Idaho Business Review IBR
The 2019 Leaders In Law honorees gather for a group photo during the awards event on Nov. 14 at Eighth & Main. Photo by Pete Grady
The Idaho Business Review (IBR) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 Leaders in Law awards, which recognize top legal professionals in Idaho for leadership, vision, innovation, professional achievements, competitiveness, mentorship and community service. The 35 winners range from relative newcomers making their mark on the industry to legal aces with decades of experience and are represented across seven awards categories: associate, educator, in-house counsel, partner, sole practitioner, unsung hero and up and coming. One honoree has also earned a lifetime achievement award.
IBR has also selected 24 individuals as the 2021 Excellence in Finance finalists, which honors outstanding performance in the banking, corporate, investment, education and professional sectors. Again, nominations came from all over the state based on the financial professionals’ track record of success and leadership and fiscal accomplishments, which set a high bar for their company and Idaho’s business economy.
This year, as we did last year (virtually), we will be holding the Leaders in Law awards together with the Excellence in Finance awards. However, this year, the co-branded event will be held in person, allowing the law and finance professionals the chance to network together at a reception.
“The Leaders in Law and Excellence in Finance awards event is a celebration of the many accomplishments of these legal and financial professionals from across the state,” said Cindy Suffa, Idaho Business Review publisher. “It’s a great opportunity for honorees who work for legal institutions, banks or companies in other sectors such as technology, manufacturing and retailing, and who also work together in many cases exchanging client referrals, to build and strengthen new and established relationships as they come together in one event.”
The awards reception will be held at Boise Centre East 4:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16. Tickets are available now. All of the honorees will be profiled in special publications that will be distributed with the Idaho Business Review on Nov. 19.
2021 LEADERS IN LAW HONOREES
Associate
Katie Daniel, Smith + Malek, PLLC
Alexandra Grande, Holland & Hart LLP
Jenn Hanway, Fisher Hudson Shallat
Shannon McCarthy, Johnson & Monteleone
Educator
Katherine Ball, University of Idaho College of Law
Wendy Gerwick Couture, University of Idaho College of Law
Jessica Long, University of Idaho College of Law
In-House Counsel
Simao Avila, St. Luke’s Health System
Eric Bjorkman, Albertsons
Clay Gill, J.R. Simplot Company
Rob McQuade, Association of Idaho Cities
Jeff Neumeyer, United Heritage Financial Group
Steven Schossberger, Oregon Potato Company
Stephanie C. Westermeier, Saint Alphonsus Health System
Partner
Benjamin J. Allen, Silver Valley Law, LLC
John Ashby, Hawley Troxell
Michael Bartlett, Bartlett & French, PLLP
Chris Brown, Fisher Hudson Shallat
Alyson Foster, Dempsey Foster PLLC
Mikela “Mike” French, Bartlett & French, PLLP
Steve M. Frinsko, Hawley Troxell
Sheli Fulcher Koontz, Angstman Johnson
Alison Johnson, Holland & Hart LLP
Luke Malek, Smith + Malek PLLC
Robert A. Maynard, Perkins Coie
Sarah Reed, Hawley Troxell
Sole Practitioner
Matthew Bradshaw, ClearVenture Legal PLLC
Unsung Hero
Autumn Cain, Fisher Hudson Shallat
Up and Coming
Betsaida Chavez Garcia, Immigrant Justice Idaho
Stefan Hasselblad, Holland & Hart LLP
Kaci Peterson, Perkins Coie
Lifetime Achievement
Justice Roger S. Burdick, Idaho Supreme Court
2021 EXCELLENCE IN FINANCE HONOREES
Jennifer Bender, Academy Mortgage Corporation
Suzi Boyle, Castle & Cooke Mortgage
Patrick Clayton, NeighborWorks Boise
Todd Cooper, Idaho First Bank
Matt Craner, Westmark Credit Union
Caleb Dimick, Bank of Idaho
Kelly Galloway, Westmark Credit Union
Ashley Griesshammer, Lovevery
Cheryl Guiddy, Harris CPAs
Lance Hatzenbeller, Idaho Central Credit Union
Dave Heffner, Hayden Beverage Co.
Wes Jost, Zions Bank
Matt Lyman, Raymond James & Associates
Susan Olson, Hawley Troxell
Judith K. Ramos, Idaho Community Foundation
Christopher Reid, First Federal Saving Bank of Twin Falls
Debra Riedel, Raymond James & Associates
Scott Schlange, KeyBank
Christy Stein, Cooper Norman
Scott Summerlin, Starlifter Wealth Management
Shanon Taylor, Bank of Idaho
Fernando Veloz, MS Administrative Services
Tonya Westenskow, First Interstate Bank
Kevin Wilson, Shamrock Foods
*Article post was updated on October 11, 2021
