Building something meaningful requires the involvement of others; by embracing accountability and openly sharing our positive and challenging experiences, we contribute to building and fostering connections with those who have their journeys to share, which reveals more than reputation, but character and resilience. The Best Is Yet Unseen.

- Kim Gomez, Founder & CEO

Meet our Board

  • || Founder, CEO ||

    Over the past seven years, I’ve been dedicated to supporting women in building faith, confidence and sharing hope for their lives and circumstances.

    The term “Kourageous” embodies bravery, fearlessness, and strength, reflecting the remarkable women like Mary, Tina, Shelly, Lisa, and many others who have triumphed over significant challenges and with hope to lead women in their lives. “Vision” represents looking beyond circumstances and recognizing the potential within individuals, realizing that they are more than their past experiences.

    As an Executive Assistant to the President and Vice President of Huntsman Cancer Foundation, my commitment to Kourageous Vision is encapsulated in our motto: “Empowering Change: Lighting the Path Forward Together.” In the midst of my full-time responsibilities, I passionately invest to nurture our mission. By adhering to the principle of “Two Things a Day, Period,” I ensure progress. Whether crafting impactful articles of declaration, developing our web presence, connecting with volunteers, or fostering connections with investors, every evening and weekend is dedicated to advancing our cause. The outpouring of support from individuals who generously contribute their expertise, time, finances, and encouragement has been remarkable. Regardless of their faith, these individuals firmly believe in lightening the burdens of others and contributing to the hope of individuals through Kourageous Vision. Together, we forge a brighter future driven by our collective dedication to empower change and illuminate the path ahead.

    It always amazes me when I encounter women who have undergone similar journeys, ranging from highly educated professionals to those who have experienced homelessness or battled addiction. Despite our diverse backgrounds, we can all relate to pain, rejection, or personal struggles. Listening to their stories of resilience and witnessing the hope they carry, I see a brighter future for all. Kourageous Vision goes beyond being an organization; it serves as a platform for women to share their stories, talents, and gifts, inspiring others to overcome obstacles and find hope in their lives.

    The concept behind Kourageous Vision is timely and distinctive. We are committed to establishing a community of empowered women, providing them with resources, opportunities, mentorship, and the motivation to invest in themselves and achieve success defined by them.

    The collaboration accompanying this foundation’s launch has reinforced our confidence in the direction and ultimate success of Kourageous Vision.

  • || Secretary ||

    Greetings, I'm Aubrey Gomez, and I'm honored to introduce myself as the Secretary of Kourageous Vision, a nonprofit organization passionately dedicated to uplifting and empowering women.

    My journey is defined by an unwavering dedication to serving women and making a lasting impact on their lives. My roots lie in a profound desire to assist others, a passion nurtured by my upbringing surrounded by strong and self-reliant women. Their influence has instilled in me a profound self-assuredness and an unshakeable belief in the boundless possibilities that life offers.

    Embracing the role within Kourageous Vision, I step into a dynamic position where I’m excited to unite women as a community. Through authentic connections, steadfast support, and collective growth, we’ll stand united to nurture each other’s aspirations. Together, let’s channel our unity into a driving force that kindles inspiration and empowers women to embrace their limitless potential. The journey ahead holds incredible promise, and as we stand united, we’re poised to achieve extraordinary feats.

  • || Director of Volunteer Program ||

    I’m Araya, and I am so honored to be a part of Kourageous Vision. Engaging in volunteer work fills me with a deep sense of happiness. It reflects a shared commitment to witnessing individuals triumph in life. My personal involvement in been a source of great satisfaction, filled with valuable experiences and profound lessons gained from connecting with remarkable people.

    Witnessing the incredible transformations in women’s lives thus far by simply walking alongside them during challenging, transformative moments has been a profound experience. There’s much work ahead, and as the Director of the Volunteer Program, we’re gearing up to expand this initiative, providing opportunities for more women who want to get involved and volunteer to uplift and empower others in both their professional and personal journeys. 

    Kourageous Vision is here, and together, we’re making a difference!

  • || Director or Operations ||

    Greetings, I am Gloria V. Gardner. For over 57 years, Utah has been the place I call home, though my roots trace back to Espanola, New Mexico. Throughout my journey, I've embraced a range of roles, including medical assistant, medical clerk, office manager within the insurance and auto dealership realms, HR Assistant, and a skilled Master esthetician. Beyond these, I've ventured into entrepreneurship, managing an auto detail/body shop and engaging in jewelry design and sales in both Utah and New Mexico. My career path also led me to establish and later retire from my cleaning company, Kleen-Up Services.

