Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 50 Women Leaders of Idaho for 2024. Known as the Gem State for its natural resources, Idaho has become a hub for innovation and growth across a variety of industries. From its flourishing technology sector in the Treasure Valley to its longstanding agricultural heritage, Idaho’s economy thrives on diversity. This year’s honorees lead in key sectors such as technology, healthcare, tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing. Representing some of the most recognized companies and brands, they are dedicated to serving both customers and communities across Idaho.
First, we honor Heather Smith, Director of Enterprise Product SW Licensing at Cisco. In her role, Smith focuses on evolving licensing models to support software asset transparency, utilizing her comprehensive experience in business development and operations.
Next, we recognize Tarah Brasch, Sales Director for PepsiCo. Brasch serves as the national sales lead for Co-branded Jack Links Meat Snacks, where she develops sales and merchandising strategies and educates teams nationwide on category trends.
Finally, we congratulate Erica Brick, Head of Research for Kaggle at Google. Brick joined the tech giant in 2017 after gaining invaluable skills in UX roles at Weebly, Brick Enterprises, and Trulia.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Women Leaders of Idaho for 2024.
1. Karissa Price
Chief Marketing Officer, Dragonfruit AI
Karissa Price is the Chief Marketing Officer of Dragonfruit AI. She first joined the team in 2022 as a strategic advisor. Dragonfruit AI is the trusted partner of the world’s largest brands and retailers, delivering “Simply Meaningful Video” with its unified vision platform.
Previously, Price was the head of marketing strategy and immunology at Novartis. Before that, she was a vice president of marketing, food, consumables, and health and wellness at Walmart. Earlier in her career, she worked with The Boston Consulting Group as a strategic advisor. Price earned a PhD in International Political Economy from Harvard University and an undergraduate degree in political science and government from UC San Diego.
2. Lisa Grow
President & Chief Executive Officer, Idaho Power
Lisa Grow has been President and Chief Executive Officer of IDACORP and Idaho Power since June 2020. She was appointed to the IDACORP and Idaho Power Company Boards of Directors in February 2020. Idaho Power, headquartered in vibrant and fast-growing Boise, Idaho, has been a locally operated energy company since 1916.
Previously, Grow served as Idaho Power’s senior vice president and chief operating officer. Her 36-year career with Idaho Power began in 1987, shortly after she graduated from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. Throughout her career, Grow has taken on diverse and challenging roles that increased her knowledge and expertise in the utility industry. She received a Master of Business Administration from Boise State University in 2008.
She currently serves on the St. Luke’s Health System Board of Directors and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s Salt Lake City Branch Board of Directors. In 2022, she was made an honorary commander for the Idaho Air National Guard’s 124th Fighter Wing. Grow is a lifelong learner and passionate advocate for STEM education and building Idaho Power’s future workforce. She is married to a retired firefighter-paramedic and they have two adult daughters who also work in healthcare.
3. Jacqueline Young
VP of Global Marketing & NA CX Partner Marketing Lead, Capgemini
Jacqueline Young is the Vice President of Global Marketing and NA CX Partner Marketing Lead of Capgemini. Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world while creating a tangible impact for enterprises and society.
Young has over 20 years of sales and marketing experience in the high-tech industry, with extensive expertise in managing large accounts and business partnerships. Her strengths include strong communication, interpersonal relationships, negotiation, organizational, and planning skills. She has a proven track record of teamwork, leadership, initiative, influence, flexibility, and achieving results, and she is highly disciplined, results-oriented, passionate, and a self-starter.
Young started her career in 1987 as a sales account executive at Ingram Micro. From there, she went on to Extended Systems, before eventually rising to senior product marketing manager of the SharePoint business group at Microsoft, her most recent position before joining Capgemini.
4. Erin Shaal
VP of Pharmacy Procurement, Specialty and Patient Care, Albertsons Companies
Erin Shaal is the Vice President of Pharmacy Procurement, Specialty, and Patient Care at Albertsons Companies, one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with over 2,200 stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia, 22 distribution centers, and 19 manufacturing plants.
Shaal is a PharmD who graduated from Purdue University in 2009. She has been working for Albertsons Companies for the past 18 years in various roles, including pharmacy operations, clinical programs, learning and development, specialty pharmacy, and pharmacy procurement. In her current role, Shaal oversees pharmacy manufacturer relations, pharmacy wholesaler agreements, specialty pharmacy operations, immunizations, and patient care programming.
Shaal serves as co-chair for the Albertsons Pharmacy Women’s Inspiration and Inclusion Network (WIIN). She believes in keeping the patient at the center of all decisions made, which is key in the retail pharmacy setting.
5. Alexis Rankin
CEO, Rankin Enterprises
Alexis Rankin is the CEO of Rankin Enterprises. Since its launch in 2021, Rankin Enterprises has helped businesses create their brand presence and achieve their goals. Their process is designed to empower the brand and outfit the business with the marketing tools needed to succeed.
With over 15 years in sales and business development, Rankin has led and grown a real estate brokerage with over $3.3 billion in annual sales volume and more than $3 million in annual revenue. She is internationally recognized as the number one business development leader in all of Keller Williams in 2021 and 2022. She was also recognized as one of Business Review's 40 under 40 in 2022 and as a pioneering Woman Leading Technology in the Pacific Northwest by Greenbelt Magazine in 2020.
Before launching Rankin Enterprises, Rankin was a chief executive officer at Chillow. Before that, she was a team leader at Keller Williams Realty. Earlier in her career, she worked with J. Rockcliff Realtors as a real estate agent. Rankin graduated from the University of California, Davis, with an undergraduate degree in communication and sociology.
