Jared Thompson
Special Agent
Boise FBI
Brief Bio:
Jared Thompson
Undergraduate degree, Bachelor of Science w Emphasis in Accounting, from Utah State University
Masters of Accounting, Utah State University.
2010 – Obtained CPA license from State of New York
Deloitte Tax LLP – 2004 – 2008, International Tax Group, New York City
Special Agent with FBI – 2008 – Present
New York City, New York: 2008 – 2014, primarily assigned to a Corporate/Securities Fraud Squad
Shelby, Montana, 2014 – 2017 – Primarily Violent Crime on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation
Boise, Idaho, 2017 – Present, primarily complex financial crime.
Married, family of 7 (Ages of kids, 19 – 6), currently living in the Treasure Valley
Grew up in Deweyville, Utah
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Special Agent
Boise FBI
Valerie Bollinger
Director of Purchasing
Department of Administration
Valerie Bollinger is the Administrator of the Idaho Division of Purchasing and the state’s Chief Procurement Officer. She began her career with the state as a Buyer in U of I’s Contracts and Purchasing Services Office. In 2014, Valerie joined the Division of Purchasing as a Buyer. She became the State Purchasing Manager in 2016, and the Administrator of the division (including the state central procurement office and Federal Surplus Property program) in 2020. Valerie is passionate about using the procurement function to help support the state’s strategic objectives and ensure responsible use of taxpayer dollars. At DOP, our mission is to help agencies meet their missions, for the benefit of the public.
Valerie is the President of the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) Board of Directors for 2024 and has served in leadership positions within NASPO since 2016. Prior to coming to Idaho, Valerie practiced law for 2 years in Pittsburgh. When she’s not writing procurement policy, negotiating contracts, or presenting at NASPO conferences, Valerie enjoys spending time with her husband and 5 furry kids (3 dogs and 2 cats), watching hockey and English football (soccer), traveling, and visiting the mountains.
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Director of Purchasing
Department of Administration
Alan Skelton
Director
GASB
Alan Skelton was named director of research and technical activities of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), effective April 1, 2021. In his role as GASB director, he leads the staff and serves as the principal advisor to the chair and Board.
Immediately prior to joining the GASB, Mr. Skelton was the state accounting officer for the state of Georgia, a position he was initially appointed to by the governor in 2012. He was reappointed to the role in 2019. As state accounting officer, Mr. Skelton provided accounting leadership for the state of Georgia, including oversight of statewide financial reporting, issuing accounting policy and application interpretations of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and implementing business process improvements. He served as deputy state accounting officer from 2009 to 2012. Previously, Mr. Skelton had more than a decade of experience in public accounting, primarily with Ernst & Young.
Mr. Skelton served on the GASB’s advisory council—the Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Council—from 2015 to 2021, including as its vice chair since 2018. He is a graduate of Florida State University and a certified public accountant.
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Director
GASB
Deidre Harrison
Deputy Controller
OMB
Deidre is a senior member of the OMB management team responsible for overseeing the Office of Federal Financial Management’s (OFFM) diverse portfolio which includes issuing government-wide policies through OMB circulars, bulletins, and memos; the Uniform Grants Guidance; and other issuances. Prior to joining OFFM she was a senior budget examiner in the Treasury Branch at OMB where her portfolio included a number of the Department of the Treasury’s bureaus and offices and branch-wide financial management policy areas including improper payments, shared services, and financial reporting and display. Prior to her Federal career, Deidre worked at an economic consulting firm where she was an Economist responsible for overseeing the design and implementation of large data analysis projects for clients to use in the courtroom and before regulatory agencies. Deidre received an undergraduate degree in International Politics and Economics from Middlebury College and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
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Deputy Controller
OMB
Frank DeCarvalho
Learning and Develpoment Manager
Division of Human Resources
After retiring from a 30-year Army career and moving to Idaho in 2019, Frank started his Idaho State service as the Director of Special Projects for the Idaho Secretary of State’s office. While in this role, Frank managed $3.4 million of Federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds. Working collaboratively with elected officials from all 44 Idaho counties, Frank improved elections equipment, processes, and security. In 2021, Frank transitioned to become Idaho Transportation Department’s Training Manager where he led the creation of several employee courses designed to improve the employee and customer experiences. As part of the recent 2022 Idaho Governor’s modernization initiative, Frank moved to the Division of Human Resources to assume the role of Learning and Development Manager under the Bureau Chief of Training and Communications. Based on state-wide employee feedback, Frank and the training team created DHR’s new Employee Academy, which introduces communication and leadership concepts and best practices to a broad range of state agencies and employees. Frank is currently working to develop and launch the state’s new Management Academy, planned for release in early 2025.
