Our Team
Say hello to the Bioscience Innovation team!

Katrina Rogers
Chief Executive Officer
Her professional services firm specializes in dramatically decreasing the cost and time of bringing new therapies to market by working with clients to devise fit-for-purpose solutions to address short- and/or long-term needs.
An expert in laboratory and technical operations, she is also an ASQ certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence and Pharmaceutical GMP Professional.

Stacia Rasmussen
Program Manager
Areas of Expertise:
-Certified Project Management Professional
-Agile Scrum / Lean / Kanban Methodologies
-Health Care and Life Sciences Industry
-Program MonitoriZ0041ng / Tracking / Reporting
-Information Technology Technical Training & Curriculum Development
-Problem Solving
-Functional Management
-Global Team Management
-Vendor Management
-Sarbanes-Oxley
-Software Application Support Operations
-Disaster Recovery Processes
-Customer Relationship Management
-Customer Service
-Business Analysis

Gary Ballew
Business Development Officer
Gary has been an economic developer since 1996, both private and public. He is a Certified Economic Developer through the International Economic Development Council and is currently the Chair Elect of the Washington Economic Development Association.
His immediate past position was the Director of Economic Development and Marketing for the Port of Pasco. His projects included real estate development of the Port’s mixed use and industrial properties, carrying out the region’s economic development vision, Somos Pasco, promoting economic development legislation and marketing the Tri-Cities Airport.
He served as the Executive Director to the Wine Science Center Development Authority, which was instrumental in building the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates WSU Wine Science Center and previously he was the Economic Development Manager for the City of Richland where his work included special projects, such as creating the Revitalization Area for Industry, Science and Education and Broadband Initiative, as well as managing economic development and redevelopment programs within the City.
Gary received a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering, a Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in Hotel and Restaurant Administration, all from Washington State University. He is a former Governor’s Executive Fellow for the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development and a Research Assistant for Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Washington State Universities Laboratory for Atmospheric Research.

Mary Waiss
Industry and Advisory Board Chair
Recognized expert in healthcare product commercialization, able to draw upon a career-long combination of business acumen, clinical credentials, and strategic insight to develop innovative (and often disruptive) new products and business models for improving healthcare access. Well-versed in all cross-functional business functions including sales, marketing, operations, IT, and finance, in addition to possessing an extensive network of industry contacts and a history of leading fundraising efforts among the angel investing and VC communities.
Areas of Expertise:
-Executive Leadership, Strategic Planning & Visioning
-P&L Responsibility
-Product Innovation, Evangelization & Commercialization
-Operations Management & Growth Scaling
-Strategic Partnerships & Alliances
-Cloud & SaaS Solutions / AI / Machine Learning
-Management Team Recruitment / Coaching / Leadership
-Fundraising, Capital Formation & Investor Relations
-Healthcare C-Suite Engagement & Integration Planning
-Pricing & Reimbursement
-Sales, Marketing & Business Development
-New Product Development & GTM Planning
-R&D / Innovation / Intellectual Property Creation
-Governance & Risk Management
-Regulatory Compliance, Clinical Trials & FDA Approval
-Managed Services / Outsourcing
Current/former member of corporate boards, combined with a demonstrated track record of industry thought leadership that includes (co-)authoring over 12 peer-reviewed scientific papers and a book chapter, as well as attaining a U.S. patent in Artificial Intelligence and Diagnostic Imaging. Frequent public speaker, lecturer, and panelist to a wide range of scientific and business groups including the US Department of Commerce, Hewlett-Packard (HP), WA State Economic Development Council, and the University of Washington Foster School of Business.

Erin Williams Hueter
Advisory Board Member, Government Sector
Erin is a graduate of Pacific University and Leadership Spokane, has served on numerous Boards, Commissions and Task Forces including the Transitions Board of Directors, the Spo-Can Council/Our Kids: Our Business, the Washington State Task Force Against the Trafficking of Persons, the Community of Montessori Parents Board of Directors, the Spokane Regional Law and Justice Council, Spokane Police Advisory Committee and Washington State Attorney General's Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Statewide Coordinating Committee among others. Erin is the grateful recipient of the Arc of Spokane's Partnership 4 Safety Community Service Award, the Spo-Can Council Award for work with survivors of sexual abuse, a Catholic Charities Volunteer Service Award and a Spokane Community Oriented Policing Services Partnership Award. Erin has been interviewed by numerous reporters and moderated and spoken at several events and conferences regarding behavioral health, crime and victimization in many forms, as well as self-care, vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue. Erin loves her community and working to see everyone in it thrive together. Erin and her husband raised their three children in Spokane and live in a renovated former bait shop on a small lake in the west plains. She is thrilled to share her skill and passion for community and economic development with the life sciences community in our region.

