Congratulations to the following Winners of this years 2024 Small Business of the Year and Chamber Excellence Awards! 

• Government Advocate of the Year: Gerald Hunter, President, Idaho Housing  and Finance Association
• Hall of Fame Award: Odette Bolano
• Food & Agriculture Industry Winner: Idaho Candy Company
• Financial Services Industry Winner: D.L. Evans Bank
• Small Business of the Year (Medium-sized 26-100) Winner: PortaPros
• Healthcare Industry Winner: Regence BlueShield of Idaho
• Small Business of the Year (Small <25) Winner: TalentSpark
• Non-profit Excellence: Jannus, Inc 
• The Jim Moore Lifetime Legacy Award for Excellence in Travel & Hospitality: Block 22, LLC

You can learn about all of the finalists and winners by reading their bios on the Small Business and Chamber Excellence Awards event page.

Thank you to our presenting sponsors Meta and Hillcrest and event sponsors Bank of Idaho, Boise Centre, Delta Air Lines, Idaho Business Review, and St Luke's Health Plan.

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:

The Boise Metro Chamber, the only five-star accredited Chamber in Idaho, held its annual Small Business of the Year and Chamber Excellence Awards Luncheon on Monday, June 5th, at Boise Centre West. Seven organizations and two individuals received prestigious awards. This was the largest event of its kind in the Boise Metro Chamber's 146 year history!

Three finalists in each of seven categories received recognition at the year's luncheon. Five industry excellence award categories include: financial services, food and agriculture, healthcare, nonprofit, and travel. Two additional awards were given: Small Business of the Year and Medium-Sized Business of the Year.
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Finalists for each category included:

• Financial Services Industry Award: D.L. Evans Bank, Idaho First Bank, Washington Trust Bank
  Financial Services Industry Award winner: Washington Trust Bank
• Food and Agriculture Industry Award: CS Beef Packers, FARE Idaho, Weiser Classic Candy
  Food and Agriculture Industry Award winner: CS Beef Packers
• Healthcare Industry Award: Boise Health Haus, Peak Chiropractic, RescueStat
  Healthcare Industry Award winner: RescueStat
• Nonprofit Excellence Award: Building Hope Today, Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children, NW Association for Blind Athletes
  Nonprofit Excellence Award winner: Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children
• Jim Moore Lifetime Legacy Travel Industry Award: The Arid Club, Enterprise Holdings, Skål International Boise
  Jim Moore Lifetime Legacy Travel Industry Award winner: Skål International Boise
• Small Business of the Year: Chillow, The Flicks, International Minute Press
  Small Business of the Year winner: The Flicks
• Medium-Sized Business of the Year: Allied Business Solutions, Graeber & Company, Hayden Homes
  Medium-Sized Business of the Year winner: Allied Business Solutions

In addition to the awards to these outstanding organizations, the Boise Metro Chamber names a “Government Advocate of the Year” and a “Hall of Fame Award Recipient” each year.

Wayne Hammon, CEO of Idaho Associated General Contractors was selected as the 2023 Government Advocate of the Year. Hammon has been a trusted adviser to elected officials and senior executives at various levels of government on a wide range of substantive policy issues. “Wayne has been an institution in Idaho politics for years,” said Bill Connors, Boise Metro Chamber President and CEO. “As a member of the Chamber's Board of Advisors, he has been a go-to on transportation issues for the Chamber, political leaders, and the construction industry. His support of our transportation expansion efforts makes him a natural for this award.”

​"I've been in government and around government for almost 30 years, and "advocate" is the nicest thing anyone's ever called me," said Hammon, as he accepted the award. He called upon attendees to "push back" against anyone who wants to take away our great quality of life and to "make Idaho the shining star it needs to be."

The Boise Metro Chamber previously honored Kelley Packer, of the Association of Idaho Cities, in 2022 with the Government Advocate of the Year Award, and Bruce Newcomb, former Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives, in 2021.

The 2023 Hall of Fame Award recipient, Kent Oram, served as the CEO of Idaho Central Credit Union, from 2007 through his retirement in 2022. “Kent has not only been a supportive member of the Boise Metro Chamber Board of Directors, but he built his institution into one of the largest in Idaho and one of the most philanthropic enterprises in the state,” said Connors. “He joins an elite group of people who have made our organization and our state more resilient than ever.”

Oram introduced himself as a "former CEO and current farmer of hay, goats, sheep, cows, horses and grandkids." As he accepted the award, Oram said, "It's our job as leaders of the community to give back everything we can give and still stay in business so that we can give back some more tomorrow."

In 2022, the Boise Metro Chamber inducted Charlene Maher, former President and CEO of Blue Cross of Idaho, into its Hall of Fame. ​Dr. Bert Glandon, former President of the College of Western Idaho, received the same honor in 2021.

​In addition, the Idaho Small Business Administration announced its 2022 District Office Lenders of the Year:

• Certified Development Company 504 Lender of the Year: Capital Matrix
• Rural Lender of the Year: D.L. Evans Bank
• Lender of the Year (tie): Idaho Central Credit Union and Bank of Idaho
  
  

The Small Business of the Year and Chamber Excellence Awards was made possible by the support of presenting sponsors: Meta and Delta Air Lines; sponsors: Bank of Idaho, Boise Centre and St. Luke’s; airline sponsor: Southwest Airlines; and co-sponsors: Horizon Credit Union, Idaho Small Business Development Center, Regence, Stability Networks and Verizon. The Boise Metro Chamber wishes to thank these generous sponsors, as well as media partner: Idaho Business Review.

Please enjoy this video honoring 2023 Hall of Fame Award recipient, Kent Oram: