Boise Metro Chamber Awards AGC CEO Wayne Hammon Government Advocate of the Year Award

Wayne Hammon

June 5, 2023

Boise Metro Chamber Announces Hall of Fame Honoree, Government Advocate of the Year and Winners of Small Business of the Year and Chamber Excellence Awards

BOISE, ID – The Boise Metro Chamber, the only five-star accredited Chamber in Idaho, held its annual Small Business of the Year and Chamber Excellence Awards Luncheon on Monday, June 5th, at Boise Centre West. Seven organizations and two individuals received prestigious awards.

Three finalists in each of seven categories received recognition at the year's luncheon. The five industry award categories include: financial services, food and agriculture, healthcare, nonprofit, and travel. Two additional awards were given: Small Business of the Year and Medium-Sized Business of the Year.

Finalists for each category included:

  • Financial Services Industry Award: D.L. Evans Bank, Idaho First Bank, Washington Trust Bank

Financial Services Industry Award winner: Washington Trust Bank

  • Food and Agriculture Industry Award: CS Beef Packers, FARE Idaho, Weiser Classic Candy

Food and Agriculture Industry Award winner: CS Beef Packers

  • Healthcare Industry Award: Boise Health Haus, Peak Chiropractic, RescueStat

Healthcare Industry Award winner: RescueStat

  • Nonprofit Excellence Award: Building Hope Today, Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children, NW Association for Blind Athletes

Nonprofit Excellence Award winner: Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children

  • Travel Industry Award: The Arid Club, Enterprise Holdings, Skål International Boise

Travel Industry Award winner: Skål International Boise

  • Small Business of the Year: Chillow, The Flicks, International Minute Press

Small Business of the Year winner: The Flicks

  • Medium-Sized Business of the Year: Allied Business Solutions, Graeber & Company, Hayden Homes

Medium-Sized Business of the Year winner: Allied Business Solutions

In addition to the awards to these outstanding organizations, the Boise Metro Chamber names a “Government Advocate of the Year” and a “Hall of Fame Award Recipient” each year.

"Wayne Hammon, CEO of Idaho Associated General Contractors was selected as the 2023 Government Advocate of the Year. Hammon has been a trusted adviser to elected officials and senior executives at various levels of government on a wide range of substantive policy issues. “Wayne has been an institution in Idaho politics for years,” said Bill Connors, Boise Metro Chamber President and CEO. “As a member of the Chamber's Board of Advisors, he has been a go-to on transportation issues for the Chamber, political leaders, and the construction industry. His support of our transportation expansion efforts makes him a natural for this award.”

The Boise Metro Chamber previously honored Kelley Packer, of the Association of Idaho Cities, in 2022 with the Government Advocate of the Year Award, and Bruce Newcomb, former Speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives, in 2021.

The 2023 Hall of Fame Award recipient, Kent Oram, served as Idaho Central Credit Union’s CEO from 2007 through his retirement in 2022. “Kent has not only been a supportive member of the Boise Metro Chamber Board of Directors, but he built his institution into one of the largest in Idaho and one of the most philanthropic enterprises in the state,” said Connors. “He joins an elite group of people who have made our organization and our state more resilient than ever.”

In 2022, the Boise Metro Chamber inducted Charlene Maher, former President and CEO of Blue Cross of Idaho, into its Hall of Fame. Dr. Bert Glandon, former President of the College of Western Idaho, received the same honor in 2021.

The Small Business of the Year and Chamber Excellence Awards was made possible by the support of presenting sponsors: Meta and Delta Air Lines; sponsors: Bank of Idaho, Boise Centre and St. Luke’s; airline sponsor: Southwest Airlines; and co-sponsors: Horizon Credit Union, Idaho Small Business Development Center, Regence, Stability Networks and Verizon. The Boise Metro Chamber wishes to thank these generous sponsors and media partner: Idaho Business Review.

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About the Boise Metro Chamber: Established in 1883, the Boise Metro Chamber is the only five-star accredited Chamber of Commerce in Idaho and strives to be the leading business advocacy organization in the Boise Valley. The Boise Metro Chamber is a private, nonprofit, membership-driven organization comprised of approximately 1,900 business enterprises, civic organizations, education institutions, and individuals. Its mission is to provide leadership that will help create regional economic prosperity and success for its members.