March 18, 2026 - Idaho Falls, Idaho

The Mountain America Center in Idaho Falls has hosted plenty of events, but on March 17-18, 2026, something different happened. Something that felt less like a conference and more like a movement taking shape.

iTECH Summit 2026, Idaho Falls, a sold-out event.

"We honestly could not believe the overwhelming response to iTECH Summit 2026, in Idaho Falls," reflects Diane Temple, President and CEO of the Idaho Technology Council. "Not only did we sell out both the VIP Fireside Chat and the full-day summit, but we had a waitlist of people eager to attend. Thank you, Eastern Idaho, for showing up in such a powerful way."

The numbers tell part of the story: 200+ attendees, six featured speakers, four panel discussions, 17 entrepreneurs pitching innovations. But numbers don't capture the energy in the room, the quality of conversations in the hallways, or the sense that something is genuinely building in Eastern Idaho's technology ecosystem.

**THE FOUNDATION: INFRASTRUCTURE CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER**

On Tuesday evening, while most conferences would have kicked off with inspirational platitudes, iTECH Summit began with a harder conversation: infrastructure. Not the attractive stuff. The essential stuff. Power systems. Broadband. Data centers. The unsexy backbone that determines whether AI remains hype or becomes economic transformation.

Logan Browning from Idaho National Laboratory set the tone in his keynote, cutting straight to what matters: "We need energy, not for future demands but for today's demands. That has to come from Nuclear and with the AI capabilities at our hands, we can make that impact now!"

The VIP Fireside Chat that followed brought together leaders who are literally building that foundation: David Hutchison of Excipio moderating a conversation with Brock Walters from Silver Star Communications, James Buie from ValorC3 Data Centers, and Hope Morrow from Idaho National Laboratory.

These aren't theorists. These are practitioners. People who understand that Eastern Idaho's advantages—reliable power, proximity to a premier national lab, lower operating costs than major metros—only matter if we address the gaps. Broadband in rural areas. Public-private coordination. Workforce pipelines for infrastructure careers.

"iTECH and ITC are bringing the right players together," notes Jim Buie, CEO of ValorC3, "and now Eastern Idaho has the opportunity to turn that momentum into the infrastructure that will power the future of AI."

By 2030, Eastern Idaho can be a competitive hub for AI-driven industries. But only if we build the foundation now. Tuesday night's conversation made that clear—and set the stage for Wednesday's deeper exploration.

**FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE: WORKFORCE MEETS AI**

Wednesday morning opened with Matthew Martinez-Klingler from Melaleuca addressing the question everyone's wrestling with: How is AI actually changing the future of work?  “AI doesn’t eliminate expertise—it amplifies those who know how to use it. If you’re not adopting it, others are—competitors and bad actors alike—and they’re now amplifying their capabilities beyond yours.” Martinez-Klingler continued,  “A tsunami doesn’t ask if you’re ready—it just arrives. AI is no different. The organizations that thrive won’t be the ones that feared it or tried to contain it, but the ones that learned how to channel its power—through their people.”

Not in abstract terms. In practical, Idaho-employer terms. What does it mean when one of the state's largest companies starts integrating AI across operations? What skills matter? What roles evolve? How do you prepare a workforce for transformation that's happening now, not in some distant future?

The "Meet the Boss LIVE"  panel that followed brought employer perspectives from across industries: Moderator: Rob Tietjen, BYU Idaho, James Holloway from Curtiss-Wright, Brock Walters from Silver Star, Dr. Lori Barber from College of Eastern Idaho, Isaac Bottelberghe from Melaleuca, and Reid Stephan from St. Luke's Health System.

For students and job seekers in the audience, this wasn't career advice—it was market intelligence. What do Idaho's major employers actually need? Where are the gaps? What makes someone competitive in 2026 and beyond?

"iTECH's success is proof of what happens when leadership, industry, and community come together to make good things happen," reflects Dr. Lori Barber, President of College of Eastern Idaho. "The Meet the Boss panel was a privilege to join, and it's exciting to be a part of the shared commitment to Idaho's technology ecosystem."

Reid Stephan, Board Chair of the Idaho Technology Council and CIO of St. Luke's Health System, reinforced the collaborative imperative: "Idaho's tech future won't be built by any one company or sector - it will be built by a community that chooses to collaborate. The iTECH Summit was a great example of the type of community collaboration that will be necessary."

