PNWER's 2016 Economic Leadership Forum

Economic Leadership Forum

Boise, Idaho - November 16-19, 2016

C.L. “BUTCH” OTTER Governor of Idaho Dear Friends, On behalf of the State of Idaho, I am pleased to welcome you to Pacific NorthWest Economic Region’s (PNWER) 2016 Economic Leadership Forum in beautiful Boise, November 16-18. I know your meetings and the relationships you build here will enhance effective teamwork, communication and collaboration across state and national boundaries.

This year’s conference will include sessions and discussion on pertinent topics to Idaho and the region – transportation, tourism, workforce development, forestry, telecommunications and energy. We also will continue the vital work of coordinating a regional defense against invasive freshwater mussels.

I’m proud of Idaho’s contributions to the region through the PNWER Idaho Council and the leadership of Senator Curt McKenzie, immediate past president of PNWER. Idaho has benefited from collaboration between PNWER’s Center for Regional Disaster Resilience and the Idaho Office of Emergency Management, which brought a series of cybersecurity workshops to the state’s business owners and technology professionals over the past three years.

I encourage all participants to take advantage of this opportunity to strengthen valuable connections between legislators, business leaders, innovators and educators. Together we can build solutions to common challenges and enhance the economy and lifestyle of our communities.

I am thrilled that Idaho is hosting this year’s Economic Leadership Forum and I invite you to return with family and friends to explore more of the innovation, culture, excitement and natural beauty that the Gem State has to offer.

As Always – Idaho, “Esto Perpetua”

C.L. “Butch” Otter Governor of Idaho

Table of Contents 2-3 4 5-13

Schedule Welcome from the President Detailed Agenda

14-27

Speaker Biographies

28-29

Policy Tour Descriptions

30

Sponsors

30

Boise State Football Game & Tailgate

32

Hotel Map

33

2017 PNWER Summit in Portland

Front cover photos by Charles Knowles, Colleen Benelli, and courtesy of the Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau. Above photo by Charles Knowles.

Back cover photos by Charles Knowles and courtesy of the Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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2016 PNWER Economic Leadership Forum Schedule November 16 - 19, 2016 | Boise Centre & Grove Hotel | Boise, Idaho WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 2:00pm ‐ 7:00pm

Registra�on ‐ Grove Hotel Lobby

2:30pm ‐ 5:00pm

Na�onal Interagency Fire Center Tour Tour will depart the Grove Hotel at 2:30pm and return around 5pm

7:00pm

E�ecu�ve Commi�ee Working Dinner‐ Grove Hotel, 2nd Floor, Aspen/Cedar �pen to all par�cipants  PNWER priori�es for 2017

9:00pm

Hospitality Suite ‐ Grove Hotel, 3rd Floor, Terrace Suite

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17 7:00am ‐ 5:00pm

Registra�on ‐ Boise Centre East, Room 440

8:00am ‐ 9:15am

Breakfast Plenary‐ Welcoming Remarks from Lieutenant Governor Brad Li�le ‐ Boise Centre East , Room 420. Hosted by Nelson Mullins.

9:15am ‐ 12:30pm Transporta�on ‐ Boise Centre East , Room 410 AB Coffee Break  Idaho as a crossroads state: truck size hosted by Hecla and weight harmoniza�on and impact of FAST Act on freight and commerce in Idaho  Challenges faced by Idaho’s Inland Port  Market Access in Saskatchewan  News from Washington D.C. and Fed‐ eral FAST Act  Public‐Private Financing in WA State  Rail Safety and oil train update 12:30 ‐ 1:45pm

Invasive Species‐ Boise Centre East, Room 430  Update on importance of regional coopera�on on invasive species  Report from Chair of Legisla�ve Council on River Governance  Update on recent mussel infesta�on in Montana  Discussion on status of federal funding for watercra� inspec‐ �on and decontamina�on sta�ons  Updates from individual jurisdic�ons. Discussion on Montana infesta�on response.  Discussion on developing e�ec�ve regional collabora�ve management for federal �uagga�zebra preven�on program in Pacific Northwest  Intersec�on of Invasive Species � Columbia River Treaty

Luncheon Plenary ‐ featuring Jesse Ronnow, Senior Vice President, Zions Bank Boise Centre, Room 420.

Hosted by Zions Bank.

Forestry ‐ Boise Centre East, Room 430  Forestry legisla�ve update Coffee Break host‐  �mpowering collabora�ve forest ed by CenturyLink. management  Idaho’s Good Neighbor Authority lead‐ ership 2:00pm ‐ 3:45 pm

Cybersecurity ‐ Boise Centre East, 410 AB. Hosted by St. Luke’s Health System.  Current cyber threats  Panel on threats� impacts� and solu�ons.  Lessons learned from incidents and exercises.

4 p.m. ‐ 5:15pm

Tourism‐ Boise Centre East, Room 430  Tourism’s economic impact on the region  �pportuni�es to expand tourism transporta�on across the Mountain West  �irtual reality in tourism marke�ng

6:00pm

Recep�on‐ Hosted by Canadian Engineering and Geoscience Regulators‐ Grove Hotel, 3rd Floor, Rapids room

9:00pm

Hospitality Suite‐ Grove Hotel, 3rd Floor, Terrace Suite. Hosted by Microso�.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18 7:00am ‐ 5:00pm

Registra�on ‐ Boise Centre East, Room 440

8:00am ‐ 9:15am

Breakfast Plenary featuring a legisla�ve panel discussion of Impact of the U.S. elec�ons on state legisla‐ tures in the region, moderated by Betsy Z. Russell, Boise Bureau Chief, The Spokesman‐Review Boise Centre East, Room 420. Hosted by Idaho Power.

9:30am ‐ 12:15pm Energy ‐ Boise Centre East, Room 410 AB  Energy in the built environment Coffee Break hosted PNWER Roadmap to Resilient, Ultra‐Low Energy Buildings in

by Devon Energy the Pacific Northwest: Case Study Report Release  Idaho Power and Energy Efficiency  Center for Advanced Energy Studies: smart grid, energy efficiency, and workforce development  Energy legisla�on in upcoming legisla�ve sessions

Economic Development Driven by Entrepre‐ neurship and Public – Private Partnerships Tour Trailhead‐ a startup hub founded by entrepre‐ neurs for entrepreneurs, created by a public‐ private partnership with the City of Boise �UMP, an interac�ve crea�ve center and com‐ munity gathering place Boise State University’s Computer Science Department ‐ a modern and invi�ng learning environment

12:30pm ‐ 1:45pm Luncheon Plenary‐ featuring Bill Whitacre, CEO of Simplot Boise Centre East, Room 420. Hosted by Simplot.

2:00pm ‐ 3:30pm

Technology, Agriculture & Water‐ Boise Centre East, Room 410 AB. Hosted by Idaho Potato Commission.

1:30pm Energy Policy Tour : Idaho Power Grid Opera�ons Center.



Tour Idaho Power�s grid opera�ons center and see how Idaho Power can manages the en�re system including load changes, balancing re‐ sources and running actual facili�es.

 

Using drone scanning technology for precision farming to help maximize efficiency of resource use to increase yields Revolu�onizing agriculture with wirelessly and remotely controlled tractors, partnered with drone technology da‐ ta, to con�nue to feed the world Understanding other technologies that have trans‐ formed agriculture in Idaho and learning about our model water ad�udica�on process

Registra�on is available. *Tour will depart at 1:30pm and return by 4:00pm

3:30pm ‐ 5:00pm

Workforce & Innova�on Working Group Planning Session‐ Boise Centre East, Room 430  Middle market growth poten�al  U.S. ‐ Canada trade  Workforce Mobility and Skilled Trades

5:00—7:00pm

Boise State University Alumni Associa�on Tailgate Party See map for direc�ons.

7:00 pm

Op�onal Boise State University Broncos Football Game PNWER has a limited block of �ckets available for purchase for �25 on registra�on.

