Salt Lake City Regional Office

Director: Christopher Holly

Christopher Holly was appointed Director of the Salt Lake Regional Office effective January 16, 2023. As Director, he is responsible for 1110 full-time employees and administering VA benefits and services to 151,719 Utah Veterans and their families with an annual disbursement of over one billion dollars compensation and pension benefits paid to 57,139 Utah Veterans and dependents. He is also responsible for overseeing the Veterans Readiness & Employment program, a Regional Call Center, and the Salt Lake City Fiduciary Hub, which serves 13 western states, Guam, and provides funds management of over $951 million in VA benefits.

Prior to the appointment, Christopher served as the Executive Director of the Cleveland Regional Office, Assistant Director VARO Denver, and Cheyenne, Deputy Chief of Staff, VBA, Washington D.C., and Executive Assistant Principal Deputy Under Secretary. He also served 24 years in the United States Army.

Assistant Director: Kimberly Albers

Kimberly Albers was selected as the Assistant Director of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Regional Office, effective February 2020. She is responsible for 1110 full-time employees and administering VA benefits and services to 151,719 Utah Veterans and their families. She is responsible for the annual disbursement of over one billion compensation and pension benefits paid to 57,139 Utah Veterans and dependents. She is also responsible for the Salt Lake City Veteran Readiness and Employment program, a National Call Center and the Salt Lake City Fiduciary Hub, which serves 13 western states, Guam, and provides funds management of over $951 million in VA benefits.

She previously served as the Veterans Service Center Manager in the Salt Lake City Regional Office from December 2009 to January 2020. Prior to that she was an Assistant Service Center Manager in the Winston-Salem, North Carolina Regional Office from July 2006 to December 2009 and a Management Analyst in the VBA Western Area Office from July of 2004 to July of 2006.

Kimberly began her career with VA at the Los Angeles Regional Office in June of 2001, where she served in the capacities of rating specialist and supervisor.

She grew up in northern Idaho and attended the University of Idaho, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies. She also attended the University of Idaho, College of Law and received her Juris Doctor in May of 1997. She is a member of the Idaho and the California State Bars.

Assistant Director: Jeff Jones

Jeffrey Jones was selected as the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Officer of the Salt Lake City Regional Office since December 6, 2020. Jones has served in the VR&E division for over 15 years and most recently served as the VR&E Officer for the Roanoke Regional Office. Prior to the Roanoke Regional Office, Jones was the VR&E Officer at the Togus Regional Office. Jeffrey worked in both state and private vocational rehabilitation settings prior to joining the Togus Regional Office as a Vocational Rehabilitation counselor in 2004.

Jones also served on the Field Advisory Change Committee and participated in several VBA developmental programs. 

He has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Northern Iowa, M.S. in Rehabilitation Administration and Juris Doctorate from the Southern Illinois University. He has held certifications as both a certified vcational evaluator and certified vocational counselor. 

Veterans Service Center Manager: Ian Willard

Ian Willard has served in the Veterans Service Center for over 25 years and was appointed to the position of Veterans Service Center Manager in June 2020. Prior to serving in this position, he was the Assistant Veterans Service Center Manager in the Salt Lake City Regional Office from December 2009. He is responsible for 332 full-time employees and administering VA benefits and services to 134,313 Utah Veterans and their families. 

Willard served in the Utah Army National Guard from 1986 through 1999. He completed a BA at Brigham Young University, majoring in Italian with a minor in French. While a student at BYU, he taught first semester Italian for 2 years. 

National Call Center Manager: Cassandra Gurch

Cassandra Gurch is the National Call Center Manager for the Salt Lake City Regional Office as of December 06, 2021. Gurch oversees 200 fulltime employees, accepting incoming calls nationally through the Department of Veteran Affairs Interactive Voice Response System.  

Gurch ensures the correct benefit information is distributed to Service Members, Veterans, family members, surviving spouses, Veteran Service Officers, fiduciaries, private attorney’s, internal customers, frontline employees, and management. 

She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management Human Relations from Trevecca Nazarene University.

Fiduciary Hub Manager: Bevan Llewelyn

Bevan Llewelyn was selected as the Salt Lake City Fiduciary Hub Manager in June 2022. Bevan supervises the administration of program operations for the appointment, maintenance, and oversight of Fiduciaries for approximately 23,000 Veterans and Beneficiaries.  

Bevan’s federal service began in March 2001 when he served as a UH-60 Blackhawk pilot in the US Army before transitioning to the Salt Lake City Fiduciary Hub in October 2010. 

He holds a B.S. in Technical Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and an M.A. in Community Leadership from Westminster College.

Chief, Support Services Division: Michael Stewart

Michael Stewart was appointed as the Salt Lake City Regional Office Support Services Division Chief on July 3, 2022. He has been with the SLC Veterans Benefits Administration since June 2006, in the roles of Veterans service representative, Rating Veterans service representative, assistant coach, Veterans Service Center, Asst Coach, and VSC management.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and minor in Finance and Criminologygraduating from the University of Utah.

Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer: Patrice Wilhite

Patrice Wilhite is the Veteran Readiness & Employment Officer for the Salt Lake City Regional Office as of December 2022. She oversees 16 full-time employees to provide vocational rehabilitation and employment services for Veterans.

Patrice's federal service began September 2008 as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and subsequently as the Assistant Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer with the Roanoke Regional Office.

She holds Master Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from University of Connecticut and Clinical Mental Health from Old Dominion University.