Welcome to the Caldwell Chamber of Commerce Summit on Housing and Development! We are excited to bring together a distinguished group of moderators and panelists who will lead engaging discussions on the future of our community’s housing and development landscape.
Our Moderators and Panelists are innovative thinkers and practitioners who are deeply invested in the challenges and opportunities facing our small town. Representing a diverse range of perspectives, they will share their expertise and explore actionable solutions to enhance housing accessibility, sustainability, and growth.
Together, they will address critical issues, engage with your questions, and inspire collaborative efforts to shape the future of housing and development in Caldwell.
Steve Jenkins
Caldwell Economic Development
Steven Jenkins is the Economic Development Director for the City of Caldwell, overseeing the planning and implementation of the city’s economic development efforts. Since joining in 2019, he has successfully promoted Caldwell to companies, restaurant groups, entrepreneurs, and site consultants, while collaborating with stakeholders to enhance the Caldwell region. Jenkins advocates for educational opportunities and business initiatives to strengthen the local economy, guiding investments during a period of rapid growth.
Before joining Caldwell, he served as Assistant Director of Concurrent Enrollment at Boise State University and Coordinator for Dual Credit at the College of Western Idaho, with additional experience in sales and marketing. He holds a bachelor's degree from Reinhardt University in Georgia, a master's degree from Missouri State University, and a certificate in economic development from the University of Oklahoma.
sjenkins@cityofcaldwell.org
Robin Collins
Community Development Director
Robin Collins is the Community Development Director and Building Official for the City of Caldwell, overseeing city planning, zoning, building safety, code compliance, and community development block grants. With over 37 years of experience in local government, she’s known as the city’s "Swiss army knife" due to her diverse roles, including police records clerk, code enforcement officer, planner, inspector, plans examiner, urban renewal agency manager, and economic development director.
Originally from Arizona, Robin worked for Clark County, Nevada, reviewing multi-million-dollar projects before moving to Idaho in 2002. She has since contributed to community and economic development in Nampa, Eagle, and Caldwell. Robin has also served as a staff liaison for arts commissions, historic preservation, downtown associations, and Urban Renewal Agencies.
A certified professional in various building and planning roles, Robin has taught classes and served on numerous boards, including the Idaho Statewide Code Enforcement Association and the Idaho Economic Development Association. Outside of work, she enjoys giving back to the community and spending time with her family, including six children, two granddaughters, and her boxer dog.
rcollins@cityofcaldwell.org
Amy Luft
Community Planning Association (COMPASS)
With background in both the public and private sectors, Amy Luft has over 30 years’ experience in project management, outreach, and communication. She has served as COMPASS’ Communication Coordinator for over 15 years and serves as the Communication Team Lead. As such, she is closely involved in all of COMPASS planning, programming, and policy initiatives. Immediately prior to employment at COMPASS, Amy worked for the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality for eight years. She holds two Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Idaho and a Master’s degree from Clemson University in South Carolina.
aluft@compassidaho.org
Sabrina Minshall
Canyon County Development Services Director
Sabrina Minshall, AICP, is the Canyon County Development Services Director, leading a team of 30 across five divisions: Planning, Engineering, GIS, Building, and Code Enforcement. She values Authenticity, Community, and Leadership in her work.
Sabrina has a diverse background in planning, transportation, funding, federal grants, and economic development, beginning her career with the City of Nampa at age 22. She previously served as CEO of Destination Caldwell, Executive Director of the Spokane Regional Transportation Council, and Director of Planning for COMPASS in the Treasure Valley. She also spent eight years with the Ada County Highway District and eight years with the City of Nampa.
Certified through the American Planning Association, Sabrina holds a bachelor’s degree from Boise State University and a leadership certificate from Gonzaga University. She and her husband live in Middleton, staying active in the Canyon County community. Her favorite role is Grandma, with three adult children and four grandchildren.
sabrina.minshall@canyoncounty.id.gov
Mike Dittenber
Caldwell Housing Authority
Mike Dittenber is a 50+ year Canyon County resident who made Caldwell his community of choice 25 years ago. He has been the Executive Director of the Caldwell Housing Authority since January 2, 2007. Previously, Mike was the Special Needs Funding Officer for Idaho Housing and Finance Association for six (6) years and a Law Enforcement Planner with the Boise Police Department for seven (7) years.
