DON DIETRICH NAMED COMMERCE DIRECTOR

GOVERNOR ELEVATES ACTING DIRECTOR TO PERMANENT POSITION

(BOISE) – Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter announced the appointment today of Don Dietrich as director of the Idaho Department of Commerce. Dietrich had been acting director since former director Jim Ellick took a leave of absence in early February and subsequently resigned.

Dietrich, who had been administrator of the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Division, has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and a master’s degree in business administration. He previously was director of international business development for Aspen Technology in Boston, assistant vice president and general manager of U.S. petroleum trading and distribution for Cargill Inc., and Cargill’s export manager for U.S. wheat and soybeans.

He has worked for the State of Idaho since 2003, focusing on employment services, international trade and economic development.

“Don knows business, and he knows Idaho. He knows our products and our people, and he knows how to get things done for the folks we serve,” Governor Otter said. “He’s energetic and decisive, and he inspires great things from the people with whom he works both inside and outside government. I’m proud to be taking the ‘acting’ tag off his title.”

“I am honored to have been asked by Governor Otter to serve as the new director of Commerce,” Dietrich said. “I thank him for his confidence in my leadership abilities and am ready to move forward in the job of marketing Idaho and our companies to the world. Idaho offers tremendous potential for economic growth, and I am ready to move forward with the team at Commerce to capitalize on that potential.”

Dietrich, an avid private pilot, is married with one son and lives in Boise.

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