For Immediate Release: September 3, 2025


BRENT J. STACEY TO BE INDUCTED INTO IDAHO TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL HALL OF FAME 2025 "UNCHARTED BRILLIANCE" GALA TO CELEBRATE INNOVATION AND THE GREATER IDAHO TECH ECOSYSTEM


Boise, Idaho - Brent J. Stacey, founder and Past Chair of the Idaho Regional Optical Network (IRON) and retired Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Associate Laboratory Director, is the 2025 inductee into the Idaho Technology Council (ITC) Hall of Fame. Since 2010, the ITC has honored iconic Idahoans who have advanced society and created a lasting impact in Idaho's technology ecosystem. The Hall of Fame inductees are nominated by the ITC Executive Committee with the winner selected by the ITC Board of Trustees.

Stacey brings over 40 years of experience in leadership, innovative technology strategy and risk-based cybersecurity solutions. As founder of IRON in 2007, he advanced Idaho's mission to connect higher education institutions to Idaho National Laboratory's assets and researchers, enabling Idaho students to succeed in competitive markets. Today, IRON supports Idaho's entire nonprofit community and higher education with reliable, high-speed, and affordable networking solutions.

At INL, Stacey led the National and Homeland Security mission as Associate Laboratory Director, overseeing national security technology, nuclear nonproliferation, critical infrastructure protection, and defense systems. He previously served as INL's Chief Information Officer and Director of Technology Deployment, transforming the laboratory's technology commercialization efforts. Before joining INL, he served as CIO for Argonne National Laboratory and co-founded SRV.net, among the earliest Internet service providers in the Pacific Northwest.

Stacey's distinguished career includes recognition as Idaho's Information Technology Executive of the Year in 2002, induction into the CIO Hall of Fame by CIO magazine in 2010, and recognition as a Premier 100 IT Leader by Computerworld in 2012.

This year's Hall of Fame celebration embraces the theme "Uncharted Brilliance," honoring the pioneers lighting the way forward in an era defined by rapid transformation and relentless innovation. The theme celebrates the daring visionaries, bold technologists, and creative problem-solvers navigating new frontiers in technology with clarity, courage, and brilliance.

"Brent exemplifies the spirit of Uncharted Brilliance that defines Idaho's tech ecosystem," said Diane Temple, ITC President and CEO. "His leadership in connecting Idaho's research institutions, advancing cybersecurity solutions, and fostering technology commercialization has had a transformative impact on Idaho's innovation landscape. We're proud to recognize his exceptional contributions to our state's technological advancement."

2025 Idavation™ Award Finalists

The 2025 Idavation™ Award Finalists highlight the breadth and depth of innovation across Idaho. Through a public nomination process and a vote by the ITC Board of Trustees, three finalists are selected in each category and honored at the Gala. The winner in each category will be announced live on stage.

Mt. Borah Visionary Leader Award, which is given to a leader who has expanded the horizons of Idaho's technology and entrepreneurial community:

  • Chris Morgan, Bastian Solutions - Has been part of Idaho's innovative and tech community for over 22 years and currently serves as Chief Innovation Officer at Bastian Solutions, part of Toyota Automated Logistics companies. He leads one of Idaho's most innovative hardware, software, firmware, and cyber teams, designing world-class solutions with robotics for autonomous driving forklifts and other vehicles that serve customers globally. Previously serving 13 years at HP with his final role as Engineering Robotics Manager, Chris has been a key advocate for technology and innovation, creating unity to ignite creative spirit for highest quality emerging technologies. His amazing energy, optimism, and solution-focused approach make him a world-class leader and advocate for growing talent and intellectual property in Idaho.
  • President Scott Green, University of Idaho - Since his appointment in 2019, has positioned the University of Idaho as the first and only institution in Idaho to achieve prestigious Carnegie Research Level 1 (R1) classification, joining an elite list of 187 of the most impactful research institutions in the country. Under his leadership, U of I achieved record research expenditures of $135.9 million in fiscal year 2023, generating more research expenditures than all other Idaho higher education institutions combined. His strategic investments and guidance have led to breakthrough research in cybersecurity, agriculture, rangeland health, and biomedical sciences, directly benefiting Idaho's economy and national security. Through initiatives like the Center for Secure and Dependable Solutions, groundbreaking sage-grouse research, successful potato pest eradication, and the 25-year INBRE biomedical network, President Green has demonstrated how university research drives innovation and economic resilience across Idaho.
  • Prabhat Tripathy, Idaho National Laboratory - A distinguished scientist making significant contributions to materials science and engineering, particularly in sustainable and clean energy solutions. His work in net zero manufacturing and environmental remediation is positioning Idaho National Laboratory as a leader in clean energy innovation. The commercialization of his invention for fabricating rare earth permanent magnets is particularly noteworthy given the strategic importance of these materials.


