Dr. Randy Cooper
Dr. J. R. “Randy” Cooper received his PhD in Electrical Engineering from Texas Tech University in 1986, with a specialization in high voltage and pulsed power systems. He has worked professionally in that field as a technical contributor, manager, and consultant continuously for over 35 years. He served as VP of Engineering and Development at two different companies and CEO at two other start-up companies, including one which he founded and led for 7 years. He has direct experience developing pulsed electric field and ultraviolet light-based disinfection technologies which he gained at two of those four companies. Since 2019, Dr. Cooper has been working side by side with the Lisi team to design and build the pulse module at the heart of DE Technology and lending his insights into the electrical/biological interaction that is key to its efficacy.
Dr. Gary Spanner
Gary E. Spanner, Ph.D., PE, CEcD is the former manager of the Economic Development Office at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (retired). In that role he utilized the Lab’s technological resources to help boost the economy of the nation and the region. He has an award-winning track record of increasing the economic competitiveness of small and large businesses helping more than 1,000 firms since 1994, implementing a number of innovative programs that served the technological needs of small businesses and diversified the economy.
His previous experience was in industrial modernization, energy systems analysis, energy conservation program evaluation, and nondestructive evaluation (at PNNL), mechanical design (Texas Instruments), and nondestructive evaluation (Babcock & Wilcox). Gary holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, a M.B.A., and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering. He was also a Certified Economic Developer and a Licensed Professional Engineer. Gary served as an adjunct professor of technology entrepreneurship at WSU.
In addition to his work at PNNL, Gary is heavily involved in the local and regional community serving as chair of the WSU-TC Carson College of Business Advisory Board and the Tri-Cities Research District. He also served on boards for the UW Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship, the Richland Economic Development Committee, the MIT Enterprise Forum NW, and the Reading Foundation. Additionally, Gary co-founded angel investor groups in Spokane and the Tri-Cities.
Gary and his team at PNNL won more than a dozen awards for their economic development work, including the 2008 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award from Columbia Basin College, the 2006 Sam Volpentest Entrepreneurial Leadership Award, a 1999 National Partnership for Reinventing Government Hammer Award from the Vice President of the United States, the 1995 U.S. Department of Energy Technology Partnership Customer Service Award for Individual Achievement, and a 1990 Federal Laboratory Consortium Excellence in Technology Transfer Award. Gary is the lead or co-author of more than 40 publications. For fun, he is a 52-year member of the twelve-time national champion Miss Madison/Oberto/HomeStreet unlimited hydroplane racing team. He also works on a team of vintage Indy race cars.
His previous experience was in industrial modernization, energy systems analysis, energy conservation program evaluation, and nondestructive evaluation (at PNNL), mechanical design (Texas Instruments), and nondestructive evaluation (Babcock & Wilcox). Gary holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, a M.B.A., and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering. He was also a Certified Economic Developer and a Licensed Professional Engineer. Gary served as an adjunct professor of technology entrepreneurship at WSU.
In addition to his work at PNNL, Gary is heavily involved in the local and regional community serving as chair of the WSU-TC Carson College of Business Advisory Board and the Tri-Cities Research District. He also served on boards for the UW Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship, the Richland Economic Development Committee, the MIT Enterprise Forum NW, and the Reading Foundation. Additionally, Gary co-founded angel investor groups in Spokane and the Tri-Cities.
Gary and his team at PNNL won more than a dozen awards for their economic development work, including the 2008 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award from Columbia Basin College, the 2006 Sam Volpentest Entrepreneurial Leadership Award, a 1999 National Partnership for Reinventing Government Hammer Award from the Vice President of the United States, the 1995 U.S. Department of Energy Technology Partnership Customer Service Award for Individual Achievement, and a 1990 Federal Laboratory Consortium Excellence in Technology Transfer Award. Gary is the lead or co-author of more than 40 publications. For fun, he is a 52-year member of the twelve-time national champion Miss Madison/Oberto/HomeStreet unlimited hydroplane racing team. He also works on a team of vintage Indy race cars.
Gary Kocher
Gary Kocher is a partner in the Seattle office of K&L Gates with over 30 years of experience working with emerging growth companies and investors that support them. He counsels founders on business formation issues and works with clients on a wide range of transactions, including financings, strategic partnerships and acquisitions, intellectual property creation and protection, and exit transactions. Over his career, Gary has represented more than 250 start-ups, including angel-backed companies such as Clarisonic, Center ID, Deako, Lisi Global, onXmaps, Misapplied Sciences, Volt Athletics, Record360, Electrical Geodesics, Korner, FlexCar and Redfin. He has served as counsel on more than 20 initial public offerings (including recent SPACs) and numerous M&A transactions, both on the buy- and sell-side. Clients he has represented from start up-to-exit include Clarisonic (sold to L’Oreal), Greenfield Online (sold to Microsoft), Flexcar (sold to Zip Car), Sensor Medical Technology (sold to Katena Optical), Fridge Door (sold to Amazon), PointMarc (sold to Merkle), Anhu Footwear (sold to Deckers) and Twango (sold to Nokia). Gary has worked with several angel groups on structuring investment funds and SPVs and he has also counseled a number of groups structuring new funds that employ the revenue-based lending model.
