Icon Credit Union breaks ground on new branch
BOISE — Icon Credit Union is held a ground breaking on its Ten Mile Branch which will be located on Ten Mile Road, near the McMillan intersection.
The new branch will be full-service, offering “drive-thru access” and a 24-hour ATM, according to a news release. Included with the branch is an 800 square-foot community room which will be available for local area credit union members, businesses, employers and nonprofit organizations to use for meetings and trainings.
Opening for the Ten Mile Branch is slated for October. It will be the eighth branch for Icon Credit Union, which has been serving the Treasure Valley and La Grande, Oregon since 1952.
Owner of home inspection company lauded at real estate awards banquet
BOISE — Greg Henke, owner of Pillar To Post Home Inspectors of South Idaho, was named “Affiliate of the Year” by the Boise Regional Realtor Association at its annual awards gala on March 8.
Henke received the award for his association involvement, community outreach and charitable activities, said a press release.
Henke and his team have been serving southwest Idaho 2013. His prior background was in environmental health safety, security in the semiconductor industry and building design and equipment facilitation.
Local networking chapter hosts “Women’s Success Summit”
BOISE — The Treasure Valley chapter of eWomenNetwork is hosting a Women’s Success Summit at the Arid Club in Boise on Tuesday, April 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m, according to a press release about the event. The Summit features keynote speaker Sandra Yancey, and presenter Pamela Starr from the Grow with Google program.
Sandra Yancey is a best-selling author, entrepreneur and award-winning entrepreneur. She is a business and life transformation expert for the Emmy award-winning TV show “The Doctors,” a CNN “American Hero,” and a movie producer. Yancey has a 20-year legacy of inspiring women and guiding them on a path to breakthrough. She has a business formula she will share with summit attendees called “Grow B.I.G. Through Influence.”
Yancey is also the founder and CEO of eWomenNetwork, a women’s business community in North America with over 500,000 women entrepreneurs connected through 118 chapters spread across the U.S. and Canada. Boise is one of only a few select cities to be selected to host the one-day summit event.
“None of us makes it alone,” said Ari Carlson, managing director of the Treasure Valley Chapter of eWomenNetwork, “which is why women and men from all over the state are attending this event — today’s successful entrepreneurs know that cultivating authentic relationships are key to their success. The fact is, integrity, believability and authenticity aren’t something you harness in social media,” Carlson said. “All the significant and important events in your life happen as a result of face-to-face engagement.”
Lou Russell, owner of Ruby Lou Clothing Boutique in downtown Boise, said the network is beneficial to business.
“What makes EWomensNetwork unique is the meaningful connections with other female entrepreneurs,” said Russell. “The members are genuinely interested in each other’s success. I have received more business from this organization than any other I have been involved with in my 15 years.”
Google presenter Pamela Starr will be on hand to provide attendees with actionable strategies for growing their businesses with Google tools. She will discuss how businesses of all sizes can promote their online presence using a business profile on Google, search engine optimization and online advertising.
An accomplished leader, trainer and keynote speaker, Starr has trained, coached and motivated more than 80,000 professionals in more than 500 training sessions and keynote presentations.
The event is slated for April 16 at The Arid Club in Boise. Registration (tickets are $59 for members to $109 for late registration/non-members) is open to all and includes lunch at the event. To learn more about the organization or to register for the event, visit the website: ewomennetwork.com.
Zions Bank Seminar on research & development tax credits
BOISE — Entrepreneurs and business owners are invited to attend a special seminar, Research & Development Tax Credits: Your Business Advantage, organized by Zions Bank and Strategic Tax Solutions, according to a press release about the event.
The event runs from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, on the 17th floor of Zions Bank’s Idaho headquarters at 800 W. Main St. in downtown Boise. The seminar is free to attend, but attendees must register by emailing [email protected].
This seminar will explain how to use the tax credit to recoup research and development costs and realize permanent tax savings.
“Innovation is one of the most powerful competitive advantages,” said Karen Appelgren, director of Zions Bank’s Business Resource Center. “We’re excited to help our business community understand how to leverage the R&D tax credit and stay relevant in the face of increased competition.”
The seminar will feature guest presenter Smith Miller, president and CEO of Strategic Tax Solutions who specializes in federal and state tax credits and incentives.
“The R&D tax credit is often overlooked, but it’s usually the most fun tax conversation a business can have,” said Smith. “Many of my clients are surprised to learn how their regular business activities qualifies them to save thousands of dollars through the tax credit.”
Fraud prevention leader Kount announces new global headquarters as company expands
Boise — Kount, a leading fraud prevention solution, announced it has moved its global headquarters to downtown Boise at 1005 W. Main St. The move allows Kount to “continue its rapid expansion,” the release said. The company is now employing and hiring more than 160 people, protecting digital innovation for 6,500 companies and reviewing transactions across more than 180 countries and territories daily.
The digital commerce fraud prevention company will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, April 4 featuring Idaho Governor Brad Little, Idaho Department of Commerce director Tom Kealey and Kount founding CEO Brad Wiskirchen.
The “Kount Building” sits on the corner of 10th and Main Streets and allows room for the company to double its headcount. Kount leases the building from Ketchum-based Sawtooth Development Group and has been remodeling the space for more than a year, including building a fifth floor. Wiskirchen’s vision for the building was a high-tech collaboration space that both incorporates the aged concrete of the 108-year old building and showcases modern features. The company occupies the second floor and above, while new restaurants, a bodega, and a hair salon occupy the first level.
“Our new global headquarters is in an ideal location to help Kount attract premier talent, provide our team access to exceptional amenities and continue our unmatched service to customers and partners,” Wiskirchen said. “Kount is a global company founded in Boise and we are looking forward to being a part of the downtown neighborhood.”
Gov. Brad Little said: “Kount is a homegrown Idaho company, and we are proud to cheer them on as they continue down a path of expansion. Companies like Kount are creating jobs and demonstrating that Idaho is a place where innovation thrives. Together we are making Idaho the place our children and grandchildren want to stay.”
The need for a new headquarters was prompted by Kount’s growth over the past 12 years, outgrowing its previous home on Lusk Street. Kount is the only fraud-prevention solution created out of necessity, as the original technologies were created to combat digital commerce fraud at Boise-based company ClickBank. ClickBank founder Timothy Barber patented multi-layer device fingerprinting, the first of 29 patents to follow for Kount. In 2007, Barber, Wiskirchen, and team founded Kount. In 2016, it received an $80 million investment from CVC Capital Partners.