Utah Flag

Utah Beehive Flag

Committed Volunteers

The Utah State Flag Task Force was established during the 2020 legislative session via S.B. 48. In 2022, the public engagement effort was implemented by the Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement with the help of six community-based subcommittees with expertise to guide the redesign. Volunteers represented a range of ages, expertise, and geographic diversity in guiding the statewide initiative.

History

Commissioner: Rep. Robert M. Spendlove
Taskforce Commissioner

Scholars and public historians offered guidance for the outreach process, while providing insight and context about Utah’s original state flag.

Axel Ramirez
professor of elementary and secondary education, Utah Valley University

Paul Reeve
Simmons Chair of Mormon Studies, professor of history, University of Utah

Yvette Tuell
policy analyst, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

Cynthia Benally
assistant professor of education, Culture & Society, University of Utah

Eileen Quintana
Title VII program manager, Nebo School District

Brenda Whitehorse
director, heritage language program, San Juan County School District

Charles Stormont
director of right of way, Utah Department of Transportation

Farina King
associate professor of history, Northeastern State University; director, Northeastern State University Center for Indigenous Community Engagement

Greg Smoak
director, American West Center, associate professor of history, University of Utah

Jami Van Huss
director, Hyrum City Museum

Jennifer Ortiz
director, Utah Division of State History

Brad Westwood
senior public historian, Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement

Ken Williams
director, Utah State Archives

John Hartvigsen
program advisory and vexillologist, Colonial Flag Foundation

Mike Mower
Governor’s Senior Advisor of Community Outreach and Intergovernmental Affairs

Ron Fox
president/owner, The Fox Group

Joseph Shelton
Utah citizen

Design Review

Gov. Spencer J. Cox and Sen. Daniel McCay
Taskforce Commissioner

Designers and artists shaped the submission process and selected 70 inspirational designs. Some members guided professional designers in refining the 20 semi-finalists.

Sarina Villareal Ehrgott
director of marketing and brand, Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement

Jim Glenn
visual arts manager, Utah Division of Arts & Museums

Nancy Rivera
visual arts coordinator, Utah Division of Arts & Museums

Jean Tokuda Irwin
arts education program manager, Utah Division of Arts & Museums

Dominique Talahaftewa
cultural liaison, Utah Division of Indian Affairs

Pete Codella
associate managing director of communications, Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity

Loggins Merrill
manager, Utah Department of Workforce Services

Gabriella Huggins
executive director, Art Access

Day Christensen
contributing artist, Modern West Fine Art

Zach Winegar
marketing director, America First Credit Union

John Hartvigsen
flag historian and vexillologist, advisory board member, Colonial Flag Foundation

DeVaughn Simper
vexillologist, Colonial Flag

Maria Sykes
executive director, Epicenter

Soonju Kwon
GSBS Architects and Soonju Kwon art studio

Fazilat Soukhakian
associate professor, photography, Utah State University

Paul Reeve
Simmons Chair of Mormon Studies, history professor, University of Utah

Dr. Stephen Lee
dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dixie State University or Utah Tech University

Molly Morin
assistant professor of art, Weber State University

Elpitha Tsoutsounakis
assistant professor, multi-disciplinary design, University of Utah

Gareth Fry
assistant professor of graphic design, Utah Valley University

Jeffrey Hanson
chair, Art and Design Department, Southern Utah University

Joslynn Taylor
Utah Valley University student, Best in Show winner, DesignArts Utah ’21

Kassie John
University of Utah student, lead designer, Bahozhoni

Bradley Hornfischer
amateur vexillologist and Brigham Young University engineering student

Multicultural

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson and Rep. Stephen G. Handy
Taskforce Commissioner

Leaders helped incorporate the voices of all Utahns in the process, and offered advice about reaching multicultural communities.

Jackie Thompson
former director of educational equity department, Davis School District.

Michelle Love-Day
associate director of educational equity, Granite School District

Claustina Reynolds
assistant principal, Ecker Hill Middle School

Gabriella Huggins
executive director, Art Access

Ciriac Alvarez
senior policy analyst, Voices for Utah Children

Fatima Dirie
policy advisor for refugees and new americans, Salt Lake City’s Mayor’s Office

Jake Fitesemanu Jr.
co-founder, Utah Pacific Islander Health Coalition

Ofa Matagi
clean energy access and equity Associate, Utah Clean Energy

Lillian Tsosie-Jensen
Otta Leadership and Development

Luna Banuri
executive director, Utah Muslim Civic League

Aabir Malik
vice president of development, Colmena Group

Emilio Manuel Camu
president, OCA Asian Pacific Islander American Advocates Utah

Satin Tashnizi
executive director/co-founder, Emerald Project

Tiffany Chan
vice president, Associated Students of the University of Utah

Jon Marshall
associate professor, Weber State University

Neelam Chand
founder/CEO, Shift SLC

Chance Hammock
Utah citizen

Public Outreach

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson and Rep. Stephen G. Handy
Taskforce Commissioner

Communications and marketing professionals offered strategic guidance about community outreach.

Susan Wood
communications director, Utah League of Cities and Towns

Brandy Grace
CEO, Utah Association of Counties

Jeffrey Van Hulten
public affairs director, Utah State Board of Education

Donna Law
executive director of development and government relations, Southern Utah University

Pete Codella
associate managing director of communications, Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity

Rossina Lake
public information office, Utah Governor’s Office

Edwin Espinel
Spanish public information officer, Utah Department of Health

Ellen Weist
public information officer, Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement

Education

Rep. Elizabeth Weight
Taskforce Commissioner

Educators and administrators helped review curriculum materials and provided outreach in contacting schools throughout the state.

Laís Martinez
assistant commissioner of equity, diversity, and inclusion, Utah System of Higher Education

Cathy Jensen
education specialist, Utah State Board of Education

Robert Austin
responsible officer, exchange visitor program, Utah State Board of Education

JoAnna Sorensen
elementary social studies specialist, Utah State Board of Education

Dr. Chuck Foster
American Indian education specialist, Utah State Board of Education

Naomi Watkins
English language arts specialist, Utah State Board of Education

Dessie Olson
education specialist, Salt Lake City School District

Bianca Mittendorf
Title IX coordinator, Davis School District

Stasha Wheeler
curriculum specialist, Granite School District

Willy Palomo
program manager, Center for the Book, Utah Humanities

Elizabeth Heath
archivist, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Lisa Cluff
director of the Beverly Taylor Sorenson Foundation

Aspen Jensen
Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation

Jean Tokuda Irwin
arts education program manager, Utah Arts & Museums

Wendy Rex-Atzet
public history program manager, Utah Division of State History

Tourism

Gov. Spencer J. Cox and Sen. Daniel McCay
Taskforce Commissioner

Industry officials offered expertise in considering local and state branding and marketing strategy.

Bianca Lyon
director of community & partner relations, Utah Office of Tourism

Mark White
vice president of sales & services, Visit Salt Lake

Julie Hollist Terrell
director, Cache Valley Visitors Association

Sara Otto
marketing manager, Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office

Maria Sykes
executive director, Epicenter, Green River

Natalie Randall
director, Utah Tourism Industry Association

Nathan Rafferty
president/CEO, Ski Utah

Pitt Grewe
director, Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation

James Toledo
program manager, Utah Division of Indian Affairs