Outstanding Alumni from the College of Business and Economics

Trista has designed, operationalized, and executed the first commercial rare disease genetic diagnostic testing program, NovoDETECT™ for Novo Nordisk, with the program launching in October 2023. NovoDETECT™ demonstrates a commitment to the rare disease community by providing barrier free access to comprehensive and accurate genetic testing related to recurrent kidney stones and other kidney stone disorders.

An accomplished commercial leader, Trista began her education on the technical side of Boise State University, completing the Practical Nurse program in the early 1990s. She continued with both associate and bachelor’s degree in nursing from Boise State University. Post graduation Trista sought an atypical nursing career path, venturing into pharmaceutical and medical device research, before moving into pharmaceutical sales. She moved her family from Idaho to Massachusetts in association with a commercial marketing role. Her marketing career spans startup/early entry to some of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Her impact depends on her ability to combine clinical perspective, research insights, sales experience, and marketing knowledge in multiple disease markets, including ultra-rare and rare, with a focus on the patient.

The career in the pharmaceutical industry has allowed Trista to focus on her foundation and passion for patient advocacy on a global scale, providing programs and therapies that make a significant impact on the patient community.  Throughout her career she has been recognized by many peer awards, including “Conscientious Disrupter,” “Tenacity,” “Embodies Patient Centricity,” and “Marketer of the Year.” And her programs have won multiple awards, including “RX Club” and other annual recognitions within advertising.

Trista completed her Boise State University MBA in 2022, while working for Novo Nordisk.  Trista believes everyone should find passion within their work and use that passion to change the world.

Vera is a foreign service officer who has served overseas tours in Tijuana, Guangzhou, Taipei, Beijing, and domestically on the China Desk and the State Department’s Office of Commercial and Business Affairs. In the role of senior commercial advisor, Vera provides direct support to the secretary, under secretaries, and assistant secretaries across the State Department as they advocate on behalf of U.S. business interests. She also leads interagency coordination efforts to advance U.S. economic and commercial priorities.

Previously, Vera was the deputy coordinator on the China Desk where she managed the expansion of the regional China officer program from six to nineteen globally positioned officers working to secure U.S. interests abroad. Vera also led efforts to analyze Chinese economic activity overseas and established an interagency consortium working to facilitate data sharing across the U.S. government.

Vera has spent close to a decade working in the greater China region, including as an economic officer at U.S. Embassy Beijing where she covered various aspects of China’s industrial policy and global economic statecraft under the Belt and Road Initiative. She also designed and led a Thought Leaders Engagement series for the ambassador, giving him a glimpse into the Chinese elite’s view of the bilateral relationship.

Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Vera worked in academia as a program development advisor at Boise State University and interned at the Idaho Trade Offices in Guadalajara and Taipei.

Drew Lorona co-founded the Treefort Music Fest in 2012 — the same year he earned his MBA from Boise State University. During his time in the MBA program, he worked on various business plans, including a potential music festival. Drew is also a co-founder of Duck Club Presents, a permanent engine of live music curation, general promotion of the Boise music scene and a multi-faceted production company offering various means of support to emerging artists. And, he serves as a community advisor to the Boise Police Department.

While completing his MBA, Drew studied abroad at the University of Agder in Norway. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Rhetoric and Film Studies from Whitman College. Drew believes that anything is possible through innovation and teamwork.

Bernadette Madarieta is the senior vice president and CFO of Lamb Weston, a leading, global frozen potato manufacturing company headquartered in Eagle, Idaho. Since graduating from Boise State University in 1997, she has spent her career strengthening and leading corporate finance functions for publicly-traded and privately held companies in heavy and light manufacturing and distribution including Packaging Corporation of America, Boise Inc. and Boise Cascade Corporation. She began her career in industry with more than five years of public accounting experience at KPMG and Arthur Andersen.

Bernadette holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Boise State University, where she graduated as a Top Ten Scholar. She is a certified public accountant and a current member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Idaho Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Treasure Valley CFO Financial Forum. In 2012, Bernadette was honored with the Accomplished under 40 award by the Idaho Business Review. She’s a 2005 graduate of Leadership Boise and a 2005 Tribute to Women in Industry award winner.

Bernadette is a proud member of the Boise State University Foundation Board and the College of Business and Economics Advisory Council. Over the years, she has also served on the boards of Create Common Good, Junior Achievement of Idaho and the Lamb Weston Foundation. She, her husband Todd and their two children Ben (20) and Madelyn (18) love Boise State football; they’ve been season ticket holders for many years.

Brian Yeargain is a CPA principal at Little Morris LLP, a CPA firm in Boise, Idaho. He serves on the boards of the Bronco Athletic Association and the Boise State University Foundation. Brian is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Idaho Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Brian has a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Boise State University. He is involved in the community, currently or previously serving on the board of directors for Camp Rainbow Gold, Neighborworks Boise, the Boise State University Alumni Association and the Boise State Accounting Advisory Board. Brian is a second-generation Bronco, with his dad graduating from Boise Junior College in 1959.

Carey, in partnership with Dean Buffington and Bruce Mohr, formed the wealth management firm of Buffington Mohr McNeal in 1998. This Boise-based company provides financial planning services and investment management to families, institutions and small businesses across the country and has nearly $1B in assets under management.