Kick off is at 7pm

8:00pm

Hospitality Suite ‐ Grove Hotel, 3rd Floor, Terrace Suite. Hosted by Spectra Energy.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19 7:30am ‐ 9:30am

Breakfast ‐ Grove Hotel, 2nd Floor, Cedar Room

8:00am ‐ 12:00pm

E�ecu�ve Commi�ee Mee�ng ‐ Open to all Grove Hotel, 2nd Floor, Aspen Room Discussion on PNWER Governance and Ac�on Plan

10:00am‐ 3:15pm

World Center for Birds of Prey and Wine Tour Par�cipate in a guided tour of the World Center Birds of Prey interpre�ve center, followed by an a�ernoon of wine tas�ng in the Snake River Valley wine region. Lunch will be included. Please sign up on registra�on.

Message from the President On behalf of the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER), welcome to the 2016 Economic Leadership Forum. We are so glad you could join us in beautiful Boise, Idaho. This meeting is a wonderful opportunity to build relationships with public and private sector colleagues across sub-national and national boundaries, to contribute to solutions to some of the region’s most important economic and environmental questions, and explore how to work together to amplify our voices and seize opportunities.

We are excited to bring you a robust agenda that explores; transportation, invasive species, forestry, cybersecurity, telecommunications, tourism, energy, agriculture and innovation. We are also honored to be joined by leaders from the public and private sector as keynote speakers; Lt. Gov. Brad Little of Idaho, Bill Whitacre of Simplot, and Jesse Ronnow of Zions Bank. These discussions and presentations will Dan Ashton, MLA help us achieve action items put forth at PNWER’s 2016 Summit in Calgary.

British Columbia I am proud to serve as president of the Pacific NorthWest Economic region and PNWER President inspired by the work PNWER has accomplished over the last year. Much progress 2016 - 2017 is a result of the hard work of past president Curt McKenzie, the executive committee, and staff of PNWER office and jurisdictions.

In the critical effort to keep invasive freshwater mussels out of the region’s waterways, PNWER has been a major contributor to real progress. Legislation passed in the U.S. House and Senate has authorized spending up to $20 million in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington on mussel defense, while amendments pushed

by PNWER effectively double federal funding available to those states for watercraft inspection stations. In Canada, PNWER helped establish the Western Canada Invasive Species Agreement, a coordinated regional defense against invasive species that will focus first on mussels. The four western Canadian provinces provide about $5 million (Canadian) per year.

In September, PNWER’s Center for Regional Disaster Resilience put on the last of a series of cybersecurity workshops in Idaho as part of a three-year partnership with the Idaho Office of Emergency Management. The workshops helped business owners, IT personnel and critical systems operators understand current and future cyber threats and helped build a statewide cybersecurity action plan based on participants’ recommendations. In energy, another impressive class of legislators and energy staff graduated from PNWER’s Legislative Energy Horizon Institute in November. Over 150 legislators from across North America have now completed this course.

Our organization is continually looking to address pertinent policy topics and issues that affect the regional economy, the environment and our citizens’ quality of life. Please give us your input to help us make PNWER as relevant as possible to the region and remember to mark your calendars for the Annual Summit, taking place next year in Portland, July 23-27.

Thank you for joining us! I look forward to meeting you at the Economic Leadership Forum.

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Dan Ashton President

Agenda

2016 PNWER Economic Leadership Forum Boise, Idaho – November 16-19 2 - 5 p.m.

Registration – Grove Hotel Lobby

2:30 - 5 p.m.

National Interagency Fire Center Tour Tour will depart from the Grove Hotel Lobby at 2:30 p.m. and return around 5:00 p.m. Please check in at the PNWER Registration desk in the Grove Hotel Lobby.

7 p.m.

Executive Committee Working Dinner Grove Hotel, Second Floor, Aspen PNWER Priorities for 2017. Open to all participants.

9 - 11 p.m.

Hospitality Suite – Grove Hotel, Third Floor, Terrace Suite

Wednesday, November 16

Wednesday, November 16

Thursday, November 17 Registration – Boise Centre East, Room 440

8 - 9:15 a.m.

Breakfast plenary – Boise Centre East, Room 420.

Hosted by Nelson Mullins.

- Lt. Gov. Brad Little, Idaho

9:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Transportation – Boise Centre East, Room 410 AB

Coffee break hosted

by Hecla Mining Company

Welcome from Transportation Working Group Co-Chairs Brief overview on working group and past projects. Introduction to Port Vancouver B.C.: Building a Trade Gateway in an Urban Area Tour.

- Sen. Chuck Winder, Idaho, PNWER Transportation Co-Chair - Bruce Agnew, Cascadia, PNWER Transportation Co-Chair Idaho as a Crossroads State • Harmonizing truck size and weight regulations • FAST Act and its impact on freight and commerce in Idaho

- Scott Stokes, Chief Deputy, Idaho Transportation Department Looking ahead to 2017: Public-Private Partnerships nationally and regionally • Progress in Washington D.C. and FAST Act - Leslie Blakey, President, Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors

Thursday, November 17

7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

• Enabling Public-Private Partnerships in Washington State - Rep. Hans Zeiger, Washington (via phone)

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Agenda 9:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Transportation Continued – Boise Centre East, Room 410 AB Market Access Challenges Faced by Idaho’s Inland Port • Columbia/Snake River System - Suspension of Container on Barge Service • US Highway 12 Injunction Prohibiting Over Legal Limit Loads • Columbia River System Operations Environmental Impact Statement Process - Dave Doeringsfeld, Port Manager, Port of Lewiston

Thursday, November 17

Market Access for Agriculture - Larry Doke, Member of Legislative Assembly, Saskatchewan Supply Chain Leadership The Urban Freight Lab at the Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics Center (SCTL) at the University of Washington works to improve the management of both public and private operations of urban goods delivery systems.

- Barb Ivanov, Chief Operating Officer, Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics Center (SCTL) at the University of Washington.

Rail Safety • Update on oil train safety and legislation since Oil Train Safety Symposium and Mosier accident

- Bruce Agnew, Cascadia • Opening Comments - Stephanie Bowman, Commissioner, Port of Seattle • BNSF’s work on rail safety improvements and Pathfinder drone program - Quanah Spencer​, Tribal Liaison, BNSF • Perspective from Insitu: a drone manufacturer - Charlton Evans, Commercial Aviation Products Manage, Insitu • Union Pacific and Rail Safety

- Robert Bavier, Program Manager, Hazardous Materials, Union

Pacific Railroad • Response Panel

- Moderated by Stephanie Bowman, Commissioner, Port of Seattle 9:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Invasive Species - Boise Centre East, Room 430 Update on Importance of Regional Cooperation on Invasive Species in the Region - Brian Oakey, Deputy Director, Idaho State Department of Agriculture Report from Chair of Legislative Council on River Governance - Sen. Lee Heider, Idaho

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Agenda 9:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Invasive Species Continued - Boise Centre East, Room 430 Update on Recent Mussel Infestation in Montana - Tom Boos, Program Coordinator, Aquatic Invasive Species Team, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks – via phone

Updates from Individual Jurisdictions on Invasive Species Prevention Each jurisdiction will give brief inspection report from past season and initial thoughts on responding to the news from Montana. Discussion on emergency plan for Montana infestation and how to prevent its spread.

- Moderated by Matt Morrison, President, PNWER - Bill Tweit, Special Assistant, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife - Kate Wilson, Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator, Alberta Environment and Parks - via phone - Lloyd Knight, Administrator, Division of Plant Industries, Idaho State Department of Agriculture - Matthias Herborg, Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator, British Columbia Ministry of Environment - via phone - Rick Boatner, AIS Program Coordinator, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife - via phone - Jamie Bilash, Aquatic Invasive Species Ecologist, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment - via phone

Thursday, November 17

Discussion on Status of Federal Funding for Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination Stations Status of federal funding from Army Corps of Engineers for protection of the Columbia River Basin, including an update on WRDA 2016 Language and Appropriations - Nikki Wallace, District Director, Office of U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, Idaho Implementing WRDA 2016 and Update on Army Corps of Engineers WaterCraft Inspection Station Program - Richard Turner, Project Manager, Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla District - via phone - Stephen Phillips, AIS Senior Program Manager, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission - Jim Ruff, Principal, J Ruff Consulting LLC, former Lead of NWPCC - via phone - via phone

Discussion on Developing Effective Regional Collaborative Management for Federal Quagga/Zebra Prevention Program in the Pacific Northwest - Rep. Mike Cuffe, Montana - Stephen Phillips, AIS Senior Program Manager, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission Columbia River Treaty Update and Intersection of Invasive Species - Rep. Mike Cuffe, Montana

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Agenda 12:30 - 1:45 p.m.

Luncheon Plenary – Boise Centre East, Room 420. Hosted by Zions Bank.

Cybersecurity and the financial sector • New trends in banking and financial cyber crime • Customer behavior that can open the door to cyber crime - Jesse Ronnow, Senior Vice President, Zions Bank

12:30 - 1:45 p.m.

Thursday, November 17

Coffee break hosted by CenturyLink

Cybersecurity – Boise Centre East, Room 410 AB. Hosted by St. Luke’s Health System.

Current trends and cyber threats - U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Greg Almeda, Chief of Vulnerability Coordination & ICS Vendor Relationships, Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT), U.S. Department of Homeland Security Panel Discussion: Cybersecurity threats, impacts and solutions • What are the biggest threats your organization faces?

• What lessons learned from incidents and exercises have you implemented that could help others?

• How is your organization organized to address cyber incidents and who makes decisions?

- Moderated by: Brigadier General Brad Richy, Idaho Office of Emergency Management - JR Tietsort, Chief Information Security Officer, Micron Technology - Reid Stephan, Associate CIO, St. Luke’s Health System - Jesse Ronnow, Senior Vice President, Zions Bank - Natalie Prcevski-Lyle, Director Solutions Engineering, CenturyLink

2 - 3:45 p.m.

Forestry – Boise Centre East, Room 430 Introduction to Forestry Working Group Brief overview on working group and action items.

- Sen. Chas Vincent, Montana, PNWER Forestry Co-Chair - Travis Joseph, President, American Forest Resource Council, PNWER Forestry Co-Chair Creative Solutions to Increase Pace and Scale of Forest Management Federal Forestry Legislation Current state of affairs regarding forest management in the U.S. Senate.

Various legislative vehicles and initiatives were introduced in the Senate this year, including efforts to enhance management on federal, state, and tribal lands through reforms that would increase the pace and scale of restoration projects and reform the way we fund wildfire suppression.

- Spenser Merwin, Director of Coalitions and Outreach, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, Montana

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Agenda 2 - 3:45 p.m.

Forestry Continued – Boise Centre East, Room 430 Empowering Collaborative Forest Management Groups - Sen. Chas Vincent, Montana, PNWER Forestry Co-Chair - Lindsay Warness, Forest Policy Liaison for the North East Oregon Region, Boise Cascade

Discussion 4 - 5 p.m.

Tourism – Boise Centre East, Room 430 Tourism’s Economic Impact in Idaho Idaho’s tourism marketing strategy and the economic impact of tourism in Idaho.

- Matt Borud, Chief Business Development and Marketing Officer, Idaho Department of Commerce Opportunities to expand Tourism Transportation across the Mountain West - Bruce Agnew, Director, Cascadia

Thursday, November 17

Idaho’s Innovative use of the Good Neighbor Authority agreement The Good Neighbor Authority is a federal law that is enabling Idaho to leverage its land management expertise to increase the pace and scale of forest and watershed restoration activities on national forests. This presentation will provide an overview of the Good Neighbor Authority and the processes, early successes, and lessons learned in Idaho.

- Peg Polichio, Idaho Good Neighbor Authority Facilitator - Jon Songster, Federal Lands Program Manager, Idaho Department of Lands

Virtual Reality in Tourism Marketing A cutting-edge partnership brings immersive Idaho tourism experiences to consumers everywhere - David Cleverdon, CEO, 360 Immersive 6 p.m.

9 p.m.

Reception – Grove Hotel, Third Floor, Rapids Room Hosted by the Canadian Engineering and Geoscience Regulators Hospitality Suite – Grove Hotel, Third Floor, Terrace Suite. Hosted by Microsoft.

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Agenda Friday, November 18 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Registration – Boise Centre East, Room 440

8 - 9:15 a.m.

Breakfast Plenary – Boise Centre East, Room 420. Hosted by Idaho Power.

Impacts of the 2016 on State Legislatures State legislators give an overview of outcomes from the 2016 elections in a moderated discussion and look at how the political landscapes are changing as we approach the 2017 sessions. Top priorities for each state and how these can potentially link across state lines and national borders.

- Moderated by Betsy Z. Russell, Boise Bureau Chief, The Spokesman Review - Sen. Chuck Winder, Idaho - Sen. Maralyn Chase, Washington - Rep. Mike Cuffe, Montana

Friday, November 18

9: 30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Coffee break hosted by Devon Energy

Energy – Boise Centre East, Room 410 AB. Hosted by Roadmap Contributors.

Welcome and Introductions - Rep. Deb Boone, Oregon, PNWER Energy & Environment Co-Chair - Paul Manson, CEO, DC Grid Development Corporation, PNWER Energy & Environment Co-Chair PNWER Roadmap to Resilient, Ultra-Low Energy Buildings in the Pacific Northwest: Release of Case Study Report - Elyse Henderson, MSc, LEED Green Associate, Energy and Sustainability Analyst, RDH Building Science Idaho Power and Energy Efficiency - Quentin Nesbitt, Energy Efficiency Program Leader, Idaho Power Energy Developments in Idaho: Center for Advanced Energy Studies • The case for energy efficiency and demand side management • The smart grid - what can we expect?

• Industrial energy efficiency: The Industrial Assessment Center Program • Challenges with undergrad and graduate education for energy and energy management - Prof. John Gardner, Boise State University Energy Legislation in Upcoming Legislative Sessions Overview of current energy/environment activity in participants’ jurisdictions as well as a look to future legislation.

- Rep. Deb Boone, Oregon - Robyn Luff, MLA, Alberta - Rep. Jeff Morris, Washington (via phone) - Sen. Steve Vick, Idaho - Dan Ashton, MLA, British Columbia, PNWER President

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Agenda 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Entrepreneur and Economic Development Walking Tour Depart the Boise Centre at 9:30 a.m. to visit local economic development hubs driven by entrepreneurship and public-private partnerships.

Please check in at the PNWER Registration Desk Boise Centre East 440, prior to departure.

12:30 - 1:45 p.m.

Luncheon Plenary – Boise Centre East, Room 420. Hosted by Simplot.

- Bill Whitacre, CEO, Simplot Agriculture, Technology and Water - Boise Centre East, Room 410 AB. Hosted by Idaho Potato Commission.

- Moderated by Gynii Gilliam, President, Jobs Plus Economic Development Drones & Agriculture Using drone scanning technology for precision farming to help maximize efficiency of resource use to increase yields - Ron Looney, Director of Operations, Empire Unmanned Revolutionizing agriculture with wirelessly and remotely controlled tractors, partnered with drone technology data, to continue to feed the world - Brandon Smith, Vice President, Farb Guidance Systems

Friday, November 18

2 - 3:30 p.m.

Technology Transforming Agriculture Understanding other technologies that have transformed agriculture in Idaho and learning about our model water adjudication process - Brian Oakey, Deputy Director, Idaho Department of Agriculture 1:30 - 4 p.m.

Energy Policy Tour: Idaho Power Grid Operations Center Please check in at the PNWER Registration Desk Boise Centre East 440, prior to departure.

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Agenda 3:30 - 5 p.m.

Workforce Development Boise Centre East, Room 430 Introduction and Welcome - Sen. Maralyn Chase, Washington State, PNWER Workforce Development Co-Chair - Shawna Argue, Director of Education and Compliance, APEGS, PNWER Workforce Development Co-Chair

Friday, November 18

Impacts of innovation & growth of middle market business on our regional workforce. Access to Financing, Workforce and Trade are a few vital components of our regional economy. This session will explore the nexus of these topics and the impacts they have on the region. We will also highlight middle market firms. As a key pillar of the economy, these firms account for a significant share of job creation and revenue. We will also learn about the engineering licensing agreement between Idaho and the Canadian provinces and the subsequent increased mobility of engineers to and from Idaho.

