Cheryl Jean Bateman, Chair
Cheryl Jean Bateman is the office manager for CL Christensen Bros, Inc., in Orem, UT. She enjoys working with and helping children, so when she learned about the CASA program she was excited to become a volunteer! Cheryl Jean joined Utah’s Friends of CASA board in 2018, and then took the position of Board Chair in 2020 when the previous chair retired. Cheryl Jean lives in Orem with her husband, Randy. They have 6 children and 25 grandchildren. She enjoys activities with her family and continues to serve as a CASA volunteer.
Debbie Comstock, LCSW
Debbie is currently a CASA and has been for 9 years. Working with foster kids as a CASA is one of the things that she enjoys the most. Debbie is active in several organizations that look closely at Child Abuse Prevention and supportive of Child Welfare efforts through the Northern Region Quality Improvement Committee and the State Child Welfare Committee.
Shawn Kintaudi, CPA
Shawn is an outdoors enthusiast with a growing interest in the arts and non-profit community. After moving to Utah in 2013, Shawn fell in love with hiking, mountain biking, and snowboarding.
Shawn currently works at an accounting firm that serves several non-profit organizations in Utah. Shawn’s personal and professional experiences has inspired him to join the board. Shawn hopes to learn more about how CASA positively impacts those in our community.
Heather Allen
Heather Allen works full-time as the Assistant Director of the Utah County Children's Justice Center. Prior to that, she worked for the CASA Program. She ran the largest program in the state for almost four years. I love being a spokesperson for CASA, it's a terrific program. Heather says, "I believe in the power of relationships. Relationships come in many different forms and intensities but even the most fleeting of relationships can alter the course of a person's life. This is why I have chosen a career path that has allowed me to interact with and build relationships with others. " She is married to Rhett Allen and is the mother to three children.
Susie Hovey
Susie Hovey is the Program Coordinator for Weber and Morgan Counties. She has always had a passion for helping children. Susie earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and worked for The Division of Child and Family Services as a caseworker for several years. She then took extra courses from WSU and obtained her SSW License in 2015. As a caseworker, she found that she loved working with children and seeing the positive outcomes, but she always wanted to do more for them than she could. This is why she loves working with CASA’s. She sees firsthand the difference a CASA can make in a child’s life.
Melanie Speechly
Melanie Speechly is the Statewide CASA Program Administrator for the State of Utah. She has worked for the courts for over 10 years. Prior to her work at the state level, she spent five years heading a local CASA program in Davis and Weber Counties. Melanie has a B.S. from Weber State University in Public Health and has been a small business owner. Melanie is passionate about the well-being of our most vulnerable children and loves working in a program that is part of the solution. She is grateful for the opportunity to work with others to strengthen and grow Utah's CASA Program. A mother of five, she enjoys traveling and time spent with her children and grandchildren.
Steve Van Otten
Steve Van Otten is the President, CEO and Owner of a National Transportation Company. He enjoys working with kids in the CASA program as a volunteer. He became a volunteer in 2017, and joined the Utah’s Friends of CASA board in 2022. Steve lives in Farmington with his wife Rachel, and their 2 children. He enjoys traveling, driving, hiking, and the outdoors.