Carey was on the Boise State men’s golf team and graduated in 1988 with a degree in marketing. His senior year, he interned with the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network which led to a career in financial services. He worked for Robert W. Baird Securities, First Security Investor Services and First Security Private Bank as a vice president and trust officer before starting Buffington Mohr McNeal.

Carey and his wife, Daphne, are active in the Boise State community. In addition to their financial support on the academic and athletic sides, Carey has served as on the Bronco Athletic Association Board of Directors. Carey has also served in leadership roles with the Financial Planning Association, the Southwest Idaho Planned Giving Council, the Idaho Shakespeare Festival Foundation, the Bishop Kelly Foundation, the Downtown Boise Rotary Club, the Greater Boise Rotary Foundation, the Family Advocates, the Boise Estate Planning Council and for the Southwest Idaho and national Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Carey is still a scratch golfer and has been involved in the annual College of Business and Economics golf tournament to raise funds for student scholarships since its inception more than 25 years ago.

He and Daphne have five children and two Bernadoodle pups. Together they enjoy advocating the individual pursuits of their children, Boise State Athletics, Sunday family dinners, golf, tennis and travel.

Adam Pishl co-founder and chief operating officer at Clēnera Renewable Energy, a Boise-based utility-scale solar and energy storage company where he leads business operations and asset management. What began as a start-up with five total employees is now Idaho’s largest energy producer recently acquired by Enlight Renewable Energy. Clēnera has developed and manages 23 large-scale solar projects on behalf of third-party owners in nine states, including Idaho’s largest utility-scale solar project located in Grand View.

Adam’s career in renewable energy began at SolFocus Glassworks where he led manufacturing and operations. From there, he moved on to co-found Sunlight Partners with his long-time friend Jason Ellsworth, co-founder and CEO at Clēnera Renewable Energy. At Sunlight Partners, Adam and his operations team created the industry’s first programmatic solar project development system.

Adam graduated from Boise State University with his Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Master of Business Administration degrees.

Jae Hallett graduated with a bachelor of business administration in accountancy from Boise State University in 1984. Jae worked for Ernst and Young in the Boise and Seattle offices. He returned to Boise in 1987 to help start up the audit side Balukoff, Lindstrom and Co. (the firm that bought out E&Y tax). Jae was promoted to partner in 1993. They merged Balukoff Lindstrom into Eide Bailly, LLP in November 2004 and it is now the largest Idaho CPA practice with more than 125 employees. Jae retired from the partnership in April 2012 due to health issues. He continues to work part time as a consulting specialist for Eide Bailly, LLP.

Jae is proud to serve on the Boise State University Accounting Advisory Board and to have helped create the mentorship program that the Department of Accountancy maintains today. Because of his passion to assist accounting students, Jae has been instrumental in establishing and funding two scholarships for accounting students, the Bill Lathen and Jae Hallett Family Scholarship and the Eide Bailly and Jae Hallett Family Scholarship.

Kimber Shaw serves as the associate registrar for records and registration at Boise State University. Shaw has been with the registrar’s office since 2012 and has oversight for customer service, residency, transcript production, records maintenance, FERPA education and class scheduling. Shaw has served the university for nearly 35 years; starting her lengthy tenure as a student employee, followed by professional and administration roles in academic advising after graduating in 1990 with a bachelor of business administration in human resource management.

A strong advocate for building relationships, Shaw is known campus-wide for her role in helping students, faculty and staff navigate complex policies and procedures. Her colleagues describe her “living Boise State University, in values, spirit and display.” You only need visit her office to see her love for Boise State. When not in the office, you can find her enjoying Bronco football as a season ticket holder for nearly 30 years!

David Wali is managing partner of Gardner Company of Idaho. Gardner Company is a 38-year-old development company with more than 22 million square feet of projects in Utah, Idaho and Nevada. Prior to joining Gardner Company in the fall of 2013, he spent 13 years as the director of investments for Colliers International Boise, Idaho.

In addition, David is the managing member of Wali Investments. This entity has ownership of a variety of office, medical, retail and hospitality developments. Wali Investments has partnership holdings of approximately 1,700,000 square feet located in Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Colorado. Wali Investments has had significant experience in downtown development, redevelopment, and investing, and has an eye for unique buildings, unique uses, and unique deal structures.

In 2008 David and his wife, Kathy, established the David S. and Kathy K. Wali Endowed Scholarship for College of Business and Economics students and faculty. He also helped create Bronco Corps, an internship program that pays students to work for nonprofit and small businesses in the Treasure Valley.

David, Kathy and their dog, Elliot, live in Boise, Idaho. He received his bachelor of business administration with a minor in entrepreneurship management from Boise State University in 1990.

Denise Dunlap graduated in 1998 from Boise State with a bachelor of business administration in management with an entrepreneurial option. She has a record of successfully building and operating companies in a variety of industries, including several years at Boise State as the Director of the TECenter. She has been an active investor and leader in the angel investor community since 2008, and travels the country teaching courses for the Angel Capital Association Education program.

Denise co-founded Loon Creek Capital Group in 2010 and has grown the company to provide consulting and administrative services to hundreds of angel investors across the country. In 2019, Denise co-founded Sage Growth Capital, a fund that makes revenue-based investments in a wide variety of companies that need growth capital but are not a fit for traditional bank or equity financing. Denise serves as managing partner of both organizations.

​Denise volunteers a lot of time to coaching entrepreneurs and judging pitch and business competitions at Boise State and within the community. She also holds a first-degree black belt in Shaolin Kung Fu, is a certified wrangler/packer and rides a motorcycle named Hades.

