Distinguished Under 40
The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce (GIFCC) has announced the 2023 Distinguished Under 40 honorees. Distinguished Under 40 is an annual awards program exclusive to East Idaho. It honors 12 young professionals who have gone above and beyond to accomplish great things in their careers, community and education. To be considered for this award, young professionals are nominated by co-workers, managers and business associates. Winners are selected by a panel of GIFCC past and present members.
The 2023 honorees are: Annika Frandsen, Ashley Webb, Braden Jenkins, Brock Pence, David Pace, Gray Augustus, Kelsey Salsbery, Jessica Livesay, Joe Anderson, Michael Kirkham, Pamela Gorman and Steven Foster.
Annika Frandsen
With over ten years of experience in the events field, Annika has dedicated her career to crafting unforgettable moments. Armed with a bachelor's degree in recreation management, specializing in special events, she embarked on this journey with the City of Provo's Special Events Team.
Annika's passion for creating magical experiences led her to LaBelle Lake in Idaho, where she honed her skills, particularly in weddings and special events. In 2019, she brought her expertise to The Ice Palace, where she'd assisted over 70,000 guests just this past year. During her tenure, the Ice Palace has expanded to its second location in Minnesota, exploring new horizons in the field of event management. While her aspirations extend beyond ice and snow, Annika is determined to make The Ice Palace an accessible experience for all, among many other lofty goals she's set her sights on.
Annika finds solace in hiking, fishing, and expressing her creativity through painting when she's not orchestrating dream events. Currently, she's on the cusp of an exciting new chapter in her life, as she's expecting her first child. It's a prospect that fills her with joy and anticipation. Idaho Falls has captured Annika's heart with its vibrant community spirit and a blend of outdoor adventures and urban entertainment. It's a place where she's built her career and found a home where she can balance work and play harmoniously.
Ashley Webb
Ashley Webb arrived in Idaho Falls in 2017 with her husband,Luke and their children Brooklyn, Aubrey, Cameron and Bailey. That year the home they designed was featured in the Parade of Homes and from there Ashley Webb Interiors was born. From multiple Parade of Homes awards, to winning Best of Idaho twice, the business has grown to offer design services to hundreds of people in the area.
AWI has been a success largely because of the team of incredible designers, drafters, and decorators who share their amazing talents. In 2022, Ashley and her business partner, Meggan Mitchell, opened a retail store called The Black Brick Co. They knew when creating it they wanted to find a way to give back to the community and use it to help bless others’ lives. Last Christmas, the two companies were able to raise enough to donate a new home to a family in Ukraine that lost their house during a bombing. When she’s not designing, Ashley can be found dreaming about designing, and when she’s not doing that, she can be found spending time with her family.
Her favorite activity is cheering her kids on at their various sporting events, and her least favorite activity is running (even though she completed her second half marathon earlier this month). While the last few years have been a dream come true through her various business accomplishments, Ashley is well aware that her most influential role is as a wife and mother.
Braden Jenkins
Braden Jenkins was born and raised in Idaho Falls, where he grew to love the outdoors and athletics, especially football, where he went on to play briefly at Snow College in central Utah. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology from Utah State University and his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree from Kent State University’s College of Podiatric Medicine. While working towards a medical career, Dr. Jenkins also served 10 years in the Idaho Army National Guard, completing a one-year deployment to Iraq.
He completed his three-year surgical residency at Intermountain Medical Center in Utah and the Salt Lake City VA Hospital. During his training, Dr. Jenkins developed a passion for treating active patients and high-level athletes from Utah State University, Utah Valley University, and Brigham Young University. He enjoys all facets of foot and ankle care, and his main goal is to keep patients active and healthy by creating specific, individualized plans so they can return to full activity as soon as possible. Dr. Jenkins is Board Qualified with the American Board of Foot & Ankle Surgery and is a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.
In his spare time, Dr. Jenkins enjoys spending time with his family. He has four children that keep him and his wife, Kyler, extra busy. He loves coaching his son in football, watching football, and talking about football. His other hobbies include weightlifting, snowboarding and spending time in Island Park.
Brock Pence
Brock Pence is the community development officer at Idaho Central Credit Union. In the last 30 years, Brock has gained extensive knowledge through various careers and life experiences.
Brock started working at a young age at Jefferson Hills Golf Course when he was 12, and then a few years later, he served a two-year mission in Fiji, serving and teaching people in the Fijian language. After his mission, he received his bachelor’s degree in business management from BYU-I and started working as a door-to-door sales representative for Vivint. After a year of Vivint, he decided to use his learned sales skills and went to work for Verizon for four and a half years. He soon realized he wanted to pursue a career that impacted the community and allowed him more time with his family, so he landed his current position at ICCU.
