Advisory Board

Emily is a fifth generation Idahoan, an attorney and lobbyist and granddaughter of Jim and Louise McClure. In 2015, she founded McClure Policy LLC, with a focus on state-level natural resources, business, education and health care policy. Before that, Emily worked for five years as a lobbyist and attorney at Givens Pursley in Boise, clerked for Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Stephen Trott, and externed for federal district Judge Edward Lodge and at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. Prior to law school, Emily served as a legislative assistant to Senator Mike Crapo in Washington, D.C.

Emily credits the lively discussions with her parents and grandparents around the family dining table with instilling a passion for public policy and teaching her that there's always more than one “right” side to every debate.

Emily and her husband, Trevor, have three young children who keep them laughing. In addition to serving on the advisory board for the James A. and Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research, Emily also sits on the boards of Education for All and Cathedral of the Rockies - Boise First United Methodist Church.

Cherie Buckner-Webb, a fifth generation Idahoan, chose to effect change in a new arena by running for public office in 2010. She was elected to the Idaho legislature and served for ten years until her retirement; two years in the Idaho House of Representatives and eight years in the Idaho Senate. Cherie was the first African American to elected to serve in the Idaho legislature. Her message in the Statehouse reflects the same collaborative and visionary goals she emphasizes in the entirety of her life and work.

Cherie is the founder and principal of Sojourner Coaching, a consultancy focused on organizational development and executive coaching. Her professional background includes positions in banking, business management, social work, timber and wood products operations, sales and marketing, human resources, diversity and inclusion, e-commerce, organizational and leadership development, human resources and operations. In addition, Cherie is a talented vocalist who shares the gift of song internationally, an author and frequent contributor to local publications.

Cherie’s credo, “leave a legacy,” underscores her work in every area of activity and to that end she donates countless hours to a variety of community organizations. Cherie is a founding member of the Idaho Black History Museum, and she serves on the boards of the Andrus Center for Public Policy, Wassmuth Center, Women and Children’s Alliance, College of Western Idaho and Blue Cross of Idaho Care Plus. Previously, Cherie served on the State of Idaho Mental Health Advisory Council and the boards of Planned Parenthood, St. Paul Baptist Church, Girl Scouts of the Silver Sage, Junior League of Boise, St. Luke’s Hospital’s Woman’s Forum, Idaho Commission on the Arts, Boise State Foundation and Northwest Area Foundation. 

Her leadership has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Governor’s Award in the Arts, Zion’s Bank Civic Leadership Award, Gandi-King-Ikeda Award, Idaho Historical Society Esto Perpetua Award, Idaho Business Review ICON Award, College of Idaho President’s Medallion and Cherie Buckner-Webb Park in the City of Boise.

Cherie holds a B.S. in management and organizational leadership from George Fox University and a Master of Social Work in management/community planning/social work administration from Northwest Nazarene University.  

Jeff Cilek is vice president of external/governmental relations for St. Luke’s Health System. Before joining St. Luke’s, he was vice president of The Peregrine Fund, with responsibility for fundraising, media relations and government affairs.

After graduating from the University of Iowa in 1980, Senator James A. McClure hired Jeff to help in his mailroom. After spending a few months opening letters and running “siggy” machine, McClure provided Jeff the opportunity to do some legislative work. During his nine-year tenure with McClure, Jeff served as his legislative director and as staff director of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, a subcommittee chaired by McClure.

Jeff serves as chairman of the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho and is a member of the President’s Council for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, a member of the President’s Advisory Council for Bishop Kelly High School and a member of the board of advisors for the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Jeff grew up in Twin Falls and majored in finance at the University of Iowa.

Andy Emerson is the president and owner of Material Handling Solutions, LLC, a company that designs and supplies bulk material handling equipment to global mining, cement and other industrial clients. Andy is a licensed Professional Engineer and holds a bachelor’s in civil engineering with a minor in Spanish from University of Idaho and a Master of Business Administration from Boise State University. He currently sits on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including St. Luke’s Health Foundation, Bishop Kelly High School Foundation and University of Idaho Foundation, where he recently finished his term as chair. He also serves on the Idaho Broadband Advisory Board, which is responsible for creating and overseeing a statewide broadband plan to structure, prioritize and disperse grants to fund broadband projects in unserved and underserved areas of Idaho.

