Scott Broder

Scott is an experienced CEO, serial entrepreneur and venture investor who brings a wealth of technology-based experience to his role at the fund. Scott has repeatedly raised venture capital with several successful exits. Scott has a proven track record of creating great products, growing revenues and building shareholder value. He brings a rare mix of entrepreneurship and operating experience in both the consumer and enterprise software markets, as well as internet, ecommerce, social media, virtualization, and cloud computing segments. Scott was most recently the CEO for CanAM Internet, Scott was chartered with both operating existing businesses as well as finding new opportunities to invest in and grow. Scott successfully raised the capital for acquisitions, and organized the sale Boxwood Partners, a private equity group in December 2010. Previously, Scott was CEO of Opalis Software, where he led the company through a successful turn-around. He was instrumental in securing almost $20 million in venture capital, Gartner’s naming Opalis as “Cool Datacenter Vendor of the Year”, and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) acquiring Opalis for $60 million in December 2009.  Scott was also an early member of the management team at Citrix Systems (NASAQ:CTXS) where he held several director level positions and was responsible for product management of the flagship product, achieving considerable growth from $12 million to $65 million in revenues. He also formed the company’s first mergers & acquisitions group, which was responsible for 11 transactions under his leadership Past experience also includes being the CEO and founder of Deliveryman Technology, sold to DataSwitch Corp (OTC:DASW), and business unit manager at STAC Software (NASDAQ:STAC). Scott is a graduate of Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business Executive Program and earned a Bachelor of Computer Science from the University of Miami in Florida.

Steve Neff

Steven Neff is a co-founder of the Company, a principal of Revita Institute Northwest, which is building physical therapy clinics in the Pacific Northwest, Northern California and Hawaii, and a member of the board of advisors of Signia Capital, a Spokane-based investment advisory firm. From March 2003 to March 2009, he served as Senior Vice President of Marketing/Client Services of Signia Capital, and for sixteen years prior to that, he served as a Vice President of Marketing/ Client Services for ICM Asset Management, another Spokane-based investment advisory firm. From 1985 to 1986, Mr. Neff owned and managed Steven King Securities, a small Spokane brokerage firm that was subsequently sold to Cimmaron Securities, also of Spokane, where he worked as a financial advisor for the next two years. Mr. Neff is also a founding partner and initial investor in ProManage, a Chicago based 401(k) investment provider, and served as one of its directors from 1999 to 2003. He has been an active early stage investor and entrepreneur in various business enterprises, including Five X Five Media, Pneumex, Moonstruck Chocolatier, and Cascade Cliffs Winery. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in business from the University of Nebraska in 1971.

Donna L. Weaver

Donna is Chairman of MxSecure, Inc., a leading provider of internet-based transcription, electronic health record and speech recognition services and software to medical practices nationwide. A Certified Management Accountant, Ms. Weaver received a bachelor of science from the University of Arizona and a master of science in management from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Ms. Weaver has served on the boards of several public and private companies and has been a director of E*Trade Financial Corporation since 2003, where she is Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and a member of the Audit Committee.

Roger Woodworth

Roger is VP and Chief Strategy Officer at Avista, the innovative Spokane-based utility founded in 1889 that now serves gas and electricity to customers in communities of Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. In addition to its energy services, Avista has pioneered several clean energy enterprises that today thrive as stand-alone businesses in the fields of automated metering (Itron), modular fuel cells (ReliOn), and energy management for multi-site organizations (AdvantageIQ). As Chief Strategy Officer, Roger works to identify new entrepreneurial growth opportunities, both inside and outside of the company, including innovative services, emerging technologies and other potential ventures that are in line with Avista’s core energy business. He is active in various professional and civic organizations, currently including service as board chair of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance; chair of Edison Electric Institute’s retail services executive advisory committee; chair of the President’s Advisory Council for WSU-Spokane; vice chair of the Sirti Foundation board; and, most recently, gubernatorial appointee to chair the State of Washington Economic Development Commission. Roger earned his Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife ecology from Washington State University and is a graduate of Columbia University’s Senior Executive Program.

Innovate Washington

Innovate Washington accelerates technology-based companies toward success and positive regional economic impact. We deliver entrepreneurial coaching, a mix of no- or low-cost business services, access to capital, and the legal services needed for successful formation, IP protection and long-term growth.

