Events

Tamara Nickerson works for the Idaho Department of Education's Literacy Initiative as an instructional coach in the  SMART (Striving to Meet Achievement in Reading Together) program. After receiving her Bachelor's in Elementary Education with a Math emphasis, Tamara was eager to share her love of Math and Science with her first class of fourth graders. To her dismay, most of the students in her class were well-below grade level for reading ability and at risk for lifelong illiteracy. That experience became the foundation for her devotion to reading instruction. After four years as a public school teacher she then did pre-school education while raising her 4 children. In 2018 Tamara returned to her career as an educator, first achieving a Masters of Literacy Education from Idaho State University, then joining the IDE's first year of the SMART program in 2021.  

Jeff Carr, Executive Director of the Museum of Idaho will present "Quantifying What Matters:  Working To Calculate The Massive Impact of Cultural Institutions on Idaho Falls".

David Pennock, Executive Director of the Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park

David currently serves as the Executive Director of the Idaho Falls Zoo, a position he has held since April of 2016. In 1999, David returned to his hometown of Idaho Falls, Idaho to develop the Museum of Idaho where he served as Executive Director until 2016.

David has a Ph.D. in Systematics and Ecology from the University of Kansas as well as a M.S. and B.S. in Zoology from Brigham Young University. He is a published researcher and has taught various graduate and undergraduate courses in the Biological Sciences at the University of Kansas, University of Arkansas, and Fort Hays State University. David and his wife Gisele have six children.

About the Idaho Falls Zoo

The Idaho Falls Zoo cares for over 350 animals of 130 species from 6 continents. It is among the highest attended cultural/educational facilities in eastern Idaho with visitation as high as 160,000 visitors in a six-month season generating millions of dollars annually for the local economy. This includes over 8,000 schoolchildren from throughout the region on organized fieldtrips.

In addition to providing exceptional animal care and being a major tourist destination, the Idaho Falls Zoo is a proactive conservation organization. Nearly 40% of the animals at the zoo are managed in collaboration with national Species Survival Plans. These plans coordinate the care of species in danger of extinction in the wild. In addition, through its quarters for conservation program, the Idaho Falls Zoo raises over $50,000 a year to support the conservation of endangered wildlife in their native habitats around the world and here in eastern Idaho.

Rotary Fellowship Day - Topic "Rotary Budget & Fundraising Brainstorm"- Steve Boorman & Kristin Sanger

Catherine Bolinger, Public Affairs Officer, Civil Air Patrol - ""Civil Air Patrol- Idaho Falls' hidden gem"

Ben Nelson, Rotary District 5400 Foundation Chair, "Rotary Foundation Presentation"

Rotary Christmas Party at The Carr Gallery located at the Willard Arts Center

Mary-Ann Allison "Dignity and Freedom in Response to War and Destruction".

Mary Ann Allison is the founding principal of the Allison Group, a company that helps people and groups to navigate rapid social change in enriching and effective ways.

Mary Ann grew up in Idaho Falls, graduated from Idaho Falls High School, lived in New York City for most of her adult life, returned to Idaho Falls in 2016, and joined Rotary in early 2017.  Her background includes decades of corporate experience leading global emerging technology projects companies such as Citigroup, where she led the team that opened the first online bank account in the world, and as an entrepreneur providing leadership development.  Dr. Allison is an associate professor emerita in media studies and the coauthor of books on management, applied complexity science, and new media--as well as an historical murder mystery.  She was a New York City poet in residence for six years. 

Mary Ann serves on the board of the Idaho Humanities Council and is a member of the International Women's Forum-Idaho.  Like many of her friends at Rotary, she loves camping and playing outdoors.

Ben Davidson, a member of the Pocatello Rotary Club - "Rotary Shark Pond Service Projects".

Ben Davidson is a member of the Pocatello Rotary Club. He enjoys running Rotary Shark Pond service projects in which American Rotary Clubs provide micro-financial aid to entrepreneurs in impoverished nations. He is the founder of the non-profit, Entrepreneurs Against Poverty (EntrAPov.com). Ben lives in Idaho where he graduated with an MBA from Idaho State University in 2001. He enjoys the outdoors, art, and philanthropy. 

What changed his career from ice cream delivery to Judgeship?

