Jonathan Ruga has a long history of community involvement in education, health, human services, and defending democracy. He is the CEO of Sentry Financial, a company he and Scott Young co-founded in 1986. Jonathan is responsible for Sentry’s strategic direction and is integrally involved in all the company’s divisions, Equipment Financing, Real Estate, and Private Equity. Prior to co-founding Sentry, Jonathan worked with the law firm of Parr, Brown, Gee & Loveless, focusing on litigation and business law. He has co-authored several professional books, including The Handbook of Leasing (1982), and International Leasing: The Complete Guide (2000).
Jonathan’s knowledge of economics, combined with his realistic view of the ever-increasing costs of living compared to the static minimum wage in the U.S., make him a vigorous proponent of the minimum wage increase “Fight for $15” movement. (See Jonathan M. Ruga and Scott Young: Pandemic the perfect time to increase wages, Salt Lake Tribune, July 24, 2020.) Among other objectives in alignment with those of the Justice Movement, Jonathan advocates for policies and legislation that will significantly expand the opportunities for education, skills training, and employment, promote economic prosperity for those at the lower echelons of the socio-economic spectrum, and limit the gentrification of existing neighborhoods.
Reflecting his commitment to help bring about positive social change, Jonathan is the Board Chair of The Lightspark Foundation, the Vice Chair of Alliance for a Better Utah, and a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Mark’s Hospital. Jonathan previously served on the boards of The Boys and Girls Clubs, High Road for Human Rights, The Road Home, and the S.J. Quinney College of Law. Jonathan serves on Justice Movement's Steering Board and serves as the Movement's Economic Justice Committee Chair.
During the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jonathan helped found the Nourish to Flourish initiative in Salt Lake City, which partners with local restaurants to provide nutritious meals to those in need. Jonathan and his wife, Tina, support a variety of local and national forward-thinking organizations, including Equality Utah and Planned Parenthood.
Jonathan’s knowledge of economics, combined with his realistic view of the ever-increasing costs of living compared to the static minimum wage in the U.S., make him a vigorous proponent of the minimum wage increase “Fight for $15” movement. (See Jonathan M. Ruga and Scott Young: Pandemic the perfect time to increase wages, Salt Lake Tribune, July 24, 2020.) Among other objectives in alignment with those of the Justice Movement, Jonathan advocates for policies and legislation that will significantly expand the opportunities for education, skills training, and employment, promote economic prosperity for those at the lower echelons of the socio-economic spectrum, and limit the gentrification of existing neighborhoods.
Reflecting his commitment to help bring about positive social change, Jonathan is the Board Chair of The Lightspark Foundation, the Vice Chair of Alliance for a Better Utah, and a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Mark’s Hospital. Jonathan previously served on the boards of The Boys and Girls Clubs, High Road for Human Rights, The Road Home, and the S.J. Quinney College of Law. Jonathan serves on Justice Movement's Steering Board and serves as the Movement's Economic Justice Committee Chair.
During the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jonathan helped found the Nourish to Flourish initiative in Salt Lake City, which partners with local restaurants to provide nutritious meals to those in need. Jonathan and his wife, Tina, support a variety of local and national forward-thinking organizations, including Equality Utah and Planned Parenthood.
Sudhir Amembal was born in Bangalore, India. He completed his schooling in Bombay, culminating with an undergraduate degree in Commerce. In 1969, he moved to Salt Lake City to obtain his MBA degree at the University of Utah, graduating as one of five Dean's Scholars. He then worked for Ernst & Young in New York City, where he passed the CPA examination. He returned to Salt Lake City to join the University of Utah as a financial analyst, after which he joined the faculty at its College of Business where he taught accounting. He continually ranked, in student evaluations, among the top three of 80 faculty members. In 1978, he co-founded Amembal & Associates. The firm is regarded as the world’s foremost training, consulting and publishing entity in the equipment finance and leasing industry. It has trained over 80,000 professionals throughout the world. In this context, and otherwise, Sudhir has visited over 100 countries. He has co-authored, authored, and published 17 books. His consultancy practice has embraced dozens of blue-chip companies as well as over 20 emerging market governments. He chaired the annual World Leasing Convention continually from 1993 until its discontinuance in 2013. In 2016, he was inducted into the Equipment Finance Hall of Fame by the Equipment Leasing & Finance Association in the U.S.
Since 1976, Sudhir has played an active role in animal protection. He served as Treasurer and then as President of the Board of Directors of the Humane Society of Utah; and, as President of the Board of Directors of Wasatch Humane and Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. During his tenure with the Humane Society of Utah, the organization built the first subsidized spay and neuter clinic west of the Mississippi. He helped launch The Animals Voice, an independent online magazine for the voiceless and served as its President in its early days. Whilst he lived in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, he founded Amigos de los Animales an organization that made a substantial impact, through massive sterilization campaigns, on domestic animals in the area. He served as the pro bono CEO of the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations (FIAPO) for a period of two years, during which period the entity firmly established itself as the only common voice for animals in India. He has done pro bono consultancy work for varied animal protection organizations in India, Indonesia, and Lebanon. Besides his work in the area of animal protection, following the lead of his wife, Kiran, who was the creator of the Oscar Night Gala for the Utah AIDS Foundation, he led the Foundation in its early days by serving as its Treasurer and then as President of its Board of Directors.
