Techie For Life
St. George, UT

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Meet Team Members Of Techie For Life

Techie For Life recently opened our doors! We provide vocational training and life skills for neuro a-typical young adults in order to help them become self-reliant contributors to the community. Part of what makes our program so successful is our dedicated team. Each member of our staff has individual strengths and experiences that help them unlock each student's potential. Together we can reach each student in a way that is best for them and their goals. Meet some of our great team members below!

Jason Grygla, LCMHC, MA Executive Director, Founder, Partner

Jason is an experienced Mental Health clinician of 15 years. He started long before that working in group homes for very difficult boys. He worked in juvenile detention, as a Juvenile Probation Officer, and eventually as a licensed therapist. He became the Clinical Director and Office Manager of a social services agency for several years before opening a successful private practice. He wrote and ran therapeutic workshops for trauma and addiction. His expertise included parenting difficult adolescents and transitioning young adults. He supervised support groups and ran informative teaching sessions for support team members. He most recently worked as a therapist and the Clinical Director at Kolob Canyon RTC before helping to create TFL.


Jason's most significant work experience comes from his personal life. He and his wife were foster and adoptive parents of special needs boys. Two of them have significant issues in the areas TFL focuses on and both are transitioning slowly, with set-backs, but overall progressing into adult life. He knows what neuro- Atypical young adults struggle with and need. He understands what parents are going through and he has a passion for this specific work and focus. Jason will be running the everyday life at TFL, including the social and emotional side including recreation, social and life skills, as well as mental health support into school and work settings for professional success. He feels strongly that no one is left behind and that all are included and accepted into the family circle at TFL.

Darren and Angie Prince - Partners

Darren and Angie were both raised in Southern Utah. They met while Angie was attending Dixie State College and Darren was on leave from the army before being deployed to Desert Storm. They have been married for 22 years. They began in the industry 1998 as founders of Copper Canyon Academy and have been highly involved founding and leading other programs. Darren and Angie have also spent numerous years serving in their church working mostly with mentoring the youth. Darren and Angie are the proud parents of six wonderful children, ranging in ages from 20 to 7 years. Hiking, biking, camping, traveling and breeding Golden Doodles are things their family enjoys doing together.

Eric Pedersen - Tech Advisor, Co Founder, Partner

Eric Pedersen has served as a faculty member in the Computer and Information Technology Department at Dixie State University since 1989. He is currently the Dean of the School of Science & Technology. He teaches web development and tech entrepreneurship at DSU. Pedersen has also held numerous leadership roles on campus as he was director of the institution's business and development resource center from 1989-94, director of the center of excellence for computer graphics, and served as dean of continuing education at Dixie State from 1994-97. Pedersen received his Ph.D. in Management Information Systems at Utah State University and has conducted extensive work in tech entrepreneurship. He also holds degrees in Business, Economics and Spanish.

In addition to his academic career, Pedersen is a successful entrepreneur. He directed a research team that developed and launched the first website in Utah. In addition, he co-founded InfoWest, the first regional internet service provider in southern Utah, along with several other tech companies.

Alicia Runolfson - Marketing/Admissions

Alicia received a BS Degree in General Studies at Brigham Young University-Idaho in 2006. Highlights from her time there include traveling internationally as part of the BYU-I Ballroom Dance Tour Team and being the assistant coach of Ballroom company at a local high school. She began her career shortly after graduation at Outback Therapeutic Expeditions. While employed there she wore several different hats within the Logistics team. She was one of the first field staff for WinGate Wilderness Therapy when they opened in 2008. She has spent the last six years working with the Admissions Team there previous to joining the team at Techie For Life.

Alicia is a native Utahn and enjoys exploring Southern Utah's landscape. She comes from a large family and is the proud auntie of 20 nieces and nephews. She spends her free time with her family, practicing yoga, and collecting vintage vinyl records.