Patricia M. Irving, Ph.D.
Founder, President & CEO
Dr. Patricia M. Irving is the senior executive and primary owner of InnovaTek. She has seven years of experience in commercializing advanced technologies, and she has over 20 years experience in conducting and managing basic and applied research in environmental and energy science, technology development, and environmental policy.
She is deeply concerned about sustainability and the impact of human activities on the environment. This is due to her love for the outdoors which is where she chooses to spend her free time either sea kayaking, gardening, hiking, walking her dogs, or enjoying the beauty of nature in outings with her family. She has a great appreciation for nature and this passion is what led her to found InnovaTek, Inc. where she oversees the development of technologies that protect the environment while enhancing our quality of life.
Dr. Irving is a founding member of the WA State STEM Education Foundation where she serves on the Board of Directors. Previously she was an Adjunct Professor with the Environmental Sciences Department at Washington State University, Tri-Cities, where she taught graduate courses in environmental science and industrial ecology. In 2000 she was appointed by Governor Gary Locke to the Board of Directors of SIRTI, a Washington State Technology and Economic Development Institute, where she served as vice-chair. Prior to founding InnovaTek Dr. Irving held the positions of Director of Technology Research and Integration, and Manager of the Environmental Sciences Department at Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories. She worked for over twelve years at Argonne National Laboratory as a Research Scientist and was on special assignment for six years to the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
Dr. Irving is the author or co-author of over 70 scientific papers, books, and technical reports, three patents, and invited presentations at universities and scientific meetings.
Kathryn E. Rightor, MBA, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
She is fascinated by science, technology, spreadsheets and numbers, which make her an excellent fit as the CFO of InnovaTek. Kathy Rightor is responsible for financial management and strategic planning at InnovaTek, handling budgeting, projections, debt and equity financing, cash flow management, contract and license negotiations, employee benefit and stock incentive plans, risk management, IT systems, and nearly every other aspect of operating a business.
Before becoming a CPA, Kathy studied music and became a classically trained pianist. When she is not performing her duties at InnovaTek, she can be found outdoors reveling in nature and a variety of Northwest adventures from crushing grapes with local wineries to cycling, kayaking, backpacking, and telemark skiing.
Ms. Rightor is a Certified Public Accountant, with a BA in Arts Management and an MBA concentrating in Information Systems from the University of Maryland, College Park. She moved to the Northwest from Washington, D.C. where she garnered more than fifteen years experience in the public and private sectors in executive and financial leadership. Her experience also includes consulting with small entrepreneurial businesses in the high tech sector that specialize in advanced medical imaging and bioinformatics applications.