Community is at the center of everything we do at Vibe, and one of the best parts of coworking is the incredible people we meet along the way.
This month, we’re putting the spotlight on Vibe member Shelby Iapoce, of Next Rep as well as wants & kneads, a small batch gluten free bakery. If you’ve spent much of any time here with us, she’s someone you’ve probably seen around the space crushing goals, attending workshops, or connecting with fellow members.
Dive in with us as we get to know more about Shelby, who she is, what she does, and what inspires her.
As a military spouse, Shelby came to Vibe in August 2025 looking for community.
“I love that at Vibe, people don’t just ask “what do you do for work?” but also “what do you do for fun?” It’s a beautiful work-life balance.”
Tell us all about yourself, Shelby! Where are you from? What brought you to Vibe? What makes you, you?
Shelby: I am originally an Upstate New Yorker. I also lived in the Connecticut/Rhode Island/Boston area for a decade plus.
My husband is in the Navy, and we got stationed over here about two and a half years ago. I joined Vibe to get connected with the local community and learn more about entrepreneurship.
My background is quite interdisciplinary, and I love learning about different things and applying them to new and unique mediums.
You recently won NextCycle Washington’s “Technology Solutions Best Pitch” Award for your startup, Next Rep.
Shelby: Yes! Next Rep won the “Technology Solutions Best Pitch” award at the 2026 NextCycle Washington Pitch Showcase. NextCycle Washington is a circular economy innovation platform designed to support the growth of businesses, community-based organizations, tribal nations, and institutions working within Washington’s waste prevention, reuse, repair, recycling, and/or organics recovery industry.
The technology solution category is awarded to the pitch that showed exceptional innovation in developing technology-driven solutions that leverage digital platforms and data systems to advance scalable circular economy outcomes.
This award is important to me because it shows how common and important the intersection of waste, accessibility, and sport is to so many people. I also appreciate how this underscores that Next Rep is being built to help support communities and provide experiences for people in real life. In a world where technology seems to always come first, NextRep is a technology platform that serves as a support function for in person experiences and relationships.
Dare we ask what else are you currently working on in your business or career?
Shelby: I’m actually working on a few things right now! I currently work full time at Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast as a Corporate Sustainability Manager. I lead our sustainability initiatives across our video game portfolio, our impact reporting, and “Extended Producer Responsibility” (EPR) legal requirements across the EU.
And yes, I’m also working on Next Rep, an online secondhand sports gear marketplace where teams, nonprofits, and families can buy and sell used equipment and fundraise for local sports teams. The pilot is open for anyone who wants to join!
I also recently opened my own gluten-free, celiac safe, microbakery. wants & kneads is the name. I make bread and other gluten free goodies on a pre-order only basis. Lastly, I am a yoga instructor at Studio 360m in Silverdale!
How do you define success right now?
Shelby: Accepting myself, wholly as I am.
What are some of your hobbies or creative outlets?
Shelby: I think I might have a bad habit of turning hobbies into businesses?
Haha, but creativity is a really important part of my life, and I find it expresses itself differently in different seasons of my life. Sometimes it’s art projects, other times it’s fashion or home decorating.
Consistently, any and all the types of movements (running, hiking, walking, cross fit, yoga), reading, writing, and generally being outside bring me joy.
You mentioned coming to Vibe looking for community, why else do you love being a part of Vibe?
Shelby: Of course hearing about all the super cool things that people are working on, yes.
But I think it’s more so about people’s philosophy towards life and business. I’m from the New York/New England area where career-ing and work can be pretty hardcore.
The PNW has been such an eye-opener into what building a career and a life can look like to suit who you are as a human.
I love that at Vibe, people don’t just ask “what do you do for work?” but also “what do you do for fun?” It’s a beautiful work-life balance.
Vibe is proud to celebrate members like Shelby, whose passion, curiosity, and entrepreneurial spirit help to shape the Vibe community.
Shelby is a great reminder that success doesn’t always fit neatly into one box. Sometimes it looks like balancing a career, a business, family life, and big ideas—all at once.
That’s exactly why spaces like Vibe exist: to support ambitious, multidimensional people as they build lives and work that matter to them.
Curious about becoming a member? Explore our memberships, try a Day Pass, explore membership, or stop by for a Free First Friday and experience the community for yourself.
And when you see Shelby around… don’t forget to ask what’s fresh from wants & kneads!
