Boise February 2025 Speakers

Carolyn Holly has been our conference Emcee from the very first day in 1999!

Carolyn Holly enjoyed a 33-year career at Idaho’s #1 TV station, KTVB. She became one of Idaho’s most experienced and best-known television personalities through her sincere approach to news and her community. Carolyn is thrilled to be the current Vice President of Development for Idaho Business for Education. Carolyn is also highly involved in community work through FACES of Hope, FUNDSY, the Boise Police Chief’s Citizen Advisory Group and Idaho Youth Sports Commission.

Patricia (Patti) Perkins – Director, Idaho Department of Finance

 

Patricia (Patti) Perkins joined the Idaho Department of Finance as Director in January 2020.

 

Over thirty years of her career was spent in commercial banking in both California and Idaho where she held HR roles in addition to working as a private banking relationship officer, and SVP, head of retail banking. Since 1993, Patti worked for both Bank of America and KeyBank in Idaho.

 

Just prior to joining the department, she worked in her own HR workplace consulting practice, Calyx-Weaver & Associates, purchased in 2016. Patti served as the City of Meridian’s HR Director and as a Human Resources Director for T-Mobile between 2004 and 2016.

 

The Idaho Department of Finance has 75 employees in three bureaus that oversee and supervise a broad range of financial services in Idaho in addition to banks and credit unions. Patti serves on committees and the board for the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (NASCUS) and the Conference for State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) to support and strengthen the dual financial institutions chartering system (state and federal charters). She is active in various community events and will be the honorary Chairwoman of the 2025 Savvy Women & Money Conference in Boise.

 

Patti lives on a golf course in Boise with her husband Jerry and two dogs (Kona & Lottie). In her limited free time, she continues to work in HR consulting but also finds time for hobbies that include golf, bocce, cooking, and she has recently taken up oil painting.

 

When Patti can get away, her favorite place to go is someplace warm with an ocean that for the past 4 years has been Mazatlan, Mexico.

Nicole is well-known as a catalyst for financial innovation and regarded as a brilliant change agent and unwavering positive force in the industry. She is a “leader builder” throughout organizations with a distinctive power to move mountains and change lives. As a visionary and an architect of momentum, Nicole leverages past accomplishments to fuel future innovation. Her “live on purpose, lead with intention” philosophy and dedication inspire others to see their greatness and bring that level of engagement every single day. 

Known for her paramount presentation style, Nicole has a unique ability to connect with audiences of all sizes on a deep and personal level. She has become renowned for her ability to inspire, motivate, and transform individuals and organizations alike.

Her captivating storytelling, wit, and powerful insights have earned her a reputation as one of the most sought-after speakers, leaving audiences spellbound, inspired, and feeling empowered and ready to take on the world.

Nicole brings over 20 years of experience at the Chief, Executive, and Senior Vice President levels with financial organizations such as Columbia Bank (now Umpqua Bank), Zions Bank, Numerica Credit Union, and AmericanWest Bank. Her expertise ranges from Retail and Digital Banking, Commercial and Business Banking, to Wealth Management and Financial Services, Corporate

Marketing and Communications, DEIBA and Community Impact & Philanthropy.  Additionally, Nicole has led through 10 successful mergers and acquisitions throughout her career. Nicole holds a bachelor’s degree, MBA and since 2003 has been a top-rated faculty member at Pacific Coast Banking School (PCBS) at University of Washington, Foster School of Business. This

year Nicole was named “2023 Instructor of the Year”.

Cindy Suffa is the publisher of the Idaho Business Review, a position she has held since 2018. Suffa began her career in B2B sales. In 2004 she joined the Idaho Business Review as an Account Executive and was promoted to Publisher in 2018. With over 30 years of sales and marketing experience, she enjoys the fast-paced media industry and the ability to build long-lasting relationships with leaders in the Idaho business community.  Suffa has strong leadership skills and enjoys solving problems. Suffa is a member of the International Women's Forum.  

 

Suffa was raised in Idaho’s Magic Valley and moved to Boise to attend Boise State University in 1988. 

 

Suffa lives in Boise with her husband of 32 years and has one grown daughter. In her spare time, you’ll find her doing the things she loves such as traveling, hiking, visiting wineries or bike riding on the beautiful Boise Greenbelt.  

Mellisa Paul is a Boise native and award-winning broadcast professional with over 20 years of experience, spanning roles as a TV host, news anchor, meteorologist, reporter, radio DJ and television manager. She is excited to return to her home town in a first-of-its-kind role at KTVB! 

 

Mellisa serves a dual role as KTVB’s market development specialist and on-air as KTVB's lifestyle TV host. She also hosts KTVB's Keepin it Local series. 

 

Mellisa began blazing trails as the first full-time female radio personality at KQXR in Boise at the age of 19 and eventually found herself on camera in Boise as a meteorologist and morning news anchor. In 2010, Mellisa joined KXTV in Sacramento as a member of the weather team, forecasting for both the morning and midday newscasts. In 2012, she became the host of KXTV’s lifestyle talk show, Sac & Co, and held the dual roles of both host and community liaison for the station, spearheading station initiatives and campaigns and helping raise nearly $33 million dollars for diverse philanthropic efforts, organizations and non-profits.

 

As a TV host, some of Mellisa’s highlights include taping while dangling from the side of the world’s tallest artificial climbing wall, snorkeling at Aulani Disney Resort and Spa in Hawaii, chatting with filmmaker John Lasseter at the opening of Disney’s Carsland, covering the opening of Disneyland Resorts Star Wars Galaxies Edge with Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and George Lucas, practicing martial arts with blockbuster actor Michael Rooker, sharing a glass of wine with history-making director Greta Gerwig, singing some jazz and blues with comedian Tommy Davidson, discussing hamburgers with rising country duo Smith Field and giving cough drops to the Goo-Goo Dolls.

 

Mellisa has been recognized by both the broadcast and public relations industry, receiving two Emmy Awards, multiple Idaho Press Club awards, named one of Idaho’s Accomplished and Under Forty by the Idaho Business Review, honored by The National Association of Women Business Owners Sacramento with an Outstanding Women Lead ‘Spotlight’ award, as well as many other PR and broadcast news honors.

 

Mellisa graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and received her certification in Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University. Mellisa also attended the Oxford School of Drama in Oxford, England where she specialized in Shakespearian Acting. She also represented the state of Idaho at the 2000 Miss America pageant.

 

She happily resides in Boise with her charming husband, two rambunctious daughters and a couple of ridiculously cute Boston Terriers.

Born and raised in Boise, ID., Phil has deep roots in his community. After high school, Phil traveled to the east coast to attend college. Phil received his degree at Yale University, then returned home to Boise, ID. to start his career as a Financial Advisor. Phil specializes in researching, developing, and actively managing investment portfolios designed to address ever-changing market conditions. Phil has provided advice to high-net-worth clients, business owners, and executives for over 20 years.

Phil works side by side with his wife and business partner, Dini. Together they have built an Investment Firm that strives to educate and bring more financial prosperity to youth.

They love to travel, camp, fish, and explore in their spare moments. Together they have raised two kind, successful young men, and are fortunate to have an exceptional daughter-in-law.