6. Audra Pratt
SVP & Chief Human Resources Officer, Healthcare Operations, Ascension
Audra Pratt is the Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer in the Healthcare Operations of Ascension. She first joined the team in 2014 as the vice president of human resources. Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care.
Previously, Pratt was a chief human resources officer at BMG East at Banner Health. Before that, she was a vice president and chief human resource officer at Trinity Health (HQ Michigan) and Saint Alphonsus Health System. Earlier in her career, she worked with PetSmart as an assistant store manager. Pratt earned a Master's in Business Administration from Northwest Nazarene University and an undergraduate degree in business management from Arizona State University.
7. Brenda Worrell
Chief Executive Officer, Idaho Central Credit Union
Brenda Worrell is the Chief Executive Officer of Idaho Central Credit Union, the premier credit union that offers full-service locations throughout Idaho and Eastern Washington. Since 1940, their mission has been to help members achieve financial success.
Worrell holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration from Idaho State University. She’s a Certified Public Accountant and CUES Certified Credit Union Executive. She’s also an Excellence in Finance award winner.
Worrell serves on the board of CURQL Collective, a collaborative organization that brings investment capital, credit unions, and Fintech together to revolutionize and innovate how people engage with their money. She also serves on the Northwest Credit Union Regulatory Affairs Committee, Idaho Credit Union Governmental Affairs Committee, and Southeast Idaho Parade of Homes Committee.
8. Barbara Elsden
Vice President, Pfizer
Barbara Elsden is the Vice President of Pfizer. She first joined the team in 2001 as an executive director. Pfizer Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation headquartered at The Spiral in Manhattan, New York City. Pfizer develops and produces medicines and vaccines for immunology, oncology, cardiology, endocrinology, and neurology.
As a global human resources executive with deep expertise in the HR function within the biopharmaceutical industry, Elsden is known for her thought partnership with C-suite executives, designing agile organizations, and developing high-performing executive teams. She is passionate about leading a strategic HR function and helping all leaders reach their full potential.
Previously, Elsden was a divisional human resources manager at 3M Health Care. She earned an MBA in Business Administration from The Open University and an undergraduate degree in English literature and linguistics from Loughborough University.
9. Ronda Conger
Vice President, CBH Homes
Ronda Conger is the Vice President of CBH Homes. She first joined the company in 2014. CBH Homes has been building dreams in Idaho since 1992, one home at a time with a whole lot of love. As Idaho's #1 homebuilder, voted an Idaho Best Place to Work for 14 years, and ranked 36th in the Nation by Probuilder Magazine, they proudly serve over 25,000 happy homeowners and counting. Some say she was raised by wolves, others claim truckers. No matter what her upbringing, this superwoman has flourished in a male-dominated industry for 29 years. As Vice President of CBH Homes, Idaho’s largest homebuilder, Ronda leads the CBH troops daily and has overseen all areas of the company for the past 19 years. Her most recent accomplishment that tops Ronda’s list is being named 2021 NAHB Woman of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders.
Serving others is important to Ronda. As a businesswoman, professional speaker, and author, Ronda is on a mission to spread a movement with her four books: Better Human, Better Thinking, You Go First and her latest book Leading Through Extraordinary Times. She thanks the heavens each day for this incredible journey and is so very grateful for the opportunity to serve and love all those whom she comes in contact with.
10. Bobbi Hughes
Chief Strategic Partnerships Officer, University of Idaho
Bobbi Hughes is the Chief Strategic Partnerships Officer of the University of Idaho. Since 1889, the University of Idaho has been a place that expects more from itself, more from its students, more from knowledge, and more from life.
With 20 years of experience, Hughes builds relationships and partnerships with the industry and connects alumni and donors in ways that are most meaningful to them. Before starting her current position, she served the university as the executive director of advancement in the College of Engineering. Before that, she was the director of corporate and foundation relations, where she led and coordinated communication with corporate and foundation contacts.
Before joining the University of Idaho, Hughes worked with Pacific Lutheran University as a director. Hughes graduated from Pacific Lutheran University’s School of Business with an MBA and from Pacific Lutheran University with an undergraduate degree in history, global studies, and women's studies.
11. Rene Ward
Executive Director & Head of Communications, Animal Health, Boehringer-Ingelheim
Rene Ward is the Executive Director and Head of Communications for Animal Health at Boehringer-Ingelheim. She first joined the team in 2021. Boehringer Ingelheim is a biopharmaceutical company active in both human and animal health.
Ward is an authentic communications executive who facilitates direct and honest interactions to cultivate an environment of trust, engagement, and growth for all stakeholders. She uses her intuitive skills and extensive industry experience to deliver clear internal and external messaging that drives problem-solving and supports major business changes. Previously, Ward was a senior director and head of US business communications at Zoetis Inc. Before that, she served Boehringer Ingelheim as the head of executive, change, and employee communications. Earlier in her career, she worked with The Kansas City Area Development Council as a specialist in media relations and marketing.
Ward earned an undergraduate degree in strategic communications, journalism, and political science from The University of Kansas.
12. Holly Lyons
Vice President, Umpqua Bank
Holly Lyons is the Vice President of Umpqua Bank, an award-winning Northwest-based bank ranked in 2024 by Newsweek as one of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America. With more than $50 billion in assets, they’ve grown into a top 30 publicly traded US bank and a leading western-based regional bank with operations across eight states.
Lyons is passionate about building relationships and creating amazing teams, with a strong focus on taking care of her clients, her team, and the community. She is also a dedicated advocate for the growth and success of small businesses. Lyons started her career in 1999 as a personal banker at New Mexico Bank & Trust. From there, she went on to the University of Phoenix, before eventually rising to vice president and branch manager at Columbia Bank, her most recent position before joining Umpqua Bank.
