Board of Directors

Abbie Belthoff is an Audit Senior Manager at Eide Bailly LLP and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). With over eight years of experience in public accounting, Abbie provides audit and advisory services to clients in a variety of industries, specializing in governmental public pension plans, commercial (manufacturing and distribution) entities, and employee benefit plans. In addition to overseeing the financial statement audit process, she is actively involved in recruiting and training efforts across the firm. Abbie was born and raised in the Treasure Valley and graduated from Boise State University with a BBA in Accountancy in 2016. Abbie has served on the Boise State Alumni Association Board since 2019. She also serves on the Broncos of the Last Decade (BOLD) Committee and is passionate about engaging recent Boise State graduates. In her free time, Abbie enjoys camping, hiking, and traveling.

Justin is a fifth generation Idahoan and proud Kaveman. Justin studied Accounting at Boise State graduating in 2003. He works in the financial services industry as a commercial banker with Heritage Bank. He currently resides in Meridian and is the proud parent of sixth generation Idahoans Adelaide and August. Most of his free time is spent with his family, but in his other free time he likes to read, watch documentaries, attend concerts, play any sport, snowbike, and get outdoors as much as possible.

Galen grew up in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, graduating from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1981. After attending a year at North Idaho College, he transferred to Boise State University, where he graduated with a BA in Political Science in 1985.

Next, Galen attended graduate school at the University of Minnesota where he earned a Masters of Arts in Public Affairs with an emphasis on economic development. When he graduated in 1987, the State of Idaho had a newly created Department of Commerce, and Galen joined the Department as a Rural Development Specialist. During his three years as a public servant, Galen created Idaho’s Gem Community Program.

In 1990, Galen moved from Boise to Seattle to attend graduate school and law school at the University of Washington. He completed coursework for a Ph.D. in Geography (ABD) and then completed law school in 1995. During law school, Galen married his classmate, Miyoung. Following law school, they moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington, and raised three sons, Peter, Jackson, and Thomas. Peter and Jack all of whom attended Boise State.

Galen and Miyoung moved to Boise in 2022. Miyoung put aside the practice of law and is now a Registered Nurse at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho.

Galen is the Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Affairs for Green Diamond Resource Company, which owns and manages over 1.6 million acres of working forest lands in California, Oregon, and Washington. Green Diamond is a part of a privately-held, family-owned company established in 1890. Green Diamond Management Company, a subsidiary, manages another 600,000 acres in five southern states.

Galen serves as a member of the Operating Committee for the National Association of Forest Owners, and he is a member of the legal committees for the California Forestry Association, the Oregon Forest & Industries Council, and the Washington Forest Protection Association. Galen has authored articles and papers on topics such as the Endangered Species Act, private access across federal lands, and rural development.

Before he joined Green Diamond in 2004, he was a partner in the Environment and Natural Resources Practice Group of Perkins Coie LLP, where he provided legal advice and litigation services to a variety of clients including forest products companies, agricultural interests, the building industry, and public works agencies.

Galen enjoys the first cup of coffee in the morning, riding dirt bikes with his boys and reading next to the wood stove with snoring Boston terriers.

Brett Davis graduated in 2017 with a Finance degree from Boise State. He was very active in fraternity life and as a student advisor. He currently works for Artium where he builds relationships and helps teams of all shapes and sizes hire tech talent all across the globe. Brett is a member of the Boise State BOLD committee. In his free time, he enjoys trips to the dog park, trying new recipes, and sunny days on the golf course.

Tamara Thompson graduated from Boise State University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management and a Minor in Business Administration.  Fun fact, Tamara was the fifth female to graduate with a Construction Management degree from Boise State University.

Tamara is the Director of Client Services with The Land Group, Inc. in Eagle, Idaho.  Tamara has drawn from her background in construction management to aid clients in navigating the often complex and lengthy real estate development process.  She is involved in all aspects of real estate development including assisting clients with due diligence investigation, project definition and vision, regulatory agency approvals, zoning, platting, neighborhood and community outreach, public hearing representation and presentation, and general project management.  Tamara’s creativity and collaborative leadership style builds long lasting relationships and repeat clients.

