BOISE, Idaho – The Boise Metro Chamber is proud to announce the 2025 Small Business of the Year and Chamber Excellence Awards Finalists. This year’s event will take place on June 16, 2025, from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Boise Centre WEST. The event kicks off with a trade show at 11 a.m. and the awards luncheon starting at 12 p.m.

“This year’s finalists truly encompass the industry they represent, showcasing their innovation, resilience, and impact. With the addition of two new Small Business of the Year categories and the Community Engagement Excellence Award, we celebrate a broader range of achievements that reflect the dynamic spirit of our business community,” said Bobbi-Jo Meuleman, President and CEO of the Boise Metro Chamber.

Finalists for each category include:

• (New Size) Small Business of the Year: 11 – 50 Employees: Blue Gander Window Cleaning, Graeber and Company, Adler Industrial
• (New Size) Small Business of the Year: 10 Employees or less: The Farm, Atlas Strategic Communications, Red Sky
• (New Category) Community Engagement Excellence Award: First Interstate Bank, Albertsons, Idaho Housing and Finance Association
• Financial Services Industry Excellence Award: Idaho Housing and Finance Association, CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP, ICCU
• Food & Agriculture Industry Excellence Award: Telaya Wine Co., Thomas Cuisine, Lee’s Candies
• Healthcare Services Industry Excellence Award: Intermountain Hospital, Your Health Idaho, BPA Health
• Nonprofit Excellence Award: NeighborWorks Boise, Northwest Association for Blind Athletes, Idaho Veterans Chamber of Commerce
• Jim Moore Lifetime Legacy Award for Excellence in Travel and Hospitality: Enterprise Mobility, Velma V. Morrison Center for Performing Arts, Boise Centre

The awards ceremony also features the induction of a “Chamber Hall of Fame” recipient and the recognition of the “Government Advocate of the Year.”

Previous Boise Metro Chamber Hall of Fame Inductees include:

• 2024 Odette Bolano, President and CEO of Trinity Health West Region
• 2023 Kent Oram, President and CEO of ICCU
• 2022 Charlene Maher, President and CEO of Blue Cross of Idaho
• 2021 Bert Glandon, President of College of Western Idaho
• 2020 Ray Stark, Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Community Development, Boise Metro Chamber
• 2019 Candi Allphin, Senior Vice President and Regional Manager, Wells Fargo
• 2018 Dave Terrell, Regional President, Washington Trust Bank, Chairman of the Boise Metro Chamber, BVEP, and Visit Boise
• 2017 Dr. Bob Kustra, President of Boise State University
• 2016 Dennis Johnson, President and CEO of United Heritage Insurance
• 2015 Skip Oppenheimer, Chairman and CEO of Oppenheimer Companies, Inc.
• 2014 Nancy Vannorsdel, President and CEO of Boise Metro Chamber
• 2013 Doug Armstrong, President of Armstrong Consulting

Previous Government Advocate of the Year winners include:

• 2024 Gerald Hunter, President of the Idaho Housing and Finance Association
• 2023 Wayne Hammon, CEO of Idaho Associated General Contractors
• 2022 Kelley Packer, Executive Director of the Association of Idaho Cities
• 2021 Bruce Newcomb, Former Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives

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Event Details

• What – Boise Metro Chamber Small Business of the Year and Chamber Excellence Awards
• When – June 16, 2025, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
  • Tradeshow – 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Award Show and Luncheon – 12 – 1:30 p.m.
• Where – Boise Centre WEST, 850 W. Front St., Boise, ID

 
The event is presented by Meta and Bank of America and sponsored by, Idaho Business Review, Delta Air Lines, Inc. St. Luke’s Health Plan, Boise Centre, and Mountain West Bank. Tickets to this event are available on the Boise Metro Chamber’s website at boisechamber.org.

BOISE, Idaho – The Boise Metro Chamber is proud to announce this year’s graduating class of Leadership Boise. The 2023-2025 class had a total of 54 participants from all different industries across the Treasure Valley.
“Leadership Boise has become a staple of professional development in our community. I am grateful for Karyn Stuart and Becca Proctor’s leadership of the Chamber programs. I’m excited to see what the coming years will bring,” said Bobbi-Jo Meuleman, President and CEO of the Boise Metro Chamber.
 
