About
Supporting Innovation
The NW Innovation Resource Center (NWIRC) is an organization that works with entrepreneurs and inventors in Northwest Washington to identify the strategy, tools, and community resources needed to bring their products and business ideas to life. Our role is to assist these innovators in building effective customized business strategies that will help navigate the ups and downs that happen when starting or building a business. We accomplish this in two ways: (1) with our exclusive business toolkit, built with years of experience and know-how; (2) by joining forces with local economic development resources and business leaders to build an expansive community resource network and a Just-In-Time Mentorship™ program that supports even the smallest entrepreneurial innovation.

The NWIRC is a 501(c)3 non- profit organization that uses a pay-it forward model that means inventors we help give back in the future to help other inventors. This model enables inventors to use what limited funds they have to get that product made and into the hands of customers. If you’d like to find out more about opportunities to pay-it-forward through our organization, please visit our donate page.
NW Washington Entrepreneurial Innovation Community

Our Geographic Reach
Our focus is working with entrepreneurs, inventors, and innovators who are building their business within our Economic Innovation Community between Vancouver BC and Seattle WA, including the counties of: Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan, and Snohomish.


Our Team

DIANE KAMIONKA
Executive Director

LARA MERRIAM-SMITH
Program Manager

TESSA MONTGOMERY
Strategic Communications
Tessa is a creative problem solver with experience in digital marketing and paid social media strategy. With a passion for storytelling and branding, she loves being able to work with brands to develop, launch and monitor their social media campaigns.

KAELI HEARN
Competition Communications Specialist
Kaeli is a Western Washington University graduate (Colorado native) with a passion for communication through the use of creativity and strategic knowledge. An adventurous spirit with a desire for challenges and hands-on experience. She is passionate about media, branding, social media and two-way communication.
Our Board of Directors

TOM DOUGHTY
Chairman of the Board of Directors

JEFF KOCHMAN
Treasurer/Secretary

DEBBIE AHL
Board of Directors

ROSS CLAWSON
Board of Directors

KEN MARZOCCO
Past Chairman

GRACE BORSARI
Board of Directors

BOB BRUNKOW
Board of Directors

DUFFY COX
Board of Directors