Business Builder Day 2026

Wendi Secrist is the Executive Director of the Idaho Workforce Development Council overseeing implementation of an industry-led statewide strategic workforce development plan. Governor Brad Little appointed Wendi to continue the transition of the Council to an independent agency under the Office of the Governor which began in November 2017. The Council also serves as the State Workforce Investment Board and oversees the Idaho Workforce Development Training Fund. Ms. Secrist came to the Council with a wealth of experience in workforce development, economic development and education. Immediately prior to joining in 2017, Ms. Secrist built bridges to industry to inform Idaho’s career and technical education system through its secondary, postsecondary and workforce training programs as the Director of Business Outreach for Idaho Career & Technical Education. She also oversaw development of a statewide micro-certification/badging platform, Idaho SkillStack® to improve communication around the skills and competencies Idaho’s citizens’ possess. From 2011 to 2014, Ms. Secrist served as Senior Director for ManpowerGroup Public Sector, the world leader in innovative workforce solutions. Ms. Secrist directed the company’s strategy to serve federal, state and local government agencies and leverage ManpowerGroup’s business relationships and cutting-edge assessments, training tools, and staffing methods to improve outcomes through a partnership with the United States’ public workforce system. Ms. Secrist served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Workforce Boards and was secretary from 2013-2015. Ms. Secrist is a past-president of the Idaho Economic Development Association. She was the vice president of the 2007-2009 Leadership Boise class and also served as the 2009 chair of the Boise Young Professionals. In 2008, Idaho Business Review recognized her as one of Idaho’s “Accomplished Under 40.”

As an experienced Information Security professional, Leo has focused on IT Security Operations, IT Governance, Secure Development, Compliance, Risk, and Privacy. His experience blends a diverse mix of small and Fortune 100 companies and a real-world understanding of the challenges and opportunities of PCI, SOX, PII, HIPAA, NIST, and International regulatory requirements. Leo provides strategic advice as well as practical expertise in information security, compliance, and risk management.

Andrea Sorensen is the founder and CEO of Liiingo, which powers an innovative, patented platform for businesses to more effectively communicate with their customers. As a CEO, Process Engineer, and Program Manager, Andrea has successfully managed and implemented hundreds of projects improving communication tools and processes for public and private organizations. She has a Master’s degree in Organizational Communication and a blackbelt in Taekwondo. Both have proven invaluable in launching and leading an innovative technology company.

Born in Iran and raised in Germany as an asylum seeking war refugee, Tiam moved to Boise in 2000 and lives there with his wife and two children. Tiam received both a bachelor of International Business and an Executive MBA from Boise State University. He has wide-ranging experience in Sales, Marketing, Product Development and Program Management, Mergers & Acquisitions with Boise startups and high-growth companies since the early 2000’s. As the Executive Director of Trailhead, Boise's non-profit hub for entrepreneurship and startup incubation, he also co-chairs Boise Entrepreneur Week. Tiam earned the Idaho Business Review's 2021 CEO of Influence Award, and was ranked 2nd in the Idaho Business Review's Power 25: Startup Edition and was awarded with the 40 Under 40 Award in 2022.