He serves as outside counsel to the Alliance of Angels in Seattle, Sage Growth Capital in Boise, and is a member of the Public Policy Advisory Council to the Angel Capital Association. He has helped several groups form investment funds, including revenue-based lenders, and is a frequent speaker and writer on topics relevant to company formation, angel investing and exit transactions. In his spare time, he loves to fly fish and will talk for hours about river floats and piscatorial pursuits.
He serves as outside counsel to the Alliance of Angels in Seattle, Sage Growth Capital in Boise, and is a member of the Public Policy Advisory Council to the Angel Capital Association. He has helped several groups form investment funds, including revenue-based lenders, and is a frequent speaker and writer on topics relevant to company formation, angel investing and exit transactions. In his spare time, he loves to fly fish and will talk for hours about river floats and piscatorial pursuits.
Scott Morris
Scott D. Morris, CPA, has over 18 years of CFO leadership experience currently serving as Founder and Managing Member of Agave Financial Services where he provides fractional and Controller services and primarily works within the SAAS, technology, digital marketing, manufacturing and financial services industries. Agave’s clients have raised over $250MM during his tenure through Series A, Series B, Seed, Governmental Grants, Debt financings and Founder Exits. Agave’s clients have also finished first in the Rocky Mountain Pitchfest and a finalist for the Tie Rockies Pitch Championship. Prior to Agave, he was most recently CFO of First Capital Ventures, a company providing transitional equity capital seeking to maximize exit timing and value for its portfolio companies. Prior to First Capital, Scott was the CFO for Summit Investment Management, which had a joint venture with Wall Street hedge fund Fortress Investment Group. The joint venture was part of a fund that won the 2012 and 2013 fund of the year. While at Summit, they invested over $1B in distressed debt, private equity and venture capital with net profits over $250MM. Scott is a Colorado certified CPA with an MBA from Regis University and a BS in Accounting from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Since 2021, Scott has served as Lisi Global’s virtual CFO providing financial and corporate guidance.
Ron Amarel
Ron has over 45 years of experience in vegetable seed production with roles in the management of processing, logistics, quality assurance, seed enhancement and soil amendments. Ron started his career in agriculture on the family farm, progressing into his own successful seed production and custom hay business. He later joined Dessert Seed which became, ARCO Seed, Sun Seeds, Nunhems and then Bayer. Working in all major production regions of the world including South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, India, China, Chile, Argentina, and Peru.
As Managing Director, Ron was a member of the Nunhems/Bayer Board of Directors and was globally responsible for all seed production and operations. With Nunhems/Bayer, Ron held positions as Country Head for the US and Regional Head for the US, Mexico and Canada. Ron was also responsible for the implementation of a new IT system and the Change Management aspects for its successful acceptance and performance.
Ron served a 2-year assignment as the Regional Manager of North America for Incotec a Seed Enhancement Company and has had the opportunity and honor to present at the University of Davis, Seed Production Course. He has served 2, 3-year terms on the Idaho’s Economic Advisory Counsel and time on the Canyon County Planning and Zoning Commission. He remains active in the community as CEO and founder of Friends of Our Community.
Currently, self-employed at R & L Consulting providing guidance and management services in Seed Production and Systems, Seed Enhancements, Soil Enzymes, Breeding Programs, Organic Production and overall Agriculture Management.
Co-Founder: Seed MC – Seed Production, system software
Founder: Shurz Good spices
As Managing Director, Ron was a member of the Nunhems/Bayer Board of Directors and was globally responsible for all seed production and operations. With Nunhems/Bayer, Ron held positions as Country Head for the US and Regional Head for the US, Mexico and Canada. Ron was also responsible for the implementation of a new IT system and the Change Management aspects for its successful acceptance and performance.
Ron served a 2-year assignment as the Regional Manager of North America for Incotec a Seed Enhancement Company and has had the opportunity and honor to present at the University of Davis, Seed Production Course. He has served 2, 3-year terms on the Idaho’s Economic Advisory Counsel and time on the Canyon County Planning and Zoning Commission. He remains active in the community as CEO and founder of Friends of Our Community.
Currently, self-employed at R & L Consulting providing guidance and management services in Seed Production and Systems, Seed Enhancements, Soil Enzymes, Breeding Programs, Organic Production and overall Agriculture Management.
Co-Founder: Seed MC – Seed Production, system software
Founder: Shurz Good spices