Leann Smith
Leann Smith represents the City of Heyburn on the Economic Development Committee. She is a life-long member of this community. Her 4 children and 11 grandchildren have had the opportunity to grow up and be influenced and shaped by this wonderful community. When her children were small she volunteered as a coach, cub- scout leader, was a 4-H leader for 20 years, and served in the PTA organization in the schools. She served 5 years on the Minidoka County Republican Committee, 15 years on the Planning & Zoning for the City of Heyburn, 10 years of that as the Chairman, and 7 years on the City Council. She has been employed as Secretary of the Minidoka Fairboard for the past 7 years and is instrumental in organizing and planning the County Fair.
Doug Manning
Doug Manning has been the city of Burley’s Director of Economic and Community Development for nearly a decade, before which he was on the city council and served as Burley’s mayor. Prior to his career in public service, Doug worked in Insurance for 20 years. He was born and was raised in Burley, but when people ask if he’s lived there his whole life, he jokes, “Not yet.” Doug studied English and Business at Ricks College. Today he serves on the boards for the Idaho Economic Development Association (IEDA) in addition to the Southern Idaho Development organization. He and his wife, Cindy, live in Burley, where they raised their three children.
John Webster
John Webster is the Southern Idaho Development Board of Directors Secretary. John has been the General Manager of the Burley Inn Inc. dba Best Western Plus Burley Inn & Convention Center, Perkins Family Restaurant and Bakery, Budget Motel, and The Spud Cellar for the last 17 years.
Kelly Anthon
Kelly Anthon, originally from Declo, serves dually as the City Administrator, and the Director of Economic Development for the city of Rupert. He got his undergraduate degree in anthropology at Brigham Young University before going on to law school at the University of Idaho. Before holding his current position, Kelly had served as city attorney for Rupert, Burley, Acequia, and Minidoka. He was recently named one of the 40 Most Accomplished Professionals Under 40 by the Idaho Business Review, and actively participates in Rotary, Southern Idaho Economic Development, and various legal societies, as well as serving on the Cassia Regional Medical Center Board of Governors.
Kae Cameron
Kae Cameron is the Executive Director of the Minicassia Chamber of Commerce, and has been since 2008. Before that, Kae held a variety of positions that gave her an intimate and unique understanding of Idaho Commerce: she was in charge of membership for the Milk Producers of Idaho, interned with the National Potato Promotion Board, and even spent some time working at the local ski resort, Pomerelle, for special events. Kae is the founder of Heart to Heart, a philanthropic 5k “fun run” in Albion, she’s a member of the Heyburn Arboretum Committee, the Declo Original Schoolhouse Restoration Committee, a board member for Southern Idaho Tourism, is a community liaison for the local emergency preparedness committee, a member of the Idaho Chamber Alliance, and was selected in 2011 as one of the 40 Most Accomplished Professionals Under 40 by the Idaho Business Review. She lives in the Declo area with her husband and two children.
Dave Westfall
David Westfall was born and raised in Burley. After graduating from Burley High School, he attended the University of Idaho for 3 years before transferring to Idaho State University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in accounting.
A large part of David’s professional career has revolved around Idaho public service. In 1997 he became Director for the Mini-Cassia Chamber of Commerce, and by virtue of being a leading member of that organization he was also elected as Director for the Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization (SEDO), a position that he held for 10 years. When Burley’s Simplot plant closed down in 2002, David helped to create the Mini-Cassia Economic Development Organization, and through that organization’s concerted efforts, a potentially disastrous economic situation was transformed into an opportunity for economic growth. David’s work within the Mini-Cassia Chamber of Commerce, SEDO, and the Mini-Cassia Economic Development Organization certainly allowed him to benefit the Mini-Cassia region, but it also gave him valuable experience in economic development throughout Southern Idaho.
