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Meet_Jana

Jana Kemp is a true American classic. Great-great-great granddaughter of patriots Josiah and Hannah Weston of Maine, her story reflects the story of America.

Jana was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the “City of Brotherly Love” and a cradle of American freedom. When she was a little girl, Jana and her family moved westward to central Indiana, into the heart of American farming country.

Later, they migrated again, this time to the upper Midwest - to Minnesota, the home of Paul Bunyan, wild rice, and that quintessential icon of the American airwaves, a Prairie Home Companion.

Always active and independent, Jana enjoyed a wide range of activities during her school years. She lettered in marching band and fencing, and served in 4-H. At age 18 she moved away from home, this time south to a small town in Illinois, to attend college. Jana then completed her personal migration westward when she moved to Idaho in 1994. Jana has been a resident of Boise and Garden City ever since.

From an early age, Jana displayed the characteristics of a genuine leader: the ability to “play with the boys” in sports during the days before Title Nine and girls’ teams; a hard work ethic that got her to the top of her classes and saw her through college in three-and-a half years, an ethic of frugality, and a true Yankee entrepreneurial spirit. 

Since1993, she has been an independent businesswoman, recently authoring five books translated into six languages.

Jana’s patriotic spirit came to the fore in 2004 when she ran for the Idaho House of Representatives. After serving one term, she was defeated by her Democratic rival and went on to build her business (Meeting and Management Essentials), write her books, and marry Dan Allers in 2007.

She has one stepdaughter, and enjoys being a mom, a Rotarian, and a businesswoman. Jana now looks forward to also serving the Idaho public as Governor in 2010.

When asked what I will do differently, my answer (with a smile!) is “everything.” The reason is that my leadership style is to listen, explore, research, analyze, synthesize, and to draw on the people who best know how to solve problems, make innovations, and get done the work that needs to be done. (See the Who’s Talking page to hear more about me from others)

I’ll use collaborative problem solving leadership on a daily basis so those who know what to do can do it!

I will also use command-and-control decision making when needed – because that’s what leaders responsible for armed services, law enforcement, and emergency services do too.

And when asked “why as an Independent,” my answer is because it is time to focus on Idaho’s Future!

We citizens of Idaho and our children and grandchildren deserve a future that is even brighter than the successes of our past.

Let’s celebrate our strengths, our innovations, and our intelligence and build upon them together.

I look forward to meeting you (for the first or 20th time) and to working with you For the Good of All of Idaho. Together we can shine light on our Possibilities and turn those possibilities into Viable life and marketplace realities for our great state and for the world!

Career Experience

  • Meeting & Management Essentials 1993 - present. Founder and owner. Meeting & Management Essentials specializes in helping organizations of all sizes to improve the productivity, morale and profit of their day-to-day business meetings. Publisher and editor of Better Meetings for Everyone quarterly newsletter. Author of five business books.Momentum radio show originator and host for KBOI (Boise, 50K watts) – four years. Named Entrepreneur of the Year in 1996 by Alpha Kappa Psi. Integrity Counts Better Business Bureau award recipient in 1999. Idaho’s 40 business people under 40 award recipient 2001. In 2006, recognized as one of the Idaho Business Reviews’ Women of the Year. Newspaper columnist – nine years. KTVB television business tips segment provider – two years.
  • Idaho State Representative 2004-2006. District 16B elected Representative for one term.
  • Carlson Learning Company 1989 - 1992. Account Executive, Marketing Specialist and Product Manager. In first six months, grew account base from zero dollars to average of $15,000 (of $10 workbooks) a month. Assisted development and execution of marketing and direct mail plans. Represented company at trade shows. Trained internal staff, clients and international distributors in use of sales tracking software, telemarketing skills,  customer service, prospecting and mailer design. Maintained the National Accounts' sales tracking software. Responsible for new and existing product design, development and marketing.
  • CVN Companies 1987 - 1989. Senior Training Specialist. Training programs and videos designed, developed, delivered and evaluated for corporate supervisors, telemarketing and customer service personnel. Training included communications, telephone, computer, customer service and supervisory skills. Training delivered for the deaf. Over 2300 people trained. Over 1000 presentation hours per year.
  • Winning Edge Learning Center 1986 - 1987. Project Manager for an electronic meeting room/classroom. Sales presentations designed and delivered. Developed marketing, program development and training skills.
  • Human Resource Institute, Inc. 1986. Telemarketing Project Manager. Researched and proposed a telemarketing plan for this sales and management training firm.
  • Marshall Brooks College Library 1984 - 1986. Circulation desk librarian assistant. Researched and wrote job descriptions and manuals for circulation desk student workers and circulation desk librarian.
  • General Mills, Inc. 1984. Betty Crocker Kitchen Tour Guide. Presentation skills developed for groups ranging from 12 to 200.

