The phrase “Boise Nice” encompasses everything about our city, from the generosity and friendliness you can expect from any Boisean you meet to the beauty of the city’s architecture, history and natural landscape. The Boise Nice Project was created to identify, preserve, and enhance those things that make living and working in Boise so special.
President, Cofounder
Rourke is the President and Cofounder of The Boise Nice Project (BNP). Prior to cofounding BNP, he spent 10 years with the Children’s Music Foundation (CMF), an organization he founded in 2009; before that, he spent five years as President of America’s Foundation for Chess. Rourke has spent much of his career in financial services beginning in 1978 with ten years in the securities industry as Vice President – Investments with both Smith Barney, Harris Upham & Co., and Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc. before opening his own securities brokerage operation in 1986. After joining Washington Mutual Savings Bank, he founded State Street Mortgage in 1993, which became Qpoint Home Mortgage Loans in 1994, where he held the position of Director, President and CEO through 1998. He joined the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club (WA State) in 1993 and is now a member of the Downtown Boise Rotary Club, a member of Idaho Business for Education, The Boise Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtown Boise Business Association.
Rourke holds a B.A. in Finance from the University of Notre Dame.
Vice-President, Cofounder
Julia is a self-starter with high ethical standards that complement her work experience at the intersection of public policy, sustainability, forestry, land conservation and natural resource management. She believes no challenge is too difficult to undertake and has led efforts to bring a range of partners together to brainstorm a solution, outline implementation steps, delegate responsibilities and achieve long-term goals. Julia’s passion, optimism, networking, communication and organizational skills enable her to make a difference at the local, national or global level.
Strategic thinking is on Julia’s daily to-do list as she builds on past experiences, learns what is happening today and envisions future conditions. She is a quick learner and a proven motivator with the ability to work under pressure while maintaining strong relationships with clients, the public, colleagues and management.
Julia moved to Boise with her husband 20 years ago from Colorado, not knowing a soul. They feel blessed to be raising their four “free-range” children in a community where “Boise Nice” is the standard, not the exception.
Julia holds a BA from the University of Missouri, Columbia, and a Masters Degree from the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment.
Advisor
Communication has always been Nancy’s thing. She taught college writing and literature for more than twenty years and worked in publishing before that.
When Nancy taught public speaking at Stanford, she discovered the incomparable power of the spoken word, and her life took a major turn. She left academia, moved back to Boise, Idaho and opened a communications coaching practice in 2011.
Nancy tends to get involved in other cool and worthwhile projects. She’s worked closely with TEDxBoise since its first show in 2015, coaching speakers as they shape their ideas and get ready to grace the red famous dot. She co-founded Next Level Women Leaders in 2017, helping professional women elevate their platform and communication skills. And she bares heart and soul, so to speak, as lead singer in The Soulmates. She’s on the board of a national nonprofit, Music to Life, that helps musicians engaged in social change make an even bigger difference.
Nancy holds a BA from Idaho State University, and a Masters Degree and Doctorate from the University of Arizona.
Research Advisor
Dr. Jack Marr is a clinical associate professor in international business and as director of Global Programs works on COBE’s global outreach. His research and teaching areas are around East Asia, global business, economic clusters, networks and emerging markets.
Previously, Jack was on the faculties of City University of Hong Kong, New York University’s Stern School of Business and the Kellogg School of Management. He was a consultant with McKinsey and Company in Greater China, served the U.S. Foreign Agriculture Service in Shanghai and the State of Missouri in Tokyo, and has held numerous other advisory positions globally. Jack holds a Ph.D. from Boise State in Public Policy and Administration, an MA from the University of Chicago and a BA the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Project Photographer
Cory Berish grew up on the shores of Lake St. Clair in Michigan, fishing, hunting, and enjoying the fun and adventure of nature right out his back door.
Cory taught ecology and Environmental Science at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and continued to do research on landscape ecological processes. He then transitioned to a long career at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where his focus areas were protecting human health, helping to conserve natural resources, and fostering sustainability, while at the same time making businesses more profitable.
Since leaving EPA, Cory has pursued nature photography across the USA, with an emphasis on National Parks and protected lands of the Western USA. His images are intended to inspire the appreciation and conservation of plants, animals and landscapes everywhere on the planet.
Cory received a B.S. in Biology from Western Michigan University, and a Masters of Forest Science from Yale. He then went on to earn his Ph.D. in ecology from the University of Florida.