    In my leisure, I find joy in reading autobiographies, exploring yard sales, and cherishing moments with my family. It is a profound honor to hold the position of Director of Operations at Kourageous Vision—a non-profit organization devoted to empowering women with renewed hope, clear vision, and fresh beginnings.

    Throughout my life, my driving passion has consistently been in serving people. I firmly believe that each of us possesses a unique and meaningful narrative, and given the chance to share, our commonalities often outweigh our differences. Anticipating the prospect of forging new connections, celebrating stories of triumph, and embracing the start of fresh chapters, I eagerly look forward to forming new friendships and engaging in positive new beginnings.

  • || Executive Director of Prison Ministry ||

    Meet Lora, a remarkable woman whose journey through life has been a testament to transformation and growth. As a proud mother of four and a loving grandmother of seven, Lora's dedication to her family shines through in every step she takes.

    Her path has been one of diverse experiences, having once worked with both McDonald’s and UPS before embarking on a new chapter with UTA. As she begins her role as a city bus driver, Lora eagerly embraces the path that God has laid out for her. Before stepping into this role, Lora’s heart led her to connect deeply with her community. Her prayers were answered twofold: not only did she secure a position with UTA, but she was also presented with an opportunity to make a profound difference. Through her involvement with Courageous Visions, Lora is dedicated to supporting women who have faced challenges similar to her own journey – a journey marked by battles with addiction, challenging relationships, absentee motherhood, and time spent in prison.

    Lora’s past struggles led her down a path of self-condemnation, but her encounter with faith and trust in God marked a turning point. Through these newfound convictions, she found liberation from her past and mended relationships with her children, a process that took time but ultimately led to forgiveness and reconciliation.

    Her aspiration to aid other women on their own transformative journeys stems from her belief in the capacity for change. Lora knows that every individual is deserving of love, the power to love others, forgiveness, and self-forgiveness. Drawing from her experiences, she envisions a future where women can not only heal but also learn to embrace a more enriching way of life.

    Lora's biography serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit, fueled by the unwavering hope that stems from her deep faith in Jesus.

  • || Spanish Translator ||

    Brenda Tawakelevu, is a Nursing Professional Development Practitioner at Huntsman Cancer Institute. She has worked at Huntsman since 2018, and celebrates 9 years as a clinical educator and 25 years as a RN. In her current role, she acts as an education consultant with 6 regional affiliated hospitals, and helps mentor staff and educators from these areas, along with creating and leading programs. Brenda’s experience includes working in a variety or organizations from rural to metro in Houston, TX, Idaho and Utah. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and loves to care for all patients and peoples, but especially Hispanic. She has formed special bonds with many Hispanic patients over the years. One family from Texas calls her every year to wish her well and let her know their son who she cared for is doing well and cancer free. She serves as an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador at HCI and has loved participating in various trainings and activities to help advocate for needed culture changes. Brenda is active on the board of Directors for the Intermountain Chapter or Nursing Professional Development and also looks forward to another year on the board of the Intermountain chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society, as the president elect.

    One of Brenda’s mantra’s in life is “you have to feel it, to heal it” and this has propelled her forward working on her own healing path over the last 10 years. Some of her needed healing has occurred in areas like poor body image and self-esteem, mental health, neglect as a child, trauma personally and professionally, and her divorce. She has been the full time caregiver of her 4 children since her divorce in 2019 after 18 years of marriage. She has experienced many challenges trying to support her children through their multiple suicide attempts, inpatient and residential hospital admissions, and a variety of other mental health and physical aliments. She is a fierce advocate for mental health and for people from disadvantages backgrounds.

    Brenda’s motto of “seek after and support the good,” has given her hope in a dark world and encouraged her to reach out to others. She has been highly involved over the years in church service and leadership opportunities sought out in her LDS faith. She has been active in many English and Spanish congregations in the various places she has lived. She learned Spanish in 1998 as a missionary in Bolivia. She has also led the Women’s organization in her Spanish congregation and loved getting to know so many different women from all over Latin America. She taught health and nutritional classes to Hispanic women in Texas a local church and has loved being a part of the Hispanic community on various levels over the last 23 years. Although she is no longer is active in that faith she is thankful for the countless opportunities she had to serve through her time in the faith and continues to seek out the good and respect those of all faiths and backgrounds.

    Brenda enjoys spending time with her husband, four children (ages 14, 16, 18 and 20) and dog at home. She also enjoys Latino music and dancing, ethnic cooking, Rugby, all outdoors and try new things.