Gynii joined the Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation in March of 2015. She is charged with helping create vital communities in the region by diversifying the economy and helping business create jobs. Since joining Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation, she’s been instrumental in building a strong community economic development team that she credits with helping close to 100 expanding and relocating businesses bring more than $150  million of new capital to the region, along with over 2000 new direct jobs and around $75M in new payroll from 2015 to 2019..

She has over 25 years of experience in the field, in both the private and public sectors, from rural communities to urban centers. She served as the Chief Economic Development Officer for the State of Idaho, where her team helped bring over $700 million in capital investment and 3500 new direct jobs to the state over an 18-month period. Prior to joining Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation, Gynii had a private consulting firm focused on providing workshops to help “Elected Officials and Stakeholders become Champions for Economic Development.” She has also taught a graduate course in Community and Economic Development as an adjunct professor for Boise State University. Previous work in the state, also includes eastern and central Idaho, where among other things, she helped start a rural distance learning program in central Idaho for nursing students, guided the ED team in recruiting Allstate to eastern Idaho for their 4th regional center, and co-directing the Urban Renewal program for the Pocatello region. She has also worked on successful projects in Los Angeles and Detroit.

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Ms. Gilliam holds a Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles and studied abroad at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. She was a California State Scholar and the recipient of the Rackham Graduate School Fellowship.

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Gynii is involved in local, regional and national boards, including the International Economic Development Council, Inland Northwest Economic Development Partnership and the Idaho State Economic Development Association. She has presented at the National Council of State Governments, the Northwest Food Processors Association, the Pacific Northwest Economic Development Council, and at many other national events. Gynii has two grown boys: Jono an Architect in Los Angeles, California; and Michael, an ER nurse in Boise, Idaho.

Email: gynii@cdaedc.org

Josh Wise grew up in the mountains of Victor Idaho where he learned to enjoy the outdoor amenities through snowboarding, camping, running, backpacking, mountain biking, and rock climbing. He attended Eastern Oregon University where he completed an undergraduate degree in three years and went on to receive a Masters in Business Administration with a focus on economic development.

Josh enjoyed serving others on campus by developing relationships, connecting resources, and facilitating discussions all skills he continues to use today to help businesses prosper.

While attending college he met another Idahoan Lauren who is now his wife and loving mother of their children. The passion and enthusiasm for the home state of Idaho lead Josh to return after college to help individuals and businesses know about this great state at the newly formed Regional Economic Development for Eastern Idaho where he worked with numerous stakeholders to unify a region and maximize individual resources. As the Economic Development Specialist for the Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corporation- Jobs Plus, Josh continues to work for the betterment of Idaho for the families and communities of this great state and region.

Email: josh@cdaedc.org

Loren grew up in Oregon and attended the University of Arizona on a 4-year voice scholarship where she studied opera performance, after which she also attended and graduated with a BS in Psychology from Portland State University. After graduating college, Loren sang with Portland Opera, in Portland, Oregon for several years as a paid member of AGMA, the American Guild of Musical Artists. She also enjoys playing the trumpet. Married Dieter Kaboth in 1991 where she was introduced to bow hunting, elk calling (Dieter is the 4-time World Elk Calling Champion with Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation), enjoying all aspects of the outdoors together.

Loren and Dieter then moved to Pierce, Idaho in 2007 where they lived in their “hunting cabin” for eight years. In 2009, Loren began her career as the Economic Development Director for Clearwater County Economic Development located in Orofino, Idaho servicing Orofino, Pierce, Weippe and Elk River. Her greatest accomplishment as the director was the collaboration with various organizations to bring the National Guard Youth Challenge Academy to Pierce, Idaho. After several years, it is still going strong and has brought with it, approximately 53 jobs to the remote town of Pierce. 

After moving to Harrison, Idaho in 2015, Loren transferred her Economic Development role with Idaho Commerce to then become the Shoshone County Economic Development Director, working out of Wallace City Hall to serve several small rural communities.

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Currently, in the role of Investor Relations Liaison/Special Projects with CdAEDC/Jobs Plus, Loren draws on 14 years of experience in the economic development industry throughout north Idaho.

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Loren enjoys reading, singing with Chorale Coeur d’Alene and especially keeping company with Farley, their golden retriever.

Email: loren@cdaedc.org

Raven Luciano-DeSmith is an AmeriCorps/VISTA member who is the newest addition to our team. She started her service on 11/2022 and will end service on 11/2024. 

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 “Born in Honolulu, HI, Raven moved to Coeur d’Alene in March 2022. In the midst of wanting to find ways to be involved in her new community, the opportunity to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at CdAEDC/Jobs Plus fell into her lap. In her service as a VISTA member, she assists in gathering regional economic data to find solutions for community challenges like workforce housing and the need for skilled workers. Raven plans to major in Biology at NIC in hopes of becoming a cosmetic chemist in the future.”