LEAP Founders are well-known and respected experts in the field: a former NASW state executive director, a NASW state president and Utah Social Worker of the Year; and the Dean of the University of Utah College of Social Work.

Kym Tutell, M.B.A., C.B.E.P.
President, Co-founder, Co-author

The question we have is, “Does this woman ever sleep?” Ms. Tutell works tirelessly in her hands-on position here at LEAP headquarters. She previously served as executive director for the Utah Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers for 10 years where she earned the prestigious “NASW Executive Director of the Year” award. She has worked in the mental health field for over 20 years and has expertise in management, ethics, and disability advocacy. She even ran for Senate! (Like we said… she does not sleep.) She is also the female voice on the LEAP audio course and guest presenter in LEAP classes pertaining to Ethics. Ms. Tutell is our CEO, co-founder, and a co-author of the test-strategies, administration, and ethics sections of the LEAP comprehensive study guides and audio courses.

Susan Middleton, D.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Co-founder

We consider Dr. Middleton another superstar on the LEAP team.  Dr. Middelton is currently operating a successful private practice. She was previously the clinical director and assistant professor in the Behavioral Science Department at Utah Valley University.  She has also taught at BYU-Hawaii and the University of Utah.  Susan has over 20 years of experience teaching college courses in the social sciences. In addition, she has provided counseling services in a number of agency settings including a center for the treatment of victims and perpetrators of child sexual abuse, an HMO, the social services unit of a large religious organization, and a home health/hospice agency. She has served in many positions for the Utah Chapter of NASW, including PACE chair, professional standards representative, and president. Dr. Middleton is also the recipient of the prestigious “NASW Social Worker of the Year” award.  Dr. Middleton is a LEAP co-founder and a co-author of the LEAP comprehensive study guides.

Jannah Hurn Mather, Ph.D., L.C.S.W.
Co-founder

Summarizing the achievements of Dr. Mather in one paragraph is quite the task, especially given that her vitae alone has 15 pages!  Jannah Mather is currently the Dean of the University of Utah College of Social Work and has authored numerous books and research publications. She has over 20 years of experience in private practice, in-patient therapy, and family services. Her writings include works on case management, family therapy, child welfare, family and children services, social work education, and accreditation.  Dr. Mather is a LEAP co-founder and a co-author of the LEAP comprehensive study guides.

Our Authors and Presenter

In addition to significant authorship contributions from our co-founders, the following individuals have contributed greatly to the content contained in LEAP’s study materials:

Cathie Delewski, D.S.W., L.C.S.W.,
Presenter and Author

Dr. Delewski is an adjunct associate professor at the University of Utah College of Social Work. Her teaching areas include: clinical practice in health care settings and DSM-IV TR. She is also a Supervisor of the Crisis/Trauma Team at the University of Utah Hospital Emergency Department. She has over 30 years of experience working with individuals with psychiatric disorders in a variety of clinical settings. Dr. Delewski previously served as an assistant professor at the University of Utah and the University of Maryland Baltimore Schools of Social Work. Dr. Delewski has been teaching licensing exam preparation courses for LEAP for many years and consistently receives high rankings in participant evaluations! She has also been a contributing author for several LEAP study guides and is the lead author of the LEAP Diagnostic Summary Guide.   She is our diagnosing guru!   

Elise Hutchings, L.C.S.W., A.C.S.W
Author

Our loyal, hardworking, and always calm team member, Elise Hutchings, is one of the most respected social workers in the country. She has 35 years social work experience with Utah State Division of Child and Family Services, Utah State Hospital, and Salt Lake City School District. She is one of the original members of NASW.  She is currently president of the Utah chapter, NASW and chairperson of the Continuing Education Committee; she previously served as the UT-NASW vice president, secretary, Professional Standards committee chair,  Affirmative Action committee member, School Social Work committee chair, Nominating Committee member, and on the NASW membership committee.  Ms. Hutchings is also a University of Utah College of Social Work MSW Admissions Committee member and previously served on numerous committees for the University.  She has received many prestigious awards including the NASW “Social Worker of the Year,” NASW “Professional Service Award,” University of Utah Graduate School of Social Work “Outstanding Clinical Faculty Award,” and was distinguished as one of the NASW “Social Work Pioneers,” a rare and highly sought-after designation. Elise is currently the lead author of the LEAP comprehensive study guides.

A special thanks to our staff. We are only as strong as our sales, tech support, and shipping superstars!