Chico Start

Wendy Porter is the Managing Director of Chicostart and facilitator of growTECH our Northern CA tech industry partnership.  She is also the California Community Colleges Information Communications Technology Deputy Sector Navigator for the Far North CA region.  Chicostart is a startup incubator located in Chico, CA.  Chicostart has launched 14 startups in the past 4 years and created over 105 quality jobs while nurturing a cohesive platform of connectivity for tech businesses, Chico State, Butte College, investors, mentors, workforce, and economic development groups to interact and uplift the problem solvers and difference makers of tomorrow.  Fostering the tech startup entrepreneurial ecosystem in Chico and Northern CA is a passion for Wendy and seeing the positive results is invigorating. 

After graduating from CSUC she launched her career in Silicon Valley at Hewlett-Packard.  Her successes at HP centered around managing releases and putting together programs and processes for the Software Development Life-cycle.  Building a web development business, and Implementing Change Management / Release to Production programs for HP IT departments were highlights in her career. 

Wendy moved back to Chico to raise a family and become an executive contributor at Shasta QA where she successfully brought many Silicon Valley companies on as clients for the rural-based tech company.  With two young girls at home Wendy then pivoted into the entrepreneurial space and found a home at Chicostart. 

Tim Sharkey has worked in the HVAC Fabrication Sheet Metal Industry for 15 years. With this experience he has seen the need for sustainable materials and practices. Moving to Chico in 2001 he has started a few small businesses creating California Habanero Blends. He has also worked as Sales Manager for the Work Training Center representing three of their manufacturing commercial services. An active member and Ambassador of the Chico Chamber of Commerce he is passionate about bringing the community together.