Introducing: Louis Katz, Chief Courage Catalyst At The Courage Inside Describe the business/organization you work for: I'm a storytelling standup comic keynote speaking "wise man" (in other words, old) who owned a managed IT services company and sold it after 23 years. I help organizations tap into the core traits and values that make you great and use that to boost your everyday courage. I'm the Chief Morale Officer for hire, and I've got your back in the midst of fear, uncertainty, and doubt. I cheer you on and give you reason to forge ahead through both good times and bad. What inspired you to start your own business, or why did you decide to work for this specific organization? Starting businesses is something I do from time to time. I get a bright idea and act on it. I wanted to get up on stage and tell funny stories that would make people laugh yet at the same time inspire them to get up on their own stage and shine. What sets this business apart from others in the industry? I'm one of the few former IT guys who's now doing standup and storytelling. I understand what it's like to go through the fire of the day to day grind of business, and I've been yelled at by the former president of all three major TV networks. I can take a punch without being a punching bag. I charm to disarm. I've been through the middle, where it feels like failure. And I meet you where you and your team are, and we go from there. What challenges have you faced as a business owner or employee, and how did you overcome them? I'd say the biggest challenge is that we often underestimate how long it will take to accomplish an ambitious goal. The challenges and obstacles I've overcome gave way when I was willing to put in hard work and be patient. What advice would you give to someone looking to join your industry? Open your heart and your mind, be willing to learn along the way. Assume whatever goal you've set can take longer than expected to achieve. Have fun, enjoy the journey. 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 Louis on LinkedIn HERE Check out The Courage Inside HERE

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/