Executive Director’s Retirement Announcement
Dear Boise Centre team members, clients, and community partners:
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Greater Boise Auditorium District, I announce the retirement of our Executive Director, Pat Rice, effective late 2023. Pat has served the District and Boise Centre for
twenty-two years.
Pat joined the staff of Boise Centre in 2001 as a Project Manager for a then proposed convention center expansion. He held the position for four years and led efforts that gained the support of key stakeholders and community members. Although the expansion would not be realized for many years, Pat worked tirelessly to champion the benefits of an expanded Boise Centre. Those benefits are being realized today. Increased visitor attendance at events has created strong demand for local lodging, restaurants, entertainment, and recreation, which have generated positive local economic impact. The ripple effects can be seen today in Boise’s thriving downtown. Boise Centre welcomes more than 150,000 visitors annually.
Pat was promoted to the position of General Manager in 2005 and served as an outstanding strategic leader who retired the original $19 million debt 18 months early in 2008. The Team at Boise Centre has set a very high standard for quality and service, receiving accolades from event planners both locally and around the country.
In 2010, Pat was named Executive Director of Boise Centre and the District. During his tenure, Boise Centre completed a multi-phase $47.5 million expansion in 2017, which nearly doubled the convention center to 86,000 square feet of rentable meeting and event space. Under Rice’s strong leadership, the larger facility was immediately successful as the number of events and attendees surged to record levels. Numerous international and national conventions, conferences, meetings, and special events have convened at Boise Centre. Under his guidance, Boise Centre’s revenue increased from $3 million to $9 million, and staff grew from 157 pre-expansion to 240 post expansion.
Pat advocated for an aquatics center in 2013 which has come to fruition through the public-private partnership with Idaho Competitive Aquatics, which will open later this spring.
Be assured our Board of Directors will search diligently to find the best qualified candidate to succeed Pat as our next Executive Director. The District has retained Angela Holbrook with Extendra Recruiting to facilitate the search.
Please join me in thanking Pat for his many years of hard work and outstanding commitment to Boise Centre and the District. We all congratulate him on his many tremendous accomplishments and wish him well in his upcoming retirement. Ever the hospitality leader, he has enjoyed many partnerships, made many friends, and greeted hundreds of clients and groups through the years.
Sincerely,
Kristin Muchow, Chairwoman, Greater Boise Auditorium District