This year’s graduation event, celebrating the Leadership Boise’s 50th anniversary, featured a keynote address from Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane highlighting the importance of programs like LB. The event also included a proclamation reading by Boise Mayor Lauren McLean recognizing HP Inc. for sending 40 participants through the program, as well as acknowledgments for several other companies that have consistently supported Leadership Boise over the years. The celebration brought together over 300 leaders from top organizations across the region to honor the program’s enduring impact.
 
Founded in 1975, Leadership Boise has graduated over 2,000 individuals across the Treasure Valley. ​Participants who are accepted to the program on an annual basis attend monthly, day-long sessions about relevant and pressing topics that affect and impact living and working in Boise.
 
This Years Graduates include:

• Jillian Alexander, Conduit Consulting
• Mark Anderson, BRS Architects
• Matt Arriaga, Arriaga Mediation
• Taylor Barton, Visit Boise
• Charlie Baser, Givens Pursley LLP
• Darryl Beemer, HP Inc.
• Patrick Boel, Roundhouse
• Andrew Boespflug, TOK Commercial Real Estate
• Lauren Brassey, WebMD Ignite
• Gabriel Brenner, City of Boise
• Ben Burnham, Boise State University
• Colette Chester Lentsch, Hillcrest Bank
• Stephanie Chimonas, CSHQA
• Cameela Cruz, HP Inc.
• Craig Dammeier, Holland & Hart
• Meghann Donley, Jacobs Engineering Group
• Bradley Dunbar, Cushing Terrell
• Adrienne Esposito, WaFd
• Amy Evans, Boise Cascade
• Kyle Galloway, Boise Cascade
• Nicholas Gourley, Stoel Rives
• VJ Greenfield, Charlie's Produce
• Jennell Hall, Northwest Lineman College
• Brandon Helgeson, Hawley Troxell
• Malcolm Hong, Zions Bank
• Stephanie Husler, Your Health Idaho
• JD Kessler, HUB International
• Chuck Kracht, Idaho Housing and Finance Association
• Nichol Lapierre, Your Health Idaho
• Chelan Lippincott, University of Idaho College of Engineering
• Abby Losinski, St. Luke's Health System
• Max McKenna, ESI
• John McNeese, HDR Engineering
• Sara Miller, Saint Alphonsus Health System
• Frances Nagashima, St. Luke's Health Plan
• Ashlee Neddo, ICCU
• Jordyn Neerdaels, Idaho Power
• Becca Proctor, Boise Metro Chamber
• Michelle Railsback, St. Luke's
• Tyler Richelieu, ZGA Architects
• Antonina Robles, HP Inc.
• Alex Suffa, Idaho First Bank
• Joe Tanner, Mountain America Credit Union
• Scott Thompson, Zions Bank
• Breanna Young, WCA
• Romeo Zavala, Horizon Credit Union

Community Leadership award winners include:

• Nonprofit Excellence Award: NAMI (National Association of Mental Health Idaho)
• Social Responsibility Award: Pat Kelly, Your Health Idaho
• LB Entrepreneur of the Year:   Angela Taylor, Indulge Boise Food Tours
• Distinguished LB Alum: Theresa McLeod, St. Luke's Health System
• Legacy of Leadership Award: Hart Gilchrist, Intermountain Gas / MDU

This event was presented by First Interstate Bank and Unleashing Leaders and cosponsored by TOK Commercial Real Estate, Cushing Terrell, and ZGA Architects & Planners, Chartered.

As one of the largest banks in the region, Wells Fargo’s commitment to relationships runs deep. We offer tailored banking solutions to support a wide range of businesses, from small startups to large corporations, contributing to the region’s economic vitality. Wells Fargo also funds nonprofits focused on providing capital, technical assistance, and networks of support for entrepreneurs, in addition to housing, financial health and other community needs. Our national programs, such as efforts to increase financial inclusion, reduce debt, and build wealth, complement our localized impact in Boise.

In 2020-2021, we contributed to an inclusive economic recovery for small businesses impacted by the pandemic through our roughly $420 million Open for Business 
Fund, including approximately $345,000 directed to an Idaho-based organization.

Our commitment to Boise’s community continues well beyond the pandemic. 
In 2023, Wells Fargo awarded a $100,000 multi-year grant to Jannus, Inc., which is a program of economic opportunity, enabling the organization to improve service delivery and foster a collaborative ecosystem for financial health and business development.

Most recently, we announced a $100,000 grant to the Treasure Valley YMCA in 2024, supporting the creation of a new facility in Downtown Boise to provide financial education and wellness programs for the growing community!