Treasure Valley business community news

JOB CHANGES

Thomas O'Donnell has been named managing partner of the Holland & Hart law firm. O'Donnell will work with the firm's management committee to implement strategic objectives. He will be responsible for the day-to-day management of Holland & Hart, the largest law firm based in the Mountain West, with an office in Boise.

O'Donnell was previously chairman of the firm's associate and partnership admissions committees. His legal practice emphasizes representation in natural gas and electric-related matters before various state public utility commissions, including the Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Wyoming commissions, as well as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. O'Donnell serves on the Board of Litigation of Mountain States Legal Foundation in addition to the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver and Energy Outreach Colorado.

O'Donnell succeeds Lawrence Wolfe. Wolfe saw the firm through substantial growth, including a combination with Nevada law firm Hale Lane in 2008. As a partner in the firm's Cheyenne office, Wolfe will continue his practice in the natural resource department.

CONTRACTS

Peak Science Communications was awarded a writing and editing contract with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. PSC is a Boise writing and editing firm that specializes in science and environmental documents. For information, call 362-8400 or e-mail info@peaksci.com.

RECOGNITION

Robert "Bob" Shaver, a patent attorney and member of the Boise Southwest Rotary Club, has received the Cliff L. Dochterman Award for Rotarians in Scouting. This award recognizes Shaver's efforts in support of Boy Scout Troop 100, based at the Cathedral of the Rockies. He was nominated by Erik Lund.

Shaver's contributions include teaching scout leaders about winter survival and leading numerous backpacking trips. A highlight of his backpacking effort was organizing three simultaneous three-day trips for about 40 scouts and parents.

He also raised money and equipment for Troop 700, a troop of Turkish immigrant boys. The Boise Southwest Rotary Club and the Boise Sunrise Rotary Clubs both contributed money to this project.

Shaver joined the law firm Dykas, Nipper and Shaver in 1995. He has a bachelor's degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from California State University at Stanislaus. He received a master's in business administration from City University of Bellevue, Wash., and his law degree from the University of Idaho.

The Meridian Education Foundation has elected its 2009 slate of officers: Mike Willits, president, regional manager with Mutual of Enumclaw Insurance Co.; Christine Donnell, vice president, retired school district superintendent; Susan Taylor, treasurer, branch manager with Key Bank; and Robert Peterson, secretary, manager with Intermountain Gas Co. The Meridian Education Foundation funds classroom grants for Idaho's largest school district. For more information: www.meridianschoolsfoundation.org.

GOOD DEEDS

Zions Bank donated more than $1,000 in toys and candy to the Boise Rescue Mission's City Light Home for Women and Children. Zions Bank employees put together the holiday gift bags for children and delivered them to City Light Home on Dec. 22.

News Assistant Pat Carson compiled this report. E-mail bizcom@idahostatesman.com, fax Your Business Community at 377-6449, or write to Your Business Community, c/o Newsroom, The Idaho Statesman, P.O. Box 40, Boise, ID 83707. Individual portraits are welcomed. All submissions become the property of the Statesman.