The Innovation Center | Biloxi, Mississippi

STEPHEN WHITT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Stephen Whitt graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in management and economics in 1976 and with a Masters in Business Administration in 1982; he is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of West Florida. He holds an SBA Certified Business Analyst designation and is a Certified Teacher with the Florida Department of Education. He recently received the National Business Incubation Association designation as a Certified Incubator Manager (CIM).

Stephen has served as a business consultant, completing projects for the Borden Company, two divisions of Berkshire-Hathaway (Garan and Miller International), Eckerd Drugs, Wolfe Industries, CVS/Pharmacy and Lakewood Industries. He has also started and managed his own companies in diverse business sectors including food service, amusements, waste hauling, real estate and oil services.

Stephen has been involved in the incubation industry since 2004, serving as the director of the Bay County Small Business Incubator (a cooperative project between Florida State University, Gulf Coast Community College and other economic development partners) in Panama City, Florida. He assumed the directorship of The Innovation Center and the GBEDF in October 2007.

Stephen and his wife, Connie, have been married for 30 years; their daughter, Dixie, is in her second semester at Florida State University.

PATTY USRY, OFFICE MANAGER

Patty Usry has been employed at The Innovation Center as office manager since May 2007. Following graduation from St. Martin High School, Patty received an associate's degree from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. She is currently working on a Bachelor of Arts in business administration at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Patty is very active in the Coast Chamber of Commerce and serves as a Chamber Champion. In 2008, Patty attended the National Business Incubation Association National Convention.

Patty has three boys and has been married to her husband, David, for 14 years.