Speaker and Skill Builder Bios

Rhea Allen, is known for her story-telling passion and extreme diligence in obtaining effective media campaign results by planning and crafting relevant and compelling messaging. Also an in-demand integrative marketing consultant, national presenter and keynote speaker, Rhea emphasizes team building and creating a culture where she and her team can carry out superb work for their loyal Peppershock clients.

Michelle Arnett is a Program Coordinator with St. Luke’s Health System in the Employee Safety and Wellbeing Dept. She is trained in Critical Incident Stress Management and Suicide Awareness through the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, and Psychological First Aid through Johns Hopkins. Michelle is a Certified Health Coach through WellCoaches and is a Compassion Fatigue Educator through the Green Cross Academy.

Nancy Buffington has spent most of her life exploring the power of the word. She holds a PhD in English, and taught college writing and literature for more than 20 years coast-to-coast. Teaching public speaking at Stanford helped her discover the transformative power of face-to-face communication. She left academia, moved back to Boise and opened a communications coaching practice in 2010, working with clients on five continents.

Joanne supports and develops leaders across each phase of their career. She is gifted at bringing clarity to her clients at their most challenging moments. She brings similar insights to high-stakes organizational challenges. For over 20 years, Joanne has guided organizations to more fully embody their missions. As a system-level neuroscientist, she sees emergent possibilities in all complex systems.

Some say she was raised by wolves, others claim truckers. No matter her upbringing, this superwoman has flourished in a male dominated industry for 28 years. As Vice President of CBH Homes, Idaho’s largest homebuilder, Ronda leads the CBH troops daily. Named 2018 Woman of the Year by the Idaho Business Review, this businesswoman, professional

Dwight is the owner of Reach New Heights, LLC a small business that provides motivational speaking and business consulting. Previously, Dwight worked at HP for over 20 years in a variety of product marketing. Program management, facilitation and training roles. As the training manager, he had responsibilities for developing, implementing and executing strategies for training HP sales reps and external partners. Dwight is a facilitator for Diversity and Inclusion workshops where he mixes his training background with inspiring stories to create an inclusive environment where employees thrive.

As founder and CEO of the PR and marketing agency Red Sky, Jess provides strategy and ideation across the client portfolio and leads the agency’s executive skills coaching and training programs. With more than two decades of journalism and PR experience, she is a trusted advisor to private and public sector leaders who turn to her to handle high-stakes issue communication and crisis response.

I first learned about the financial industry in my father’s CPA office. He was patient and thorough with clients, and through him I received an invaluable education in the nuts and bolts of financial decision making. I taught English overseas before finding a permanent home in investment advising, and I now am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and hold an Accredited Asset Management Specialist℠ certification.

Marisa Radha is well known for her authentic self-expression, humorous yet grounded, as she empowers students to embody their highest potential. She is the owner of Sage Yoga & Wellness and Source Meditation | space in downtown Boise. Marisa uses her graduate degree in transpersonal psychology and life coaching to bring a real-world mix of eastern and western spirituality and psychology to her teachings for self-empowerment and transformation.

Genny Heikka, MBA, is an author, speaker and life and career coach who has served in a variety of leadership roles within corporate, non-profit, and community organizations. She began her career at Hewlett-Packard then stepped into her dream of becoming an author, writing several books. She’s appeared on radio and TV and is the founder of HerTeamSuccess, where she uses her expertise in business, branding and leadership to help women and companies thrive and succeed.

Money can be a complex topic, and the world of finance can appear even more complicated. But it doesn’t have to be. I love educating and empowering people to tackle their finances and their futures. After graduating from Boise State University, I joined R|W Investment Management and discovered the joy of working directly with clients to help them achieve their most important milestones. Over the years I’ve built upon my degree by earning designations as a Chartered Financial Analyst® and a Certified Public Accountant (non-practicing).

Certified Practitioner and Professional Coach, Jonna became one of the premier acting coaches in America. She has become a profound influence in the acting industry for Film and Television. In addition to helping her students book major projects, she has been the public figure of many Non-Profit Organizations, giving back tremendously in communities, being awarded “Philanthropist of the Year” many years in a row.

