Prior to joining UW TechTransfer, Janis Machala was the founder of Paladin Partners which assisted high growth companies with strategic and operational needs.  Before Paladin, Janis served as President and CEO of Pinnacle Publishing, a leading provider of component software and technical newsletters for developers.  After seven years of operating losses, Pinnacle achieved profitability for seven straight quarters under her leadership.

Janis also held senior management positions in marketing and business development at major technology companies, including Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, and Wang Laboratories, often working in a mentoring or startup capacity.

Janis also helped form Seraph Capital Forum, a woman's angel investing group, and FWE Seattle, which supported women entrepreneurs.  From 1994-1998, she served on the board of the Washington Software Alliance (now the WTIA) and from 1998-2007 she served on the board of the Northwest Entrepreneur Network, which helps advance entrepreneurship in the Northwest.

Janis received an MBA in Marketing from the University of Iowa and a BA in English and Psychology from Augustana College in Illinois.