A small professional staff carries out the daily operations of Utah Dispute Resolution and coordinates a large group of volunteers who provide mediation services. UDR's staff members include:
Karrie Ketchum, Executive Director
Phone: 801-532-4841
Email: karrie@utahdisputeresolution.org
Karrie has mediated cases for UDR since 2017. Karrie qualifies as a Master Mediator on the Utah Court ADR Roster and mediates for the Utah Court Co-Parenting Mediation Program. She is also a court-qualified Domestic Mediation Mentor and Primary Trainer. She is on the Board of Trustees for the Utah Council for Conflict Resolution. Karrie is a certified paralegal with 10 years of experience. Karrie is also the co-owner of a construction company, which has been in business for 15 years.
Leda Chavez, Bilingual Case Manager
Phone: 801-532-4841
Email: leda@utahdisputeresolution.org
Leda serves as a Bilingual Case Manager for UDR’s Family and Community programs. She is a Utah Court roster mediator and also mediates for UDR.
She studied language and computer science at Westminster and LDS Business Colleges. For 16 years, she worked as a customer support supervisor at a major US airline. Leda has also owned and managed a family restaurant in Sandy, Utah.
Paula Storey, Bilingual APS Case Manager
Phone: 801-532-4841
Email: paula@utahdisputeresolution.org
Paula has been with UDR since 2019 and coordinates APS mediations at the 3rd District Court while also managing cases in the Family Program. She serves as the first point of contact for clients, guiding them through the mediation process and providing clear, supportive information during times of conflict.
Paula holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Ethics from Arizona State University, a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution from the University of Utah, and a Master of Legal Studies with an emphasis in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU. She is an Utah Court-qualified mediator on the Divorce Roster and speaks English, Spanish, and French fluently. Paula is committed to ongoing professional growth and is passionate about helping individuals find clarity, peace, and a better life on the other side of conflict.
Kaelynn Studebaker, Mentorship Coordianator
Phone: 801-532-4841
Email: kaelynn@utahdisputeresolution.org
Kaelynn manages mentorship scheduling for Domestic Mediation. She is court rostered on both basic and domestic mediations, a mentor. She is the administrator for UCCR.
Alva Escárzaga, Bilingual Case Manager
Phone: 801-532-4841
Email: alva@utahdisputeresolution.org
Alva is a Bilingual English/Spanish Case Manager for UDR’s Family program, managing cases and conducting mediations.
Alva is on the Utah Domestic Court Roster. She obtained her Basic and Domestic Mediation Training through The Mediation Group, LLC in 2014. She has a Master’s in Business Administration with an Information Technology focus from Texas State University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Travel and Tourism with a minor in International Relations from Brigham Young University. Alva owned and managed small business in Mexico. She has also worked in the Travel Industry and was a Producer for the Mormon Channel. She is passionate about helping people resolve conflict.
Laura Hansen, Training Coordinator
Phone: 801-257-5511
Email: laura@utahdisputeresolution.org
Laura has mediated cases for UDR since 2017. Laura qualifies as a Master Mediator on the Utah Court ADR Roster and mediates for the Utah Court Co-Parenting Mediation Program. She is also a court-qualified Domestic Mediation Mentor and Trainer.
Laura is a Co-trainer with Karrie for the Basic, Domestic, and Workplace Mediation trainings. She oversees administrative functions for the UDR’s training efforts and helps with training materials. She also helps the Executive Director with other tasks as needed. She studied at the University of Utah and has a Bachelor’s in Communication, and a graduate certificate for Conflict Resolution at the U of U. She is a trained facilitator for Dr. John Gottman’s “7 Principles for Making Marriage Work” workshops. She is also trained in facilitating Restorative Practices, facilitating Circles effectively, facilitating Restorative Conferences, co parent and Elder/Adult Family mediations, and Transformative mediations. Her passion is to help bring skills into families that will help them navigate through difficult conversations and finding safety to have each voice heard.
Heather Thomas, Community, Appeals, & Debt Calendar
Phone: 801-257-5514
Email: heather@utahdisputeresolution.org
Heather Thomas is our Community, Appeals, & Debt Calendar Case Manager. She also facilitates mediations.
Heather is a Court qualified Basic and Domestic Mediator, certified through the University of Utah and Utah Dispute Resolution, with specialized training in victim-offender mediation and restorative practices through the University of Minnesota–Duluth. Originally from England and now in Salt Lake City, Heather brings over 20 years of leadership in community-based organizations and 15 years providing respite care for children in foster care. These experiences shape her relational approach to mediation and her commitment to helping people navigate conflict with clarity, care, and respect.
Racheal Rose, ODR Case Manager
Phone: 801-532-4841
Email: Rachael@utahdisputeresolution.org
Rachael Rose graduated from BYU Law School in 2008 and worked for a couple of judges at the Fourth District before moving to Washington state. She took some time off to be with her family before coming back to the law in 2020. She finally acted on her hunch to become a mediator in 2025 and has undergone both the basic and domestic mediation training through Utah Dispute Resolution. She started working for UDR in January of 2026 and loves this organization. In her spare time she loves to perform onstage in community theater.
Katie Price, Practicum Scheduling
Phone: 801-532-4841
Email: katie@utahdisputeresolution.org
Katie is court-rostered for basic and domestic mediation. She completed basic and domestic training through UDR and finished her domestic mentorship shortly after. She regularly mediates small claims cases with UDR while managing schedules for UDR trainees.
In 2004, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with an emphasis on psychology from Weber State University, taught adult education and GED classes, and then spent a decade as a freelance writer. Katie loves the opportunity mediation offers to provide calm and clarity to situations that are often tense and overwhelming, and she's a lifelong learner
Agatha Schiodtz, ODR Case Manager
Phone: 801-532-4841
Email: agatha@utahdisputeresolution.org
Agatha is a bilingual (English/Spanish) mediator with more than seven years of experience working abroad in conflict resolution, serving diverse communities. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, which has given her a strong foundation for understanding human behavior, communication, and the emotions that surface in conflict. Her formal training at Utah Dispute Resolution has further equipped her with the tools and strategies to guide parties toward fair and constructive agreements. She is committed to creating a respectful and safe space where everyone involved is heard.