10th Annual Economic Summit Recap: Roots of the Valley, Leaders of the Future
On May 27, more than 600 business leaders, community members, and economic development champions gathered at Boise Centre for BVEP’s 10th Annual Economic Summit, a milestone celebration of a decade of growth, connection, and intentional investment in the Boise Metro’s future.
A Decade Worth Celebrating
Emcee Carolyn Holly opened the afternoon by setting the tone for what made this year’s summit feel different from the nine that came before it. Ten years of bringing together the region’s most influential leaders isn’t just a number, it’s a testament to a community that shows up, year after year, to do the work of building something lasting.
BVEP Board Chair Allison Bruce, Co-owner and Vice President of Recruiting at TalentSpark, welcomed attendees with remarks that set the stage for the day’s central theme: that the most powerful thing happening in the Treasure Valley isn’t any single company or project, it’s the culture of mentorship and access that makes this region unlike anywhere else.
BVEP by the Numbers
Presenting Sponsor Tommy Ahlquist, CEO and President of Ahlquist, joined BVEP Executive Director Clark Krause and Director of Economic Development Beth Ineck on stage for a candid look at where BVEP has been & where it’s going.
Clark, who joined BVEP in September 2010, reflected on the early days of the organization and what it has taken to build a regional economic development engine that now competes on a global stage. The numbers tell part of the story: since 2010, BVEP has helped bring 16,695 jobs and 74 companies to the Treasure Valley, broadening and diversifying the region’s industry base in ways that make it more resilient for the future.
But the story has increasingly become an international one. Beth and Clark shared that roughly 40% of BVEP’s current projects are international in origin, and only about 20% of those are tied to Micron, signaling that the Boise Metro is earning genuine global traction on its own merits. Recent international travel to Taiwan, Japan, and an upcoming trip to France reflect BVEP’s deliberate push to attract foreign direct investment and expand Idaho’s presence in global supply chains.
Panel One: The Roots of the Valley — Idaho’s Food Industry Legacy
Moderated by Neil Nelson, CEO and President of ESI Construction, the first panel brought together three of Idaho’s most iconic names in food and agriculture: Brad Street, President of Albertsons Companies’ Mountain West Division; Brodie Griffin, VP of Operations at Amalgamated Sugar; and Kurt Myers, VP of Strategy and Innovation at Simplot’s Global Food division.
Together, they represented something remarkable: the full arc of Idaho’s food supply chain, from field to factory to grocery shelf. The conversation explored what it means to steward legacies that stretch back generations — Amalgamated Sugar’s roots in Idaho since 1916, Simplot’s origin story beginning near Declo in 1929, and Albertsons’ celebrated return to Boise as its headquarters after years away. The panel also tackled the real challenges facing Idaho’s food sector today, from labor and water to market access and the role of AI in the industry’s future, while leaving the audience with a clear message: Idaho’s agricultural roots aren’t just history — they are the foundation everything else is built on.
Panel Two: Leaders of the Future — The Boise Culture That Sets Us Apart
Michael Ballantyne, managing partner of TOK Commercial took the stage to introduce three emerging leaders who embody what the next chapter of that culture looks like: Amanda Watson, Founder and President of Atlas Strategic Communications; Austin Smith, Director of Innovation and Marketing at Bogus Basin; and Sierra White, Community and Market Development Manager at McAlvain.
What followed was one of the most honest and energizing conversations the Summit has seen. The panelists spoke about the moments early in their careers when someone opened a door they didn’t expect, what made them realize they had become the person younger professionals were looking for, and what it actually takes to keep Boise’s culture of access and mentorship alive as the region grows. The message was clear: this culture didn’t happen by accident, and it won’t sustain itself without intentional effort from every leader in the room.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
None of this would be possible without the generous support of our sponsors across every level of this event. We are deeply grateful to each organization that invested in making the 10th Annual Economic Summit a reality.
A special thank you to our Presenting Sponsors, Ahlquist, ESI Construction, and TOK Commercial, for your leadership and continued commitment to this community.
Thank you to our Co-Sponsors: Adler Industrial LLC, Blue Cross of Idaho, Boise Airport, Brighton Corporation, Hawley Troxell, ICCU, Intermountain Gas Company, Micron, Perigee Group, and Regence BlueShield.
And thank you to our Table Sponsors: Alliance Title, Andersen Construction, Boise State University Division of Research and Economic Development, Capital City Development Corporation (CCDC), CBRE, Chase Bank, College of Western Idaho, Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho (COMPASS), CSHQA, D.L. Evans Bank, Delta Dental of Idaho, Fidelity National Title, Givens Pursley LLP, HeHendricks Commercial, Heritage Bank, Hillcrest Bank, Idaho Commerce, Idaho First Bank, Idaho Housing and Finance Association, Idaho Power Company, Marsh McLennan Agency, Mountain America Credit Union, Mountain West Bank (Division of Glacier Bank), P1FCU, PacificSource Health Plans, Republic Services, Saint Alphonsus, St. Luke’s Health Plan, TitleOne, U.S. Bank, University of Idaho Boise, Venture Title, Washington Trust Bank, and WSP USA Inc.
Your support makes our work possible, and this community stronger!