Emily Border was the first female in her family to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees and once she graduated, she hit the ground running. With leadership in her blood, she’s held a variety of business roles, including work as the head of marketing business development for Apex Leaders, then as the co-owner and co-founder of Border Media, a visual media company whose work has been featured in national publications like the Wall Street Journal.

Border then began work at Cradlepoint, where she has served for nearly seven years. Today, she oversees the company’s marketing campaigns and programs to ensure the company is positioned for brand growth and expansion. Along with this role, Border is the senior director, global demand marketing for Enterprise Wireless Solutions.

An active community member, Border was on the board for the Idaho Nonprofit Center for more than six years and served for two years as the chair. She also has experience volunteering on the board for Girl Scouts of the USA and was a tour guide for The Peregrine Fund.

With more than three decades as a technology entrepreneur, Aaron Brinton has built a solid career as an executive and leader in the area of software engineering, development automation, and cloud architecture and operations.

Launching his career in the United States Navy as a nuclear engineer, Brinton transitioned to civilian technology work in the early 1990s, working for various companies such as Silver Creek Computers, Sprint, ManagementReporting.com, and NetTrack Lead Manager Solutions. He joined Cognitics as the vice president in 2008 and served there for more than 15 years before stepping into roles at St. Luke’s Health System and then Ventive.

Brinton took the reins at Rivial Data Security at the beginning of 2025 and is focused on strategic planning, ensuring operational execution, and overseeing its growth and position in the technology marketplace.

“It’s exciting to talk about AI and cybersecurity and small businesses and the future of tech in Boise,” Brinton said during a panel discussion in 2024. “I plan to stay, and my goal is to make sure things continue to move forward.”

A businessman with an entrepreneurial drive and a uniquely technical mind, Jason Crawforth has more than 25 years of leadership expertise and has established himself as a leading authority in digital content authenticity and security.

He founded SWEAR nearly nine years ago and has grown the company to become a leader in digital content protection with blockchain technology.

Before launching SWEAR, Crawforth worked as a mentor, advisor and investor for almost 18 years, was the founder and CEO of TreeTop Technologies, and the founder of Groupware Technologies. Over the course of his career, he’s helped manage more than 100 global systems and mobile solutions that have resulted in more than 35 million downloads around the world.

Crawforth holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Idaho and an MBA from Boise State University.

“In the disinformation age, where truth is constantly under assault, SWEAR’s technology offers an unbreakable defense, ensuring the integrity of digital content from the moment of creation,” he said of his invention.

Jennie DeBusk has owned Idaho Websites for six years after 15 years in the web design industry, serving clients locally and across multiple states including Washington, Utah and California. Her career began organically when she repeatedly encountered businesses needing website help while working in various creative industries.

Recently, DeBusk expanded her team to include front-end and back-end developers, enabling the company to tackle more complex custom web applications. She also implemented new internal systems to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.

“My path to this career was a natural evolution. While working in various creative industries during and after college, I kept running into the same challenge ― everyone needed help with their website,” DeBusk said.

Her biggest challenge involved navigating evolving website security and hosting landscapes, leading her to migrate all client websites to more secure platforms. Looking ahead, she plans to introduce fractional CMO and CTO services to provide strategic marketing and technology leadership.

Before web design, DeBusk pursued visual arts, painting murals in Boise’s Freak Alley and working as a lighting designer.

Born and raised in Idaho, Derik Ellis served in the U.S. Air Force before returning to Boise to work in the software industry. After helping several software companies scale, he began consultant work with manufacturers and noticed there were gaps in tools and support. He launched Vessel eight years ago to address those needs and has since rolled out software solutions across the United States.

Ellis shares that being recognized as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2025 Veteran-Owned Small Business Person of the Year for Idaho was a major milestone for him.

“I’m drawn to big, meaningful challenges with long-term impact,” Ellis said. “Vessel has directly supported many manufacturers in Idaho, helping them identify operational gaps, strengthen their supply chains, and prepare for growth. Our work strengthens local economies by helping businesses stay competitive in a global market.”

Looking ahead, Ellis anticipates scaling Vessel’s technology in new states as well as in federal agency networks.

He explained, “We’re aiming to empower thousands of manufacturers and small businesses with actionable data, stronger partnerships and streamlined access to growth opportunities.”

Brad Frazer shares that he came to his career in law with a combination of curiosity, creativity and a deep respect for innovation. His legal background gave him the analytical tools needed to succeed, but his interest in emerging technology and storytelling beckoned him to the world of intellectual property and startup law.

Over the course of nearly four decades in law, Frazer is currently a partner for Hawley Troxell and in the next year, he is looking forward to expanding his work with startups in the AI and emerging tech space. He is also looking at developing educational resources to help individuals both in and out of the legal field to understand the role of copyrights, intellectual property and more.

Frazer said, “My work has helped Idaho-based startups, creatives and business owners protect their intellectual assets and bring their innovations to market responsibly. I also aim to serve as a legal bridge between Idaho entrepreneurs and national opportunities, helping to elevate the region’s presence in the broader tech and business landscape.”