Overview of the Idaho Middle Market economy and the effect increase trade could have on these firms - Jennifer Verdon, Manager of International Business Divison, Idaho Commerce Community Development Finance Institutions and leveraging New Market Credit Financing for rural investment - Mike Trueba, Idaho Business Development Manager Montana & Idaho Community Development Corporation Overview of how Idaho is addressing the skill gaps and developing talent pipelines for industry with a skilled mobile workforce - Dwight Johnson, State Administrator, Idaho Career and Technical Education Highlighting how Idaho works with Canadian Provinces on reciprocal professional licensure - Keith Simila, Executive Director, Idaho Board of Licensure of Professional Engineers & Professional Land Surveyors Discussion and Next Steps

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6 p.m.

Optional Boise State University Broncos Football Game & Tailgate PNWER has a limited block of tickets available for purchase during registration for $25. Complimentary gameday shuttles will pick up guests at S. 6th Street and & W. Grove Street and depart every 15 minutes prior to the game. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Albertsons Stadium, 1400 Bronco Lane.

8 p.m.

Hospitality Suite – Grove Hotel, Third Floor, Terrace Suite. Hosted by Spectra Energy.

Agenda

7:30 - 9:30 a.m.

Breakfast – Grove Hotel, Second Floor, Cedar Room

8 a.m - Noon

PNWER Executive Committee Meeting Grove Hotel, Second Floor, Aspen Room Open to all attendees.

10 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

World Center for Birds of Prey and Wine Tour Participate in a guided tour of the World Center for Birds of Prey interpretive center, followed by an afternoon of wine tasting in the Snake River Valley wine region. Lunch is included. Please sign up during registration.

Tour will depart at 10am from the Grove Hotel Lobby. Please check in at the lobby before departure.

Saturday, November 19

Saturday, November 19

Celebrating...

100years

of reliable, fair-priced service

Visit our website for a decade-by-decade account of defining moments in our history and to view our documentary video series.

A division of ZB, N.A. Member FDIC

i d a h o p o w e r. c o m / 1 0 0 y e a r s

Keynote Speakers Dan Ashton Parliamentary Secretary, Minister of Finance, British Columbia; PNWER President Dan Ashton was elected MLA for Penticton on May 14, 2013. On December 18, 2014 he was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Finance. From June 2013 until his most recent appointment, he was the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister Responsible for Core Review.

He currently serves as the Chair of Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, is a member of the Treasury Board and was the vice-chair of the Cabinet Working Group on Core Review. Since September 2014, Ashton is the Premier’s representative to the Pacific Northwest Economic Region and in July 2016 he was elected president of PNWER. Before being elected as an MLA, Dan served two terms as Mayor of the City of Penticton following three consecutive terms as a Councillor. He served ten terms as Chair of the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen, and spent four years as a trustee on the Municipal Finance Authority.

Sen. Maralyn Chase Washington State Legislature Senator Maralyn Chase represents the citizens of the 32nd Legislative District in moving our state forward with sustainable public policy. Prior to serving in the Legislature, Maralyn and her daughter, Carin, operated a general and specialty contracting firm. Before entering the contracting field, Maralyn ran a job training and development program for disabled and disadvantaged citizens for five years.

In the State Legislature, Maralyn serves the ranking member of the Trade & Economic Development Committee and serves on the Rules Committee and the Natural Resources & Parks Committee. At the National Conference of State Legislatures Maralyn serves on the Labor and Economic Development Committee and the Environment Committee. She was recently appointed to the Committee on Communications, Financial Services, and Interstate Commerce.

Maralyn is also a Washington State delegate to the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) and serves on the Advisory Council of the Labor Education and Research Center.

Rep. Mike Cuffe Montana State Legislature Mike Cuffe earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Montana at Missoula and started his career working in the newspaper business in Libby, Montana. It was here that he developed his organizational and communication skills and a desire to get involved in politics on a local level.

After working as a staffer for a Montana Congressman in Washington DC, Cuffe returned to Montana where he was recruited by the timber industry. He achieved top management positions throughout his extensive career in the development of the wood products business in Lincoln County. Mike then returned to his communications background and successfully ran Big Sky Publishing in Eureka, Montana.

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Keynote Speakers Brad Little ​Lieutenant Governor, Idaho Little was appointed to fill a Senate vacancy in May 2001, and was subsequently elected and reelected senator from District 11 four times.

In the Idaho Senate, Little rose quickly into leadership, being elected by his peers as Majority Caucus Chairman in 2003. He held this position until Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter appointed him to fill the vacancy left by then Lt. Governor Jim Risch’s election to the U.S. Senate in January of 2009. He was elected Lt. Governor on November 2, 2010.

Jesse Ronnow Senior V.P., Zions Bank Jesse Ronnow is senior vice president and treasury relationship regional manager for Zions Bank in Idaho, responsible for oversight and expansion of treasury management sales. He joined the bank in 2005 and was promoted to treasury team lead for the Eastern Idaho Region in 2009.

Ronnow became Senior V.P. in 2013 and became Idaho Technology Council board member in 2014.

Betsy Z. Russell Boise Bureau Chief, The Spokesman-Review Betsy Russell covers Idaho news from the state capitol in Boise and writes the Eye on Boise blog.

Bill Whitacre President and CEO, Simplot Bill Whitacre was named president and CEO in 2009 of the J. R. Simplot Company, one of the largest privately held agribusiness firms in the nation. He joined the company in March 2000 as president of the company’s Turf & Horticulture Group and was promoted in 2002 to the position of AgriBusiness Group president. Prior to joining Simpot, he was president and CEO of Research Seeds, Inc., a Land O’Lakes subsidiary, and he has more than 30 years of experience in the agriculture industry.

Sen. Chuck Winder Idaho State Legislature Chuck is a member of the Idaho Senate serving his third term as an Idaho State Senator representing east Meridian and west Boise. He also serves as the Idaho Senate Assistant Majority Leader and is active on Transportation and State Affairs Committees. Chuck attended the College of Idaho where he earned a B.A. in Political Science and Pre-Law. Following graduation, Chuck joined the U.S. Navy where he served for four years on active duty as a Naval Aviator and for eight years on inactive reserve. Upon his return he was employed by Morrison-Knudsen Company and Emkay Development Company, serving as Vice President.

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Speakers Bruce Agnew Director, Cascadia Since 1993, Bruce Agnew has been the Policy Director of Seattle-based Discovery Institute’s Cascadia Center. The Cascadia Center is a strategic alliance from Vancouver, BC, to Eugene, Oregon, promoting high speed passenger rail, Interstate-5 freight mobility, seamless border crossings, bi-national and bi-state tourism marketing, and sustainable community development.

From 1987-93, Mr. Agnew was Chief of Staff for U.S. Representative John Miller from Washington state’s first district. Before his congressional service, Bruce Agnew was elected to two terms on the Snohomish County Council, and served as President of the Puget Sound Regional Council in 1985. He is a former member of the Citizen Oversight Panel for Sound Transit, and is a member of the Regional Freight Mobility Roundtable.

Greg Almeda Chief of Vulnerability Coordination, Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT) - Idaho Department of Homeland Security Greg Almeda is the Chief of Vulnerability Coordination for the Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT), an operational division of the Department’s National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) and the DHS Office of Cybersecurity and Communications (CS&C).

Mr. Almeda has over 10 years of Cybersecurity experience and brings a background in computer intrusion experience to DHS. Before coming to the ICS-CERT, Mr. Almeda was a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation whose case work focused in national security computer intrusion matters. Mr. Almeda worked investigations ranging from cyber-stalking to hacktivism to state-sponsored intrusions of cleared defense contractors and private companies. Mr. Almeda was the case agent responsible for the arrest of the first Chinese state-sponsored hacker.

Shawna Argue Director of Education and Compliance, APEGS Shawna is a registered Professional Engineer in Saskatchewan. She is a graduate of Industrial Systems Engineering, University of Regina (1987) and holds a Masters of Business Administration from Athabasca University (1999).

