The Idaho Smart Growth Board
Nathan Murray, PresidentNathan Murray is an Economic and Community Development Advisor for Idaho Power in south central Idaho. In this role, he works with economic development organizations to attract, retain and expand business in Idaho Power’s service area.
Nathan previously served as the Director of Economic Development and Urban Renewal for the City of Twin Falls where he oversaw business recruitment and expansion efforts for the city which had roughly $2 billion in capital improvements since 2012. He also worked for 15 years in a neighboring state in city planning and economic development. Early career accomplishments include the redevelopment of a 200 acre former U.S. steel site into an industrial park for light manufacturing, recruitment of $50 million in business investment around a municipal airport, and creation of the city’s first Economic Development Strategic Plan.
Nathan and his wife Sherry are the parents of twins and triplets. Their first family car was a 29-foot stretch Lincoln Continental Limousine.
Gary Allen, Secretary & Treasurer
Gary Allen is a founder of LeanLaw, which makes financial software for law firms. In 2024, he retired from his law practice at Givens Pursley, where he practiced land use and environmental law for over 30 years. Gary served as the lead author of the Idaho Land Use Handbook and has addressed entitlement, access and other land use issues before local government entities throughout Idaho. His land use experience spanned commercial, residential, industrial and infrastructure projects, including some of the largest projects in the state. Gary has also practiced environmental law throughout his career focused on environmental compliance, permitting, transactions and litigation.
Nancy Chaney grew up hearing stories about her dad’s youth in Sandpoint, then moved from California to Boise in 1969. In 1980 she moved to Moscow “for a couple of years,” and has made it her home since. She served on the Moscow City Council, two terms as Moscow’s mayor, and is a past president of the Association of Idaho Cities. In 2015 she was the recipient of the Idaho Smart Growth Charles Hummel Award. Nancy and her husband operate a small business in his specialty of veterinary ophthalmology. She holds degrees in nursing and psychology from Boise State University and a master’s in environmental science from the University of Idaho.
Rob Hopper is a member of the Caldwell City Council and the chairman of the Valley Regional Transit Authority Board of Directors. Rob’s civic interests have included efforts to revitalize Caldwell’s downtown core, improve pedestrian and bicycle transit in the community, and improve the service level Caldwell provides its citizens. As a community leader, Rob serves on many other boards and committees. Rob is employed as CIO of Canyon County, and previously was an information technology consultant at Hewlett-Packard. The Hopper family has a long history in Canyon County. Rob’s great-grandfather was an early mayor of Caldwell and his father served on the Caldwell City Council in the ‘70s.