MIDA Board
Boards
MIDA is governed by an eight member board with seven voting members and one non-voting member. Its members represent various sectors ranging from military affairs, the Utah Legislature, economic development, and local government. MIDA’s Board and staff also serve on various boards and committees related to its project areas.
MIDA Board
Board Chair: Senate President Stuart Adams
President Adams has served on the MIDA Board since 2008 and in Utah’s Legislature since 2010. President Adams graduated from Layton High and went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Utah in business finance. He is a partner in the Adams Company, a Real Estate, Construction and Development Firm in Kaysville. He currently resides in Layton where he and his wife, Susan, raised their four children.
Vice-Chair: Senator Jerry Stevenson
Senator Jerry Stevenson has served on MIDA’s Board since 2008 and in Utah’s Legislature since 2010. Prior to serving in the Legislature, Senator Stevenson served on Layton’s City Council for eight years and as Layton City Mayor for twelve years. He also serves as a Trustee at Weber State University, Chair at Wasatch Integrated Energy, and Chair of the UTA Rail Committee.
Commissioner Steve Farrell, Wasatch County
Commissioner Farrell has served on the MIDA Board since 2020 and on the Wasatch County Council since 2017. His portfolio at Wasatch County includes economic development, taxes, planning, and serving on various special service districts.
Commissioner Gage Froerer, Weber County
Commissioner Froerer has been on MIDA’s Board since 2019, and he currently serves on the Weber County Commission. Prior to being elected as a commissioner, Commissioner Froerer served in the Utah House of Representatives between 2007-2018. His professional experience includes being a real estate broker and a business owner in Weber County. He graduated from Weber High School, earned a BS in finance and economics from Utah State University and a MBA from the University of Utah.
Gary Harter, Executive Director of Utah’s Department of Veterans and Military Affairs
Gary Harter currently serves as the executive director of Utah’s Department of Veterans and Military Affairs since 2013. Prior to his current duties, he worked in the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and retired as an Army Colonel who spent 25 years on active duty. Gary graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in Science in Biology and a master’s degree in National Resource Strategy.
Mayor Mark Shepherd, Clearfield City
Mayor Shepherd has served as the Mayor of Clearfield City since 2014. Mayor Shepherd currently serves on various councils and boards, such as the Utah Defense Alliance Board, the Utah Economic Development Corporation Board, and the Davis County Council of Governments. Mayor Shepherd also works as the principal broker and owner of Shepherd Real Estate Group in Layton.
Mike Ostermiller, Partner at Kyler, Kohler, Ostermiller, and Sorenson, LLP
Mike has served on MIDA’s Board since 2008, and he currently serves as the Board’s representative to MIDA staff and is a member on MIDA’s Audit Committee. Mike is a partner at Kyler, Kohler, Ostermiller, and Sorensen, LLP (KKOS). Mike’s practice has emphasized legislative advocacy, lobbying, and local government affairs. He graduated manga cum laude from the University of Utah with degrees in Philosophy and Political Science and won the prestigious University President’s Award in 1995. He obtained a Law Degree from the J. Reuben Clark School of Law at Brigham Young University. He currently resides in Kaysville with his wife and four children.
Non-Voting Member: Ryan Starks, Managing Director of Growth & Innovation, Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity
Ryan has been a managing director at the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity since 2017, and he was appointed as the non-voting member of the MIDA Board in September 2022. Ryan obtained a Masters of Public Administration, Financial & Management Analysis, and Global Management from Brigham Young University in 2011.
Other Boards
Military Recreation Facility Development Review Committee
- Chair: Nicole Cottle (MIDA)
- Max Covey (Jordanelle SSD)
- Dustin Grabau (Wasatch County)
- Chief Eric Hales (Wasatch Fire District)
- Doug Smith (Wasatch County)
- Dallin Koecher (Heber Valley Tourism)
- Ray Whitchurch (IBI Group)
Falcon Hill Development Review Committee
- Chair: Ariana Farber (MIDA)
- Michael Eggett (Riverdale City)
- Rick Grover (Weber County)
- Brad McIlrath (Clearfield City)
- Jason Monroe (Sunset City)
- Jeff Oyler (Davis County)
- Steve Parkinson (Roy City)
MIDA Mountain Village Public Infrastructure District
- Chair: Steve Farrell (Wasatch County)
- Gary Harter (Utah Dept. of Veterans & Military Affairs)
- Kurt Krieg (Extell)
- Paul Morris (MIDA)
- Mike Ostermiller (MIDA)
MIDA Golf and Equestrian Center Public Infrastructure District
- Chair: Steve Farrell (Wasatch County)
- Tyler Aldous (Skyridge Park City)
- Gary Harter (Utah Dept. of Veterans & Military Affairs)
- Paul Morris (MIDA)
- Mike Ostermiller (MIDA)
Jordanelle Marina Recreation Area Public Infrastructure District
- Chair: Gary Harter (Utah Dept. of Veteran & Military Affairs)
- Dustin Grabau (Wasatch County)
- Ariana Farber (MIDA)
- Kurt Krieg (Extell)
- Mike Ostermiller (MIDA)
MIDA Loan Committee
- Chair: Senator Stuart Adams
- Ryan Starks
- Gary Harter
- Mike Ostermiller
- Senator Jerry Stevenson