Executive Director Of Business Group Quits For Clinic Job

Steve Judy has resigned as executive director of Concerned Businesses of North Idaho to take a job with North Idaho Immediate Care.

Judy, who formerly worked as a North Idaho field representative for U.S. Sens. Dirk Kempthorne and Larry Craig, both Idaho Republicans, now is director of human resources for the health care clinic. He’ll be handling personnel and payroll and will work to recruit physicians to North Idaho.

Judy worked for the business group for less than 18 months, but he said the split was amicable.

“They understood it was a career move,” Judy said. “They were very supportive.”

His departure is the second in as many years at the business group. The first director, Pat Raffee, resigned after two years to return to consulting work.

Concerned Businesses represents 55 area businesses. In recent years, the group has lobbied public officials to keep taxes down and has contributed money to Republican candidates.

The group recently pushed to have the Panhandle Health District’s environmental enforcement arm moved to the state Division of Environmental Quality.

“(The job) was a constant challenge, as working for a business association typically is,” Judy said. “There always are going to be times when there’s conflict within and outside the organization. I knew that going in, and it didn’t disappoint me.”

Judy said his style and his push to support elected officials as well as be critical of them was “different from what they were used to.” But, Judy said, he and group leaders found a “comfort level” and learned from one another.

Concerned Businesses President Tom Richards said losing Judy won’t change the group’s mission.

“We are committed to improving the climate both for business and for living, primarily by interacting with local government,” he said. “Steve did a wonderful job for us. We’re not excited to see him go, though we understand he’s got a good opportunity for himself.”

Richards said the group will probably put together a search committee to find a replacement for Judy, which could take a few months.

“I don’t necessarily think we’re going to miss a whole lot,” he said. “We’ve finished up on property taxes. We’re in a lull between that and the next election season.”

, DataTimes