Our People

Dr. Anson is Emeritus Professor of Information Systems at Boise State University, and currently owner of Hot Rocks Consulting. He has over 30 years consulting experience facilitating meetings and Business Process Re-Engineering workshops, implementing enterprise systems, and certifying electronic voting systems for the state of Idaho. Rob taught for thirty years in the areas of Business Intelligence, Systems Analysis and Design, Project Management, and Database Management. He also taught courses for the Executive MBA program in Strategic Information Systems and Design Thinking. Currently, Rob has a product called PeerAssessment.com used in a number of universities to support student team peer assessment and team skills development.

Dr. Villachica has consulted and worked in business, government, higher education, and non-profit settings for more than 25 years. He joined the faculty of the Department of Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning in the College of Engineering at Boise State University in 2007. Prior to joining Boise State, Steve collaborated with colleagues and clients at DLS Group, Inc., to create large-scale performance support systems, e-learning, instructor-led training, job aids, and a host of award-winning performance improvement solutions for pharmaceutical companies, law enforcement agencies, securities companies and regulators, the Intelligence Community, and others. At Boise State, Steve teaches courses in instructional design, needs assessment, and workplace performance improvement. Dr. Villachica’s research interests focus on identifying and leveraging exemplary performance throughout organizations. His current research efforts investigate aspects of student readiness for the workplace. Steve recently co-authored an Instructional Design textbook with Drs. Giacumo and Stepich. …..  Since retiring in May 2022, Steve enjoys working with OPWL graduates and students in the PML.

Tony Marker is a professor and current chair of the Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning Department at Boise State University. He is a LEED Accredited Professional and teaches courses in improving human performance in the workplace, systems thinking, change management, organizational culture, and the design of sustainable business processes. A frequent author and presenter at national and international conferences, he has been working and teaching in the field for over 15 years. Tony received his PhD from Indiana University in Instructional Systems Technology and a cognate in Organizational Behavior and Human Resources.

Jaime Hansen is the Executive Director at Swipe Out Hunger. With over 20 years in the community benefit sector, Jaime has worked with national, state, and multi-county agencies to achieve stability and mission-driven success. Jaime has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychological Sciences as well as a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and returns to school every fall to teach Nonprofit Management at Boise State University. …..  You can often find Jaime in the vast wilderness of Idaho on a raft or in snowshoes. She loves all things food and regularly experiments in cooking with her partner Xanti, a 7-year-old with dance fever, and a menagerie of animals.

Osemome Ndebbio (she/her) completed her master’s degree in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning in Spring 2024.  She works as a Learning Design Innovation & eLearning Multimedia Specialist with the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM).  She started off her career as an educator gaining valuable experience working with nonprofit organizations to improve various outcomes for communities affected by health, educational inequalities and injustice. …..  We are pleased to welcome her back from sabbatical.  Osemome’s interests lie in researching experiences that level the playing field, so employees are supported to reach their fullest potential in the workplace regardless of their socio-economic or cultural background. Osemome’s role at Process Management Lab will center on ensuring that internal and external facing processes and products designed at PML are tailored to meet the needs of each organization while keeping the end-users at the forefront.

Katherine is a current Master’s student in Boise State’s Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning program. She has more than two decades of experience in curriculum design, technology implementation, facilitation and process improvement, spanning diverse educational settings. She also holds a Master’s degree in Spanish Language and Translation, and draws on a lifetime of cross-cultural communication to foster inclusion and effect change. Katherine’s professional interest lies in building strong, efficient systems that enable change initiatives to create a sustainable future for all. …..  When she’s not improving things at work, you can find her listening to podcasts, walking her dog or spending time outside with her husband and two young children in her home state of Connecticut.

