On September 11th at the J.R. Simplot Headquarters, Idaho Business for Education and the Idaho Workforce Development Council hosted the Age of Agility Summit Idaho. The event drew more than 200 participants from across the state. It was the largest gathering of the national tour.
Idaho Business for Education (IBE) is on a mission to be the driving force in the development of an Idaho education system that results in graduates who have post-secondary credentials and who are workforce-ready. Their vision is to help create an education system that will provide Idaho students with a high-quality education that ensures the well-educated workforce that our businesses and economy require.
Speakers for this unique full-day Age of Agility Summit presentation were Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter, Michael Simpson of PAIRIN, and David Etzwiler of the Siemens Foundation, along with a variety of panelists. Together, they highlighted the need for the education system to keep pace with the training and skill development required for the 21st-century global economy.
Themes from the event’s discussions included expanding early career pathway exposure and shadowing programs, the benefit of credentialing and concurrent enrollment for high school students, and the crucial role of STEM-based learning opportunities to prepare students for the future, among others.
Ultimately, the conference called upon local stakeholders to take action to improve career pathways for Idaho’s students – actions like the Idaho LEADER Initiative. The Idaho LEADER Initiative offers tools, resources, and connections between educators and employers for work-based learning opportunities. The event, in combination with initiatives like this, is an important next step in continuing to prepare all Idahoans for the future of work.


Thank you to our Idaho Partners & Local Sponsors

Idaho Summit Speakers
SPECIAL ADDRESS: Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter
MORNING KEYNOTE: Michael Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, PAIRIN
AFTERNOON KEYNOTE: David Etzwiler, Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Foundation
DYNAMIC WORKFORCE PANEL:
- Trent Clark, Public and Government Affairs Director, Bayer & Chair of the Idaho Workforce Development Council
- Karen Ashby, Chief of Staff, PS Services, Hewlett Packard
- Eileen Barber, Co-Founder and Director, Keynetics Inc.
- Dr. David Pate, MD, JD, President and Chief Executive Officer, St. Luke’s Health System
- Bill Connors, President and Chief Executive Officer, Boise Metro Chamber
EDUCATION INNOVATION PANEL:
- Sonia Galaviz, Teacher and STEM Coordinator, Garfield Elementary
- Genevieve Hubler, AVID Teacher, Vallivue Middle School
- Martin Jones, Teacher – CTE, Clark Fork High School
- Dr. Steven Coyle, National Director of Counselor and Academic Relationships, Universal Technical Institute
- Skip Oppenheimer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Oppenheimer Companies
LEARNING ABOUT WORK:
- Chance Russman, Welding Student, Idaho State University
- Rick Phillips, Manager of Public Affairs, J.R. Simplot
- Debbie Critchfield, Vice President and PPGA Chair, State Board of Education
LEARNING THROUGH WORK:
- Raistlin Schade, Hatch Academy Supervisor, ArmgaSys Inc.
- Charles Buck, AVP & Chief Executive Officer, University of Idaho – Couer d’Alene
- Guy Falconer, Design Technology Educator, Sage International School
LEARNING AT WORK:
- Karlie Russ, Master Brewer Apprentice, Meriweather Cider
- Melissa Aston, Human Resources Specialist, McCain Foods USA
- Angelique Rood, Regional Manager, Idaho Power
Idaho Summit Gallery
Photos provided by Robert Allen of Pro Image Photography.
This event was live-streamed thanks to support from Idaho Public Television. Watch footage of the event on the IPTV’s YouTube channel.
Thank you to our National Co-Hosts & Sponsors