Sudhir is the current Justice Movement Steering Board Chair, the Treasurer, and serves on the Justice Movement's Economic Justice Committee. His superb organizational and leadership abilities, and his dedication to promoting compassionate treatment of human beings and animals alike, bring the Justice Movement closer to its goal of providing all human beings with an opportunity to contribute to our world and for all sentient beings to thrive and to live with dignity and self-respect.
Since 1976, Sudhir has played an active role in animal protection. He served as Treasurer and then as President of the Board of Directors of the Humane Society of Utah; and, as President of the Board of Directors of Wasatch Humane and Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. During his tenure with the Humane Society of Utah, the organization built the first subsidized spay and neuter clinic west of the Mississippi. He helped launch The Animals Voice, an independent online magazine for the voiceless and served as its President in its early days. Whilst he lived in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, he founded Amigos de los Animales an organization that made a substantial impact, through massive sterilization campaigns, on domestic animals in the area. He served as the pro bono CEO of the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations (FIAPO) for a period of two years, during which period the entity firmly established itself as the only common voice for animals in India. He has done pro bono consultancy work for varied animal protection organizations in India, Indonesia, and Lebanon. Besides his work in the area of animal protection, following the lead of his wife, Kiran, who was the creator of the Oscar Night Gala for the Utah AIDS Foundation, he led the Foundation in its early days by serving as its Treasurer and then as President of its Board of Directors.
Sudhir is the current Justice Movement Steering Board Chair, the Treasurer, and serves on the Justice Movement's Economic Justice Committee. His superb organizational and leadership abilities, and his dedication to promoting compassionate treatment of human beings and animals alike, bring the Justice Movement closer to its goal of providing all human beings with an opportunity to contribute to our world and for all sentient beings to thrive and to live with dignity and self-respect.
Elna Hamp is a passionate political grassroots activist. Still a registered Republican, she worked with a team to distribute over 22,000 Biden/Harris lawn signs in Utah during the 2020 election. In her September 2020 open letter to the Deseret News Elna advocated against the re-election of Trump, and for a “presidential candidate who demonstrates the ability to solve problems with compromise and compassion, forge relationships and build better lives for all.” Elna Hamp, Letter: Biden is the symbol of compassion and empathy our country needs, Sep 21, 2020, Deseret News.
Elna became involved with the Women’s Democratic Club of Utah in 2020. She is a member of Pioneer Park Coalition and in charge of community outreach to build The Other Side Village, a master-planned neighborhood for those coming out of chronic homelessness, both based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Elna is also currently involved in two initiatives with a group of activists: ‘Investigate and Impeach Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes,’ (started after Reyes joined Donald Trump’s efforts to reverse the results of the 2020 Presidential elections by filing an action with the United States Supreme Court), and ‘Unseat [Utah Senator] Mike Lee in 2022’.
Elna has spent her career of over 30 years in payer and provider experience in healthcare publishing, consulting, quality initiatives, business software solutions, and consumer engagement. Elna worked for several years with the health and wellness company, Staywell, in several positions, including President of Patient Engagement Solutions, offering data-driven tools and education programs that inform patients and members about risks, conditions, treatment options, and beneficial lifestyle changes. During her tenure at Staywell, she embraced new communications standards and led efforts to launch and bring to market new technology, helping clinicians quickly access patient records and helping them share resources with patients.
Elna is a force of nature, who actively and passionately engages in grassroots politics with tremendous energy and who makes friends wherever she goes—even among political opponents—always putting kindness and a reasoned approach first. Through the Justice Movement, Elna hopes to promote protections that meet the basic human rights of all people, including access to nutritious food, decent housing, universal health care, education, a clean and sustainable environment, and the well-being of all. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing from Utah State University and is working on her MBA from Jack Welch Management Institute.
Elna became involved with the Women’s Democratic Club of Utah in 2020. She is a member of Pioneer Park Coalition and in charge of community outreach to build The Other Side Village, a master-planned neighborhood for those coming out of chronic homelessness, both based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Elna is also currently involved in two initiatives with a group of activists: ‘Investigate and Impeach Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes,’ (started after Reyes joined Donald Trump’s efforts to reverse the results of the 2020 Presidential elections by filing an action with the United States Supreme Court), and ‘Unseat [Utah Senator] Mike Lee in 2022’.
Elna has spent her career of over 30 years in payer and provider experience in healthcare publishing, consulting, quality initiatives, business software solutions, and consumer engagement. Elna worked for several years with the health and wellness company, Staywell, in several positions, including President of Patient Engagement Solutions, offering data-driven tools and education programs that inform patients and members about risks, conditions, treatment options, and beneficial lifestyle changes. During her tenure at Staywell, she embraced new communications standards and led efforts to launch and bring to market new technology, helping clinicians quickly access patient records and helping them share resources with patients.
