About North Bank

The strength of any startup ecosystem lies in its people. They come together around bold ideas and create companies with the potential to shape industries. Those companies need the right mix of knowledge, relationships, and capital to reach their full potential.

North Bank Innovations exists to connect, educate, and inspire our community while driving growth for every member involved.

Each day we meet exceptional individuals in our region who are seeking guidance, support, and opportunities to build a vibrant, resilient business culture. We are committed to delivering events, programs, and active engagement to make that happen. Below are a few of the core team members who represent the many others contributing to North Bank’s mission.

The North Bank Team

Dave Barcos

Dave Barcos is a startup strategist, creative leader, and entrepreneurial force behind dozens of early-stage ventures across the Pacific Northwest. Known for bridging vision and execution, he helps founders shape bold ideas into scalable, investable companies—often where innovation meets real-world impact. With a background in design, advertising, and business acceleration, Dave has led brand strategy, go-to-market planning, and product validation for startups in sectors ranging from food innovation to aerospace systems. As the founder of North Bank Innovations, he has built programs that support high-growth founders, secured public and private funding, and cultivated partnerships across government, education, and industry.

Marden Nochez

Marden Nochez is a visionary builder, systems thinker, and operational strategist with a deep background in manufacturing, engineering, and infrastructure development. Known for his hands-on leadership and ability to bring structure to ambitious ideas, Marden has led large-scale projects across sectors ranging from energy and transportation to hardware innovation. He brings a rare blend of practical execution and long-range planning, helping teams navigate complex technical environments while staying grounded in real-world constraints. Whether developing physical systems or building out operational models, Marden is a driving force behind scalable, resilient solutions.

Chris (C3) Croteau

C3 is a transformative technology executive and recognized thought leader, he specializes in launching innovative products and opening new markets through strategic vision, cross-sector partnerships, and operational excellence. With experience leading global teams of over 650 professionals, he has driven $300M+ in acquisitions and delivered breakthrough growth in emerging segments such as augmented reality and wearables. His leadership has shaped industry trajectories—propelling Intel into new categories, cultivating joint ventures with companies like Samsung, and securing over 100 business deals across SaaS, enterprise storage, networking, and advanced graphics.

Charles Swatzell

Charles Swatzell is a seasoned technology executive and entrepreneurial leader known for turning complex ideas into high-impact software solutions. As CEO of Formos, he has scaled the company into a global custom development firm, delivering enterprise-grade platforms and products for clients ranging from nimble startups to Fortune 500 companies. With deep expertise in product strategy, systems architecture, and team leadership, Charles has built and managed distributed engineering teams across the U.S., South America, and Asia. He is recognized for his ability to align technical execution with business goals, foster long-term client relationships, and drive digital transformation across industries.

Chris Magaña

Chris has more than 14 years of equity research and portfolio management experience. After receiving his B.A. in Business Administration from Concordia University, he completed his MBA in Finance and JD from Willamette University. He is a member of the Oregon State Bar. He has served as an adjunct professor at Concordia University and currently teaches part-time at Washington State University-Vancouver and Willamette University’s Graduate School of Business. He serves on several nonprofit boards and foundations and cares deeply about advocating issues surrounding education, affordable housing, children and the environment. Chris speaks regularly to students, community groups and associations on investment, economics, business ethics and personal finance topics.

Resource Council

We have assembled a carefully selected group of investors, executives, and industry leaders who share one clear goal: to help founders succeed. They are not here for appearances or one-off advice. They are here to engage deeply, provide strategic insight, make meaningful introductions, and operate as an extension of your leadership team. When you are part of North Bank, you gain access to expertise and perspective that most founders rarely encounter.

The Resource Council is made up of leaders who are shaping the next wave of innovation in Clark County. It is more than a network; it is a trusted circle of influence, insight, and measurable impact.

Membership is by invitation only. This application collects your basic contact and background information. If selected, you will receive a private invitation to join. Members gain access to a dedicated Slack channel and early access to NBI events, programs, and opportunities.

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As a Resource Council Member, you will:

See first: get a front-row seat to the newest startups emerging in our region.
Be informed early: receive advance notice of NBI’s upcoming events, programs, and initiatives.
Collaborate on North Bank education: help shape and contribute to North Bank’s founder-focused programs.
Get featured: opportunities to speak at events and share your expertise with a wide network of founders and leaders.
Expand your reach: support NBI through social and professional networks.
Participate as a subject matter expert: serve as a speaker, mentor, or panelist.
Meet exceptional leaders in our region.
Give back: share updates on the startups or founders you are advising.