Shawna’s experience covers a wide variety of industries both domestically and internationally.

Shawna is a Past-President of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS). Shawna is involved with educational initiatives related to engineering and geoscience as a profession and the importance of continual professional development of practicing professional engineers and geoscientists, as well as enforcing requirements for licensure. She holds the designations of Fellow of Engineers Canada, Fellow of the Canadian Society of Senior Engineers and Fellow of Geoscientists Canada (Honourary).

Leslie Blakey President & Executive Director, Coalition for America’s Gateways & Trade Corridors Leslie Blakey has a diverse background in public outreach, project development, policy research and government affairs. Over the past 15 years with Blakey & Agnew LLC, which manages the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors (CAGTC), she has overseen projects and clients primarily in the transportation and freight industries.

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As CAGTC’s Executive Director, Ms. Blakey has helped to unite a large and growing number of public and private organizations around the need for increased federal investment in intermodal freight infrastructure. She manages the Coalition’s work to increase awareness of the benefits of trade infrastructure development and to coordinate legislative strategy and support.

Speakers Rick Boatner Invasive Species Wildlife Integrity Coordinator, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Rick Boatner is the Invasive Species Wildlife Integrity Coordinator for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. He has worked for the ODFW for 25 years, and has been in his current position since 2008. In this role, he helped to develop and write the statues and rules for the AIS program and implemented the AIS Watercraft Inspection Program in Oregon, which he continues to oversee. He also coordinates the Feral Swine Removal program, the Wildlife Control Operator program, the Wildlife Rehabilitation program and the holding and importation of non-native wildlife.

Before Boatner joined the ODFW team, he served for five years as an assistant wildlife biologist with the North and South Willamette Watershed District, where he worked on wildlife population monitoring, disease and damage issues. He spent five years as a fishery biologist working on the Willamette Sport Fishing project, working with Steelhead and spring Chinook.

Boatner also spent seven years in the Willamette Falls area working on projects such as the Columbia and Willamette Sport Fishing program, the Salmon Trout Enhancement Program (STEP) and salmon spawning ground surveys.

Rep. Deborah Boone Oregon State House of Representatives Representative Deborah Boone was appointed on August 4, 2004 to serve the remainder of the term for House District 32 when Elaine Hopson resigned in July 2004. She was re-elected by the citizens of House District 32 in November 2004.

Ms. Boone was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She graduated from Portland State University with two bachelor’s degrees in art and psychology.

Ms. Boone worked for 16 years as a legislative assistant to seven individual legislators, including eight years in House District 32. She is the co-owner of a construction company with her husband and she has owned and operated a restaurant and catering business.

Ms. Boone served as a Clatsop County Commissioner and was appointed by governors to the Oregon Ocean Resources Management Task Force, Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, Healthy Stream Partnership and the Oregon Children’s Trust Fund board. She currently serves her community as a volunteer firefighter. ​Tom Boos AIS Coordinator, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Speaking on Invasive Species on Thursday, November 17 Tom has been the AIS Coordinator for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks for two years and finds the position challenging and immensely satisfying. He enjoys working with people to maximize their efforts to protect natural resources.

Tom has a degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has spent the last 19 years of his professional life dealing with terrestrial invasive plants for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

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Speakers Matt Borud Chief Business Development Officer, Idaho Department of Commerce Matt Borud is the Chief Business Development Officer for Idaho Commerce. His current position focuses on unifying the department’s marketing and business development initiatives including overseeing the Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission (IGEM) grant program, the Idaho Tourism marketing program, and Idaho Commerce’s marketing program.

Before joining Idaho Commerce, Matt worked for a software company called Balihoo where he focused on business development and client services for strategic accounts. Prior to Balihoo, Matt led recruiting services for Payette Group, an executive technical recruiting firm with offices in Boise and Menlo Park, CA. He began his career in sales operations at MPC Computers in Nampa.Matt has a B.A. in Political Science, Business Administration, and German from the University of Oregon.

Stephanie Bowman Commissioner, Port of Seattle Stephanie Bowman currently serves as the Executive Director of Washington ABC, a statewide non-profit organization promoting policies and programs to help economically-disadvantaged communities build assets through investments in education, homeownership, savings and small business development.

Stephanie has more than 18 years of experience working in the areas of transportation and economic development on the local, state and federal levels, including at the Port of Tacoma and Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce. Stephanie has been active with the American Association of Port Authorities; the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors and the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association. Locally she has served on the Boards of the Plymouth Housing Group and the Rainier Valley Food Bank. In 2007, Stephanie was selected as a Fellow with the American Marshall Memorial Foundation.

David Cleverdon CEO, 360Immersive David attended the University of Idaho and the University of Washington and has almost 30 years of experience in the marketing and communication industry. He has started three companies over his career. Each of these companies is dedicated to providing relevant marketing and communication services with a total commitment to the clients that they serve.

The latest venture is an organization that is completely focused on immersive technology called 360immersive. This company provides education as well as creative services pertaining to what is now called virtual reality or VR. Immersive technology is innovative in the way it provides a connection with the viewer to the information, messaging, or content unlike traditional media.

David Doeringsfeld Port Manager, Port of Lewiston David Doeringsfeld has served as the General Manager of the Port of Lewiston for twenty three years. As General Manager of Idaho’s only seaport, he is involved in numerous transportation, economic development and natural resource related issues.

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Before joining the Port, David worked for a civil engineering firm for ten years as a Project and Business Manager. During this time, he worked with ports and municipalities on infrastructure development projects. David earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Idaho and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of South Dakota.

Speakers Larry Doke MLA, Cut Knife – Turtleford, Saskatchewan Since 2011, Larry has served as MLA for the Saskatchewan riding of Cut Knife – Turtleford. In addition to his duties as MLA for Cut Knife – Turtleford, Larry has served as a member of the Treasury Board and Investment Board; a member of the Economy Standing Committee and Vice Chair of the Economy Caucus Policy Committee.

He continues to serve as Deputy Chair for the Standing Committee for Public Accounts and Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Highways and Infrastructure. In addition, Larry is serving as a board member to the Crown Investment Corporation of Saskatchewan, and continues as the Saskatchewan delegate to PNWER. Charlton Evans Senior Manager, Insitu Commercial Aviation Charlton Evans is the senior manager responsible for Insitu Commercial Aviation. In this role he’s responsible for synthesizing products, services and FAA certification efforts to achieve operational approvals that help Insitu meet customer needs for aerial data collection services around the globe. This includes helping to shape Insitu’s technical roadmap, collaborating with the FAA and other regulators and managing aviation program execution and operational teams.

Charlton was previously the Director of Regulatory Strategy for Insitu and managed the Type Certification “Pathfinder” effort for ScanEagle as well as the system’s subsequent commercial work for ConocoPhillips in the Chukchi Sea off of the North Slope of Alaska. Charlton led the team that accomplished Insitu’s BVLOS Pathfinder flights for BNSF. He has also served as the Deputy Director for Deployed Operations, and has deployed for Insitu as a Mission Coordinator.

Charlton joined Insitu in 2009 as the Manager of Operations and Plans.

Charlton is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and has more than 25 years of aviation experience. He served in VMA-223 as an AV-8B Harrier Attack Pilot in the Marine Corps, and in Iraq as a Joint Tactical Air Controller with 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment.

John Gardner Director, Energy Efficiency Research Institute, Professor of mechanical & biomedical engineering, Boise State University John Gardner is Director of the Energy Efficiency Research Institute (part of the Center for Advanced Energy Studies) and professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering at Boise State University where he has been a faculty member since 2000.

Through the institute he leads research, outreach and educational efforts to promote the efficient and effective use of energy. Professor Gardner received his Bachelor’s degree from Cleveland State University in 1981, and his MS and Ph.D. from Ohio State in 1983 and 1987, respectively.

