Meet The Management Team

Memorial House Manager

Rachel Kelly

Rachel isn’t originally from Utah, but has called it home for over 25 years, graduating from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science in Communications, a minor in Sociology, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management. She brings over 18 years of event management as well as experience fundraising for many Utah nonprofits. She has used this expertise and combined it with her passion for building sustainability and connecting people to the impact they can have by supporting their local community. Over her tenure, that experience has led her to great institutions like the UMFA, Utah Food Bank, Humane Society of Utah, and now at Preservation Utah.

​

memorialhouse@preservationutah.org

Memorial House Event Assistant

Carina Barajas

Carina Barajas is a Salt Lake City–based artist and creative professional of Mexican and Basque heritage. With a BFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Utah, she has built a career that blends fine art, entrepreneurship, and community engagement. Her work spans painting, digital illustration, and murals, often inspired by culture, nature, and personal experience—including time spent at the Château d’Orquevaux artist residency in France. Carina has also held leadership roles with the Basque Club of Utah, supporting social media, newsletters, fundraising, and cultural programming. When she’s not creating, working, or volunteering, she enjoys gardening and exploring the outdoors with her fiancé and their beloved Australian Shepherd/Blue Heeler, Leelu Dallas Multipass.

​

eventsmemorialhouse@preservationutah.org

Preservation Utah Interim Executive Director

McKay Muhlestein

McKay Muhlestein is an urban planner with experience in both private and public roles, with a focus on historic preservation and community engagement. He earned his bachelor's in Russian and his master's in Metropolitan and City Planning from the University of Utah. McKay has a long history with Preservation Utah. He interned twice, volunteered, and served on the Board of Trustees. Most recently, he worked as Community Development Director for the City of Manti. McKay has lived in Utah all his life and cares deeply about community. He believes that preserving places is just as important as creating new ones. In his free time, he likes gardening, crafting, and walking along well-designed streets.

​

director@preservationutah.org