Our Staff
MICHAEL CADE
360-464-6085
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
As Executive Director, Michael is responsible for the overall direction and management of the organization. Prior to being named Executive Director of the Thurston EDC in 2004, Michael served as the Vice-President of the Snohomish County Economic Development Council from 1992 – 2003.
Michael’s career has spanned over 20 years in economic development with an emphasis on rural economic development strategies, business recruitment and attraction, community development, and community growth strategies.
Michael currently serves on the boards of the following organizations and agencies: Thurston Chamber of Commerce, Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council, Morningside, Thurston Regional Planning Council, and the Technical Advisory Committee for Foreign Trade Zone 216.
Michael has a degree in geography from Western Washington University.
TIFFANY SCROGGS
360-464-6041
WASHINGTON PTAC STATE DIRECTOR
Tiffany is the Program Director for the Washington Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), a statewide program that increases the number of firms successful in the government marketplace.
Tiffany joined the EDC team in November 2007. She has a BA in Communication from Western Washington University and a Master’s in Public Administration from The Evergreen State College. She is a Leadership Thurston County Graduate (class of 2007), an active Rotarian, and serves as Region 10 Director for the National Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers.
KAYLEE PURCELL
DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR BUSINESS & INNOVATION
Over the past ten years, Purcell has worked with dozens of teams and businesses helping them achieve results in areas they’ve historically struggled in. She’s found that weaving the community and businesses together at a local level is essential to thriving in smaller economies. Purcell has held many leadership roles in the community working with the SBDC, EDC, and CB&I as resources and utilizing PTAC as well as additional training programs. She now looks forward to helping grow and promote the services they provide companies and communities.
ASLAN MEADE
360-464-6054
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
As Business and Investor Relations Manager, Aslan will ensure that the Thurston EDC continues a strong relationship with our local community and keeping true to the organization’s mission of building a strong and vibrant regional economy. Aslan will develop and implement an investor relationship program that ensures all investors to the EDC understand their value and importance. Creating a consistent message about the value of the Thurston EDC is a subject of great focus for Aslan. He joined the Thurston EDC in January 2016.
TRACI HANSEN
360-464-6050
WASHINGTON CENTER FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS PROGRAM MANAGER
As WCWB Program Manager, Traci is responsible for the strategic planning, management, and outcomes of the program, as well as the outreach and marketing of the program to stakeholders and clients throughout its service territory across Washington State. Traci joined the Thurston Economic Development Council in May 2013 as Washington PTAC’s Program & Outreach Coordinator, she then transitioned to the Center for Business & Innovation’s WCWB in January 2017. Traci studies Marketing Management at Western Governor’s University and is a graduate of Leadership Thurston County, Class of 2017.
CHRISTINE BUCKLEY
360-464-6049
WASHINGTON CENTER FOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS BUSINESS COACH
In her role as Business Coach for the Washington Center for Women in Business, Christine’s main focus is to provide technical assistance and guidance for entrepreneurs and business owners. She has an extensive background in business and nonprofit management, small business consulting in various industries including retail, consulting, alternative energy, education and fitness and has advised hundreds of business owners. She has owned her own businesses in California, Washington and Spain. Her previous roles include Coach and Program Manager with the South Sound Women’s Business Center and the Puget Sound Women’s Business Center. Christine is bilingual in Spanish and enjoys outdoor adventures, fitness and running. She joined the Thurston EDC in October 2016.
KYLE WIESE
360-464-6053
PROJECT MANAGER
As Project Manager, Kyle supports all the programs of the EDC. Kyle manages site location cases for business that are looking at either expanding their business within Thurston County or relocating their business to Thurston County. Additionally, he keeps track of statistics and demographic information pertaining to the local and regional economies, responds to requests for information, conducts business outreach, assists in educating and preparing military service members during their transition and retirement, and works on various projects that align with the mission of the EDC. He originally joined the EDC as an intern from The Evergreen State College in April 2012.
Kyle moved from his hometown of Battle Ground Washington to Olympia Washington to become a student at The Evergreen State College and an avid soccer player for the Geoducks. At The Evergreen State College, Kyle emphasized his studies in Business and Economics with a minor focus in Urban Planning and Political Science. He is also an entrepreneur who loves to take ideas and turn them into reality.
RYAN NORSKOG
360-464-6060
RECEPTIONIST & OFFICE COORDINATOR
As the Office Coordinator, Ryan is responsible for managing the daily operations and providing logistical support to the EDC and CB&I. Ryan works with staff members providing administrative assistance on projects and events. He provides a warm welcome to the community members visiting the EDC, works with clients scheduling appointments with business counselors, and assists phone callers by listening to their needs and referring their call to the appropriate staff member or program.
A native of Thurston County, Ryan graduated from River Ridge High School in 2009 with a focus on Office and Administrative Support. Before joining the EDC in January 2016, Ryan spent five years working in Consumer and Community Banking as a Teller in the Olympia District for Chase Bank. Ryan lives in the Lacey area and enjoys spending his time away from the office with friends and his dog, Chance.
GENE ANGEL
360-464-6063
RESEARCH MANAGER
Gene Angel, Research Manager, is the Thurston EDCs in house researcher who works directly with local businesses and community partners to fulfil their data requests. Gene manages a wide range of research projects which include (but are not limited to) demographic analysis, market analysis, and economic impact analysis for local and statewide markets. Gene is a graduate of Evergreen State College, and has been with the Thurston EDC since September 2016.
GEORGE SHARP
360-464-6043
WASHINGTON PTAC PROGRAM COORDINATOR
George joined the Thurston EDC in February 2016 as the Veterans Microenterprise Program Outreach coordinator. He became PTAC Program Coordinator in January 2017. He serves as the point person for database management to ensure proper reporting for the program. He helps respond to general client inquiries, can help clients navigate the System for Award Management (SAM). If you wish to request PTAC in a speaking engagement, in event promotion or partnership agreements, or to get you content added to our calendar or blog, please contact George. George has a BA in Business Administration from Washington State University. George has worked throughout the state when he was the Education and Training Coordinator for the Washington State Department of Commerce.
KATE HOY
360-464-6042
WASHINGTON PTAC GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING SPECIALIST
Before joining the EDC in January 2017 as a PTAC Government Contracting Specialist, Kate spent 30 years in the Southwest assisting small businesses expand their customer base and develop their workforce. Over the years, she has provided sales development strategies, proposal writing consultation, and project management of multi-media e-learning training. Her most recent position was working as part of the Arizona PTAC team in Phoenix, Arizona.
As a full time PTAC counselor Kate is responsible for meeting with small business owners who wish to learn about or expand their government contracting business. She provides training and personal counseling as well as helping the business develop a strategic plan for locating and landing government contracts.
DALE COLBERT
360-464-6044
WASHINGTON PTAC GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING SPECIALIST
Dale has a broad background in working with small business, purchasing and contracting. Early in his career, he was a corporate buyer in the retail industry, serving over 200 stores in 11 western states. He purchased both domestic and imported goods in purchasing posts he held with a number of firms. He worked as an embedded consultant in several small businesses and has an outstanding record of profitability.
More recently Dale was a manager of centralized purchasing for the State of Washington Department of Enterprise Services. Now retired from state service, Dale joined the Thurston EDC team in May 2015. Today Dale is enjoying this new post where works with local businesses and local resource partners. Dale has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Washington in Ecology and Economics. He holds lifetime CPPB and CPPO public purchasing certifications.