Executive Director
Advisory Team
Michele Bianchi
Advisory Team Member
Program + Initiative Leaders
Dani Wasia
Program Manager, Micro Business Accelerator
Mitch Koonz
Communications Lead, NW Tech Bridge Partnership, in partnership with the Clallam Economic Development Council
Whitney Tatum
Community Programs Lead, Firebrand Unconference and Entrepreneurs Anonymous, in partnership with MOXIE Entrepreneurial Support Services
Alanna Imbach
A proud ‘boomerang Kitsapian’, Alanna Imbach is a champion for innovation, entrepreneurship and community building, known for founding Vibe Coworks, Kitsap’s largest shared workspace and coworking community.
In recognition of the need for a distinct body to support the long-term growth of new business venture growth and development throughout the region, Matchstick Lab was born out of Vibe Coworks under Alanna’s leadership, becoming its own fiscally-sponsored 501c3 entity through the Kitsap Community Foundation in 2024.
With a robust background in public information and international development, Alanna worked previously at the UN Refugee Agency, UN World Food Programme, and other high-impact global organizations. Alanna speaks Spanish, French and Swiss German. She is a graduate of Leadership Kitsap (’17), and served previously on the Board of the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance (KEDA).
Alanna resides in Silverdale.
Education
Master’s Degree in International Solidarity Action: Migration & Asylum Law, Cooperative Development and Humanitarian Aid from the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Bachelors of Arts (2) in Political Science and in Spanish Literature from Western Washington University.
Carol Kowalski, CAP
As a community banking and nonprofit leader, Carol Kowalski is passionate about building innovative partnerships that strengthen local economies and expand opportunities across the Pacific Northwest. She joined the Matchstick Lab Advisory Team in 2025.
Carol brings over two decades of experience spanning community development, philanthropy, and strategic business engagement. As Vice President of Business, Community & Government Relations at Kitsap Bank, she has led initiatives that connect small businesses, nonprofits, and civic leaders to drive regional growth. She also serves on multiple nonprofit boards, where her focus includes governance, fundraising strategy, and building sustainable endowments.
A graduate of Washington State University, Carol also holds the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation from the American College of Financial Services. She has been recognized with numerous awards for her leadership and community impact.
Carol resides in Manchester, WA, where she enjoys exploring the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest with her family.
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Washington State University. Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy, American College of Financial Services.
Enrique Godreau III
As a frequent speaker on entrepreneurship and venture capital, Enrique Godreau III is passionate about building world-class startup communities and fostering innovation in the Pacific Northwest. He joined the Matchstick Lab founding Advisory Team in 2024.
Born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Bronx, Enrique describes himself as ‘a recovering venture capitalist’ and counts with over 30 years of experience in the technology industry, spanning research and development, business management, and venture capital investing. He co-founded Voyager Capital in 1996, an early-stage tech venture firm, and later co-founded 9Mile Labs, a B2B startup accelerator focused on the Pacific Northwest.
Enrique has held key roles at Adobe, Gartner, and Xerox PARC, and founded GSharp Ventures, providing strategic guidance to tech companies. He serves as an advisor to the Women’s Venture Capital Fund and is active with the University of Washington Commercialization Gap Fund, TechStars and Graham & Walker.
Enrique resides in Bremerton, WA.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Katie Hoffman
A Kitsap-based founder, Katie Hoffman joined the Matchstick Lab founding Advisory Team in 2024.
Hailing from Rhode Island, Katie moved to Kitsap in 2019, where she and her team are growing Phaidra, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) company that provides virtual plant operators to the data center industry.
Katie serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of Phaidra, setting corporate governance and operations direction for the company, providing strategic and customer-centric product guidance, and leading the teams responsible for Operations, Customer Engagement, People Operations, and Security.
Prior to Phaidra, Katie worked for Ingersoll Rand & Trane in various capacities including Innovation Senior Manager, Engineering Team Leader, and Building Automation System Project Engineer. Prior to Ingersoll Rand & Trane, she worked in the defense industry as a Systems Engineer at Raytheon, Integrated Defense Systems.
Katie resides on Bainbridge Island.
Education
Master of Science degree in Systems Engineering from Old Dominion University. Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Stacy Luckensmeyer
Stacy Luckensmeyer knows the pain, the excitement, the drive, the terror, and the rewards of being an entrepreneur. She has loved it and cursed it through seven of her own businesses and has worked with well over a thousand other entrepreneurs to help them survive the charms and challenges of running a growing company. She has been a prime mover in multiple economic development projects in Washington, bringing her business mind and determination to the work of establishing and growing a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem. Stacy is an EOS Implementer by day, helping owners and their leadership teams get more of what they really want from their businesses. By night, with wild abandon and 100% commitment, she sleeps.
Education
Troy Niehaus
Troy Niehaus is a Principal and Wealth Advisor with Bernstein Private Wealth Management, advising ultrahigh-net-worth individuals on investment management and wealth planning. With 25 years of business experience, including roles in intellectual property, a tech start-up owner, president of a hardware manufacturer, and General Manager of a software business, Troy particularly enjoys working with entrepreneurs.
A retired US Air Force officer and former special agent, Troy also led felony investigations and counterespionage operations. Troy is active in the community and is a member of the Development Committee for the Bainbridge Community Foundation. Troy joined Matchstick Lab’s founding Advisory Team in 2024.
Troy lived in Kingston before moving to Bainbridge Island in 2002.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Russian area studies from the US Air Force Academy. Master of Science in Management from the University of Colorado at Denver.
Whitney Tatum
Whitney Tatum is a passionate advocate for entrepreneurs, supporting Matchstick Lab in initiatives like Firebrand and Entrepreneurs Anonymous—spaces designed to help business owners navigate challenges, find clarity, and grow in community. She believes in the power of connection and shared experience to build stronger, more resilient businesses.
With a background that spans corporate roles, international development, and small business ownership, Whitney brings a grounded, real-world perspective to her work. After years of working and living across the U.S. and Latin America, she moved to Washington in 2022 to deepen her support for local entrepreneurs. She also founded MOXIE Entrepreneurial Support Services, which helps businesses get organized through clear, streamlined operations and documentation.
Her work is grounded in the belief that entrepreneurs deserve clarity, community, and support—and that business should enhance life, not consume it.
Whitney resides in Silverdale, WA
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a focus on Entrepreneurship, from Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management.