Board of Trustees

Sterling T. Lyman, President and Administrator

Sterling Lyman is the founder and President of Triumph Youth Services which he founded in 1998. Sterling attended Southern Utah University where he played running back for the Thunderbird football team, studied Sociology, Special Education and Physical Education. Sterling began his career in 1992 while in college where he worked as a youth advocate and a foster parent for DCFS, a counselor for DYC (now DJJS) and as a law related education instructor for first time offenders in the Juvenile Court System. Sterling began working in the private sector in 1995 as a program director and three years later he opened Triumph Youth Services where he and a small group of caring professionals started by offering outpatient services and proctor/foster care. Sterling always had a strong desire to run a quality residential treatment program for troubled teens and in 1999 he and his partners opened their first residential treatment center located in Toquerville, Utah. After achieving great success and growth, Sterling elected to centralize all of the residential treatment programs and work with smaller groups in order to provide a greater system of quality care.

Sterling is passionate about his work and ability to serve. Along with helping troubled youth every day, he is actively involved in many charities and he gets the youth involved as much as possible as well. He has spent his life committed to the success and personal growth of youth and will do anything it takes to make a difference. In 2001 Sterling and his wife Char adopted one of the boy’s from the program completing their loving family. Sterling’s pride and joy are his kids, his dogs and his Triumph boy’s. Sterling married the love of his life in 1990 and they are still going strong today “the greatest accomplishment of my life is picking the right girl and convincing her to stick with me and my crazy life for the long haul”. Sterling’s greatest joy is family time, family adventures and watching his kids grow. He also enjoys hunting, fishing, training retrievers, coaching, all sports and being in the outdoors. Sterling’s favorite place on earth is Alaska and he makes every attempt to visit and share Alaska with new people every year.

Sterling contributes his success to his great staff and because he was able to surround himself with amazing people. “if you surround yourself with good people, amazing things will happen, I have been fortunate enough throughout my life to find the right people – good honest, loyal hard working people that inspire me and motivate me to do better everyday” Sterling’s motto is “WORK HARD PLAY HARD” nothing is more important that a great work ethic, but it means nothing if you cannot enjoy your hard work by playing as hard as you can every chance you get.

“Our youth learn just as much from good old fashion healthy play as they do from books, therapy, structure, etc.” After years and years in this tough industry Sterling continues his dedication to serving youth in every capacity possible. “The rewards far exceed the disappointments and when you see one of the boy’s 10 years later with a family of his own and loving life to the fullest it reminds you that all of the trials and hard work is all worth it no matter what”.

Bruce L. Humphries, Vice President

Bruce grew up in scenic Southern Utah. He graduated from Southern Utah University with an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice, and in 1994 he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology. He began his career as a house parent in a private program for teenage girls. It was here that he realized he wanted to build a career with troubled youth. Over the past 20 years he has gained a diversity of experience in many aspects of his field. He has been a Group Home Director, Program Administrator, Youth Counselor in a secure/detention facility and a Juvenile Probation Officer. Bruce has received training through the State of Utah in Alcohol & Drug Recognition, Aggression Management, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, Interviewing Technique, Gang Recognition, and Decision Making.

He has been part of the Triumph Team for over 10 years and is now an owner in the company.

Bruce loves spending time with his wife and children. He is an avid hunter and enjoys being outdoors and in the mountains. Fishing in Alaska is one of his favorite places to be.

Joette Hayden, Director and Principal

“We embrace the team approach here at Triumph, and work on emotional, physical and academic health. These three components are the focus of each individualized treatment plan and each student is treated an individual of value and worth.”

Joette is the force behind the Triumph Academy and is credited for its existence and overall success. Joette has spent the last 12 years working with the education of at-risk youth is a variety of settings. She has taught school in a psychiatric hospital working with emotionally disturbed students, as well as teaching in residential school settings for grades 7 through 12. Joette has also spent numerous years in private education developing individualized curriculum, and over-seeing the challenges and day to day operations of the school. She attended Southern Utah University where she received a Bachelor of Science in Special Education K-12, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education 1-8 and a Masters of Education in Administrative and Supervisory Education K-12.

Joette was born in California but raised in Southern Utah and she still lives there today with her husband and 5 children. As a dedicated wife and mother, Joette loves spending time with her family first and foremost. Joette has been a part of the Triumph team for many years now and she believes that all students can learn. “The current challenges that our youth face each day can be over-whelming and negatively impact their ability to see their own potential. It is our job to help remove these obstacles, and give them the tools to succeed both academically and emotionally”. As a veteran employee/administrator of Triumph Youth Services, Joette says that Triumph works for her because the student’s needs are always put first. “I fully understand and admire the leadership and philosophy that guides the treatment of our youth. Our youth are our future, and Triumph is preparing youth to be examples and leaders of our towns and communities”.

Tom Filipe, Trustee

Tom has been with Triumph since 2001 while he attended Southern Utah University on a football scholarship. Tom started as a part time Direct Care Staff and now runs Triumph Operations and Academy athletics. He is a great leader and example to our youth and the staff. Tom graduated with a double bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice. Tom also received an Associate of Science Degree at Dixie College. He is a Certified Teaching Instructor for the American Red Cross, formally trained in Substance Abuse, Aggression Management, Crisis Intervention, Interviewing Techniques, Gang Awareness and Anger Management to name a few. Tom is from Salt Lake City Utah but now calls Taylorsville Utah home.

Tom believes that in order to create change we must first get to the root of the problem. Then it is up to us to replace that lifestyle with something positive and productive. “Triumph Youth Services is not a cookie cutter type program! Every youth that comes into our program is different, and we focus on a variety of different solutions that work for each individual. We take pride in what we do. We see the changes that each youth makes after coming into the program and that is what keeps us going. Triumph Youth Services is not only invested when a youth comes into the program, but we are here for them for the rest of their lives”. When asked why does Triumph Youth Services work for you? Tom said “simply put – I love what I do. I love coming to work every morning and look forward to new challenges each and every day”.

Tom has a beautiful and very understanding wife with 6 beautiful children. “I love being with my family and pull strength from them”. He enjoys playing the guitar, music and cooking. He also enjoys all sports, but he is currently most excited about Rugby, every kind of Football (indoor/outdoor/flag/touch/nerf/mud/backyard/street/pro), and of course the sports his children are playing. He also loves basketball, golf, volleyball, weight lifting, and all other sports.

“I feel like I’m making a difference and giving our youth a second chance on life.”

Lee Kilpack, Trustee

Lee is an entrepreneur in Northern Utah.

Donald J. Salazar, Trustee

Donald J. Salazar is a lifelong resident of the Ogden Area. He is President and CEO of Creative Times, Inc. (CTI), a design-build construction company based in Ogden, Utah. Don is Responsible for the General Management and Administration of Creative Times. Oversees all management activities, including business planning, accounting, bonding, finance, marketing, resource allocation, contract negotiation, and on-site job performance. Don has successfully performed on both governmental and public sector contracts ranging from $200,000.00 to $34 million dollars.

Don earned a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management, and is a Business Transformation graduate from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth University.

Don is the past chair of the Ogden Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and serves on the board of the Utah Hispanic Chamber, past President of Northern Utah Public Employees Association, governor-appointed State Council on Workforce Services, Weber State University National Advisory Board, Weber State University Arts and Humanities Board Member. He serves on the IHC McKay Dee Hospital Board of Trustees, IHC McKay Dee Hospital Outreach Committee Board Member, a member of the Utah Hispanic Legislative Task Force, and a member of the Nature Conservancy Board of Trustees.