Lyons graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Master's degree in Business Administration and Management and with an undergraduate degree in business administration and management.
13. Janine Butler
Area Vice President, Allstate Insurance Company
Janine Butler is the Area Vice President of Allstate Insurance Company. At Allstate, they advocate for peace of mind and a good life, building diverse and innovative teams that truly understand their customers' needs.
Butler is an experienced underwriting manager with a strong background in the insurance industry. Her skills include full medical underwriting, universal life, claims handling, accident and health, employment practices liability, and disability insurance. Before her current role, Butler was an underwriting manager at Allstate Benefits. Before that, she was an underwriting manager at National General Insurance. Earlier in her career, she worked with John Hancock Financial Services as a claims examiner.
Butler is a devoted volunteer. She has served as a swim coach for the Special Olympics. She was a caregiver with Friends in Action and an advisory board member for The Salvation Army, focusing on poverty alleviation.
14. Denise Carter
VP of Human Resources, Acosta
Denise Carter is the VP of Human Resources at Acosta. She first joined the team in 2021 as an HR director. Bringing simplicity to retail sales, Acosta acts as a catalyst to boldly connect brands, retailers, and consumers, fueling growth and building long-term value throughout North America and Europe.
Carter believes that the role of HR professionals is constantly evolving to meet the demands of employees, their families, customers, and the business. Over the years, she has learned to adapt, develop programs, and provide solutions to meet these needs through effective communication, innovation, partnership, and hard work.
Previously, Carter was an HR director at Impact Group. Before that, she was an HR business partner at Cascadia Healthcare. Earlier in her career, she worked as a teacher with Dreamland Education Center. Carter earned an undergraduate degree in human resources management from Boise State University.
15. Terri Crum
VP of Servicing, Chase
Terri Crum is the VP of Servicing at Chase. At Chase, they’re dedicated to helping you succeed. Whether they need banking, credit cards, mortgages, auto financing, investment guidance, small business support, or payment solutions, they’re beside you every step of the way.
Crum has 19 years of experience. Before joining Chase, she worked in management at Norco, Inc. Before that, she was an associate director of operations at ADTRAV Travel Management. Earlier in her career, she worked with cxLoyalty as an operations support services supervisor. Crum graduated from George Fox University with an MBA and an undergraduate degree in management and organizational leadership.
16. Kristi Walsh
Senior Vice President, Client Services, ibex
Kristi Walsh is the Senior Vice President of Client Services of ibex, delivering innovative business process outsourcing (BPO), smart digital marketing, online acquisition technology, and end-to-end customer engagement solutions to help companies acquire, engage, and retain valuable customers.
At ibex, Walsh cultivates meaningful client partnerships with customer service at the center of their collective focus. She is responsible for overseeing and optimizing client experience across a diverse portfolio. She works with a disruptive BPO partner that leverages award-winning technology and a world-class organizational structure to ensure execution, innovation, and growth.
Walsh started her career in 2001 as a sales, product, retention, and escalations agent at Center Partners. From there, she went on to Qualfon. Walsh graduated from North Idaho College with a degree in general studies.
17. Kaylie Cohen
Vice President, Merchant Strategy, Operations and Business Planning, Visa
Kaylie Cohen is the Vice President of Merchant Strategy, Operations, and Business Planning at Visa, a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories.
Cohen first joined Visa in 2020 as the senior director of merchant strategy, operations, and business planning in November 2020. She was promoted to VP in July 2022. She has skills in strategy, marketing communications, and social media. Her experience includes public relations, analytics, and research. She is also proficient in business analysis, data analysis, and management.
Previously, Cohen was the head of global solutions at PLXIS. Before that, she was a payments program manager at Independent Purchasing Cooperative. She earned an undergraduate degree in learning and organizational change from Northwestern University.
18. Jami-Lea Kluesner
VP of Human Resources, Digital, Inventory, Merchandising & Supply Chain, PETCO Animal Supplies
Jami-Lea Kluesner is the Vice President of Human Resources in Digital, Inventory, Merchandising, and Supply Chain at PETCO Animal Supplies. PETCO is a category-defining health and wellness company focused on improving the lives of pets, pet parents, and their own Petco partners.
Kluesner has 30 years of experience. As an executive, she enables business results through leadership, collaboration, strategic solutions, and operational alignment, addressing complex organizational challenges and empowering teams.
Before joining PETCO, Kluesner was a director of human resources for the North American supply chain and logistics at Staples. Before that, she was an area director of human resources at Corporate Express. Earlier in her career, she worked with Meridian Gold as a human resources manager. Kluesner graduated from Tarkio College with an undergraduate degree in business administration and management.
19. Chandra Bennett
Chief Executive Officer, Confidential
Chandra Bennett is the Chief Executive Officer of Confidential. She first joined the team in 2023. Confidential is the foremost provider of exceptional HR solutions, delivering invaluable industry insights to their clients and committing wholeheartedly to training and mentoring their candidates.
Bennett is a seasoned operational and supply chain leader who excels in creating and improving processes and procedures to enhance team and organizational efficiency. With experience working from the ground up in an ever-evolving organization, she has developed a deep appreciation for the benefits of positive cross-functional teams. Over the years, she has led multiple operational software implementations, developed essential business management tools, cultivated positive team cultures, and successfully bridged interdepartmental communication barriers while guiding supply chain teams to success.