While running his own businesses and working for a large multinational corporation, Andy traveled extensively to many international destinations on several continents. He is a fluent Spanish speaker and enjoys learning about and experiencing different cultures.

Andy and his wife Daniella live in Boise and have two children. In his free time, Andy enjoys tennis, golf, fly fishing, skiing and travel.

Bryant Kuechle is the executive director of The Langdon Group, Inc. (TLG), a J-U-B ENGINEERS company. In this role, Bryant specializes in convening parties, often of differing perspectives and interests, to find common ground and reach consensus on complex and controversial issues. With TLG since 2005, Bryant has managed these collaborative processes throughout the country for federal, state and local government agencies.  

In Idaho, Bryant includes state and regional offices of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy (Idaho National Lab) and Forest Service; Idaho Department of Environmental Quality; Idaho Department of Health and Welfare; Idaho Transportation Department; Idaho Department of Fish and Game and countless local governments in his client list.  

Bryant has called Moscow, Ketchum, Riggins, Lowman, Stanley and now Boise, with his wife and two children, home. In these travels recreationally, with TLG and previously with the Idaho Transportation Department, Boise National Forest and the Lewiston Morning Tribune, Bryant has visited and explored every county, corner and crevice of the state. He understands the diversity that exists in its geography, people and politics and uses that experience and insight with the McClure Center in helping fulfill opportunities for the advancement of all Idahoans.  

Bryant earned his Bachelor of Science in journalism and mass communication from University of Idaho and his Master of Arts from the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University.

Amy Lientz is the associate vice president for alumni relations at University of Idaho. She is the lead for programs and engagement, reaching 115,000 alumni located across the globe. Amy oversees a team located in Moscow, Boise and Coeur d’ Alene. In addition, she is responsible for the Alumni Higher Education Advocacy Committee, National University of Idaho Alumni Association, University of Idaho Retiree Association and alumni-business networks.  

Previously, Amy was a member of the executive leadership team at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), responsible for supply chain strategy, technology deployment, university and industry partnerships, workforce and economic development, regional affairs, communications, governmental affairs and policy. She led teams in Idaho Falls, Washington D.C. and Boise. Amy helped lead INL’s transformation to a multipurpose laboratory, growing energy research and national security interests by providing leadership in public policy; promoting and building upon INL STEM interests; leading public affairs and emergency communications; assisting in lab strategy; hosting visitors around the globe; standing up a new event center; growing partnerships with industrial clients and securing and nurturing relations with elected officials. 

Amy also held executive positions with large engineering firms, such as CH2MHill (now acquired by Jacobs Engineering), Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. Her focus was energy and industrial new project siting, with an extensive record of “never-been done-before projects.”   

When her busy schedule allows, she enjoys guest lecturing on energy policy at universities and developing and delivering curriculum for courses in industrial engineering and sustainability. When not working, you can find Amy fly fishing, skiing, rafting, hiking and golfing. 

She is currently on the Idaho Public Television board and has held board positions with The City Club of Idaho Falls, The Nature Conservancy of Idaho, Idaho Business in Education and Idaho Falls Arts Council. 

Amy holds a Bachelor of Science in environmental science from Boise State University and a Master of Science in industrial engineering technology from the College of Engineering, University of Idaho.

Luke Malek represented the Coeur d’Alene area in the Idaho Legislature from 2012 to 2018. He is partner in the law firm Smith + Malek.

Previously, Luke worked as director of legal affairs at Heritage Health, in the Office of the Governor as regional director in Northern Idaho under former Governor Jim Risch, as executive director of the Post Falls Urban Renewal Agency and as deputy prosecutor for Kootenai County.

Luke earned his B.A. at the College of Idaho in Caldwell, holds a law degree from the University of Idaho and is a member of the Idaho Bar.

He has lived in Idaho since he was nine years old and enjoys the adventure and beauty the state has to offer. He spends time fishing, hunting, skiing, hiking and mountain biking with his wife, family and friends.