CJ Martin is a 1994 COBE graduate (BBA economics), and subsequently earned an MBA from the University of Notre Dame. CJ currently serves as vice president, Global Commercial Excellence, for Medidata, a Dassault Systèmes company. Medidata’s cloud solutions for the bio/pharma industry enable clinical trials worldwide.

Professionally, CJ spent 15 years with IBM, including roles in Singapore and Tokyo. He also spent three years working for deans Bannister and Petersen on a variety of COBE matters and teaching business 101.

CJ is a member of the COBE Advisory Council. He and his wife, Melissa, created a scholarship encouraging COBE majors to improve their future communication and critical thinking skills through intercollegiate debate.

Bruce is a founding partner at the Boise-based wealth management firm of Buffington Mohr McNeal. Founded in 1992, the firm provides investment management and financial planning services to families and small businesses across the country.

Bruce graduated from Boise State University College of Business and Economics in 1981 in finance. In addition to his business studies, Bruce was active in the honors program and received distinguished honors recognition at graduation. In 1982 he earned an MBA from the University of Oregon.

Bruce and his wife LeAnn are active in the Boise State community. In addition to their financial support on the academic and athletic sides of the University, Bruce serves on the Honors College Advisory Board while LeAnn serves on the Boise State Alumni Association board. Bruce is a current trustee for the Boise City Arts & History Foundation. His prior volunteer experience includes serving as president of Hillcrest Country Club, president of the Boise Contemporary Theater Board, chairing the Boise City Arts Commission and serving as a board member for Ballet Idaho, Boise Nationals Soccer Club and the Morrison Center. If you don’t see Bruce and LeAnn dressed in blue and orange on campus you’ll find them with their 5 children, 4 grandchildren, playing golf or traveling.

Darren Kyle received his Bachelor of Business Administration in accountancy from Boise State University in 1992 and his license as certified public accountant in 1993. Additionally, he earned his personal financial specialist designation from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants in 2000.

Darren owns and operators 11 McDonald’s Restaurants located in South Central Idaho. Prior to McDonald’s, Darren proudly spent 11 years in public accounting practice as a senior tax manager in the Boise office of Deloitte.

Darren believes strongly in the opportunities provided by a solid accounting education, and in 2012, he established the Darren J. Kyle endowed scholarship.

Debbie Flandro retired in 2005 from Hewlett-Packard, following a 29 year career serving in various roles including finance, production and supply chain management. She graduated from Boise State University with a BBA in accountancy and a MBA. In addition, she earned an Executive MBA from Duke University.

Debbie is the current chairman of the Gaming Board for Northern Quest Resort and Casino in Spokane, Washington. The Casino is owned and operated by the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, of which Debbie is a member.

In 2016, Debbie and her husband Jerry established the Flandro Family Scholarship with the goal of supporting advancement of Boise State while providing financial assistance for Native Americans.

Rick Navarro attended Boise State University, graduating in 1975 with a BBA degree in accounting. He began a career at Albertsons working in the accounting, finance and tax areas for 40 years before retiring in 2015 as chief administrative officer.

Rick graduated from the Executive Financial Management Program at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He became a Certified Public Accountant in 1976

He is serving on the Department of Accountancy advisory board and the Boise State Foundation board. Rick is also a life time member of the Alumni Association, the President’s Club and the Chaffee Guild.

Brenda Sanford is currently the chief administrative officer of D.L. Evans Bank. Brenda graduated from Boise State University with her bachelor’s degree in business finance.

She began her banking career at Citizens National Bank in Boise, Idaho. In 1986, she moved to Burley joined D.L. Evans Bank. She has been an executive officer for D.L. Evans Bank for 24 years. Brenda is also a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School.

Brenda is active in several community organizations; she is a board member for the Idaho Community Foundation (ICF), past president for the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) Foundation board of directors and current board member for the Idaho Golf Association.

Mark Heil is the VP for Finance and Administration and CFO for Boise State University. As head of the Division for Finance and Administration, Mark oversees University Financial Services, including accounting and financial reporting, treasury, tax, and regulatory compliance. He is also responsible for the coordination of Human Resources, Budget and Planning, the Office of Information Technology, Morrison Center and the ExtraMile Arena.

Previous to Boise State University, Mark served as VP and CC for Micron Technology, Inc. Prior to Micron, he worked in the Boise office of PricewaterhouseCoopers for over six years.

Mark is a graduate of Boise State University with a BBA degree and majors in accounting and computer information systems. He holds a CPA license in the state of Idaho.

Lisa Grow is Senior VP of Power beginning Oct. 2009. Prior to this position, Grow was named VP of Delivery Engineering and Operations in 2005. She began her career at Idaho Power in 1987 and held many engineering positions before moving into management.

Lisa graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Idaho in 1987 and received her Executive Masters of Business Administration from Boise State University in May 2008.

She is on the College of Engineering Advisory Boards at Boise State University and University of Idaho. She also chairs the University of Idaho Utility Executive Course Advisory Board.

Jim Crawford is a 1972 COBE graduate in accounting. Jim is a charter member of Boise State Alpha Kappa Psi professional business fraternity.

Jim started his career as a staff accountant for J. R. Simplot Company in 1972 and became a licensed CPA in 1974. During Jim’s 28 year career at Simplot, he held positions of increasing responsibility culminating at corporate controller.