Tamara has served as a Board of Director for the Boise State Alumni Association since 2013.  She chairs the Homecoming Committee organizing alumni involvement in the festivities of Homecoming week.  She is a season ticket holder and regularly attend Boise State football and basketball games.

Tamara lives in Boise with her husband, DJ (an Idaho Vandal Alum but Boise State fan) and their two active sons.  Tamara enjoys watching her boys compete in basketball and lacrosse, and camping with friends and family as many weekends as possible throughout the summer.

Jim is a retired Air Force officer having served 33 years on active duty and attaining the rank of full Colonel. Jim graduated from Boise State University, Boise, Idaho in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication / English and minor in Journalism. He received his Master of Public Relations degree in 1989 through Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia. Also that year, he was recognized as a Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force ROTC program and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Jim also holds a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University / National War College, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C. and completed a focused Executive Leadership Development program at the Darden School of Business Administration, University of Virginia, Charlottesville. He served as a credentialed federal law enforcement Special Agent in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) for the bulk of his Air Force career in world-wide assignments conducting and supervising felony-level criminal, fraud, and counterintelligence investigations and counterterrorism operations. Jim also served as the Commander of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC), Northwest Region, headquartered at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. The Region’s team of 215 cadre members supported 2,800 enrolled AFROTC cadets at 34 university detachments across 19 states from Alaska to the upper peninsula of Michigan.

Just prior to retirement from active-duty service, Jim was appointed as the Director of Force Development & Talent Management for the 4000+ personnel assigned to the Air Force OSI. He has been awarded several decorations during his Air Force career to include the Legion of Merit with 4 Oak Leaf clusters, the Defense Meritorious Service medal and the Meritorious Service Medal with 6 Oak Leaf clusters.

Bryan Wewers is an Idaho native and 1984, Business Management graduate of Boise State University.  Bryan was a Community and Business Development Advisor for Idaho Power in the Boise area and retired in 2020 after 35½ years. He was active representing Idaho Power in various capacities working with City and County government officials, Economic Development leaders, Chambers of Commerce, and non-profits.

As an active community volunteer, Bryan is a board member for St. Luke’s Children’s Advisory Board, a member of the St. Luke’s Hospital Community Engagement Committee, a charter member and past president of the Boise Centennial Rotary, former board member for Idaho Council of Government and former commissioner for Serve Idaho.  He has been active his entire career volunteering with various community organizations and continues to volunteer in retirement.

Bryan is married to Bridgette Wewers, a Boise State graduate. Together they have two adult children; Joe, a Boise State graduate; and Ally (Daniels) an MBA graduate from Boise State and Director for BSU’s JD/MBA program. He loves to spend time with his family, skiing, biking, tennis, and traveling with Bridgette.

One of Bryan’s favorite memories is attending and watching BSU win at the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

Jana graduated from Boise State University in 1984 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. She lives in Boise with her husband, Mike, and son, Jared. Jana was an elementary teacher for 30 years before pursuing an elementary mathematics endorsement, also at Boise State. This led her to her current position as a mathematics specialist with the Institute for Mathematical Thinking for Instruction at Boise State University. Jana works with K-5 teachers in their classrooms to improve math instruction, focuses on professional development and teaches several classes at the university.

In her free time, Jana is found cooking, sewing, knitting and spending time outdoors. Her favorite thing to do is spend time at a family place in Donnelly. Jana also enjoys giving back to the community. She volunteers each year for the Saint Alphonsus Festival of Trees and Capital Classic children’s race. Jana joined the BSU Alumni board February, 2019 and serves on the Scholarship and Awards committee. She is looking forward to the many volunteer opportunities through her participation with the Boise State Alumni Association.

