Board of Directors

Biography

Don Peña is currently the President of DP Consulting and Associates.  He was previously the IT Manager for the Department of Commerce’s Census Bureau ELO in Boise, Idaho during the decennial census. Previously he was the Education and Employment Director at the Community Council of Idaho, Inc. supervising all education, employment and training department staff. Before joining the Community Council of Idaho, Don was the Executive Director for the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs, providing advice, research and policy recommendations to the Governor and State Legislators in regards to issues impacting Idaho’s Latino population. While at the ICHA, Don directed various programs including the Substance Abuse Program for Hispanic Youth and the Scholarship Program for Bilingual Substance Abuse Students. Don has served on many initiatives and in leadership positions on boards including IMAGE de Idaho, IHCIRE (Idaho Hispanic Caucus Institute for Research & Education), and CHI (Coalition for Healthy Idaho).   Don majored in Land Resources Planning at Stanford University.

Biography

Tina McDonald grew up in Germany and moved to Boise, Idaho as a teenager. She graduated from Borah High School, attended Idaho State University and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Boise State University. She went on to work in the fields of mental health and long-term health care, as well as the hospitality industry. Currently, she is the Owner and CEO of Forward Transformation. She lives in Horseshoe Bend, Idaho with her husband, two sons and three furry creatures. Her interest in education peaked as her own children entered the local school system in Horseshoe Bend. She participated in the PTO, frequently helped in classrooms, and was the board chair of the local school board. She is excited to continue to build her knowledge of the education system by volunteering her time at iSucceed Virtual Schools.

Biography

Amanda Leader is a rural Idaho native with over ten years experience working in the juvenile justice field. She is currently the Director of the Boise County Community Justice Department, serving youth and adults, their families and the community. Amanda graduated from Sandpoint High School and went on to earn a Paralegal Certificate and undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Boise State University. Over the years she has worked hard to create and maintain partnerships between local schools and law enforcement. She has a passion for making a difference in the lives of others, especially by overcoming barriers and finding and sharing new resources. Her volunteer work has included working with children with life threatening medical conditions, police activities league, search and rescue and various community events.

Biography

CD was born and raised in the Treasure Valley and graduated from Vallivue High School in 1998. He attended Boise State University in 2000 but enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2003, where he served as an infantry squad leader until 2007. After serving his country, CD went back to Boise State and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Human Resource Management in 2011, while also serving in the Idaho Air National Guard. In 2013, CD continued his career of service by recruiting for the Idaho Air National Guard for two years before becoming a representative for Stevens-Henager College as their High School and Community Partnership’s Coordinator in 2015. CD started two distinctly different businesses, leveraging the talent and experience of his wife and Operations Director, Ashley, and utilizing his own marketing mindset and networking abilities. These abilities landed CD a position with the State of Idaho as the GEAR UP State Coordinator; located within the division of Student Engagement/Career and Technical Readiness in 2016. CD also graduated from Independence University in May, 2017 and teaches business classes at Treasure Valley Community College.

CD is passionate about helping Idaho teens find their passions and career paths, from volunteering with the Idaho Youth Challenge academy, to networking with programs like Life’s Kitchen. His overall mission is to increase Idaho’s high school graduation and matriculation rates by educating teens, teachers, and school counselors on the advantages of post-secondary education, service in the United State military, and career and technical education pathways.

Founding Board Member/Chair 2008-2023: