James is a grandpa and widower. He has 30+ years of finance and IT professional experience. He has worked as the Chief Financial Officer leading finance and IT at multiple companies over almost 12 years.

33+ years as a mother, 12 + years as a grandmother. 19+ years as a widow Loves people and serving. Worked many years with a humanitarian group serving in Central America, served as volunteer and ordinance worker in the Mesa Temple. 

Marie Ricks, LPC, CBCCP

Marie is a seasoned Grief and Loss Specialist and is certifies as a Compassion Bereavement Care Provider, specifically to meet the needs of those suffering traumatic grief and loss. She works with clients who have lost children, parents, spouses, siblings, and other family members and friends as they struggle in the aftermath of their grief trauma. She also works with clients struggling with anxiety, depression, and familial conflict associated with grief and loss.

Marie is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Phoenix, AZ, having completed he Masters degree in Counseling at ASU in 20416 and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at BYU in 2014.

Marie is a presenter at BYU’s Education Week in Provo, UT. She has is also a professional organizer, personal coach, author, and motivational speaker. She uses her life experience to help other seeking improved mental and emotional health and more fulfilling lives.

Melia Rios-Lazo is a wife and mother of five.  She loves to create, inspire, blog and she has a passion for Family History that takes her searching for ancestors from the islands of Hawaii to the hills of Denmark.  She served in the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission. Melia has been a popular presenter at RootsTech in Salt Lake City. She has served in many Family History callings such as assistant director, teacher, consultant,  and one of the youngest ever to serve on the Board of Directors of the Pottstown Historical Society in Pennsylvania.

Mindy was married for 19 years to Brent, a wonderful husband and father who passed away in
December 2013 after a nine year battle with cancer. Together, they had six children – who now range in
age from 18 to 30 years old. She has since remarried yet another wonderful man, Rob, who brought his
four children into her life and into her heart. Between all ten kids – there are 3 girls and 7 boys! Rob
and Mindy now have five grandchildren who are the light of their lives!
Mindy was first introduced to Love and Logic® parenting techniques in 2003 by enrolling in a parenting
workshop. She saw so many benefits from using the skills through good and bad times in her own home.
As her late husband progressed in his disease, they used the skills they learned to communicate and
work together as a family through those times of illness. In 2012, she began her training as a life coach,
including Arbinger Institute coaching classes, and has never looked back!
As she and Rob have spent the last eight years blending a family, the skills they have learned have been
invaluable in helping them enjoy the roller coaster they are on! Mindy feels that is has been an
incredible gift through her experiences to be engaged in a work that emphasizes strengthening family
relationships.

George D. Hickman has worked and taught in the Information Security field for many years.

He has a Bachelor Degree from BYU and a Masters in Information Systems from SDSU. He is ABD-PhD in Technology Management – Digital Communications from Indiana State University.

He is a Tenured Associate Professor at Utah Valley University, where he has taught for over 25 years. He has also taught as an Adjunct Professor for Information Systems at BYU, where he has taught graduate classes in Information Security and Computer Forensics.

His first wife, Dellyce, passed away 7 years ago, just before their 30th Anniversary. 

A little over 3-1/2 years ago, George married Amy Brown, a widow from Mesa, AZ. They now live in Payson, Utah with a Labradoodle named Gunnar. They have 3 adult sons, three adult daughters, five grandsons and six granddaughters between them.

Widower, and father of four incredible children.
Home builder for 20+ years, Division Customer Service Manager – 8 years.
Love the outdoors, riding mountain bikes, and spending time with my kids.

Valerie Ipson Willcox loves reading, writing, and Hershey Extra Creamy Milk Chocolate Toffee & Almond Nuggets. She is a recently remarried widow, now sharing 14 children and 33 grands. She loves gatherings with family and friends and playing games of all kinds. She is frequently called upon to share her experiences of hope and healing through Jesus Christ. She currently serves as Relief Society president in her East Mesa ward.

Valerie wrote for the Arizona Beehive newspaper for 16 years, and is a multi-genre author of Young Adult, Holiday Romance, and Children’s Picture Books. Her most recent release is Baby Bear’s Turn, a story about what happens when Baby Bear goes to Goldilocks’ house.