Meet the Staff

Laura M. Johnson - Manager

Laura joined the marketing division in 1991. As Section Manager she oversees the division’s domestic and international programs and also serves as the Department’s Legislative Liaison. 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 enjoys horseback riding, snowmobiling, golf, camping, hunting and most importantly her daughter Taylor.

Leah Clark - Trade Specialist/Idaho Preferred®

Leah joined the Marketing division of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture in May 2004. Leah works on the Idaho Preferred® program conducting retail, foodservice, education and public relations promotions to increace consumer demand for Idaho food and agriculture products. Prior to joining the Idaho State Department of Agriculture Leah served as the Executive Director of the Idaho Beef Council for 15 years. She has a Bachelors degree in Agribusiness Management from Arizona State University and a Master of Agriculture degree in Marketing and Finance from Oklahoma State University.

Jerry Ward - Trade Specialist

Jerry came on board with the marketing division in November of 2004. He graduated from Boise State University with a degree in Marketing.  Jerry was raised on a small fruit tree farm.  He was in the Army for 5 years and served in Germany, the Persian Gulf States, and Texas.  He attended the Defense Language Institute where he learned Arabic.  After an honorable discharge, Jerry worked in the agriculture equipment industry. 

Lacey Menasco - Trade Specialist

Lacey Menasco grew up on a large cattle ranch in northern Nevada where her family is still actively involved in ranching.  She earned Master’s in Agricultural Economics from the University of Idaho before joining the Marketing Division in 2005. Lacey and her husband Kyle live in Nampa with their young son.  Lacey enjoys spending time with her family, disc golf, horse back riding, and knitting.

Amanda Albers - Trade Specialist

Amanda most recently served as the Manager of Marketing and Administration for Mueller Investments, Inc., a small firm dealing in alternative investments. Prior to this, Amanda assisted in the ongoing operations and development of a small family CSA farm business, Sunbeam Farms, located in Greenleaf, ID. Amanda also worked for several years in the areas of human resources and administration for Oppenheimer Companies, Inc., a Boise-based company involved in food sales and marketing, and real estate development and investment. Amanda holds a BS degree in Psychology from the University of Idaho and her MBA from Northwest Nazarene University. Amanda’s outside interests include reading, cooking, taking in a good movie and pretty much anything outdoors - running, camping, hiking, fly-fishing, rugby, kayaking, and snowboarding.

Kim Peterson - Marketing Assistant

Kim Peterson is a graduate from Lewis University in the Chicagoland area with a B.S. in Contemporary Global Studies and Political Science.  She completed an internship in Washington, D.C. with United States Senator Larry Craig while attending Georgetown University, in which she aided Legislative Correspondents in the task of researching and compiling letters to Idaho constituents on many issues of importance to Idaho’s citizens.  Previous to her employment in Washington, Kim was a long-time gymnastics coach in both Idaho and Illinois, and continues to enjoy working with children of all ages.  Additionally, Kim spent her childhood in the small town of Declo and still prefers the slow-paced lifestyle of rural Idaho to her time spent in Chicago and Washington!  Kim enjoys a personal connection to ISDA as her family, extended and immediate, spent most of their lives in the agricultural lifestyle as potato, grain and sugar beet growers.