BOISE, Idaho – Leadership Boise, a Boise Metro Chamber program sponsored by Capital City Development Corp, has announced the Leadership Boise (LB) class of 2024-2026. Established in 1975, LB has graduated over 1,800 Treasure Valley professionals, making it one of the longest-running Chamber-sponsored leadership programs in the country.

Participants engage in monthly, daylong sessions that enhance their understanding of the community, its challenges, and opportunities. The program encourages fresh perspectives on leadership, equipping participants with the tools to broaden their impact and take on greater leadership roles. Each year, Leadership Boise alumni are involved in selecting the new class from a competitive pool of applicants.

"Our record number of applications has led to a new class of 58 professionals, each bringing a variety of talents and perspectives," said Karyn Stuart, Director of Leadership Programs.

Due to nearby wildfires and poor air quality happening on August 16, the Opening Retreat was relocated from the YMCA Camp in Horsethief Reservoir to Jack’s Urban Meeting Place (JUMP) in downtown Boise. “We appreciate JUMP’s flexibility and community support,” added Stuart.

The retreat included team-building exercises, networking, and leadership workshops, featuring speakers such as:

• Bobbi-Jo Meuleman, President & CEO, Boise Metro Chamber
• David Duro, President & CEO, Treasure Valley Family YMCA
• Amy Rush, MFA, CCA, Strelo Group
• David “Record Breaker” Rush, Record Breaker Rush
• Lincoln McLain, Associate Executive Director, YMCA Camp at Horsethief Reservoir
• Davina Ware, The Complete Leader
• Erika Soelberg, JUMP, Events & Rentals Coordinator
• Gabe Brenner, City of Boise (LB Vice President)
• Colette Lentsch, Hillcrest Bank (LB Vice President)
• Amy Lindgren, Cushing Terrell (LB President)

The 2024- 2025 LB leadership team includes Vice Presidents Gabe Brenner (City of Boise) and Colette Lentsch (Hillcrest Bank), along with President Amy Lindgren (Cushing Terrell), who together set this year’s theme: "Influence and Impact: Total Leadership."

Leadership Boise will celebrate the 2025 LB graduates, LB Alumni, and the program's 50th anniversary at an event at The Grove in May 2025 at The Grove Hotel. The 2025-2027 class interest list is now open at boisechamber.org/leadership-boise.

Congratulations to these new Leadership Boise participants and to the companies that support the Chamber and their employees’ growth.

BOISE, ID – Community and business leaders, along with Leadership Boise Alumni (LB Alumni) and the 2022-24 graduating class of Leadership Boise (LB), gathered at the Grove Hotel on May 16, 2024 to celebrate the annual Leadership Boise Graduation & Alumni Reunion. This prestigious event recognized the newest graduates of LB and honored the finalists and winners of the Community Leadership Awards.
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The evening began with a toast from Boise City Mayor and LB Alum, Lauren McLean. She praised the success of the Boise Metro Chamber's esteemed two-year program, Leadership Boise, which originated in 1975 and is now one of the longest-running Chamber-sponsored leadership programs in the United States. Attendees were also inspired by a keynote speech from Jeff Huhn, LB Alum and Southern Idaho Market President of First Interstate Bank.
The LB Alumni Association recognized 15 finalists for the Community Leadership Awards, all of whom were selected for their exceptional engagement as Treasure Valley professionals. These individuals exemplify leadership, mentor and support others, and enhance the Treasure Valley community through their work and character. The winners for the five categories were:

• Social Responsibility Award: Kelley Packer, Idaho Association of Cities
• Distinguished LB Alum Award: Karen Sander, HDR Engineering
• LB Alum Entrepreneur of the Year: Kristi Saucerman, Auction Frogs
• Nonprofit Excellence Award: Girls on the Run
• Legacy of Leadership Award: Sheriff Matt Clifford​​

The event concluded with 2023-24 LB President, Dr. Jesse Mix, calling each graduate to the stage and presenting them with a commemorative plaque.
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For more information about Leadership Boise, visit boisechamber.org/leadership-boise-programs.html

BOISE, Idaho (August 24, 2023) – Leadership Boise, a Boise Metro Chamber program sponsored by Capital City Development Corp, is proud to announce the Class of 2023-2025. Since its inception in 1975, LB has mentored and inspired more than 1,750 Treasure Valley business and civic leaders in one of the longest-running Chamber-sponsored leadership programs in the nation.