Judge Ryan Nelson was born and raised in Idaho Falls, is the son of Doug and Billie Nelson, and graduated from Idaho Falls High School in 1991. Judge Nelson was confirmed to the Ninth Circuit in October 2018, as the youngest Circuit Judge to serve from Idaho and is the first federal judge to have his chambers in Idaho Falls. Prior to his confirmation, Judge Nelson served for nine years as General Counsel of Melaleuca, Inc. He previously worked in Washington, DC, where he served in all three branches of the federal government, including as Special Counsel for Supreme Court nominations to the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; Deputy General Counsel to the White House Office of Management and Budget; Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the United States Department of Justice; and a law clerk to Judge Henderson of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He has argued in most of the federal courts of appeals and worked on dozens of Supreme Court briefs. He started in the Washington, DC office of Sidley Austin as an appellate lawyer, after clerking for Judges Mosk and Brower of the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal at The Hague, and for Tom Griffith, then-Senate Legal Counsel, during the impeachment trial of President Clinton. Judge Nelson earned his B.A. in English from Brigham Young University and his J.D., with honors, from BYU Law School.

Winner of the 2022 Idaho Falls Parks and Recreation figure skating 'Triple Axle Figure Skating Competition".

BYU-I Football Team Milk Bowl Rankings.

Alvin F. Meredith III became the 18th president of Brigham Young University-Idaho on August 1, 2023.  He was sustained as a General Authority Seventy on April 3, 2021, and continues to serve in that role today. Prior to his call as a General Authority, President Meredith served as president of the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission.  He also served as an Area Seventy in the North America Southeast and Asia Areas, and in a number of other Church callings including as a full-time missionary in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission.  In his professional career, President Meredith worked as a senior executive of Asurion in Tennnessee, Hong Kong, and Singapore.  He also worked for the Boston Consulting Group and GE Capital.  President Meredith earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Brigham Young University and a Master of Business Administration in finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.  President Meredith married his wife, Jennifer Edgin, in 1998.  Sister Meredith served a full-time mission in Argentina Salta Mission and earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Brigham Young University.  President and Sister Meredith are the parents of six children.

Lena Allen, Univerity of Idaho Extension Office - "Master Gardener Program"

Brenda Stegelmeier, Licensed Professional Councelor "How Conflict Can Affect Our Mental Health & Methods to Handle Conflict"

Judy Seydel, Advanced Master Gardener, "Japanese Friendship Garden"

Ian Turner is the Idaho Falls Regional Airport Director where he oversees operations, development, and community engagement efforts. His leadership ensures the airport remains a key driver of regional economic growth while maintaining the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and customer service.

Previously, Ian led La Crosse Regional Airport in Wisconsin and held other airport leadership roles in Colorado and California. While he believes his greatest professional achievements are still ahead, he was instrumental in bringing the first commercial jet service in more than 20 years to Pueblo, Colorado, and played a crucial role in the local launch of the air cargo service that later became Amazon Air in Stockton, California.

Ian holds a Master’s degree in Finance from the Colorado State University System and a Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management from Rocky Mountain College. A private pilot and active member of both the American Association of Airport Executives and the Idaho Airport Management Association, he brings strategic vision and financial expertise to his leadership.

Originally from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Ian loves the outdoors, spending his free time fishing and camping with family, as well as tackling home improvement projects. A devoted Seattle Mariners fan, he finds both joy and frustration in following the team. Most importantly, he is grateful for his incredible wife and their two amazing kids, who make every moment an adventure.

Kade Marquez has served as Transit Coordinator for the City of Idaho Falls and the Greater Idaho Falls Transit (GIFT) system since February 2022. He holds an educational background in Economics, having studied at Brigham Young University and Idaho State University.

Before joining GIFT, Marquez gained extensive experience in private-sector transportation, specializing in supply chain management as well as mergers and acquisitions. He is actively involved in industry leadership as a board member of the Community Transportation Association of Idaho and serves as a panelist for the National Academies' Transportation Research Board.

GIFT is Idaho's first door-to-door public micro-transit system, recognized for its innovative service model. The system has earned prestigious accolades, including the Idaho Transportation Department’s 2024 Hall of Fame Award for Innovation and the Association of Idaho Cities’ Garret Nancolas City Achievement Award. With over 15,000 satisfied users and more than a quarter-million rides completed, GIFT has become a preferred transit option in Idaho Falls.

Marquez oversees all facets of GIFT's operations, including system design, community outreach, and financial strategy, ensuring its continued success and growth.

Chief Campus Administrator for Eastern and Southern Idaho, Jeremy Green - "ISU's Work in the Idaho Falls Area - Community Engagement".