2024 Manufacturing Industry Trade Show & Conference | Boise Sessions

Dan is dedicated to developing businesses through investing in people. With over 15 years of experience in recruitment, contracting, and consulting, he excels at connecting organizations with the right talent for technical and professional roles. His creative approach to problem-solving ensures tailored solutions for each client’s needs.

Pam Howland is the founder of Idaho Employment Lawyers, a boutique law firm dedicated to handling Idaho employment law issues. She has been litigating cases in Idaho state and federal courts since 2001, representing employers around the country against claims encompassing discrimination, harassment, retaliation, non-competes, wrongful termination, FLSA and the ADA. Pam is passionate about employment law and speaks regularly on new and evolving employment laws and issues. She is dedicated to assisting employers and human resource professionals as they maneuver through the minefield of fast-changing laws, rules, and legal guidance. Pam recently launched Law for Leaders to educate business leaders on staying in compliance and out of the courtroom.

Melissa was born and raised in Idaho and enjoys being outdoors, especially running on the Greenbelt. She is currently a Human Resource Professional for BBSI (but will also always be an entrepreneur at heart). She enjoys empowering business owners and leaders in building strong cultures, while adopting the best HR practices.

Tate is the Talent Development Manager at Spudnik Equipment Company. He has been with Spudnik for over 6 years working in several roles, including Recruiter and Maintenance Manager. Tate has a passion for professional development, particularly in the arena of leadership training.

Liz is the Operations Manager at Franklin Sensors, where she helps deliver innovative stud finders to top retailers. Previously, as Purchasing Manager, she launched a new line of electronic levels. Liz co-owned a fast-growing eCommerce company that made the Inc. 5000 list twice, fueling her passion for supply chain optimization and financial KPIs. She also co-owns a software company focused on business process documentation.

Charlie is the CEO of GP Tools, a renowned manufacturer and distributor of pneumatic riveting and insertion tools based since 1972, based in Idaho Falls. With extensive experience in manufacturing and supply chain management, he advocates for Idaho businesses, fostering growth and collaboration. GP Tools partners with top manufacturers in various sectors, including aerospace and automotive.

Robert (Rob) is a supply chain expert with 29 years of experience in logistics and operations. He is the Purchasing Manager at Western Trailer Co., a leading semi-trailer manufacturer in Boise, ID. Rob specializes in optimizing supply chain processes and reducing costs. He also serves on the Freight Advisory Council for the Idaho Transportation Department, advocating for manufacturing and transportation.

Tracie Lee teaches Supply Chain and Statistics courses for undergraduates and MBA students in Boise State's College of Business and Economics. Tracie also serves as a Digital Faculty Consultant (DFC) and Subject Matter Expert (SME) for McGraw-Hill Education in Supply Chain and Statistics, and since 2017, has been the editor of McGraw-Hill’s OM in the News blog (OMintheNews.com), where faculty bloggers write about current events in Supply Chain Management. Prior to teaching, she worked in various supply chain roles for Hewlett Packard and other companies for fifteen years.

Nate Callister has more than 25 years of experience in the banking industry as a commercial banking leader, most recently serving as executive vice president and head of Commercial Banking at Wells Fargo Bank in Utah and Idaho. Prior to that, Nate spent two years as head of Commercial Banking at Community Banks of Colorado and Hillcrest Bank. Nate holds a master of business administration degree from University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in Russian from Brigham Young University. He is married with eight children

Doug has been with Bank of America since 2002, leading teams across three lines of business in the Northwest. He advises clients with annual revenues of $10M to $150M, focusing on manufacturing, logistics, amusement, and technology sectors. Doug combines the global reach of a large firm with tailored solutions for local companies, making complex financial challenges simple.