Previously, Bennett was a vice president of operations at CellCore Biosciences. Before that, she was a vice president of operations at Butte Farms, LLC. Earlier in her career, she worked with Treasure Valley Business Group as an operations specialist. Bennett earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
20. Jordan Armstrong
Chief Revenue Officer, ResultsCX
Jordan Armstrong is the Chief Revenue Officer of ResultsCX. ResultsCX is a leading provider of transformational Customer Experience Management (CXM) solutions to over 75 global brands, including Fortune 100 and 500 companies.
With a robust background as a seasoned executive, Armstrong brings a wealth of leadership expertise gained from guiding top-tier teams in new business development, strategic account management, market strategy formulation, and solution development within the industry. Her career includes pivotal leadership roles at Sutherland Global Solutions and EXL, where she achieved significant milestones in delivering revenue growth, enhancing client retention, and leading transformative go-to-market initiatives.
Before joining ResultsCX, Armstrong was a vice president of strategic accounts at SCIO Health Analytics. Before that, she was in healthcare emerging markets and strategic accounts for EXL. Earlier in her career, she worked with Pfizer as a business developer. Armstrong graduated from Northwest Nazarene University with an MBA in Healthcare and Healthcare Administration and from Miami University with an undergraduate degree in microbiology.
21. Karine Stuimer
Senior Vice President, BrightView Landscapes
Karine Stuimer is the Senior Vice President of BrightView Landscapes, the nation’s leading landscape services company. BrightView takes pride in providing the highest-quality landscape and snow services with a worry-free, dependable service commitment.
Stuimer has been at BrightView Landscapes for six years. She started as the vice president general manager (VPGM), a role she kept for over three years. She was promoted to group vice president in October 2021 and was appointed to her current SVP role in October 2022. In addition to this C-suite role, Stuimer is also a freelance landscape designer and blown glass creator.
Stuimer started her career in 1996 as an operations manager and estimator at Cleary Brothers Landscape Inc. She graduated from the University of California, Riverside, with an undergraduate degree in English.
22. Melissa Vandenberg
General Counsel, WinCo Foods
Melissa Vandenberg is a Member of the Board of Directors and Board of Managers and the General Counsel for WinCo Foods, a family of employee-owned grocery stores, with its own distribution and transportation network.
Vandenberg first joined WinCo Foods in 2010 as director of compliance for employment law. After nearly six years in this role, she was made vice president and general counsel in 2016. She added her current responsibilities in July 2023.
Previously, Vandenberg was a deputy attorney general for the Office of the Idaho Attorney General. She earned a JD in Law from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and an undergraduate degree in political science and government with a minor in history from Wayne State College.
23. Amy Childress
Vice President of Monitoring, COPELAND
Amy Childress is the Vice President of Monitoring at COPELAND, a global climate technologies company engineered for sustainability. Today, they are building on their 100-year legacy through industry-leading innovation, putting Copeland at the forefront of positive change.
Before joining COPELAND, Childress was at Emerson Commercial & Residential Solutions for nearly seven years. She started there as the vice president of marketing and planning and as a site leader for cargo solutions. From there, she was promoted to the VP of marketing and sales and site leader for cold chain and cargo. She started her last role with the company in 2022 as VP of monitoring in October 2022 and moved to her current position at COPELAND in June 2023. Earlier in her career, Childress worked with Telluride Mountain Village Resort as an architectural design review board administrator. She graduated from Princeton University.
24. Jennifer Lux
Regional SVP of Commercial Operations & Client Services, HUB International
In 2022, Jennifer Lux became the Regional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for HUB Northwest, overseeing all Commercial Operations at HUB NW. She is responsible for driving strategic initiatives and managing a team of directors focused on Client Services and Quality Assurance. Hub International Limited is a leading full-service global insurance broker providing property and casualty, life and health, employee benefits, investment, and risk management products and services.
Lux began her career in agriculture in 2003 as a program technician for the Farm Service Agency (FSA), a division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), where she worked for 14 years. She was promoted to lead program technician, working with farmers on various farm programs, including insurance for non-insurable crops and disaster programs. After her time at FSA, she served as a crop adjuster for NAU Country before joining HUB as the operations manager for crop, farm, and agriculture in November 2018. In 2020, she expanded her role to VP operations for Eastern Washington and Idaho.
Lux graduated from the Leadership Idaho Agriculture program in 2017, which focuses on developing leaders and advocates for agriculture and rural communities. In 2021, she was appointed to the Risk Management and Insurance Board at Washington State University. Additionally, Lux has been helping her husband manage their Wheat, Canola, and Legume farm since 1999.
25. Marnie Packard
Vice President & Idaho Market Lead, Molina Healthcare
Marnie Packard is the Vice President and Idaho Market Lead at Molina Healthcare. She first joined the team in 2020. Molina Healthcare is a Fortune 500 company that is focused exclusively on government-sponsored healthcare programs for families and individuals who qualify for government-sponsored healthcare.
Packard is an experienced leader with a strong background in the insurance industry. Her skills include government, Medicaid, healthcare reform, population health, team building, and public speaking. Previously, Packard was a vice president of population health at Saltzer Medical Group. Before that, she was a director of government and community relations at SelectHealth. Earlier in her career, she worked with PacificSource Health Plans as a compliance manager. Packard earned an MBA in Business and an undergraduate degree in biology from Boise State University.
26. Gina Rogers
VP of Enterprise Customer Success Global Strategy & Programs, SAP Concur
Gina Rogers is the Vice President of Enterprise Customer Success Global Strategy and Programs of SAP Concur. She first joined the team in 2019 as a senior program manager in enterprise client development, strategy, and operations. SAP Concur is the world’s leading brand for integrated travel, expense, and invoice management solutions, driven by a relentless pursuit to simplify and automate these everyday processes.
