Commissioner Contact and Biographical Information
Jim Evans, Commissioner
Jim Evans Currently Serves as the Executive Director for America’s Freedom Festival at Provo. He retired in May of 2019 from Xactware after 20 years as their chief operating officer and senior vice president. Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in organizational communications with an emphasis in training and development from Brigham Young University.
He is a member of the Timpanogos Regional Hospital Board of Trustees; BYU Athletic Leadership Council and served for several years on the board of directors for United Way of Utah County. He is a former mayor of Orem and also served as an Orem City Councilmember. Jim and his wife Tana are also members of the BYU President’s Leadership Council.
Other past community service includes member of the Utah State Board of Regents for Higher Education; Chair of the Utah College of Technical Education Board of Trustees; member of the Alpine School District Board of Education: Freedom Festival Board of Directors and Trustee for the Mountainland Technology College.
Jim and his wife, Tana (who taught kindergarten in Alpine School District for 27 years), have resided in Orem since 1984 and have 3 children and 12 grandchildren. He is fluent in Spanish, enjoys BYU and UVU sports and has been known to do an occasional DJ gig for local youth dances and weddings.
Jim was first appointed to the Transportation Commission in May 2018, and his current term will end in March 2029. He represents Daggett, Duchesne, Juab, Uintah, Utah and Wasatch counties (UDOT Region Three).
Phone: 801-380-2460
Email: jim@osolago.com
Natalie Gochnour, Commissioner
Natalie Gochnour serves as an associate dean in the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah, and as director of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. She served in the administrations of three Utah governors – Bangerter, Leavitt and Walker – and was a political appointee in the George W. Bush administration. She authors regular columns in Utah Business magazine and the Deseret News and co-hosts the weekly radio program Both Sides of the Aisle on KCPW.
Natalie was appointed to the Transportation Commission in August 2019. She represents Salt Lake, Summit and Tooele Counties (UDOT Region Two). Her current term ends in April 2025.
Email: ngochnour@utah.gov
Kevin T. Van Tassell, Commissioner-at-Large
Kevin T. Van Tassell is a retired Area President for Zions Bank. He fulfilled his 38 years with Zions in the Uintah Basin and doing Agriculture loans in the intermountain west. He attended both Brigham Young University and Utah State University Uintah Basin.
Kevin just completed 12 years of service in the Utah Senate where he Chaired the Transportation Committee, was Rules Chair, Vice Appropriations Chair, and served as the Majority Leader pro-tem during the last year of service. Kevin also serve as President of Western States Transportation Alliance for two years.
Kevin is married to his sweetheart Janice they have 5 daughters and are expecting their 30th grandchild in October.
During Kevin’s 12 years of service in the Senate, he missed the million-mile club by driving 725,000 miles mostly in Utah. Kevin understands good highways and the results of maintaining our system of highways.
Kevin was appointed to the Transportation Commission in August 2019. He currently serves as a Commissioner-at-Large, and his current term will end in April 2025.
Email: kevinvantassell@utah.gov
Brad Dee, Commissioner-at-Large
Brad Dee is a lifelong resident of Weber County. He received his Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Communications/Public Relations, and a minor in Political Science, and his MS Degree with a major in Human Resources and Organizational Development from Weber State University.
He served for forty years in Weber County Government as the Emergency Services Director and then as Administrative Services/Human Resources Director until his retirement in 2016. He helped establish and direct the first Weber County paramedic program, and his office helped develop and initiate the first-ever 72-Hour Emergency Kit Program.
Brad was first elected to the Washington Terrace City Council in 1983. He then served as Mayor of Washington Terrace City for ten years. He served on the Wasatch Front Regional Council, and was the Chair of the Ogden Community Action Partnership. He also served on the Weber Area Council of Governments, and the Utah League of Cities and Towns Board of Directors. He served as an adjunct professor for the National Republican Institute at universities in St. Petersburg, Russia and Warsaw, Poland, teaching local government leaders the process of forming local governments.
In 2002, Brad was elected to the Utah State Legislature from District 11, which includes portions of Weber and Davis counties. As a State Representative, Brad served as the Vice Chair of Appropriations, the Assistant Majority Whip, the Majority Whip, and the Majority Leader. He served as President Elect of the Council of State Governments West. Brad served on the Transportation Committee for several years and the Senate/House committee to negotiate the Legacy Highway project.
Brad retired in 2016 to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with his wife, Marsha. They have 5 children, 17 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.
Brad was appointed to the Transportation Commission in April 2024 as a Commissioner-at-Large. His current term will end March 31, 2029.
Email: bdee@utah.gov
Bruce B. Adams, Commissioner
Mr. Adams grew up in Monticello, Utah, and graduated from BYU in 1971 with a degree in Elementary Education. He taught school for 30 years, retiring in 2000, and raised cattle with his father until 2017 when he passed away from cancer. Mr. Adams was elected as a San Juan County Commissioner in 2004, and will retire December 31, 2024. He has been actively involved with the Legislature for 20 years, and has served on many boards and committees. He looks forward to bringing a rural perspective to the Transportation Commission.
Mr. Adams was appointed to the Transportation Commission in October 2024, and his term will end in April 2031.
Email: badams@utah.gov
Tom Jacobson, Commissioner at Large
Tom Jacobson received his undergraduate degree from Utah State University and his law degree from the University of Utah. Following law school, Tom served four years in the United States Air Force before entering the private practice of law. As part of his law practice Tom has focused on issues relating to real estate, construction and business transactions both international and domestic, and he is admitted to practice in Utah, California and Texas. In addition to his full-time practice of law, Tom has been involved in supporting the community through participation on various governing bodies, including Heber Valley Railroad, Utah Symphony/Utah Opera, Congregation Kol Ami, Rotary and other organizations. Tom previously served as a Commissioner on the Department of Alcohol Services Commission, including one year as Chair of the Commission.
Tom was appointed to the Transportation Commission in May 2025. His term will expire in April 2027.
Email: transportationcommission@utah.gov