Jeff Malmen assumed the roles of senior vice president of public affairs for IDACORP and Idaho Power in April 2016 after serving as vice president of public affairs for IDACORP and Idaho Power since October 2008. He joined the company in December 2007 as senior manager of governmental affairs.

Before joining Idaho Power, Jeff enjoyed a 21-year career in state and federal politics, most recently as chief of staff for Idaho Governor C. L. “Butch” Otter. He held the same position for Idaho Governor Phil Batt and was administrator of the Division of Financial Management for Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne. Jeff also served as chief of staff and in other key leadership positions for a number of Idaho congressmen and senators, both in the state and in Washington, D.C.

Jeff is a member of the board of directors for the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry and the Idaho Mining Association. He also is a member of the Center for Advanced Energy Studies Industry Advisory Board, Associated Oregon Industries and the St. Alphonsus Health System Community Leadership Council.

Jeff graduated from Boise State University and has completed graduate studies at Dartmouth College, the University of Virginia and Stanford University.

Ken McClure is an attorney and partner with Givens Pursley LLP in Boise. For the past 40 years, his practice has focused on Idaho government affairs. He represents businesses and professional associations as a counselor and lobbyist and has extensive experience with a variety of complicated public policy topics, including public utility laws, healthcare, agriculture, environmental regulatory matters, municipal policy and tax issues. Ken has taught graduate courses on lobbying and the legislative process and frequently lectures on the Idaho Legislature and the political landscape in Idaho.

Before entering private practice, Ken was an Idaho deputy attorney general, who represented the Idaho Legislature and state elected officials.

He is a 1980 graduate of the University of Idaho College of Law and serves not only on the McClure Center advisory board, but also on the College of Law Advisory Council.

Ken was raised in politics and spent his earliest years campaigning and observing the work of elected officials from a unique perspective, as a son of Jim and Louise McClure. He grew up with one foot as a child in Payette, one on the farm in Nezperce and one in Washington, D.C. (He has a unique physiology.)

He graduated with high honors in government from the College of William and Mary. This experience firmly implanted in him a belief in the value of evidence-based substantive governance and informs his views on the role of science, fact and logic in addressing political issues.

Ken was a founder and past board member of the City Club of Boise, an organization devoted to encouraging political dialogue and respect for divergent views. He is a Republican, but not a terribly good partisan.

Caroline Nilsson Troy joined the University of Idaho team in 2022 as special assistant to the president for government relations. Prior to this, she served in the Idaho House of Representatives for Latah and Benewah counties from 2014 to 2022. Over the course of her service, committee assignments included the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee, Revenue and Taxation, Health and Welfare, Agricultural Affairs and Judiciary and Rules. She also served on the Millennium Fund and Joint Legislative Oversight committees. She developed the “Distance Testimony Project” to allow Idahoans living over 100 miles from Boise to testify during House Committee hearings and co-chaired the “Respectful Workplace Taskforce,” developing policies for the Idaho Legislature.  

While working at the University of Idaho in development (1995-2007), Caroline worked with the Senator and Mrs. McClure on a number of fundraising initiatives. Their commitment to serving Idaho and Idahoans with courage, compassion, curiosity and integrity remains an inspiration to her own work. She has faithfully kept a photo of Senator McClure on her desk since 1997, as a reminder of the standards to which all Idahoans should adhere. The work of the McClure Center to further the McClure’s uniquely collaborative, thoughtful and creative approach to sound public policy will help change the landscape of politics in Idaho and beyond for the better. 

Stephen Parrott is a 2012 graduate of the University of Idaho with a degree in agribusiness. He serves as the chief financial officer at Fort Boise Produce.  

From a young age, Stephen has been active in Idaho politics and public policy. Originally from Buhl, Idaho, Stephen was involved with local politics as a child, which taught him the importance of an active and engaged electorate.  

While serving as the 2010-11 student body president for the University of Idaho, Stephen was part of in education policy discussions with the Idaho Legislature, state agencies and Idaho State Board of Education. Throughout Stephen’s year of service, he learned how important it is to have a collaborative process using bipartisan, evidence-based research to make policy decisions that can enhance the areas where we raise our families and grow our businesses. Stephen later went on to spend a summer working for U.S. Senator Jim Risch in the Washington, D.C. office.  

