Meet the Staff

Laura M. Johnson - Manager

Laura joined the Market Development 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 Market Development 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 increase 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.

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 a Master’s in Agricultural Economics from the University of Idaho before joining the Market Development Division in 2005. At ISDA, her time is primarily spent working with Farmers Markets and managing the Specialty Crop Block Grant program. Lacey and her husband Kyle live in Nampa with their two young sons. 

Kim Peterson - Trade Specialist

Kim Peterson is a graduate from Lewis University in the Chicagoland area with a B.S. in Contemporary Global Studies and Political Science.  Prior to joining the Market Development Division in August 2007, she completed 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. 

Katlin Davis - Trade Specialist

Katlin Davis is a graduate of the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho with a B.S. in Agriculture Industry Management and Communications and a Masters degree from the University of Phoenix in Business and Administration.  Before joining the Market Development Division team in July 2011, Katlin was the Program Manager at the Idaho Beef Council where she managed retail and foodservice promotions, handled public relations campaigns and handled producer communications. Katlin is a native of Idaho and grew up in Cascade, Idaho on a beef cattle ranch.  Katlin was excited to continue in a position supporting Idaho’s agriculture families and products. Katlin will be responsible for international market development throughout Latin America. 

Skylar Jett- Trade Analyst

Skylar is a graduate from Boise State University. She studied International Business and Spanish with minors in Economics and Latin American Studies. During her studies at BSU she has been able to live and go to school abroad in Spain and Germany.  Born and raised in Idaho, she loves the quality of life here and was glad to find a position that allowed her to stay in Idaho. Skylar joined the Market Development Division as an intern in 2010. In her free time she loves to be outdoors enjoying all that Idaho has to offer.