For Immediate Release

Idaho Technology Council Announces 2026 Hall of Fame Inductees, Idavation™ Award Finalists and Keynote Speaker Gary Sorrentino, Zoom

Idavation™ winners and recipients of the Sawtooth STEM Educator Awards, Policy Champion Award and Chairman's Award for Service Excellence will be unveiled live at the October 29 gala.

BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Technology Council today announced the 2026 inductees into the Idaho Technology Hall of Fame, the finalists for this year's Idavation™ Awards and Gary Sorrentino, Global Chief Information Officer of Zoom, as keynote speaker for the 2026 Hall of Fame Gala & Idavation™ Awards.

Presented by Idaho Central Credit Union, the gala will take place Thursday, October 29, 2026, at Boise Centre. This year's theme, “Inspired Intelligence,” celebrates the ideas, ingenuity and human creativity driving meaningful innovation throughout Idaho and beyond — from the Treasure Valley to North Idaho and Eastern Idaho, this year's honorees reflect the full breadth of Idaho's technology and innovation landscape.

“Idaho's technology story is ultimately a story about people — the leaders who imagine what is possible, the innovators who turn ideas into solutions and the individuals who invest in helping others succeed,” said Diane Temple, President and CEO of the Idaho Technology Council. “This year's inductees and finalists reflect the extraordinary depth of talent across our state. We look forward to bringing Idaho's technology community together to recognize their impact and celebrate the inspired intelligence shaping our future.”

Gary Sorrentino, Global CIO of Zoom, Named Keynote Speaker

Gary J. Sorrentino has served as Global Chief Information Officer of Zoom since 2020 and brings nearly four decades of information technology leadership to the stage. Before joining Zoom, he was a managing director at J.P. Morgan Asset & Wealth Management, where he served for more than 12 years as Chief Technology Officer and later as Global Head of Client Cyber Awareness and Education.

Sorrentino's career has spanned enterprise technology, cybersecurity, financial services and organizational transformation. His experience guiding people and organizations through significant technological change will offer a timely perspective as artificial intelligence reshapes how businesses operate, serve customers and prepare their workforce for the future.

The keynote presentation is sponsored by Dorsey & Whitney LLP.

2026 Idaho Technology Hall of Fame Inductees

Sponsored by Regence BlueShield of Idaho and Syringa Network, the Idaho Technology Hall of Fame recognizes iconic Idahoans whose leadership, inventions and enduring contributions have changed the way people work and live. The 2026 inductees are:

Andy Scoggin — CEO, Scoggin Capital Investment; Director, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Andy Scoggin has spent decades strengthening Idaho's economy through corporate leadership, investment, mentorship and public service. From helping guide Albertsons through significant national growth to supporting emerging technology companies through Scoggin Capital Investment and StageDotO Ventures, Scoggin has become one of Idaho's most trusted advisors, connectors and champions of entrepreneurs. His service has also included leadership with the Idaho Technology Council, St. Luke's Health System, Idaho Business for Education, the Idaho State Board of Education and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

Charley French — Inventor, Innovator and Lifelong Athlete

Charley French's pioneering designs helped reshape outdoor recreation, including his contributions to the development of dual-lens Smith ski goggles, the lightweight Scott ski boot and the first aerodynamic handlebars that influenced competitive cycling worldwide. A World War II Navy veteran, accomplished triathlete and cross-country skier, French, an Elkhorn resident, recently celebrated his 100th birthday and continues to embody the curiosity, persistence and lifelong pursuit of improvement at the heart of innovation.

2026 Idavation™ Award Finalists

Sponsored by Scoggin Capital Investment, the Idavation™ Awards celebrate the game changers and innovators exemplifying Idaho's entrepreneurial spirit. Finalists are listed alphabetically within each category, and the winner in each category will be announced live during the gala.

Mt. Borah Visionary Leader Award

Named for Idaho's highest peak, the Mt. Borah Award recognizes a leader who has expanded the horizons of Idaho's technology and entrepreneurial community.

Alberto Gonzalez — Idaho Transportation Department

Across more than two decades of public service, Gonzalez has led transformational advances in digital government, statewide technology modernization, responsible artificial intelligence and cybersecurity workforce development. His leadership helped make Idaho's DMV a national model for customer-focused digital services and later strengthened technology coordination and security across state government.

