Johnnie Miller is a resident of Draper and currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Utah Counties Indemnity Pool (UCIP), a political subdivision of the State of Utah.  Johnnie has over 30 years’ experience in government insurance which has included providing safety, liability and risk management training to government employees. He is a Certified Risk Manager, Certified Insurance Counselor, and an Associate in Risk Management for Public Entities.  

Miller serves on the Board of Directors of the County Reinsurance Limited (CRL) captive insurance company, the New Mexico Counties Reinsurance Inc. (NMCRe), and the East Bay Municipal Utilities District Public Insurance Enterprise for Risk (EBMUD PEIR).

Representing Mobile Ride Operators

The Melendez family started in the amusement business in 1959 back in New Jersey.  Lou and Lois raised 3 children while building the carnival company. We started with 2 rides brought back to Utah where we built a home in Pleasant Grove while also starting a traveling carnival. Over the last 67 years my family worked at celebrations across Utah , Idaho, New Mexico and Arizona. Adding equipment each year and learnings how to operate and maintain a traveling carnival. Today we offer a variety of 25 to 30 rides, from kiddie rides to spectaculars. A variety of food concessions and games are offered to family-oriented Fairs and celebrations. At 70 years young I'm still hands on with the daily operations along with 5 generation's still actively maintaining the high-quality entertainment services to our local communities. Ride safety are our top priorities and keeping the public confident they are trusting the carnival/amusement companies to maintain safe quality rides. 

Sakura Gallegos brings a diverse background in low voltage technology, sales, management, event planning, and community service to The Amusement Ride Safety Committee. Through leadership roles with various companies, as well as owning a small business, she has developed strong experience in customer relations, project development, technical specifications, problem-solving, and business management.  

Sakura has also led events, staff, sponsorships, and community initiatives through her work with the Utah State Fair’s Competitive Arts Dept. Passionate about community involvement and creating safe, positive experiences for the public, she is proud to contribute her experience and perspective to the Committee. Outside of work and community service, Sakura enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends.

Taylor Illo serves as Manager of Activities and Recreation at Park City Mountain, bringing extensive experience in guest safety, outdoor recreational programming, and operations management. Throughout his career, Taylor has been committed to creating safe, engaging, and high-quality experiences for participants of all ages. With a strong focus on risk management, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement, Taylor is dedicated to advancing safety standards and promoting best practices within Utah's amusement and recreation industries.

immy Sunlight was raised in Davis County and graduated from Clearfield High School. Shortly after high school, he attended Weber State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. In 2014, he continued his education and earned his Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

Jimmy began his career at Lagoon Amusement Park at the age of 15 as a ride attendant at Dracula’s Castle. His career at Lagoon has now spanned more than 35 years, providing him with extensive experience in ride operations, safety, employee training, maintenance coordination, and the overall management of amusement park operations. Early in his career, Jimmy was asked to participate in safety checks on the Jet Star 2, which gave him the opportunity to ride his first roller coaster. That experience helped begin what would become a lifelong passion for amusement rides and, more importantly, ride safety.

Jimmy currently serves as the Director of Operations at Lagoon Amusement Park, a position he has held since 2004. In this role, he oversees the daily operation of the park’s rides and attractions and works closely with operations, maintenance, engineering, safety, and other departments to ensure that Lagoon provides a safe and enjoyable experience for its guests.

When he is not working or riding roller coasters at Lagoon, Jimmy enjoys playing fantasy football, going to the movies with his family, watching ESPN, and traveling. His passion for roller coasters and the amusement industry continues both professionally and personally.

After more than three decades in the amusement industry, Jimmy remains grateful for the opportunity to be part of an industry he has loved since he was a teenager and is especially proud to contribute to the continued advancement of amusement ride safety in Utah.

Patrick Cowley, P.E., is the Director of Traffic and Safety at the Utah Department of Transportation. His division oversees and supports safety improvement programs for work zones, school zones, traffic signals, and active transportation, as well as overseeing studies that determine the causes of crashes and other traffic hazards and discusses how these dangers can be minimized.  He has over 24 years of civil engineering experience in the public sector, ranging from geotechnical investigation and design to transportation engineering to transportation performance management. Patrick is a graduate of Utah State University, earning both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering, and is a licensed professional engineer in Utah and California.