Peregrine Innovative Technology Award, which showcases an innovative technology that has been launched successfully:

  • Flashpoint Building Systems - Nick Stoppello - Has redefined construction layout through their patented Integrated Layout System (ILS), which dramatically improves accuracy, efficiency, and speed in the construction process by replacing traditional layout methods with digitally printed subfloor panels that incorporate architectural and structural layout directly. This transformative technology enables builders to eliminate multiple construction steps, reduce costly mistakes, and address the skilled labor shortage by making high-precision layout accessible to less experienced workers. What once took multiple trades and days to complete can now be done by a single crew in hours, with contractors reporting significant time savings and fewer call-backs. Created by builders for builders, Flashpoint has earned traction in a highly skeptical and cost-sensitive market through deep industry insight, technical ingenuity, and unwavering commitment to improving how buildings come together.
  • Lovevery - Co-founded by Jessica Rolph and Roderick Morris, Lovevery is transforming early childhood development through its innovative, research-driven support system for learning and play. Known for its award-winning, stage-based Play Kits program and the companion Lovevery App, the company provides science-backed tools that empower parents with confidence and nurture children’s development from birth. The company has navigated the challenging early-stage gauntlet and emerged with remarkable success, helping parents feel confident they are giving their children exactly what they need for optimal brain development during the early years.
  •  Soiltech Wireless - Ehsan Soltan - Rural Idaho-grown Soiltech Wireless has scaled from an early collaboration with three of Idaho’s largest growers to hundreds of farms across the United States and beyond. Soiltech prides itself on delivering real results: on a 10,000-acre farm, its soil-to-storage monitoring system saves 500 million gallons of water, cuts carbon emissions equal to 250,000 gallons of gasoline, and boosts yields by 4% each year. By turning grower insights into actionable recommendations through its cutting-edge technology, Soiltech is redefining sustainable agriculture whilst helping America’s farmers to do more with less. 


Hells Canyon Emerging Company Award, which recognizes a company that experienced a daunting journey to achieve success:

  • Galena Innovations - Developed a life-saving technology that solves a medical issue with pregnancies that existing devices and procedures fail far too often to resolve. The company's founder has demonstrated tremendous determination and resilience to develop technology, raise capital and face the challenging gauntlet of FDA approval.
  • Vessel - Has bootstrapped their entire journey building a technology company using local resources to solve state, regional, and national problems. Their Smart Assessment Platform equips experts in local, state, federal, and private agencies with technology to assess the needs of local manufacturers, suppliers, and business ecosystems while connecting them to AI-enhanced smart recommendations. The platform collects and visualizes data to identify supply chain gaps and provides industry-level benchmarking across workforce pipeline, supply chain, and technology readiness. Vessel is deeply committed to reshoring US manufacturing through small-to-medium sized manufacturers and creating a more resilient US economy.
  • ioAire Inc - Founded and led by CEO Tom, an accomplished entrepreneur with 28 patents who has successfully founded and exited two prior tech companies. ioAire represents a massively disruptive technology primed for growth in the next generation of AI-connected devices for IoT. The company's innovative solutions provide highly improved connectivity over distance and obstacles, positioning it as a game-changer in the connectivity space.