Bryan Magleby — Idaho Innovation Center

For more than a decade, Bryan Magleby has been a driving force behind entrepreneurship and small-business growth in Eastern Idaho. As Executive Director of the Idaho Innovation Center, Bryan has helped transform the organization into a thriving entrepreneurial hub — providing business owners with practical education, mentoring, mastermind groups, valuable connections, and the resources they need to turn ideas into successful businesses. His vision has also helped create new opportunities for entrepreneurs through the Idaho Commercial Kitchen and Yellowstone Food Village, while building stronger connections among entrepreneurs, business leaders and community partners throughout the region. His leadership, vision and commitment to creating opportunities for others have made a lasting impact on Eastern Idaho's entrepreneurial community.

Rich Stuppy — 8th Circle Consulting; Formerly Kount; Chair, Idaho Technology Council Capital Advisory Group

Following a 17-year tenure to help build and scale Kount through its acquisition by Equifax, Stuppy now brings extensive buy- and sell-side M&A and integration experience involving transactions exceeding $100 million. He has researched more than 400 investors in Idaho companies and continues strengthening the state's capital ecosystem as chair of the Idaho Technology Council Capital Advisory Group, Chief Industry Advisor to Boise State's School of Computing and a trusted mentor to entrepreneurs.

Hells Canyon Emerging Company Award

Inspired by the resilience required to navigate the nation's deepest canyon, this award recognizes an emerging company that has overcome hardship and sacrifice to achieve meaningful success.

Hempitecture — Matthew Mead, Thomas Gibbons, Co-Founders

Hempitecture brought the first hemp insulation manufacturing facility in the United States online while introducing an innovative and unfamiliar agricultural crop to the building-materials market. The company sources fiber locally, has recruited and trained a southern Idaho workforce, and now supplies its sustainable insulation products throughout Idaho and across the country.

PlexTrac — Dan DeCloss, Founder and Chief Customer Brand Officer

Founded in Boise by cybersecurity practitioner Dan DeCloss, PlexTrac developed an innovative platform that helps offensive security teams manage testing, reporting and remediation more effectively. PlexTrac's 2026 acquisition by Brinqa brings its security-validation capabilities into a unified exposure management platform serving more than 3,000 customers across 57 countries. DeCloss has joined Brinqa's executive leadership team and board of directors to lead the combined offensive security practice, an achievement that reflects resilience, innovation and growth.

Shadowscape Inc. — James McCarter, CEO and Founder

Founded in Boise in 2019 by Marine Corps veteran and cybersecurity intelligence expert James McCarter, Shadowscape provides intelligence-driven cybersecurity services, training and analytics. Through changing markets and federal requirements, McCarter and his team have continually adapted — building one of the industry's most experienced teams of Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification assessors, launching new cybersecurity offerings, and achieving approximately 120 percent growth over the past two years. Their persistence, strategic pivots and commitment to continued innovation embody resilience.

Peregrine Innovative Technology Award

The Peregrine Award recognizes a company or team that has demonstrated the agility and speed required to bring innovative technology into practical use. For the two University of Idaho finalists, the recognition honors both the programs and the leaders who built them.

Regence

Regence developed an in-house Trend Analysis Agent that places sophisticated healthcare cost and utilization research directly into the hands of clinical, actuarial and network leaders. Built in fewer than six weeks, the technology has reduced analyses that once required four to six weeks to just hours and has already helped identify more than $4 million in opportunities while supporting better-informed care decisions.

Center for Intelligent Industrial Robotics, University of Idaho — John Shovic, Director

Under John Shovic's leadership, the Center for Intelligent Industrial Robotics brings together faculty, students and industry partners to translate research in artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning, precision agriculture and manufacturing analytics into practical solutions. The recognition honors both the center's innovative work and Shovic's leadership in building a program that advances technology adoption and develops Idaho's future workforce.

Hagadone Technologies — AIO — Judd Jones, President

Judd Jones brings more than 30 years of technology leadership and innovation experience to his role as President of Hagadone Technologies. Under his leadership, the company developed its AI Interaction Optimization platform to help organizations strengthen their visibility, accuracy and relevance as AI assistants and large language models reshape how customers discover information. The recognition honors both the innovative AIO platform and Jones' commitment to translating emerging technologies into practical solutions for businesses.

University of Idaho's AI Degree Framework — Yong (Steve) Wang, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Computer Science

Under Wang's leadership, the University of Idaho developed new Bachelor of Science and Master of Science programs in artificial intelligence, creating an important educational pathway for the next generation of AI professionals. The recognition honors both the innovative degree framework and Wang's leadership in building a program that strengthens Idaho's technology and AI workforce.

Star Garnet Women Leading Tech Award

Inspired by Idaho's rare state gem, the Star Garnet Award honors a woman whose leadership in technology is exceptional, resilient and transformative.

