Michelle Noel

Michelle was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington, and was introduced to punk music at the age of 9. Her exposure to the Olympia music scene began in high school, when Michelle volunteered and attended shows at the all-ages music venue Community World Theater. Following her graduation from Stadium High School, Michelle moved to Olympia to attend The Evergreen State College. As in Tacoma, she became a supportive member of the Olympia music scene and a feminist model for young women in Olympia. She threw her energy into booking and attending shows, organizing Riot Grrrl Olympia chapter meetings, making zines, and working at Time After Time vintage clothing store, Rainy Day Records, and K Records. Michelle’s first radio show was in 1990 on KUPS in Tacoma, and she worked as the music director and DJed on KAOS from 1991-2004. Michelle helped coordinate and book “Girl Night,” the opening night of the International Pop Underground Convention, and co-organized four Yoyo a Go Go Festivals starting in 1994 with Pat Maley, Pat Castaldo, Kento Oiwa, Ed Varga, and a large team of dedicated volunteers. Today, Michelle lives in Olympia, where she has worked for over twenty years at the Olympia Food Co-op. Michelle became Manager of the Co-op’s Cheese Department in 2004 and became an American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional in 2016.