Leadership
Administration
Executive Director
Margaret Busse
Margaret Woolley Busse was appointed by Governor Spencer Cox in January 2021 to serve as a member of his cabinet as the Executive Director of Utah’s Department of Commerce. With an MBA from Harvard University and degrees in public policy and economics from Brigham Young University, Ms. Busse brings a wealth of experience in public service, social impact, and strategy consulting to her role. In her current position, she has worked to streamline the regulatory process, reduce regulatory fees, and reform behavioral health regulation in order to dramatically increase the behavioral health workforce needed to help address Utah’s mental health crisis. She is also leading efforts to create streamlined pathways for foreign-credentialed immigrants and refugees to obtain professional licenses, enabling them to work at their trained skill level here in Utah. Additionally, Ms. Busse is driving forward an innovative approach to artificial intelligence that will help Utah to ensure it is protecting the public, encouraging innovation, and enabling it to observe and learn about how to regulate effectively. Finally, under her leadership with direction from Governor Cox, the Department of Commerce has played a key role in holding social media platforms accountable for their harm to minors by helping to craft appropriate legislative measures and by filing lawsuits against TikTok and Meta. Ms. Busse is a Utah native and with her husband, Franz, has five children, ages 11 to 21. Her passion for public service began with many years of leadership roles in local government.
Deputy Director
Jacob Hart
Jacob started his career as a commercial litigator. His strangest case involved pulling a helicopter across the tarmac of the Ogden Airport in a suit and tie. After five years of private practice, Jacob started state service as an analyst and investigator for the Division of Consumer Protection. He was then appointed as Deputy Director of the Department of Commerce. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Brigham Young University. Originally from a rural corner of Indianapolis, Indiana, Jacob now lives in Salt Lake County with his wife and four small children.
Deputy Director
Carolyn Denis
Carolyn Dennis has been with the Department since 2006. She began her tenure as a switchboard operator and through the years has progressed through various roles to become a Deputy Director in 2023. Carolyn holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Utah. In addition, she is an Agile Certified Practitioner, which allows her to bring a strategic and innovative approach to navigating the complexities of the agency's operations, ensuring efficiency and excellence in every project.
Director
Katie Hass
Katie Hass was appointed Director of the Consumer Protection Division in October 2022. Prior to her appointment, Katie served as counsel to several consumer goods companies primarily focusing on the development policy and legislation at the state and federal levels with an emphasis on free enterprise, consumer behavior, and consumer protection. Katie also provided legal services to several federal agencies where she investigated workplace discrimination claims and rendered administrative decisions.
Katie obtained a BA in economics and political science from the University of Vermont and then earned a law degree from the J. Reuben Clark Law School, graduating cum laude. She began her legal career as an Associate at Dechert LLP. Katie’s career passion is developing practical policy for, and defending the rights of, the consumer-at-large.
Director
Adam Watson
Director
Mark Steinagel
Mark Steinagel was appointed to be Director of the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) in June 2009. Prior to his appointment he was the Director of the Utah Division of Real Estate and earlier was a policy analyst with the Utah State Legislature. Mark began his career with the Utah State Legislature in 2001 while he was completing his Masters Degree in Public Administration at Brigham Young University. Mark's career passions are public service, public policy, and improving government.
Director
Chris Parker
Chris Parker serves as the Director of the Utah Division of Public Utilities. He was appointed as director in January 2011, and again in January 2021. He leads a professional staff regulating utilities in the public interest. His work has included major cases and settlements on energy, telecommunications, and water issues, including significant interjurisdictional negotiations and agreements.
Chris also served as the Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce in 2020. He came to the Department of Commerce from the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel where he served as counsel to various legislative clients beginning in 2004, including committees on utilities, natural resources, government operations, and trade. Prior to his work with the Utah Legislature, Chris served as a law clerk to Justice Michael J. Wilkins at the Utah Supreme Court. Chris is a graduate, with honors, of the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University and of Weber State University. He and his wife live in Davis County, Utah with their three children.
Director
Leigh Veillette
Leigh Veillette was appointed Director of the Division of Real Estate in April 2024. Prior to her appointment, she served as the Director of the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code, and earlier as an Investigator and a Commerce Analyst for the Utah Division of Consumer Protection. She began her legal career as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Chris M. Comer in the 23rd Judicial Circuit of Alabama.
Leigh holds a bachelor's degree in History from Auburn University, where she graduated summa cum laude, and a law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law. Despite where she attended law school, Leigh remains a loyal Auburn University fan.
Director
Jason Sterzer
Jason Sterzer previously served as the Director of the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code for three years, as well as Interim Director of the Division of Securities for the past six months. Previously, he held positions within the Division of Securities as Securities Examiner and Securities Enforcement Analyst. He graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and earned his Juris Doctor from Southern Illinois University School of Law. Sterzer is married with three children and resides in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Director
Michele Beck
Michele Beck was first appointed to be the director of the Office of Consumer Services in January 2007 and was reappointed by Governor Gary R. Herbert in 2015. Prior to this appointment, Michele spent over a decade in the electric industry working for two different utilities and a regulatory agency in Minnesota. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates, on the Member Advisory Committee for the electric reliability organization, WECC, and on the Future Electric Utility Regulation Advisory Group sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. Michele graduated from Brigham Young University with a B.A. in political science and pursued graduate studies in applied economics at the University of Minnesota.
Director
Jeff Shumway
Jeff Shumway helped launch the Office of Professional Licensure Review in July 2022. Prior to accepting that role, Jeff worked with The Bridgespan Group and Social Finance where he advised major nonprofits, philanthropies, and government agencies. As director of the Office of Professional Licensure Review, Jeff leads a team of employees who take a critical look at all state licensure requirements to inform the state legislature on necessary changes and updates to those requirements. Jeff holds a degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a degree in Economics from Brigham Young University.
Lead Lawyer
Jordan Cullimore
Jordan Cullimore serves as the Lead Attorney in the Office of Property Rights Ombudsman. Prior to his appointment as Lead Attorney, he served as a Staff Attorney in the Office. He has been with the Ombudsman's Office since September 2015. He also worked as a city planner in Utah before joining the Office. Jordan received his B.A. in Political Science from Brigham Young University and obtained his Juris Doctorate from Texas Tech University School of Law. Jordan is married with 7 children and resides in Riverton, UT.
Division Director
Zachary Boyd