He has published more than 60 peer-reviewed research publications, two textbooks and is coinventor of three US Patents. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of Idaho and a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

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Speakers Gynii Gilliam President, Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation Gynii Abracosa Gilliam is the President of the Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation (Jobs Plus). She is charged with helping create vital communities within the region by diversifying the economy and empowering its citizens with good jobs. She joined Jobs Plus in March of 2015, and since then has helped several companies bring 1100 new jobs and $120M in capital investment into the region. Gynii has over 25 years of experience, in both the private and public sectors, from rural communities with 500 people to urban centers, like Detroit, MI. She served as the chief economic development officer for the state of Idaho, where her team helped bring over $800 million in capital investment and 3500 new jobs to the state over an 18-month period. Prior to joining Jobs Plus, Gynii had a private consulting firm focused on providing workshops to help “Elected Officials and Stakeholders become Champions for Economic Development.”

Sen. Lee Heider Idaho State Senate Lee Heider is a Republican member of the Idaho State Senate, representing District 24. He was first elected to the chamber in 2010. Heider earned his B.S. in Youth Leadership from Brigham Young University and his M.P.A. from Ball State University. His professional experience includes working as a real estate broker and owning a flooring company.

Elyse Henderson Energy and Sustainability Analyst Elyse Henderson is an Energy and Sustainability Analyst, specializing in energy efficiency consulting and building science research. She combines her education in environmental chemistry with experience implementing green initiatives to offer a deep understanding of sustainable development. ​ lyse specializes in building energy conservation and efficiency and assists RDH clients in E improving the energy efficiency of their buildings. Her work includes building energy modeling, energy assessments, benchmarking, thermal modeling and further sustainability-related work. ​ Additionally, Elyse performs materials testing and life cycle analysis, product development and testing, and supports field review on projects. With an educational background in Environmental Chemistry, Elyse’s knowledge and expertise in water, soil, and atmospheric cycles, as well as her lab experience, makes her an invaluable member of RDH’s Research and Forensics division.

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Speakers Barbara Ivanov Chief Operating Officer, Supply Chain, Transportation and Logistics (SCTL) Center, University of Washington Barbara Ivanov has worked with the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP2) and the National Academy of Sciences Transportation Research Board (TRB) to develop freight performance metrics and the technical capability to track performance; advanced freight data collection and analytic tools; economic impact analyses; resilient freight systems; and states’ internally and externally coordinated input to the National Freight Network and National Freight Strategic Plan required under the FAST Act.​ She holds a MBA from the University of Washington Foster School of Business, is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management, and has a BA in English (cum laude) from the University of Washington. Before joining the SCTL Center she was the director of the Freight Systems Division at the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Dwight Johnson State Administrator, Idaho Career & Technical Education Dwight Johnson has served as the Administrator of Idaho Career & Technical Education (ICTE) since August 2014. As State Administrator he oversees a $71 million budget for CTE programs at high schools and postsecondary institutions throughout the state.

Before coming to ICTE, Mr. Johnson served for 20 years as a senior administrator at the Idaho Departments of Labor and Commerce where he oversaw workforce policy development, budget administration, communications, research and legislative relations.

Johnson also served as the Interim Executive Director of the Idaho State Board of Education for 18 months from 2006 to 2007. In addition he has twice served as the Interim Executive Director for the Idaho Rural Partnership. He has served on a variety of boards and commissions including as a Commissioner of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, a member of the Governor’s Workforce Development Council, a member of the Governor’s Science & Technology Council, and as a member of the Idaho Certified Public Manager Advisory Board.

Johnson earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Brigham Young University, a Master of Arts in Public Administration from Boise State University, and is a candidate for a Ph.D. in Organizational Learning & Leadership from the University of Idaho.

Travis Joseph President and CEO, American Forest Resource Council Travis was born and raised in Springfield, Oregon but spent eight years in Washington D.C. working for the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a senior legislative aide to an Oregon congressman, a senior policy advisor on the House Natural Resources Committee, and the Director of Northwest Policy for the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Travis returned to Oregon to pursue his passion for healthy public forestlands and creating economic opportunities in rural communities. As President and CEO, Travis manages the budget, staff, communications, government relations, and overall strategy of the Association.

Travis earned his bachelor degree in history and international studies from the University of Oregon and a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science in environment and development. When Travis is not in the office or traveling for work, he spends his time pursuing international adventures or exploring Oregon’s public lands.

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Speakers Ron Looney Director of Operations, Empire Unmanned Ron was one of the first UAV pilots to join Empire Unmanned. He has innumerable experiences in aviation spanning over 30 years. He is also experienced in developing UAS courseware for many colleges and universities. He has been involved in all aspects of the aviation industry, from airplanes to helicopters, flying to maintenance, and even fuel and ammunition. Embracing his passion for aviation, he joined the U.S. Army where he commanded AH-64 Apache equipped units and also flew AH-1, OH-58 and UH-1 helicopters in many places throughout the world, retiring after more than 21 years of active service. During his time in the U.S. Army he was also fortunate enough to work deep underground at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station (CMAFS) with NORAD and USNORTHCOM as an air battle management officer and chief of current operations, tasked with the overall airspace security of North America. After retirement, Ron was hand-picked as a defense contractor to manage the movement of the CMAFS Command Center, ensuring increased capabilities while facing new challenges.

Answering the strong desire for flying again, Ron moved to Idaho and flew air ambulance helicopters in Elko NV and later flew heads of state for many countries and members of the royal family in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He has nearly 4,000 hours of flight time and an Air Transport Pilot-helicopter certificate, as well as a Bachelors and an MBA from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Robyn Luff MLA, Calgary-East, Alberta Robyn Luff was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Calgary-East on May 5, 2015. Ms. Luff serves as a member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the Standing Committee on Families and Communities and the Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services. Prior to her election Ms. Luff was a teacher with the Calgary board of education. Ms. Luff earned a bachelor of science with a major in biology from the University of Victoria and a bachelor of education (master of teaching) from the University of Calgary. She also took part in Next Up, a progressive leadership program for university alumni from all across Canada. Ms. Luff was an active member of the Alberta Teachers’ Association and has also volunteered as an educator for a number of nature conservation organizations in Calgary.

Jeff Morris Representative, Washington State Legislature Rep. Jeff Morris represents the 40th Legislative District in Washington State that includes San Juan County and parts of Skagit and Whatcom Counties. A fourth-generation native of the San Juan Islands, Morris is one of the preeminent sources of critical thought on policy issues in the public and private sectors in the areas of energy, critical infrastructure, biotechnology, and commercialization.

Morris has been selected by his North American peers to head two regional policy organizations in the Council of State Governments West and the Pacific Northwest Economic Region, CoChairs the NCSL Nation Energy Task Force and co-founded Northwest Energy Angels, now Element 8.

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Speakers Quentin Nesbitt Energy Efficiency Program Leader, Idaho Power Quentin has a BS in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Idaho. He has worked for Idaho Power Company since 1991. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Idaho. He has worked as an Agricultural Representative, Senior Engineer and Engineering Project Leader over his 25 year career with Idaho Power. He currently is in the position of Energy Efficiency Leader and is responsible for all Commercial, Industrial and Irrigation energy efficiency and demand response programs for Idaho Power.

Brian Oakey Deputy Director, Idaho State Department of Agriculture In March of 2007 Brian became the Deputy Director at ISDA. Brian’s duties as deputy director include advising the Director, Chief of Staff and administrators on policy related matters and representing the department in interagency and constituent negotiations as assigned by the Director. He previously worked with the Attorney General’s office representing the ISDA in litigation, contested case proceedings and advising administration and staff on legal matters including public records, legislation and rule making, contracts and leases, and various other legal matters.

Brian received a Master of Laws degree in Agricultural Law from the University of Arkansas in May 2003 and a Juris doctorate degree from Drake University in 2002.

Peg Polichio Idaho Good Neighbor Authority Facilitator (contractor, Forest Insight LLC) Peg Polichio is under contract to the Idaho Department of Lands to serve as the Idaho Good Neighbor Authority Facilitator. She is the President of Forest Concepts LLC, an Idaho based forest policy business. Peg is a retired Forest Service veteran of 37 years. She served in numerous forestry and fire technical and leadership positions throughout the Intermountain West. She retired from Portland, Oregon, as the Director of State and Private Forestry for the Pacific Northwest and Alaska Regions (R6 & R10) of the U.S. Forest Service in 2014.

