We focus on successful outcomes for individuals, communities, and businesses
Brian Points
President & Founder
As the President of Points Consulting (PC), Brian takes information, data, and past experiences to all translate meaningful products for clients. As well as utilizing available data to develop models, forecasts, and inferences. He earned his B.A. in History from the University of Idaho, and M.A. in Economics at the University of California. Brian has over 16-years’ experience in managerial consulting, in private and public sectors, and as an economist.
What is your favorite quote?
“Economists writing would be better if more of us saw economics as a way of organizing thoughts and perceptions about economic life rather than as a poor imitation of physics.” – Robert Solow
What’s the most inspiring part of your job?
Finishing a project, walking away for 3-6 months, coming back, and seeing conditions better than when I started working with that client.
What do you enjoy spending the most time doing in your free time?
Mostly just being a husband and a dad. But, I also enjoy cooking, reading fiction/literature, and exploring the west by mountain bike.
Pedro Jiménez
Economist
As an Economist, Pedro utilizes his wide range of quantitative and qualitative skills to carry out project research, data collection and analysis, and work alongside the President to produce unique methodologies for projects. He earned his B.A. in Economics from the University of Puerto Rico and M.S. in Applied Economics at Washington State University. He has over three years’ experience as an economist and joined Points Consulting in 2022.
What is your favorite quote?
“The art of economics consists in looking not merely at the immediate but at the longer effects of any act or policy; it consist in tracing consequences of that policy not merely for one group but for all groups.” – H. Hazlitt
What’s the most inspiring part of your job?
Anytime I get to do research and apply the skills I learned in my economics training to devise innovative solutions to tough problems. Coming up with creative and new approaches that satisfy and impress our clients gives me the most satisfaction in my job.
What do you enjoy spending the most time doing in your free time?
Trying out new plant-based recipes, playing geography games, and reading up on economic history and theory.
Madeline Bowen
Project Assistant/Analyst
As a Project Assistant/Analyst, Madeline serves multiple roles in projects and in the company. Ranging from data collection, project management, client communication, and report writing. She earned her B.S. in Business Economics from the University of Idaho. She has obtained years of experience in managerial consulting with PC since joining in 2021.
What is your favorite quote?
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
What’s the most inspiring part of your job?
Connecting with smaller, sometimes rural, communities to learn their histories, challenges, strengths, and where we can step in to assist.
What do you enjoy spending the most time doing in your free time?
Hiking and camping throughout the PNW, time with friends and family around a bonfire, and trying new foods/drinks!
Abigail Nyhus
Operations Coordinator
Serving as PC’s Operations Coordinator, Abby helps handle administrative tasks such as invoicing, drafting project proposals, contract execution, and social media marketing, as well as project related tasks such as editing and designing reports. She earned her Associate degree in Classical Liberal Arts from New Saint Andrews College in 2020 and joined Points Consulting in 2022.
What is your favorite quote?
“Nothing gives certainty but truth; nothing gives rest but the sincere search for truth.” – Blaise Pascal
What’s the most inspiring part of your job?
Our research helps clients close the gap between ideals and reality – and I love research! I also enjoy honing my graphic design skills and the diversity of my role at PC. I’m never bored!
What do you enjoy spending the most time doing in your free time?
I like to draw comics and skate! Not at the same time though, and usually with epic music playing in the background.
Maria Byler
Analyst
As an Analyst, Maria assists with a variety of tasks including research, data collection and analysis, report writing, and administrative duties. She earned her B.A. in Classical Liberal Arts from New Saint Andrews College. She joined PC in 2022 and has over two years’ experience working with big data and economics.
What is your favorite quote?
“Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.” ― Samuel Johnson
What’s the most inspiring part of your job?
Making a real-world difference. Our projects tangibly impact decision-making, policies, and people for the better.
What do you enjoy spending the most time doing in your free time?
I enjoy spending time with friends, reading, playing board games, caring for houseplants, gardening and foraging (in summer), and watching gritty Scandinavian crime dramas (in winter).
Carson Valley
Economist
Carson Joined Points Consulting as an intern in summer 2023 while earning his Bachelor of Science in Business Economics at the University of Idaho. Upon graduation, he will be joining PC as a full-time economist performing duties such as data cleaning, conducting research, development of charts and tables for use in reports, writing on economic and demographic topics, and general project facilitation.
What is your favorite quote?
“Information is a beacon, a cudgel, an olive branch, a deterrent–all depending on who wields it and how.” – Steven D. Levitt
What’s the most inspiring part of your job?
Researching, learning, and using my education to help real communities and real people. I’ve always wanted to help people and make a difference, and that is exactly what we do. That is the most inspiring part of my job.
What do you enjoy spending the most time doing in your free time?
I enjoy spending time with my family and at the gym, along with watching and playing football and basketball. I also enjoy reading new economic literature.
Points Consulting is HUBZone certified by the United States Small Business Administration. The HUBZone program fuels small business growth in historically underutilized business zones with a goal of awarding at least three percent of federal contract dollars to HUBZone-certified companies each year.
© 2022 Points Consulting – 120 N. Line St. Moscow, Idaho 83843