As an alumnus, Stephen has stayed actively involved in the University of Idaho by serving on the University of Idaho Libraries advisory board and the University of Idaho Boise advisers. Stephen is also involved in Idaho agriculture policy as a former member of Idaho Food Producers and member of the Idaho FFA Foundation Board.  

Stephen had the unique opportunity to be a student at the University of Idaho while the James A. and Louise McClure Center for Public Policy Research was being created. It was transformative to see the McClure family and Idaho’s land-grant university launch a center to provide cutting-edge public policy research to enhance public dialogue and policy in honor of Senator James A. and Louise McClure.  

Stephen and his wife Samantha reside in Nampa, Idaho. They have three children.  

Mr. Riley is the senior partner of Riley Stegner and Associates, LLC, a consulting firm providing business, government relations and public relations expertise for private and public entities primarily in the forestry and natural resources sector. Mr. Riley founded the firm in 2003. 

Riley Stegner and Associates is known for developing and advancing innovative solutions to business challenges and environmental issues associated with public and private interests. Riley Stegner has undertaken policy initiatives in Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Arizona, as well as Washington, D.C.  Strategic partnerships supported by excellent communications, both internal and external, are the core elements of Riley Stegner’s business approach. The firm has successfully advanced new legislation and policy at both the state and national levels to regulate national resource businesses. 

Prior to founding Riley Stegner, Mr. Riley served as the president and chief executive officer of the Intermountain Forest Association (IFA), headquartered in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The IFA represented western forest products business in local, state and national professional and policy forums. 

Mr. Riley currently serves on the board of directors of Mountain West Bank, a leading regional bank, headquartered in Idaho. Mr. Riley has also served on governing boards of numerous professional organizations, including founding member and trustee, Forest Industry Labor Management Committee; member, Idaho Forest Products Commission; member, University of Idaho Policy Analysis Group; executive committee, U.S. Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports; founding board member, American Forest Resources Alliance; board of directors and executive committee, American Forest Resource Council; member, Collaborative Conservation advisory board, Alliance for the West; board of directors, Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry; North Idaho advisory board, The Nature Conservancy; member, Society of American Foresters; member, National Roadless Area Conservation Advisory Committee, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture; board president, Children’s Village Foundation and director, Idaho Transportation Coalition. 

Prior to starting the IFA, Mr. Riley served as the chief executive of the Intermountain Forestry Services in Ogden, Utah and a senior program manager for the National Forest Products Association in Washington, D.C. 

Mr. Riley completed his graduate and undergraduate studies in forest management and economics at Utah State University. Mr. Riley currently resides in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where he is active in community and family activities. 

Marilyn Roach has worked in communications, from television reporting to politics to marketing, and is now retired. Her volunteer efforts are centered on education. 

Marilyn’s interest in the University of Idaho came from her family, including her parents, Jim and Louise McClure. She believes in public policy developing pragmatically based on factual evidence, created by people who hold a variety of views, as public policy decisions affect us all. She also believes that the McClure Center should be a resource for factual evidence for students, the public and policy makers and a catalyst for discussions statewide and beyond. 

She has a B.A. in government from the College of William and Mary.

A lifelong advocate for conservation, Laurel brings to her role as president and CEO of Perpetua Resources her passion and skill of bringing people together to find solutions that work for the environment and business. This dedication and her background in federal and natural resource policy guides her leadership of the Stibnite Gold Project as it moves through the regulatory process. Before her current role as CEO, Laurel served as a director on the company’s corporate board for two years.

Laurel’s expertise in federal policy comes from over two decades of working on national resource issues with Congressman Mike Simpson and Senator Mike Crapo. Through this time, she gained a sterling reputation for creating meaningful relationships and delivering results for all stakeholders, including local, state and federal agencies.

Senator McClure’s decades of leadership for Idaho in the U.S. House and Senate helped shape Laurel’s strong belief that industry and the environment can and must work together to find solutions for Idaho’s outdoors, its strong economy and its rural and urban communities. Being able to help advance Senator McClure’s work through the McClure Center is an honor for Laurel.

