Boise, ID – The Boise Metro Chamber, the only five-star accredited Chamber in Idaho, proudly announces the induction of Odette Bolano, President & CEO of Trinity Health West Region, into the Boise Metro Chamber Hall of Fame. In addition, Gerald Hunter, President of the Idaho Housing and Finance Association, will be honored with the distinguished Government Advocate of the Year award.​

The honorees will be celebrated at the Small Business of the Year & Chamber Excellence Awards Luncheon at the Boise Centre West on Monday, June 17th. The event will open at 11 a.m. with a reception and trade show, followed by lunch and award presentations at 12 p.m. MDT. Finalists for the awards have been announced and tickets for the event are available for purchase on the Boise Metro Chamber’s website at boisechamber.org. We are pleased to acknowledge Meta and Hillcrest Bank as this year’s presenting sponsor.

Odette Bolano has been chosen as the 12th recipient of the Hall of Fame award in recognition of her commitment and contributions to the Boise Metro Chamber. Throughout her tenure, Bolano has demonstrated exceptional leadership, particularly evident during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her service extends beyond her professional endeavors, as she actively participates in various civic boards and has earned accolades for her outstanding leadership.

Gerald Hunter, recognized for his longstanding dedication to the Boise Metro Chamber, will receive the Government Advocate of the Year award. Mr. Hunter serves on the Chamber’s Board of Directors and on the Executive Committee as an “at large” member. Additionally, Mr. Hunter serves as Chair of the Chamber’s Financial Services Board.
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The Boise Metro Chamber takes great pride in honoring these individuals, whose dedication and leadership have significantly enriched our community.

Past Hall of Fame award recipients include:

On Thursday, May 16, 2024, at JUMP in downtown Boise, Idaho, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean delivered her State of the City address to the public. Co-hosted by The City of Boise and the Boise Metro Chamber, the event gathered a significant audience to hear about the city's progress and future plans. Mayor McLean, serving her second term as Boise's 56th mayor and the first woman in this role, highlighted numerous achievements and ongoing initiatives, reflecting her administration's dedication to making Boise a thriving, inclusive city.

Mayor McLean began by acknowledging the support and partnership of the Boise Metro Chamber, city council members, and city employees, emphasizing their roles in Boise's success. She celebrated the city's clean, vibrant downtown, extensive park system, innovative climate actions, and booming business community. Quoting a 1989 New York Times piece, she depicted Boise as an "improbable place," an oasis amidst the northern Rockies, highlighting its unique charm and resilient spirit.

A significant portion of her address focused on the people of Boise as the city's secret to success. She attributed Boise's welcoming and innovative environment to its residents' cooperative spirit, which has been crucial since the city's early days. The mayor recounted how pioneers transformed the high mountain desert into a productive agricultural hub through irrigation and innovation, laying the foundation for Boise's enduring entrepreneurial spirit.
Mayor McLean highlighted the city's remarkable job growth, with over a 4% increase in the past year. She praised local businesses like Micron, which received significant federal investment under the CHIPS and Science Act, bolstering Boise's position as a leader in memory manufacturing and design. The mayor stressed the importance of fostering an environment where businesses can thrive, citing partnerships with companies like American Semiconductor and Exyte, which have brought new opportunities and community engagement to the city.

The Mayor also underscored Boise's commitment to housing and homelessness solutions, describing it as a central focus of her administration. She announced the appointment of a director of homelessness and housing policy to enhance efforts in this critical area. McLean detailed initiatives such as the supportive housing investment fund, launched in partnership with the Idaho Community Foundation, to provide services that keep people housed and support their path to self-sufficiency. This innovative approach, coupled with significant city funding, aims to create sustainable solutions for Boise's housing challenges.

In reference to the city's efforts to ensure that every child can walk safely to a park within ten minutes, she proudly announced that 165,000 residents now live within this proximity to green spaces. She emphasized the importance of creating a connected, walkable, and bikeable city, celebrating recent achievements like the purchase of 80 acres in the eastern foothills to further expand Boise's trail system.

In terms of environmental stewardship, Mayor McLean highlighted Boise's legacy of open space conservation, initiated by community-led efforts like the historic Boise Foothills open space levy. She announced new land acquisitions and trail developments that contribute to the city's vision of interconnectedness and outdoor accessibility.

The Mayor also underscored Boise's commitment to housing and homelessness solutions, describing it as a central focus of her administration. She announced the appointment of a director of homelessness and housing policy to enhance efforts in this critical area. McLean detailed initiatives such as the supportive housing investment fund, launched in partnership with the Idaho Community Foundation, to provide services that keep people housed and support their path to self-sufficiency. This innovative approach, coupled with significant city funding, aims to create sustainable solutions for Boise's housing challenges.

In reference to the city's efforts to ensure that every child can walk safely to a park within ten minutes, she proudly announced that 165,000 residents now live within this proximity to green spaces. She emphasized the importance of creating a connected, walkable, and bikeable city, celebrating recent achievements like the purchase of 80 acres in the eastern foothills to further expand Boise's trail system.

In terms of environmental stewardship, Mayor McLean highlighted Boise's legacy of open space conservation, initiated by community-led efforts like the historic Boise Foothills open space levy. She announced new land acquisitions and trail developments that contribute to the city's vision of interconnectedness and outdoor accessibility.

Concluding her address, Mayor McLean called upon Boise residents to join in common cause to continue building a city that prioritizes inclusivity, sustainability, and opportunity for all. She stressed the importance of unity and community involvement in achieving Boise's bold goals, rejecting divisive politics in favor of collaboration and shared purpose.

Mayor McLean's showcased Boise's accomplishments, future plans, and the community-driven spirit that underpins the city's success. Her speech resonated with a message of collective effort and shared responsibility in making Boise a model of innovation, resilience, and inclusivity.

Following the Mayor's remarks, a celebration reception sponsored by Exyte was held on the 5th floor of JUMP.

Thank you to our presenting sponsors Idaho Central Credit Union and Perigee Group and our sponsors: Albertsons, Ball Ventures Ahlquist, Blue Cross of Idaho, CBH Homes, ESI, Gardner, HC Company, Micron, Simplot and Saint Alphonsus.