A strong motivator for David’s involvement in public service and economic development has been the example set by his brother, whose devotion to his community was demonstrated through involvement in various civic clubs and committees. As a result of David’s own experience and the example set for him by his brother, he believes that for any volunteer organization to be successful its members must commit themselves to the mission and inspire new volunteers to that same cause. For David, that belief carries over into his participation in Southern Idaho Development, as he continues working to create a proactive economy in Mini-Cassia and the rest of Southern Idaho – an economy that helps existing businesses expand, and provides potential businesses with the opportunities and incentives to relocate.
David also currently works as co-owner of Westfall and Westfall, CPA’s in Burley.
Brent Tolman
Brent Tolman was born in Burley, but grew up in Nampa where he graduated from high school. Following high school, Brent attended Boise State University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, and a Minor in Spanish. While pursuing his studies, Brent also participated as a member of the BSU Society for Human Resource Management, serving as the group’s President from 1991-1992. Currently, Brent is furthering his scholastic ambitions through BSU’s Executive M.B.A program, which integrates all of the business management functions through challenging coursework, team-building activities and real-world problem solving scenarios.
Professionally, Brent has always worked as an important member of the business community, beginning with a Supervisor position at the United Parcel Service during his first years of college. From there, Brent gained valuable experience in various managerial positions, including Production Supervisor for Winnemucca Farms, Human Resource Specialist for Champion Homes, and Human Resource Manager for Western World Incorporated. For the past 15 years, Brent has worked for the Idaho Department of Labor in the positions of Manager, Workforce Development Project Manager, Executive Director of the Workforce Development Alliance, and currently holds the title of Regional Business Specialist.
Brent’s standing as an interactive member of the community also extends beyond the commercial sector, as he volunteers for activities such as little league\high school sports, scouting, and various community organizations. His hobbies include hunting, fishing, boating and horse-back riding.
As a board member for Southern Idaho Development, Brent hopes to help attract new companies to Southern Idaho by identifying opportunities for growth, and to help local businesses become more profitable through retention and expansion efforts, thus raising the standard of living for all residents of Southern Idaho through better-paying jobs and increased job opportunities.
Jan W. Rogers
Regional Marketing Leader
Jan Rogers is the executive director of the Southern Idaho Economic Development Organization (SIEDO). Established in 2001, SIEDO is a public/private partnership established to help diversify and strengthen the economies of Twin Falls, Jerome, Filer, Kimberly, Gooding, Glenns Ferry , Rupert, Heyburn and Paul, by retaining and attracting business to the southern Idaho region.
As executive director of SIEDO, Ms. Rogers works closely with each of these communities to promote economic development through expansion of existing business and by implementing a focused consistent marketing program to attract new businesses to the region.
SIEDO has partnered with its regional members on many new business development, business retention and business expansion projects. Since 2001, southern Idaho has lured over 30 companies to the region and has enjoyed numerous business expansions and business retentions. Some of the new businesses recruited to the region include Chobani, Clif Bar, international Frulact, Monsanto Wheat Technology, Specialty Sales, WOW Logistics, Hilex Poly, Packaging Specialties, Gossner Foods, DOT Foods, and C3CustomerContactChannels. In just 10 months last year, southern Idaho’s economic development successes generated nearly 5,000 new jobs with an economic impact of nearly $800 million.
Ms. Rogers has also spoken or participated as a panelist at several national, state and local economic development conferences. In 2013, she was invited by the International Economic Development Council and the U.S. government’s business investment initiative, SelectUSA, to attend the White House Economic Development Forum. Rogers was one of two Idahoans represented at the conference.
Ms. Rogers is currently on the board of directors of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and isalso past president of the Idaho Economic Development Association (IEDA), a trade association of economic development professionals and affiliated entities, whose purpose is to enhance and elevate economic development in Idaho, influence economic development public policy and promote business growth in the state
Ms. Rogers brings over 40 years experience in marketing and communications to this position. Her extensive involvement in the community and professional ties with local business leaders has enabled her to work successfully, both locally and nationally, on business recruitment and retention/expansion projects.