Leadership Experience

  • Daughters of the American Revolution. Idaho By-laws committee, 2007-2009.
  • Silver Sage Girl Scouts nominations committee member. 2009-2010.
  • Partners in Art board member. 2008-2009.
  • Idaho Film Industry Task Force originator and co-chair. 2005-2007.
  • 4-H Ambassador Training provider for 80 youth a year. 2004-2009.
  • Rotary District 5400 Public Relations Chair, 2003-2004.
  • Idaho State Association of Parliamentarians, Treasurer 2003-2005.
  • United Way of Treasure Valley, Community Investment Council 2003-2004
  • American Society for Training and Development, local chapter board, director at large, 2002.
  • Rotary Club of Boise, chair of publicity committee, additional committee memberships, 2001-2002. Member 2000 to present.
  • Senior Programs, Inc., Board Member, 2001 – 2002.
  • Advisory Board Member, Easter Seals/Goodwill of Idaho. 1997 - 2000.
  • Citizen Police Academy alumni association conference committee. 2000-2001.
  • Boise Area Chamber of Commerce - Small Business Education Committee. 1994 - 1999.Chair of Education Committee 1997 - 1998. Chair of Business Education and Advisory Committee 1999.
  • Second Vice President, Idaho State Association of Parliamentarians. 1998 - 1999.
  • Board Member, Learning Lab, Inc. (Formerly Literacy Lab, Inc.)  FY1996 - FY1998. Marketing Committee Chair. Bylaws Committee Chair. Volunteer tutor 1995 to 2004.
  • Idaho Legislative testimony in favor of DBA registrations with the Idaho Secretary of State’s office.
  • Reducing Idaho's Bureaucracy Committee. 1994 - 1997.
  • Treasurer, Treasure Valley Chapter ASTD. 1997.
  • Vice-president, Valley Unit Parliamentarians. 1996.
  • Neighborhood Crime Watch - Block program starter. 1993. and 2003.
  • Neighborhood Association by-laws and covenants committee. 2001-2008.
  • Neighborhood Association Pool Committee. 2008-2009.
  • Board Member and Chair of Advertising Committee for 1991, regional youth meeting.
  • Board President - Homeowner's Association. 1990 - 1991.
  • Board Representative, member and secretary for Operations Committee of a Minneapolis non-profit. 1989 - 1990.

Professional Associations

  • American Society for Training and Development, State organization.
  • National Association of Parliamentarians
  • Idaho State Association of Parliamentarians
  • Idaho Business Network, Idaho Department of Commerce
  • Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association, 1999 to present.
  • Citizen Law Academy Alumni, 2000 to present.

Government Certifications

  • Idaho DBE Certification. 1995 - 2000.
  • Federal Government Cage Code: 02SA2
  • Federal Government PASS vendor listing.

Education

  • Principia College, BA in Business Administration. 1986.
  • University of St. Thomas, MBA work begun
  • Idaho POST 10 week Academy for Law Enforcement Officers completed 2002.
  
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Jana’s Priorities
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Join Jana at the following Community Events:

September Celebration Fitness Team – Join the Jana Kemp for Governor Team!

Join the Jana Kemp for Governor Fitness Celebration team and Celebrate All at St. Luke's Fitness Celebration, Saturday, September 25, 2010 @ 8:30 AM.  Sign up today at for my team and get a special T-shirt and discount on your registration. Come join me in this great event letting everyone know, we have a WINNING team.  Registration deadline… September 10!

To schedule group and/or individual time with Jana, please email Jana at: Jana@JanaKemp.com

Jana visits Dress for Success, a local non-profit supporting women seeking employment.  “In 30 minutes, I watched women transform from hesitation to confidence in their preparations for job interviews. This program is making a positive difference for families and the community.”  Local dollars helping local women!