Mike is a Veteran of the United States Marine Corp and was educated at Boise State University. He holds several professional water/wastewater licenses through Idaho Department of Professional Licensing and other environmental-related licenses through the EPA he keeps current.
Mike has been involved in the community in many different capacities over the years. He is a Past President of the Caldwell Rotary Club, Past President of the Friends of the Depot, the current President of the West Valley Medical Center Board of Trustees, and Caldwell City Council. He frequently volunteers in the community and enjoys spending time in downtown Caldwell.
mike@chaidaho.org
Tracy Kasper
Broker/Owner Bershire Hathaway/Silverhawk Reality
Tracy Kasper is the broker and owner of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Silverhawk Realty in Caldwell and Boise, Idaho. She is also a majority owner in two other Idaho companies—BHHS Sun Valley Properties and BHHS Silverhawk Realty East Idaho. With over 30 years of experience in real estate, she continues to list and sell property in addition to her broker duties.
Tracy’s leadership path has included not only servings as local and state association president, but most recently as the former President of the National Association of REALTORS®.
She is a past REALTOR® of the Year for two local associations and for the State of Idaho in 2016. Tracy served for many years on her local chamber, was Chairman of the Board for the Caldwell Chamber in 2009, and is a former Honorary Commander for the Idaho Air National Guard in Boise.
Tracy and her husband, Mike, have seven grown children and six grandchildren. In her spare time, Tracy has helped to raise more than $500,000 for a variety of youth charities in the Boise Valley.
tracy@justimagineidaho.com
Kris Miller
Owner Empire Title
Kris has spent the last 28 years refining his business and leadership skills. In his Title Company leadership roles he has been responsible for national and statewide operations including employee management, recruiting, budgeting, high-level decision making, and driving revenue and market share growth. With extensive experience in title insurance, real estate, real estate lending, personal insurance, and venture capital, Kris has comprehensive knowledge of all facets of the real estate and title insurance markets. Backed by a team of talented professionals and an extensive network of connections, Kris has perfected the art of negotiation, communication, and closing. As Empire Title Idaho’s President, he remains focused on dedication to superior client service and community involvement as the company grows its residential and commercial footprint in Idaho.
miller@empiretitleidaho.com
Mitch Rudder
Mortgage Lener Idaho Central Credit Union
Mitch Rudder grew up in Canyon County, graduating from Skyview High School in Nampa. After attending Idaho State University, he was hired by Idaho Central Credit Union. Over the last 14 years Mitch has held various roles within the mortgage department. In 2021 he was promoted to Vice President of Mortgage Sales, where he oversees 60+ mortgage originators across Idaho and Eastern Washington. Idaho Central headquartered in Chubbuck is Idaho’s largest credit union and mortgage lender funding over $1billion in volume annually.
mrudder@iccu.com
Latonia Haney Keith
College of Idaho
Latonia Haney Keith currently serves on the executive leadership team of The College of Idaho as Dean of Graduate Studies and Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, overseeing the High Impact Practices Division, the Office of Institutional Equity & Compliance and the Marketing & Communication Division.
Vice President Haney Keith joined The College from Concordia University School of Law where she served most recently as Interim Dean and Associate Dean of Academics. Vice President Haney Keith originally joined the faculty of Concordia Law as the Director of Clinical Education. In this role, she directed Concordia Law’s clinical education program, teaching law students the practice of law through the representation of disadvantaged and underserved populations in housing, criminal, and immigration matters.