Along with her passion for the outdoors and natural resource policy, Laurel has spent years volunteering in the arts to provide access to the arts for everyone. For over twelve years, Laurel served as a commissioner on the Idaho Commission on the Arts while also serving on the Idaho Falls Arts Council. A highlight in Laurel’s volunteer work in the arts was the opportunity to learn and work alongside Louise McClure as she advised the Idaho Commission on the Arts. Laurel also serves on the board of Idaho Business for the Outdoors and the Idaho Shakespeare Festival.

Laurel earned an Associate in business from LDS Business College.

Laurel knows some of the best trails in the Boulder-White Clouds Wilderness and loves spending time in Idaho’s beautiful outdoors, making memories with her family.

Jeff Siddoway is a fourth generation Idaho rancher from eastern Idaho. Jeff has been active in production agriculture his entire life and has managed to serve the state of Idaho in many capacities. Jeff is a proud Vandal, having attended the University of Idaho, majoring in animal science, as well as social functions in the Beta House.

Jeff served in the Idaho Senate for twelve years and currently serves as Legislative District 31 chair. He was a commissioner for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and has served on many other state and national boards.

Jeff is married to Cindy Siddoway and they have three children and four grandchildren. In additional to the family sheep ranch, they also own Juniper Mountain Elk Ranch. The Siddoway family’s sheep business is now in its sixth generation. Cindy and Jeff are extremely proud of their rich heritage. They are pleased to see their grandchildren experience the opportunities and lessons of working in this beautiful landscape of Idaho. 

Patrick (Pat) Sullivan is a native of Weiser, Idaho. He graduated from Ontario High School in Ontario, Oregon and is a 1979 graduate of Boise State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Active in the Idaho and Washington, D.C. legislative arena for over 30 years, Patrick began his 12-year career with U.S. Senator James A. McClure in 1980, serving as a professional staff member on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and as a key advisor on legislative and political strategies for Senator McClure as his state director. Early in his career, Patrick served as an intern on the House Interior and Insular Affairs committee in Washington, D.C. and on the staff of Congressman Tom Hagedorn (Minnesota). He began his legislative career in 1977 as the student lobbyist for Boise State University and the Idaho Students Association.

Patrick’s experience has been utilized by a number of successful political campaigns in Idaho and other western states. He has counseled the campaigns of Senator Larry Craig, Senator Mike Crapo, Congressman Butch Otter, Congressman Mike Simpson, Governor Dirk Kempthorne, Congressman Helen Chenoweth, Governor Phil Batt, Senator Steve Symms and Senator Jim McClure. Patrick founded one of Idaho's leading governmental affairs firms, Sullivan & Associates, in November 1991, which became Sullivan & Reberger, following the addition of Phil Reberger in 2003. 

Patrick is a board member of the Governor's Cup Scholarship Fund; past president of the Boise State University Alumni board of directors; a former board director of the Boise State University Foundation; a former board director of the West Boise YMCA; a former board director of the Salvation Army and a former board member of the National Kidney Foundation in Washington, D.C.

Jeff Tucker was named general manager of Idaho Public Television (IdahoPTV) in August 2021. Previous to that, he served as IdahoPTV’s director of content, overseeing programming, education services, digital media and strategy for local productions. As the head of content, he also managed independent and contract work for IdahoPTV, as well as content initiatives and other production relationships with state and private entities.

Jeff began volunteering with IdahoPTV while in high school. He continued working part-time while studying for a broadcasting communications major and business management minor at the University of Idaho. He has held positions as director/videographer, producer/director and production manager at IdahoPTV and overseen the communications and membership departments.

Since 2001, Jeff has helped form strong relationships with state agencies and other private and public organizations. Idaho in Session grew from streamed coverage via a single webcam to fiber-connected multi-camera coverage from the Idaho House, Senate and committee rooms, as well as the Idaho Supreme Court. He also oversaw the planning, strategy and initial production for IdahoPTV’s newest long-form history documentary series, Idaho Experience.

Jeff has been active in the public media world and served in leadership of several committees through the National Telecommunications Association. He is a graduate of Idaho’s Certified Public Manager nationally accredited 22-month program that strengthens leadership skills, deepens understanding of management and improves the quality of public service.