Through monthly daylong sessions, participants develop and enhance their knowledge and understanding of their community, including its complexities and potential.  The program strives to foster new perspectives for creative leadership with the goal of providing participants with the foundation needed to expand their leadership roles and impact in the community.

Each year, the Leadership Boise Interview & Selection Committee, comprised of LB alumni, faces the difficult task of choosing class members from a highly-qualified field of applicants. “The Class of 2023-2025 is a diverse, positive, and inquisitive array of sophisticated professionals from varying industries.  The Opening Retreat, held Aug. 18 & 19th at the YMCA Camp at Horsethief Reservoir, revealed a cohesive, creative group of individuals whose immediate comradery reflects the kind of inclusive, community-first thinking that makes Boise so special,” shared the Chamber’s Sr. Manager of Leadership Development, Karyn Stuart.

The theme of this year’s class is “Restoring Trust and Respect through Civil Discourse,” as designed by LB Vice Presidents Amy Lindgren (Cushing Terrell) and Michael Rotchford (Healthwise).  The theme will be woven in with leadership skill development and civic or business-oriented content at monthly Sessions, as planned by the 2022-2024 LB Class. 

The Opening Retreat kicked off the sessions and included these distinguished guests and speakers:  Mayor Lauren McLean, Bernie Zimmerman, Gemba Boise, David Duro, Treasure Valley Family YMCA, Monica Church, Frank Church Institute at BSU.  The 2023 LB President is Dr. Jesse Mix, D.O., Boise VA Medical Center, Oregon National Guard.  Applications for the Class of 2024-2026 open in March. Learn more at: https://www.boisechamber.org/leadership-boise.html

​The Leadership Boise Class of 2025 includes the following 50 participants:

Jillian Alexander     Conduit Consulting
Mark Anderson     BRS Architects
Matt Arriaga     Arriaga Mediation
Taylor Barton     Visit Boise
Charlie Baser     Givens Pursley LLP
Darryl Beemer     HP
Patrick Boel     Roundhouse
Andrew Boespflug     TOK Commercial
Lauren Brassey     Healthwise
Gabriel Brenner     City of Boise
Ben Burnham     BSU
 Elizabeth Caval-Williams     Cottonwood Creek Behavioral Hospital
Colette Chester      Hillcrest Bank
Stephanie Chimonas     CSHQA
Cameela Cruz     HP
Antonia Cusamano     Price Waterhouse
Craig Dammeier     Holland & Hart
Meghann Donley     Jacobs Engineering Group
Bradley Dunbar     Cushing Terrell
Adrienne Esposito     WaFd Bank
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
Tanner Job     ESI
JD Kessler     HUB International
Chuck Kracht    Idaho Housing & Finance Assn
Nichol Lapierre    Your Health Idaho
Chelan Lippincott    University of Idaho
Abby Losinski     St Luke's
Max McKenna    HC Company
John McNeese     HDR Engineering, Inc. ​
Sara Miller     St Alphonsus' Health System
Frances Nagashima    St Luke's Health Plans
Ashlee Neddo     ICCU
Jordyn Neerdaels    CCDC
Becca Proctor    Boise Metro Chamber
Michelle Railsback    St Luke's
Tyler Richelieu    ZGA Architects & Planners Certified
Antonina Robles     HP
Carole Schroeder     Global Ties Idaho
Alex Suffa     Idaho First Bank
Joe Tanner     Mountain America CU
Scott Thompson     Zions Bank
Breanna Young     WCA
Romeo Zavala     Horizon 
 
About the Boise Metro Chamber: About the Boise Metro Chamber: Established in 1883, the Boise Metro Chamber is the only five-star accredited Chamber of Commerce in Idaho and strives to be the leading business advocacy organization in the Boise Valley. The Boise Metro Chamber is a private, nonprofit, membership-driven organization comprised of approximately 1,950 business enterprises, civic organizations, education institutions, and individuals. Its mission is to provide leadership that will help create regional economic prosperity and success for its members.