Meet Our Judges
Matt Borud
Matt Borud is the marketing and innovation administrator at Idaho Commerce. His role focuses on unifying the department's communication, marketing, and innovation initiatives through programs like the Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission (IGEM) grant program, Idaho Tourism, and Idaho Commerce’s marketing program.
Before joining Idaho Commerce, Borud worked for Boise-based software company Balihoo, where he focused on business development and client services. Prior to Balihoo, Borud led recruiting services for Payette Group, an executive technical recruiting firm with offices in Boise and Menlo Park, CA. He began his career in sales operations at MPC Computers in Nampa.
Borud has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, Business Administration, and German Studies from the University of Oregon. He, his wife Gina and daughter Remy live in Boise.
Lance W. Clow
Lance W. Clow is an Idaho State Representative for District 24.
(View Idaho Legislature Profile)
Linda Copple Trout
Linda Copple Trout is a retired Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court who continues to serve the Idaho courts in the capacity of Senior Judge.
Justice Trout graduated in 1973 from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and in 1977 received a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Idaho College of Law. She was engaged in the private practice of law for six years in Lewiston, ID and in 1983 was appointed to the position of Magistrate Judge. In 1990, she was elected to the position of District Judge in Idaho’s Second Judicial District and two years later, she was appointed by Governor Cecil Andrus to be the first woman justice on the Idaho Supreme Court. She was elected by the Supreme Court to the position of Chief Justice and served two consecutive terms from 1997 to 2004. After retiring in 2007, Justice Trout was appointed by the Supreme Court to serve as the Interim Administrative Director of the Courts from 2014-2016.
She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Blue Cross of Idaho and for the University of Idaho Foundation and is a commissioner on the Idaho Public Defense Commission and the Governor’s Medal of Achievement Commission.
Rod Gramer
Rod Gramer is president of Idaho Business for Education, a group of business leaders working to help transform the Idaho education system into one of the best in the country.
Gramer spent 38 years working as a reporter, newspaper editor and television news executive, including working for The Idaho Statesman as political editor, editorial page editor and columnist; as executive news director at KTVB in Boise; as executive news director at the NBC station in Portland, Oregon; and as vice president and general manager of Bay News 9 in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Gramer is the author of two books and numerous articles published in The New Republic, USA Today, Changes magazine, and newspapers throughout Idaho.
He has served on various community boards, including as a founding director of the City Club of Boise, the Discovery Center of Idaho, the Frank Church Institute at Boise State University and the advisory board for the School of Journalism and Mass Media at the University of Idaho. Gramer also chairs the WWAMI Advisory Committee for the U of I’s medical program and serves on the U of I Foundation. Two years ago, Gov. Butch Otter appointed Gramer to serve Idaho on the Education Commission of the States.
Gramer is an Idaho native and graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in Journalism and History.
Angela Hemingway
Angela Hemingway received her doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Boise State University, a master's degree focusing on microbiology, a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry, and a teaching certificate in science. She spent 14 years in high school and college STEM classrooms inspiring students to participate in science competitions and community service events.
She transitioned to the State Department of Education where she served as Assessment and Accountability Director. In August 2015, Governor Otter appointed her the Executive Director for his newly formed Idaho STEM Action Center where she oversees a variety of STEM opportunities, ensuring Idaho’s long-term economic prosperity. Hemingway was reappointed in 2019 by Governor Little.
David Hill
David Hill is a member of the State Board of Education, Chair of the Stem Action Center Board and Chair of the Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission (IGEM) Council for the State of Idaho. In addition, he is a director of both Terrestrial Energy Inc. and Terrestrial Energy USA, innovative small reactor companies. He also serves on the Board of the Friends of Idaho Public Television. Hill held the position of Deputy for Science and Technology at Idaho National Laboratory from November 2005 to December 2012 where he directed all Science and Technology programs for a Laboratory with an overall budget of about 1B$.
He has a BSc (1st Class) in Mathematics and a Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematical Physics from Imperial College, London University, and an MBA from the Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago.
Charity Nelson
Charity Nelson, Director of Economic Development at the Boise Valley Economic Partnership, leads business attraction projects, providing site selectors and companies vetting our region with the crucial data and context they seek. She also serves as an advocate for local businesses who have talent attraction and acquisition needs.
Prior to joining BVEP, Nelson spent 10+ years in Human Resources at Micron Technology, Inc. Her tenure at Micron included roles in recruiting, organizational effectiveness and talent acquisition strategy. She has experience in both domestic and global talent acquisition with skill sets ranging from manufacturing to specialized engineering.
Nelson is dedicated to improving her community, empowering people and improving organizations. She sits on the Board of Directors for Girls on the Run and participates on several advisory boards. She also participates in formal and informal mentoring programs for professionals in the Valley. She was raised in Idaho, graduating from Meridian High School. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Communication and a Master of Arts degree in Communication both from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