In the spring of 2000, Jim joined Wilbur-Ellis Company in San Francisco as VP and CFO. Jim reformed the company’s benefit plan practices, restructured insurance and risk management practices, established a formal human resource function, implemented a corporate rebranding effort, and completed many acquisitions-both global and domestic

Mike Mers is a 1992 graduate of the Boise State University College of Business and Economics. Mike has served as a board member of the Boise State University Bronco Athletic Association and is currently a member of the COBE Advisory Council.

After graduation from Boise State, Mike was an International Rotary Scholar and earned his MBA at Bristol University in England.

In 2002, Mike founded Aspen Capital Management, a Boise based investment management firm. Prior to founding Aspen Capital Management, he was a partner with the private equity firm BRM Capital. Before moving into the investment world Mike spent 8 years at Hewlett Packard in their InkJet and LaserJet businesses.

Zeynep Hansen joined the Economics Department at Boise State University in 2007. Previously, she served on the faculty of Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis. She received her doctorate in economics from the University of Arizona and is a proud graduate of Boise State University.

In 2019, Zeynep accepted the role of Boise State’s VP of Academic Planning.  Her roles include academic planning, institutional research, oversight of the development of new program proposals, planning and management of the institutional accreditation process for Boise State University and periodic review of academic departments.

Charles Hallett is the owner of Strader Hallett & Co., P.S. He received is BBA in accountancy at Boise State University in 1977.  Former president of the Washington Society of
Certified Public Accountants ( WSCPA) and  the Optimist  Club of Twin Falls.

He’s a council member to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Charles has endowed many business scholarships at Boise State University as well as an endowment for the education of oncology nurses within Sisters Providence Hospital Foundation system.

Kurt Stadlbauer is a tax manager for JR Simplot Co. He received his BBA from University of Alaska, Anchorage in 1981. He went on to obtain his Master of Science in accountancy, Taxation from Boise State University in 1998. Kurt was able to fulfill a long term personal goal by obtaining is MSA, Taxation. This achievement opened may doors with JR Simplot Co.

Kurt spent 18 years in public accounting with the Internal Revenue Service prior to joining J. R. Simplot Co. He has been a frequent guest speaker at Boise State University and has taught Accounting 502.

Marj Spindler is the Treasury Director for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Vermont – Montpelier, Vermont. She received her BBA in management and organization from Idaho State University in 1975, her MBA from Boise State University in 1979 and her Certified Treasury Professional title in 2005.

In 2003, Marj was president of the Idaho Association of Financial Professionals. In 2001, she was the recipient of Tribute to Women in Industry Award (TWIN).

Marj believes Boise State University provided her with the decision-making tools required for financial management in large, multi-national corporations. She was able to put into practice business theory and analytical methods which resulted in the development of a strong, professional foundation.

Kirk G. Smith is President and CEO of CTI Foods in Wilder, Idaho. He received his BBA in accountancy from Boise State University in 1978.

Soon after in 1984, he founded SSI Foods in Wilder. In 1998 Kirk started S & S Foods in Los Angeles, California as a joint venture partnership with JR Simplot Co. In 2003, he led a partnership with Texas Businessmen and formed CTI Holdings Co. which acquired the assets of SSI Foods and S & S Foods.

Kirk contributes the education he received at Boise State’s College of Business and Economics as the foundation to his business career.

Tim Obenchain is the President of Obenchain Insurance in Twin Falls, Idaho.  Tim received his BA in  business administration with a minor in real estate from Boise State University in 1976.

He was the President for the Chamber of Commerce in Twin Falls in 1985. In 1991 he received the Insurance Agent of the Year award from Idaho Independent Agents. Tim also received the First Partner in Education award from Twin Falls School District in 2003.

He has served on the Boise State University Alumni board and the board of the Idaho Council on Economic Education.

Tim believes that the faculty at College of Business and Economics are committed to its students.

Tim M. LaMott is the general manager of TML, Inc. in Boise, Idaho.

Tim received his BA in business administration from Boise State University in 1981. He was named Top 10 Scholar and president of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity during his time at Boise State University. Tim also did an internship with Futura Corporation

He worked at Hewlett-Packard from 1981-82. In 1982 he co-founded TML Inc., a commercial and residential heating and air conditioning company. He later sold the business to Service Experts in 1997.

From 1998 to 2001 Tim was Service Experts area and district manager. In the process, he managed revenues up to $125M.

Rick Farnsworth is the Treasurer and Structured Finance Reporting Manager for Portfolio Financial Servicing Company in Portland, Oregon. He earned his BBA in finance from Boise State University in 1986 and his BBA in accounting in 1987. Rick went on to receive his MBA from Portland State University in 1996.

Rick held many roles in the banking industry. He began his career at the Bank of Boston in Boston, Massachusetts as Senior Financial Analyst from 1989 to 1991. He moved to US Bank in Portland, Oregon as a Senior Financial Analyst in 1991 to 1994. From 1994 to 1998 he was Relationship Manager for the same bank.

Rick Aldinger is the Worldwide Business Development Manager with Hewlett Packard in Boise, Idaho. He received his BA in information sciences from Boise State University in 1975.

He founded Vision Technology, Inc in 1992. He is a former Information Technology Manager from Zilog.

Rick volunteers as a coach for Babe Ruth baseball and high school basketball.

Rick believes that Boise State University’s College of Business and Economics and the Information Sciences Program prepared him to be successful in the competitive and every changing field of technology. He also feels that the College of Business and Technology gave him the confidence to venture into new business opportunities throughout his career.

