Council President Meredith Stead

Meredith Stead lived in a few different places before calling Boise home. Born on the East Coast, she attended the University of Colorado, graduating with a BA in Communication and English Literature. Her career took her to Los Angeles, where she worked in independent film, and then to Lake Tahoe, where she launched the San Francisco Ski and Snowboard Festival, growing it from a 20,000-attendee debut to a three-city event.

It was a spring visit to her brother James that first introduced Meredith to Boise. Perfect weather, farmers market bike rides, and a Shakespeare Festival performance sealed the deal. She and her husband Tommy relocated in 2011 and have been proud Boiseans ever since. Along with their Old English Bulldog Lulu, they love biking around the city, gardening, exploring the food and art scene, and heading out for classic Idaho adventures.

Professionally, Meredith served as Marketing Director for Ballet Idaho and then as Marketing Director for the Boise Valley Economic Partnership, where she focused on recruiting high-wage jobs for Treasure Valley residents. She then moved into corporate Strategic Sourcing roles with Albertsons and Block, Inc., supporting economic access.

Meredith has a deep history of civic engagement, including nearly six years on the City of Boise Planning and Zoning Commission, serving as Chairperson for two terms. She has served on the FUNDSY Board of Directors, as president of Boise Metro Chamber's Leadership Boise, as a mentor for Conservation Voters of Idaho's Public Boards and Commission Fellowship, and on the Boise State Public Radio Community Advisory Board. She has been recognized by the Idaho Business Review as a Woman of the Year nominee, Accomplished Under 40, and a Power 25 honoree.

Appointed by Mayor McLean in 2023 to serve District 5, Meredith was elected to a four-year term later that year and selected by her peers to serve as Council President Pro Tem and then as Council President. She represents the City Council as liaison to the Downtown Boise Association, as a commissioner on the Capitol City Development Corporation, and as Chairperson of the Harris Ranch CID Board. Her priorities include an affordable housing pipeline, a vibrant small business economy, updating historic district surveys and design guidelines, and continued investment in public art, community gathering spaces, and transportation solutions.

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