Brigadier General Brad Richy Director, Idaho Office of Emergency Management Brad Richy is the Director of the Joint Staff, Idaho National Guard, Joint Force Headquarters; he also serves as the Director of the Idaho Office of Emergency Management. As the Director of the Joint Staff, he serves as the principal adviser to The Adjutant General on all matters pertaining to the formulation, review, and execution of all plans, policies, and programs affecting the Idaho National Guard and its relationships with the active/reserve components. He is responsible for all Idaho National Guard actions involving operations, logistics, resourcing, manpower, communications, planning, and intelligence.

As the Director of the Office of Emergency Management, he is directly responsible for Idaho emergency readiness and preparedness planning in support of the Idaho Homeland Security and Emergency Management Strategies. He serves as the Homeland Security Adviser and principal Emergency Management Adviser to the Governor and The Adjutant General. As the Governor’s Authorized Representative, he acts as the single point of contact for all federal, regional, and state emergency management activities.

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Speakers James Ruff​ Principal, J Ruff Consulting LLC Jim provides environmental consulting services in the following areas: water and natural resources planning and management; aquatic invasive species prevention, control, management and public education; juvenile and adult anadromous fish passage technologies and solutions; ESA fisheries policy and planning; technical and feasibility studies; climate change impacts and analysis; water quality and toxic contaminants; and hydropower and watershed studies.

Previously, Jim was Manager of Mainstem Passage and River Operations for the Northwest Power and Conservation Council in Portland, OR. He monitored implementation and resolved issues related to flow augmentation, fish spill, upstream and downstream fish passage, invasive species, predator control, fish passage research, and water quality/management measures of the Council’s Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program.

Keith Simila, P. E Executive Director, Idaho Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors Keith Simila is the Executive Director to the Idaho Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors. He began in this position in 2013. As a licensed professional engineer his current job is to assist the board in licensing new engineers and land surveyors, work with the legislature and other stakeholders to update the laws and rules of the board, to engage in disciplinary actions that enforce the laws and rules of the board and to educate licensees, certificate holders and others in regard to licensure and professional practice issues.

Prior to 2013, Keith spent 33 years as an engineer with the US Forest Service. He retired as the Director of Engineering for a 4 state region (located in Ogden, Utah) which included Southern Idaho. Keith also worked as a practicing engineer in: Boise, Salmon, and Priest River, Idaho; Missoula, Montana; Juneau, Alaska; and Washington, D.C. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Keith graduated with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and Forest Engineering from Oregon State University. He has a Masters of Administrative Management from Regent University School of Business in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Brandon Smith Vice President, Farb Guidance Systems Brandon Smith is vice president at Farb Guidance Systems. Farb Guidance Systems is developing the next generation of agricultural equipment through the advancement of guidance technologies. Smith has a dynamic management style and business background which enhances the leadership and innovation he brings to Farb Guidance Systems. His extensive career includes experience in strategic market analysis, financial planning product and project development, national product launches, team management, and investment procurement.

Jon Songster Federal Lands Program Manager, Idaho Department of Lands Jon Songster has enjoyed working in the forest products industry throughout the Inland Northwest for most of the last 14 years. Before joining the Idaho department of lands, Jon managed industrial timberlands in Idaho, Washington, and Montana. Jon also has past experience working with U.S. Farm Bill conservation programs with the Natural Resource Conservation Service and spent time with the Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research as a Research Forester.

Jon earned a Master’s Degree in Forest Products Marketing from the University of Idaho and a Bachelor’s Degree in Forest Resource Management from West Virginia University.

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Speakers Quanah M. Spencer Tribal Liaison, BNSF Railway BNSF Railway has employed Quanah to serve as its Pacific Northwest and British Columbia Tribal Liaison. Quanah is a member of the Yakama Nation. He attended Fort Lewis College located in Durango, Colorado, where he achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science followed by a Juris Doctorate Degree in Law from the University of Colorado at Boulder School of Law. He began his early professional career working as a wild land firefighter with the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service in the Pacific Northwest, Colorado, and on national assignments. He served as a lead firefighter on ground suppression crews, engine crews, and helitack crews on incidents throughout the western United States and was highly trained in the Incident Command System.

Immediately before joining the Tribal Relations Department at BNSF, he served for over 10 years as an attorney for private clients and for Tribal governments throughout the Pacific Northwest where he focused his legal practice on business law. In addition, he has worked with the National Congress of American Indians, the nation’s largest American Indian and Alaska Native organization that represented approximately 250 tribal governments nationwide on matters related to governmental and legal policy. While advising clients on legal and policy issues, he was responsible for managing communication and maintaining relationships with state, tribal and federal governments and the business community.

Reid Stephan Associate CIO, St. Luke’s Health System Mr. Stephan is the Associate CIO at St. Luke’s Health System. He has over 16 years of experience in cyber security, including serving as St. Luke’s first CISO prior to his current role, and 9 years leading HP’s global corporate IT security incident response program. He has a Bachelor of Management Information Systems from the University of Idaho and an MBA in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix. He is a HealthCare Information Security and Privacy Practitioner (HCISPP), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), and a Certified Professional in Healthcare Information & Management Systems (CPHIMS).

Scott Stokes Chief Deputy, Idaho Transportation Department Scott Stokes, a 21-year Idaho Transportation Department veteran, became chief deputy in 2007 after a long tenure as district engineer in northern Idaho. As chief deputy, Mr. Stokes oversees the divisions of Aeronautics, Motor Vehicles, and Transportation Performance and has primary responsibility for much of the department’s daily operations.

Mr. Stokes is chairman of the Idaho Traffic Safety Council and is intimately involved in all facets of highway safety for the department. He is a member of ITD’s four-person executive team and reports to the director. A second-generation ITD employee, Mr. Stokes joined the department in 1992 and served as the state bridge engineer early in his career. He earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in civil engineering from Brigham Young University and worked for a private engineering firm about eight years before joining ITD.

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Speakers J.R. Tietsort Chief Information Security Officer, Micron Technology J.R. Tietsort is an Idaho native who grew up in Nampa. He joined Micron in 1995 and currently leads global information risk and cyber security programs. He has been at Micron for over 20 years serving in IT infrastructure and governance roles of increasing responsibility. In that time, he has supported a variety of operating systems, ITIL process models, and large outsourcing contracts. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Management of Business Information Systems and an MBA degree from Boise State University. Mr. Tietsort is an advisory member of the IT Leadership Roundtable of the Treasure Valley and speaks at various events in and outside of Idaho. His current focus is on advanced cyber threats, including espionage and intellectual property theft.

Mike Trueba Idaho Business Development Manager, Montana and Idaho Community Development Corporation Mike has been a member of the Treasure Valley banking community for over 10 years, managing branch locations, working with private banking clients, and in commercial lending. Mike currently works for Montana & Idaho CDC, a non-profit providing capital to businesses that cannot secure traditional bank financing.

Montana & Idaho CDC also improves low income communities with New Market Tax Credit project financing. Mike’s role is to continue to expand Montana and Idaho CDC’s presence in Idaho. Mike graduated from Boise State University with a B.S. in Marketing and Management.

Bill Tweit Special Assistant to the Director, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife As Special Assistant to the Director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bill Tweit provides policy leadership issues relating to invasive species. In addition to his role at the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bill also serves on the interagency team representing Washington’s interests for the Columbia River Treaty. Bill provides policy leadership on other Columbia River fish and wildlife mitigation issues as well. He serves as the Washington state representative of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, managing the groundfish and crab fisheries of the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska.

Chas Vincent State Senator, Montana Chas Vincent was raised in the mountains of northwestern Montana and has spent much of his life involved in his family’s logging business. He attended OSU’s School of Forestry in Corvallis, OR and the University of Montana where he received his Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a minor in Communication Studies. ​ has also represents Lincoln County within the Montana State Senate. During his 8 year tenure C as legislator, Chas has focused on Natural Resource, Energy, and Tax policy and is currently the acting chair of Senate Natural Resources and serves on the Water Policy Interim Committee. He has worked with Provider Pals©, a non-profit natural resource educational program extensively since the summer of 2003, and is now a full time consultant employed by Environomics Inc.