Jenn Stevens earned her MS in OPWL and a Graduate Certificate in Workplace Performance Improvement in Spring 2023. She is passionate about the OPWL field and professional development. …..  During Jenn’s career she has managed businesses as an entrepreneur. She gained valuable professional experience in Organizational Development and executive coaching at the City of Boise. As well performance coaching, training, and facilitating leadership development programs the Idaho Transportation Department. Jenn has a diverse background of work experience, from wildland firefighting to coaching volleyball which enable her to connect with and understand many business environments and think creatively. …..  Jenn transitioned away from government and moved to the private sector where she is currently a Learning and Development Manager for a software company in the Human Capital Management space.

Andrea Cordovez is a recent graduate of the Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning (OPWL) program at Boise State University. She brings a diverse range of professional experience, including providing music therapy services to adults with neurological disorders and those in end-of-life care, supporting individuals in grief, and teaching twice-exceptional children. Andrea is passionate about empowering others to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to improve their lives and enabling people to do their best work by improving systems. ….. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children. Together, they are the loudest youth soccer cheerleaders for their oldest, the proudest musical theater audience for their middle child, and have become experts on all things train-related thanks to their youngest.

Daniel Lara is a Senior Human Resources professional specializing in human resources, performance improvement, adult learning, and technology, with over ten years of experience leading people, HR teams, and partnering with business leaders. As an HR partner, Dan leverages his understanding of HR compliance, strategy, and organizational performance to achieve operational excellence, risk mitigation, and best practices to achieve business objectives and outcomes. …..  Dan is dual-certified and designated a PHR and PHRca through the Human Recourses Certification Institute and is currently a graduate student at Boise State University, pursuing a Master of Science in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning. He previously received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Northridge. …..  When he is not busy being a people champion, you can find him studying, spending time with his three cats, listening to a good audiobook, or taking an energizing step or kickboxing class.

David Searle graduated from Utah State University in 2023 with a B.S. in Psychology. During his undergraduate he was involved in an Instructional Technology and Learning Services lab and an Engineering Education lab where he was able to research a variety of topics from cognitive load and computational thinking to spatial ability performance among blind and low-vision populations. He is currently in his first semester in the OPWL program with interests in process improvement, systems thinking, and organizational performance and strategy. …..  David currently resides in Boise with his wife Kyrstin and their two cats. He enjoys trying new things, attending live concerts, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Ronda is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning at Boise State University. Her professional experience began in education, where she worked with exceptional children in both gifted and special education programs. She then spent over a decade running the Human Resources, Payroll, and Accounting departments for a small business. Ronda holds a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies, the SHRM-CP credential in Human Resources, and a MicroMBA Certificate from the University of California San Diego Rady School of Management. …..  She joined the Process Management Lab to gain hands-on experience in change management and process improvement, particularly within the nonprofit sector. This aligns with her interest in supporting high-need organizations, a key focus for her future career aspirations. …..  Ronda resides in the Dallas, Texas area. When she’s not engaged in her studies or lab projects, she enjoys spending time with her son and daughter, both of whom will graduate with their undergraduate degrees in 2025. Her leisure activities include attending plays, visiting comedy clubs, traveling, and spending time with her dog, Sadie, a Havanese, who rules the household.

Ryan Mays works as an Organizational Performance Consultant.  He draws on over 15 years of learning and development experience in financial services, nonprofits, and higher education to help organizations clarify and then resolve gaps in human performance. In addition, he has facilitated strategic planning, guided process improvement initiatives, and served as a nonprofit board member. Along with earning his Certified Credit Union Executive credential from the National Credit Union Association, he completed an MS from Boise State University in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning with a focus on workplace performance improvement. …..  Outside of work, he enjoys basketball and hiking with his family in the hills of eastern Kentucky.

Amy Bolstad earned her graduate certificate in E-Learning Design and Development, with an undergraduate degree from Central Washington University in Information Technology and Administrative Management, plus a Master’s in Communication Leadership from Gonzaga University. She works as a Program Specialist II at Eastern Washington University.  As a program support professional within higher education, she has been an integral team member in departmental improvement projects, training staff on policies and procedures, and providing innovative and creative ways to create an efficient and positive work environment. …..  In her free time, she enjoys hiking and visiting local festivities in Washington State with her son Gavin and dog Luna.

