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Coming Up:

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1
I will speak to the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce at its annual "Governor's Address to the Business Community," noon, Boise Centre, Boise.
 
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Chobani Expansion Groundbreaking
 
Miss Lori and I visited the Chobani Greek yogurt plant in Twin Falls on May 19th to help Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya break ground on a $100 million expansion project. Expanding the world's largest Greek yogurt manufacturing plant will bring more employment opportunities to the Magic Valley while enabling Chobani to produce new products and boost Idaho's economy. While in Twin Falls, the First Lady and I toured the plant and watched the development of such products as the popular "Flip" line as well as new yogurt drinks coming out this summer. I also joined Hamdi in signing a beam to be placed inside the new addition - a great reminder of our pride in Chobani's investment in Idaho and our citizens. Thank you to Hamdi and the whole Chobani team for being great corporate citizens!
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Grand Opening of PerforMix Nutrition Systems in Rupert

On May 13th I spoke at the grand opening of the PerforMix Nutrition Systems Plant in Rupert. The AgriBeef subsidiary has locations in Nampa and Fruitland, as well as Moses Lake, Washington. The new PerforMix plant in Rupert will increase production capacity while benefiting southern Idaho dairy and beef operators. The facility will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology to make it the most advanced liquid feed operation in the Pacific Northwest.  I'm excited to welcome the expansion of PerforMix and see the positive impact its products will have on Idaho's agriculture industry. Thank you to PerforMix President Jim Keppen for inviting me to the ribbon cutting. I can't wait to see what great opportunities this new facility brings to Idaho livestock operations and our farm and ranch economy.
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May is Wildfire Awareness Month
 
I joined other governors from throughout the West recently in declaring the month of May to be Wildfire Awareness Month. Seven of my colleagues joined me in dedicating this month to recognizing the growing risk of wildfires in our states. We must acknowledge the threat that wildfires pose to our homes and communities as more people live and work in the wildland-urban interface. Our goal is raising public awareness about the danger of wildfires in hopes of prompting development of more local fire-adaptive community plans. It's important that we work toward wildfire prevention and preparedness as individuals, but also as communities. I am happy to dedicate this month to such an important cause and pleased that other western states are doing the same.
 
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Youth ChalleNGe Academy Visit 
 
I visited the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy (IDYCA) on Tuesday May 24th to tour the facilities and meet some of the teens participating in the program for at-risk youth in the northern Idaho community of Pierce. It was a great pleasure to join Idaho National Guard Adjutant General Gary Sayler in speaking with the cadets and instructors. I'm proud that we have an academy in Idaho that aims to help young people at risk of dropping out of high school and gives them an alternative opportunity to improve their education, life skills and overall employment potential. The Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Program provides structure, hard work and a focus on maturity and self-discipline that can mean so much in opening the door to second chances for kids at a crossroads in their life.
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May in Motion
Governor Otter with Max Wyatt and family. 

On Thursday May 26 th, I signed a proclamation designating 2016 "Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety and Awareness Month " in Idaho. In response to an accident in which 5-year-old Max Wyatt of Boise was hit by a van while bi cycling last year, Jimmy Hallyburton of the Boise Bicycle Project reached out to me to promote bicycle safety in Idaho. One of  Jimmy's goals was to add additional bicycle and pedestrian safety questions to the Idaho driver's license exam.   My staff worked with the Idaho Transportation Department to help Jimmy reach this goal. The questions were added to the driver's safety test earlier this year and guarantees that every new driver in Idaho will see two bicycleor pedestrianrelated questions on the test. I was so happy Max could attend the proclamation signing ceremony on the Statehouse steps and I hope we all can make every month and every day safer for all of us who share the roads.
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First Lady's Focus: Inspiring Chobani's Women Leaders
 
Chobani Women is an internal initiative created last year to build a stronger community of women within the Greek yogurt company that's made Idaho its second home. Momentum from this initiative led to a companywide lecture series this year designed to bring together women from various operational areas of Chobani to learn from other women leaders who have made an impact nationally, regionally and in their local communities.
 
