Meet the Team

Karen Hurst
President & Founder
Greetings! I'm Karen, a birth mother, wife, and dog mom to Holly. I love to craft, cook, camp and serve others. I am so happy you found us and I am excited to work with you in any capacity.

Shawn Medford
Vice President
Coming soon!

Sacha Grant
Treasurer
Hey there! I'm Sacha, a devoted mom to three of the coolest kids. I can't believe I'm almost an empty nester...(sigh). I I can usually be found paper-crafting or turning somebody's junk into treasure. I'm obsessed with snowboarding and good food...preferably tacos. I'm always up for trying new things, which has led to some pretty great adventures or at least a lot of laughs. I've owned my own business and was seeking something more...enter Nila Raye's Ranch. I'm beyond excited to be a part of such a great cause and team.

Ashlee Peterson
Intake Manager
Hi, my name is Ashlee! I like to spend my time working in animal rescue, being in nature, and helping those around me. I love all things 80's, dancing, and being with my best friend, my pot-bellied pig Millie. I'm excited to be on this team and even more excited to meet new people and learn about everyone's journeys.

Kyle Hurst
Secretary
Hi, my name is Kyle. I’m a Utah resident and I love the outdoors. I have a wonderful wife and dog, who I love to spend my time with. I also enjoy oil painting, board games and just being creative. I got my bachelor’s degree in digital audio. I have worked on video commercials, audiobooks, podcasts, music albums, audio restoration projects, video courses and a documentary. I have explored the world of speaker design and loved every minute of it. I’m always looking to learn new skills.
When my wife asked me to help her with an idea she had, to help birth mothers to overcome the trauma and repercussions of placing a baby up for adoption, I said, “How can I help? I’m all in!”
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Nila Raye Peterson
Chair
Hi! My name is Nila, the name behind Nila Raye's Ranch. I am the mother of four very strong and beautiful daughters and the bonus mom to many others. I love to cook for the sheer joy of delighting hungry souls. I love being out in nature and the feeling of wide open spaces. I love animals, seeking knowledge, and beauty wherever I can find it. I do not like getting into a swimsuit because I would not consider myself a water person. I do believe that if you were to ask anyone that knows me what I love most, they would say, "She loves Jesus", and that would be true. Loving Jesus gives me the love that I have for everyone and everything else, and Nila Raye's Ranch is surely a child of this Love.

Ellie Anderson
Research Manager
Hi there, my name is Ellie! I spend most of my time working with animals of all kinds in rescue and veterinary care. I love anything having to do with art, nature, dance, and music festivals. I like to think of myself as being very empathetic, intelligent, funny, and easy going. I am so blessed to be a part of such an incredible team, supporting an incredible cause!

Steven Lindsley
Business Office Manager
Hi! My name is Steven. I enjoy hiking and being in the outdoors, as well as games and being creative when indoors. I studied linguistics and constantly enjoy learning about new things and ideas. After working for a few tech companies, I was thrilled to be in the right place at the right time to assist with the vision and goals of Nila Raye's Ranch.