Located at the center of action in the University District near downtown Spokane, Seattle, and the Tri-Cities. On-campus clients enjoy the amenities of an established business in a dynamic urban setting. Our Riverpoint Boulevard and Technology Center buildings provide an incubation environment with month to month leases where entrepreneurs and fast-growth companies can focus exclusively on excellence.

University of Idaho

The OTT is part of the University Research Office at the University of Idaho and is responsible for managing the University intellectual property (IP) portfolio that has arisen from the research activities of scientists and students at the University.

The mission of the OTT is to promote the timely transfer of commercially valuable knowledge and information developed at the University to the businesses most capable of reducing them to practice. This goal benefits the economy of Idaho and the nation, and returns value to the inventor/s and to the University in support of its continuing research enterprise, in a manner that upholds sound ethical, legal, and academic standards.

Gene Merrell

Mr. Merrell is Associate Vice President for Research and Economic Development for the University of Idaho, a position he has held since December 1999, and is responsible for industry-university research collaborations, technology transfers, the university’s intellectual property portfolio, and management of the University of Idaho Research Park in Post Falls, Idaho. From 2002 to 2007, he served as Acting Director of the Idaho Research Foundation. Mr. Merrell joined the university in 1999 after spending twenty years in the chemical industry, most recently as Vice President of Research and Development for BetzDearborn, Inc. (now GE Betz). He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry from Houston Baptist University in 1972 and his doctoral degree in physical chemistry from Washington State University in 1979.

Jim Roberts

As senior principal consultant, Jim brings over 20 years of expertise in commercialization, licensing, strategic guidance, and mentoring. He serves as a vital advocate for Sirti clients as he helps them develop long-term growth strategies, streamline operations, and prepare for entry into the marketplace.

Most recently, Jim spent five years as the Business Development Officer at the University of Washington Center for Commercialization. In this role, he created both the UW New Ventures program, which partners with the UW Business and Law Schools, entrepreneurial organizations, Angel Groups and Venture Capital firms to commercialize UW technologies via startup companies; and the Entrepreneur-In-Residence program, which brings in senior, experienced entrepreneurs to mentor and manage UW start-up companies. Previously, he was the Director of the Northwest Office of Foresight Science & Technology, and served as Sirti’s Manager of Technology Commercialization from 1995 to 2002.

Sam Fleming

A passion and enthusiasm for technology, innovation and business has driven Sam Fleming as a leader for over 15 years. As a business-savvy visionary, Sam prides himself on his ability to execute solid business strategies, and lead and enable teams to exceed expectations. Sam’s skills have been challenged and honed in successfully delivering and supporting solutions in some of the most complex environments from highly regulated financial institutions to some of the largest Fortune 500 organizations. As CTO of NextSentry Corporation Sam led the innovation of a novel data security product that delivers software to protect against the insider threat. Sam’s thought leadership in the field was illustrated through publication in security journals, and presentations to leading security professionals in forums such as RSA Conference. His efforts helped land NextSentry as a Top 10 company to watch by Bank Technology News among established companies such as Oracle, Diebold, and RSA Security. As an executive in the industry, Sam was directly responsible for three major business segments and nearly 90 personnel at Next IT Corporation, including product development, services, and IT support. At Next IT, he participated in setting the overall business strategy, planning and budgeting. Prior to Next IT, Sam also successfully co-founded APerfectWeb, a web technology company that developed a suite of web management applications in an early “Software as a Service” solution. With its quality team and demonstrated success the company was acquired in 2003 by Next IT. Sam holds a B.A. in International Business from Whitworth University.

John C. Shovic, Ph.D.

Dr. John C. Shovic is currently Chief Technical Officer of InstiComm, LLC, a company specializing in medical software solutions for health practitioners. He is also Chief Technology Strategist at Stratus Global Partners with a focus on supplying expertise in computer security regulatory and technical areas to healthcare providers. He has worked in the industry for over thirty years and has founded six companies: Advance Hardware Architectures, TriGeo Network Security, Blue Water Technologies, MiloCreek, LLC, InstiComm, LLC, and bankCDA, a community bank located in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. As a founding member of the bankCDA board of directors, he currently serves on the technology, ALCO and loan committees. He has also served as a Professor of Computer Science at Eastern Washington University, Washington State University and the University of Idaho. Dr. Shovic has given over 55 invited talks and has published over 30 papers on a variety of topics on HIPAA, GLB, computer security, computer forensics, embedded systems and others.