Brady Panatopulus attended Twin Falls High School, graduating in 1979. After graduation, he attended the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Spring on a Congressional nomination and enrolled at Boise State University in 1981. Brady earned his BBA in accounting in 1985. While at Boise State, he was a member of Beta Alpha Psi and assisted Bill Lathen in the first tax class at the University.

Brady interned for the IRS and Touche Ross (now Deloitte & Touche, LLC) during school. He later joined Touche Ross in January of 1985. Brady passed his CPA exam in May of 1986 and became a partner with Touche Ross June of 1996.

Jen Piccotti attended Boise State University but her classroom encompassed the world. In 1995, she acted as the youth representative at the First Annual Conference in Children’s Health held in Siberia, Russia.  In 1996, she attended the University of Pau in French Basque country through Boise State’s student exchange program. Jen went on to graduate with a BBA in production/operations management and a minor in french.

During college, Jen was involved in APICS chapter and participated in Boise-Chita Sister City program.

She is a Quality Manager with Shea Properties Management Company. In 2003, she was awarded the President’s Award, the highest honor bestowed by Shea Properties.

Joel Hickman is currently the District President of Idaho for KeyBank.  He has enjoyed a 25-year career in the banking industry. Joel earned his BBA in marketing from Boise State University in 1979. He continued his education by graduating from Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington in 1993.

Joel began his banking career with Northwest Financial before joining KeyBank as branch manager in Nampa, Idaho.

He grew up in Washington state and graduated from Nathan Hale High school in Seattle in 1975. Joel currently serves on the Boise State University Foundation, Boise Art Museum, Idaho Youth Ranch and St. Luke’s Kid for a Night boards.

Frank Finlayson in 2002 accepted a position at Washington Group International. Currently he is Sr. VP of Corporate Project Development.  His job requires managing development projects for six operating groups. A course at Boise State University in International Business Finance propelled him to take the job with Washington Group International.

Frank attended Twin Falls High School, graduating in 1979. He graduated from Boise State University in 1984 with a BBA in finance. While in college, Frank was active with the Kappa Sigma fraternity.

He believes the tools he received during college allowed him to achievement his career goals.

Raymon David works as an Information Systems Project Manager for Crucial Technology. His job allows him to work with exciting new technologies involving Web Services and different Microsoft solutions. Raymon contributes his internship during college as the means to procure such an outstanding job.

He grew up in Malaysia and attended pre-college in Swinburne, Melbourne, Australia. Raymon earned his BBA in computer information systems in 1996 from Boise State University. During college, he was vice president to both the Data Processing Management Association and International Students Association.

Raymond lends his technical expertise to a non-profit church organization and is involved in youth activities within his church.

Jean Basom serves as Director of Strategic Planning and Business Development at Saint Alphonsus. She maintains national certifications in critical care nursing and neuroscience nursing.

For the past 23 years, Jean has worked at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center helping to create the Comprehensive Heart Programs. The program has received three national awards as a Top 100 Cardiovascular Hospital.

Jean graduated from Boise State University, College of Business and Economics in 1998 with a MBA. She received the YMCA’s TWIN Award in 2001. Jean is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Candace Allphin graduated from Boise State University in 1898 and went on to Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington, where she graduated in 2000.

For 25 years, Candace has worked in the banking industry.  Currently she is the VP and Regional District Manager for US Bank.

Candace is active in the community, serving as the Boise State Foundation Board Secretary, the Vice President of the Idaho Botanical Garden Board of Directors and the Idaho Bankers Association Executive Committee. She is Past President of the Boise State Alumni Association, the Junior League of Boise and the Shakespeare Festival.

Clay Young attended Boise State University, receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing in 1984 and obtaining his MBA in 1985.

After working in various high-tech companies, Clay partnered with Bob Lokken, Phil Bradley, Mark Ickes and Gary Branch to found ProClarity Corporation where he serves as Senior VP of Strategic Marketing. The Boise based company has regional sales and services offices in Europe and Asia-Pacific and provides business solutions to more than 1,600 customers globally.

Clay thinks Boise State provided him with the logical framework for problem solving and managing through both the good and bad of business situations.

Brian Wortham works in the Defense Business Unit of Washington Group International in Arlington Virginia as a business manager. He oversees all financial aspects of projects run out of the Columbia, Maryland office. Most of the jobs are classified so he only knows the financials of the project.

Brian earned his BBA in international business from Boise State University in 1996, followed by his Masters of international management from Thunderbird—The American Graduate School of International Management in 1998.

He started his career path as a financial analyst for Mattel Inc. in Phoenix, Arizona in 1998. He joined Washington Group International in 2000 as an internal auditor.

Kristin Tolle is a Capital High School graduate who went on to graduate from Boise State University with a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems in May 1988. That next day, she started at Extended Systems holding various jobs. She was with Extended Systems for 8 years.

In 2002 Kristin earned her Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from the University of Arizona. During this time she experienced another life-changing event; Microsoft’s Natural Language Group. In September of 2000, Kristen accepted a job as project manager with the company.

She has earned the Microsoft Gold Star Award in 2001 and 2002.

Greg Stevens graduated for Boise State University in 1986 with a BBA in human resources. He went on to receive a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from the Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah.

