With more than three decades of banking expertise under his belt, one thing is certain: Todd Cooper knows how to put people and communities first. He began his banking career with First Security Bank in 1989, which was then acquired by Wells Fargo in 2001. With Wells Fargo, he continued to demonstrate his leadership ability, building and leading teams across multiple states.

Cooper then joined the team at Boise State University as the director of economic development and then in 2020 stepped into the role of chief operating officer for Idaho First Bank. It wasn’t too long before he was promoted to president and then chief operating officer where today, he enjoys cultivating relationships with business leaders, families, entrepreneurs and much more.

Outside of the bank, Cooper enjoys being outside, playing guitar and volunteering at various nonprofits around Idaho.

Kelly Galloway has served as vice president branch manager at Westmark Credit Union for six years and eight months, leading the Nampa branch through a significant transformation. Recently, she successfully transitioned her team from traditional tellers to full-service member advisors who can process loans, open accounts, handle IRAs and provide comprehensive financial services.

“Going from a teller to a member advisor was no easy task,” Galloway said. “I was able to take this challenge on and was instrumental in developing a team of exceptional MA’s. I was proactive in my training, ensuring the team was ready for their new roles prior to implementation.”

She studied communications, English, marketing and general studies at Boise State University and holds coaching certifications through CUNA and American Bankers Association. With more than 20 years in banking, Galloway’s biggest challenge was overcoming imposter syndrome early in her leadership career.

Her goals include focusing on personal development, networking more and gaining knowledge in coaching different generations. She started as a teller and advanced through various roles including business banker and district leader.

Benjamin T. Nelson has led residential mortgage lending at D.L. Evans Bank for 18 years from his Burley base, navigating one of the industry’s most challenging periods as interest rates doubled and loan demand plummeted. His most significant recent accomplishment was implementing creative solutions during the economic downturn while maintaining customer service standards.

“We quite suddenly went from one extreme to another, where we had record low interest rates and record high loan demand to a deteriorating situation where we experienced rapid inflation,” Nelson said. “We took a ‘MacGyver’-like approach to strategy within the mortgage department, where we have learned to be ‘resourceful with our resources.’”

A Brigham Young University economics graduate with certifications as an Accredited Mortgage Professional and Certified Master Mortgage Underwriter, Nelson moved from Utah to Idaho to raise his children. His biggest challenge was reinventing himself from branch manager to mortgage loan officer in an unfamiliar market.

Nelson has served as Idaho Rotary District Governor and on multiple boards including Intermountain Health’s Cassia Regional Hospital and Oakley Recreation District as president.

Ashley Griesshammer has worked at Lovevery for five years, with one year in her current role as vice president of finance and accounting for the Boise-based e-commerce company. Her most significant recent accomplishment involved navigating the tariff landscape while collaborating with operations and technology teams to pivot quickly on key initiatives.

“Stepping outside the world of finance and accounting to get more deeply integrated in the overall business operations,” has been crucial to her success, Griesshammer said.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business, a master’s degree in accounting from Grand Valley State University, and is both a licensed CPA and Certified Management Accountant. Her biggest challenge has been adapting to retail’s constantly changing environment.

“Retail can be challenging and requires the best professionals to be adaptable and willing to change,” she said. “The most successful individuals are able to take those changes in stride and thrive moving forward.”

Griesshammer is a member of the Treasure Valley CFO Forum and hopes to pursue higher education teaching.

Jacie Mustafić has served as district manager for U.S. Bank for six years, bringing 20 years of banking experience to her role serving the Treasure Valley and Boise Metro areas. A recent accomplishment involved elevating her leadership team and transforming frontline staff from order takers into empowered client advisors.

“We prioritized upskilling and focused on client education, moving beyond simply addressing stated needs to uncovering deeper goals,” Mustafić said. “This shift has fostered more curious, trust-based conversations with clients, enabling them to make informed decisions that truly serve their best interests.”

She studied psychology at College of Southern Idaho and finance and psychology at Boise State University. Her biggest challenge was leading her team through the pandemic while maintaining high employee engagement and continuing to serve the community.

Mustafić joined U.S. Bank in 2005 after initially accepting a position at Micron, realizing she drew energy from working with people rather than in isolation. Her primary goal is developing leaders on her team for career advancement through mentorship and growth experiences.

Kelly Robertson has directed corporate banking at Zions Bank for seven years after 17 years as director of regional credit. His most significant recent accomplishment involves mentoring team members while achieving double-digit loan volume growth and expanding the portfolio by an average of 10-15% annually.

“Over the past several years, I’ve come to realize that my greatest accomplishments aren’t just measured in portfolio growth or loan volume,” Robertson said. “They’re reflected in the growth and success of people I’ve mentored.”

