Two Laramie residents are among the appointees to the Economically Needed Diversity Options for Wyoming Executive Council announced this week.

Governor Matt Mead said the council, which is comprised of 25 members from across the state, will focus on developing a sustainable diversified and value-added economy in Wyoming by 2038.

John Temte, founder of Temte Capital and Mary Ellbogen Garland, president of the John P. Ellbogen Foundation, were selected for the ENDOW panel, according to a news release from the Wyoming Economic Development Association.

“These individuals are among Wyoming’s best and brightest and they have agreed to contribute their time and expertise to help Wyoming.” Gov. Mead said in a statement. “Their insights will be invaluable as we work to encourage the expansion and diversification of Wyoming’s economy.”

Garland said she was surprised by nomination and is looking forward to bringing her own vantage point to the council.

“It’s exciting, and being able to bring that non-profit and grant-making perspective to the council I think will be a great opportunity,” Garland said.

Garland hopes the ENDOW council will excel in building opportunities for young people to stay and create businesses in Wyoming.

Temte, who has started numerous technology-enabled businesses in multiple states, said he hopes ENDOW will find a clear cut way to measure the impact tech startups have in Wyoming over the given 20 year period.

“Wyoming is currently losing one of its most valuable assets, and that is human capital,” Temte said. “We have a huge amount of brain power leaving the state.”

Temte said the startup culture is only just emerging in the state and is poised to make a significant impact on the economy.

Temte said he co-founded the Wyoming Global Technology Partnership with Gov. Mead in 2013 and is looking forward to working with the governor again.

“I think he should be commended for this,” Temte said. “I think it’s really wise to do this over a long time period – it’s smart and Wyoming is behind him.”

The ENDOW Executive Council will focus on education, workforce training, research, business development, entrepreneurship, innovation and private sector business in an effort to create jobs, products and new companies.

Their first meeting is scheduled for May 11 and 12.

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