Star Garnet Women Leading Tech Award (Inaugural Award), recognizing exceptional women driving innovation and leadership in Idaho's technology sector:

  • Carolyn Hovde Bohach, Distinguished Professor, University of Idaho - Has led Idaho's NIH INBRE program for over 20 years, transforming Idaho's biomedical research landscape and elevating all higher education institutions in the state. Her leadership has fostered 2,076 scientific publications, 7,080 scientific presentations, and secured 629 new research grants, making her a nationally recognized advocate for biomedical sciences and mentorship. She has received multiple prestigious awards including the National W. Fred Taylor PhD Award, University of Idaho Faculty Member of the Year, and is a Fellow of the AAAS. NIH INBRE Directors across the country look to Carolyn as a mentor and her Idaho INBRE program as the "Gold Standard," with Governor Little recently declaring August as Idaho INBRE month in recognition of her transformative impact.
  • Elizabeth Hopkins, a native of Idaho and proud graduate of Boise State University with both a Bachelor of Science and an Executive MBA, has served as President & CEO of Sapidyne Instruments Inc. since 2015. Liz is passionate about growing the molecular sciences in Idaho, supporting the state’s emerging talent, and ensuring researchers have the accurate, reliable data they need to develop life-changing pharmaceuticals. She began her career at Sapidyne as a Staff Scientist and advanced through Senior Scientist and Lab Manager roles before stepping into leadership, giving her a deep understanding of both the science and the business. Under her guidance, Sapidyne has evolved from an instrument manufacturer into a global leader in antibody and drug development research. Today, her vision continues to shape the company’s R&D, driving innovative instrumentation and experimental designs that help scientists accelerate discovery.
  • Rachel Wilson, BoldHue - CEO and Co-Founder of BoldHue, a disruptive beauty-tech company solving foundation shade-matching with proprietary scanning and formulation technology that creates millions of personalized foundation shades in under a minute. Co-founded in 2020 during the pandemic, BoldHue has become a 7x award-winning company recognized by Elle, Cosmopolitan, Fast Company, and Oprah Daily for its industry-shaping innovation. A serial entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience, Wilson previously launched a boutique candle brand that achieved national retail placement in Nordstrom and Crate & Barrel within six months. Built on a mission of inclusivity, BoldHue is reshaping the future of beauty by eliminating the guesswork and exclusion that have long defined the shade experience.


2025 Chairman's Award for Service Excellence, Public Policy Champion, and Sawtooth Educator of the Year Award Winners will be announced LIVE on stage at the Gala.


2025 Keynote Speaker

Dr. Chris Progler, Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer & Strategic Planning at Photronics, Inc., will deliver the keynote address. Dr. Progler brings over 25 years of experience across integrated circuit (IC) and flat panel display sectors, directing global strategy, R&D, and advanced manufacturing for the publicly traded technology company with 1,900 employees across 11 international sites. He has spearheaded strategic joint ventures and collaboration models in Asia and US that generate the majority of company IC revenue and serves as a global thought leader through cutting-edge publications and speaking engagements.

Dr. Progler holds a B.S. in optics from the University of Rochester and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Texas.


Event Details:

The Hall of Fame and Idavation™ Awards Gala is made possible by Presenting Sponsor Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU); Idavation™ Awards Sponsor Scoggin Capital Investment;  VIP Reception and Public Policy Champion Award Sponsor Micron Technology. Community Champion Sponsors Meta, St. Luke's Health System, ValorC3 Data Centers, and Technology Credit Union  will participate in the Idavation™ award presentations, while Inductee Sponsors Regence BlueShield of Idaho  and Idaho State University will kick off the inductee ceremony followed by the keynote speaker sponsored by Dorsey & Whitney LLP.

