Boise Metro Chamber members joined WebMarkets' and Totally Boise's clients on the steps of the CenturyLink building at 999 W. Main St. in Downtown Boise on January 25, 2024 to celebrate the ribbon cutting for the agencies' new location. The businesses extended their hospitality by inviting the crowd to tour their second floor offices while hosting Business After Hours. They orchestrated an airline-themed event complete with "gates" where guests could check-in to learn about each of their services and get passport stamps to be entered to win fun prizes. After navigating the WebMarket's concourse they filed into a lounge area full of a delicious selection of sandwiches, cupcakes, and beverages from Boise Brewing.

As the night concluded, CEO and founder of WebMarkets, Kris Lloyd ascended above the audience, standing on a chair, and gave a heartfelt testimony regarding the rollercoaster ride the businesses have experienced while growing out of four other offices over the last 13 years. The team now boasts 19 team members, a presence in Coeur d'Alene, and provides marketing services ranging from SEO to AI to Digital Marketing and Brand Management. Lloyd concluded by asking the crowd to recognize the hard work of the WebMarkets and Totally Boise teams which have helped pave the way to the companies' successes.

Sheridan's Home & Patio will host the next Business After Hours on February 29th, 2024.  Located at 2957 E. Fairview Ave. in Meridian, the team is excited to welcome local businesses and community members to take advantage of great networking opportunities, enjoy delicious hors d'oeuvres, and discover the Treasure Valley's largest selection and lowest prices on luxury patio furniture.

BOISE, ID –The Boise Metro Chamber is excited to announce its 2024 Executive Committee and Board of Directors. The Boise Metro Chamber is the only five-star accredited Chamber in Idaho.
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"We are proud to say that our board is made up of influential leaders in our community who represent the business sector in the Treasure Valley. With their collective expertise and dedication, we are confident that their invaluable contributions will significantly enhance our goal of ensuring the continued success of the business community in the Treasure Valley,” stated Bobbi-Jo Meuleman, Boise Metro Chamber’s President and CEO.  
 
“We look forward to another year of engaging our members through programs, events, and advocacy efforts, and are grateful for the guidance and support of our board members,” Meuleman added.
 
Dan Price, Community Banking President of Mountain West Bank, will serve as the 2024 Boise Metro Chamber Executive Committee Chair. Price will begin his sixth year of service on Boise Metro Chamber’s Executive Committee. 
Garrett Lofto, President & CEO of J.R. Simplot Company, is new to the Executive Committee and will serve as Committee Chair in 2025. Lofto previously served on the Board of Directors for four years.
Odette Bolano, CEO of Trinity Health’s West Region, will serve as the 2024 Boise Metro Chamber Executive Committee Past Chair. This marks her third year of service on the Boise Metro Chamber’s Executive Committee.
Emily Baker, Founder & Chair of Portman Square Group, will serve as an At-Large Chair. Baker enters her seventh year of service on the Boise Metro Chamber’s Executive Committee as she takes on this role.
The Boise Metro Chamber is grateful to the following members for returning to their roles within the Executive Committee in 2024:

• Gerald Hunter, President, Idaho Housing & Finance Association, At-Large Chair
• Rebecca Hupp, Airport Director, Boise Airport, At-Large Chair
• Bobbi-Jo Meuleman, President & CEO, Boise Metro Chamber
• Tom Van Hemelryck, Regional President, WaFd Bank, Treasurer
• Matthew Walters, Shareholder, Elam & Burke, Of Counsel

 
The Boise Metro Chamber wishes to welcome the following new members to its 2024 Board of Directors:

• Hart Gilchrist, Vice President of Operations, Intermountain Gas, will serve as the Visit Boise Chair
• Laura Kendall, Executive Director, Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts
• Neil Nelson, President, E.S.I. Construction
• Mike Smith, COO, Lamb Weston

 
The following members will continue to serve on the Board of Directors in 2024.:

• Erin Anderson, Executive Director, Idaho Botanical Gardens
• April Arnzen, Chief People Officer at Micron Technology, Inc., and President of the Micron Foundation
• Michael Ballantyne, Managing Partner, TOK Commercial Real Estate
• Nate Brazier, President & COO, Stinker Stores
• Cord Christensen, CEO, PetIQ
• John Colgrove, President, Intermountain Divisions, Albertsons Companies
• Todd Gill, President & CEO, United Heritage Insurance
• Jessica Hagan, President & General Manager, KTVB News Group
• Fran Malecha, President & Chief Executive Officer, Amalgamated Sugar Company
• Thomas J. Mortell, Co-Managing Partner at Hawley Troxell Ennis & Hawley, LLP, who will serve as the BVEP Chair and Chair of the Policy Committee, which leads government advocacy efforts.  
• Jeff Newgard, President & CEO, Bank of Idaho
• Kelly Olson, President, Western States Equipment
• Adam Richins, COO, Idaho Power Company
• Chris Roth, President & CEO, St. Luke’s Health System
• Jim Shipman, Managing Owner, Colliers International
• Jennifer Swindell, Founder & CEO, Idaho Ed News
• Jodi Whittaker, Managing Partner, KDP Certified Accountants
• Paul Zurlo, President & CEO, Blue Cross of Idaho Health Service, Inc.

