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Tommy Ahlquist

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Tommy Ahlquist
Personal details
Born (1968-01-25) January 25, 1968 (age 56)
Hunter, Utah, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseShanna Mullins
Children4
EducationRicks College
University of Utah (BS, MD)
Websitewww.bvadev.com

John Thomas Ahlquist III (born January 25, 1968) is an American businessman, commercial real-estate developer, and retired physician from Idaho. He is the CEO of the development firm, Ball Ventures Ahlquist (BVA) and founder and medical director of MN Solutions. Prior to that, he was the COO of the Gardner Company where he helped develop projects like the Eighth & Main building and City Center Plaza in downtown Boise. He was a candidate for the Republican Party nomination for Governor of Idaho in the 2018 Idaho gubernatorial election.

Early life and education

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Photo of Ahlquist receiving the Eagle Scout award.

Ahlquist was born on January 25, 1968,[1] in Hunter, Utah, (now West Valley City, Utah)[2] and grew up on a small family farm.[3] Both of Ahlquist's grandfathers worked for Kennecott Copper. His father, Tom, worked as a journeyman electrician when he was young and later as a construction manager for large commercial projects.[2] His mother, Sandra, has owned her own preschool for nearly forty years.[4] At the age of thirteen, Ahlquist earned his Eagle Scout Award,[5] and then drew national attention by becoming one of only a few Scouts in the history of the Boy Scouts of America program to earn all 121 merit badges. Ahlquist was honored with a commendation from then-Utah Governor, Scott M. Matheson.[6]

Ahlquist attended Cyprus High School in Magna, Utah where he participated in athletics and student government. He earned several awards for academic excellence and leadership and graduated in 1986.[7] After high school, Ahlquist moved to Rexburg, Idaho to attend Ricks College (now Brigham Young University–Idaho)[2] where he played basketball and studied pre-med.[8][9]

After a year at Ricks College, he left to serve as an LDS missionary in Brazil. Upon his return in 1989, he enrolled in the University of Utah, where he managed the Pediatric Intensive Care Research Laboratory at the university while attending school. He graduated from the University of Utah with a BA degree in biology and a minor in chemistry in 1992. Ahlquist continued to study medicine at the University of Utah, graduating as a Doctor of Medicine in 1996.[2][10]

Medical career

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Ahlquist completed an emergency medicine residency at the University of Arizona in 1999. While there, he served as the chief resident and earned the award for Resident of the Year. He is board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine.[2][11] After residency, Ahlquist began working as an attending physician in Boise, Idaho for St. Luke's Health System and has worked in emergency rooms across the state of Idaho for over 15 years. He was the head of the Emergency Department at St. Luke's Meridian Medical Center in Meridian, Idaho and worked the night shift there for six years.[2] Ahlquist retired from full-time work as an emergency room physician in 2014.[12]

In 2001, Ahlquist co-founded a public access defibrillator service company called Stat Pads. The company sells defibrillators and offers training to medical personnel. In his role as a developer, Ahlquist has also helped build numerous health care-related facilities in and around Boise, including The Portico and Unity Health Center in Meridian[2] and several ongoing projects with the Saltzer Health, a Nampa-based health system.[13] Ahlquist acquired Saltzer Health through his Ball Ventures Ahlquist (BVA) development company in January 2019.[14]

Ahlquist Sold Saltzer Health to Intermountain Health on October 1, 2020.[15]

In 2019 started PIVOT Health, a primary care clinic targeting wellness and healthy lifestyle changes.[16]

In response to pandemic, Ahlquist founded CTCI to assist Idahoans with COVID Testing and vaccinations.[17] Ahlquist founded MN in 2020.[18]

Developer career

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In 2006, Ahlquist founded Ahlquist Development and began developing commercial real estate.[19] After developing several smaller buildings, Ahlquist Development partnered with Gardner Company.[20][21] Their first major joint development was The Portico at Meridian, a 7-building, 328,000 square-foot, mixed-use project in Meridian, Idaho. In 2005 and 2006, Ahlquist convinced 18 residents to sell their properties on the land that would become The Portico. Multiple joint venture projects followed in the Treasure Valley area including St. Luke's Medical Plaza in Nampa and Eagle Island Crossing in Eagle.[2][22]

In 2010, Ahlquist Development merged with Gardner Company and the new entity retained the Gardner Company name.[19] Ahlquist became COO of the company at the time of the merger.[23] One of the most prominent projects Ahlquist worked on as COO of the Gardner Company was the property on Eighth & Main in Boise. Known colloquially as the "Boise Hole" because it had sat vacant for 25 years, the property was purchased by the Gardner Company in July 2011.[24] The 18-story Eighth & Main office tower (also known as the Zions Bank building after its primary tenant) broke ground in 2012 and was completed in 2014, becoming the tallest building in Idaho.[2][19][25]

