Laura Johnson
Bureau Chief
Laura joined the Market Development Division in 1991. As Bureau Chief she oversees the division’s domestic and international programs. Laura is a 1996 graduate of Leadership Idaho Agriculture. In 2005, she received a “40 under 40” recognition by American Food and Ag Exporter Magazine as one of 40 individuals across the country under 40 with significant contributions to agricultural exports.
In 2007, she was recognized by Produce Business Magazine as one of the nation’s “40 Under 40” young leaders in the produce industry. She is currently a member of the Meridian FFA Alumni and is a past Idaho FFA State President. She received a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the College of Business at Boise State University in 1990. Prior to joining the Department, Laura was a Marketing Assistant at Les Bois Park. She is an avid equestrian and competes at hunter/jumpers shows. She has one daughter who is also an alumni of Boise State University.
Erica White
Idaho Preferred Program Manager
Erica joined the Market Development Division in Early 2021.
A Pacific Northwest native, Erica grew up in a mill town humming with diverse small businesses and has always been motivated by the passion, persistence, and impact that goes into building a long-lasting staple in a local community.
Naturally, her enthusiasm led her to earn her BA in Business concentrating in Small Business, Entrepreneurship, and Marketing, and has coupled it with her love for food, art, and community. For the last 15 years, she set her sights on championing business growth for diverse companies in the health/specialty food, nonprofit, and arts industries working and freelancing as a Brand, Operations, and Digital Marketing Manager.
Erica is excited to carry forward her mission alongside the Idaho Preferred Team to amplify and enhance the program’s initiatives, in turn strengthening the local economy and community connection to our Idaho agriculture and its producers.
Anna Lickley
Idaho Farm and Ranch Center Program Manager
Anna joined the Marketing Development Division in January 2025. She holds a deep passion for the farm families who are the foundation of Idaho’s agricultural industry. Anna has two degrees in Agricultural Education from the University of Idaho, and has worked as the Events Coordinator for the University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Business Center Director for the Center for Rural Affairs, and most recently as the Program Manager for the Idaho Farm and Ranch Center 2020-2022.
Anna brings skills in event management, teaching and facilitating, small business assistance, grant management, and program development. Anna understands, firsthand, the complexities of farm estate planning, conflicts of family business relations, and importance of financial planning. She is excited to be back at the ISDA and Farm and Ranch Center. Anna also raises kids and cows alongside her husband, on her family’s century-old cattle ranch in Southeastern Idaho.
Chelsea Conlon
Trade Specialist
Chelsea joined the Market Development Division in April 2017. Chelsea has a bachelor’s degree in International Business from Boise State University with a minor in Japanese. She also spent nearly a year at Hosei University in Tokyo in the Japanese Studies program. Fluent in Japanese, she has experience in marketing plan development, consumer research, and presentation tools and software.
Most recently she worked at the Idaho Industrial Commission as a Benefits Analyst where her responsibilities included coordinating workshops and conducting presentations (among many other things). She has been active in numerous service organizations and comes to the Marketing Division with a great deal of enthusiasm for marketing Idaho agriculture around the globe.
Erika Leon
Trade Specialist
Erika León joined the ISDA Market Development Division in September 2023. Erika has a bachelor’s degree in International Business from the ITESM university in Mexico.
Born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, fluent in Spanish. Erika worked as Trade Specialist at the Idaho-Mexico Trade Office, were she found her passion supporting Idaho companies promoting and selling their products internationally. For her, there is no better feeling than to see Idaho products on local stores shelves. She is heavily customer service driven, always eager to promote trade and investment, connecting Idaho companies with the right partners.
Her love for Idaho made her move to Boise in 2017. Prior to joining the ISDA she served at the Idaho Hispanic Chamber of Commerce consulting and supporting businesses.
Nothing makes Erika happier than spending time with her daughter and son. Her favorite hobby is weaving projects on her loom while enjoying a cup of her home roasted coffee.
Michelle Silva
Trade Specialist
Michelle Silva joined the Marketing Development Division in January 2022. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness with an emphasis in Marketing Management from Murray State University where she discovered a love and passion for all things agriculture. Most recently she worked within the alcohol industry and brings with her knowledge that surrounds compliance and regulatory.
Michelle comes to us from the corn belt in St. Louis, Missouri and has enjoyed her time also living and adventuring in both Kentucky and Wyoming. In her downtime she enjoys all things equine and outdoors and exploring new places to eat and enjoy good bourbon.
Dawn Larzelier
Idaho Preferred Marketing Specialist
Dawn joined the Marketing Development Division in December 2021. Her varied background in the nonprofit and public sector includes membership coordination, event management, social media and content marketing, sales and operations. Immediately prior to joining ISDA, Dawn operated a private culinary tour business with an emphasis on local wineries and farm-to-fork experiences. She brings a great deal of enthusiasm for building community through digital marketing and special events and looks forward to her role with the Idaho Preferred program.
Dawn was raised in the Sunnyslope area of Idaho Wine Country, and has travelled across the United States, Europe and Morocco. While Dawn always enjoys travel, one of her favorite things in the world is that feeling of returning home again. She studied Communications and Psychology at the College of Western Idaho. She “reads cookbooks like others might read literature,” enjoys wine tasting and gets creative with vintage furniture rehab. After the last year of pandemic scares, she absolutely cherishes her Sunday dinners with her five adult children and their growing families.