Clay Boeckel is an associate attorney with Ahrens DeAngeli Law Group specializing in tax and estate planning. He received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Boise State University going on to receive his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Idaho College of Law where he was chief executive editor of The Idaho Law Review. He continued to work in tax and estate planning at a local firm he had interned with until moving to New York to further his education in tax law. Clay completed his Master of Laws (LLM) in taxation at New York University School of Law before returning to his beloved hometown of Boise. His interests outside of the office include chess, golf, Boise State football, and travel.

Miranda was raised in small town Idaho, where she has always embraced the rugged beauty and close-knit community of her home State. After graduating from Boise State University in 2013, Miranda initially pursued a career in social work, driven by a passion for helping others. However, she discovered an interest in business and entrepreneurship while working as a student assistant for the College of Business and Economics, eventually returning to further her education with an MBA.

During graduate school Miranda would work for the Department of Management as a graduate assistant where she would help develop the Women in Entrepreneurship program and co-manage the COBE Innovation Challenge. Both experiences would be pivotal in her decision to become more involved in the local business community.

Graduating again in 2022 she transitioned into the corporate world and found her stride at HP where she honed her skills and gained valuable experience. Seeking new challenges, Miranda ventured into the dynamic realm of banking last year after joining the JP Morgan Chase team where she currently works as a commercial banker helping businesses in the middle market space.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Miranda is a devoted wife and a mother to two energetic boys. She cherishes the opportunity to raise their family in Idaho; providing them with the same advantages she had to explore and appreciate the outdoors and grow up in a place with such a welcoming sense of community.

Nicole Criner, a Boise native, and Boise State University alumna holds a BA in Communications, an MA in Athletic Leadership, and a Certificate in Leadership & Human Relations. While at Boise State, she served on the Student Activity Fee Advisory Board, held presidency positions in the Club Sports Council and Women’s Club Lacrosse, and is currently a BOLD committee member. Nicole works for the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC) and enjoys outdoor adventures with her husband and two dogs in her free time.

Geo graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Boise State University in 2009. Even with his experience in land development engineering and structural engineering obtained during college, he was not able to find an engineering job during the 2008 / 2009 economic recession.

Geo ended up flipping burgers at Bogus for a season and then worked on a mine in Oregon for a season to make ends meet and save up to do something. In 2010 Geo went into business with a fellow engineering grad; they opened up a pizza restaurant in Salt Lake City. Since then Geo and his business partner have expanded with their former employees to open locations in other states.

Geo returns to Boise often with his fiancé Allie (also on the board) to attend University events and visit friends and family. Mountain biking, dirt biking, and snowboarding are a few things that keep Geo out of trouble.

Patrick is the CEO of A Body & Mind Health Services, bringing over 17 years of experience in the mental health field. He acts as an advocate for mental health and invests his time volunteering with different organizations in our community. Patrick has always been drawn to leadership roles and has served as a board member with Neighbors United and Make A Wish Foundation. Idaho Business review awarded Patrick the CEO of Influence for his business successes and employee center mindset in opening A Body & Mind in 2019.

He has also received recognition from the Boise mayor in serving the refugee community over his career. Patrick wants to ensure that those who struggle with mental health always have a voice with the changes taking place in our healthcare system. Patrick is a graduate of Boise State University with multiple degrees in Social Science, Criminal Justice, and minoring in psychology.

Boise State University recognized Patrick’s ongoing service to the university’s community and he was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Service award in 2022. Patrick is a proud husband and father of two beautiful girls. When Patrick isn’t spending time with his family you can often find him playing basketball, listening to live music, or spending time outdoors. He contributes all his success in life to keeping a healthy Body and Mind.

Mr. Gillis used his degree and time at Boise State to catapult him into a career in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry. His focus has been working within the grocery industry, with such firms as Revlon, Hershey, ConAgra Brands and Westminster Pet Products. Mr. Gillis believes that his success was started and could not have been achieved without his time spent and lessons learned while studying at Boise State University. He currently lives in Boise with his two daughters Clare and Shea. They are avid Bronco fans and season ticket holders. When not cheering in Albertsons or ExtraMile, you can find them outside enjoying everything Idaho has to offer with their dog Trooper.

