BOISE - Idaho Partners for Home Buyer Education, Inc., welcomes Mr. Sam Byrd, Dr. Robert Ketchum PhD, and Mrs. Cindy Williams, new members of the IPHBE Board of Directors. Ketchum is the assistant vice president for Instruction at North Idaho College and executive director of NIC’s Workforce Training Center. Williams is vice president and community development manager of U.S. Bank, and Byrd is executive director of the Idaho Migrant Council.

Mr. Byrd has more than 25 years of experience in working with cross-cultural and organizational leadership issues. He has been an instrumental member of the Task Force on Hispanic Education, the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Education Center and the Idaho Committee on Indian Education. Byrd has won numerous awards for his contributions to diversity and ethnic advancement, including the 1998 Larry G. Selland Humanitarian Award by the Boise State University Women’s Center, the 1998 national Howard Swearer Humanitarian Award by Campus Compact, and the 2001 University of Idaho President’s Medallion. He is currently President of ¡DiversityWorks!

"I'm excited about being appointed to the Board because I believe that I can contribute a perspective based on my experience and current work within the Latino community of Idaho," Byrd said. "Helping to improve access to home buying opportunities is one of the most important things we can do to ensure a better future for Latino families in Idaho. Home ownership contributes to a sense of belonging to a community that eventually forms the basis for improved employment, education, and social opportunities."

Mrs. Williams is a 24-year employee of U.S. Bank, and manages the Charitable Contributions program and the Community Reinvestment Activities for the State of Idaho. She serves on the boards of Mercy Housing Idaho, Friends of Idaho Public Television, Idaho-Nevada CDFI, Jazz Educators of Idaho, Idaho Financial Literacy Coalition and various committees for United Way of Treasure Valley.

"My role is to help carry the banner in support of financial literacy throughout the State of Idaho as well as to insure that the mission of Finally Home!®—to provide free education to potential home-buyers—is maintained by encouraging client referrals and introducing potential sponsors to this great program," Williams said.

"It's difficult to express the enthusiasm I have for Finally Home!® and the positive work they’re doing in helping individuals and families fulfill the American Dream of home ownership."

Mr. Ketchum holds a Doctorate in vocational-technical education and has worked for more than 25 years in education and training and has been at North Idaho College since 1990. He serves as the Idaho representative to the Workforce Training State Liaison Network, and is a member of the board of the National Council for Occupational Education.

"Through my appointment to the board of the Idaho Partners for Home Buyer Education, I learned of the high level of personal home ownership in Idaho," Ketchum said of his appointment. "I hope my experience in education and training will add value to the work of the board. In my tenure with the IPHBE board, I hope to assist in the identification of resources and support the educational work of the board. North Idaho College is proud to be a Regional Training Partner with the Finally Home!® program, and I am pleased that I have been offered this opportunity to serve."

The Idaho Partners for Home Buyer Education, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that has teamed up with local partners in Idaho to offer free home buyer education since 1999. The Finally Home!® home buyer education program has graduated 5,800 future Idaho home owners since its inception.