Last night we held a private gathering at The Arid Club for high level donors,  bidders,  and sponsors of the 2022 Gala as a small thank you for all of their support and to make sure they were the first to know about our next featured speaker. A video of the song "Remembering" by Ashley Campbell was played to help everyone experience a bit of the magic instore for the 140th Annual Gala on October 19th, 2023.

About the 2023 Gala Speaker:
     Ashley Campbell, daughter of country legend Glen Campbell began her career playing banjo and keyboard in her father’s band on several world tours and has found success as a solo artist in the country music scene, most notably with her debut single “Remembering,” which she wrote for her father as he struggled with Alzheimer’s disease. “Remembering” was featured on the Grammy award-winning and Oscar-nominated album for the documentary entitled, Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me. Ashley spent three years touring with her father and played a crucial role in caring for her father Glen during his battle with Alzheimer’s disease, both on and off stage. Glen Campbell passed away in 2017 at the age of 81.
     Ashley’s original music has taken her all over the world, from China to Japan, opening for legendary artists around the world and in the US. In 2018, Ashley released her first album, The Lonely One, which was co-produced with her brother Cal Campbell. The Lonely One album hit the Top Ten of the UK Country Chart upon release. 
     Ashley’s sophomore album, Something Lovely (produced by friend and co-writer of “Remembering” Kai Welch) was released in October 2020. The album features eleven original tracks including “If I Wasn’t” which features Vince Gill on vocals and electric guitar. Ashley is currently writing her third album and has just recorded a duo acoustic album with virtuoso guitarist Thor Jensen as CAMPBELL/JENSEN (due for a fall 2023 release).
     In addition to her musical endeavors, Ashley harbors a deep passion for food and can be seen on Instagram as “The Banjo Chef” cooking up a storm and exploring culinary culture as she travels for her music. 
     This year, a portion of proceeds from the 140th Annual Gala will also benefit the Greater Idaho Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, in honor of Ashley’s late father and the work Ashley and her mother Kim have done to generate awareness and progress.

We look forward to all of you joining us this year. You can purchase tickets for the Gala here. For donation coordination contact Alex Finney via email at afinney@boisechamber.org 

Thank you!

Leadership Boise celebrated the graduation of the class of 2021-2023 at The Grove Hotel on May 31st.  Graduates, their families, friends and co-workers enjoyed a reception, dinner and keynote address from Judge Peter Barton (LB Alum, class of 2012).  The event was sponsored by First Interstate Bank.  Special thanks to Jeff Huhn, Southern Idaho Market President at First Interstate Bank, for his enthusiastic support of the LB Program.   The LB Alumni Association saw a record number of alumni attend to celebrate the grads and reunite with old friends made through the LB experience. 
 
Melissa Schug and Bryan Furlong of Idaho First Bank (LB Alumni’s 2023 Program Sponsor) awarded four Leadership Awards on behalf of the Alumni Association.  The honorees were:  Don Murray, VP at Dental Dental and President of the Board for the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights, winning in the category of Social Responsibility; Cory Rodrigues, Executive Director, accepting on behalf of Wyakin Foundation for the Non-Profit Excellence Award, Shire Hotvedt, Event Manager, Boise Center, and outgoing President of the LB Alumni Association for the Distinguished Alumni Award, and Lee Scott, Unleashing Leaders, for the Legacy of Leadership for his outstanding contributions to the Leadership Boise Program (as President) and the Leadership Boise Academy Program, 2022-2023.
 
For a look back at the LB Experience in 2021 through May of 2023, visit the Chamber website and watch 2023 LB graduate and Film & Video Producer, Stephanie Cullen’s video (above).  Stephanie is the owner of OMG Studios Boise and OMGFemaleFilmmakers. 
 
The new Leadership Boise class of 2023-2025 has been selected and will launch in August.  Names, titles and companies will be announced September 1st.  Industries represented by Chamber member businesses in the new LB class include:  Architecture, Construction, Engineering, Real Estate, Development, Government, Finance/Banking, Law-Mediation, Healthcare, Non-Profit, Manufacturing, Education, Consulting and Insurance.
 
The LB Class 2024-2026 Interest List is available online at Leadership Boise

The Boise Metro Chamber's Business After Hours event held at D.L. Evans Bank's Parkcenter Branch on June 22 was a testament to the power of networking in today's Boise Valley business landscape. D.L. Evans literally rolled out the red carpet and created a fun atmosphere for attendees. The D.L. Evans team worked to create an event for professionals from diverse industries to connect, collaborate, and build lasting relationships. By combining the fun and social aspects of networking with knowledge-sharing opportunities, this month's Business After Hours event proved to be a valuable resource for businesses looking to expand their networks and thrive in the Boise metro area.

This month's host, D. L. Evans Bank, has 12 branches in the Treasure Valley market and focuses on helping local communities thrive by providing them with the best banking solutions. Established in 1904, D.L. Evans Bank is family-owned and employee-owned and it’s the largest-Idaho based community bank.

After guests walked the red carpet, they were able to connect with one another on both professional and personal levels. These dynamic interactions facilitated meaningful conversations and laid the foundation for potential collaborations and partnerships. If you're looking to take your business to the next level, be sure to mark your calendars for the next "Business After Hours" event—an excellent opportunity to make meaningful connections and unlock new possibilities for growth. 

The July edition of Business After Hours will be held at Sunwest Bank on Thursday, July 27th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 1299 N Orchard Street in Boise. All Boise Metro Chamber members get in FREE for this great networking event. Non-members are just $20 at the door. No RSVP needed; just JOIN US July 27th after work! This will also be a celebration for our Operation Thank You volunteers! (Psst! Chamber members --> Sign up now to volunteer! We need your help!!) We'll see you there!