Greg is currently the Vice Chancellor of Human Resources for the Community Colleges of Spokane (CCS). Prior to this position, he served as the Director of Human Resources for Butte College in Chico, California and as Human Resources Manager for the County of Tuolumne in California.

Greg says the business program at Boise State successfully prepared him.  It provided needed knowledge in Human Resources and business management principles.

Scott Patrick owns SP Aircraft and stays busy managing the four entities of the business. They are charter planes, an aircraft rebuilding shop, an aircraft salvage piece and Boise Pilot Shop and flight training. He got his pilot license before he graduated from high school.

Scott received a BBA in aviation management in 1975. After graduation and various job, he started to fly planes for a living.  Scott first flew a mail plane out of Cascade into Idaho wilderness areas. He has been a licensed pilot for 35 years. He’s a member of the Idaho Aeronautics Advisory Board and volunteers for Wilderness Within Reach.

Dwayne Newkirk works as Human Resources Director for Swift & Company in Nampa, Idaho. He helps employees understand policies and rules, resolves employee issues, teaches supervisors how to resolve conflict and serves as a liaison between employees and the workplace.

Dwayne received his BBA with an emphasis in resource management from Boise State University in 1992. He went back in 1993 and earned his Professional in Human Resources Certificate.

In 1996, Dwayne was the first Boise city’s employee relations manager. Next, joining Swift & Company in 1998, he credits his hard work in helping to drastically reducing turnover rates and change the work culture.

Susan Koehler Kennedy is originally from the east coast, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Not being intimidate, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1975 from Boise State University as well as her MBA in 1977.

After graduation Susan took a job at Department of Water Resources than move on to Intermountain Gas in 1980.  Her role now at Intermountain Gas is overseeing Human Resources, benefits, purchasing and risk management.

Both her professors at Boise State and supervisors at Intermountain Gas have helped her identify her skills and interests, which in return have shaped her career.

Ric Gale started his higher education journey by dabbling in accounting and psychology before entering the military in 1972.  Upon returning from the military, he started taking general business courses and earned his Bachelor degree in marketing with a heavy emphasis in economics. Ric later earned his MBA in 1981.

In 1983, Ric joined Idaho Power and in 2001 he moved to VP of Regulatory Affairs. He has completed the Edison Electric Institute’s Advanced Rate Course and University of Idaho’s Public Utility Executives Course.

Ric was awarded the CEO’s Extra Mile Award from IDACORP in 2001 and he serves as an advisor to the College of Business and Economics at Boise State.

Robert (Bob) Carlile graduated from Boise State University Magna Cum Laude with degrees in business administration and accounting in 1977. In that same year, he achieved the highest overall scores in the state of Idaho on the Uniform Examination for Certified Public Accountants.

Bob began his career with Arthur Andersen & Co. and became a partner in 1987. He was the first graduate from Boise State to become a partner with Arthur Andersen and Co. In 2002, Bob went to work for KPMG LLP.  Currently he is the Partner in Charge of the KPMG Seattle audit practice.

Jim Boyd first came to Boise State when it was still a college. He graduated in 1968 and enlisted in the Army Reserves making it a 23-year part-time career.

Jim worked for the IBM Corporation in the Boise office within the Business Products Division. In 1987, he moved to commercial real estate working for Wright-Leasure Company and in 1994 began the J. L. Boyd Company. His company specialized in industrial brokerage and investment properties.

Jim believes in giving back to the community and has been involved with the Chamber of Commerce and has served as Commissioner for the North Ada County Fire & Rescue.

The son of a sawmill worker, David Cooper grew up in the small Idaho community of Emmett. After graduating from high school, he attended Boise State College because of its proximity to Emmett where he continued to work full time in the sawmill and part time for work full time in the sawmill and part time for  farmers each summer to put himself through school. He also held two or three part-time jobs in Boise during the school year.

In addition to a firm background in accounting, he gained a deep appreciation at Boise State for his early career mentors, including G.W. “Bill” Underkofler and Dale Blickenstaff. “Other faculty, too, are most certainly held in similar regard in the hearts and minds of the students whose lives they have so greatly influenced,” he said.

Three years after graduating with a BBA in accounting in 1971, David was licensed as a certified public accountant in Idaho. In 1981, he added Nevada certification, followed by his designation as a certified valuation analyst in 1994.

While still a Boise State student, David began his career working for the Internal Revenue Service in Boise. In 1973, he joined the regional CPA firm Severn Ripley Doorn which later merged into Deloitte Haskin & Sells. In 1978, he left to form a new firm with other partners which later became Cooper Norman & Co.

His biggest civic passions are affordable public education and housing. Three Idaho governors have appointed him to the Idaho Housing and Finance Association Board of Commissioners. He is also actively involved with the College of Southern Idaho Foundation, the Southern Idaho Economic Development Council, the YMCA, the Twin Falls Lions Club and the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce.

A venture capitalist, David has owned and helped manage a truck stop, two hydroelectric partnerships, and a general investment company. He lives in the Twin Falls area with his wife, Pat. They have a daughter, a son, and three granddaughters.

“Teaching at Boise State is not without its sacrifices and challenges. The unselfish dedication of the Boise State accounting faculty, enhanced by a strong partnership with Idaho’s business community, leads to the very highly recognized accounting degrees offered by Boise State University.” – David M. Cooper

Joshua Cory attended Boise State University because of the reputation of its business programs. While at the university, Joshua received several scholarships including the Langroise, Odus and Luella Glasgrow Memorial, McBirney and department scholarships.

