Kathryn Lamka - President

A lover of all things delicious -- and slightly geek-ish – Kathryn brought an uninvited guest to a wine tasting party. Her laptop. Shock turned to delight with succinct reports and helpful graphs, and her vision was born. What about software that could combine the elements of how to taste with how to host an event where you could taste?

For Kathryn, it was a natural evolution. This one-time German teacher became enamored with group process during a career with IBM. Several years later she partnered with a long-time friend to develop their own “group collaboration” software. One thing led to another on several fronts, and the friend-now-husband was enlisted to create “tasting event” software. It started with wine, but Kathryn isn’t stopping there. What about beer? Olive oil? Chocolate? Stay tuned!

Neil Lamka - Vice President

Willing to taste most anything, Neil has served as chief guinea pig on many projects – except this one. His expertise and experience in software development is the technical engine behind TastingMaster.

After earning two degrees in Computer Science from Washington State University, Neil went on to develop software in varied industries: medical, insurance, finance, and real estate, to name but a few. He’s also managed major IT projects, led technical teams, served in several senior management positions, and founded a “group facilitation” software company (sound familiar?).

Today TastingMaster allows Neil to meld his culinary passions with his software development expertise, resulting in a product that is “near and dear” as well as innovative. 

Jerri Reid - Vice President, Marketing

Jerri is our party expert, diligently honing her skills since retirement. She’d had a very successful career in retail working for a large Northwest department store. First a buyer, her energy and abilities shattered their glass ceiling. Jerri was this retail giant’s first female store manager, then a regional vice president, and finally appointed to its 13-person Executive Committee. No big surprise for one of the Peace Corps first volunteers to Colombia in the early 1960s. (Jerri swears she was eight years old at the time.)

Jerri brings more to TastingMaster than a résumé. Her merchandising sense, sales expertise and party talents helps us deliver what you, the budding taster, is looking for in tasting event software.

Jane Mangers - Public Relations Director

It’s hard to imagine why a business whose passion is fun and parties needs a Public Relations Director, but Jane is an integral part of our team. She adds energy and excitement to her wealth of business know–how.

Currently Jane works as a business consultant for an insurance and financial services company.