Cory Jakobson is a Senior Vice President and serves as a Regional Commercial Banking Manager, leading commercial teams in Southern Idaho and Utah. Cory uses a consultative advisory approach toward growing the commercial sector for Umpqua Bank. Cory has successfully started and grown three regions for the bank and is an integral part of positive changes within the bank and lending community. He specializes in providing financial solutions to business leaders in the transportation, owner occupied real estate, manufacturing, and construction industries. A 22-year banking veteran, Cory is a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School and holds a BBA and MBA from Boise State University. He is active in in his community and has held several leadership and volunteer positions. In his spare time, you’ll find Cory supporting his three athletic children, kayaking down rapids, skiing, or riding his bike preferably in the mountains.

Jaren is the Director of Commercial Banking in Western Idaho for Zions Bank, where he has worked for over 20 years. He specializes in companies with annual revenues of $10-$50 million and handles loan requests up to $20 million. Passionate about learning, Jaren enjoys teaching and developing others. Outside of work, he loves spending time with family and friends, engaging in sports and outdoor activities.

Haven has worked in the Environmental, Health, Safety and Security industry for over 15 years. The journey began with 9 years in the Nuclear Power sector, tasked with performing and reviewing pre-job briefs, stand-downs, and risk hazard analysis in a radioactive environment. This ultimately led to a passion for proactive prevention over reactive correction across several industries. Combining an eye for detail and an appetite for Continuous Improvement, Haven is devoted to creating workplaces where safety isn't a requirement but a shared value. In the world of manufacturing, the goal isn't just about meeting standards; it's about exceeding them.

Randy is a Senior Risk Control Specialist at Marsh McLennan Agency, based in Yakima, WA. He brings over a decade of real-world construction safety experience to support the risk management needs of Marsh McLennan Agency clients. Randy has the experience and skillset to support heavy industrial clients in areas such as hazard identification, performance and regulatory compliance and training needs analysis to clients. He enjoys partnering with MMA clients to solve challenges and ultimately help them create a safer environment for their employees. In his off time, Randy enjoys being a dad to his young family and working on his family’s hobby farm.

Kayla is a Commercial Insurance Producer for Marsh McLennan Agency in Boise, ID. Her background includes a tenured history in commercial finance, with a focus in risk management. Her client base consists of artisan trades, wood manufacturing, non-profit organizations and a variety of other industries. When working with her clients, Kayla emphasizes the importance of arming business owners with knowledge about their own risk exposures, teaching them to become their own first line of defense, and how to understand their policies enough to advocate for themselves. When she’s not working, she’s enjoying the great outdoors with her family – camping, fishing, knife-making, and serving her community.

Kacey joined Marsh McLennan Agency as a Cyber Specialist in 2024. She has experience in software development, cyber defense, and cyber awarenenss training initiatives. Through her work, Kacey helps organizations across industries better understand and manage their cyber risks. She sits on MMA’s cyber and tech team at the national level and is committed to continuous learning as the complexities of cybersecurity are always evolving. Kacey holds a Bachelor of Science in Cyber Operations and Resilience from Boise State University.

As Director of Human Resources, Safety & IT, Ron drives organizational excellence while balancing business, customer, and employee needs. With over 37 years of experience in leadership, talent acquisition, M&A, and management across various sectors, Ron creates strategic partnerships to align workforce needs with customer-focused leadership at Bestbath.

Dianne is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience as co-owner of Greyloch LLC, founded with her husband, Shaun. As Vice President and HR Manager, she leads a team of 75, fostering a positive and innovative work culture. A graduate of BSU with a BA in Special Education and Elementary Education, Dianne is a proud mother of four—each involved in the family business—and a grandmother to eight.

Founder of Guide & Grow Consulting, Ann has over a decade of experience driving success for companies across diverse industries, including manufacturing, technology, and non-profits. She specializes in talent development, helping organizations attract, train, and retain skilled employees. Her expertise includes career pathing, interpersonal skills enhancement, and team training, all aimed at fostering a strong workforce.