Dr. Amy Fleischer — Dean, Boise State University College of Engineering

Dr. Amy S. Fleischer has served as Dean of Engineering at Boise State University since January 2025, leading a college that enrolls approximately 3,300 students across 23 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. An internationally recognized expert in the thermal management of electronic systems, she has led work on 42 research grants, published more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and two books, and currently chairs the Executive Board of the ASEE National Engineering Deans Council. At Boise State, her leadership is expanding research capacity, strengthening programs in artificial intelligence and microelectronics, and preparing students for careers in Idaho's growing technology economy.

Jessica Rolph — Co-Founder, Lovevery

Jessica Rolph co-founded Lovevery and helped build the Boise-based company into a nationally recognized, research-driven platform supporting early childhood learning and play. Through its award-winning, stage-based Play Kits and companion Lovevery App, the company translates child-development science into practical tools that give parents confidence and nurture children's development from birth. Her nomination recognizes the leadership behind that growth — combining research, technology and thoughtful product design to expand Lovevery's reach and impact.

Molly Zimmer — St. Luke's Health System

Zimmer has played a foundational role in developing St. Luke's system-wide approach to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, including its Emerging Technologies Lab, AI Advisory Council and AI Center of Excellence. Her leadership has helped create an ethical, coordinated and patient-centered model for testing and implementing innovation while building technology fluency across the healthcare workforce.

Sawtooth STEM Educator Awards

The Idaho Technology Council and Idaho STEM Action Foundation will also announce and honor the 2026 Sawtooth STEM Educator Award recipients live during the gala. The awards recognize three exceptional educators — one each from the K-6, grades 7-12 and higher education categories — who create meaningful opportunities for students to experience STEM through innovative instruction, hands-on learning and real-world applications.

Each honoree will receive a $2,000 personal award, along with an additional $2,000 for their school or institution to expand STEM programs and learning opportunities for students.

Learn more about the Sawtooth STEM Educator Awards: Idaho STEM Action Foundation

Additional Honors to Be Revealed Live

Throughout the evening, guests will experience a series of live announcements celebrating leadership, innovation, service and education across Idaho.

The Policy Champion Award recognizes exceptional leadership in advancing policies that strengthen Idaho's technology and innovation economy.

The Chairman's Award for Service Excellence honors extraordinary service and commitment to the Idaho Technology Council and its statewide mission.

The recipients of these two distinguished honors will remain confidential until they are announced live from the stage on October 29.

Registration and Sponsorship Opportunities

The 2026 Hall of Fame Gala & Idavation Awards will take place Thursday, October 29, at Boise Centre, 850 W. Front Street in Boise. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. The VIP Reception hosted by Micron and the general networking reception begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the welcome at 6:45 p.m. and dinner and the awards program from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.

Individual tickets are $125 for Idaho Technology Council members and $145 for nonmembers. Reserved tables, VIP tables and Small Business VIP packages are also available.

Organizations may still join the celebration as sponsors. Remaining opportunities offer visibility before and during the event, recognition in event materials and opportunities to host employees, clients and community partners at Idaho's premier celebration of technology and innovation.

Register, reserve a table or explore sponsorship opportunities: 2026 Hall of Fame Gala & Idavation Awards

Direct event registration: Register online

For sponsorship assistance, contact the Idaho Technology Council at info@idahotechcouncil.org or 208-917-5700.

2026 Event Partners

The gala is presented by Idaho Central Credit Union. Current event partners include Scoggin Capital Investment, Micron, Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Meta, Technology Credit Union, Syringa Network and St. Luke's Health System.

About the Idaho Technology Council

The Idaho Technology Council is a member-driven organization committed to building a strong technology community by bringing people together, supporting technology education and advocating for policies that promote sustainable growth. Through statewide programs, signature events and strategic partnerships, ITC is helping make Idaho a leading destination for technology and innovation.

Media Contact: Idaho Technology Council | info@idahotechcouncil.org | 208-917-5700

Idaho Technology Council Announces Second Annual WiTECH Summit, November 18–19 in Boise

22 October 2026
The full-day summit brings together women across Idaho’s technology sector, from engineers and founders to executives, investors, and educators, for a day of keynotes, panels, and breakout sessions.