Donny Hopoi was born and raised on the island of Oahu, Hawaii where he attended a private Hawaiian only high school, Kamehameha Schools. Being a 4-time Varsity Letterman, he was recruited to play golf for Dixie State University. After two-years Donny then transferred to Boise State University where he won the Itani Quality Homes Washington State University Golf Tournament. After a short stint of professional golf Donny realized his true passion lay in the financial services industry, this led him to become an Investment Advisor. Joining the Wealth Management industry in 2021 and finding his home at Wealth Management Associates where he specializes in retirement plans.

Jim is a part-time internship coordinator and adjunct professor for the criminal justice department at Boise State University. He is retired operations deputy chief for the Boise Police Department. Jim is a past president and a member of the executive committee for the Boise State Alumni Association board, as well as a member of the Bronco Advocacy Network and Alumni Ambassador program. He served on the board for Special Olympics Idaho. Jim received the 2009 Boise State Distinguished Alumni Award. He has a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in criminal justice from Boise State and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command.

Nolan King is a 2023 graduate of Boise State University with a B.B.A. in Finance and a minor in Marketing. During his tenure at BSU, he actively engaged in the Greek life community, assuming responsibility for organizing and directing his chapter’s philanthropic efforts. Additionally, he held a leadership role as the Financial Executive Officer for the Order of Omega. Post-graduation, Nolan swiftly transitioned into the financial services industry, assuming the role of a Financial Advisor, specializing in corporate retirement planning.

Outside of his professional career, he enjoys cooking, snowboarding, golfing, and cheering on the Broncos. As a dedicated Pacific Northwest enthusiast, he has been a lifelong fan of the Seahawks, Mariners, and Trailblazers.

Heidi Peterson is Grameen Foundation’s Senior Director of Fundraising and leads philanthropic fund development. She co-leads the External Affairs department and in this capacity, oversees Individual Giving, development operations, and multichannel fundraising campaigns that deliver solid, year-over-year, revenue growth. She has more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience at a variety of INGOs in the U.S. and abroad.

Prior to her service at Grameen, she was the CEO at Mobility Outreach International and held several senior leadership roles prior to that with PATH, Room to Read, CARE, and Global Partnerships. She is a passionate advocate for social equity, entrepreneurship, and the empowerment of women and girls. Heidi lives in Boise, Idaho, where she enjoys volunteer work, cheering on the Boise State Broncos football team, and a variety of outdoor activities such as cycling, hiking, skiing, and sailing. She speaks fluent Spanish and earned an MPA from the University of Washington and a B.A. from Boise State University. International travel and cuisine is a passion for Heidi. When she’s not at work, she loves exploring new places and cultures and spending time with her family and dog.”

Bailey Reese is a Client Services Representative at Echelon Group, a financial advisory firm in Boise. He was born and raised in the Treasure Valley, graduating from Payette High School. He continued his education at Treasure Valley Community College graduating with an Associates of Arts in 2018. After graduation he decided to move to Seville, Spain and teach English for a year. He eventually moved back to Boise and enrolled at Boise State University. He received a BBA in International Business and a Minor for Spanish for Business in May of 2023. He has been working at Echelon Group since 2022. With a passion for Spanish, he is excited to help individuals and retirement plan participants achieve a sound retirement. In his free time, Bailey is actively traveling with his girlfriend around Idaho enjoying the outdoors; camping at Anderson Ranch Dam Reservoir, hunting, snowboarding, and discovering the hidden gems of Idaho. As Idaho has continued to grow, it has been exciting to see Boise State University grow along with it.

Marc is a realtor working for Fathom Realty. He is from Boise, ID, and currently lives in Eagle, ID. Marc is a “Boise State alum. Married to a proud Vandal. Father to an amazing daughter.

