Workforce Development Council

The Workforce Development Council, established in 2017, coordinates workforce training and education efforts among Idaho state agencies, educational institutions, and private employers. The Council administers programs including Idaho LAUNCH, Idaho LEADER, and Talent Pipeline Management, and serves as Idaho's State Workforce Investment Board under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Effective July 1, 2026, the Council absorbed the functions of the former Idaho STEM Action Center.

Established by: Idaho Code Title 72, Chapter 12

Workforce Development Council

Learn more about the Workforce Development Council →

• Deni Hoehne (Chair)
  VP Human Resources & Communications, WinCo Foods
• Sarah Griffin (Vice Chair)
  VP, Human Resources, Idaho Power
• Anna Almerico
  Director, Idaho Out-of-School Network
• Lori Barber
  President, College of Eastern Idaho
• Russ Barron
  Division Administrator, Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses
• Scott Bedke
  Lt. Governor of Idaho
• Isaac Belden
  Founding Executive Director, Veteran Entrepreneur Alliance
• Trevor A. Chadwick
  Mayor, City of Star
• Debbie Critchfield
  Superintendent, Idaho State Department of Education
• Brandon Dansie
  Vice President, People Team, Chobani
• Ben Davidson
  Senior VP of HR, Idaho Central Credit Union
• Jeff Greene
  VP of Talent Acquisition Operations and Strategy, Trinity Health
• Jody Hendrickx
  Hendrickx Logging
• Jeff Hough
  Commissioner, Bannock County
• Tom Kealey
  Director, Idaho Commerce
• Shawn Keough
  Member, Idaho State Board of Education
• Kelly Kolb
  Value Stream Manager, The Kinetic Group
• Amanda Logan
  Marketing Director, Citizens Community Bank
• Martha Luna
  Organizational Development Manager, Amalgamated Sugar
• Joe Maloney
  Regional Supervisor, Wheeler Electric Inc.
• Sergio Mendoza
  Financial Advisor, Principal Financial
• Hope Morrow
  Economist, Workforce Strategy and Development, Idaho National Laboratory
• Stephanie Pfeifer
  Director of Human Resources, Nightforce Optics
• Marie Price
  Director for Training and Development, Idaho Forest Group
• Daniel Puga
  President, In Time Tec, LLC.
• Todd Putren
  Chief Nursing Officer, Northwest Specialty Hospital
• Bill Reagan
  General Manager, Coeur d'Alene Resort
• Jani Revier
  Director, Idaho Department of Labor
• Peter Risse
  Administrator, Idaho Division of Career & Technical Education
• Carrie Semmelroth
  State Senator
• James Smith
  Training Director, Eastern Idaho Electrical JATC
• Josh Tanner
  State Representative
• Miren Unsworth
  Deputy Director, Human Services, Idaho Department of Health & Welfare
• Jeret Whitescarver
  Executive Vice President, ESI Construction