Member Spotlight

Introducing: Dana Cotton, Chair of Humanistic and Artistic, Social Science, and Written and Oral Communication, College of Eastern Idaho



Describe the business/organization you work for:

The College of Eastern Idaho is the newest designated public community college in Idaho. The main campus is located in Idaho Falls, but the outreach spreads all through the region and state.


What inspired you to start your own business, or why did you decide to work for this specific organization?

I have been an educator for over twenty-five years, with more than half of that experience being through distance modalities. When I became acquainted with CEI, formerly Eastern Idaho Technical College (EITC), I instantly connected to the people and their mission to serve a variety of students, local industries, and the community.


What sets this business apart from others in the industry?

What most obviously sets CEI apart from other higher education institutions is that we are the newest college in Idaho, making it an exciting time to be part of the team that continues to create CEI's foundation as an impactful resource and asset to our region and state.


What challenges have you faced as a business owner or employee, and how did you overcome them?

From our first president, Dr. Rick Aman, came a quote we now use often at CEI: "Building the airplane while it's flying." While the campus has established many facets of our institution, we continue to grow rapidly, providing us with plenty of opportunities to keep building the airplane while it's still in the air. As a department chair, my biggest challenges are my biggest rewards: navigating learning and teaching by meeting students and faculty exactly where they are, and supporting their success. Open communication, collaboration, and problem-solving are essential processes for overcoming any challenge I face.


What advice would you give to someone looking to join your industry?

There are many types of people and positions that contribute to making a college successful, so my first piece of advice is to determine where their talents can best serve an institution of higher education. If it is through teaching, I suggest applying to be an adjunct instructor to see what teaching at a college is all about. 


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 Dana on LinkedIn HERE

Check out College of Eastern Idaho HERE

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Meet Aditya Ravindra

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Introducing: Aditya Ravindra, Enterprise AI & Analytics Expert, InterMountain AI Consultants Describe the business/organization you work for: InterMountain AI Consultants helps small and medium-sized businesses transform data chaos into competitive advantages. I specialize in sifting through complex details and compiling them into actionable insights—and no, it's not as boring as it sounds. Here's a real example from this week: A local Idaho-based moving and storage company was drowning in spreadsheets, unable to see their financial picture in realtime. I built them a custom financial dashboard that consolidates revenue, expenses, and profitability metrics into live visualizations they can access from any device. Now their leadership team makes data-driven decisions in minutes instead of spending hours digging through Excel files. The dashboard transforms their raw operational data into clear insights about which services are most profitable, seasonal trends, and cash flow patterns. Simply put: data talks, I listen, and I help business leaders join the conversation. What inspired you to start your own business, or why did you decide to work for this specific organization? Scope and impact. I currently work as a Senior Data Consultant at a Fortune 5 healthcare company, where every day presents new challenges at enterprise scale. While pursuing my Master's in AI from UT Austin, I've found it incredibly rewarding to apply cutting-edge theories to realworld problems. However, working within a large organization often means being channeled into specific projects. I wanted to branch out—to create customized solutions across diverse industries and help regional businesses access enterprise-level AI expertise. I need variety to thrive, and consulting allows me to bring Fortune 500 methodologies to local Idaho businesses who need them most. What sets this business apart from others in the industry? Continuous education and cutting through the AI hype. My approach isn't just about degrees and credentials—it's about staying on the cutting edge. I regularly complete the latest training workshops, AI certifications, and technical courses to understand what's actually emerging in AI versus what's just buzzwords. This knowledge lets me guide businesses toward practical, ROI-driven solutions rather than expensive experiments. I translate complex AI capabilities into business language and help leaders understand what will actually move the needle for their specific operations. Think of me as an AI translator who speaks both data science and business outcomes. What challenges have you faced as a business owner or employee, and how did you overcome them? The biggest challenge is navigating client fear and skepticism around AI. Many business leaders feel overwhelmed by AI hype or worry about implementation complexity. I've turned this into my superpower—I guide clients through the noise toward what's genuinely useful for their specific needs, distinguishing practical tools from empty promises. The second challenge is the "how"—designing the optimal customized solution from thousands of possible approaches. While sometimes overwhelming, this is also the most rewarding part. Each client's unique data environment requires creative problem-solving, and finding that perfect fit between their needs and the right AI tools keeps the work engaging. What advice would you give to someone looking to join your industry? Three pieces of advice: First, just start. Don't wait for perfect conditions—pick a course, open your laptop, and begin. We're at the ground floor of AI, and this opportunity won't last forever. Second, embrace failure as education. Not every approach will work, but each failure teaches you what will succeed next time. The projects that work best are often built on lessons from the ones that didn't. Third, find ways to make it fun. Every job has monotonous moments, but approaching AI problems creatively keeps both learning and application enjoyable. The intersection of curiosity, persistence, and practical application is where real value emerges. 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 Aditya on LinkedIn HERE Check out InterMountain AI Consultants HERE