Meet Mel Pint

by Tim Munkres • 7 October 2026
Introducing: Mel Pint, Founder & CEO, OpulX Media LLC Describe the business/organization you work for: OpulX Media LLC is an Idaho-registered live events company and a sister company of OpulenceX Inc., the marketplace where artists sell their work and keep earning royalties when it resells. OpulX Media produces art, fashion and technology showcases built around augmented reality and digital collectibles. Our first production is The Digital Loom: Intersecting Realities at Boise Centre on November 14, 2026: an AR runway, an exhibition of international artists whose every work is registered as a digital twin, and a free afternoon built around The Loom Youth Prize, a statewide art competition for Idaho kids and teens. It is planned as an annual Boise event, with a Honolulu edition in April 2027. What inspired you to start your own business, or why did you decide to work for this specific organization? I watched artists sell a piece once and never see another dollar from it, while the technology that fixes that already existed and nobody was putting it in front of the people who make things. OpulenceX Inc built the tools. OpulX Media exists because tools alone do not change anything; a room full of people watching a garment come alive through their own phone, standing next to a painting a nine-year-old made, does. Boise has a technology community, an arts community and a fashion community, and they rarely stand in the same room. I wanted to build the night where they do. What sets this business apart from others in the industry? Most media companies build audiences and rent them to advertisers. We build a creator economy and stand inside it with the creators. What challenges have you faced as a business owner or employee, and how did you overcome them? Being new. A first-year event with a technology company behind it has to earn standing in the arts community before anyone will put their name next to it. We did that the slow way: a venue contract before any letter went out, a judged youth prize with real cash and real exhibition space, terms for artists that put 70% of every sale in their hands. Joining the Idaho Technology Council was part of the same answer: be inside the community before asking anything of it. What advice would you give to someone looking to join your industry? Decide what you will not do before you decide what you will. Then find the person in your community who has done the hard part for years and ask them how, before you tell them what you are building. About the Idaho Technology Council The Idaho Technology Council (ITC) is a member-based organization that champions innovation and collaboration to grow Idaho’s economy through technology. Representing a dynamic and growing community of entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and policymakers, ITC connects vision with action to position Idaho as a hub for innovation and opportunity. Learn more at www.idahotechcouncil.org .  Connect with Mel Pint on LinkedIn HERE Learn More about OpulX Media HERE

Meet RT Williams

by Tim Munkres • 10 September 2026
Introducing: RT Williams, Founder & Energy Engineer, Pathline Foundry Describe the business/organization you work for: Pathline Foundry is an independent energy consulting and software firm in Meridian, Idaho. I run the gamut from benchmarking and energy audits to custom software for energy strategy, management, and optimization. It's a niche offering that's widely applicable across many industries. One engineer, start to finish. See where your energy is going, so you can make a smarter decision about where it goes next. What inspired you to start your own business, or why did you decide to work for this specific organization? I want to be the person who stays and partners with those who need it most. I've been doing energy engineering since 2017, and I've kept seeing the same pattern. A building gets an audit report, the report goes on a shelf, and nothing changes. Pathline Foundry grew out of that pattern, and I build software for the same reason: the findings need somewhere to live once the engagement is over, or they end up back on the shelf. Energy gets treated as a fixed cost, a line on the bill you can't do anything about. It isn't. There's real money sitting in waste and inefficiency, and most of the people who could act on it have no spare bandwidth and limited technical staff. I wanted to make that easy to see and easy to act on. What sets this business apart from others in the industry? There's no sales team and no handoff to a junior analyst. You talk to the person doing the engineering, and that same person is still there when it comes time to implement. I build the software side myself too, so the analysis, the modeling, and the tools a client ends up using all come from one place. Where it fits, I take a share of the savings instead of a flat fee, so the work is built to pay for itself. I'm a PhD engineer and a Certified Energy Manager. I write the work so a decision-maker can understand it and an engineer can act on it. What challenges have you faced as a business owner or employee, and how did you overcome them? Starting a business in a state where nobody knows you is a slow problem, and there's no clever fix for it. My family and I moved here in 2025, and I spent a lot of that first year in rooms where I knew one person, or none. What surprised me is that it made the actual work better. I used to lead with what I found in a building. Now I ask what somebody is trying to decide first, because a room full of strangers teaches you quickly that nobody cares what you know until they know why it matters to them. That turns out to be most of the job. Idaho has been more welcoming than I expected. Almost everything I've built here started with someone making an introduction, and I look forward to growing my work to support the community that made room for me. What advice would you give to someone looking to join your industry? Go into the buildings. You can learn modeling and software anywhere, but you can't learn how a facility actually runs from a spreadsheet. Spend time with the people who operate it. They'll tell you things no data set contains, and more often than not, they already know where the waste is. About the Idaho Technology Council The Idaho Technology Council (ITC) is a member-based organization that champions innovation and collaboration to grow Idaho’s economy through technology. Representing a dynamic and growing community of entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and policymakers, ITC connects vision with action to position Idaho as a hub for innovation and opportunity. Learn more at www.idahotechcouncil.org . Connect with RT Williams on LinkedIn HERE Learn More about Pathline Foundry HERE