Chantel Early (she/her) graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 2014 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, and earned her graduate certificate in Instructional Design from Boise State in 2021. She started as an Instructional Designer with Spencer’s and is a Coast Guard Veteran. Chantel resides in Atlantic City, NJ with her husband Tim, and their two dogs, Rey and Maddy. Chantel has led multiple projects, training, on-boarded new members and published her work several times at a national conference, in a technical report and has contributed to a peer reviewed journal article that is in preparation for review.  Currently she is an Instructional Designer with Spensers.

Jodi Mammenga is currently a Process Improvement Analyst with the Office of Continuous Improvement at Boise State University.  She is a lifelong learner who enjoys exploring and playing with ideas. Using questions, she invites others to create innovative ways to improve performance at work and in life. She has worked for national non-profits, hospitals, universities, and financial services organizations with a focus on developing people, resources, and processes. Her goal is to leave an organization in better standing by nurturing a people-focused culture of assessment and process improvement. While pursuing her Master’s in Organizational Performance and Workplace Learning (OPWL) at Boise State University she is partnering Dr. Villachica and Dr. Anson as a consultant with Hot Rocks Consulting. …..  In her free time, Jodi enjoys spending time with her partner, Steve, playing cribbage, hiking, and exploring new places.

Co-Investigator

Fran Caprai, MBA is an experienced business leader and IT Executive with in-depth understanding of systems, data, and most importantly, people. Her inherent ability to see the big picture then break it into manageable pieces has enabled her to build effective and cohesive IT organizations, manage complex programs, lead and manage change and to serve as a mentor for people eager to grow in their career. Fran’s life-long drive to continue learning has enabled her to move from Albertsons (grocery retail, distribution & supply chain) to BMHC (building materials wholesale and home construction), to ECCO (global manufacturing in the automotive industry), and most recently, to Amalgamated Sugar Company (food manufacturing and agriculture).  Each change in industry brought the opportunity to learn about new business hurdles and new ways to apply process improvement and discipline to provide improved solutions.  Fran thrives on diversity, welcomes a good challenge, and appreciates variety as critical to satisfaction and success. ….. Fran left the PML to become Executive Director of Artisans for Hope.  The Boise-based non-profit helps refugees, who have resettled in Boise from across the globe, with community, training to master the crafts of sewing and knitting, and a source of income from selling their goods.

Destiny Byrd earned her MS in OPWL and Graduate Certificate in Workplace Performance Improvement from Boise State in Spring 2023. She now works as a Performance Analyst with the Georgia Public Defender Council. With a robust background in many industries, Destiny has supported organizations with their strategic goals through various functions. She has been a key proponent in increasing efficiencies within organizational processes and supporting a collaborative environment.  …..  Destiny resides in Atlanta, GA with her husband, Colby, their cat and two dogs. She enjoys taking her dogs hiking and exploring the city with her husband and friends.

Steven Zeller is an instructional designer for St. Luke’s Health System in Boise, Idaho and is currently working toward earning his MS in OPWL. With a background in both education and graphic design, Steven has found his work as an instructional designer for the past decade to be the perfect intersection of these two fields that he loves. His years in instructional design span the industries of hospitality, finance, and healthcare, providing him with a rich breadth of experience from which to draw upon as he has moved deeper into the world of performance improvement.  …..  Steven enjoys visual art of just about any variety, hiking and camping with his family, reading, writing, and participating in humanitarian relief efforts around the world.

Jeni Johnson is an instructional designer working toward earning a Workplace Performance Improvement Certificate through the OPWL program. With a strong passion for lifelong learning, Jeni constantly seeks ways to improve her skills and stay current in the field. She is dedicated to using her expertise to create engaging and effective learning experiences that drive real results and improve working conditions for employees.  …..  She enjoys giving back to my community in her free time by volunteering with the local animal rescue as a Therapet team with her Beagle.