Brock enjoys going to work every day because he is constantly building relationships, meeting new people, and genuinely making a difference in the Greater Idaho Falls community. He serves on the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and has a position as the co-chair of the program and events committee, is a co-chair for the Chamber Ambassadors, is a member of the Idaho Falls Rotary Club and the Shelley Kiwanis Club, and still makes time to golf, go hunting, and spend time with his two kids. Brock is extremely grateful to have his ICCU teammates here to support him and his loving family.
David Pace
David Pace is the senior reporter for the Post Register. He covers local politics, education, Idaho National Laboratory and community events in Idaho Falls.
David has three sisters and six nieces and nephews. A native of Idaho Falls, he graduated from Idaho Falls High School in 2007. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves as an Administrative Specialist in the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance, 4th Marine Division from 2012 to 2017. He was also awarded the Army Achievement Medal while serving as an Arabic Cryptologiclinguist in the Utah National Guard.
David graduated from Brigham Young University in 2017 with a B.A. in Communications, Public Relations emphasis, and a double minor in Middle East Studies and Business Management. He studied at Saïd Business School at Oxford University, participating in the Oxford Seminar on Social Innovation, Responsible Entrepreneurship & Ethical Leadership in 2014 and returning for the Oxford Conference on Business and Poverty in 2015 and 2019. He served a full-time mission in Rome, Italy, where he and his companion assisted the people of L’Aquila for five months following a devastating 6.3 earthquake in 2009.
He also worked as an Area Relations intern in the Public Affairs Department for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2016 to 2017, analyzing Country Newsroom sites for 80 nations in 30 languages and preparing press kits for five temple open houses in Sapporo, Japan; Philadelphia; Hartford; Fort Collins and Star Valley. David is an Eagle Scout. He interned for a U.S. Senator and founded the Wheelbarrow Corps, a nonprofit organization that provided curbside recycling in Idaho Falls.
Gray Augustus
Gray grew up in Vernal, Utah, and graduated from Uintah High School. He went to Westminster College in Salt Lake City, where running and art were his passions. He received a BA in art with a minor in economics. From there, he began a management job in the specialty running industry.
Moving to Idaho Falls in 2009, Gray continued to work in customer service and eventually continued his career in the fitness retail industry at Teton Running and Bill’s Bike and Run. While there, he developed his love for community events and coaching, which inspired a turn down a new path. He decided to become an educator, coach, and events director.
Upon beginning his teaching career in 2018, Gray simultaneously became the Marketing Manager for Teton Auto Group, where his passion for community grew the position to full-time in 2022. Gray has continued his position with Teton Auto Group, overseeing marketing for five of the group's 10 locations. He continues showing his west side pride as a Skyline High School and Eagle Rock Middle School coach. Gray loves to run and enjoys almost any sporting event with friendly competition. Painting continues to be a hobby and something he loves integrating into many of the programs he is involved with.
Gray married the love of his life, his wonderful wife and Idaho Falls homegrown girl, Kari Barlow, in 2007. He is a proud father of two girls, Jovie, age 11, and Margot, age 7. Gray enjoys being part of the Idaho Falls community and seeks ways to help continue its growth and success wherever possible. As a member of the Rotary of Idaho Falls Board and the Zoological Society Board, he can support two of the many organizations that make this community a true hidden gem of the state.
He participates in many community events and can help support many fantastic organizations due to the incredible community giveback mindset of his employer, Teton Auto Group.
Jessica Livesay
Jessica Livesay was born and raised in Idaho Falls. She attended the University of Colorado to pursue her bachelor's in arts. After returning to Idaho Falls, she began an internship with The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho and after a few months, joined the team as an administrative assistant. Thirteen years later, she is now the Business Manager, but is still able to utilize her degree in a number of ways.
Some of her favorite aspects of her job include organizing and constructing exhibits and building relationships with her fellow artists in our growing community. Livesay is grateful to be such an integral figure in our arts community and to be able to provide amazing opportunities for all types of creatives here in Idaho Falls and the surrounding areas.
Aside from her career, she enjoys powerlifting and being home with her three kids and husband. She would like to get back to her artistic roots and is hopeful she will be able to begin again soon.
Joe Anderson
An Idaho Falls native, Joe has always wanted to dig into his roots. From reading Paul Menser's Business Buzz in the Post Register to his Grandpa “Marv the Barber” on the Ammon City Council, Joe has Idaho Falls in his blood. After graduating from Hillcrest High School, he studied Business Management at BYU-Idaho. He then served a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Manchester, England. Joe then pursued his Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Master’s in Business Administration from Western Governors University. Joe has been in sales ever since.
Joe was a District Manager for Avon, which took him away from Idaho. Downsizing happened, and a former boss told him to go to Teton Toyota. Joe came back to Idaho and started on the sales floor. Then he had the opportunity to go into Finance and currently is a Sales Manager with Teton. When he isn't found at Teton, he teaches Sales and Customer Relations at his alma mater, BYU-I, and recently celebrated 20 semesters teaching. Joe was a part of the Chamber Leadership class in 2022.
Joe has a love of sports, especially basketball, and was able to be a content creator for Locked on Jazz in 2013-2015. In 2008, he achieved the Million Dollar Club award with Qwest. He married Ashley Anderson in 2005 and has two children: Hunter and Ellie. They enjoy riding ATVs in the mountains, kayaking on the lake, and watching movies.
Kelsey Salsbery
There is nothing Kelsey Salsbery loves more than creating memories for others and this has been a constant theme with her career path over the past 20 years. Getting back to her marketing and venue management roots, Kelsey is now the Director of Marketing for the Mountain America Center, Hero Arena, and Blue Cross of Idaho Conference Center. She has helped bring more than 33 successful and sold-out concerts and events to Idaho Falls in less than a year.
Born and raised in northern California, Kelsey graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Sports Management from Gonzaga University in 2006. Upon graduating, she became the Marketing Manager for Spokane Arena and fell in love with the live entertainment industry. She moved with her husband to Idaho Falls in 2008 and worked as the Marketing Director for the Museum of Idaho. While there, she helped bring high caliber exhibits to town, while bringing memories to locals and tourists alike. Kelsey shifted her focus to work in the financial industry for the next 10 years at Teton Wealth Management, but then had the desire to get back to her venue management aspirations once the new Mountain America Center was slated to open in 2022.
Kelsey has also served on the board of Eastern Idaho Down Syndrome Family Connect, while also volunteering as Race Director for the Dash For Down Syndrome race, growing this event into one of the largest fundraiser charity races in the state. In her free time, Kelsey loves cooking for others, eating for herself, cheering for her two kids as they play their favorite sports, and attempting to golf with her husband.
Michael Kirkham
Michael Kirkham is the Assistant City Attorney for Idaho the City of Idaho Falls. Mike joined the City in 2014. Prior to working for the City, Mike worked as a creditor’s rights bankruptcy attorney and a judicial clerk. In his role at the City, Mike provides general legal advice to the elected officials and various departments of the City and has represented the City both in court, including the Idaho Supreme Court, and various regulatory bodies, including the Surface Transportation Board.
Mike is a former president of the Idaho Municipal Attorneys Association and currently serves on their board. The association has recognized Mike as an expert in municipal and government law. One of Mike’s favorite things about his job is that he feels like Idaho Falls is a great place to live and work and he gets to play a small role in the community effort to keep it that way. As his career continues, Mike hopes to continue to provide advice and support to local government entities.
Mike is married to Dr. Jill Kirkham who is a full-time professor at the College of Eastern Idaho. Mike and Jill have three children. Mike enjoys snowboarding with his children; cooking, baking, homebrew soda making, and cheese-making; and tinkering on home improvement projects with Jill. Mike enjoys learning new things and is especially curious about history, new technology, astronomy, and the law.
Pamela Gorman
Pamela Gorman is the Treasurer, Social Media Manager for Phoenix QRF, and Assistant Coordinator for Toys For Tots Idaho Falls. She has been married for 21 years and has four kids aged 21 to 7. She has worked in multiple fields since she was 12 and started with Volunteering for Providence Hospital in Everett, Wash.
She helped her parents move to Idaho Falls in 2006 and fell in love with the small town and its friendly people. She and her husband felt like it was the perfect place to raise their kids, so they moved here immediately. She has spent multiple years working for Bonneville Joint School District #93 as a Pparaeducator. She then worked for seven years at QalTek Associates in multiple positions.
When Covid hit, she went to be a stay-at-home mom to homeschool her children and focus her efforts on the community. Her husband is an Army veteran, and veterans hold a special place in her heart. So when she found Phoenix QRF's “Veterans Helping Veterans,” she fell in love with the mission to help local veterans. She has been working with them since 2020 and volunteering with Toys For Tots, and is honored to become Assistant Coordinator this year. She enjoys camping, crafting, and shopping with her friends and family in her spare time.
Steven Foster
Steven is the Chief Marketing Officer at Frontier Credit Union. He has a lengthy background in high-growth companies, technology startups and not-for-profits. He has been an integral part of multiple billion-dollar valuations and exits. He is also the host of Idaho’s top business podcast – DRGN SLYR (Dragon Slayer).
He currently serves on the board of directors at the Frontier Foundation, where he is involved in caring for needy children across the state. He recently led Frontier Credit Union through an award-winning rebrand and is a decorated executive across multiple states.
In his spare time, Steven likes to ride and train horses, chase cattle, keep bees and be a husband and father to his five children.