While living in McCall, ID for 12 years, Marc served on the McCall City Golf Course Advisory Board for 7 years overseeing the operations of the golf course, food/beverage contracts, budgeting, marketing, and growth analysis as well as interactions between contractors and the city council. He also oversaw the interview process for all RFP submissions during two contractor replacement selections and assisted in navigating through an economic downturn that created stress for the budget and public perception of the advising  entity. Marc and the board were able to help maintain the property without major changes by using collaborated recommendations, cost-saving measures, and successfully hiring appropriate contractors for the available positions.

He has volunteered for many causes over the years including but not limited to Flock Cancer, Race for the Cure, Earth Day, and 100+ Men Who Care along with supporting charities such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Red Cross, and local youth/school programs with monetary donations, contributions and volunteer time.

Dr. Bryan Taylor is the Chancellor for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise.  Prior to this position, he was the duly-elected Prosecuting Attorney for Canyon County, Idaho for 14 years.  Before taking office, he was a deputy prosecutor and city prosecutor. Dr. Taylor holds a BA in Political Science from Boise State University, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver, College of Law, a Doctorate of Philosophy in Adult, Organizational Learning, and Leadership from the University of Idaho, a Masters in Theology from the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College, a Masters in Canon Law from the University of Ottawa, and a Juridical Licentiate in Canon Law from Saint Paul University.

Dr. Taylor has taught as an adjunct at Boise State off and on for the past twenty years.  He is also an avid BSU football fan.  Dr. Taylor lives in Caldwell, ID with his wife, Katie, and two children, Lucy and Matthew.

Mary was a military brat and was fortunate enough to experience growing up on US Air Force bases in the US and around the world. Mary was born overseas and had many adventures in foreign lands but treasures the time in Germany the most.

It was the military that brought the Toy Family to Idaho, and it’s been home ever since. Mary is a graduate of Boise State University with a BA in Marketing and a Minor in Economics and was a student-athlete competing in Track & Field during her time at BSU. Today, Mary still is strongly connected with university athletics as a board member of Boise State Varsity B Letter Club and supporter of her college, COBE.

In her professional life, she has built her career in marketing, advertising, and communications. Mary has over two decades of experience in program management and account services. She is currently an account supervisor with Team One, a division of Publicis Groupe.

Mary has overseen all facets of marketing ranging from planning, strategy, and execution of awareness/brand campaigns, lead generation and sales enablement programs. Her experience also includes direct marketing, brand refresh, sales and channel support, and product launch initiatives in traditional and social spaces, in both B2B and B2C. Of the many brands she has supported, among her favorites include the WNBA and Boise State University Athletics.

Outside of day-to-day work, Mary divides her time across volunteering and supporting multiple worthy non-profit organizations that touch on the areas she is most passionate about—working with underserved and underrepresented groups and those centric to diversity, equity and inclusion: NAACP, Wassmuth Center for Human Rights, Big Brothers Big Sisters of SW Idaho, Girl Scouts of Silver Sage, Idaho Food Bank, and Mountain View Community Fellowship/Community Ministries Center & Food Bank, to name a few.

During the spring, you will find Mary planting and shaping rose, flower, and veggie gardens, and in the summer traveling to tropical locations, but in the fall and winter you most definitely will find her on the Blue or in the arena or on the court supporting BSU football, Women & Men basketball, and all sports from tennis, volleyball, gymnastics, track & field, and everything in between.

ONCE A BRONCO, ALWAYS A BRONCO

Hailie is a seventh-generation Idahoan with a passion for making positive change in the state that she loves. She graduated from Boise State University in 2018 with two bachelor’s degrees in economics and political science. After her time at Boise State, she went on to complete her MBA with an emphasis in data analytics at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. During her time at Boise State University, she was an active member of the Talkin’ Broncos Speech and Debate team. She was a nationally ranked debater and has leveraged the skills that she learned to advance her professional career.

