President

Jill Conner

Jill is proud to serve as the Director of Business Development at Shriners Hospitals for Children – Salt Lake City. She is responsible for the marketing and promotion of the hospital’s mission and service lines to health care providers within its catchment area, spanning the entire Intermountain West. Her prior work experience includes nine years in the financial services industry and ten years in medical sales. She is thrilled to be a part of the DDI Vantage Board and further her commitment to advocate for families of children with special health care needs and medically underserved populations.

Jill and her husband Brian reside near the foothills of Salt Lake City with their three energetic teenagers. Their preferred destination is Island Park, Idaho to hunt trout on the Henry’s Fork River.

Board Member

Marsha Johnson

Marsha has a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Child Development and Family Relations from BYU. She and her husband have lived in Sandy for 47 years and are the parents of seven children. Marci, the youngest, was born with Down syndrome and received early intervention services. She was the inspiration for her mother to become an Early Childhood Special Educator. Marsha completed the Special Education certification program at the University of Utah and began “giving back” to the community the things she learned as a parent of a child with a disability. She worked at DDI VANTAGE as a Service Provider, Site Facilitator, and Compliance Coordinator for 23 years before retiring.

Board Member

Judy Ashcroft

Judy has a BS Degree in Accounting from Utah State University.  She has worked in both Government and Private accounting positions spanning over 35 years.  She is a CPA, licensed in the State of Utah.  She is a Jazz fan and loves Legos.  She has one son and enjoys camping with the family.  She is a firm believer that early intervention will help a child their entire life.

Board Member

Patrice Goins-Boyd

Patrice has a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Utah in Human Development and Family Studies, is licensed as a Social Service Worker (SSW), and has worked with families for well over thirty years. 

She has been an in-home childcare provider, a program coordinator at a residential facility for teen girls, co-developed a teen pregnancy program called “Help I’m Going to Be A Mommy” with her husband, and has worked with women and teen girls as a director at the YWCA domestic violence shelter for teen moms. She was also a co-founder of Kairos Charter School for pregnant and parenting teen girls.

Prior to her retirement from DDIVantage, Patrice worked there for 17 years in varied capacities and ended her career as a Coach supporting the Family Advocates. As a Board member she will be committed to using the knowledge that she has gained to support DDIVantage and advocate for the families that are served.

In Patrice’s free time she enjoys reading, traveling, and learning to create raw whole food plant-based recipes.

Board Member

Melynda Epperson

​Melynda is a former director at Evanston Child Development Center in Evanston, WY. She is currently the Finance Director of a local nonprofit. She has many years of experience in Head Start and early childhood education. Her son, Tyler was born prematurely with many developmental and medical problems. Melynda credits early intervention for making a huge difference in her son’s life. Sadly, her son passed away at age 15 from his many medical challenges. Melynda is devoted to children and has a special place in her heart for early childhood. She is committed to the values and mission DDI Vantage represents.