ABOUT THE IDAHO TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL

The Idaho Technology Council is a membership organization committed to increasing awareness of a thriving technology ecosystem statewide. We are dedicated to fostering an innovative tech community in Idaho by acting as a catalyst that brings together leaders, drives collaboration across all industries, and advocates for tech growth. As a nucleus of thought leaders, innovation, and tech advocacy, we empower government, industry, and reinvestment. Our mission is to position Idaho as a premier tech destination by attracting tech companies and talent, driving educational support and policy, convening tech leadership, and initiating conversations on emerging topics. 

Email : info@idahotechcouncil.org
Website : https://www.idahotechcouncil.org/

From 'I Can't Code' to 'I Just Built That': My AI-Powered Learning Journey

by Diane Temple • 14 January 2026
From 'I Can't Code' to 'I Just Built That': My AI-Powered Learning Journey Three months ago, if you had told me I'd be writing HTML code, reading through stylesheets, and launching custom landing pages for the Idaho Technology Council, I would have laughed. Not because I didn't want to learn—but because "coding" felt like someone else's domain. I had my lane. They had theirs. Then I got curious. The Shift: From Consumer to Creator Like many leaders, I'd been using AI tools to write faster, research better, and think more clearly. But I hadn't considered that these tools could help me build things I'd previously built using drag and drop features which worked but also very time consuming. The breakthrough came when I stopped asking "Can AI do this for me?" and started asking "Can AI teach me to do this myself?" Working with Claude, I didn't just get a landing page delivered to me. I got to make one. Together. And then another. And another. What Actually Happened Here's the thing nobody tells you about "vibe coding" with AI: it's not about becoming a developer. It's about becoming conversational with technology. I'd describe what I needed: "This section needs to feel more welcoming. Can we add testimonials here? The Idaho map should be more prominent." Claude would generate the code. I'd look at it—really look at it. Ask questions. "What does this section do? Why is this formatted this way?" Then I'd start making my own edits. Small ones at first. Changing colors. Adjusting text. Then bigger ones. Restructuring sections. Adding new components. The Leveling of the Playing Field This matters beyond my personal learning curve. As CEO of a technology trade association, I'm constantly advocating for Idaho's tech ecosystem, talking about innovation, championing digital transformation. But there was still this gap between my advocacy and my personal technical fluency. Now? I can have different conversations. I understand what's possible. I can prototype ideas quickly. I can evaluate vendor proposals with fresh eyes. I can teach my team to do the same. For the Curious, Not the Credentialed Here's what I want other nonprofit leaders, association executives, and "non-technical" professionals to know: You don't need a computer science degree. You need curiosity and willingness to try. You don't need to become an expert. You need to become conversant enough to ask better questions and make informed decisions. You don't need expensive developers for everything. You need to know when to DIY and when to bring in specialists—and AI helps you understand that distinction. The barrier to entry for digital creation has fundamentally changed. The question is no longer "Can I afford to build this?" but "Am I willing to learn how?" The Broader Implications This shift has implications for: Workforce development : We're preparing people for jobs that require "traditional" coding when AI-assisted development might be the actual future Organizational agility : Teams that embrace AI collaboration can iterate faster and reduce dependency on external resources Leadership literacy : Executives who understand how to work with AI tools are better positioned to guide their organizations through digital transformation Economic access : Smaller organizations and rural communities (like many ITC members) can compete with better-resourced peers The Idaho Advantage Idaho has always punched above its weight in technology because we're scrappy, curious, and willing to figure things out. We don't have the luxury of waiting for someone else to solve our problems. This AI-collaborative approach to building? It's very Idaho. Very, "let me see if I can do this myself first." And it's working. An Invitation If you've been curious about AI but haven't found your entry point, consider this: What's something you've always outsourced because you "didn't know how"? What if you asked AI to teach you instead of just doing it for you? The landing pages I built aren't perfect. They don't need to be. They're mine. I understand every section. I can modify them when priorities shift. I can teach others to do the same. That's power. That's capability. That's the future of work. And it's available to anyone willing to ask: "What if I could?" Then do. - Diane Temple, ITC President and CEO 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 .

