"Straight out of college in Oregon, I ran away to Washington DC," Deputy Summit County Manager Janna Young recalls of her path to the Wasatch Back. "It was sort of my Hollywood experience without the beautiful people!"

The self-professed policy geek worked for two members of Congress and the US Labor Department before transitioning to local government, "where the magic is. it is so much more personal,” she believes.

After five years in Denver, Janna and family realized their Wasatch Back dream in 2017. "My husband grew up in these mountains," she says. "We always wanted to settle here and raise our kids.” Summit County’s pace of life and natural beauty occasionally reminds Janna of her native Los Alamos, New Mexico, "a small, safe mountain town with outdoor rec at your backdoor, great schools, and a ski hill."

As Deputy Manager over Lands and Natural Resources, Janna is a leading voice in Summit County environmental policy. Heritage and Arts, Communication and Public Engagement, Animal Control, Special Events, IT, Facilities, and Senior Programs round out her portfolio. In addition, she recently completed a stint as Interim County Manager. "No day is the same," she laughs. “I travel the county daily and love interacting with our partners. We are blessed with so many talented people, elected and non-elected. It is the most rewarding job of my career."

An active mom of two ("I ran sub-four-hour marathons before the kids!" she smiles), Janna and her husband, children and two doggos enjoy hiking and camping. She serves on the Chamber|Bureau Board of Directors and somehow finds time to volunteer with the Sunrise Rotary Club and in her children's classrooms.

Summing up a life devoted to community, Janna concludes, "There is nothing like serving the place in which you live." 

In a rapidly evolving world, we're thankful Summit County and the Chamber|Bureau can count on engaged, committed leaders like Janna.