In 2013, the Gardner Company purchased the U.S. Bank building, Idaho's second-tallest building. On the property around the tower, Ahlquist and the company helped develop the 400,000 square-foot City Center Plaza.[19][26] The facility was completed in 2016 and included an underground transit center, new retail, an expanded convention center, Boise State University Computer Science Department, and the corporate headquarters for Clearwater Analytics.[27] As COO of the Gardner Company, Ahlquist has led the development of numerous other properties in the Treasure Valley area, including the West Valley Medical Complex in Caldwell,[28] Library Square in Nampa,[29] Mace River Ranch in Eagle,[30] and the ongoing Pioneer Crossing development in Downtown Boise.[31]

In 2016, Ahlquist led the formation of a new division of Gardner Company in collaboration with the Brighton Corporation focusing on a continuum of care for seniors through independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing facilities all tied into local health systems called Veranda Senior Living. Veranda currently has two locations in Meridian and Boise.[32]

In June 2018, Ahlquist left his post as COO of the Gardner Company to head a new joint venture with Ball Ventures called Ball Ventures Ahlquist LLC (BVA).[19] In September of that year, Ahlquist announced plans for a 90,000 square-foot medical office complex in Meridian called Central Valley Plaza. The development will also feature retail space.[33] In addition to Central Valley Plaza, BVA was working on Ten Mile Crossing in Meridian and Pioneer Crossing, both of which were bought by BVA from Gardner.[34] In January 2019, Ahlquist led BVA's acquisition of the Saltzer Medical Group, a Nampa-based health system. BVA changed the group's name to Saltzer Health shortly thereafter.[35] BVA is planning to include Saltzer Health locations in its Ten Mile Crossing, Central Valley Plaza, and other developments.[13] Other projects that Ahlquist is working on as CEO of BVA include Eagle View Landing in Meridian[36] and an as yet unnamed development off of Interstate 84 in Caldwell.[37]

New BVA Projects include: Eagle View Landing, TopGolf, 4th and Idaho, North Ranch, 8th and Main, Pioneer Crossing, Ten Mile.[38]

Political career

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Ahlquist was a finalist for the Idaho State Department of Education Board opening in July 2014 when Milford Terrell announced that he was stepping down early from his term.[39] David Hill, formerly with Idaho National Laboratory, received the appointment.[40] He was a founder of Idaho 2020, a bipartisan think tank aimed at bringing together business leaders from around Idaho to focus on challenges facing the state.[41] In 2015, the group studied the state's level of investment in infrastructure and developed suggestions for leaders and lawmakers. In January 2016, Ahlquist delivered a speech detailing the data collected at the Idaho Chamber Alliance and also presented the information to the Idaho state legislature.[42]

2016 presidential election

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Ahlquist supported Marco Rubio in the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries and served as his financial co-chair for Idaho.[43] He did not support eventual President Donald Trump in the general election and wrote in Marco Rubio. However, Ahlquist noted later that he supported and agreed with Trump as president.[44]

2018 Idaho gubernatorial race

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On March 1, 2017, Ahlquist announced his candidacy for the 2018 Idaho gubernatorial election in an event at the Zions Bank tower he helped develop. He also announced that he would be embarking on a 97-city campaign tour of the state,[45] which he started later that week[46] and finished in May 2017.[47] His three main platforms were fixing Idaho's health care gap, economic development, and education.[48] On September 5, 2017, he added a plank that called for ethics reform and term limits for various offices in the state.[49] Throughout the race, Ahlquist was considered one of three Republican front-runners alongside Idaho Lieutenant Governor Brad Little and U.S. Representative Raúl Labrador.[50] In October 2017, he received an official endorsement from Mitt Romney.[51] He later received endorsements from conservative commentators, Charlie Kirk and Candace Owens.[52] On May 15, 2018, Ahlquist earned 26.2% of the vote in the Idaho Republican Party primary election, falling behind Raúl Labrador (32.6%) and the eventual governor Brad Little (37.3%).[53]

Community service

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Ahlquist has served on multiple community boards and subcommittees, including Family Advocates, United Way of the Treasure Valley,[54] YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, Boy Scouts of America Ore-Ida Council Board, Treasure Valley Leadership Alliance,[55] Boise Valley Economic Partnership, Idaho Technology Council,[56] Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce,[57] Idaho State University President's advisory board,[58][59] University of Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center Advisory Board, American Heart Association,[60] March of Dimes, Go Red for Women,[61][62] and the FACES of Hope Victims Center.

