Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter has appointed Gary Mahn, of Boise, to the Idaho Endowment Fund Investment Board. He fills the position of R. John Taylor, of Lewiston, who decided not to seek reappointment after 15 years on the board.

Mahn began his business career in Boise in 1972 as a management consultant with Ernst & Ernst. He co-founded Learned-Mahn, a software company, in 1976. He purchased Fisher’s Office Equipment in 1985 and expanded the company before selling the office supply division to Boise Cascade Office Products (now OfficeMax) in 1995. He retained ownership in the equipment division, known as Fisher’s Document Systems, and recently sold it to other senior managers in the firm.

Mahn has previously worked with the state government as director of the Idaho Department of Commerce from 1998 to 2002. He sits on the board of directors for Idaho Independent Bank.

Mahn is a certified public accountant. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Idaho and his Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

The EFIB is responsible for managing roughly $2 billion in state investments. The nine board members are appointed by the governor and subject to Senate confirmation.