Steve Rector is the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary/Treasurer of Cowles Company, where he leads the company’s growth capital investment strategy and oversees banking relationships, audit, and tax functions. He also serves as Managing Director of Cowles Ventures, guiding investments in innovative technology and sustainability-focused companies. 

An accomplished financial analyst and deal architect, Steve brings decades of experience in corporate finance, investment strategy, and operational oversight. He currently serves on the boards of Clearas Water Recovery, Ag Energy Solutions, and Scorebook Live. Deeply engaged in community leadership, he is the current President and a long-time board member of the Rypien Foundation. His past board service includes the Whitworth Foundation and the Supervisory Committee of Spokane Teachers Credit Union. He also represents Cowles in the Spokane Angel Alliance and Seattle Alliance of Angels. 

Prior to joining Cowles in 1989 as an internal auditor, Steve was a Certified Public Accountant at Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC). He holds a BA in Accounting from Whitworth University.