Prior to joining Concordia Law, Vice President Haney Keith spent nearly seven years running a world-wide pro bono practice at a large law firm based in Chicago. After graduating from Harvard Law School, where she was a research assistant to Professor Laurence H. Tribe and Professor Charles Ogletree and an editor of and symposium co-chair for the Harvard Law Review, Vice President Haney Keith clerked for the Honorable Judith Ann Wilson Rogers on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
In March 2023, Vice President Haney Keith was confirmed by Mayor Lauren McLean as a Boise City Councilmember, representing District 3 through the remainder of the 2023 calendar year. In March 2020, she was confirmed by City Council as a Commissioner of the Capital City Development Corporation (CCDC), the redevelopment and urban renewal agency for Boise, Idaho, and currently serves as its Chair. She has served as a member of the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service and the Executive Committee of the American Bar Association Section of Business Law's Committee on Pro Bono, on the Legal Advisory Council for the Fair Punishment Project and on the Local Rules Committee of the U.S. Courts of the District of Idaho and currently serves as a board member of City Club of Boise. Vice President Haney Keith also regularly conducts trainings on recognizing and reducing implicit biases and has published scholarship on the topic of bias, discrimination and harassment in the legal profession. Additionally, she enjoys engaging in research and dialogue centered on constitutional law, housing and homelessness and a variety of public policy issues.
lhaneykeith@collegeofidaho.edu
McKay Cunningham
Attorney College of Idaho
I am currently the Director of Graduate Initiatives, Principal Designated School Office (PDSO) and a Graduate Professor. Prior to joining the College of Idaho, I was a tenured law professor, teaching for 13 years at several law schools, including Concordia Law School and the University of Idaho. I taught courses related to property law and constitutional law, during which time I published 12 law review articles, one book, and several shorter publications. I enjoy discussing constitutional law issues on NPR and PBS, drafting opinion pieces for local newspapers, and testifying before the Idaho Legislature regarding the legal implications of proposed laws.
Prior to joining legal academia, I practiced law for nine years, including a one-year clerkship on the Eleventh Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, four years at a law firm in Dallas, Texas, and four years as a Staff Attorney on the Texas Supreme Court. I earned my undergraduate degree and a juris doctor degree at Baylor University, where I served as managing editor of the law review.
mcunningham@collegeofidaho.edu
Ali Rabe
Executive Director of Jesse Tree
Ali is the Executive Director at Jesse Tree, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing eviction and homelessness in the Treasure Valley, and a State Senator serving District 16. Prior to joining Jesse Tree, Ali worked with local governments and service providers in their efforts to prevent and end homelessness in the Bay Area. She spent the early years of her legal career supporting refugees and other displaced populations around the world.
Her experiences there led to her passion to prevent homelessness from happening to people and communities. Ali is a proud alumnus of The College of Idaho and holds a J.D. from William & Mary Law School. She and her husband are Boise born and raised, where they live with their son and dog.
ali@jessetreeidaho.org
Patrick Bageant
Attorney Hollystone Law, Former Boise City Councilor
Attorney Patrick Bageant is the former President Pro Tem of the Boise City Counsel, where he devoted much of his effort to helping pass the city’s 2023 comprehensive rewrite of its zoning code. Patrick earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho and a juris doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. He and his wife reside in Boise along with their daughter.
pbageant@gmail.com
Marc Bybee
White Perterson Attorneys at Law
Marc Bybee is an attorney and shareholder at the law firm White, Peterson, Gigray & Nichols based in Nampa. A core practice area of this firm is providing civil representation to local government entities, such as cities, fire districts, highway districts, ambulance districts, and just about any other local government district you can think of. Mr. Bybee participates in this core practice area and serves as primary legal counsel for multiple cities and fire districts in the region. Mr. Bybee’s practice also includes work for private clients in the area of real estate transactions, land use, development and other areas less relevant to today’s Housing Summit.
mbybee@WHITEPETERSON.com
Kelley Packer
Director of Association of Idaho Cities
Kelley Packer has over a decade of experience as an elected and appointed official. She served in the Idaho House of Representatives from 2013-2018 and on the McCammon City Council from 2008-2012. During that time, she served on multiple committees including serving as Vice Chairman of the Health & Welfare Committee for 4 years. Recognized as a leader amongst her peers, she was selected by the Speaker of the House and appointed by the Governor to serve on the Idaho State Health Insurance Exchange from 2014-2018. She attended the Council of State Government’s Western Legislative Academy in 2014 and was elected class president. Additionally, she is a trained NICD Facilitator, was the 2021-2022 national co-chair for Next Gen and has facilitated civil discourse discussions for state legislatures throughout the country.