Rogers has served in various roles at SAP Concur since 2019. She started on the team as a senior program manager in enterprise client development, strategy, and operations. She was promoted to director in less than a year, and just two years later, she was appointed senior director. She joined the C-suite as VP in April 2023.
Previously, Rogers was a PMO lead in program management and Cisco customer experience (CX) and managed services operations at Cisco. Earlier in her career, she worked with ServiceSource as an account manager. Rogers earned an undergraduate degree in managerial economics from the University of California, Davis.
27. Heather Carlson
Senior Director of Marketing and Annual Giving, Boise State University
Heather Carlson is the Senior Director of Marketing and Annual Giving for Boise State University. She serves as a thought leader and partner to university colleagues, providing training, resources, best practices, and collaborative direction on marketing and branding strategy, digital content creation, and giving strategies. As senior director, she is responsible for the management and implementation of University Advancement branding, marketing, and digital engagement methodologies, as well as for the university's annual giving program focusing on a data-based strategy for new-donor acquisition and stewardship/cultivation of the current donor base.
Carlson is a Boise State University alumna with an undergraduate degree in graphic design and marketing and a master’s degree in communication.
28. Stephine Dunn
Vice President of Regional Finance, Camping World
Stephine Dunn is the Vice President of Regional Finance of Camping World. Since 1966, Camping World has proudly offered specialized products and accessories, expert advice, and professional service to recreational vehicle owners and campers.
Starting at Camping World as a regional finance director, Dunn brings 14 years of dedicated experience to her current position. She has strong skills in sales management, customer service, and marketing strategy. Her experience also includes team building, strategic planning, and lead generation. Additionally, she is proficient in social media marketing, event management, and business planning. Her expertise extends to entrepreneurship, start-ups, and new business development. Before joining Camping World, Dunn was an independent brand partner at Nerium International. Before that, she was a finance manager at Bish's RV.
29. Meghan Swan
VP of Global McDonald’s & International Commercial Business, J.R. Simplot Company
Meghan Swan is the VP of Global McDonald’s and International Commercial Business at J.R. Simplot Company. Founded in 1929, the J.R. Simplot Company is a dynamic global food and agriculture leader with operations in the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Argentina, India, and China.
Swan started her career with Wells Fargo Bank in 2002, where she worked in Idaho region marketing until 2008. In 2008, she joined J.R. Simplot Company as a manager in the Simplot Food Group. She then progressed through various roles, including director of customer marketing, director of marketing, senior director of sales operations planning and technology, and finally, VP of global McDonald's business. Swan obtained their MBA from Boise State University, where she studied from 2002 to 2004. Before that, she attended The University of Montana’s College of Business from 1998 to 2002.
30. Heather Smith
Director of Enterprise Product SW Licensing, Cisco
Heather Smith is the Director of Enterprise Product SW Licensing for Cisco, a multinational technology company. In this role, Smith is focused on evolving licensing models to support software asset transparency.
Smith is a versatile leader with comprehensive experience in business development and operations, managing both technical and non-technical teams, business design, and product and commerce development and deployment. Her specialties include strategic planning and development, business development, product management, and merger and acquisition integration, including due diligence and operations.
Smith’s first role at Cisco was earlier in her career, serving as a solutions product manager. From there, she spent over five years as the president of Smith Ellis Design, CSC, Inc. before returning to Cisco as a business operations manager. After a brief sting as an e-commerce product manager at Autodesk, she accepted her current position at Cisco in September 2015.
31. Anne Gaffney
Chief Science Officer & Distinguished Research Professor at USC, Idaho National Laboratory
Anne Gaffney is the Chief Science Officer at Idaho National Laboratory and Distinguished Research Professor at USC of Idaho National Laboratory. In operation since 1949, Idaho National Laboratory is a science-based, applied engineering national laboratory dedicated to supporting the US Department of Energy's missions in energy research, nuclear science, and national defense.
Gaffney has 43 years of experience. Before joining Idaho National Laboratory, she was a director of R&D and specialty materials at INVISTA. Before that, she was a consultant at AMG Chemistry and Catalysis Consulting. Earlier in her career, she worked with ARCO Chemical Company as a manager of catalysis.
Gaffney received her Doctorate in Physical Organic Chemistry from the University of Delaware in 1981, and she has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Mathematics from Mount Holyoke College.
32. Colleen Back
Vice President of Aircraft Programs, StandardAero
Colleen Back is the Vice President of Aircraft Programs of StandardAero, a leading independent provider of engine and airframe maintenance, repair and overhaul, engine component repair, engineering services, interior completions, and paint applications. Back develops and helps execute strategies and plans across four sites that perform aircraft maintenance and modifications. Her primary goal is to exceed customer expectations, achieve the annual plan, and ensure the long-term health of the business.
Back believes that every organization is perfectly designed to achieve the results it gets. To drive improvements, she focuses on examining roles, processes, systems, and people. She emphasizes the importance of quick adaptation and change for organizational health and is committed to thriving in the dynamic business world while helping her company do the same.
Back started her career in 1987 as a sales manager at Procter & Gamble. From there, she went on to Western Aircraft, before eventually rising to director of business aviation at BLR Aerospace, her most recent position before joining StandardAero. Back graduated from Xavier University with an undergraduate degree in marketing and finance.
33. Lorrie Asker
Chief Banking Officer, First Interstate
Lorrie Asker has been the Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer (CBO) of First Interstate since August 2023. First Interstate is a community bank that delivers best-in-class banking and Wealth Management services throughout Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming.