Elna is a force of nature, who actively and passionately engages in grassroots politics with tremendous energy and who makes friends wherever she goes—even among political opponents—always putting kindness and a reasoned approach first. Through the Justice Movement, Elna hopes to promote protections that meet the basic human rights of all people, including access to nutritious food, decent housing, universal health care, education, a clean and sustainable environment, and the well-being of all. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing from Utah State University and is working on her MBA from Jack Welch Management Institute.
Daisy Thomas has lived the American Dream. Born to an unwed teen mother and immigrant father, Thomas understood early, deeply, and unfortunately, the disadvantages economic instability has on children and their caregivers. Raised by a single mother who battled mental illness and addiction issues, Thomas grew up fast. A survivor of intense childhood sexual, physical, and emotional violence, Thomas knew even as a child she would always have to be her own cheerleader. Unfortunately, Thomas found herself in an horrifically abusive relationship as a young adult that could only end in one of two ways, neither of which were appealing. So Thomas created a new pathway for herself, escaping the cycle of abuse.
While life had a rough start, Daisy Thomas was able to put herself through school at the University of Florida, while a young, single mother of two. Thomas continued writing for digital industry spaces throughout her days at the university – where she was also active as both the founding Vice-President of the Society of Academic Religious Studies, a two-term Interfaith Dialogue Chair, and Political Director of the Asian Student Union. Thomas graduated with her then first and second grade children cheering her on.
Thomas has utilized her inclusive leadership abilities to organize and develop grassroots movements, non profits, and women-owned startups in a professional capacity since 2000. Thomas has taught the Social Change Model of Leadership Development to economically at-risk communities since 2010, spending five years working within and researching Utah to develop better modalities to effectively serve those living in rural and/or reservation areas.
Elected as a National Delegate for Bernie Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign, Daisy Thomas also served as Secretary of the Salt Lake County Progressive Caucus and interim Vice-Chair of the State Progressive Caucus. Thomas was an instrumental force on the 2017 Utah Democratic Party Platform Committee, fighting to include basic human rights provisions as progressive planks, such as the right to indigenous sovereignty, collective bargaining, medical cannabis, and the economically sound investment into our present and future, universal healthcare and universal childcare. In under two years of moving to her new state, Thomas was able to build a reputation as a unifying political leader and was elected Utah Democratic State Party Chair in 2017, while pregnant with her youngest child.
Daisy Thomas dutifully served as the Utah Democratic State Party Chair 2017-2019, presiding over more electoral growth in the Democratic Party than Utah has seen since the 1990s, each week training, coordinating, recruiting, and exciting voters throughout Utah and the tri-state area.
After her term was complete, Thomas was elected once again to serve as a National Delegate for Bernie Sanders 2020 and spent much of her time campaigning for a return to an ethical and sound government.
The global COVID-19 pandemic and personal health issues saw the Thomas family return to Florida, in order to provide and receive more support. While her advocacy efforts historically and primarily focused on anti-human trafficking, criminal justice reform, and marginalized political engagement, Thomas continues to be actively involved in the national plant medicine decriminalization movement, as well as the international cannabis financial sector, and prison sentencing reform.
While life had a rough start, Daisy Thomas was able to put herself through school at the University of Florida, while a young, single mother of two. Thomas continued writing for digital industry spaces throughout her days at the university – where she was also active as both the founding Vice-President of the Society of Academic Religious Studies, a two-term Interfaith Dialogue Chair, and Political Director of the Asian Student Union. Thomas graduated with her then first and second grade children cheering her on.
Thomas has utilized her inclusive leadership abilities to organize and develop grassroots movements, non profits, and women-owned startups in a professional capacity since 2000. Thomas has taught the Social Change Model of Leadership Development to economically at-risk communities since 2010, spending five years working within and researching Utah to develop better modalities to effectively serve those living in rural and/or reservation areas.
Elected as a National Delegate for Bernie Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign, Daisy Thomas also served as Secretary of the Salt Lake County Progressive Caucus and interim Vice-Chair of the State Progressive Caucus. Thomas was an instrumental force on the 2017 Utah Democratic Party Platform Committee, fighting to include basic human rights provisions as progressive planks, such as the right to indigenous sovereignty, collective bargaining, medical cannabis, and the economically sound investment into our present and future, universal healthcare and universal childcare. In under two years of moving to her new state, Thomas was able to build a reputation as a unifying political leader and was elected Utah Democratic State Party Chair in 2017, while pregnant with her youngest child.
Daisy Thomas dutifully served as the Utah Democratic State Party Chair 2017-2019, presiding over more electoral growth in the Democratic Party than Utah has seen since the 1990s, each week training, coordinating, recruiting, and exciting voters throughout Utah and the tri-state area.
After her term was complete, Thomas was elected once again to serve as a National Delegate for Bernie Sanders 2020 and spent much of her time campaigning for a return to an ethical and sound government.
The global COVID-19 pandemic and personal health issues saw the Thomas family return to Florida, in order to provide and receive more support. While her advocacy efforts historically and primarily focused on anti-human trafficking, criminal justice reform, and marginalized political engagement, Thomas continues to be actively involved in the national plant medicine decriminalization movement, as well as the international cannabis financial sector, and prison sentencing reform.