Beyond serving in an official capacity, Kelley has taken her responsibility as a citizen of her communities seriously, as she co-founded the Marsh Valley Education Foundation and served as its president from 2011-2013 and formed a beautification committee for her hometown in 2010.
Kelley led the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses under Governor Brad Little, an agency which serves more than 73,000 licensees and registrants and 28 Boards and one Commission and played a key role in the Governor’s initiative to reduce barriers for people who want to work in Idaho while ensuring public protection.
Currently, Kelley serves as the Executive Director for the Idaho Association of Cities which provides advocacy, training, and research on behalf of Idaho’s 198 cities.Kelley is also a small business owner and she holds a degree in Business Administration.
kpacker@idahocities.org
Todd Lakey
Idaho State Senator & Land Use Attorney with Borton-Lakey Law
Senator Todd Lakey’s family roots come from Soda Springs and Nampa Idaho. His father was in the grocery business so he grew up in various states throughout the pacific northwest and midwest. He earned his bachelor of science degree from Brigham Young University in International Business with a minor in Spanish and his Juris Doctorate Degree from Lewis and Clark Northwestern School of Law.
He started his career as a deputy prosecuting attorney for Canyon County and later was elected as a Canyon County Commissioner for two terms. Sen. Lakey served for twenty years and retired as an officer in the United States Army Reserves Judge Advocate General Corps. He is a partner and small business owner in a law firm in Meridian where he represents private clients in various areas including business and real estate and serves as general counsel to several public entities.
Sen. Lakey is serving in his sixth term in the Idaho Senate. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Judiciary and Rules Committee and as the senior member of the commerce committee. He has also served on the local government and tax, health and welfare and state affairs committees and previously served as the Senate Majority Caucus Chairman. Todd and his wife Jan have been married for 37 years, they have seven five children and seven grandchildren.
Todd@borton-lakey.com
Keri Smith
Executive Director of Growing Together
Keri K. Smith started Treasure Valley Planning Idaho (TVP) to offer consulting services to help communities plan with intention and creativity, and to assist residents and developers navigate entitlement processes. TVP was founded in February, 2023, specializing in land use planning and economic development with proven experience in developing and carrying out plans that change communities. She started her career in planning twenty years ago because of her love for Canyon County and its unique resource agriculture. What TVP brings to the table is practical experience to bridge community well-being, private property rights, and sustainable growth that maintains a community’s culture and viable resources and economies. Her contacts and community connections throughout the Treasure Valley run deep and provide opportunities to open doors for collaboration on public-private partnerships and projects.
Keri is a faithful public servant with 20 years of experience in: planning, economic development, tourism, downtown revitalization, organizational development, floodplain hazard mitigation and planning, and event planning. A leader specialized in recruitment (employees and volunteers) and retention of key positions on a team. An executive who leads by example with strong ethical standards, brings bold and innovative ideas to the table that are executable, pursues economic prosperity and smart growth with tenacity and passion that is contagious. Personally, she is a mother, hobby farmer, horse trainer (participates in rodeo) and a volleyball coach.
keri@tvpidaho.com
Rob MacDonald
White Perterson Attorneys at Law
Robb MacDonald grew up in the San Fransisco Bay Area. After high school, he moved to Utah and attended Brigham Young University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Structural Engineering while working part time as an intern with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). After graduating, he accepted a job with Knudsen-Smith Engineering, a private engineering consulting firm in Phoenix AZ, and worked there for 5 years as a Project Engineer. Robb was then hired by the City of Caldwell in 2010 as the Assistant City Engineer. In 2015, he was promoted to City Engineer and has now been the Director of Public Works for the City since June of 2023. Robb has lived in the City of Caldwell since 2010 with his wife and 5 daughters.
