Member Spotlight

Meet the Vessel Team!


Describe the business/organization you work for:

Vessel is a Veteran-owned, employee owned, mission-driven company dedicated to reshoring and strengthening the resilience of U.S. manufacturing. At the core of Vessel is a custom-built technology, specifically designed to deliver measurable economic impact for private, state, and federal agencies that consult or advise underserved U.S.

manufacturers.


The Vessel Smart Assessment Platform (VSAP) enhances agency effectiveness by providing more accurate recommendations, fostering sustainable relationships, and enabling ongoing engagement through an evergreen approach. The technology integrates industry-specific, geography-based, size-based, and topical manufacturing assessments with

AI-matched agency resources, partners, and external supply chain data points. This tailored matching system ensures that the unique needs of each manufacturer are met with precision.


Vessel prides itself in being a self-funded team of innovators committed to delivering high-impact solutions across the United States. Originally founded as a consulting agency, Vessel helped manufacturers visualize, clarify, and implement strategies to overcome barriers to growth and profitability. Today, their consulting services focus on supporting partner agencies closely in managing the tools, strategy, and timely

recommendations more effectively, enhancing their ability to drive results and build lasting awareness and relationships with their network of manufacturers.


Vessel is dedicated to helping U.S. manufacturers not only compete but thrive in a global economy. By equipping experts with the tools, insights, and strategies necessary for success, Vessel aims to foster a more sustainable and prosperous future.


What inspired you to start your own business, or why did you decide

to work for this specific organization?

At Vessel, we are united by a shared belief in the power of U.S. manufacturing to strengthen the national economy. Every team member is driven by this mission, and we each bring our own experiences and dedication to advancing this vision. Over time, Vessel has refined its

focus to address the most impactful areas for U.S. manufacturers, leveraging our hands-on industry experience to develop technology solutions that empower small to medium-sized manufacturers and the agencies supporting them.


Our commitment is to fortify U.S. manufacturing through clarity in supply chains and operational alignment. We aim to give manufacturers the agility and resilience they need to thrive amidst global challenges, ensuring their enduring success and impact.


What sets this business apart from others in the industry?

Not many for-profit companies have the culture and shared belief that the Vessel team has. There are other software offerings that perform elements of what our Smart Assessments platform can accomplish, however we are the only multi-dimensional program with advanced and custom smart matching, data visualization, and dynamic reporting that infuses behind the scenes to create efficiencies and strength in data collection/reporting.


With our Vessel Smart Assessments platform now in multiple states across the country, we are able to reach into vertical markets to provide our tool as a solution across a variety of industries and use cases that include supporting Veterans as they transition into the workforce, bolster economic development, and support the full continuum of education onto meaningful careers. Our team has created an efficient and intuitive framework to analyze and visualize data and serve up AI-enhanced informed recommendations. We LOVE the work we get to do!


What challenges have you faced as a business owner or employee, and how did you overcome them?

Culture is extremely important to our team. Fortunately, for us it has been a way to separate out people that may have the needed skill sets but don’t have the passion for the work we get to do, or appreciation for the people on the team. On the flip side, our mission and culture have also been catalysts for finding really talented and dynamic people who deeply care about the work of Vessel and want to be a part of building a company and

product we can all be proud of.


What advice would you give to someone looking to join your

industry?

Being an entrepreneur is hard, overcoming external doubt is daunting, building technology is expensive, however, if you are willing to overcome those challenges, there is a seat at the table and a great need for supporting our U.S. Manufacturers and the cottage industries that fuel them.


Connect with Vessel HERE

Social Media Handles/Tags: @Vessel, #SmartAssessments #SupplyChainSoftware


by Tim Munkres 7 April 2026
Introducing: Kevin Phithak, Staff Program Manager/Workforce Strategies, Micron Technology Describe the business/organization you work for: Micron Technology is a world leader in innovating memory and storage solutions that accelerate the transformation of information into intelligence, inspiring the world to learn, communicate and advance faster than ever. What inspired you to start your own business, or why did you decide to work for this specific organization? Growing up, my dad worked at Micron, and some of my favorite memories were attending the company picnics. Those events offered a chance to connect with the community, enjoy great food and activities, and even tour the fab in a cleanroom suit. Experiencing that environment at a young age sparked my interest in technology and inspired me to pursue a career in a high?tech company. Today, both of my brothers and I are proud to be second?generation Micron team members. I truly value the diverse and meaningful challenges I get to work on here—especially the opportunity to inspire students to explore careers in our industry. It’s rewarding to contribute to work that has impact and helps shape the future talent pipeline. What sets this business apart from others in the industry? The semiconductor industry is a fast?paced, continuously evolving field that presents both exciting opportunities and unique challenges. It offers the chance to work with some of the most advanced and innovative technologies—capabilities you simply won’t encounter anywhere else. What challenges have you faced as a business owner or employee, and how did you overcome them? One of my biggest early challenges was developing a deep understanding of the CTE and community college programs that prepared students for technician roles. I needed to identify which schools offered relevant curricula, determine how their programs aligned with our team’s requirements, and figure out the best way to connect and build relationships with the right stakeholders. Much of this work involved navigating each institution’s structure to determine the appropriate point of contact—whether a department chair, dean, or career counselor. Through consistent outreach and experimentation with different engagement approaches, I ultimately created a reliable system for establishing those connections. After two years of focused effort, we have built a strong network of partner schools that now serve as a pipeline for technician talent. This foundation has significantly strengthened our ability to identify, engage, and recruit students into opportunities at Micron. What advice would you give to someone looking to join your industry? Maintain a growth mindset and remain open to continuous learning. Remember that a “no” is not the end of your path—it often simply redirects you toward new opportunities. About the Idaho Technology Council The Idaho Technology Council (ITC) is a member-based organization that champions innovation and collaboration to grow Idaho’s economy through technology. Representing a dynamic and growing community of entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and policymakers, ITC connects vision with action to position Idaho as a hub for innovation and opportunity. Learn more at www.idahotechcouncil.org . Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn HERE Check out Micron Technology HERE
by Diane Temple 27 March 2026
Idaho Advances AI in Education with Landmark Legislation, Strengthening Future Workforce Pipeline
by Diane Temple 23 March 2026
ITC hosts iTECH Summit in Idaho Falls in partnership with area leaders.