Glenn Prestwich, PhD
Advisory Board Member, Entrepreneur Sector
His research expertise encompasses drug discovery in cell signaling, synthetic matrices for regenerative medicine, and glycosaminoglycan derivatives as anti-inflammatory agents. He co-founded nine companies, including Echelon Biosciences, Carbylan Biosurgery, Glycosan BioSystems (now BioTime, Inc), Sentrx Animal Care, GlycoMira Therapeutics, Metallosensors, Deuteria Biomaterials, Matrix Diagnostics, and Maana Discoveries. He is science advisor for Brickell Biotech, Organovo and Modern Meadow, C-DOCTOR, and newer startups including Kuda Therapeutics, Shasqi Therapeutics, Amasa Therapeutics, Valitor, Rebel Medicine, Glycologix, and others. His consulting company, Clear Solutions Biomedical LLC provides services to life science and legal clients.
He was elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in 2013 and as a Fellow of the AAAS in 2018. Other honors include the Utah Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology for 2006, the 1998 Paul Dawson Biotechnology Award & the 2008 Volwiler Research Award of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the 2010 University of Utah Distinguished Scholarly and Creative Research Award and the 2014 U of Utah Distinguished Innovation and Impact Award. During his 41 years as a faculty member, he authored over 650 publications (H-index 92) and has over 35 issued patents; he has trained over 125 postgraduate scientists. He is a commercially-rated pilot, a first tenor, and a supporter and advocate for chamber music.

Jolene Anderson
Advisory Board Member, Capital Sector
Jolene is a pioneer in the spa/wellness industry and founder of one of the first corporate wellness education companies, guest editor and producer of wellness education.
A decades long commitment to cancer prevention and cures, she participated in lobby day in Washington, D.C. and WA state meeting to advocate funding for cancer research. An active participant in ACS events she was appointed to the Leadership Advisory Board for American Cancer Society NW Region in 2014 for a 2 year term. A former Board member for the St. Alphonsus Hospital Foundation, the Chris Elliott Fund for Brain Tumor Research, and MIT Enterprise Forum NW, she has spoken on STEM education and healthcare innovation atregional Rotary Clubs and civic organizations.

Shane Needham, PhD
Advisory Board Member at Large
Dr. Needham is Founder, CEO and President of Veloxity Labs LLC in Peoria, IL and Founder of Needham Scientific, Inc. in Moscow, ID. Veloxity Labs, LLC is a premier and unique LC-MS bioanalytical lab launched in 2021 for digital transformation of delivery of data with high speed and quality. Needham Scientific, Inc. is a consulting company that solves, analytical and business challenges for clients. Shane has more than 200 publications in the area of LC-MS/MS.
Shane is often an invited speaker, expert author and expert witness for analytical chemistry. His experience in analytical chemistry, team building, lab design and business has helped many people and organizations around the globe. Shane is a member of many organization advisory boards. Shane is also a Ted Talk Speaker.

Andy Johnston
Advisory Board Member at Large
He has designed products for a wide range of industries including biotechnology, energy storage, renewable energy, consumer products, military and aerospace electronics cooling, nuclear, sports equipment and food handling equipment.
He offers mechanical design services combined with engineering analysis to ensure products are strong enough and work the first time without time consuming and expensive prototype iterations. Andy is a subject matter expert in the analysis, design, and test of single and two-phase thermal management systems including, cold plates, heat exchangers, fluid conveyance and HVAC.
Andy holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Gonzaga University and a Washington State Professional Engineer License.
When he isn't busy running his engineering empire, Andy molds the minds of Mechanical Engineering students as an instructor at Gonzaga University. He also serves as a member of the Eastern Washington Industrial Advisory Board and on the Board of Directors for Evergreen Bioscience Innovation Cluster.
Our Mission
To make Washington State and the Mountain Northwest a magnet for companies providing and consuming expert life and health science contract research, development, and manufacturing services of medicines and medical devices, by enhancing workforce development and services to pharmaceutical and medical devices companies.
Our Ambition
To make Washington State and the Mountain Northwest the hub of a world-class, thriving, sustainable life and health sciences contract service industry by 2040.