Kate Waddick, who had allergies and asthma as a child, has always been aware of how her environment affected her health. Her awareness of the connection between the built environment and health motivated Kate to earn degrees in architecture and toxicology. Using her specialized expertise, she founded shWELLter to promote the selection of preferable building materials, interior finishes, and furnishings and, ultimately, contribute to the awareness and advancement of healthier and more sustainable homes. In her role as Founder, Kate strives to exhibit effective critical-thinking, problem-solving and organizational skills; exemplify integrity, grit, and resourcefulness; and adapt efficiently to challenges.Prior to founding shWELLter, Kate earned a BA in Architecture from the School of Architecture and a MS in Environmental Health – Toxicology from the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota. She worked for Atelier Ten, an architectural and environmental design consulting company; Sherman Associates, a residential multifamily housing development company; and Shingobee, a commercial construction and real estate development company. Kate also formerly served on the Health Product Declaration Collaborative Technical Committee and interned at the California Department of Public Health in the Indoor Air Quality Program. Most recently, Kate has completed extensive coursework in web development technologies via Treehouse and participated in Startup School online via Y Combinator.