Tom Daugherty

Mr. Daugherty is a senior executive with 30 years of administrative and managerial experience. Most recently he spent seven years leading an environmental products company targeting both municipal and industrial markets. From 1984 to 1998 he built chain of video stores from one to 24 locations and sold the enterprise. He has helped several startup companies since then. An original and innovative thinker, he excels as a motivational leader in directing human capital. Mr. Daugherty has a proven track record leading companies to diverse income sources, culminating strategic alliances, and delivering financial targets, raising over $15 million for various startup and mature companies. He has a special talent in sales and e-marketing, particularly in new market development. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Management and is currently completing an MBA in Sustainability from Marylhurst University. He enjoys the living in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and family.

Jim Deffenbaugh is the Executive Director of Panhandle Area Council, Inc. a regional economic and planning district for the five northern counties of Idaho. Jim has also managed the district’s business incubator since 1988 and during that time it has graduated fifty-one companies. The incubator has
been recognized by the Economic Development Administration, and the Small Business Administration as one of the nation’s most outstanding examples of entrepreneurial development through business incubation. Jim is a member of the International Executive Service Corps and through that association has provided assistance to many of the former Soviet countries on business incubation and has worked with Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya, and Nigeria on micro enterprise development. Jim is a graduate of California State University at San Bernardino in accounting and has a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Southern California.

Matthew F. Gerber

Matthew F. Gerber has over 20 years of global high technology market experience. Prior to joining IT Lifeline as its President and CEO, Mr. Gerber was President and CEO at SprayCool, a technology leader in implementing liquid cooling systems for electronics. Mr. Gerber transitioned out of his role at SprayCool after the successful sale of the company to Parker Hannifin Corporation in February 2010. Prior to joining SprayCool Mr. Gerber was a key member of the executive team that tripled revenues and sold Itronix, a global leader in mission critical mobile computing, to General Dynamics in September 2005. Mr. Gerber held various executive positions at Itronix, including Sr. VP for Global Sales and Marketing, Sr. VP for Product Line Management, VP of European Operations and VP of Marketing. Prior to Itronix, he was with Norand Corporation, a leading manufacturer of rugged computing solutions based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as Director of Business Development and Industry Marketing. Mr. Gerber holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and a Master of Business Administration with Distinction from Hofstra University. Mr. Gerber sits on the Boards of IT-Lifeline, the International Trade Alliance, and Pearson Packaging Systems, and is an advisor to the Gee Companies and several other businesses in the Inland Northwest.

Don Klein

Donald Klein has held leadership positions with several domestic and international technology-based companies. His expertise includes strategic marketing, lead generation, product management, sales operations, and investor relations. Most recently, Don was the Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Modius Inc, an Eco-IT company focused on data center energy efficiency and power management solutions. Don also served as a Technology Analyst for Generation Investment Management, one of the world’s largest sustainability investment funds. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Strategic Alliances for Tideway Systems US (acquired by BMC), a market-leading vendor of data center automation software, Don helped steer the company during a critical expansion phase from $6 million to $21 million in annual revenue. He also an early founder and VP of Product Management for Ingenta, which IPO’s on the London Stock Exchange in 2001. Don received an MBA from London Business School, a Masters from Stanford University, and a BA from Colby College.

Leslie J. Yates

Mrs. Yates has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, currently serving as President and Chief Compliance Officer for Ken Roberts Investment Management, Inc. (KRIM). Since joining KRIM in 2002 as Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Yates has been instrumental in developing KRIM’s strategic vision, management team initiatives and goals, internal procedures and controls, financial and accounting practices, and GIPS performance policies and procedures. She began her career at ICM Asset Management, Inc. in corporate finance, experienced significant career growth, and ultimately served as Senior Vice President, Finance and Corporate Secretary/Treasurer. Leslie also served as Vice President of Koyah Ventures LLC, a hedge fund, participating in the development and initial roll out of the fund, and also handled the partnership accounting. Leslie joined US Bancorp Piper Jaffray in 1999, achieved her Series 7 license, and worked with a team of advisors focused on developing their managed account business. She received her Investment Advisor Certified Compliance Professional (IACCP) designation in June, 2008. Leslie graduated from Spokane Community College earning an A.A. degree in Liberal Arts and continued her education at Eastern Washington University.