In 1997, he was honored as a Top Ten Scholar and received his BBA in operations management, magna cum laude. Joshua went on to earn an MBA/TM (technology management) from the University of Phoenix online in 2001.

He spent a year and a half at Micron before moving to Hewlett Packard.  In 2002 he secured his current position of procurement lead within the LaserJets materials organization of Hewlett Packard.

Jason Ellsworth began his secondary schooling in 1992 after returning from his mission in Seville, Spain. In 1996 he graduated with a BBA in international business management from Boise State University.

After graduation, Jason moved his family to Hong Kong where he became the general manager of a small trading company. Later he sold the company and returned to Idaho to lead the marketing efforts of a small loan securitization start-up.

Moving to Cambridge, Massachusetts, he attended the Harvard Business School where he founded the Harvard Cycling Association. Jason earned his MBA in 2001. His interest in international management led him to accept a position in Corning Incorporated.

Michael Ferguson joined the Air Force and spent a year in Vietnam as a sentry dog handler after high school. Through many degree changes, he  graduated with a BBA in economics from Boise State University in 1975. Michael spent three year at University of Oregon pursuing a Ph.D.

His first job after graduation was with the State of Idaho as an economist. Next he moved to Portland, Oregon and worked with First Interstate Bank of Oregon. He returned to Boise and worked with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.

Since 1984, Michael’s served as chief economist in the governor’s budget office. In 1997 he wrote a book on the use of GPS receivers.

Beginning his post-secondary adventure at College of Idaho as a Gipson Scholar, he later attended Boise State University earning a bachelor’s degree in finance in 1987.

Kendall’s first job after graduation was with Morrison Knudsen Corporation. Following MK, he spent a year and a half at Hewlett Packard before moving to Idaho Truss and Component Company.

At Idaho Truss and Component Company, he led the adoption of total quality management practices and worked hard to strengthen employee involvement in company management and decision making.

Kendall feels the professors at Boise State took a personal interest in his education and development. He can’t say enough about what a positive influence College of Business and Economics was on his career and life.

Jan Packwood earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Nevada, an MBA from Boise State University and is a graduate of the Harvard University Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

He joined Idaho Power in 1970.  In 1996, as executive vice president of the company he developed IDACORP Energy. He was elected president and CEO to both IDACORP and Idaho Power in 1999.

Jan is a well-known leader within the utility industry and currently serves on several industry boards.

He states that the general management education offered at Boise State is a transforming experience that brings real-world expertise to student and professors.

Mary Pearson received her Business Administration degree from Boise State University in 1973. She headed to Willamette University in Salem, Oregon to pursue a law degree and graduated in 1976.

In the same year, Mary worked with Marion-Polk Legal Aid advocating for the right of Indians to practice their religion in Oregon institutions. She passed the bar and began practicing law in 1978.

In 1980, Mary began working with the Nez Perce Tribe in Idaho. She moved to Washington in 1989 and began serving as judge in 14 Puget Sound Indian tribes of the Northwest Intertribal Court system. In 1994, Mary became tribal attorney for the Suquamish Tribe. From 1997-2002 she served as chief judge for the Spokane tribe.

Recently retired, she is writing a book.

Alice is a math and physics enthusiast, she earned a National Merit Scholarship in mathematics and attended Cal Poly University as a math and computer science major. Fast forward to 1984, Alice graduated from Boise State University with a BBA in computer information systems.

That same year, Alice joined Hewlett Packard and is currently the manager of the company’s global intranet program. She is a Certified Computing Professional and a graduate of Boise State’s Program for Management Development.

From her time at Boise State, Alice understands the importance of integrating broad-based business essentials with real-world experiences.

In 1993, Dan transferred from University of Colorado to Boise State University on a football scholarship. He was drawn by the school’s natural setting and the many opportunities to interact with local businesses.

Dan received his BBA in human resource management in 1995 and that same year became involved in the family business, Smoky Mountain Pizza and Pasta, founded by his brother David in 1991. In 2000, he was named president of the company. Under Dan’s direction, Smoky Mountain Pizza and Pasta has received many accolades.

Dan believes Boise State accomplishes its goal of a real world education and the faculty strives to set students up for success.

After many adventures, trials and setbacks, Scott graduated from Boise State University with a BBA in marketing and economics in 1985.

After a tragic event in his life in 1983, Scott teamed up with a Meridian teacher to create and market SOSPENDERS, a safety device worn like a pair of suspenders that can be inflated in an emergency. This device as well as other personal flotation devices are sold from his business, Sporting Lives, Inc., located in Fruitland, Idaho.

Scott has received many awards for his inventions.  He works internationally to promote boating safety and finalize rules on inflatable personal flotation devices.

Working through various setbacks, Diane graduated with her undergraduate degree in computer information systems from Boise State University in 1988. She went on to receive her Master’s degree in Management Information Systems in 2000.

In 1998, Diane was encouraged to submit a paper for an academic conference in Slovenia.  Her paper was accepted for the June 1999 conference. Diane wrote other papers and co-authored a chapter title “EDI Revisited” in a graduate-level textbook.

Diane has held various job within Intermountain Gas Company since 1988. She is now a systems analyst.

Diane feels her professors at Boise State taught her to question, explore, research and write about current issues.

Even as a student at Nogales High School in La Puente, Calif., Steve Appleton had a drive to succeed. The 1978 scholar athlete of the year and salutatorian also won multiple math and science awards, was a marching band drum major, and the No. 1 varsity tennis player and league champion all four years.