Paula Landholm Kluksdal is a partner at Hawley Troxell. She is co-chair of the firm’s banking practice group and chair of the real estate practice group. Her practice entails real estate and finance, and she represents a wide variety of lenders and borrowers in the documentation and due diligence necessary for securitized lending, compliance with Idaho’s commercial lending regulations, loan documentation, and collection.

Holly is currently the Interim Director of Wellness/BroncoFit at Boise State University, and has been at the university almost seven years. She was previously serving as the employee health and wellness educator. She enjoys creating space and opportunities for people to engage in their own wellbeing journey. She earned a masters in public health from The Ohio State University and a bachelors in health promotion from Morehead State University.

Abbey is a leadership coach and trainer with more than fifteen years of experience in leadership and team development, including over a decade at The Boeing Company where she managed global talent development programs. She believes that the strongest organizations are those in which employees feel connected to each other and to their work—so, she helps leaders build that connection through uniquely designed training, coaching, and facilitation.

Dr. Donna O’Kelly is the director of the Analytical Research Laboratories at Idaho National Laboratory’s Materials and Fuels Complex. Prior to her arrival at INL, Dr. O’Kelly was the group leader for the Elemental Measurement Science Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology

Guided by the firm’s objectives, culture, and the ethical requirements of the legal profession, Susan is responsible for all financial and operational functions of the 75+ attorney law firm. She is in the forefront of the firm’s mergers and acquisitions strategies. It is Susan’s duty to ensure the firm meets its financial goals and objectives and has the proper operational controls and people systems in place to achieve the firm’s business objective – exceptional client service.

Sarah Reed is an attorney in the banking and real estate groups. She represents a wide variety of lenders and borrowers in the documentation and due diligence necessary for securitized lending. Sarah has significant experience in real estate transactions and title and management, including acquisitions, leases, restrictive covenants and easements, zoning and the resolution of property management issues.

Research associate within the Center for the Study of Aging and the Lead Navigator for the project. She has worked as a personal trainer and nutrition coach, and is very involved in the Treasure Valley community, developing a parenting group, working with neighborhood associations and serving on several boards. Tiffany holds a Master of Health Science degree, specifically in health policy, and is passionate about empowering people, the senior population, caregivers, and end of life planning.

Shannon brings 20 years of experience designing and delivering client services and people programs in complex global environments of Fortune 500 companies. She cultivates commitment within teams and organizations to produce lasting outcomes. Central to Shannon’s purpose is building inclusive cultures and empowering women to be courageous leaders. Shannon is also currently the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fellow for Boise State’s Blue Sky Institute.

Cathy is an attorney at Hawley Troxell and a member of the firm’s Litigation practice group and focuses on appellate and mediation practice. She began her career with Hawley Troxell in 1984 and became partner in 1988. From 1989 to 1990 she was Associate General Counsel of Morrison Knudsen. Cathy has practiced law in California and Washington D.C., and was appointed an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. She also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Idaho.

Tai Simpson is “The Storyteller” in the indigenous language of the Nimiipuu nation (Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho). Tai’s academic background is in sociology and political philosophy.. In the community, she serves as an organizer for the Indigenous Idaho Alliance and works as Social Change Advocate with the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence. As an antiracism activist and community leader, she uses contemporary and traditional Indigenous storytelling to depict the lens of “old ways” and how they are used to protect the sacred, build strength in the community, and keep nature in balance.

Former Executive Director of the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities. She has worked in the disability and aging arena for over 40 years and is currently a consultant with the Idaho Caregiver Alliance and the Navigator Project. Marilyn is a graduate of Boise State University with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and a Masters Degree in Public Administration.

Research associate within the Center for the Study of Aging and a communications coordinator for the Idaho Caregiver Alliance. Destinie has a history in youth programming and has been involved in various community organizations centered around job-training, affordable housing, caregiver support and public health. Destinie holds a Master of Health Science degree with an emphasis in health promotion.

Edward Vasko is currently helping Boise State establish itself as a top-tier University known for solving the complex cybersecurity problems facing all businesses, industries, and critical infrastructure. In doing so, his goal is to establish Boise State as a national leader of cybersecurity research and workforce development. He is a successive entrepreneur with over 30-years of experience in the cybersecurity industry.