People Who Make Heber Better

If you live in Heber long enough, you start to notice something.

This town doesn’t function because everything is perfect. It works because people keep showing up anyway.

Growth brings pressure. Change brings tension. And not everyone agrees on how things should look five or ten years from now. Those conversations are constant. But underneath all of it is a quieter layer of effort — people who give their time, energy, and attention to the place they call home.

This post isn’t a ranking. It isn’t an endorsement. It’s simply recognition.

These are people who, in different ways, help make Heber better.

Heidi Franco

Steady leadership during a season of change

Serving as Mayor of Heber City during a period of rapid growth is no small responsibility. Traffic, housing, infrastructure, utilities, and long-term planning are no longer abstract topics — they’re daily realities that affect residents in real ways.

What stands out about Heidi Franco’s leadership is her consistency. She approaches complex issues with preparation and a willingness to listen. Leadership at this level often involves navigating competing priorities and strong opinions, and doing so requires steadiness more than spectacle.

Heidi’s approach reflects an understanding that good governance isn’t about quick wins. It’s about building trust, explaining decisions, and remaining engaged even when conversations are difficult. That kind of leadership provides stability at a time when stability matters.

Yvonne Barney

Long-term service rooted in commitment

There’s something meaningful about longevity in local government.

Yvonne Barney has spent years serving the community through city leadership and civic involvement. That kind of sustained participation requires resilience — showing up repeatedly, even when the work becomes routine or the spotlight fades.

Long-term service brings perspective. It provides continuity. It helps ground decisions in historical context rather than short-term urgency. Communities benefit when individuals are willing to stay engaged long enough to understand what works, what doesn’t, and why.

Yvonne’s continued involvement reflects a genuine commitment to Heber and to the responsibility that comes with public service.

Rachel Kahler

Carrying community leadership beyond elected office

Leadership doesn’t always end when a term does.

After serving on the Heber City Council, Rachel Kahler shifted her focus to leading the Community Alliance for Main Street. In that role, she’s dedicated to strengthening downtown Heber — supporting local businesses, coordinating events, and helping maintain a sense of place at the heart of the city.

Downtown areas serve as more than commercial centers. They’re gathering spaces. They’re where people connect. Keeping them vibrant requires intention, collaboration, and persistence.

Rachel’s continued involvement shows that community leadership can evolve rather than disappear — and that commitment to place can take many forms.

Kathy Carr

Strengthening the organizations that support everyone

Much of what keeps a community healthy happens behind the scenes.

Through her service on the board of the Wasatch Community Foundation and her involvement with the Heber Valley Chamber of Commerce, Kathy Carr helps support the systems that enable nonprofits, businesses, and residents to thrive.

Foundations help channel resources where they’re needed most. Chambers help connect businesses and foster collaboration. Both roles require patience, organization, and a long-term view.

Kathy’s involvement reflects a belief that strong communities are built through connection — and that supporting the people doing the work matters just as much as the work itself.

Matt Brower

Turning vision into day-to-day reality

As Heber City Manager, Matt Brower operates in one of the most demanding roles in local government.

While elected leaders help set direction, city managers ensure the city actually functions. Budgets, staffing, infrastructure planning, emergency coordination, and daily operations all fall under that responsibility.

When systems work smoothly, few people notice. When they don’t, everyone does.

Effective city management requires balance, professionalism, and attention to detail. Matt’s role helps ensure that policies translate into practical outcomes that residents experience every day — often without ever realizing the effort behind them.

Luke Searle

Engagement that connects local voices to county decisions

County-level leadership often shapes issues that directly affect daily life — housing, transportation, services, and long-term planning — even if those decisions don’t always feel visible.

Luke Searle’s involvement at the county level reflects a willingness to engage in those broader conversations while staying grounded in local concerns. Participation at this level helps ensure that community voices remain part of regional decision-making.

Thoughtful engagement matters. When people take time to understand complexity and represent residents responsibly, the result is a more balanced and informed process.

Dallin Koecher

Supporting business, tourism, and community connection

As Executive Director of Heber Valley Tourism, Economic Development, and the Chamber of Commerce, Dallin Koecher works at the intersection of business growth and community identity.

His role involves supporting local businesses, coordinating events, promoting the valley to visitors, and helping guide economic development in a way that aligns with the community’s character.

Growth brings opportunity, but also responsibility. Balancing those two requires communication, collaboration, and long-term thinking.

Dallin’s work helps connect stakeholders across the valley and encourages thoughtful progress that benefits both residents and local businesses.

Heber is not shaped by any one decision or individual.

It’s shaped by participation.

By people who attend meetings after long workdays. By those who volunteer time without recognition. By individuals who choose to stay involved even when doing so is uncomfortable or time-consuming.

This town works because people care enough to show up.

And that’s something worth recognizing.