Ahlquist has been involved with community, Inspire Excellence,[63] T2T,[64] 300 Homes, Board of directors for Idaho Youth Ranch.[65]

Personal life

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Ahlquist is married to Shanna Mullins, his high-school sweetheart.[66] They have four children.[67] He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,[68] and served as a stake president in the Meridian Idaho North Stake of the LDS Church from October 27, 2013, to February 4, 2017.[69]

References

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  1. ^ "Meet the Candidates for the 2018 Idaho Governor Race". Idaho Conservatives. 1 March 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Moeller, Katy (20 October 2013). "How an ER doctor and his father became 2 of Boise's highest-profile developers". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  3. ^ Quinn, Shannon (9 May 2017). "Idaho governor candidate wants to bring a new conservative blueprint". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  4. ^ Dicou, Natalie (4 May 2011). "'Aunt Sands' honored for preschool work". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Ahlquist lad earns Eagle". The Magna Times. 1 April 1981. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Challenge Is Accepted, Goal Achieved By Hunter Scouts". West Valley View. 22 December 1983. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  7. ^ Simmons, Dale (27 February 1986). "Serendipity Sports". The Magna Times. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  8. ^ Davis, Taja (2017-03-02). "Dr. Tommy Ahlquist puts bid in for Idaho governor". KIFI. Archived from the original on 2017-04-06. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  9. ^ "Davis County Clipper, 1986-08-07, Houskeeper Heads to Ricks :: Davis County Clipper". newspapers.lib.utah.edu. Archived from the original on 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  10. ^ "Tommy Ahlquist - BOMA Idaho". BOMA Idaho. Archived from the original on 2017-04-06. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  11. ^ Certification Matters. "Search Now". www.certificationmatters.org. Archived from the original on 2017-08-21. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  12. ^ Millgate, Kris. "Tommy Ahlquist: Doctor Turned Developer". www.zionsbank.com. Archived from the original on 2017-08-21. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  13. ^ a b Bowen, Patty (30 April 2019). "Acquisition means new name, new facilities for Saltzer Medical Group". Meridian Press. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  14. ^ Bowen, Patty (15 February 2019). "Four-story medical office building planned for Ten Mile Crossing". Meridian Press. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  15. ^ Clark, Catie (2020-10-07). "BVA sells Saltzer Health chain to Intermountain Health | Idaho Business Review". Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  16. ^ Hurst, Natalie (2019-04-25). "PIVOT Lifestyle + Fitness by KA: Train like an Olympian!". KBOI. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  17. ^ "Crush the Curve Idaho releases first round of antibody testing results". Idaho News 6 Boise Twin Falls (KIVI). 2020-04-23. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  18. ^ "NHSN Reporting". Medical Network Solutions. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  19. ^ a b c d e Berg, Sven (22 June 2018). "Developer Tommy Ahlquist jumping to a new company". The Idaho Statesmen. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  20. ^ "$75M mixed-use Meridian Gateway planned for Eagle, Franklin roads intersect...: EBSCOhost". web.b.ebscohost.com. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  21. ^ "First building in Boise's Alpine Point Business Park to get under way: EBSCOhost". web.b.ebscohost.com. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  22. ^ "Idaho State University Foundation announces five new board members; Ahlquist, Allen, Huntsman, Kent and Lemley". Idaho State University. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  23. ^ Carlson, Brad (19 September 2011). "Zions Bank to fill Boise's infamous Hole at Eighth and Main". Idaho Business Review. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  24. ^ "Developer Inks Deal to Buy Vacant Parcel in Downtown Boise". The Times-News. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  25. ^ Russell, Betsy Z. (15 July 2012). "Eye on Boise". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  26. ^ Fields, Kim. "City Center Plaza: An exclusive look at Gardner Company's most ambitious project". KTVB. Archived from the original on 2017-04-06. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  27. ^ "City Center Plaza opens in downtown Boise". Idaho Business Review. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  28. ^ "West Valley Medical Complex open for business". Idaho Press. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  29. ^ Lutz, Andrea (14 January 2015). "Nampa Library Square expected to attract new businesses". Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  30. ^ Stone, Daniel (17 May 2013). "Real Estate: The River Next Door". Eagle Magazine. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  31. ^ Boydston, Morgan (26 August 2016). "Gardner Company transforming Parcel B". KTVB. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  32. ^ Beech, Holly (15 April 2017). "Senior living communities selling houses 'faster than we can get them built'". Idaho Press. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  33. ^ Day, Don (25 September 2018). "With new firm, Ahlquist unveils big partnership, medical center (not named 'saint') & more". BoiseDev. