Governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, MEF values the direction given by community leaders to ensure MEF’s mission is consistent and vibrant. Leveraging philanthropic contributions, strategic advocacy, and personal networks, MEF board members drive our strategic vision. They are catalysts and change agents for innovation, educational advancement, and community support within Murray and the state of Utah.
Meet our Amazing Board.
MEF is fortunate to have the talents of so many dedicated, innovative, and passionate board members.

Blake Voorhees
Board Chair
Blake Voorhees graduated from Murray High School in 2003. Blake is currently an attorney and shareholder at the law firm Ray Quinney & Nebeker, where he focuses his practice on estate planning and administration, business formation and planning, mergers & acquisitions, nonprofit organizations, and taxation. Blake and his wife, Amy (who also graduated from MHS), moved back to Murray in 2014. They have four children – three of them currently attending MCSD schools. Blake has served on the MEF Board since 2016.

Belinda Johnson
Board Member
Belinda Johnson is a former member of the Murray City School District Board of Education, and has been serving continuously on the MEF board for many years. She holds a degree in secondary education and has been engaged in a wide range of other non-profit and advocacy work in the community and state.

Sheila Johnson
Past Chair
Sheila Johnson is a former elementary school teacher, having taught in both Jordan and Murray City School District. She has served as a PTA President, was a room mother more times than she can count, and has been involved with the Murray Education Foundation for 20 years, serving as chair for 10 years. She’s the mother of five children and has nine grandchildren.

AnnMarie Nielson
Pinnacle Chair
AnnMarie Nielson has been with the MCSD for 15 years – the first nine years as a Para Educator at Horizon Elementary. Currently working at the MCSD for the last six years as the District Secretary. Started in 2009 on the MEF Pinnacle Board, Basket Committee. Currently the Pinnacle Gala Chair for the last nine years. She has served many years as PTA President, various PTA positions, and many times as a room mom. She’s a mother of two and her kids are MHS graduates.

Spencer Olsen
MHS Alumni Association
Spencer Olsen is the president and founder of the Murray High Alumni Association since 2018. He is a graduate of Murray High, class of 2009, and enjoys taking advantage of any opportunity to give back to Murray.

Jeanette Bowen
Vice Chair/Golf Committee Chair
Jeannette Bowen has been serving on the MEF Board of Directors for the last five years and is currently serving as Vice-Chair. She also serves in the Murray City School District as the Region 19 PTA Director and has been serving in various PTA positions for the last 12 years.

JoEllen Winterowd
Board Member
JoEllen Winterowd is a lifelong Murray resident, attending schools in Murray City School District. She served as a paraprofessional in various Murray elementary schools for twenty-four years, teaching math, reading, and providing clerical support. Having spent many hours observing the hard work and dedication of our educators, she finds it rewarding to serve on the Murray Education Foundation Board, especially as money raised from the annual golf tournament provides needed funds for classroom learning.

Richard Habel
Financial
Richard Habel grew up and currently lives in Murray with his wife and four kids. He graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in Finance. He currently works for Investment Management Consultants, where he advises executives of public companies and business executives. Currently, he serves on the board of the Murray Education Foundation, where he is passionate about supporting and improving children’s education.

Brian Winterowd
Board Member
Brian Winterowd serves as the Co-Chair of the annual MEF Golf Tournament. He has served on the board for 5 years. He is a graduate of Murray High School and the University of Utah. Brian is retired, after working as an Information Management Professional for 32 years. He has also served as a member of the Murray City Library Board. He enjoys travel, golf, gardening and spending time with his family. Jo and Brian are the parents of 3 children and have 5 grandchildren.
District/MEF Staff

Jeanne Habel
MEF Executive Director
Jeanne Habel began as the Murray Education Foundation Executive Director in October of 1999. During the last 22 years, she has continued to work on the Golf Tournament, put together the Buy A Brick program, Pinnacle, and Invest in Kids programs. She also serves on the Advisory Committee for the Kennecott Nature Center. She is a mother of six, grandmother of nine, and loves to read, garden, and travel.

Jennifer Covington
MCSD Superintendent
Jennifer Covington began working for the Murray City School District in 1994 as a business and information technology teacher at Murray High School. Along the way she has served as assistant principal and principal at Hillcrest Junior High School, and since 2017 has served as Superintendent of MCSD.

Richard Reese
MCSD Business Manager
Richard Reese, CPA, has over 30 years of experience in school finance in addition to several years of experience in private industry. He has worked for Murray City School District as the Business Administrator since January 2011.

Doug Perry
MCSD Communications Officer
MEF Assistant Executive Director
Doug Perry has 26 years of professional marketing, communications, and public relations experience in the government and non-profit sectors. He has worked for Murray City School District since 2020 and provides staff-level support and leadership of MEF as part of his MCSD Communications Officer role.