Meet Our Department



Kent G Andersen - Community & Economic Development Director

Biography:

Kent Andersen is the Director of Community & Economic Development for Davis County. He oversees economic development, planning, tourism, Davis Conference Center and Legacy Events Center. 

Kent grew up in Harrisville, Utah. He earned his Master of Public Policy and Administration from CSU-Sacramento and his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from Utah State University. After receiving his Bachelor’s, Kent spent seven years in California. He worked in the Eastern Sierra region for a non-profit community action agency in Bishop and a workforce housing development organization in the resort community of Mammoth Lakes. He then moved to Sacramento to pursue his master’s degree and to work for Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson where he helped create a Joint Powers Authority to consolidate regional homeless services.

In 2011, his love of the outdoors and proximity to family drew him back to Utah. He worked for Syracuse as the City Planner, spent six years as the Deputy Director for Community & Economic Development for Layton, and before this position as the Economic Development Director for West Jordan.

He met his wife Lauren in Sacramento. They share a love of adventure and travel and hike all over the world. They live in Centerville with their two young daughters and their golden retriever.

Area Of Responsibility: Community & Economic Development

(801) 451-3284 kenta@daviscountyutah.gov


Jeff Oyler - Davis County Planning Manager

Biography:

Area Of Responsibility: Planning, trails, prop 1

(801) 451-3359 joyler@daviscountyutah.gov


Rob Sant - Economic Development Director

Biography:

Rob Sant is the Director of Economic Development for Davis County. Before joining the County, Rob spent nearly a decade in the private sector as an economic development consultant. He assisted municipalities throughout Utah with creating successful economic development projects that generated over 2,500 jobs and $1 billion of new taxable value.

Rob received his Master’s in Public Administration from Villanova University and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Utah.

Rob lives in Kaysville with his wife and two daughters. They love spending time traveling together and seeing movies. He has a passion for golf, Utah football & all other things sports. 

Area Of Responsibility: Economic Development, COG, CDBG, Davis Fund for Economic Development

(801) 451-3216 rsant@daviscountyutah.gov


Jessica Merrill - Tourism Director

Biography:

Jessica Merrill is the Tourism Director for Davis County. A Utah native, Jessica was raised in Logan, Utah and has lived in various regions throughout the state. She graduated cum laude from Dixie State University with her B.S. in communications and has spent her career in the marketing and advertising industry. For 6 years she worked at an advertising agency as the Media Director where she managed many award-winning media campaigns with several Utah tourism organizations. Most recently she managed a $35 million annual media strategy for Utah-based eCommerce giant Overstock.com. Because of Jessica’s love for the Tourism industry she left the private sector in 2019 and seized the opportunity to lead the Tourism office for Davis County.

In 2018, Jessica was honored as one of Utah Business magazine’s 30 Women to Watch. She was also responsible for the media plan and execution of the “Best Ad Campaign” awarded to the Garfield County Office of Tourism at the Utah Tourism Conference in 2015.

Jessica loves traveling the world, hanging out in the mountains, reading as much as possible, attending concerts and sometimes playing the occasional round of golf.  She and her daughter live in Kaysville with their two cats.

Area Of Responsibility: Tourism & Events, Davis Conference Center & Legacy Events Center

801-451-3237 jessicam@co.davis.ut.us


Tony Thompson - Planning Specialist/Property Manager

Biography:  Tony can do anything. He will get it done before anyone knows it needed to be done.

Area Of Responsibility: Guides the County on property sales; reviews plans and code enforcement

(801) 451-3279 tony@daviscountyutah.gov


Megan Christensen - Economic Development Specialist

Biography: Megan graduated from Weber State University with her Bachelor's in Business Administration & Marketing and received her Associate's from Utah State University. After graduating, Megan worked for a home builder for two years in their marketing and land acquisition departments. In 2015 she started with Davis County as the Tourism Services Coordinator and then was promoted to Economic Development Specialist. She enjoys interacting with the public and telling the story of what Davis County has to offer.  In her free time she enjoys being outdoors on the trails, rivers, and lakes. She also enjoys baking, creating and playing with her dog.

Area Of Responsibility: Economic Development, COG, Davis Fund for Economic Development.

(801) 451-3285 mchristensen@daviscountyutah.gov


Steve Lyon - Grants Administrator

Biography:

Area Of Responsibility: CDBG Grants

801-451-3495 slyon@daviscountyutah.gov


Noelle Graf - Tourism Marketing Coordinator

Biography: Noelle Graf is the Tourism Marketing Coordinator for Davis County, with over a decade of experience in content marketing and social media management. A New York native, Noelle also lived in California and Italy before settling down in Utah for the long haul. She has spent her career adapting in the ever-evolving marketing and advertising industries, shifting her focus to travel and tourism marketing after living and traveling overseas for six years. She graduated summa cum laude from UMUC Europe after studying in Florence, Rome, Venice, Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam, and has spent the past 10+ years writing tourism content and traveling around the West with her husband and daughter.

Area Of Responsibility: Tourism Marketing

(801) 451-3280 ngraf@daviscountyutah.gov


Kristal Blessett - Event Coordinator

Biography: Kristal Blessett is the Event Coordinator for Davis County. She oversees the planning of the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival, Antelope by Moonlight Bike Ride, and is co-chair of the Davis Heritage Celebration. 

 
Kristal graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Tourism, Conventions, and Event Management with an emphasis in special event management and nonprofit management from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. 
 
With almost 20 years of experience in the events industry it is no surprise that the details are in her veins. She has worked for multiple nonprofits planning walk/runs and fundraising galas, in the private sector coordinating everything from corporate events to over one-thousand Utah weddings, and is now happily planning events to benefit the Davis County community. 
 
In her spare time you will find Kristal in her garden, playing card games, enjoying popcorn, and creating memories with her husband and three young children. 

Area Of Responsibility: Tourism & Events

(801) 451-3204 kblessett@daviscountyutah.gov


Debbie Sherman - Administrative Assistant

Biography:

Area Of Responsibility: Under the direction of the Community and Economic Development Director, Debbie handles all office-related functions and assists the Planning Commission, Art Committee as well as the Active Transportation Committee.

(801) 451-3279 dsherman@daviscountyutah.gov


Contact Us

Our professional economic development staff team offers a variety of resources to help local, state, national and global businesses develop their economic potential in the Davis County area.


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