Leading the Way to a Healthier Idaho

Founded in 2001, The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health, Inc. is a non-profit private foundation established by Blue Cross of Idaho.

We build local partnerships and collaborate to create sustainable changes that promote health in Idaho. Sometimes this means funding programs and projects driven by local communities. Sometimes this means leading the way with our own initiatives.

But it always means being a catalytic organization, dedicated to transformational — not simply transactional — approaches that will impact Idaho today and for generations to come.

Click here to download our annual report and learn more details about the impact The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health is having across the Gem State.

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Building a healthier Idaho.

As a catalytic funder, the work of The Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health goes far beyond funding.

The first step is catalytic engagement: We work work closely with communities, partners and prospective grant recipients to clarify the needs, goals and metrics of every effort.

The next step is building partnerships: while we don’t engage in the day-to-day execution of these efforts, we do share our expertise and Rolodex.

The efforts combine to create transformational solutions: lasting, ground-up change that will be felt for years, or even generations, to come.

Learn about our:

funding opportunities and Focus Areas.

Our Foundation has positively impacted thousands of Idahoans since our founding in 2001.

Meet Our Team

Kendra Witt-Doyle, PhD

Executive Director

Kendra Witt-Doyle is the Executive Director of the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health, Idaho’s leading health-focused charitable foundation. A recognized expert on community health, Kendra provides strategic oversight and leadership across the Foundation’s efforts to create a healthier Idaho through innovative, community-led health initiatives.

An Idaho native and mother of two young boys, Kendra’s passion for improving the health of Idaho’s youth is integral to both her professional and personal life, motivating her to become active in community health organizations and coalitions.

Kendra holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Boise State University; a Master in Public Health from University of Texas School of Public Health; and a Ph.D. from University of Texas El Paso.

Rhonda Robinson Beale, MD

Chief Medical Affairs Officer

Dr. Robinson Beale moves from her current position as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Blue Cross of Idaho into a new role with the Foundation as Chief Medical Affairs Officer.

In this position, she will work in conjunction with the Foundation’s current board and staff, as well as with stakeholders across the state, to create healthcare solutions focused on Idaho’s large rural population.

Courtney Frost

Program Officer

As Program Officer, Courtney works closely with mayors, schools and community partners statewide to implement programs under High Five, the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health’s initiative for eliminating childhood obesity in Idaho. In this role, Courtney uses her experience in health-focused nonprofits and natural organizational skills to rally support, manage the day-to-day details of the programs, and track outcomes.

Before joining the Foundation, Courtney worked in development at the American Heart Association and National MS Society. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in communication from Eastern Washington University.

Deanne Schildan

Business Administration Manager

As the Business Administration Manager, Deanne is responsible for improving the Foundation’s operational systems, processes and policies, as well as cross-functional administrative and project based support. She has spent more than 30 years working in administrative roles in the insurance, high-tech and financial industries.

Deanne grew up in eastern Idaho and is proud to have lived her entire life in various parts of Idaho. She is excited to be part of an organization that is building a healthier Idaho for her three children and two grandchildren.

Connor Sheldon

Program Officer

Connor Sheldon is a Program Officer leading the Healthcare Innovation and Youth Behavioral Health initiatives at the Foundation. Born and raised in Boise, Connor leverages her Idaho roots to build partnerships in communities around the state to address complex issues and create transformational solutions.

Before joining the Foundation, Connor lived and worked in rural Malaysia as a Fulbright scholar, competed in the world’s largest social entrepreneurship competition, and led various corporate social responsibility, international development, and sustainability projects. Connor holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Community and Environmental Health from Boise State University and a Master of Business Administration from Boise State University.

Our Board

Ralph Woodard

Board Chair

Ralph Woodard is Blue Cross of Idaho’s Chief Financial Officer. He joins the company from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee where he served as the Treasurer and Chief Risk Officer. During his tenure at the Tennessee organization, Ralph served in multiple roles including controller, chief accounting officer and director of internal audit and information security. With an outstanding track record of success, Ralph has demonstrated the progressive financial leadership that epitomizes Blue Cross, and his addition represents another important step for our organization.

