteers his time with the following organizations: Utah Father’s and Families Coalition, Utah State Bar, Family Law Section Executive Committee and Third District Pro Se Docket. He resides in Salt Lake City with his wife and two children.

Hobbies/Interests: Traditional Chinese Martial Arts, Girl Scouts, hiking, camping and travel

James R. Michie, Jr., Vice-Chairperson

Jim was appointed to the House of Hope Board in December 2022.  He recently retired as an active judge for the Third District Juvenile Court.  He was appointed to the Juvenile Court in 2006 by then Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.  While on the bench, Judge Michie served as Presiding Judge, member and Chair of the Utah Board of Juvenile Court Judges, member of the Utah Board of Juvenile Justice, member of the Juvenile Justice Reform Committee, and member and Chair of the Juvenile Justice Oversight Committee. Judge Michie also presided over a youth dependency court.

Jim graduated from the University of Utah with an Honors Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1986.  In 1989, he received his Juris Doctor from the University of Utah College of Law.  Prior to his appointment to the Juvenile Court, he was an associate lawyer with Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll where he practiced public finance.  He was an attorney with the Office of Guardian ad Litem from 1999 to 2006, where he represented abused and neglected children.

Prior to working as a Guardian ad Litem, Jim served as a member and Chair of the Utah Children’s Justice Center Advisory Board.  Jim served as a CASA volunteer and he and his wife Wendy were emergency shelter care foster parents.  It was this experience that motivated Jim to work as a Guardian ad Litem and later Juvenile Judge. Jim and Wendy have two adult children and a Pug.

Steve Booker, Secretary

Steve Booker joined the House of Hope Board in 2023. Originally from California, he relocated to Utah in 2006, where he and his wife, Elizabeth have raised their two sons. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Western Governors University, Steve leverages his expertise in technology and financial services to support business operations at Morgan Stanley. Outside of his professional commitments, he cherishes quality time spent with his family, particularly in the great outdoors.Steve’s association with House of Hope dates back to 2011 when he first engaged in supporting the annual toy drive for children in treatment with their mothers. Witnessing the enduring impact House of Hope has had on the lives of mothers and families who have sought assistance from the program, Steve was honored to extend his commitment by joining the board.

Jeannie Ellison, Treasurer

Jeannie Ellison joined the House of Hope Board of Directors in 2017. She moved to Utah in 1980 after growing up in New Orleans and Denver. She earned a degree in business from the University of Denver and then an MBA and another undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Utah. After gaining experience and passing the CPA exam, she started her own business and enjoyed guiding clients in one of their most important areas of their lives; their finances (and taxes!) for 32 years until she sold her business a few years ago. She raised a son during that time who is now on Law Review at Harvard Law School.

She has volunteered and been on the board of varying organizations such as the Girls Scouts, U of U Business Alumni Association, Global Water Health and Unity Church among others.

Bill Athas, Director

Bill Athas has volunteered as a faithful member of the House of Hope Board of Director for over 30 years. During his time as a Board member he has served as both Secretary and Treasurer. He has also participated in community service through the following entities: Utah State Board of Alcoholism & Drugs (Chairperson 1977-1987), Utah Statewide Health Coordinating Council, Governor’s Task Force on Prevention of Alcoholism, Utah State Coalition for Prevention of Alcohol & Drug Problems, University of Utah’s School on Alcoholism & Drugs (Vice Chairperson), KUTV (NBC) Alcohol & Drug Abuse Advisory Committee, Utah Alcohol Training & Education Advisory Commission and U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch’s Advisory Committee on the new Drug Free America Bill.

Bill is a retired broker; he graduated from the University of Utah in Political Science and received Honorable Discharge from U.S. Army Reserve. He has two children and currently resides in Salt Lake City, UT.

Sheleigh Harding, Director

Sheleigh Harding joined the Board  of Directors in 2010. Sheleigh has been an attorney since 1991. She works primarily in the child welfare area of juvenile court, but also works with delinquency and refugee cases. She also works as a Special Master in District Court and is a mediator.

Sheleigh believes House of Hope to be one of the best treatment centers she works with in juvenile court. She has always been deeply impressed by House of Hope’s work and mission, and wanted to be a part of the organization and contribute to its continued success. She also is on the Historic Landmark Commission and volunteers with the Utah State Bar as a mentor and as a member of the Fee Dispute Resolution Committee.

Hobbies/Interests: Scuba, rafting, skydiving, flying, yoga, languages and piano.

Darlene Hutchison, Director

Darlene C. Hutchison has been a member on the House of Hope Board of Directors since 2010 and currently serves as the board secretary. However, her concern reaches back much further. She served with the former Utah Alcohol Foundation and was one of the founders of a coalition directed toward bringing together all state and non-profit agencies to work together in developing reasonable alcohol policies, the Alcohol Policy Coalition.

Darlene’s adult life has been geared toward finding solutions for problems facing the community. Her service includes being President of the Utah Congress of Parents and Teachers (PTA), which provided her with the opportunity of serving on many national and state boards and committees relative to education and problems facing youth. She was an elected member of the Utah State Board of Education; served as President of the Women’s Legislative Council of Utah; an appointed member of the Utah Civil Rights Commission, and served her community on the Board of Adjustments. She has dedicated her time to many other organizations, especially those directed toward helping children and youth.

Professionally, early in her life, Darlene worked for a television station and later as a manager in the Special Affairs Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She married Richard Hutchison (deceased) and is the mother of six children, three deceased.

Beth Pratt, Director

Beth Pratt has served on the House of Hope Board of Directors for over 30 years. She has been a Registered Nurse for 45 years with special expertise in Risk Management, Resource Development and Healthcare Education. She is also a Certified Sexual Abuse Nurse Educator, an adjunct professor at Salt Lake Community College and a member of the Sandy City Chamber of Commerce.

While she has many interests, the organization closest to her heart is House of Hope, (formerly the Utah Alcoholism Foundation). She has volunteered countless hours in service to HOH over the years, as well as raising funds, collecting resources, mentoring staff and representing House of Hope in the community while educating groups about substance use disorders and other healthcare needs for underserved populations and strongly advocating for women in recovery. Beth has served on several boards including: the Hansen Planetarium, Neighborhood House, and the Foster Care Citizens Review Board.

Beth currently lives in SLC with her husband and enjoys spending time with her family and grandchildren.

Jordan Putnam, Director

Jordan Putnam has served as a member of the House of Hope Board of Directors since 2018 and currently serves as the Chairperson of the Board. For the last seven years, he has practiced family and child welfare law in Utah. Jordan received his bachelor’s in Political Science from Brigham Young University (2007) and his Juris Doctor from the University of Utah (2011).

Jordan joined the Board because he had been very impressed with the excellent work House of Hope does in the community. He has seen many clients make dramatic life changes while at House of Hope, and he wanted to be a part of and contribute to such a wonderful organization. He also serves as a Board Member of Parental Defense Alliance of Utah.

Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, skiing, golfing, and playing with his children.

Jeremy Stewart, Director

Jeremy Stewart first joined the House of Hope Board of Directors in 2013. He works as an attorney at Snell & Wilmer in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jeremy graduated from Georgetown University Law Center. He joined the House of Hope Board because he wants to help provide hope to our neighbors who need it the most.

Hobbies/Interests: Enjoys spending time with his family in the outdoors.

Trent Waddoups, Director

Trent Waddoups has volunteered as a member of the House of Hope Board of Directors since 2003. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Utah State University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Utah Law School. Trent has been a practicing lawyer and owner at Carr & Waddoups Attorneys at Law, LLC since 1996, specializing in personal injury cases and litigation. He participates in the following activities and societies: Federalist Society, Moot Court and Environmental Law Review. Trent enjoys golfing in his free time.