 
I was honored to speak to about 100 women at a Twin Falls meeting of the Chobani Women. I talked about my personal evolution in leadership - a journey that began in my hometown of Kimberly - about a mile from where the Chobani plant later was built.
 
 
My life plan was to be an elementary school principal. Then I met a guy with a really important job. I went from teaching jump rope in P.E. class to being First Lady! Sometimes life puts you in positions that let you develop into what you were meant to do.
 
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Agency Spotlight: Department of Human Resources
 
The Division of Human Resources (DHR) was established by Idaho Code chapter 53, title 67.  DHR administers the State classified personnel system, promoting operational excellence by encouraging collaboration and efficiencies among State agencies to recruit, develop and retain a proficient and diverse workforce. DHR also provides administrative and financial support to the Idaho Personnel Commission. The Division's Administrator, Susan E. Buxton, was appointed by Governor Otter in February 2016.

Human Resources Administrator Susan Buxton 
 
MESSAGE FROM ADMINISTRATOR BUXTON
I grew up in Boise and I am very proud that my family represents several generations of Idahoans. As an attorney in private practice starting in 1991, I served as the City Attorney for dozens of Idaho cities and local government entities, as well as many businesses and individuals. Consequently, my prior career provided me with substantial experience in all aspects of human resource management - from recruitment, retention, discipline, policy and contract drafting to litigation in state and federal courts and tribunals.
 
One of my first priorities was to start meeting with our State agency directors and administrators to discuss human resource concerns and how DHR may be able to provide support. Based on these discussions, improving communication, expanding human resource-specific training and education services to our State agencies, and upgrading the Applicant Tracking System and I-PERFORM training are some of the areas I would like to focus upon.
 
IMPROVING COMMUNICATIONS
DHR's plan to improve communications is to reinstate regular meetings with State HR professionals to provide training and education of HR trends with federal and State law implications (including case law updates). DHR is updating state human resources policies and forms, and will be reinstating the Monthly Newsletter starting in June 2016. The newsletter will include a calendar of DHR and other agency meetings and training opportunities for State employees.
 
DHR WEBSITE REMODEL
DHR's new Website will not only have a new look but also will provide a separate public interface and a new secure State Human Resource Professional site. DHR will provide HR resource information and HR templates for agency use. Navigation has been simplified, making most materials available in three clicks or less. The Website will be launched on Tuesday, May 31, 2016.
 
  
TRAINING AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Supervisory Academy .  DHR will continue offering Supervisory Academy classes to State employees, with new cohorts starting in July 2016.   Addressing best practices when it comes to supervising a team, the cohort covers the following topics: Understanding the Generations, Setting Expectations, Development Planning, Coaching and Feedback, Motivation, Documenting Performance, Progressive Discipline and Writing & Delivering Performance Evaluations/I-PERFORM. Visit our Website for more information or to register for a cohort.
 
CRUCIAL CONVERSATIONS
Beginning in August 2016, DHR will offer certified Crucial Conversations training to State supervisors and employees. Classes are open to all employees regardless of agency or position.  More details and course dates are available on our Website.
 
IPERFORM TRAINING 
Along with onsite training for IPERFORM, DHR has updated the IPERFORM training manuals and added interactive training modules accessible from the DHR Website.
 
IMPROVING THE STATE'S APPLICANT TRACKING SYSTEM (ATS)
The Applicant Tracking System is being updated in partnership with the Idaho Department of Labor. By the fall of 2016, the system upgrades will provide easier navigation options for Applicants and Agency Users.
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Appointments

Suicide Prevention Council 
Rep. Caroline Nilsson Troy - Genesee 
 
Board of Nursing
Renee Watson - Boise 
 
SERVE Idaho 
Kara Brascia - Boise