Speakers

Heather Lester is the Mediation Program Coordinator and a Landlord-Tenant Mediator at Utah Community Action, where she has driven housing stability initiatives for over seven years. Since the program expanded statewide in 2022, Heather has played a pivotal role in developing a comprehensive mediation approach that addresses eviction prevention, housing education, and court-connected mediation for eviction and debt collection cases. The team works collaboratively with tenants, landlords, and community partners to de-escalate conflicts, facilitate payment arrangements, and resolve disputes related to rental fees, deposits, and lease terms. The team also focuses on resource referrals and landlord-tenant education to promote long-term housing stability and reduce eviction rates. By emphasizing community outreach and system-level impact, they strive to strengthen landlord-tenant relationships and create sustainable, supportive housing environments.

Heather holds a Master’s Degree in Negotiation and Dispute Resolution from Creighton University School of Law, Werner Institute, additionally specializing in Organizational Development and Communication Leadership. She is Chair of the Online Dispute Resolution Section of the Association for Conflict Resolution and has been honored with the Utah Community Action Excellence in Community Action Award (2021), the Community Action Partnership Region 8 Champion Award (2022), and the Utah Housing Coalition’s Person of the Year (2022).  Heather is passionate about housing advocacy and legislative policy, she actively supports affordable and deeply affordable housing growth initiatives in the State of Utah.  As she engages in focus groups, committees and initiatives to promote sustainable housing communities throughout the State, Heather promotes the overall need to foster effective landlord-tenant relationships through education and active communication strategies for success as a fundamental structure for longevity.