Idaho Business for Education

What a great evening! Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Idaho Film Society last Thursday for our Southwest Idaho Member Mixer. It was wonderful to connect with so many incredible people who are invested in the future of education and business in Idaho. A big thank you to our sponsors Andersen Construction, Hawley Troxell, and Rafanelli & Nahas for their support. We love connecting with our IBE community!

Your kid could graduate with a real wage, hands-on experience, and an industry-recognized credential - no student loan debt required. A Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is an employer-sponsored training program recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor, giving young people a clear career pathway that pays from day one. Learn more at idahobe.org.

Last Thursday, IBE's Christina Feliciano attended the North Idaho College Workforce Training Center Apprenticeship Graduation alongside Erica Johnson, Acting Deputy Director of the Office of Apprenticeship. Together, they celebrated graduates from the Construction, Electrical, Heavy Equipment, HVAC, and Plumbing programs.

These graduates represent the future of Idaho's workforce. Their dedication and commitment to mastering their trades deserve every bit of recognition — and it was incredible to see local employers, industry partners, and educators show up to celebrate them.

Workforce development happens through strong partnerships and employers who believe in the next generation. Congratulations to all the graduates. Our community is stronger because of you.

Congratulations to our apprentices at the Nez Perce Tribe and Ririe High Schools!
We are so proud to celebrate these incredible young people as they cross the finish line - earning their certificates and stepping into their futures.
On Wednesday, May 27th, 11 apprentices who participated through TYAP in Nez Perce were honored at a celebration for their completion of the program, and many received scholarships. These apprentices completed their training in the construction industry! On Friday, May 29th, they graduated from high school. Watching them be recognized among their peers and community is exactly why we do what we do.
A huge thank you to Laatis Lawrence, TERO Client Advocate/TYAP Sponsor for the Nez Perce Tribe, and our apprenticeship program manager for the region, Christina Feliciano.
Angie LeBlanc in eastern Idaho was instrumental in helping the students of Ririe High School complete their federally registered apprenticeship program in the early childhood and IT industries! Congrats to the schools and the apprentices for this incredible accomplishment.
Here's to what's next!

We are proud to announce that our President & CEO, Paula Kellerer, has been nominated for the Idaho Business Review's Idaho Icon Award. From leading one of Idaho's largest school districts to advancing statewide workforce and education partnerships, Paula's career has always centered on one goal: creating opportunities that change lives. Please join us in congratulating her on this well-deserved recognition.

Last week we enjoyed a beautiful night outdoors at Float Magic in Twin Falls for an IBE Member Mixer! A sincere thank you to Shawnee Powers, CEO of Float Magic, for opening up her incredible venue for our members, and to COO Brandi Turnipseed for hosting and for giving everyone a wonderful tour of the facility. It is always a pleasure connecting with our members, and we look forward to seeing everyone at our next mixer in Boise on June 11th at the Idaho Film Society!

IBE's first-ever Canyon County member meeting on Tuesday brought together a remarkable group of business, education, and healthcare leaders for a meaningful conversation about Idaho's future workforce.

Our featured speaker, Clint Child, President of St. Alphonsus Medical Center Nampa, offered a compelling look at the realities of healthcare growth in Canyon County.

From there, the room reflected on what IBE's advocacy means in practice: 13 students from Canyon Springs Alternative High School receiving the Idaho LAUNCH scholarship, CWI celebrating its largest graduating class of over 1,800, and a growing youth apprenticeship pipeline connecting students to careers with real earning potential.

The message was consistent across every voice in the room - IBE shows up for Idaho's students and businesses, especially when it isn't easy.

A special thank you to our host, CapEd Credit Union, and our sponsor, St. Alphonsus Medical Center, for making Tuesday's meeting possible. And thank you to everyone who joined us in Canyon County. These local conversations matter, and we look forward to continuing them.

Interested in getting involved? Reach out to Leslie at [email protected]. We'd love to see you at the next meeting.

This past Tuesday, IBE hosted our Southwest Idaho member meeting, and it was a gathering of insightful and engaged IBE members and community leaders.

We were honored to welcome guest speaker Chris Roth from St. Luke's CEO, who provided a valuable inside look into the challenges and successes in Idaho healthcare, including the impact of recent legislative sessions on medical education in our state.

The meeting also included meaningful discussion around policy initiatives, our Youth Apprenticeship Program, and how education is shaping Idaho's workforce.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the members of our membership committee who were able to attend, Randy Schlemmer, Jessica Koefod, Shannan Berry, and Carolyn Holly, IBE's VP of Development, for their continued dedication and for working together to bring in 21 new members to IBE in 2026.

And a special thank you to Eide Bailly for sponsoring the meeting and to Hawley Troxell for hosting us!

Our final regional meeting will be held in Canyon County on May 19th. For more information on attending or getting involved, please contact Leslie at [email protected]. We hope to see you there.

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This is what Idaho Gives is all about.
These are the faces of Idaho Business for Education's Youth Apprenticeship Program. Healthcare workers. Heavy equipment operators. Tradespeople. All of them ages 16 to 24. All of them building real futures, right here in Idaho, with support from people like you.
Idaho Gives may be in its final hours, but if you'd still like to give, every dollar goes directly to supporting these young apprentices!
Give here: https://www.idahogives.org/donate?campaign_id=256491
Thank you for being part of their story.

Every day, Idaho students are showing up, learning real skills, and building careers before they even graduate.

Meet two IBE Youth Apprentices. One earned her U.S. Department of Labor Certificate of Completion as a Dental Assistant. The other operated heavy equipment on a real job site. Both are proof of what's possible when young people get the right opportunity.

This Idaho Gives Week, your donation helps us reach more students like them - giving Idaho youth the skills, confidence, and hands-on experience they need to build a great future right here in our state.

Invest in Idaho's youth today: https://www.idahogives.org/donate?campaign_id=256491