Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau Announces 2022 Board of Directors Leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
John Curtis
(208) 891-2780
John.Curtis@Fahlgren.com

BOISE, IDAHO – Jan.7, 2022  – The Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) has appointed new members and leadership positions for its 2022 Board of Directors. 

The Boise CVB’s Board of Directors is focused on promoting tourism and enhancing Boise’s economy by marketing and promoting the Boise area. Board members, who are community-minded and knowledgeable about the tourism industry, serve a three-year term with opportunity to renew for an additional term.  

“The Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau’s board provide invaluable, diverse expertise within the hospitality, travel and local business communities,” said Carrie Westergard, Executive Director of the Boise CVB. “Each of our members help promote Boise as a premier destination for meetings, conventions and leisure travel. This year we will be engaging in a 3-year strategic planning process that the expertise of the board and staff will be vital in visioning our future.” 

Board of Directors Leadership:

Brad Wilson will be the 2022 Chair. He is the General Manager at Bogus Basin and has been part of the ski and hospitality industries for more than 30 years. He strives to promote improvements that give the community, customers and employees the best experiences possible. Brad prides himself on leading by example as he builds high-performance teams. 

Adam Altwies will serve as the 2022 Chair-elect. Altwies is the General Manager at Inn at 500 Capitol, a boutique hotel in downtown Boise.  As the General Manager, Altwies applies his passion for hospitality by running the daily operations of the hotel as well as the financial operations. Previous to Inn at 500 Capitol, Altwies spent 14 years in Las Vegas where he operated Poker Rooms for a major luxury casino resort brand.  

Hart Gilchrist is the Vice President of Safety, Process Improvement and Operations Systems with MDU Utilities Group. He is responsible for all safety and training, pipeline safety management system and operations technology the Intermountain Gas, which serves more than one million customers across eight states. Hart will serve as Treasurer for the Boise CVB board. 

John Cunningham will serve as the Immediate Past Chair for the Boise CVB board. He brings a strong background of hotel management, the sporting industry and the local community to his board service. Cunningham is the President and CEO of Block 22, LLC and oversees The Grove Hotel, Idaho Central Arena and the Idaho Steelheads.

New Board Members:

Two new Boise community members who are joining the Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau’s board of directors include: 

Debra Leithauser is Vice President of Corporate Services and Communications for Idaho Power. She oversees supply chains, facilities, corporate real estate, aviation, communications and marketing. Before joining Idaho Power, Leithauser was the President and Publisher of the Idaho Statesman and was a journalist with The Washington Post. 

Kevin Settles is the President and CEO of the Bardenay Restaurant & Distillery Group, which includes Coyne’s Restaurant & Bar. In addition to running those operations, he is the Treasurer for Idaho’s health insurance exchange, Your Health Idaho, and serves as a Commissioner on the Idaho Human Rights Commission.  He is an active Emeritus member of the National Restaurant Association’s Board as well as serves on the Board for their educational foundation, the NRAEF. 

2022 Boise CVB Board of Directors (Full List, Alphabetically): 
J. Scott Ableman – Hotel Management Services, Vice President / Chief Financial Officer
Adam Altwies – Inn at 500 Capitol, General Manager
Sean Briggs – Boise Airport, Business Development Manager
Bill Connors – Boise Chamber of Commerce, President & CEO
Rochelle Criswell – Boise State University, Client Relations Manager
John Cunningham – Block 22 LLC, President & CEO
Thad Cunningham – Cradlepoint, Travel & Expense Administrator
Hart Gilchrist – MDU Utilities Group, VP of Safety, Process Improvement and Operations Systems
Debra Leithauser – Idaho Power, Vice President of Corporate Services and Communications
Kathy Pidgeon –  Riverside Hotel, General Manager
Ali Ribordy – Boise Centre, Director of Sales
Mike Ruffner – Shamrock Foods, Branch Manager
Kevin Settles – Bardenay Restaurant & Distillery Group, President & CEO
Earl Sullivan – Telaya Wine Co., Owner & Winemaker
Angela Taylor – The Dignitas Agency and Indulge Boise, Partner 
Brad Wilson – Bogus Basin, General Manager

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About the Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau: Boise, The City of Trees and Idaho’s Capital, is a rare blend of accessible outdoors and eclectic urban offerings. This city, with a river running through it, boasts unlimited recreation, interesting and unique sites and attractions, and diverse cultural offerings. The mission of the Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau is to inspire people to explore Boise. Find out more at VisitBoise.com.