He continued that winning streak after being recruited to Boise State. Again the top tennis player for four years, he received numerous academic scholarships, graduating with honors in business management in 1982.

The following year, Steve began working at Micron on the night shift, earning $4.46 an hour. He received 11 promotions in nine years and was named company president in 1991. In 1994, he became CEO and chairman of the board, helping propel Micron Technology to become the leading DRAM producer in the world.

Appleton was named a Boise State Distinguished Alumni in 1995 and received the university’s prestigious Silver Medallion award in 2001. In addition, he received a presidential appointment to the National Council on Semiconductors, represented the United States at the World Semiconductor Council, and testified before Congress on many occasions regarding international trade.

Above all, Appleton continues to be a staunch supporter of Boise State University.

“Boise State University is a great institution. The College of Business and Economics made possible a career many can only dream  of providing me with the tools necessary to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment.” — Steve Appleton

William (Bill) Glynn, president and director of Intermountain Industries, was born on a farm in eastern Iowa and received his bachelor of arts degree from Loras College in Dubuque. After beginning his graduate work at Creighton University in Omaha, he received an MBA from Boise State University in 1979. He is also a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program.

Glynn began his career at Northern Natural Gas in Omaha before moving to Boise to join Intermountain Gas in 1973. He left his position as Intermountain’s chief financial officer in 1979 to join MDU Resources in Bismarck, N.D. He returned to Boise in 1987 as Intermountain’s president after it became a private company. Today, Intermountain Industries and its subsidiaries consist of Intermountain Gas Co., III Exploration Co., Petroglyph Energy Inc. and InterWest Capital Inc.

Active in several community service activities, Glynn was the recipient of the 2001 Community Service Award from Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Bill and his wife, Connie, live in Boise and have three children.

“Over the past 25 years I have seen the College of Business and Economics programs at Boise State build on the solid foundation I experienced as one of the graduate school’s first graduates. The ability to study alongside businessmen, who like myself had everyday work experiences to share, was particularly rewarding. That same practical business school environment exists today and makes Boise State University such an attractive institution for learning.” – William Glynn

Todd Howland graduated with a BBA in economic in 1983 from Boise State University. “Boise State provided me with an opportunity for a real-life education, as opposed to having an elite education, where so my choices are made for you. My decision to study at Boise State prepared me to juggle not just my classes, but also renting a house, organizing a soccer team, political activism, skiing, work and my social life. Choices were greater and reflected a real-life experience,” Todd commented.

After graduating with a BBA, Todd went on to earn a master’s degree in political economy and a law degree, both from University of Denver.

Todd is currently deputy chief of the U. N. Human Rights Division in Angola in central Africa.

Steve Justus decided to come to Boise State to launch a new career around computers. Previously he co-founded Justus Enterprises, a cattle ranching operation that grew to encompass properties in Blaine and Gem counties.

Steve graduated from Boise State University in 1994 with a BBA in computer information systems.

After graduating, he became a MIS director for Image National, later moving to MCMA where he became a team leader in the company’s implementation of the Baan Enterprise Resource Planning System.

In 2000, Steve pursed his dream of developing his own business, Kyes Consulting. Kyes consulting specializes in business system analysis and custom software solutions.

Michael LaTour chose to major in marketing because of its challenges: “The experience of marketing develops one’s communication skills and I am fascinated with consumer psychology.” He chose Boise State University largely in part because of its highly ranked business school and excellent reputation of its faculty.

Michael received his BBA and MBA at Boise State, where he was an ASBSU senator.  He earned his Ph.D. at University of Mississippi in 1986.

He was named the “Outstanding Researcher of the Year” at Old Dominion University College of Business and Public Administration in 1990.

Michael is currently the Touchmark Professor of Marketing at Auburn University in Alabama.

Carla Matthews was able to attend Boise State University with the help of several financial and academic scholarships. She graduated in 1983 with a BBA in management, with an emphasis in computer and quantitative analysis.

Within the same year, she joined J.R. Simplot Company. Currently, Carla is a contract buyer and the manager of production planning and scheduling for the privately held agribusiness corporation headquartered in Boise.

Carla believes Boise State fulfilled her higher education needs by preparing her with the knowledge necessary to be successful in today’s competitive environment. She feels successful individuals never stop learning; it helps to build on a sound base of fundamentals.

Jennifer Miller has a knack for organizing people.  She received her BBA in human resource management from Boise State University in 1995 after starting out as an accounting major.

Jennifer is the director of human resources at Albertsons College of Idaho and the director-elect of the Idaho State Human Resource Council.

She chose to go into human resource management because she felt it was “a good fit with my values and what I wanted to pursue professionally.” Working on a college campus allows her to contribute to the field of continuing education while also contributing to her community.

Kimberly Welsh enrolled at Boise State as a communication major but quickly was hooked on finance after taking an introductory course in finance. She graduated in 1987 with a BBA in finance from Boise State University. With the encouragement of her mentor, Dr. Alan Frankle, Kimberly applied to the graduate assistant program at SUNY/Albany and was accepted. She pursued her MBA on a full scholarship.

In 1988 Kimberly was hired by UBS PaineWebber Inc. for a summer associate position. After completing her MBA, she was offered a full-time position with the company. In holding many job positions, Kimberly is current a director with UBS PaineWebber Inc.