**BALANCING INNOVATION AND FOUNDATIONS**

Erik Madsen from EOS Worldwide addressed a tension every leader feels: How do you embrace AI innovation without losing the timeless principles that build great companies? Vision. Traction. Healthy teams.

His session on "AI & Leadership Balance" acknowledged that speed and transformation matter—but so does discipline. So does culture. So does the human element that no algorithm can replace. "In the age of AI, curiosity isn't just valuable, it's essential. The most exciting thing happening in business right now isn't AI replacing human capabilities, it's AI amplifying them. But only if we build the human foundation first. The leaders and professionals who will thrive aren't those who know the most answers today, but those who ask the best questions tomorrow and understand that balance. That's the foundation AI cannot replace." , Madsen expressed to not just the leaders in the room, but the large attendance of college students.

This wasn't anti-AI. It was pro-wisdom. A reminder that the companies that win won't just adopt tools fastest—they'll integrate those tools most thoughtfully into systems that already work.

**IDAHO CAN BUILD HIGH-GROWTH COMPANIES**

When Stuart Draper took the stage, you could feel the energy shift.

Stu, founder of Stukent and host of the Startups with Stu podcast, returned to the ITC stage by popular demand. His message: You can build high-growth companies from Idaho. Not just in Idaho—from Idaho.

It's not theory for Stu. It's lived experience. He built Stukent to serve universities worldwide, all while staying headquartered in Idaho. He invests in Idaho startups as an angel. He's living proof that geography isn't destiny.

Stu resoundingly exclaimed, "The east side of the state of Idaho has some tech businesses that can and will continue to shape the future of our nation, and we're all so grateful that the Idaho Technology Council brought us together. There is power in a gathering of the minds."

**INNOVATION ON STAGE: THE IDEA² PITCH COMPETITION**

And then came the moment that might have mattered most.

Seventeen entrepreneurs—students and aspiring founders—took the stage for the inaugural IDEA² (Innovation, Determination, Entrepreneurship, Aspiration) Pitch Competition.

Sixty seconds. One slide. Make your case.

The diversity of innovation was remarkable. AI-powered solutions. Hardware innovations. Services tackling real-world inefficiencies. Products addressing market gaps nobody else saw.

"I've been involved with the Idaho Technology Council the last two years, and you can actually see something starting to build in Eastern Idaho," notes Milo Siepert, founder of Go Gone Bait. "Go Gone Bait is part of that growth, turning materials innovation into real world solutions."

Andrew Jensen, founder of EvenHeat Microwave Plates, captured what the competition meant to participants: "I loved being a part of the Idea2Pitch competition! The networking was invaluable and the competition was a blast. I still can't believe I won audience favorite. The prize money will be a valuable asset in helping me launch the EvenHeat Microwave Plate."

Dr. Nathan Jack from BYU-Idaho understood what IDEA² represents for the broader ecosystem: "The 'Idea2 pitch' was the highlight for me. That's what the ITC tries to promote: new ideas in tech. Great addition to the program."

The judges didn't just score. They mentored. After the pitches, participants networked with industry leaders at judge cluster tables, collecting feedback and building relationships that will matter long after the scores were tallied.

The audience didn't just watch. They voted, engaged, encouraged. This is what "Community Led" looks like in practice.

All seventeen participants—strtups, Now What?, Go Gone Bait, Rydlnk, Memora.ai, sapleton, Literal, Bro Scrub, Keystone Motors, EvenHeat, CFO-Bot, CYNCH, Blacksheep OI, Tristan Allen, Forward Motion Prosthetics, The Digitizing Guy, and emerald automations—inspired the room. Whether they placed or not, they proved something essential: Idaho's entrepreneurial ecosystem is alive, diverse, and ambitious.

**PRACTICAL FRAMEWORKS FOR REAL BUSINESSES**

Teresa McKnight from Elevate Idaho arrived with perfect timing. Congress had just reauthorized SBIR and STTR programs, restoring access to $5 billion annually in federal innovation funding for small businesses. Her presentation on non-dilutive funding—grants that don't require giving up equity—gave entrepreneurs in the room a concrete next step. This wasn't aspirational. This was actionable.

Dustin Harris from Dustin Harris Coaching closed the afternoon with a session that felt like relief for small business owners swimming in AI hype: "The 5 Questions Every Small Business Owner Should Be Asking About AI."

