Somber reflection, joyous celebration mark annual Women of the Year event

Emotionally, it was a multi-faceted evening.

Celebration and honor teamed with reflection and somber remembrance as this year’s 20th annual Idaho Business Review Women of the Year ceremony Sept. 11, coincided with the anniversary of the life-changing and history-altering 9/11 terrorist attacks perpetrated on the U.S. 24 years earlier.

To pay tribute to those who lost their lives that fateful day, and to help set the tone for the evening, a color guard accompanied a stirring rendition of the National Anthem performed by Janell Billings, a former first responder and current consumer relationship manager with Bank of America. The nearly 500 attendees who filled Boise Centre to support some of Idaho’s top women business leaders softly added their voices in unison.

By evening’s end, Stephanie Parker, founder and executive recruiter of TalentSpark, Idaho’s only women-owned recruiting firm, was named the IBR 2025 Woman of the Year. She was selected from a group of 50 finalists derived from a list of more than 160 nominations received statewide.

Joyfully overwhelmed and visibly surprised, Parker remained clear and concise in recognizing all those who contributed to her professional success.

“Thank you to my business partner, my awesome husband and my team that I have worked with for nearly 10 years and who make me look good every day,” Parker said. “I am able to do what I do because of you.”

Throughout her diverse career, and since establishing her highly successful firm in 2016, Parker has conducted more than 25,000 interviews of those pursuing employment opportunities or striving to enhance their careers.

In her introduction, Parker was described as “incredibly humble,” a “tireless contributor to her community,” and an “inspirational and treasured friend and mentor” by last year’s Woman of the Year honoree, Dr. Mindi Anderson, who served more than two decades in the U.S. Air Force. Anderson is the only veteran to receive the prestigious IBR honor.

Attributing her success to “building trust” in both her business and personal life, Parker, has elevated her business earnings to more than $2 million annually since staring her outfit nine years ago.

“Thank you IBR for this recognition. I honestly had no idea this was going to happen,” she said. “I am so humbled by this award.”

“This is so awesome, but also my worst nightmare. Do I have to give a speech like Mindi next year,” she asked laughing, referencing what has become an IBR tradition of tasking the previous year’s overall winner with providing the evening’s keynote address.

Though the annual event has entered its second decade honoring many of Idaho’s top women business leaders, it has been only 15 years that IBR has selected one nominee as its Woman of the Year.

Additionally, candidates who have been nominated more than one time, but no more than three times, are added to the IBR Circle of Excellence. Fourteen of this year’s 50 nominees joined this exclusive club.

With nominations in 2021 and 2023, Anderson solidified her place in the Circle. In her keynote address, she leaned on her distinguished 23-year Air Force career to illustrate how her military service has propelled her in life, personally and professionally.

“The Air Force taught me integrity, service and excellence. Life taught me resilience, and emotional intelligence taught me awareness,” she said. “Family taught me love; self-belonging brought it all together.”

As the executive director, president and founder of the Idaho Veterans Chamber of Commerce, Anderson also reflected on her “military family,” while respectfully paying tribute to those lost 24 years ago on Sept. 11, 2001.

“This is a date that carries a deep weight for me as a veteran,” Anderson said. “For those of us who served and for families who sacrificed, it’s a day of remembrance. It’s a reminder of loss, but also resilience, courage and a responsibility to live with purpose.”

Fittingly, in times of tragedy in the nation, the American Red Cross plays a leading role in providing assistance to those in need. Serving as the evening’s nonprofit sponsor, CEO Nicole Sirak Irwin, who heads up the chapter representing Idaho, Montana and east Oregon, as well as being one of this year’s 50 Women of the Year nominees, spoke about the necessity to “light the way” for one another and to “build bridges” in all areas of life.

“The honor tonight is not ours alone. It also belongs to all those in the room who have stood behind us and beside us and in our personal lives and professional journey,” she said. “Thank you for supporting us and investing in us. You’re the reason we are here tonight.”

Nominations for the Women of the Year program are accepted year-round. Visit the IBR website for more details on how to nominate a deserving candidate.