Before her role as CBO, Asker served as First Interstate’s Rocky Mountain regional president since 2019, managing 10 commercial banking teams and more than 60 branches. Asker previously led the commercial and industrial banking division for First Foundation Bank and oversaw commercial analysis and systems at Umpqua Bank. Her career also includes tenures with Sterling Bank, US Bank, and West One Bank. Asker previously served on Idaho Governor Brad Little’s Economic Rebound Advisory Committee and is a member of the Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center Foundation Board.
A graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School and previously a faculty member, Asker earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Communication from the University of Idaho and a Master of Business Administration from the College of William and Mary.
34. Tami Glasgow
Region HR Business Partner, Boise Cascade
Tami Glasgow is the Region HR Business Partner for Building Materials Distribution of Boise Cascade, overseeing the Northeast Region. Her influence spans nine locations, encompassing nine states, and 500 associates. She delivers best-in-class guidance and expertise in human resource policies, streamlines programs and training to high effect, and excels at performance management, workers’ compensation, and superior performance with succession planning initiatives. Glasgow has extensive talent and expertise in developing people, leading groups to successful outcomes, and managing initiatives across the organization.
Glasgow’s skilled approach to building strong working relationships is only matched by her drive to secure the best possible outcome for internal/external stakeholders, fellow leaders, and the workforce she strives to support. Her goal and high expectations for training, leadership development, innovation, and quickly establishing trust, make her adaptable to any situation. Before joining Boise Cascade, Glasgow held leadership roles in HR and safety for companies such as Hearthside Food Solutions and Simplot. She graduated from California State University, Bakersfield, with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, minoring in Human Resource Management. She also graduated magna cum laude with honors from the University of Phoenix with an MBA in Health Care Management.
Glasgow holds a certificate of Safety Trained Supervisor (STS) through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals and is currently working on her Women in Leadership certificate at Linsfield University, Oregon. She serves on the advisory panel for the Women in Leadership certificate program through Linsfield University, is co-chair of the Elevating Women business inclusion group at Boise Cascade, and is a member of the HR Committee for the Women and Children’s Alliance.
35. Trina Finley Ponce
Diversity and Inclusion Director, Boise Cascade Company
Trina Finley Ponce is the Diversity and Inclusion Director for Boise Cascade Company. She first joined the organization in 2021. As a leading manufacturer and distributor of building materials, Boise Cascade Company brings people, products and services together to build strong homes, businesses and communities that stand the test of time. Ponce is a diversity, equity, and inclusion leader with demonstrated success delivering results in strategic planning, initiatives, and program management. She is a DEI advocate with passion for increasing cross-cultural competency, fostering inclusion, and finding impactful solutions for recruiting, engaging, developing, and retaining diverse talent.
Prior to joining Boise Cascade Company, Ponce was a DEI program manager for HP. She served in the US Army Reserves as a commissioned officer for 16 years. Ponce graduated from Stanford University with an undergraduate degree in interpersonal relations and social psychology and from the University of Montana with an MBA.
36. Layne Lewis
Owner, Willowview Consulting
Layne Lewis is the accomplished President of Willowview Consulting, LLC, a testament to her multifaceted journey encompassing aerospace engineering, managerial expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit. With a solid educational foundation in Aerospace Engineering, Layne embarked on a career that would lead her to remarkable heights. She commenced her journey at NASA, contributing to the definition and design of the International Space Station—an endeavor that spanned eight years and took her across NASA centers in Virginia, Houston, and Alabama. This early experience honed her engineering prowess and laid the groundwork for her illustrious career.
In a significant career pivot in 1995, Layne transitioned to Hewlett Packard (HP), venturing into the realm of commercial Laser Jet printer design. Her transition to HP marked a pivotal moment, propelling her into the world of management and leadership. Climbing the management ladder at HP, she expanded her skills and knowledge, setting the stage for her entrepreneurial endeavors. In 2003, Layne made a bold leap and founded her own company, Willowview Consulting (WVC). This courageous step allowed her to blend her engineering acumen with her newfound management expertise, creating a dynamic platform for business success. Layne's dedication to continuous learning led her to pursue an MBA in 2002, enhancing her proficiency in the business sphere.
Beyond her entrepreneurial achievements, Layne Lewis has amassed a wealth of professional and personal accomplishments. Her dedication and impact were recently recognized when she was featured in The Women Leaders Magazine as one of the top 20 most inspiring women leaders. This accolade underscores her remarkable journey as a pioneering woman in her field. Layne's career trajectory, marked by her transition from aerospace engineering to business leadership, serves as a testament to her versatility and unwavering commitment to excellence.
As the President of Willowview Consulting, LLC, she continues to inspire and make her mark in both the business and engineering worlds, demonstrating that with determination, one can achieve greatness in multiple domains.
37. Leah Hannum
Director of Government Funding Operations, Blue Cross of Idaho
As Director of Government Funding, Leah Hannum played a pivotal role in the planning, creation, oversight, and strategic objectives of the risk adjustment department at Blue Cross of Idaho. She is responsible for overseeing activities related to Medicare and ACA risk adjustment programs in support of payment accuracy.
With over 15 years of experience in government programs, Leah’s current focus is to understand and connect the health plan’s risk adjustment accuracy needs with efficient provider workflows for improved patient outcomes. She graduated from Boise State University with an undergraduate degree in psychology.