Frank’s areas of responsibility include: Employee Academy, Supervisor Academy, and in 2025, DHR’s new Management Academy
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Learning and Develpoment Manager
Division of Human Resources
Cherie Buckner-Webb
Speaker and Coach
Sojourner Coaching
Cherie encourages her clients to identify their real lives; stop doing things that deplete their energy, tap into those things which give them joy and fulfillment, to access the source and unleash their power, step into wholeness – the integration of personal, professional, community, and spiritual self. It’s hard work, but the rewards are great.
Cherie Buckner-Webb, founder and principal of Sojourner Coaching brings a broad breadth of experience to the practice. Her extensive international business background includes positions in program management, diversity consultation, sales and marketing, business and organizational development, operations, and e-commerce. Her expertise includes cross-cultural collaboration, facilitation and coaching for system wide change. In addition to her on-going work in the corporate environment, Cherie works with institutions of higher education in the development of diversity curriculum and training.
Cherie is a respected motivational speaker who also uses her voice to raise awareness about diversity, inclusion and human rights topics. She is in high demand for her presentations addressing diversity in the business, community and religious context.
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Speaker and Coach
Sojourner Coaching
Brandon Woolf
Controller
Office of the State Controller
Brandon Woolf, Idaho’s 21st State Controller, was elected by the citizens of Idaho to the position in November of 2014 and re-elected in 2018 and 2022. Brandon started at the State Controller’s Office in 1997 as an intern and quickly rose through the ranks prior to his appointment.
Brandon grew up and attended school in Preston, Idaho, merited the rank of Eagle Scout, graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (Cum Laude) and a minor in Dutch, and earned a Master of Business Administration from Boise State University. In 1994, he married Janalee Balls, who also hails from Preston and they have three adult children.
Brandon recently completed a year’s service as the President of the National Association of State Comptrollers’ (NASC) executive committee and is currently the 1st Vice Chair for the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers, and Treasurers’ (NASACT).
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Controller
Office of the State Controller
April Renfro
Legislative Auditor
Legislative Services Office
April Renfro has a bachelor's degree in accounting and a master of business administration degree, both from Boise State University. April received her CPA license in 1997. She started in the Audits Division in 1994 as a staff auditor, taking a few years away to work in a family business from 1997 until 2001. April returned in 2001 and worked on a variety of audits, including several years a managing auditor before taking on the Legislative Auditor and Legislative Audits Division Manager position in April 2012. She is also active in the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers, and Treasurers (NASACT) and currently serves on the executive committee for both the National State Auditors Association and NASACT where she enjoys the opportunity to ensure Idaho has a voice in the government auditing community. April enjoys living in the small town of Horseshoe Bend with her husband and pets. She has three daughters, as well as a grandson and granddaughter.
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Legislative Auditor
Legislative Services Office
Ewa Szewczyk
Grants and Contracts Manager
Department of Commerce
Ewa Szewczyk is an experienced Grants/Contracts Manager with seven years of dedicated expertise streamlining processes, program development, fostering stakeholder relationships, and maximizing resource utilization and organizational growth within the complexities of federal and state grant management and contract administration.
Leveraging a robust foundation of fourteen years in compliance and banking, Ewa has a unique blend of financial acumen and regulatory insight to facilitate the optimization of funding opportunities, program management strategy, and adherence to federal compliance requirements and contractual obligations.
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Grants and Contracts Manager
Department of Commerce
Brian Reed
Acting Chief Information Security Officer
Office of Information Technology Service
Reed has 30 years of IT experience with the State of Idaho in technical roles.
He is currently the acting Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the Idaho Office of Information Technology Services (ITS). Prior to this, he was the ITS manager of both the Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) and Threat Hunting teams. Prior to his work with ITS, he served as the CISO for the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) for six years and various roles for ITD before that.
Reed has a deep background in cybersecurity and has led and participated in successful multi-agency cybersecurity initiatives and task forces with a focus on best practices, awareness, and implementation.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Boise State University.
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Acting Chief Information Security Officer
Office of Information Technology Service
Matthew Aslett
Chief Compliance Officer
Office of Information Technology Service
With a career spanning over 16 years in the state of Idaho, Matthew brings a wealth of experience to his role as the Chief Compliance Officer at the Office of Information Technology Service (ITS). In his current role at ITS, Matthew also serves as the GRC Team Lead, overseeing Governance, Risk, and Compliance efforts within the organization and supported agencies.
His journey began with serving his country for 20 years in the United States Air Force, where he served as an Information Systems specialist. After his military service, Matthew transitioned to civilian life and public service. He has held positions at the Idaho State Tax Commission and the Idaho Department of Labor.
Matthew has an associate in information technology from the Community College of the Air Force and has earned the Certified Information Security Manager certification through the Information Systems Audit and Controls Association (ISACA).
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Chief Compliance Officer
Office of Information Technology Service
Elizabeth Knox
Policy and Programs Officer
Office of Information Technology Service
Elizabeth Knox boasts 12 years of IT expertise, starting at the Idaho Department of Labor and advancing to the role of Policy and Programs Officer at the Idaho Office of Information Technology Services (ITS). As a key member of the Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) team, she specializes in policy writing, with a fervent passion for cybersecurity. Elizabeth is dedicated to raising awareness about cyber risks and actively contributes to mitigation efforts, making her an invaluable resource in the field of cybersecurity.
Elizabeth is a Certified Technical Writer and has earned an Open Source Intelligence Professional (OSIP) Certification.
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Policy and Programs Officer
Office of Information Technology Service
Stephanie Witt
Director of Training and Professor
Boise State University - School of Public Service
Dr. Stephanie Witt is Director of Training for the School of Public Service. She is also a Professor in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Political Science programs. Her research interests include intergovernmental relations and human resource management. She is the former Editor of the Social Science Journal, and has served as Department Chair, Associate Dean, and the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. She earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from Washington State University in 1989.
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Director of Training and Professor
Boise State University - School of Public Service
Salome Mwagni
Cultural Broker
Mwangi'z Inc
Emotional Intelligence: At Your Service is an inter-cultural training that Salome Mwangi, speaker, trainer, and cultural broker, developed and facilitates. It parts the curtain on the benefit of understanding and managing one’s own emotions and how that positively affects relationships with others, leading to living life less tentatively and more harmoniously.
Raised in cultures that did not focus on personal feelings and emotions, Salome was quick to notice how those in her new country articulated their feelings and emotions eloquently while owning them. As she raised her daughter in an unfamiliar environment, she began to notice and then embrace the value of identifying her emotions and allowing herself to unpack this new and somewhat confusing baggage.
Today, Salome acts as your tour guide, helping you notice things sometimes hidden in plain sight, while uncovering new ones, supporting the development of your Emotional Intelligence (EI).
Salome then takes her audience on a quick hike through Cultural Intelligence (CQ) and how it fits in effortlessly with Emotional Intelligence (EI), equipping her audience with tools to navigate their lives with inter-cultural and cross-cultural relevance.
About Salome Mwagni
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Cultural Broker
Mwangi'z Inc
