Utah Business has selected 10 women with enduring careers and exceptional impact, who we’ve named our “Most Influential Women.” Through their innovative efforts and inspiring examples, these women have significantly improved their workplaces, industries and Utah as a whole.
MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN: Cheral Chivers
Adult Residential Program Director | Odyssey House
In the behavioral health field, true leadership is measured not just in titles or metrics, but in lives changed. By that standard, Cheral Chivers stands in a category of her own. Over nearly two decades at Odyssey House, Cheral has built a reputation as a leader who pairs operational growth with a profound lived perspective that transforms how addiction recovery is delivered in Utah. As the program director of adult residential services, she oversees a network that, under her leadership, has expanded from a single 95-client facility to four locations serving 300 residential clients.
Cheral’s path was forged through a unique blend of professional tenacity and personal resilience. Having entered Odyssey House in 2004 as a client following 10 years of homelessness and addiction, she returned to the organization as an employee with a mission to give back. While rising through the ranks, she pursued a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, earning her SUDC and becoming a licensed clinical mental health counselor. Today, she manages a staff of 135 and an expansive residential portfolio, while continuing to handle an active caseload.
Her ability to translate lived experience into systemic change has been instrumental in Odyssey House’s transition to trauma-informed care. This approach prioritizes compassion and self-empowerment, moving away from outdated models toward evidence-based excellence. Cheral’s dual perspective allows her to bridge the gap between clinical theory and the reality of the recovery journey.
“As a person in long-term recovery, I have firsthand understanding of substance use disorder, which allows me to connect with clients in a genuine, empathetic and credible way,” she says. “This perspective strengthens my ability to build trust, support engagement and model recovery in a meaningful way.”
Her impact reached a crescendo during Utah’s Medicaid expansion, where she helped secure and operationalize approximately 200 additional beds, drastically increasing access to treatment for the state’s most vulnerable populations. Beyond the walls of Odyssey House, Cheral serves on the board of The Haven and holds a seat on the Behavioral Health Board at Utah’s Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL). As chairperson for background and investigations, she helps set the ethical and professional bar for providers across the state, ensuring that the entire industry moves toward a higher standard of care.
Cheral is a tireless mentor who sees her role on the executive team as a platform to lift others. “I’m passionate about building a culture where staff feel supported, challenged and empowered to reach their full potential,” she says. “By investing in people, I believe we ultimately improve outcomes for both staff and the individuals we serve.”
Cheral’s leadership philosophy is rooted in a rare combination of humility and strategic foresight. She contends that great leadership requires staying connected to the frontlines. “When leadership remains rooted in understanding the real experiences of clients and staff, it leads to more meaningful, effective and compassionate systems of care,” she says.
Her advice to those following in her footsteps is simple: “Strong leadership is not just about titles or advancing professionally, but about consistently showing up with integrity, empathy and a commitment to service.”
As she looks toward the future of behavioral health in Utah, Cheral is focused on strengthening the systems that allow for lasting change. For a leader who has spent her career transforming personal struggle into professional mastery, the goal remains unchanged: enabling growth in others.