38. Erica Brick
Head of Research, Kaggle, Google
Erica Brick is the Head of Research for Kaggle at Google. Google LLC is an American multinational corporation and technology company focusing on online advertising, search engine technology, cloud computing, computer software, quantum computing, e-commerce, consumer electronics, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Brick’s first role with Google was as a UX research manager for Google ads. She started with the company in August 2017 and was promoted to her current position in March 2019. Previously, she was the head of user research at Weebly, where she led user research initiatives to improve product design and user experience. Before that, she worked as a user experience research manager at Trulia. Earlier in her career, she served as a user experience consultant at Brick Enterprises Inc.
Brick graduated from San Jose State University with a Master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction and from California State University, Chico, with an undergraduate degree in liberal arts and sciences and liberal studies.
39. Sabrina Durtschi
Director of Forward Planning, KB Home
Sabrina Durtschi is the Director of Forward Planning of KB Home, one of the largest and most trusted home builders in the United States. They operate in 47 markets, have built over 680,000 quality homes in their more than 65-year history, and are honored to be the number one customer-ranked national homebuilder based on third-party buyer surveys.
With 20 years of experience as a planning project manager, Durtschi has specialized in land planning for single-family residential development within the Treasure Valley. She started at KB Home in October 2021 as a senior forward planner and was promoted to her current role in March 2024.
Before joining KB Home, Durtschi was a land entitlement manager at Toll Brothers. Before that, she was a land planning project manager at Briggs Engineering. Earlier in her career, she worked with Canyon County as a planner II and subdivision analyst. Durtschi graduated from Boise State University with a degree in urban and regional planning.
40. Donna Johnson
Chief Marketing Officer, Cradlepoint
Donna Johnson is the Chief Marketing Officer of Cradlepoint, a pioneer in Wireless WAN of firing advanced 4G and 5G routers and adapters controlled through Cradlepoint NetCloudTM. Enterprise businesses and public sector agencies rely on Cradlepoint and its cellular intelligence to build reliable, secure networks.
Starting at Cradlepoint in 2018 as VP of product and solution marketing, Johnson was promoted to CMO in 2023. Previously, she served in high-level roles at Citrix, Talari Networks, Ahilia, and Aligo, including as senior marketing director and senior director of product. Earlier in her career, she worked with Objective Systems Integrators as a director of product management.
Johnson earned an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering from Texas A&M University, where she was part of Pi Beta Phi.
41. Elaine Clegg
Chief Executive Officer, Valley Regional Transit
As the CEO of Valley Regional Transit, Clegg provides leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for Treasure Valley’s public transportation authority and ensures the directives of the Board of Directors are achieved. She has been a public servant focused on transportation and land use for over 25 years. She served for nearly 20 years on the Boise City Council, where she led many initiatives, including the Clegg City of Trees Challenge and various efforts to reestablish passenger rail in Idaho and the greater Northwest.
As a city council member, Clegg served on numerous boards, executive boards, advisory committees, and councils. She has held the chair or president position on the boards of VRT, the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho, the Association of Idaho Cities at the state level, the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and the National League of Cities Transportation Infrastructure Services Committee nationally.
Clegg led the statewide nonprofit Idaho Smart Growth, serving on national nonprofit boards while advocating and planning for better transportation and improved land use policy and implementation, assisting over 50 Idaho communities to improve transportation plans, networks, and programs. Since 1998, she has worked to improve access and mobility across modes in the policies of the reauthorizations of the Surface Transportation Bill, including gaining support for establishing the Safe Routes to School Program and enhancing the rail portion of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Clegg graduated from Boise State University with an undergraduate degree in visual arts, painting, and drawing.
42. Tarah Brasch
Sales Director, Meat Snacks, PepsiCo
Tarah Brasch is the Sales Director of Meat Snacks at PepsiCo. PepsiCo, Inc. is an American multinational food, snack, and beverage corporation that oversees the manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of its products.
Brasch is an experienced sales director with a proven history in the food and beverages industry. Her skills include people management, process optimization, customer management, and P&L budgeting. In her current role, she is the national sales lead for Co-branded Jack Links Meat Snacks, where she develops sales and merchandising strategies and educates teams across the country on meat snacks category trends.
Before joining PepsiCo, Brasch was a releasing coordinator (outbound) at Caterpillar Logistics Inc. Earlier in her career, she worked with Whatcom Events as a ski-to-sea volunteer coordinator. Brasch graduated from Western Washington University with an undergraduate degree in business administration (management) and Spanish.
43. Cayla Maccheyne
Director of Engineering, Anheuser-Busch
Cayla Maccheyne is the Director of Engineering at Anheuser-Busch. For more than 160 years, Anheuser-Busch has been woven into the cultural fabric of the United States, carrying on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Today, they own and operate more than 120 facilities and have more than 19,000 colleagues across the United States.
Maccheyne started her career in 2010 as a process engineer at Agrium. From there, she went on to J.R. Simplot Company, before eventually rising to engineering project manager at US Silica Company, her most recent position before joining Anheuser-Busch.
Maccheyne graduated from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering. During this time, she was part of Alpha Gamma Delta and a member of the Rensselaer Panhellenic Association.
44. Jerica Stacey
Director of Technical Training, International Code Council
Jerica Stacey is the Director of Technical Training at the International Code Council. The Code Council is the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions used to ensure safe, affordable, and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide.
In this role, Stacey manages a team of instructors with expertise in various building specialties and oversees the offering of new and innovative training solutions in support of the Code Council’s International Codes. Stacey’s own expertise is in the development, adoption and implementation of building energy codes and standards. With this experience, Stacey supports the Code Council’s energy code and sustainability initiatives, contributes to energy codes and standards technical development, and advances the Council’s business interests related to energy codes and standards for both the national and international markets. Stacey is the author of several publications supporting the International Energy Conservation Code.
