Innosphere team
Leadership
Mike Freeman
CEO
Mike has 35 years of executive experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors focused on technology economic development, management consulting, entrepreneurship, and finance.
Rachel Gallegos
Finance Director
Rachel Gallegos brings nearly a decade of expertise in accounting and finance, with specialized knowledge in grant management and compliance. From managing multi-million-dollar FEMA and state grants during the City of Evans’ flood recovery to streamlining in-house accounting operations for the ASCEND Engine, Rachel has a proven track record of precision and impact. A dedicated professional, she is passionate about leveraging her expertise to support communities, foster resilience, and ensure financial excellence.
Tim Jones
COO & Translation Director
Tim Jones serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Innosphere and ASCEND Engine Translation Director leading operational execution, new program implementation and deployment of capital for early-stage venture capital funds. As COO of Innosphere and a partner in multiple venture capital funds since 2019, he has spearheaded the execution of incubator services, winning and managing programs in Climate resilience, Life Sciences, and Smart Cities.
Sam Malloy
R&D Director
Dr. Sam Malloy is the Director of Research and Development for the ASCEND Engine. With a background as a data scientist working across the domains of environmental science, public health, and policy, he brings an integrative approach to technical leadership and portfolio management.
Kevin Noble
Life Sciences Program Director
Kevin serves as Director of the Innosphere Life Sciences Incubator, a pioneering initiative in the Mountain Plains region focused on accelerating the commercialization of breakthrough life science innovations. Backed by a strong network spanning eight states, eleven universities, and three state bioscience associations, he helps advance a collaborative ecosystem that is shaping the future of healthcare innovation and sustainability.
Amber Rahn
Workforce & Regional Engagement Director
Dr. Amber Rahn serves as the Director of Workforce for the ASCEND Engine, where she leads regional strategies to build a robust, future-ready talent pipeline aligned with community resilience and emerging technologies. With a background in leadership development and cross-sector collaboration, Amber drives workforce initiatives that connect K–12, higher education, and industry to ensure equitable access to training, career pathways, and high-quality jobs across Colorado and Wyoming.
Team
Kyla Bazlen, NOAA & NREL Fellow
Alex Brandon, Research Associate
Betty Cozzolino, Digital Strategist & Events Manager
Prescott Eppard, Research Associate
Lucas Gauthier, Research & Evaluation Supervisor
Jack Hemmelgarn, Program Analyst
Bridger Huhn, Technical Fellow
Virginia Iglesias, ARID Integration Lead
Jake Johnson, Events Coordinator
Brian Johnston, Workforce Program Manager
Kate Laughrey, Grants & Compliance Manager
Steven LeBlanc, Workforce Program Manager
Chris Ludwig, Staff Accountant
Lilly Mangham, Senior Research Associate
Emily Merwin Olk, Senior Research Associate
Bud Michael, Earth & Space Program Director
Erik Mikysa, Corporate Partner Liaison
Joey Money, Life Sciences Client Manager
Dan Moyers, Earth & Space Client Manager
Lucas North, NOAA & NREL Fellow
Mikkel Quam, Senior Technical Fellow
David Raymes, Life Sciences Client Manager
Robert Simon, Senior Regional Innovation Fellow
Ravi Smith, Building Manager
Jeff Swayze, Senior Research Associate
Kristen Tatti, Marketing Director
Ben Walker, Life Sciences Client Manager
Emily Wilson, Strategic Partnerships Director
Erin Zimmerman, Science Communications Manager