Based in Boise but serving all of Idaho, Robertson graduated from Pacific Coast Banking School and American Institute of Banking. He joined Zions Bank in 1982 during a recession, starting as a teller after calling the regional president weekly for three months.

Since launching Idaho corporate banking seven years ago, his team has grown the outstanding loan portfolio by nearly 800%. His biggest challenge was establishing the bank’s reputation when he moved to Idaho 24 years ago, building relationships one customer at a time through credibility and follow-through.

Scott Schlange got his start in the working world on his family’s dairy farm, where he learned the value of hard work and service to others.

As he grew up, he discovered a passion for banking, working for Wells Fargo for nearly 12 years, holding vice president and senior vice president roles in business banking and commercial lending. Schlange continued to demonstrate his leadership skills and love for working with people to make an impact, then shifted to KeyBank in 2017 as the senior vice president, commercial banking leader.

Schlange’s commercial lending, banking, credit analysis, sales and sales management expertise stood out and opened the door for his current role as the Idaho market president for KeyBank. He began this position three years ago and today, enjoys working alongside his team to provide great customer experiences, support the community, and engage stakeholders.

“I have found great purpose in achieving results with others, making an impact, coaching and achieving success as a team,” he said in an interview earlier this year.

Jeff Newgard has led Bank of Idaho for 10 years, overseeing 15 branches serving eastern Idaho, the Treasure Valley and eastern Washington. His most significant recent accomplishment was identifying and executing a strategic merger with a larger regional bank, completed April 30, 2025.

“I identified a larger regional bank as a strong candidate for a strategic merger with our organization,” Newgard said. “Through a comprehensive due diligence process, we confirmed a strong cultural alignment and determined that the merger would create meaningful benefits for both shareholders and employees.”

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Walla Walla College, an MBA from Washington State University, and completed Graduate School of Banking-Colorado. Newgard also earned cybersecurity certifications and Advanced Certified Banking Information Security Officer credentials.

With 27 years in community banking and two decades as CEO, his biggest challenge was building unified culture across rapidly expanding markets. His goals focus on ensuring smooth organizational transformation while delivering benefits to employees, customers and communities.

“My greatest fulfillment has come from uniting talented professionals around a shared vision,” he said.

As commercial banking director, Andy Beitia specializes in agricultural lending, industrial lending and commercial lending for clients around Idaho, Washington and Oregon. With more than three decades of experience in the banking industry and more than 17 served at Washington Trust Bank, he oversees the bank’s teams in those states and takes care in leading them toward success while meeting strategic growth goals.

Outside of the bank, Beitia enjoys community volunteering and is a part of the Boise Chamber of Commerce, the board of Boise Valley Economic Partnership and the board of Caldwell Basque Charities. He’s also an advisory board member at the University of Idaho College of Business.

He earned his MBA from Boise State University, an undergraduate degree in finance from University of Idaho, and is a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School in Seattle.

John V. (J.V.) Evans III began working at the Burley branch of D.L. Evans Bank as a kid pulling weeds and sweeping the parking lot. While completing his undergraduate degree in finance, he worked as a teller at the bank and then slowly worked his way up over the years to various leadership roles.

Today, he is a fifth-generation banker and was appointed CEO of the bank three years ago.

In a 2024 interview, Evans spoke of the role models he had in the world of finance and how they have guided him in his role today saying, “I am grateful to have my father, John V. Evans, Jr., as my role model and mentor. My father has embodied qualities of guidance, leadership, integrity and active involvement in the community … My late grandfather, John V. Evans Sr., whom we all fondly referred to as ‘the Gov,’ is also someone I look up to as my role model. He was a person of exceptional character and unwavering commitment to his state, his communities and his family.”

With more than five decades of experience working in the fields of real estate, agriculture and transportation, Tom Floyd has truly demonstrated a love for Idaho and its land.

After being self employed for more than 40 years, Floyd transitioned to work for Western Idaho Realty in 2015 as a real estate specialist. He still holds this role today, where he specializes in investment property sales, neighbor to neighbor land sales, cattle and milk shipping rights sales, farm and ranch sales and much more.

He travels across Caldwell and Jerome and into Winnemucca, Nevada, helping his clients find the properties that will be the best fit.

Byron Miles is the recently retired vice president of finance and administrative services at the College of Eastern Idaho. Stepping down from his role in February 2025, he was widely recognized for his steady leadership, detailed stewardship of public resources, and ability to modernize budgeting practices. He was a champion for data-driven planning and partnered closely with academic and facility teams to streamline operations and improve both staff and student experiences.

Before this role, Miles served for 17 years as the university business officer for Idaho State University, and for more than 16 years as the controller and compliance officer for Bowen Petroleum.

Miles holds both graduate and undergraduate degrees in business from Idaho State University and has been involved as a scout master, committee member and institutional representative for the Boy Scouts of America for more than five decades.