Heather Mcwhorter Email & Phone Number

Wilmington, Nc, Us

Wilmington, Nc, Us

Executive oversight of the UNCW CIE. CIE nurtures high-impact startups with education, connections, and incubation and collision space, and accelerates the entrepreneurial ecosystem in southeastern North Carolina as a vibrant hub of innovation. Established in 2013, the CIE has given startups a place to call home while supporting the growth of the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to the top startup ecosystem in the nation for cities under 300,000 (StartupBlink, June 2022). Primary Director responsibilities include entrepreneur services development and capacity building, entrepreneur advising and consulting, community and team leadership, strategic planning, and sustainability and funding strategy.

Wilmington, Nc, Us

Wilmington, Nc, Us

Strategically lead and oversee the activities of the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC). The Regional Service Center serves a large multi-county region with counseling, training, research, and technical assistance services for small business owners, mid-sized businesses, entrepreneurs, and firms developing new products, technologies, and markets. Develop relationships and collaborate with other economic and workforce development, community, and university partners to support the mission of the SBTDC and UNCW and to help small to mid-size businesses in North Carolina thrive.

Wilmington, North Carolina, Us

The NC EcoTech mission is to develop and apply Ecosystem Technology, or ‘ecotech,’ to drive innovation, translation, and workforce development that improves the quality of life and coastal resilience at local, regional and national levels. The Engine partners are focusing on advancing climate technologies in eastern NC, with a focus on climate resiliency and sustainable aquaculture. https://ncecotech.org/

Wilmington, North Carolina, Us

Wilmington, North Carolina, Us

University Park, Pa, Us

Online instructor for Penn State's College of Engineering School of Engineering Design, Technology, and Professional Programs (SEDTAPP). Teach ENGR 310, Entrepreneurial Leadership, to develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills in our future leaders in collaborative, problem-based projects, with students working in interdisciplinary teams. Students learn about entrepreneurship, leadership, teamwork, and themselves.Student quotes from Fall 2023:• “One of the most useful classes I have taken at Penn State…My new knowledge will be utilized in the workforce.” – Mech Engr, 9th semester• “Overall, I really enjoyed this class throughout the semester and think I learned valuable skills I will use for the rest of my life.” – Mat Sci and Engr, 8th semester• “…I learned a lot. For example, I learned what it means to be a good leader and how important that is in a business setting.” – Mech Engr, 7th semester • “It is sad to say that this class has come to a close. I’ve learned a lot about entrepreneurship, and I’m glad to say that I have discovered entrepreneurship characteristics within my own personality….…. My perception of entrepreneurship has changed drastically. In a way, we are all entrepreneurs. We are all trying to create something whether it is for ourselves or for the better of mankind. We all love the idea of freedom, and entrepreneurship is exactly that. Not everyone is an entrepreneur, but I am glad to say everyone holds entrepreneurship characteristics within themselves.” – Advt/Publ Relations/Art, 7th semester

Raleigh, Nc, Us

Strategically lead an initiative formed to stimulate tech entrepreneurship in North Carolina. Lead a remote statewide team of Business Launch Specialists who help individuals evaluate an idea, form the idea into a business model, and launch the idea into a North Carolina business, with a particular focus on tech entrepreneurs, university researchers, university student entrepreneurs, and big ideas that could lead to traded sector businesses and jobs. Created new initiative in January 2019, with a particular emphasis of the urban areas of the state, including Asheville, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Greenville, Raleigh, Wilmington, Winston-Salem. This program helps more than 300 entrepreneurs to create new businesses each year through one-on-one counseling and a four-week cohort-based "Taking the Leap" curriculum developed to specifically transform ideas to reality.

Raleigh, Nc, Us

University Park, Pa, Us

University Park, Pa, Us

Cross-collaboratively work within Penn State and the community to bring together successful engagement opportunities that will promote and enhance economic development strategies within the Commonwealth and beyond. Foster partnerships to develop and promote economic development and entrepreneurship engagement initiatives. Strategically and systematically bring Penn State’s economic development, entrepreneurship, and business innovation engagement initiatives to world-class excellence. Oversee Penn State's Association of Public and Land Grant University (APLU) Innovation and Economic Prosperity (IEP) classification. Penn State's APLU Commission on Innovation, Competitiveness, and Economic Prosperity (CICEP) liaison. Concurrently, Director of Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC), oversee Penn State Global Entrepreneurship Week, oversee Penn State's industrial extension program PennTAP, and provide strategic leadership on Penn State EdTech Network and Penn State student entrepreneurship activities.

