Idaho Business for Education has hired Rod Gramer to be its first full-time president and CEO. Skip Oppenheimer, IBE’s chairman, said “The IBE board selected Gramer based on his track record leading a complex organization, as well as his strong executive and personal qualities”.

Most recently, Gramer was vice president and general manager at Bay9 News and InfoMás in Tampa, Fla.  Idahoans know Gramer from his time as KTVB Channel 7’s News Director and as a reporter and editor at the Idaho Statesman.  Gramer, an Idaho native and University of Idaho graduate, has extensive experience in communications, management, strategy development and policy analysis.

“Rod Gramer has the business background, knowledge and passion for education to be a strong leader for IBE,” said Oppenheimer. “We unanimously selected Rod to lead IBE as we engage business leaders in the important work of improving Idaho’s education system to prepare all students to succeed in a competitive global economy.”

Idaho Business for Education is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, comprising Idaho’s business leaders who are committed to transforming Idaho’s education system.  IBE is focused on ensuring that Idaho prepares students with a high-quality education that produces the well-educated workforce our businesses and economy require.

“In 21st century America, education beyond high school is the passport to the American Dream. It is imperative that we prepare Idaho’s students to achieve higher levels of education,” says Gramer.  “Our economy requires it and our community needs highly-educated leaders to ensure a great quality of life for future Idahoans.”

Gramer will begin service as IBE’s President and CEO on April 15.