rmacdonald@cityofcaldwell.org
Nicole Dovel-Moore
Assocotate Principle Architect at Cushing Terrell
Nicole Dovel-Moore is Director of Architecture and Associate Principal with Cushing Terrell, an integrated design, architecture, and engineering firm. She leads the firm’s Caldwell office, located in a historic building on Main Street. Nicole has over 23 years’ experience, managing and designing projects of various scope and scale, from small-businesses in Caldwell to mixed-use projects across the United States. Her approach is as a consummate team player with clients, contractors, and colleagues. She is passionate about Caldwell and Canyon County development, and believes you can find win-win solutions to the tough decisions surrounding growth, change, and building communities that reflect who we are.
cushingterrell.com
John Wardle
President of Brighton Corporation
Jon Wardle is the President of Development at Brighton Corporation, and has over twenty-seven years in land development and homebuilding operations in Idaho, Florida, and Utah. Jon has been involved in every facet of real estate, including, acquisition, market analysis, entitlements, development, homebuilding operations, sales & marketing, and community design. Previously, he held a number of positions with Woodside Homes, which included Utah Division President and Florida Vice President & Land Manager. He also worked with Glenn Layton Homes to grow a niche custom home business in Jacksonville, Florida. Jon graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics, and lives in Meridian, Idaho, with Kathryn and their three children.
jwardle@brightoncorp.com
Lee Gientke
Manageing Partner at Pontifex Capital
Lee Gientke [jen-key] brings a 15-year history of successful private capital real estate development ranging from value-add multifamily, light industrial and land development.
As the managing partner for Pontifex Capital, leads the company’s land acquisition, entitlement and construction efforts. He is an active investor in the city of Caldwell as both a downtown building owner and in developing several single-family residential developments within the city. He also serves on the board for Destination Caldwell.
In his free time, Mr. Gientke is an avid hiker, skier, yoga practitioner and ball thrower and treat dispenser for his dog, Pete.
lee@pontifexcap.com
Ronda Conger
Caldwell Housing Authority
Some say she was raised by wolves, others claim truckers. No matter what her upbringing, this superwoman has flourished in a male dominated industry for 31 years. As Vice President of CBH Homes, Idaho’s largest homebuilder, Ronda leads the CBH troops daily, and has overseen all areas of the company for the past 21 years.
Ronda firmly believes that winning is a habit. She’s been named the 2021 NAHB Woman of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders and was recently recognized as a 2024 Most Inspiring Business Leader Revamping the Future.
Serving others is important to Ronda. As a business woman, professional speaker, and author, Ronda is on a mission to spread a movement with her five books: Better Human, Better Thinking, You Go First, Leading Through Extraordinary Times, and her latest book New Market. New You.
It’s been rumored her high energy and passion come from shotgunning red bulls daily, but she’ll tell you it comes from her incredibly hot husband, Jim Conger (just ask her) and her two sons.
She thanks the heavens each day for this incredible journey and is so very grateful for the opportunity to serve and love all those that she comes in contact with.
www.cbhhomes.com
Madeline Miller
Caldwell Housing Authority
Madeline Miller is a Senior Project Manager at ECONorthwest, the Pacific Northwest’s largest private economics consulting firm. At ECONorthwest, Madeline evaluates housing solutions across the entire spectrum of the market: development feasibility, housing needs analyses, housing underproduction, affordable housing policies, anti-displacement efforts, and strategies to alleviate homelessness. Her work encompasses statistical analysis, strategic planning, real estate development, finance and funding, and scenario planning. She regularly works with public and private clients to formulate policy solutions to some of the region’s most complex issues. Prior to joining ECONorthwest in 2017, Madeline worked at an affordable housing nonprofit developer and held numerous research and data internships, including the City of Beaverton, the Economist Intelligence Unit (Washington, D.C.), and The Brookings Institution (Washington, D.C). Madeline has a master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Portland. She currently sits on the Metro Transit-Oriented Development Steering Committee and previously served on the board of the Northwest Pilot Project, a nonprofit providing housing and homelessness services for low-income seniors, and the Urban Land Institute Young Leaders Group.
miller@econw.com