"It was an honor to speak at the iTECH Summit and witness firsthand the incredible momentum building in Eastern Idaho's tech community," Harris reflects. "The energy from such a diverse and engaged audience proves that this region is becoming a true hub for innovation."

Not "which tool should I buy?" Not "will this replace my employees?" But diagnostic questions that help you identify where AI can actually save your business time, money, and mental energy. Customer service. Back office operations. Finding ideal customers.

Frameworks you can use that same afternoon. No technical background required. Just practical implementation for businesses that need results, not buzzwords.

**TECHNICAL DEPTH FOR PRACTITIONERS**

The "AI Tools & Technical Integration" panel, moderated by Jon Parker from AreaPro and featuring Michael Magalsky, Infovia, Stanton Smith, Amplix, David Ashby, BYU-Idaho, and Sunday Maust, Project Engineer, gave technical audiences what they needed: specifics.

What tools are actually in production? What integration challenges matter? How do you move from proof of concept to reliable deployment? What's the cost-value equation?

Not vendor pitches. Practitioner insights. The kind of technical deep dive that helps developers and IT leaders make informed decisions.

**THE ENERGY EXTENDED BEYOND THE STAGE**

Mark Holterman, CIO of Idaho National Laboratory, captured what made the event work: "The iTECH event in Idaho Falls was a clear success! From students to educators to technology professionals to aspiring entrepreneurs to executive leaders in technology, all came together to collaborate, innovate, inspire, learn, and invigorate technology for Idaho! I am thankful to have had the opportunity to participate and to be part of ITC!"

Marty Blair from Idaho State University felt it too: "It was great to see and feel the energy as students, business leaders and technology experts talked about ways to continue growing the East Idaho tech sector. We talked about common challenges and collaborative solutions."

That's the difference. Not just parallel sessions people sit through. Actual conversations. Common challenges. Collaborative solutions.

**TECH POWERED. COMMUNITY LED.**

The theme wasn't marketing copy. It was philosophy made visible.

Technology is powerful. We saw that in every session. AI transforming workflows. Infrastructure enabling innovation. Tools accelerating execution.

But community gives it purpose. We saw that too. Employers connecting with educators about workforce needs. Entrepreneurs getting feedback from investors and mentors. Students hearing directly from hiring managers about what matters.

Speakers sharing frameworks generously. Panelists having real conversations, not corporate speak. Judges investing time to mentor, not just score. Sponsors investing resources to build ecosystem, not just buy booth space.

Over two days in Idaho Falls, something became clear: Idaho can compete in AI, infrastructure, workforce development, and entrepreneurship. Not despite being Idaho. Because we're Idaho.

We have assets others don't. Access to a premier national laboratory. Reliable, cost-effective power. Lower operating costs. A quality of life that attracts talent. And a community culture that defaults to collaboration over competition.

Eastern Idaho is building something. You could see it in the sold-out venue. You could feel it in the energy. You could hear it in the conversations that continued long after sessions ended.

The infrastructure conversations from Tuesday night set foundation. The workforce discussions Wednesday morning addressed talent. The entrepreneurial pitches showcased innovation. The technical sessions provided implementation guidance. The networking created connections that will compound.

**WHAT COMES NEXT**

iTECH Summit 2027 is already in planning. Likely with a bigger venue—because if 2026's waitlist taught us anything, it's that demand exists.

But the real work happens between summits. The partnerships formed. The implementations executed. The students trained. The companies built. The infrastructure investments made.

The conversations started at iTECH Summit 2026 continue. In boardrooms and classrooms. At coffee shops and conference rooms. Wherever Idaho's technology community gathers to collaborate, innovate, and build.

Because this isn't about an event. It's about an ecosystem.

And Idaho's technology ecosystem—powered by technology, led by community—is just getting started.

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*iTECH Summit 2026 was made possible by sponsors including Curtiss-Wright, Melaleuca, Silver Star Communications, ICCU, Idaho National Laboratory, Amplix, ValorC3, MoatIT,  College of Eastern Idaho, BYU-Idaho, Idaho SBDC, Idaho Innovation Center, Elevate Idaho, Idaho State University, and many more partners who invest in Idaho's technology future.*

*To stay connected with Idaho's technology ecosystem year-round, visit idahotechcouncil.org*

SAVE the DATE: iTECH 2026 - Twin Falls, Idaho

Location: College of Southern Idaho

Date: June 16,17

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.