opinion

Jonathan Jardine holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Brigham Young University (BYU) and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is the Chief Operating Officer of Blue Cloud Pediatric Surgery Centers. Prior to Blue Cloud, he served as CEO of Believe Dental, a San Antonio-based organization focused on expanding oral healthcare access for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Earlier in his career, Mr. Jardine served as Executive Director of Product Supply at Valero Energy Corporation, and as Country Manager for Valero’s Latin America business, based in Lima, Peru, where he also served as a board member of the AirBP | PBF Aviation Joint Venture. His career spans multiple sectors, including healthcare services and finance, with previous positions at Goldman Sachs and Dodge & Cox in San Francisco. Jardine draws on principles from influential thinkers like the late Harvard professor Clay Christensen, exploring concepts of emergent and deliberate strategies. His presentation at MTAConf 2022 focused on the potential of decentralized strategies within the church, particularly in its practical application, drawing inspiration from Joseph Smith’s emphasis on individual agency and governance.

Michaelann Gardner is a speaker who has presented at several Mormon Transhumanist Association conferences. Her presentation at the MTAConf 2019 focused on the impact of family history and ancestral trauma on personal well-being and resilience, particularly in the context of emotional vulnerability and mental health. Gardner’s talk explored the challenges of confronting difficult family narratives and embracing personal messiness and complexity. She drew on personal experiences related to her grandfather, Bert Gardner, and great-grandfather, both of whom struggled with alcoholism and created instability for their families. She connects these family dynamics to broader themes of emotional expression, financial security, and anxiety. She integrates insights from therapy and psychology, referencing research that suggests building resilience through understanding one’s family history. Her work appears to be a combination of personal reflection with family systems and positive psychology.

Nathaniel Givens is a multifaceted individual—a writer, entrepreneur, and tech worker with a diverse academic background. He holds degrees in mathematics from the University of Richmond, systems engineering from the University of Virginia, and economics from the University of Michigan. Givens’s work explores the intersection of technology, faith, and society, particularly within the Mormon Transhumanist Association (MTA) context. Givens is an active blogger, operating “Difficult Run,” which focuses on politics, policy, and philosophy, and “The Loose Canon,” dedicated to science fiction. He also contributes to various publications, including Times and Seasons , First Things , Real Clear Religion , Meridian , and Utah Politico Hub , sharing his insights on a range of topics. His talks at the MTA conference explore themes like the nature of Zion in Mormon scripture and community, which suggests an interest in how transhumanist concepts may align to theological concepts. In the tech industry, Givens demonstrated entrepreneurial skills as a co-founder of a mobile software development studio in 2011, which was successfully sold in 2015. Currently, he serves as Director of Client Solutions for a boutique software development consultancy, showcasing his expertise in software development and client relations. He resides in Williamsburg, Virginia, with his wife and two children.

Ross Richey is the owner of FTL Strategies, a software company specializing in rapid application development and lean software methodology. With a focus on efficient and agile software solutions, Ross leads his company in delivering impactful results for clients. Beyond his professional endeavors, Ross is an active commentator on the intersection of technology, religion, and politics. He maintains a blog and podcast where he shares his perspectives on these diverse topics, engaging with a wide audience on complex and thought-provoking issues. His presentation at the MTA conference reflects this broad range of interests, particularly his concern for AI risk and how it connects to the Plan of Salvation. Ross resides in Salt Lake City with his wife and four children. He uses his platform to explore the challenges of emerging technology and how principles of the Plan of Salvation might apply to the future.

William Pickett is a senior hardware engineer and range master at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Mesa Antenna Range, where he has worked for approximately 40 years as both an employee and a contractor. His extensive career in aerospace engineering began with North American Aviation Rockwell on the Apollo program. He gained experience at Autonetics, Hughes Ground Systems Group, IBM, GE, Martin Marietta, and Lockheed Martin before joining JPL. Pickett’s presentation at the MTA conference explores a theological perspective on space exploration, suggesting that a healthy space program, in addition to its scientific and educational benefits, may be the result of divine inspiration. As a native of California and Los Angeles County, Pickett attended Fullerton College and California State College, Fullerton, where he studied electrical engineering. He is a member of the Antenna Measurement Techniques Association and is actively involved in his ward and stake in Pasadena as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Outside of his professional and religious pursuits, Pickett enjoys genealogy and live steam locomotives. Although he has retired once, he anticipates a second retirement in the future, allowing him more time to explore his interests and continue contributing to the discourse surrounding the intersection of science, technology, and theology.