STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Call her a CEO of Influence.

The Advocates’ Tricia Swartling was honored this past week as one of nine top leaders in business, government and the nonprofit sector in Idaho by the Boise-based Idaho Business Review.

She was honored in a reception dinner and awards event at the Boise Centre in Boise and featured in a magazine published with the Idaho Business Review.

“I’ve put my heart and soul into my work with the Advocates. I am thrilled to receive the recognition,” said Swartling.

Swartling has been at the helm of the Advocates for 23 years, growing it from a fledgling nonprofit into one that is considered a model program in Idaho. She has raised $23 million to support The Advocates’ vision of a compassionate community free from emotional and physical abuse.

The Advocates is recognized as a leader in the state for implementing social change programs, such as the Green Dot Bystander empowerment program, Every Teen Has a Choice (ETC) activists, Skills for Success employability program, Smart About Money economic empowerment program and Domestic Violence First Housing.

The Advocates’ newest initiative is Safe Housing First, which involves the construction of 18 units of transitional housing apartments and a new client services in Hailey.

The CEO of Influence program is in its ninth year. Applications are reviewed by past honorees who consider each candidate’s record of leadership, vision, innovation, competitiveness, financial performance and community leadership.

“This year’s honorees join an impressive group of leaders from past years,” said Cindy Suffa, the publisher of Idaho Business Review.