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Eastern Idaho Tech Expo and VIP Stakeholder Event a Resounding Success

For immediate release:

Idaho Falls, ID – March 25, 2025

The 1st Annual Eastern Idaho Tech Expo and VIP Stakeholder Event brought together industry leaders, tech innovators, and economic development partners on March 18-19, 2025, for two days of engaging discussions, networking, and groundbreaking technology showcases. Hosted by the Idaho Technology Council (ITC), the event served as a catalyst for strengthening Eastern Idaho’s tech ecosystem and fostering future growth.


VIP Stakeholder Event – Driving Collaboration & Innovation


The VIP Stakeholder Event on March 18 set the stage for meaningful dialogue among entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers. Speakers shared insights into Idaho’s tech industry expansion, innovation trends, and economic development strategies.

Highlights included:
🔹 Ryan Harris, CEO of RizeX, led a dynamic networking activity to spark new connections.
🔹 Kurtis Clark,  Technical Services Manager. at BioLogiQ, introduced sustainable cutlery made from potato starch.
🔹 Jason Jenkins, VP of Silver Star Communications, emphasized the importance of connectivity and community collaboration.
🔹 Rich Stuppy, former ITC Board Chair, energized the audience with his passion for growing Idaho’s tech ecosystem.
🔹 Stu Draper, Founder of Stukent/Get Found First, shared his entrepreneurial journey and love for Eastern Idaho.

Keynote speaker Mark Holtermann, CIO of Idaho National Laboratory, highlighted the opportunities to expand Idaho’s leadership in energy and technology.

Additionally, Mayor Jerry Merrill (City of Rexburg) and ITC CEO Diane Bevan discussed Rexburg’s vision for tech growth, while Teresa McKnight, CEO of REDI, showcased Idaho’s success in securing SBIR/STTR grants for small businesses.

The event closed with an inspiring message from Dr. Lori Barber, President of College of Eastern Idaho, who called on attendees to unite in strengthening Idaho’s tech talent pipeline.


Breakout Sessions & Tech Expo – Engaging Discussions & Innovation Showcases


On March 19, attendees participated in thought-provoking breakout sessions led by top tech and business experts on topics ranging from AI and cybersecurity to entrepreneurship and commercialization.


Featured sessions included:
On March 19, the breakout sessions featured industry-leading experts and organizations sharing insights on AI, cybersecurity, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and commercialization.


Breakout Sessions, hosts, and panelists:

💡 Enhancing Enterprise Performance through the Effective Adoption of M365 & Co-Pilot
  Sponsored by: Slalom Consulting & Microsoft

  • Brandon Showers, Director, Account Technology Strategist, Microsoft
  • David Drinkwine, Senior Director, Modern Work Global Practice, Slalom

💡 Cashing in on Your Bright Ideas: America's Seed Fund (SBIR/STTR Program)
  Hosted by: Regional Economic Development for Eastern Idaho (REDI)

  • Teresa McKnight, CEO, REDI
  • David Noack, Region VI Director, Idaho SBDC
  • Bam Omotowa, Region VI Director, APEX

💡 Futureproofing with Education - Tech Fluency Augmented with Durable Skills
  Hosted by: College of Eastern Idaho

  • Dr. Henry C. (Chuck) Bohleke, Dean of Business, Technology & Trades, CEI
  • Dr. Matthew Taylor, Dean, Health Sciences, CEI
  • Jacob Haeberle, Interim Dean of General Education, CEI

💡 AI in Action: Streamlining Operations and Strengthening Cybersecurity for Modern Businesses
  Hosted by: MoatIT

  • Ali Khan, Founder/CEO, MoatIT

💡 Beyond the Chatbot: DRIFT Tools for Utility & Industry Filings
  Hosted by: Slalom Consulting

  • Joe Kennedy, Senior Director, Slalom

💡  Technology Resources for Entrepreneurs
  Hosted by: Idaho Entrepreneur Center

  • Ryon Brewer, CEO/Executive Director, Idaho Entrepreneur Center
  • Scott Allred, COO, Idaho Entrepreneur Center

💡 SMART Business Strategic Planning
  Hosted by: Idaho Innovation Center

  • Jared Oviatt, Business Partner, BBSI
  • Garrett Foster, Owner, Prevail—Legacy Builders
  • Bryan Magleby, Executive Director, Idaho Innovation Center

💡 Building AI Knowledge, Skills, and Responsibility
  Hosted by: City of Rexburg & Brigham Young University-Idaho

  • Aaron Denney, Economic Development, City of Rexburg
  • Sidney Palmer, Ph.D., University AI Officer, BYU-Idaho
  • Dave Ashby, Director of Learning Innovation & Technology, BYU-Idaho

💡 From Lab to Launch: The Art of Commercialization
  Hosted by: ISU Bengal Solutions

  • Nikola Layton, Director, Bengal Solutions Research and Commercialization Center, ISU

💡 The Region’s Growing Role in AI Leadership
  Hosted by: Idaho National Laboratory

  • Chris Ritter, Division Director, Scientific Computing & AI, INL
  • Srini Yeduru, Sr. Manager, Micron Technology
  • Edoardo Serra, Associate Professor, Boise State University
  • Brian Smith, Director, Nuclear Reactor Development, INL


Unparalleled Networking & Industry Growth


The expo floor provided a space for startups, established tech companies, and investors to connect, showcase innovations, and explore new partnerships.  On behalf of the Idaho Technology Council, we give our heartfelt thanks to the sponsors, exhibitors, and presenters on both days. it is with your collaboration that this event was a success.


Looking Ahead – Save the Date for 2026!

The Eastern Idaho Tech Expo proved that Idaho is on the rise as a technology hub. With overwhelming participation and positive feedback, plans for the 2026 event are already in motion. Stay tuned for updates!


ABOUT IDAHO TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL

The Idaho Technology Council (ITC) is the industry voice driving innovation in the state of Idaho. The ITC is a member driven organization; committed to the success of Idaho’s technology ecosystem and leading Idaho to a knowledge-based economy. Our mission is to build a strong tech community in Idaho by bringing people together, supporting tech education, and advocating for policies that promote sustainable growth. Together, we’re making Idaho a top destination for technology and innovation. The ITC is instrumental in building advocacy needed to persuade legislators and private industry to invest in high return initiatives that are necessary to propel new companies forward, along with retention and growth with existing companies.

 


Email: info@idahotechcouncil.org

Website:  https://www.idahotechcouncil.org/

 

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

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

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