Hailie is a lobbyist and principal at Waskow Policy LLC, a government affairs firm that helps clients navigate state and local governments. She is motivated by learning opportunities and prides herself on becoming an expert in client issues. When she isn’t working, she volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) on child protection cases. As a Guardian Ad Litem, she advocates for the best interest of the children involved in the case.

Jonathan Wheatley is an associate in Hawley Troxell’s transactional practice group and the government affairs/lobbying practice group, where he represents clients with issues in healthcare, technology, and energy. With a strong background in transactional law and a broad range of expertise in contract drafting and review, healthcare regulatory compliance, business negotiations, taxation, and intellectual property, Jonathan is well-equipped to provide strategic counsel to clients navigating the complex landscape of legal issues and government affairs challenges.

Jonathan holds a M.S. in Accounting and Taxation from Boise State University and a J.D. from the University of Idaho College of Law, which he completed in 2021. During his time in law school, he served as the Editor In Chief of the Idaho Law Review, where he was responsible for overseeing all operations and publications. He also gained valuable in-house counsel experience as an extern at St. Luke’s Health System, and served as a Research Assistant for the American Business Law Journal.

In his free time, Jonathan enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, including cooking Mexican food, hiking, paddle-boarding, snowboarding, going to the gym, and rock climbing. He is passionate about maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle and finding new and exciting ways to challenge himself both physically and intellectually.

After moving to Idaho in 2013, Reid completed his MBA at Boise State, graduating in 2017. He previously attended Pacific Lutheran University, graduating with a degree in mathematics in 2003. And recently, Reid completed a graduate banking program hosted by the University of Pennsylvania.

Reid has worked in commercial banking for 20 years, with the past 16 at WaFd Bank (previously known as Washington Federal). Currently he leads commercial banking for the Idaho region, which includes commercial real estate, business banking and small business/community banking. In addition to the Boise State Alumni Association, Reid serves on the Downtown Boise Association Board and the Mofi.org loan committee.

Reid and his wife Amy, have two boys ages 9 and 6. They are both proud to be first generation Idahoans, and hopefully future Broncos! They enjoy many of the wonderful activities available to Idaho families, kids sports, hiking in the foothills, go karting, and summertime in Stanley. Reid also enjoys coaching tennis and competing in half-marathon community races.

Greg Williams graduated from the Boise State College of Business & Economics in May of 2019 with a Business Administration degree as well as a Human Resource Management degree. Greg was also named COBE’s Spring Semester Signature Student in 2019.

Greg pursued and obtained his degree utilizing the G.I. Bill which he earned after serving honorably in the US Army, completing a combat deployment as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar, Afghanistan. During his time as an infantry team leader, Greg received various awards and honors for his honorable service and acquired foundational skills such as servant leadership and team building.

Greg utilized his degree and experience at Boise State to obtain employment with an international outdoor and military soft goods brand, Eberlestock, located in Boise. In less than five years, he has climbed the ranks to achieve the position of Chief Marketing Officer, heavily contributing to the company’s sustained hypergrowth. In his professional experience he has acquired skills and knowledge regarding Finance, Business Law, Marketing, and Operations and has a passion for developing small to mid-size brands.

Bernie is a counselor / coach at Cultivation Counseling in Boise. He specializes in career counseling and life coaching. Bernie has been practicing counseling for 25 years.  Bernie received his Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology 1996, Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling 1999 and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) 2021 from Boise State University.  He is registered with the State of Idaho as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and as a Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapy Supervisor.  He is an active member of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Program’s (NATSAP) Government Relations committee and annually travels to Washington DC to advocate for special needs children and their families.  In addition to the BSU Alumni Board, Bernie is an Honorary Commander for the 124th Fighter Wing of the Idaho Air National Guard, an Ethics Commissioner for the City of Boise, and an advocate for those suffering mental health / substance abuse issues.

Bernie has a deep passion for Boise State University.  As a former Bronco football player, he is active with the Varsity B club and loves attending events on campus.  Bernie is excited to be a part of the team led by Dr. Tromp and the mission to illuminate and grow this great university.