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  34. ^ Vitu, Teya (27 September 2018). "Big office buildings headed to Chinden and Highway 16". Idaho Business Review. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  35. ^ Dutton, Audrey (8 January 2019). "A local development company has big plans for Saltzer, starting with a new name". The Idaho Statesman. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  36. ^ Sinovic, Steve (11 September 2019). "Another office tenant will soon land at Eagle View Landing". Idaho Business Review. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  37. ^ Day, Don (8 August 2019). "Ball Ventures Ahlquist looks at another big piece of land near I-84". BoiseDev. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  38. ^ "Another 5-story building on the horizon for Ten Mile Crossing". Idaho Press.
  39. ^ Russell, Betsy Z. (6 July 2014). "Board of Education finalists interviewed". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  40. ^ "Otter taps Hill and Critchfield for state Board of Education openings". Spokesman.com. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
  41. ^ "Guest column: Idaho 2020: Education comes first". Post Register. 2016-04-13. Archived from the original on 2017-08-21. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  42. ^ Dentzer, Bill (26 January 2016). "Idaho 2020: State's aversion to public financing hurts economy". The Idaho Statesman. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  43. ^ Brown, Nathan (11 August 2017). "BLOG: Ahlquist hopes voters want an outsider". MagicValley.com. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  44. ^ Parris, Joe (24 April 2018). "VERIFY: Attack ad aimed at Ahlquist and Little". KTVB. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  45. ^ Russell, Betsy Z. (2 March 2017). "Doctor, developer launches campaign for governor of Idaho". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  46. ^ Dentzer, Bill. "Ahlquist makes it official: In campaign for governor, he starts 97-town tour this week". The Idaho Statesman. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  47. ^ Kunz, Todd (2017-05-18). "Candidate for Idaho governor wraps up 97-city tour". KIFI. Archived from the original on 2017-08-04. Retrieved 2017-05-22.
  48. ^ Johnson, Mark. "Ahlquist 'humbled by the opportunity' to run for Idaho governor". KTVB. Archived from the original on 2017-05-07. Retrieved 2017-05-01.
  49. ^ "Ahlquist calls for term limits, ethics reforms". The Spokesman-Review. Archived from the original on 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2017-09-14.
  50. ^ Spence, Williams L. (15 November 2017). "6 months out, these 3 still dominate the GOP field for governor". The Idaho Statesman. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  51. ^ Kruesi, Kimberlee (25 October 2017). "Mitt Romney endorses Tommy Ahlquist for Idaho governor". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  52. ^ Russell, Betsy Z. (1 May 2018). "Ahlquist endorsed by young Trump backers". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  53. ^ "Idaho Governor Primary Election Results". The New York Times. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  54. ^ "www.unitedwaytv.org/". united-way-welcomes-new-board-members-ahlquist-smith. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  55. ^ "0218 Business Insider". issuu. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  56. ^ "Tommy Ahlquist | Idaho Technology Council". www.idahotechcouncil.org. Archived from the original on 2017-08-02. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  57. ^ "Chamber Leadership | Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce". www.boisechamber.org. Archived from the original on 2017-04-19. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  58. ^ {{Cite web|url=http://headlines.isu.edu/?p=3811%7Ctitle=Idaho State University
  59. ^ "Tommy Ahlquist to speak at Idaho State University Bengal alumni luncheon Oct. 13 in Boise". headlines.isu.edu. Archived from the original on 2017-08-02. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  60. ^ "Idaho ramps up Heart Month excitement". www.heart.org. Archived from the original on 2017-08-02. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  61. ^ "Leadership". ahaboise.ejoinme.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-22. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  62. ^ "Idaho ramps up Heart Month excitement". www.heart.org. Archived from the original on 2017-08-02. Retrieved 2017-05-03.
  63. ^ Clark, Catie (2021-08-13). "Inspire Excellence event to fund Teens 2 Trades".
  64. ^ "BVA-sponsored nonprofit to help teens into trades careers".
  65. ^ "The Match: Matched Donations to IYR". www.youthranch.org. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  66. ^ "Tommy Ahlquist: Doctor Turned Developer". www.zionsbank.com. Archived from the original on 2017-08-21. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  67. ^ "Tommy Ahlquist enters Idaho governor race" (Press release). Twin Falls, Idaho: KMVT. April 6, 2017. Archived from the original on April 6, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
  68. ^ Kruesi, Kimberlee (February 27, 2017). "Boise developer Tommy Ahlquist to run for governor, says Idaho's elections chief". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  69. ^ "New stake presidents". Church News. March 30, 2017. Archived from the original on June 27, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
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