Friday, January 21, 2005

Salt Lake City, Utah—Utah Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., today announced Lisa-Michele Church as the new Human Services Executive Director and Yvette Donosso Diaz as Executive Director Designee for Community & Arts. "I am excited for the new challenge, especially the chance to work on issues about which I care passionately," said Church. "I am looking forward to working with Governor Huntsman. He has excellent management skills and leads with his heart." The majority of Church’s legal career has been with Sinclair Oil Corporation, where she served as Vice President and General Counsel. At Sinclair Oil Corp. Church was influential in important initiatives such as creating and administering an in-house health benefits department, negotiating complex venue agreements with the Olympic Committee, and establishing EEOC training programs to name a few. "I am honored to have been given the opportunity to work with the Governor and his Administration," said Diaz. "What a wonderful tribute Governor Huntsman has given the Utah Hispanic/Latino community in appointing one of its members to his Cabinet. I look forward to ensuring that the Department of Community and Arts excels and to celebrate the diversity of our state and its rich cultural heritage." Diaz was recently honored as one of "Ten Women Sure to Change Utah," in Salt Lake Magazine. Currently she serves as a Bar Commissioner in the Utah State Bar. As President of the Utah Minority Bar Association, Diaz launched a Diversity Pledge to highlight the need for Utah’s legal employers to recruit, hire and promote attorneys of color. Diaz will be on a leave of absence from the law firm of Christensen and Jensen, where she is the lead attorney in the firm’s Hispanic Department. "These are very accomplished and highly skilled women who have achieved great success in their professional lives," says Governor Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. "I am honored that they have accepted these cabinet assignments." 11:43:33 AM