Financial Services
Kara is a money manager and coach for a variety of clients and service-based entrepreneurs. She is the founder of Changekeepers, where she helps people create a workable path and plan for their money and financial security, going beyond simply allocating and funding retirement accounts.
Kara has a BS in Accounting from BSU, and stepped out of corporate America to work for a consulting firm coaching business owners, and soon after, started her money management company Changekeepers. For fun, she plays tennis regularly at the Boise Racquet and Swim Club, and enjoys the precious 5 minutes a week her 2 teenaged kiddos will grant her.
Digital Media Intern
Sam grew up in Ogden Utah but would spend most of his summers here in Boise with family and he loved it here so much he decided to move here for school.
He is a soon-to-be Junior at Boise State University following his love for business by studying business administration. He is new to Boise and is ready to make an impact in the community through Boise Nice. Growing up behind a camera, Sam is excited to use his skills of videography and digital editing to bring light to the hearts and souls of Boise.
In Sam’s personal life you can find him skiing at Sun Valley, riding his bike through the beautiful Boise Greenbelt, and constantly learning and testing his ability to make people smile through digital media.
Economic Research Intern
Makena Gove is a junior at Boise State University studying Urban Planning and Community Development with an emphasis on Sustainability. She is very excited and eager to learn more about her roles in the community and how she can use her studies to benefit others. Makena is passionate about learning the ins and outs of different cities and how they compare to each other along with implementing sustainable and innovative ways to make for a better future. She is a quick learner and values her work ethic and ability to learn from others.
Outside of work you can find Makena riding mountain bikes out on the local trails, hiking with her dog Winston, and spending time with family and friends!
Director
Sayoko Kuwahara was born in Osaka, Japan and pursued a higher education at Boston University where she received a BA in psychology. For over 20 years, she has been working in the medical device regulatory and compliance field, serving clients around the world. Her strengths lie in intercultural communication, trust building, and project management in addition to the Japanese regulatory knowledge.
Sayoko was a member of the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club for over 12 years and served as chair of the Social Activities Committee, as well as Club Administrator instrumental in implementing new procedures. She served on the board of the Eastside District YMCA for five years, involved in board member recruitment and capital fundraising effort for a new YMCA facility. In 2009, she co-founded the Children’s Music Foundation to ensure fundamental music education is delivered to young children of all different backgrounds. She is currently a board member with the American Red Cross of Greater Idaho, and is serving as Chair the Diversity & Inclusion Committee as well as one of the national D&I Ambassadors. She actively participates in local volunteer opportunities.
Sayoko has two black belts in Japanese jujitsu and holds the first-class international vessel operator’s license.
Director
Phil’s family came to Idaho in 1905 and established Idaho’s first Black Church that currently houses the Idaho Black History Museum. He has worked for more than 20 years in Information Technology and currently serves as the President and Director of the Idaho Black History Museum.
Phil currently serves on the boards of Boise Black Professionals, the Boise Police Chief’s Community Advisory Panel, the City Club of Boise and the Future Public School. He formerly served as president of Islamic Center of Boise.
For the last four years Phil has been working with Parkinson’s patients to delay the progression of disease through a regimented approach to sleep, diet, and intense physical exercise. He previously spent two years as a researcher at Idaho Neurological Institute focusing on TBI and movement disorders.
Phil is father to (in his humble opinion) the world’s greatest nine-year-old, Zaida Mae Thompson, a.k.a. Junior.
Director
Shawn Shepherd Davis currently serves as the National Director of Development for ReFED, the nonprofit organization working to end food waste by advancing data-driven solutions at all stages of the food system — from the farm to the fork. With just under 40% of all food in America being wasted, it’s a problem she works to address every day and works hard to bring others to the table of change.
Shawn has a more than 30-year career leading nonprofit and educational organizations, and advancement offices in institutional settings. Before she joined ReFED she was the national Director of Strategic Engagement for the American Farmland Trust, which is working to preserve threatened farm and ranch land nationwide; this too was work driven by passion as she is deeply concerned about urban sprawl on some of the nation’s most important farmland — including that right here in the Treasure Valley.
Shawn, a farm girl from Indiana, is equally passionate about her adopted home of Idaho and Boise, particularly! She married in to the large Davis family here and shares in the proud history of the founding of Boise with the lineage of her husband’s great grandmother, Julia Davis.