Nancy Vannorsdel to Receive Boise Metro Chamber Hall of Fame Award

BOISE, ID – The Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that Nancy Vannorsdel is the second recipient of the Chamber’s Hall of Fame Award after Doug Armstrong in 2013
 
Vannorsdel was selected for the award by the Chamber’s Board of Directors for her sustained, positive contributions to the betterment of the Chamber and support for its mission to advocate for economic well-being, regional development, and quality of life. Vannorsdel will be honored at the 2014 Small Business of the Year & Chamber Excellence Awards Luncheon on Thursday, May 15th from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Boise Centre.
 
Vannorsdel is a past Chairman of the Board and President & CEO of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce. She is the only person in the history of the Chamber to serve in both capacities. During her tenure, the Chamber successfully lobbied for many important business issues, raised $5 million to rebuild the Economic Development Division and, along with her team, defined a process of public-private collaboration and partnership which continues to serve the growth and attractiveness of the Treasure Valley for citizens and industry alike.
 
After graduating from the University of Denver with a BSBA in Retailing/Marketing, Nancy joined United Bank of Denver as a Trust Officer, beginning a 30-year, distinguished career in banking. Nancy came to Idaho in 1979 as the Marketing Director for the Bank of Idaho and continued for 20 years with the bank through the changes to First Interstate Bank and, finally, Wells Fargo Bank. She held the positions of VP of Marketing, Senior Vice President in charge of Retail, Area President for Idaho and Montana, and Division Manager of Premier Banking for the Northwest with First Interstate/Wells Fargo.
 
In 2009, Nancy joined Weaver & Associates, LLC as a consultant in strategic and HR development. In October 2013, Nancy assumed the role as Interim CEO of the Idaho Aquarium in a major effort to turn-around, grow, and give back to the community an organization dedicated to educating, inspiring, and delighting children and families in the Treasure Valley and beyond. The Aquarium served an amazing 100,000 visits since opening in 2011 and hosted 17,500 student visits in just the last six months.
 
As an individual, Nancy’s philosophy is firmly anchored in community service. In her early years in the Valley, she served for three years as President of the Boise Philharmonic, guiding the organization to a solid financial foundation and hiring Jim Ogle as Music Director, who went on to serve a distinguished 20-year career with the organization, bringing a level of unexpected excellence for a community of our size.
 
During her banking years, she served as President of the Idaho Bankers Association. Additionally, she served on numerous boards and committees supporting the Valley, including 12 years on the board of Regence Blue Shield of Idaho, her final two years as Chairman of the Board. Among her many awards and credits, Nancy has received the WCA TWIN Award, the Chamber’s Distinguished Community Service Award, and has been the recipient of the Outstanding Citizen Award from the Idaho Statesman. Currently, she serves on the Board of America to Africa – Help, a private foundation serving women and children in the Centacow area of South Africa. She travels to South Africa once or twice a year, bringing education and support to women and children in the area.
 
Nancy is a passionate horsewoman and, for many years, was an active member of the thoroughbred racing community in the northwest, including the breeding, raising, and training of many successful thoroughbred race horses. Today, she has settled for riding her favorite paint horse, Buster, throughout the West and Southwest and showing her little dog, Festus, in Agility Competition in the Valley.