DAVE BERGART
Seasoned entrepreneur with a passion for wellness and sustainability, an ability to build bridges and buzz, and a drive that never quits
When Dave was younger, he he was a Five-time US National Champion in the Archery-Biathlon (Archery and Cross Country Skiing). He represented the United States in Europe and Russia on the World Cup circuit, and was interviewed on the Russian equivalent of Good Morning America.
Dave was elected as a city council representative in Victor, Idaho, and was invited to the white house to meet the President as a “young elected official.” During this time, he worked with multiple agencies, including the Idaho Department of Transportation to reconfigure downtown streets and parking and improve safety for drivers, pedestrians and bike riders. Dave performed cost benefit analyses on capital projects totaling over 15 million dollars.
Dave co-founded an Idaho- based nonprofit to promote healthy lifestyles and economic development through cycling. He planned and promoted bike races that attracted over 1300 riders, and built and maintained a community bike park, gaining national coverage. He also served on the board for a nonprofit focused on petroleum reduction in the Yellowstone ecosystem.
Dave will use his experience to drive strategic partnerships, build brand awareness and stay focused on success.
AMY VILLANUEVA
Development professional with 13 years experience in program management, extensive international experience, and a proven track record of social enterprise
Amy has visited or lived on 35 countries on five continents. She joined the startup team for Mercy Corps’ new operations in Sri Lanka following the December 2004 tsunami, and more recently helped launch the first design-build architecture studio in the Philippines.
Domestically, Amy’s career has spanned Puget Sounds’s most effective non-profits dedicated to creating jobs and health for those who need it most. At The Gates Foundation, she supported a team that was managing over $22M investments in behavior change and primary health care. At FareStart, she wrote over 100 proposals, including the top three largest grants they had ever received (Walmart, Boeing, JPMorgan Chase). Amy helped create a national network, incubated by FareStart. Within one year launch, her team had succeeded in recruiting 20 members and raising $1 million.
Her passion for sustainability traces it roots to her six-week trip sailing from the cape of Massachusetts to the Caribbean. Her research team collected and studied pelagic plastics in the Sargasso Sea – contributing to the most extensive study of maritime plastic debris in the world.
Amy will use her experience to understand the international apparel supply chain, raise necessary funds from aligned investors, and provide job opportunities for marginalized populations.
ROB GOEHRKE
Mission-driven intrapreneur with an understanding of both nonprofits and for-profits, a track record of data-driven innovation, and experience in customer service and sales
Robbie was awarded 3rd place in Seattle Startup Weekend for his idea to use cascading incentives to create a better world-wide lost and found service. He has dedicated his career to education, working in both nonprofit sector (including the Woodland Park Zoo) and for-profit sector (The Princeton Review). He conceived and launched internal idea sharing platform that launched to over 200 employees and garnered over 50 ideas, with funding for the top four.
Robbie has developed the highest-rated instructors in his company by treating his employees like customers, and measuring and achieving an 87% workload satisfaction rate and 46% Employee recommend rating. He retains over $400k in revenue per year through empathetic communication, consultative questions, and creative solutions, while closing individual sales of up to $6600.
Robbie got his start through two years of AmeriCorps at Solar Youth -- a nonprofit recognized as Environmental Education Organization of the Year in Connecticut. He reduced attrition rate from 50% to 0% for middle school program in New Haven’s highest opportunity neighborhood by co-designing the program with the students themselves.
Robbie will will use his experience to co-create with the partners and customers, use data to drive decisions, and close sales both big and small.
MELISSA HOOK
Apparel professional with over eight years of industry experience in product development, sustainability, and merchandising; specializing in marketing communications, end-of-life, and supply chain operations strategies.
Melissa Hook started sewing when she was six years old and has worked in the apparel industry for the last eight years. She is in her second semester of Presidio Graduate School’s Sustainable Management MBA program and wants to create change in apparel supply chain operations when she graduates.
Previously, she worked in sustainability and manufacturing at Levi's Innovation Lab, as an Assistant Designer for PACT apparel and a Buyer for Crossroads Trading Company. She has consulted with Goodwill San Francisco and interned with the Renewal Project.
Melissa loves to go bike riding, hiking, and camping with friends and goes dancing when she needs a break from school work. Her personal motto is "authenticity never goes out of style."
Melissa will use her industry expertise to push towards closed-loop systems, connect with sustainable apparel leaders, and inject passion into the heart of our business.
MEET THE TEAM
Pretty dang awesome