 
Ex-officio members of the Board of Directors include:

• Jesse Mix, Boise VA Medical Center/OR ANG, who serves as the President of Leadership Boise
• Rachel Flachbart Sladek, Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children, who serves as the President of Boise Young Professionals

Idaho Legislators gathered with state and local business leaders at the Boise Centre on Wednesday, January 10, during the Boise Metro Chamber's 2024 Legislative Forum.  

The event, presented by Select Health, opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Penelope Lehosit, Ms. Idaho Elementary America 2024.  

​Governor Brad Little took the stage thereafter to share points from his State of the State address held earlier in the week. He discussed the consequences of Idaho's growth and his measures to keep pace with infrastructure. He plans to invest $2 billion over the next decade to assist Idaho's school districts with repairing dilapidated buildings - including one school he witnessed that had sewage seeping beneath the cafeteria. The Governor closed his remarks by joking that he needed to figure out what to expect from the Chamber's new President and CEO, Bobbi-Jo Meuleman, who previously served as his Deputy Chief of Staff for four years. ​

The panel, moderated by Hawley Troxell's Co-Managing Partner, Thomas J. Mortell, featured five experts representing a cross-section of Idaho's Economic Landscape, the forum's theme. 

• Senator C. Scott Grow - Senate Chairman of the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee 
• Representative Wendy Horman - House Chairman of the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee 
• Hart Gilchrist - VP of Safety, Process Improvement and Operations Systems for MDU Utilities Group, Visit Boise Chair and Boise Valley Economic Partnership Board Member 
• Kelly Olson - President of Western States Equipment and Boise Metro Chamber Board Member 
• Cory Jakobson - Commercial Community Bank Market Director for Umpqua Bank and Boise Metro Chamber Board of Advisor 

Mortell masterfully facilitated the discussion while injecting humor throughout to ease the seriousness of the topics. He asked the panelists how interest rates have impacted Idaho's economy, what types of projects are slated for 2025, about Idaho's tourism health, and their thoughts on our state's growth. 

Jakobson shared an observation that "Those with solid balance sheets and substantial war chest reserves are prevailing during this time with higher interest rates. Interest rates used to carry the day, but a slowdown may be coming in 2024. We're cautiously optimistic that the fed will provide a soft landing." 

Olson concurred with Jakobson that she's also identified a trend of businesses dipping into their cash reserves but revealed that it hasn't slowed things down. "I love facts and data. We can see how long equipment is used on an hourly basis, and that trend is going up across the state. There was a dip during COVID, but it's back up. The seasonality factor has not even been an issue in the last few years." She added, "December is always an indicator of how we are doing, and it was a very, very big December. There was a large volume of machines delivered this year, especially locally, due to the big projects like Micron and Meta. I am very optimistic."  

Gilchrist reported on the health of tourism, saying, "Tourism is Idaho's third-largest industry, and bookings are already ahead by 23%. Things are good, and we're excited about slow, steady growth. To quote Clark Krause of BVEP, 'The economic forefront is looking at a better year. It's 2023 plus Micron, plus Meta.'" 

When prompted to share an opinion regarding how growth is impacting the Treasure Valley's economy and how we can manage it, Gilchrist cautioned, "We must be smart to avoid sprawl and make sure transportation is also growing."  

Olson added, "Growth equals opportunity. The two biggest challenges are keeping pace with 1: Transportation and 2: Skilled labor, which is the biggest leading factor driving to the finish line."  

Jakobson cautioned, "We need to be prudent about growth. How it can affect our businesses, state, and community must be understood. Growth can be harmful if it happens too quickly. We must manage it thoughtfully." 

Representative Horman brought the conversation to a personal level when she disclosed that she wears a widow's mite necklace during the legislative session. "It helps remind me that not all Idahoans have the luxury to choose between wants and needs. We must manage growth to protect our citizens who struggle daily for groceries and gas. We must set policies that make them successful, too." 

"The state doesn't tax property; it's managed at the local level, but we came to feel we needed to do something to help," Senator Grow reminded the audience. "Where needs are is where we address issues with the people's money to do what's best for the state and taxpayers," he said in referring to the three bills he helped present in January of 2023 that aimed to reduce Idaho's property taxes.  

The discussion concluded when Mortell asked each panelist to predict Idaho's 2025 economy with one word.  

Senator Grow said, "Concerned." 
Representative Horman stated, "Uncertain." 
Gilchrist chose "Resilient." 
Olson opted for "Healthy." 
Jakobson projected, "Similar."  

Chamber members can stay up-to-date regarding the economy and bills moving through the legislature this year by tuning in to our bi-weekly episodes of Legislative Update. The six-part, virtual series features host Tori Thomas, Boise Metro Chamber Community and Government Affairs Manager, speaking with legislators and other experts to discuss, debate, and clarify timely complexities, issues, and challenges faced by the State of Idaho during the 2024 session.