With over two decades of experience in employee engagement, workplace culture, and employee well-being, Suzie is a seasoned professional dedicated to fostering inclusive and thriving work environments. Currently serving as a Wellness Consultant and Team Lead at PacificSource Health Plans, she collaborates with large employers to develop and implement comprehensive employee engagement strategies. They focus on creating annual plans, measuring success through meaningful data, and continuously improving engagement and well-being tactics. Suzie also leads a remote team of Wellness Consultants, providing strategic direction, training, and mentorship to ensure professional growth and development. Her expertise in workplace well-being, employee engagement and leadership development makes her a valuable asset to any organization seeking to enhance employee engagement and organizational health.

Dr. Christa Sandidge is an Associate Professor in the area of Leadership and Professional Studies at Northwest Nazarene University; in addition, she is the Director of the Center for Professional Development. Her primary areas of focus and expertise include leadership development and team development, and her research activities address topics such as leadership practices, leadership development, and organizational behavior.

Dr. Bethany Schultz is an Associate Professor of Leadership Studies and the Director of Teaching and Learning at Northwest Nazarene University. With over a decade of higher education leadership experience, Dr. Schultz's leadership expertise lies in change management, gender in leadership, and higher education administration. She is passionate about leading transformative initiatives that empower individuals and create supportive environments, while driving sustainable institutional growth and success.

Noah Riley is the founder and visionary leader of AI Genius Consulting. His passion for AI goes beyond his profession, he views it as a transformative technology with the potential to create time and improve people's lives. This belief drives his dedication and passion to understanding AI and making its benefits accessible to individuals and businesses alike. Noah's enthusiasm for AI is contagious, and his ability to explain complex concepts in an approachable manner makes AI understandable, accessible, and appealing to diverse audiences. His unique blend of expertise and charisma makes learning about AI both informative and enjoyable. Under Noah's leadership, AI Genius Consulting is at the forefront of AI innovation and application, providing cutting-edge solutions that help clients harness the power of AI to achieve their goals.

Jim Eicher is the creator of Cognitive Management™ which applies research from the cognitive sciences to organization and leadership behavior. Mr. Eicher has held leadership positions at KPMG, Booz Allen Hamilton, Symantec and IBM, and has been interviewed by the Wall Street Journal and Selling magazine. While an Undergraduate, Jim was teaching assistant to the late Gregory Bateson. Bateson is a pioneer in systems theory and cybernetics, both foundations of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Jim is the author of the management communication text Making the Message Clear and many articles, assessments and book chapters. He is co-author, with the late John Jones and William Bearley, of the management assessments the Matrix Manager Inventory: Leading in a Collaborative Environment; the Neurolinguistic Communication Profile; Rapport: Matching and Mirroring Communication and Post-Heroic Leadership: Managing the Virtual Organization. Jim has also authored or co-authored many articles, assessments and book chapters including: Cognitive Arbitrage: The Outsourcing of Intelligence; the Leader-Manager Profile; The Change Bully: What to do when Demagoguery Masquerades as Organization Change; Making Strategy Happen; Organizational drift: Why organizations drift off keel and what human resource professionals can do about it; The Execution Gap: 7 Questions You Must Ask; the Strategic Action Profile; and Cognitive Management: Managing your Organization’s Mind.

Nathan Dizes is the Controls Engineering Manager at Spudnik Equipment Company, leading teams in hydraulic, electrical, electronic, and software design. With nearly two years in this role, he leverages extensive experience in optimizing complex machinery. Previously, he spent five years as a technical trainer, developing the company’s training program, and served as a product specialist, enhancing his expertise in agricultural equipment.

Brad's experience with over 24 years of distinguished service in the United States Air Force, extensive consulting experience, and a pivotal role as Division Administrator at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership in Executive Leadership, Strategic Planning, Operations, and Financial Services to TechHelp. Brad’s expertise will be invaluable as we continue to drive innovation and effectiveness at TechHelp.