Meet Scott Manning

by Tim Munkres • 12 January 2026
Introducing: Scott Manning, CEO & Founder, CalmLogic Describe the business/organization you work for: For too long, IT and other high-pressure professionals have grappled with stereotypes of poor communication and lacking emotional regulation, often leading to burnout, health challenges, and unhealthy coping mechanisms. At CalmLogic, I teach you to engineer your internal emotional network with the same logic you apply in your craft. Just using a different tool set. Our corporate workshops, event services, breathwork sessions, and retreats provide the education and experiences necessary to cultivate emotional intelligence, empowering professionals to navigate stress effectively and become their best, most resilient selves. What inspired you to start your own business, or why did you decide to work for this specific organization? After years in the industry accumulating lots of certs and climbing the ladder in many different roles, I noticed some unhealthy trends in myself and my colleagues. High levels of burnout, stress, poor work/life balance, and poor communication skills. This led to unhealthy coping mechanisms, most commonly just numbing ourselves. The method of numbing is different for many, but common ones were alcohol, cannabis, video games, doom scrolling, binge watching TV/movies, hiding in our home labs, hyper-focusing on work, etc. I eventually couldn't sustain the cycle and hit the bottom - job on the line due to lack of motivation, marriage on the fence from constant numbing, dark thoughts, health issues creeping in, and depression. Climbing out of that hole, with the help of my therapist and coach, I found a better way to face life's challenges than numbing. It was to actually face and feel everything that was coming up. Scary, right! Being logically minded, I needed to understand how those emotions worked and why they snuck up on me when they did. This led me to the world of Emotional Intelligence and mindfulness. I realized I could work through my emotional and mental health struggles using some of the same methods I used in my day job. I could troubleshoot my internal network, find the root causes of the issues, escalate when necessary, and make the necessary changes to fix it. I just needed to learn how to use this different set of tools. Now I spend my days teaching other professionals how to use those evidence-based tools along with science-backed education to reframe how you view your internal world. I want to share what I've learned with other IT, and non IT, professionals in hopes that maybe they can change course before hitting the bottom like I did . What sets this business apart from others in the industry? The difference between CalmLogic and other emotional intelligence or mindfulness companies is in experience. I come from 20 years of experience in the IT space. Specifically in the networking and Wi-Fi world. I have seen and lived first hand many of the stresses, pressures, and unhealthy patterns that are accepted as normal in the industry. I can speak your language and relate to your experience, because there is a really good chance I've been there too. What challenges have you faced as a business owner or employee, and how did you overcome them? The biggest challenge is convincing other companies that this is a problem that is worth addressing. Many recognize and see the issues and patterns, but for some reason refuse to work on them and instead accept the "this is just how it is" mentality. Watching your employees, coworkers, or even yourself struggle with mental health issues, burnout, and overwhelm is not normal and can be addressed directly. You just have to be willing to say yes. What advice would you give to someone looking to join your industry? The IT industry is a fascinating place. It is equally the fastest growing industry while also one of the industries with jobs most under threat from AI. My advice would be to jump into the space knowing you will likely need to pivot and learn new skills or technology quickly to stay relevant. Don't assume you'll be doing the same thing even a few years down the road. Be an observer of the industry and watch the waves form that you can jump on to propel yourself further. 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 i nnovation and opportunity. Learn more at www.idahotechcouncil.org . Connect with Scott on LinkedIn HERE Check out CalmLogic HERE

WiTECH Summit Launches with Impact: Tech Powered. Women Led.

by Diane Bevan • 12 December 2025
WiTECH Summit Launches with Impact: Tech Powered. Women Led.