Jared Quan is also a person who has artistic ability that lives in Eagle Mountain. Jared enjoys spending hours helping others enjoy the arts in Eagle Mountain.
Lisa, Jared’s wife who nominated him for this spotlight, has this to say about him, “Having been awarded x2 Presidential awards, a Utah Governor, and Lt Govenor award for his volunteer service to the community. He is the President of the League of Utah Writers, Grants Director for the Eagle Mountain Arts Alliance, Board member of the Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan, and Executive director of Big World Network. Those are the things he does in his free time along with being a great parent to our 5 kids and an amazing husband. His day job is with the technology reseller VLCM. There is so much more but this is a good intro.”
When I asked Jared why Eagle Mountain he answered, “My family and I moved to Eagle Mountain in July 2017. We decided on Eagle Mountain because of the clean air, beautiful scenery, and highly rated school district. We are still here because of the amazing people, and loving the community.” Jared has been married for 18 years, this July. He has five “wonderful” kids. “Our oldest Duncan was born with a condition called TEF w/atresia, and has sever food allergies. Our second child Jack, was born with only two chambers in his heart, and is currently on the Heart Transplant list at Primary Children’s Hospital. Our three daughters Lindsay, Ruby, and Sophia are happy, healthy, and are dang smart.”
Jared has been very involved in a couple of organizations. He has been working with The Leauge of Utah Writers, as well as the Big World Network. Jared explains the League of Utah Writers, “The League of Utah Writers is an 83-year-old non-profit organization. Focused on the development and fellowshipping of existing and aspiring authors. Through our 29 chapters throughout the state, that put on open workshops monthly, and our well-established Spring and Quills Conferences, as well as our annual writing contest, we help authors at every level grow. You can find more about the League at www.leagueofutahwriters.org.”
“I have the honor and privilege of being the Executive Director of the Board for Big World Network. Which is a non-profit publishing house, one of only a few in the United States. It serves to represent the minority, underrepresented, and underserved writers. As a non-profit platform, the profits the company makes goes back into the company. We have access to grants that will help us alleviate putting the full burden of the success of the company on the authors, unlike traditional publishers. We are currently open for submissions, and you can find more information at www.bigworldnetwork.com.”
Jared has received numerous awards for his service. “The bulk of my service has been to The League of Utah Writers. I started my service to the organization as a Vice-President of the Oquirrh Chapter under the wonderful author Eliza Crosby. I also joined the Marketing team. After spending time on that team, I was nominated by then-President Amanda Luzzader and elected to be the President of the League of Utah Writers. From 2015 through the end of 2017 I had volunteered over 1,500 hours with the League. This is time spent helping writers become authors, through planning and executing conferences, creating and refining programs, and personal hands-on time with writers.
During the last few years I have had the honor of serving as the Chair of the West Jordan Arts Council, Recruiting Chair of the Association of IT Professionals Utah Chapter, Board Member of the Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan, Grants Director for the Eagle Mountain Arts Alliance, and a general volunteer at events like the Give Salt Lake City Conference, Salt Lake FanX, LTUE, and several other events and projects. None of that time spent is calculated into the over 1,500 hours previously listed.”
Jared continues, “I have worked with amazing artists like Roger Whiting, to put on assemblies, and after-school programs, to encourage kids to invest time in the arts. I have helped establish events like Spring into Books, an author signing event in West Jordan to help promote local authors. I have helped groups partner together to create wonderful relationships that have a positive effect on the community, like that of the Salt Lake County Library Systems and The League of Utah Writers.”
Besides being heavily involved in the community, he is also a writer. “I have a few published books, and several short stories published online. This has given me the opportunity to teach at conferences like LTUE, be a panelist at SLC FanX, and the League of Utah Writers.”
Some of Jared’s published works include: EZEKIEL’S GUN (Action/Adventure), CHANGING WAX (Fantasy/Comedy), CLASSIFIED (Horror/Supernatural), PATHOLOGICAL PASSION (Futuristic/Romance/Steampunk, which I co-wrote with my wife), UNCLASSIFIED (Horror/Supernatural), and PREPPED (Horror, in the Apocalypse Utah Anthology).
Besides write, and working with these groups, Jared has a few other hobbies. “My favorite hobby is playing video games, and that right up there with writing. I also turned meeting people into a hobby, I enjoy it and try to go out of my way to do it, which is funny because I a very natural introvert.”
This is an Cedar Valley Sentinel (formerly i84005) Resident Spotlight. If you know a resident that you would like for us to spotlight, please let us know. You can view other resident spotlights on our Resident Spotlights page.
Other Resources
LUW, League of Utah Writers
Big World Network
Jared on Linkedin
Jared on Twitch
The Quan’s website
Mike Kieffer – Editor-in-Chief, Cedar Valley Sentinel
Mike Kieffer is a dynamic leader and community advocate based in Eagle Mountain, Utah. He serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Cedar Valley Sentinel, a local publication dedicated to informing, inspiring, and elevating the Cedar Valley community through honest and accurate journalism. With a passion for fostering connections, Kieffer has made it his mission to highlight local businesses, provide reliable news, and support community development.
Beyond his editorial role, Kieffer is the owner of Lake Mountain Media, LLC, a company specializing in media and communications, and the co-owner of Quail Run Farms, which focuses on sustainable farming and community engagement. He also actively contributes to the local economy and culture as a member of the Eagle Mountain Chamber of Commerce.
Kieffer’s dedication extends to preserving and promoting the history and heritage of the Cedar Valley area. He often participates in community-centered events and media, including podcasts that explore the unique aspects of life in the region. Through his varied endeavors, he remains a steadfast advocate for the growth and enrichment of the local community.