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Speakers Nikki Wallace District and Communications Director, Office of Congressman Mike Simpson Nikki Wallace serves as Congressman Mike Simpson’s District and Communications Director.

She has over 17 years of effective media relations for Congressman Simpson. She is a dedicated communications professional committed to providing members of the press as well as constituents with current information in a timely manner. Wallace is also a policy advisor to Congressman Simpson covering a variety of issues related to congressional district, state, and nation. She lives in Boise with her three children.

Lindsay Warness Forest Policy Liaison for the North East Oregon Region, Boise Cascade ​ indsay Warness is the Forest Policy Liaison for the North East Oregon Region of Boise L Cascade. She is currently a member of three place-based collaboratives working in the Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman, and Malheur National Forests. She is also on the Steering Committee for the Blues Coalition of Collaboratives and serves on the Federal Advisory Committee for the Implementation of the 2012 Forest Planning Rule. In addition to her responsibilities as a collaborative member, Lindsay works directly with the Forest Service through the NEPA process, coordinates public outreach and education on behalf of Boise Cascade, and advocates for active management of our national forest system to better mitigate the dangers of unchecked insects and disease as well as reduce the danger of uncharacteristic wildfire.

Kate Wilson Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator, Alberta Environment and Parks Kate has been working in the field of aquatic invasive species prevention and management for over a decade. Originally she started out as a journalist, but quickly found her way into the water world and from there, assisted with the development of an aquatic invasive species program for northern Idaho. This work took her to the University of Florida for her Masters of Science where she was employed at the Center for Aquatic & Invasive Plants and got a whole new education stemming from some of the worst invasives on the planet! Her thesis included the development of a needs assessment and recommendations for developing an aquatic invasive species prevention program for the State of Florida.

Hans Zeiger Representative, Washington State Legislature Hans Zeiger is serving his third term in the Washington State House of Representatives. He was first elected to the state legislature in 2010. Hans is the ranking member on the House Higher Education Committee, assistant ranking on the Community Development, Housing and Tribal Affairs Committee, and he serves on the Rules Committee. He served for five years on the House Transportation Committee.

For his work to complete Highway 167 from Puyallup to the Port of Tacoma, the Associated General Contractors named Hans its 2013 Legislator of the Year. Hans was the 2012 Washington Student Association legislator of the year, and was named the co-recipient of the Gabrielle Giffords Award for Civility in State Governance in 2015.

Hans holds appointments on the Puget Sound Regional Council Transportation Policy Board, the Washington State Institute for Public Policy Board, and the Joint Committee on Veterans’ and Military Affairs. Outside of the legislature, Hans leads the Chapman Center for Citizen Leadership at the Seattle-based Discovery Institute, and he is an officer in the Washington Air National Guard.

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Policy Tours Wednesday, November 16 National Interagency Fire Center 2:30 - 5:30 p.m.

The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) is the nation’s logistical and support center for wildland fire and sometimes, national emergencies. NIFC is the place where state, federal and tribal agencies work together to get fire personnel, aircraft, supplies and equipment from anywhere in the country to where they are needed the most.

Participants need to meet at the Grove Hotel Lobby at 2:15 p.m. to receive a tour of the NIFC facilities. Cost: $10

Friday, November 18 Public - Private Partnerships Economic Development Walking Tour 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

The walking tour will take participants to the following entrepreneurial sites, all funded through public-private partnerships: Trailhead - a startup hub founded by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, created by a public-private partnership with the City of Boise. Trailhead is the place to find resources, explore new technologies, and create something all on your own.

JUMP - an acronym for Jack’s Urban Meeting Place, is an interactive creative center and community gathering place, based on the idea that shared environments are an opportunity for people to learn and grow together.

Boise State University’s Computer Science Department - a modern and inviting learning environment, situated in the heart of Boise’s Technology Ecosystem.

This tour is free of charge, led by the Idaho Department of Commerce. Please meet at the PNWER registration desk at Boise Centre East, Room 440, at 9:15 a.m.

Idaho Power Grid Operations Center 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Room 440, at 1:20 p.m. Cost: $10

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Idaho Power’s Boise Center West houses the company’s call center, dispatch and grid operations center. The grid operations center, which select attendees have the opportunity to tour, is where Idaho power manages its transmission, generation, and distribution resources to match electric supply to customer demand around the clock. This facility provides real-time insight into the intricacies of resource management, power production, transmission, and distribution on Idaho Power’s system.

Please meet at the PNWER registration desk at Boise Centre East,

Policy Tours Friday, November 18 Boise State University Bronco’s Football Game Tailgate Tailgate starts after 5 p.m., Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Join your PNWER friends and colleagues on the 50 yard line as the Boise State University Broncos take on the University of Nevada Las Vegas Rebels at Albertson’s Stadium in Boise.

Bronco Bash tailgate party prior to kickoff. The Alumni & Friends Center is an elegant, state of the art facility, honoring and celebrating the legacy of those who have come before. PNWER delegates can join in on the fun after the sessions end at 5pm. There will be beer and wine for sale, and lots of give aways and prizes.

Tickets are available for $25 at the PNWER registration desk. Complimentary shuttles to the game depart every 15 minutes prior to kickoff from South 6th Street and West Grove Street. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Albertsons Stadium, 1400 Bronco Lane.

Saturday, November 19 World Center for Birds of Prey and Wine Tour 10 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Depart for the World Center for Birds of Prey, located 20 minutes from downtown, for a guided tour of their interpretive center where they work to restore endangered birds and release them into the wild.

The Center houses the largest captive flock of California Condors in the world. You will enjoy a live bird presentation and meet several other birds of prey during your visit.

The tour will then depart for the Snake River Valley Wine AVA in the well-traveled Sunnyslope Wine Region, just 40 minutes from Boise.

Visit Ste. Chapelle Winery overlooking the beautiful Snake River, where you can taste several varieties of wine; take home a signature wine glass and shop for wine accessories in the shop.

Next, travel to Huston Idaho, home of the Huston Vineyards, a boutique vineyard and winery established in 2006. Wine tasting will also be set up for your enjoyment at this small, family owned facility that produces some very fine wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah were planted and thrive on the rich volcanic soil and long sunny days.

Participants need to meet at the Grove Hotel Lobby at 9:45 a.m. The tour will return to Boise by approximately 3:15pm. Boxed lunches will be provided.

Cost: $25

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Sponsors

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Boise State Football Pre-Game Tailgate Information Join your PNWER friends and colleagues on the 50 yard line as the Boise State University Broncos take on the University of Nevada - Las Vegas Rebels at Albertson’s Stadium in Boise. Tickets are available for $25 at the PNWER registration desk. Complimentary shuttles to the game depart every 15 minutes prior to kickoff from South 6th Street and West Grove Street. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Albertsons Stadium, 1400 Bronco Lane.

For pre-game festivities, feel free to join the Boise State Alumni Association for the honored game-day tailgating tradition at the Bronco Bash tailgate party prior to kickoff. The Alumni & Friends Center is an elegant, state of the art facility, honoring and celebrating the legacy of those who have come before. PNWER delegates can join in on the fun after the sessions end at 5pm. There will be beer and wine for sale, and lots of give aways and prizes.

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Boise Centre East & Grove Hotel Map

All hotel rooms will be located in The Grove Hotel. All meetings will take place on the fourth floor of Boise Centre East.

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Annual Summit in Portland, Oregon July 23-27, 2017 | Waterfront Marriott

Partner with more than 500 policy makers and industry leaders from the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada at the premier event for regional economic development. Sponsorships are available; contact PNWER for information. www.pnwer.org

206-443-7723

@PNWER

facebook.com/PNWER

Pacific NorthWest Economic Region 2200 Alaskan Way, Suite 460 | Seattle, WA 98121 P: 206-443-7723 | F: 206-443-7703 Twitter: @PNWER Facebook.com/PNWER