Executive Director/President

Robert Heyn was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia. He has a degree in Computer Systems Administration from Politécnico Gran-Colombiano University; a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Brigham Young University.

After several years of successfully managing his own businesses, Robert became the Executive Director of the Pete Suazo Business Center (PSBC). Robert contributed his experience to help existing and potential minority entrepreneurs build wealth through training, mentoring, and assistance with developing their business plans and loan packages. Robert was recognized by receiving the 2008 region VII “Minority Small Business Champion of the Year” award, a top honor from the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Robert has served the community and his church in many capacities. From 2008 to 2011, Robert served as the Mission President of the Mexico Tijuana Mission. He has also been a bishop, stake counselor, and a member of the Young Men General Board. Robert currently helps low income families in the Salt Lake City Inner City Mission.

In the community he has served on several boards and committees, including United Way of Salt Lake, University of Utah Minority and Diversity Committee, Salt Lake Community College School Management Advisory Committee, Utah Micro-Enterprise Loan Fund Marketing Committee, a member of the Executive Committee of the BSA – Great Salt Lake Council, and Esperanza Dual Immersion Charter School board of directors.

Robert has been married to Yolanda for 40 years. They have two children and four grandchildren.

Executive Vice President

Curtis Beesley was born in Utah and grew up in Southern California and has a vast Executive and Sales Management career in the private sector that includes the construction, manufacturing, and youth leadership industries. His passion is people and specifically helping others to see their value and full potential to achieve life’s highest measures regardless of their surrounding conditions.

Since 2015, Curtis has been in the NGO space lifting others from the depths of poverty to sustainable self-reliance in developing countries. The last several years he served as President of Mentors International. He is thrilled to now expand his vision and reach with The Academy!

Striving to do good every day by living the “Golden Rule” is the innate desire of his heart.

Curtis received his BS in Business Management from BYU with a minor in Spanish.

Curtis enjoys outdoor sports of all kinds and quality time with his wife Stephanie and their extended family.

Accountant

Lanae Hooper is the accountant for the Academy. Lanae has been married 30 years to her husband Steve and they have five children. They raised their children in Mesa, Arizona but moved to Utah in recent years. In her spare time, Lanae likes to ski or hike, read historical novels, volunteer with Stitching Hearts Worldwide, and play the piano, especially when her daughters sing.

Development Manager

Jacob grew up in Danville, California, as the oldest of six children. His interests took him to Brigham Young University, where he received a degree in Sociology and worked in the BYU Ballard Center for Economic Self-Reliance. While directing student internships between business and nonprofit partners, Jacob honed in his desire to help individuals become self-reliant and receive meaningful opportunities.

Jacob served a mission in Wichita, Kansas and Fortaleza, Brazil. In addition to his time at the Ballard Center, Jacob has worked as a Swim Team Head Coach and as an EFY Counselor. Jacob enjoys music, the outdoors, and time well-spent with friends and family.

Program Director

Adrian is a certified trainer by the Public Educational System in Mexico and holds a degree in Business Administration. Adrian previously served as the Chapter Area Manager in Mexico and has been with the Academy for 11 years. Adrian has worked as Regional and Residential teacher, Regional Coordinator and Chapter Area Manager with the Academy.

Adrian has been a Young Men’s President, Stake Sunday School President and Counselor in the Bishopric. He served a full-time mission in Oaxaca, Mexico. Adrian is married and is the father to four children. He loves mountain biking, hiking and climbing mountains.

Program Manager

Adrienne has been with The Academy for just over a year and supports Program growth and standardization as well as supporting 2 of the Academy’s 4 areas; The Philippines and Brazil. Prior to working for The Academy, Adrienne worked as a Marketing Project Manager at Lakanto and for the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at BYU.

Adrienne served a full-time mission in Curitiba Brazil and then completed her undergraduate degree at BYU studying English Literature and social impact with the Ballard Center. Through the Ballard Center, she worked as an intern with the LDS Church’s Self-Reliance Services and then directed multiple internship teams working with Ballard Center partners. Adrienne also taught a class for the Ballard Center on Design Thinking. This introduction to social impact and business is ultimately what led Adrienne to know she wanted to work for an accredited and impactful nonprofit that gives back to the world.

In her spare time, Adrienne loves to hike, rock climb, do yoga, read and spend time with her beautiful family and friends.

Executive Director of Technology

Versatile and intellectually aggressive in IT, Analytics, Project Management, and Operations. Kylie Devey is a high-performing leader recognized for streamlining operations and eliminating redundancies to achieve outstanding results. With a Master’s of Business (MBA) and a Master’s of Education (M.Ed.), Kylie is a dedicated lifelong learner who thrives on supporting the people around her and caring for the well-being of others, both professionally and personally. Because of this ambition, along with the Academy’s support programs, which are centered on helping individuals continue to learn and apply correct principles throughout their lives, Kylie found her home at the Academy. When Kylie isn’t busy at work, she spends time with her husband and two young boys camping, fishing, off-roading, or anything that her boys want to do that day.

Executive Engagement Lead and Marketing Coordinator

Alexa Hodson is a current senior at Brigham Young University, double majoring in Sociology and Spanish, with plans to pursue a master’s degree upon graduation.

She served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints primarily in Paraguay, while also serving for several months in Pocatello, Idaho due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was during her time in Paraguay that Alexa became very passionate about other cultures, as well as fostering self-reliance in developing countries. She deeply resonates with the powerful mission of the Academy, and is thrilled to be working for such an impactful organization.

Alexa worked at United Way of Utah County where she connected individuals with community resources, encouraging self-reliance and personal growth. She also spent several years working as a supervisor for the Online Missionary Training Center in the South America South, South America Northwest, Central America, and Caribbean areas. Alexa loves any opportunity to utilize her creativity. She also enjoys playing pickleball, swimming laps, and watching NBA games with her husband (go Lakers)!

Fullcast Marketing Director

Jen Gallacher has a strong passion for sharing organizations’ vision and mission through marketing. For over a decade, she has helped businesses improve brand awareness, grow their pipeline, and achieve growth. She currently works with Fullcast a RevOps organization as the manager of the PR/Content team.

She manages marketing initiatives for brands in a variety of industries including non-profit, SaaS, health, food, and athletics. Some of her clients have included Community Action Services, GuideCX, Echo Paper Paper, Salsa Queen, Amor Vines, ComTec Solutions, Skyline Technology Solutions, and The Cash Flow Academy.

Jen has a Bachelor of Science in Digital Marketing and a minor in Business Management from UVU and holds certificates in social media marketing, CRM management, and more.

Jen lives at the foot of the most beautiful mountain in Salem, Utah. She has been married to Brett for 31 years and has three amazing children.