FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Idaho Technology Council Hosts 2025 State of Technology Luncheon and Small Business Showcase

Boise, ID — May 7, 2025 — Yesterday, the Idaho Technology Council (ITC) brought together more than 250 business, technology, and civic leaders for its 2025 State of Technology Luncheon, held at JUMP in downtown Boise. The sold-out, standing-room-only event celebrated innovation, investment, and the continued rise of Idaho’s technology sector.



Board Gathering and Special Guests

The day began with 35 of ITC’s 50-member Board of Trustees gathering for one of their annual in-person meetings. They were joined by Idaho Governor Brad Little and Kelly Loeffler, the newly appointed 28th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, who both affirmed their support for ITC’s leadership in driving technology growth across the state. The ITC Board—comprising educators, tech leaders, and industry professionals—works collaboratively to support Idaho’s fast-evolving innovation economy.

Luncheon Program Highlights

Following the Board meeting, trustees joined attendees in JUMP’s Pioneer Room for the luncheon. Jessica Cafferty, Founder and President of Route Networking Group and ITC Vice Chair, emceed the event—welcoming guests, recognizing sponsors, Alturas, Key Bank and Meta, and honoring veterans and ITC Board members.

Blake Hansen, Founder of Alturas and Title Sponsor, opened the program with a message on Idaho’s entrepreneurial spirit.

Hansen also presented highlights from the Idaho Deal Flow Report, a signature publication tracking investment trends, M&A activity, and business growth statewide. Hansen revealed over a decade of success stories in large investments into and as exits.

Holli Davies, Regional Community Development Manager at Meta, spoke about Meta’s infrastructure investments and the importance of local partnerships. She expressed Meta's commitment to communities that they choose to build their data centers.

Alice Crisci, Founder and CEO of Ovum Health, then delivered a powerful narrative of her journey as a cancer survivor and entrepreneur, describing how Ovum Health is using technology to redefine fertility care and preservation.

Scott Schlange, Idaho Market President at KeyBank, introduced SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler,  who celebrated Idaho’s entrepreneurs during National Small Business Week and reaffirmed the SBA’s nationwide commitment to small business and tech sector success. Earlier that morning, she participated in a presentation of Idahos small businesses of the year, including ITC member, Derik Ellis, founder of Vessel as the Veteran Idaho small business of the year.

Diane Bevan, ITC President and CEO, then acknowledged sponsors and welcomed guests to the Small Business Showcase, featuring 12 emerging companies and their innovations.

Attendees also heard from leaders and changemakers across several key sectors:

Adam Rak, Executive Director of CyberUSA, discussed collaborative cybersecurity readiness and action strategies to protect critical infrastructure.

Andrew Crapuchettes, Founder and CEO of RedBalloon, spoke about the entrepreneurial opportunities in Idaho and shared growth strategies from his own ventures—emphasizing how he has used technology and data to drive talent retention and innovation.

Carmen Achabal, Senior Director at Micron, gave an update on the company’s $15 billion Idaho expansion and detailed new semiconductor workforce initiatives. She showed an aerial video of the construction site revaling the massive size to be 2 football fields wide by 5 long, for a total  of 10 fields in size.

Greg Wilson, Chief of Staff at the Idaho State Department of Education, shared updates on statewide programs aimed at equipping students with essential digital and career skills and announced to successful win in the most recent legislative session with Digital Literacy crossing the finish line as now a 1 credit HS requirement. This new ruling will go into effect in 3 years giving time to implement it into all Idaho school districts. Greg thanked the ITC for the many years of support in this effort.

Nathan Foss, of Natcast, unveiled a new and improved Knowledge Report with an interactive data dashboard to tract tech jobs, tech workforce, tech employers as well as informative trends.

To conclude the program, Diane Bevan presented the official ITC Impact Report, showcasing the Council’s statewide collaborations, key initiatives, and growing influence in shaping Idaho’s tech future. She express her gratitude for a successful first year as the new President and CEO and is excited to move the organization forward utlizing technology to grow and scale.

Breakout Workshops: "The Event After the Event"

Attendees then moved to JUMP’s 5th floor for a series of dynamic breakout sessions designed to foster deeper engagement and learning. Sessions included:

Investing in Innovation — Sheli Gartman, Whole Human Consulting

Mentorship through TechBridge — Betsy Davies, ITC Vice President of Operations

AI Tools for Small Business — Irene Gonzalez, SBA Business Opportunity Specialist

Cybersecurity Trends and Preparedness — Adam Rak, Executive Director, CyberUSA

Semiconductor Workforce Development — Carmen Achabal (Micron) & Dan Lamborn  (Boise State University)

Exporting Tech & Services Globally — Tracy Day  (Idaho Commerce) & Jennifer Verndon (U.S. Commercial Service)

These interactive sessions capped off the day with actionable insights, connections, and collaborative energy to carry Idaho’s innovation economy forward.

About the Idaho Technology Council

The Idaho Technology Council has a mission 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 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.