Idaho Business for Education

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

At 17 years old, Lynlee Dilworth is already changing lives. As a Certified Nursing Assistant apprentice in Soda Springs, she earns her credentials, cares for real residents, and shows up for her future - all before graduation.

Today is Day 1 of Idaho Gives week and we're sharing her story all week. Keep an eye out for more from Lynlee!

Every dollar donated to IBE through Idaho Gives goes directly to our Supportive Services fund for our Youth Apprenticeship Program - helping young apprentices like Lynlee cover gas, tools, work clothes, and whatever else they need to succeed.

Donate now - link in bio!

Idaho is doubling down on apprenticeships!

Governor Brad Little kicked off National Youth Apprenticeship Week this morning by announcing a goal to double Registered Apprenticeships in Idaho from 4,000 to 8,000 by 2029. Plus, Idaho LAUNCH just hit a record - 10,600 grant offers awarded for next year!

Shoutout to our LAUNCH recipients, our Idaho Power apprentice, and everyone working to strengthen Idaho's talent pipeline. This is what investing in our future looks like.