Dr. Kelly Drummond is a seasoned expert in Human Resources, certified by both the HR Certification Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management. As the current Director of Human Resources with the City of Knoxville, Kelly administers the compensation and classification system, talent acquisition, pre-employment processes, employee training, employee relations, succession planning, Title VI compliance, and assist directors with discrimination investigations or employee discipline.

In addition to her HR leadership role, Dr. Drummond is a dedicated educator. She teaches at the UT Center for Professional Education and facilitates SHRM Certification and HR Essentials courses at Roane State Community College. She holds a doctorate in Education with a focus on Human Resource Development from Lincoln Memorial University. Dr. Drummond is not just a leader but also a coach. She is certified in Public Sector HR Executive Leadership, career development coaching, change management, and emotional intelligence coaching.

She is currently pursuing the prestigious BCC (National Board-Certified Coach) designation. Her passion project, My Soul In Bloom, is a Career, Professional & Personal Development Service designed to help individuals secure a seat at the table and ensure their voices are heard. Dr. Drummond offers personalized coaching, guidance, and mentorship to leaders and professionals seeking growth and career acceleration.

Mayor Lauren McLean is committed to creating a city for everyone and has worked tirelessly toward that goal, advocating for open space conservation, tackling housing and homelessness side by side with the community, and leading nationally acclaimed climate action efforts. Mayor McLean was sworn in on January 7, 2020. She is the 56th mayor of Boise and the first woman elected to that position in the city’s 150-year history. She is passionate about public service, leading boldly with the community at the forefront of every decision. McLean’s service to the people of Boise began as a volunteer in 2001. She led the historic Boise Foothills Open Space Levy campaign and, along with hundreds of other dedicated people, secured protection of thousands of acres in the foothills for future generations.

Lauren served on Boise City Council from 2011-2019 and served as Council President from 2017-2019. During her time on City Council, she led the effort to pass Boise's 100% Clean Energy Plan. As Mayor, she leads the fight against climate change, setting ambitious goals to secure an environmentally and economically resilient future for Boise. Her vision is to create a city that is truly for everyone – one that offers equitable access to housing, living wage jobs, transportation, and a seat at the table for residents when decisions about the future of Boise are being made. Lauren currently serves on the Board of Governors at the Andrus Center at Boise State University. She has been recognized as one of the nation's most promising young political leaders by the Aspen Institute and New Deal Leaders. She was selected to participate in the 2020 Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative on Economic Recovery.

Lauren earned a Master of Public Administration from Boise State University as the first Carl Burke Fellow. She was born in Massachusetts and later lived in Texas and upstate New York. Before becoming a Bronco, McLean graduated with honors from Notre Dame. Lauren moved to Boise shortly after graduating college and marrying her high school sweetheart, Scott. Lauren and Scott are parents to Madeleine and Aiden. She is an avid trail runner, outdoorswoman, and reader. She and her family love to explore Idaho's beautiful backcountry by foot or by ski.

Lance Davisson is the Owner and Principal Consultant of The Keystone Concept and Executive Director of the Treasure Valley Canopy Network. Based in Boise, Idaho, he founded The Keystone Concept in 2011 to advance land management and community development through innovative and collaborative approaches. His career spans roles in the public sector as a forester, land manager, and wildland firefighter across Washington and New Mexico, and now as a consultant serving public and private partners nationwide.

Lance is deeply engaged in professional and community leadership, having served as Chair of the National Urban & Community Forestry Advisory Council and President of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. He currently leads and advises organizations including the Urban Wood Network, Idaho Clinicians for Climate and Health, and Boise State University’s Hazard & Climate Resilience Institute. A co-founder and core leadership member of the Green Communities Leadership Institute, Lance is committed to fostering collaboration and building resilient communities. Outside of work, he enjoys camping, rafting, and mountain biking with his family.

Vicki Christiansen retired as Chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, leading a workforce of 40,000 employees who steward 175 national forests and grasslands; supporting the world’s largest forestry research organization; and working with states, tribes and others to sustain all forests so they can benefit all citizens, today and in the future. Vicki joined the Forest Service in 2010 and served as the Deputy Director of Fire and Aviation Management and Deputy Chief for State and Private Forestry. Previously, she served as the Arizona State Forester and director of the Arizona Division of Forestry. Vicki also served as the Washington State Forester, where she had a 26-year career with Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). In all, Vicki has been a wildland fire fighter and fire manager for 40 years. She has numerous credentials in the wildland fire program with a special expertise as a fire line-blasting advisor. Vicki has a BS in forest management from the University of Washington (1983, cum laude).

Mitchell is an award-winning planner with more than 40 years of experience and is internationally recognized for his leadership and contributions to contemporary planning issues.

He is a prolific public speaker and specializes in urban planning, placemaking and implementation strategies. Mitchell served as the commissioner for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation; Chief Planning Officer in Raleigh, NC and served as president of the American Planning Association and the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Mitchell is one of the nation’s most celebrated urban thinkers. He was selected to Planetizen’s list of the 100 Most Influential Urbanists in the world. In addition, he has been honored as one of the top 100 City Innovators in the world by UBM Future Cities, and the Urban Times named him one of the top international thought leaders of the built environment.

Jen Wills is the City Manager of Longview, Washington, where she leads a full-service city of more than 38,000 residents with a focus on service, innovation, and collaboration. She began her career with the City of Longview as a part-time employee and, 18 years later, was appointed City Manager in 2025.

Before that role, Jen served for a decade as Longview’s Parks and Recreation Director, overseeing the city’s parks, urban forest, golf course, and recreation programs. A past president of the Washington Parks and Recreation Association, she has helped shape statewide policy and professional development for parks and recreation professionals. She also serves as a core leadership member of the Green Communities Leadership Institute, where she mentors and supports emerging civic and environmental leaders.

Her career has included roles as a wildland firefighter, wilderness ranger, outdoor guide, business owner, and municipal leader, experiences that fuel her practical, people-centered approach to leadership. An ultramarathon runner and outdoor enthusiast, Jen thrives on endurance challenges, a reflection of her belief that leadership, like distance running, requires grit, resilience, and a focus on the long view.

As the CEO of Valley Regional Transit (VRT), Elaine provides leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight for the Treasure Valley’s regional public transportation authority. She works to ensure the directives of VRT’s Board of Directors – comprised of representatives from Ada and Canyon Counties, incorporated cities, highway districts, and more – are achieved.

Elaine has been working in the transportation world and as a public servant for more than 25 years, serving on the Boise City Council, the VRT Board and Executive Board, numerous advisory committees and councils, and as a program leader at Idaho Smart Growth. She has worked to advocate and plan for better transportation systems; designed improvements for biking, walking, and transit access; created transportation routing and wayfinding systems; conducted public outreach for various transportation initiatives; and more.

Born and raised in Idaho, Elaine lives in Boise’s North End with her husband, where she frequently walks, bikes, rides the bus, and – when she must – drives. She has five children and 14 grandchildren. She loves the Treasure Valley, and she’s excited about the opportunity to help create, connect, and move a vibrant, attractive region.