Stacey works closely with the Code Council’s Sustainability Membership Council as its staff liaison; serves on the RESNET Standard Development Committee 900 which oversees RESNET’s quality assurance and sampling technical standards; participates in ad hoc committees and task groups related to energy code compliance and enforcement; and is an active member of the Idaho Energy Code Collaborative where she supports energy code education in her home state.
Previously, Stacey was an integral part of the codes and standards practice areas of several public and private organizations, bringing innovation to her leadership roles on code studies of all types—from enforcement and compliance to savings attribution. She oversaw program evaluation tasks, such as designing and fielding surveys and interview guides, benchmarking program characteristics, analyzing program and evaluation data, and assisting with cost-effectiveness analysis and reporting. Stacey graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with an emphasis in social research and statistics.
45. Kirsten Delaney
Global Marketing and Customer Success Director, Hamilton Medical
Kirsten Delaney is the Global Marketing and Customer Success Director of Hamilton Medical. Hamilton Medical lives for ventilation technology that helps caregivers improve the lives of their critically ill patients. It believes that innovation is essential to meet the demands of critical care.
Delaney is an experienced marketing leader with a background in the healthcare and medical device, high-tech, and professional services industries. She has versatile leadership competency and a proven track record of accelerating growth through branding and marketing strategy, sales and channel development, marketing communications, and product management.
Before joining Hamilton Medical, Delaney was a director of marketing at Medtronic. Before that, she was a marketing director at CliftonLarsonAllen. Earlier in her career, she worked with NetPro Computing as a product marketing manager. Delaney graduated from Thunderbird School of Global Management with an MBA in International Business and from Arizona State University with an undergraduate degree.
46. Monica Frame
Director Human Resources Consulting, BPM
Monica Frame is the Director of HR Consulting at BPM, where she provides her clients with the HR guidance of a seasoned strategic leader with the flexibility of a fractional resource. Drawing on her HR experience that spans over two decades, she helps emerging and established businesses thrive. She provides clients with a range of support from implementing a special project and providing direction on best practices to helping establish an HR function from the ground up, tackling compensation structures from simple to complex, assisting leaders in understanding tools and mechanisms, and providing guidance on how compensation can support organizational goals.
As a true strategic partner, Frame has guided organizations of all sizes and in many industries in developing their strategy through salary ranges, job architecture, philosophy, practice documentation, variable and long-term incentive programs, training, and communication. Before joining BPM, Frame was a human resources leader for a diverse set of organizations. This included leading the people function of multiple acquisitions for a large semiconductor company, overseeing US HR operations for a Singapore-based hardware manufacturer, and managing all elements of the employee life cycle for an independent mortgage broker.
Frame earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources Management from San Jose State University. She lives in Boise, Idaho, with her husband, two children, dogs, cats, and chickens; she loves various outdoor activities, such as camping, hiking, and white-water rafting. When she’s at home, you can find her tending to her indoor plants and outdoor garden, making bread, and playing games with her family.
47. Jacqueline Maybach
Medical Director, Humana
Jacqueline Maybach is the Medical Director of Humana. At Humana, their cultural foundation is aligned to helping members achieve their best health by delivering personalized, simplified, whole-person healthcare experiences.
Maybach started at Humana in March 2023, focusing on utilization management. Previously, she was a physician at Women's Health Associates. Before that, she was the owner and a physician at Women's Health Associates. Earlier in her career, she worked with The University of New Mexico as a resident doctor.
Maybach earned an MD in Medicine from the Medical College of Wisconsin and an undergraduate degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
48. Kacee Mock
Director of Account Management, Leavitt Group
Kacee Mock is the Director of Account Management of Leavitt Group. Ranked among the top three spots for growth due to acquisition in the property and casualty (P&C) space, Leavitt Group stands as one of the top privately held insurance brokerages nationwide.
Mock has been at Leavitt Group for over 16 years. She is skilled in commercial insurance, property and casualty insurance, and professional liability. Her expertise also includes legal liability, umbrella insurance, and workers' compensation. Additionally, she has experience in liability, general insurance, and commercial lines. Mock graduated from Boise State University with an undergraduate degree in marketing. She also studied at the University of Montana Western.
49. Cathy Cooper
Director of Engineering, Veolia North America
Cathy Cooper is the Director of Engineering at Veolia North America. She first joined the team in 2016. For more than 170 years, Veolia has been by the side of cities, industries, and communities to help them manage, regenerate, and protect their critical resources in the face of environmental challenges.
Cooper has expertise in civil engineering, construction management, and stormwater management. Her skills also include site plans, hydrology, and land development. Additionally, she is proficient in drainage, water resources, and AutoCAD. Previously, Cooper was a principal engineer at SPF Water Engineering. Before that, she was a senior engineer at MWH. Earlier in her career, she worked with MK Centennial as a project engineer. Cooper earned an MS in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington and an undergraduate degree in civil engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder.
50. Lori Lewis
Global Senior Director Customer Experience and Insight, DXC Technology
Lori Lewis is the Global Senior Director of Customer Experience and Insight of DXC Technology. DXC Technology helps global companies run their mission-critical systems and operations while modernizing IT, optimizing data architectures, and ensuring security and scalability across public, private, and hybrid clouds.
Lewis has 28 years of experience. Before joining DXC Technology, she was a director of the transformation program management office at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Before that, she was a director and chief of staff in executive operations, culture, employee engagement, and communications at HP. Earlier in her career, she worked with Micron Technology in the Micron Communications Business Unit as a senior channel and alliance marketing director. Lewis graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with an MBA and an MS in Executive Leadership. She attended Boise State University for her undergraduate degree in accounting and finance.