Ralph holds an MBA from Owen School of Management at Vanderbilt University, and a BS in Accounting from Auburn University.

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Mike Reynoldson

Board Vice Chair

Mike Reynoldson is the Vice President of Public Affairs for Blue Cross of Idaho, based in Meridian, Idaho. In this position, he serves as a legislative advisor and government affairs contact to the federal and state government, the Idaho Legislature and local governments throughout Idaho.

Reynoldson began with Blue Cross of Idaho in February of 2015 as the Director of Governmental Affairs. He has 24 years of experience as a public policy and political professional and previously served in similar positions for both Micron Technology, Inc. and Qwest Communications based in Idaho.

Reynoldson has extensive experience in the state and national political arena, having worked for the Republican National Committee, serving as Executive Director of the Idaho Republican Party, and as the Campaign Manager for US Senator Larry Craig’s 1996 re-election.

Reynoldson grew up in Parma, Idaho and graduated from Boise State University in 1990 with a degree in Marketing.

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Candi Allphin

Candi Allphin is a retired Senior Vice President for U.S. Bank. She spent 38 years in the banking industry in leadership roles including Private Banking Managing Director, Group Manager of Retail and Business Banking and Commercial Relationship Manager. She also served for many years as a member of the local U.S. Bancorp Foundation team.

Her volunteer leadership roles in the community are extensive as past chair of many organizations including the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Idaho Banker’s Association, the Boise State Foundation, the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, the Junior League of Boise, the Idaho Botanical Garden, and the Boise State Alumni Association.

A Treasure Valley native, Candi holds a BBA in Management from Boise State University and is a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington. Her awards include Boise State University Distinguished Alumni, Leadership Boise Community Service Award and Idaho Business Review Women of the Year.

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Gary Dyer

Gary Dyer began his career with Blue Cross of Idaho in 1973 and retired as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in 2007.

In addition to the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation, Gary serves on the board of trustees for St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise and is a board member of the College of Western Idaho Foundation.

Gary has a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Northridge and an MBA from Boise State University.

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Jim Hickey

Jim Hickey joined Blue Cross as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources. Jim was previously with Nationwide Insurance in Columbus, Ohio where he was the Associate Vice President of Human Resources. Jim has over 20 years of excellent Human Resource experience with extensive knowledge in organizational transformation, change management, strategy creation, talent management, and executive coaching.

Jim holds a B.A. in Communications from Ohio State University, is a Certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), and a PROSCI Professional in Change Management Certification.

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Dave Jeppesen

Dave Jeppesen joined Blue Cross of Idaho in May 2012. He has oversight of Sales, Marketing, Brand, Corporate Communications, and Product Development.

Prior to joining Blue Cross of Idaho, Dave worked as an international independent marketing consultant from 2009 to 2012, providing marketing strategy and brand position identification and implementation to clients in the U.S., Australia and throughout Europe.

Before that, Dave was Chief Marketing Officer at Barclays Bank in the United Kingdom from 2007 to 2009, where he was responsible for branding, advertising, and branch merchandising.

Prior to his time at Barclays Bank, Dave worked at Capital One Financial Corporation in Richmond, Va., from 1995 through 2007, spending time there as Vice President of Direct Marketing and Senior Vice President, Deputy Chief Risk Officer.

Dave received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from Idaho State University and a Masters in Applied Statistics from Ohio State University.

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Roger Quarles, PhD

Roger Quarles is Executive Director of the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation.

Roger began his career in education as a Wood River Valley high school teacher after launching a successful restaurant chain in California. Eventually leading as the principal of Kuna High School, superintendent of the Caldwell School district and co-director of the Idaho Leads project at Boise State’s Center for School Improvement and Policy Studies.

Roger served as Idaho’s chief deputy state superintendent in 2013 before joining the J. A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation.

He earned his bachelor’s degree from California State University, Chico and PhD from the University of Idaho. Roger is married to Trish, and has four grown children and a beautiful six year old granddaughter. He is an avid outdoorsman and spends ample time on the tennis court.

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