Michaele Armstrong, executive director of Spokane-based Evergreen Bioscience Innovation Cluster, is on a mission to turn the Inland Northwest into a competitive hub for life science innovation. 

The nonprofit, member-based organization has recently opened a 5,000-square-foot bioscience business incubator in North Spokane, designed to give early-stage bioscience companies affordable, flexible access to office and wet lab space, as well as room to work, grow, and experiment without the financial burden of taking on a year-long lease term.

The incubator space, which can accommodate between three and five companies, is a small step toward building a pipeline of bioscience companies in the region. Evergreen Bio's ultimate goal is to develop a 77,000-square-foot building to attract and anchor companies from across the Mountain Northwest region, which includes the states of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Utah.

Education: Bachelor's degree in biology, University of Idaho; doctorate in human genetics, MBA, University of Pittsburgh.

What’s the best career advice you’ve received? Be intentional and unapologetic about asking for what you need — because you only get what you negotiate — while always working to maximize mutual benefits. Taken together, that mindset has shaped how I approach leadership and partnerships: think strategically, be clear about value, and design opportunities where everyone has a reason to succeed. It’s allowed me to pursue audacious goals and ambitious collaborations.

Why did you choose your career path? My high school and college years were deeply influenced by the human genome project, cystic fibrosis advancements, and the cloning of Dolly, the sheep. From there, I kept going where the “doors” were open and looking for reasonable alternatives when the primary path was blocked.

How would you describe yourself as a leader? I lead with curiosity, empathy, and a strong belief in the power of community. I’m at my best when I’m helping others succeed, whether that’s founders navigating growth, partners aligning around a shared goal, or a region stepping into its potential.