University Park, Pa, Us

Strategically direct the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) at Penn State, which engages, guides, and empowers businesses and organizations throughout the Commonwealth and beyond by providing objective and experience-based technical and workforce solutions that enable clients to succeed and thrive, stimulating economic growth for Pennsylvania. Lead technical experts throughout Pennsylvania that provide focused advanced IT, energy, environment, and product development assistance. Obtained funding for and launched the Penn State Inc.U program which is an undergraduate student business competition and is aired as "The Investment" on WPSU public broadcasting annually. Manage contracts and ensure compliance. Collaborate with university and economic development partners to establish new programs and partnerships. Oversee quality assurance program and client satisfaction.

University Park, Pa, Us

Worked with a wonderful business and technical team at Penn State who helped more than 800 businesses each year to create jobs, increase revenues, and improve operations. While those businesses were accelerated, helped to improve the education of more than 5,000 Penn State students annually through engaged scholarship and service learning opportunities. With help from federal, state, and private sponsors, provided these services for free or for a low cost to our clients. Since services were based at Penn State, we had a broad reach - engaging 10,000 business and community leaders annually - and leveraged worldclass research for innovative solutions.Strategically directed the activities of the Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) as part of the Pennsylvania SBDC network and as part of Penn State. Developed relationships and collaborated with other Penn State departments, economic development organizations, banks, and other professionals in the communities of Centre and Mifflin Counties that provide (1) business/entrepreneurial assistance and (2) energy and environment assistance for the purpose of supporting the mission of the Pennsylvania SBDC and Penn State and supporting needs of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.The Penn State SBDC provides free and confidential assistance and educational programs to small businesses in Central PA.Managed SBDC funding, pursued and obtained additional funding, and met contractual requirements. Operated the SBDC within the budget constraints (P&L responsibilities). Recruited and led employees and students working for the SBDC.

University Park, Pa, Us

Launched the PASBDC Clean Technology Resource Center in 2010, which helped businesses develop and commercialize technology products, goods, services, and processes that use renewable energy sources. Obtained funding for and staffed the new program. Provided strategic direction. Assisted for-profit businesses with commercializing and implementing clean technologies. Updated PASBDC network business consultants located throughout the 18-university PA network on technology commercialization and on clean technologies, with an emphasis on renewable energy.Major contract deliverables for this SBA-funded project: - 3,800 educated on clean tech issues- 130+ entrepreneurial and small business clients assisted- $7.4 million pursued by clients with staff assistance- 20 webinars, seminars, and conferences with 500+ attendeesClosed program due to new strategic focus areas after discussing with leadership.

University Park, Pa, Us

Established the Environmental Management Assistance Program (www.askemap.org) for six SBDCs, comprising a 19-county territory in central Pennsylvania. Primary responsibility is providing confidential environmental compliance, health and safety compliance, pollution prevention, energy efficiency, and clean energy technology development assistance to start-up and existing small businesses. Assisted more than 300 manufacturers, retailers, service organizations, and other businesses to date. Four clients were national Energy Star® for Small Business award winners between 2006 and 2008. Presented with associated Energy Star® for Small Business Collaborator awards.Implemented a regional marketing program and developed effective partnerships with regulatory agencies, the economic development and lending community, and other service providers. Meet regularly with local legislators to discuss success stories and program impact to ensure continuance of funding. Develop, coordinate, and present at workshops that cover a myriad of environmental, health, and safety issues relevant to small business owners. Participate in various committees, such as the Data Integrity workgroups and process streamlining to reduce administrative burden. Participate in EMAP strategic planning. Administer program budget. Recruit and supervise undergraduate and graduate students.

Established and operated Fennessey Engineering, a firm that focused on providing environmental and pollution prevention solutions for defense organizations.

Arlington, Va, Us

Consultant for the National Defense Center for Environmental Excellence (NDCEE), which is operated by Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC). Provided technical and business management support for pollution prevention, waste management, and remediation projects.Developed the Joint Group on Pollution Prevention (JG-PP) Cost Benefit Analysis Methodology to measure the financial viability of pollution projects. Validated the Cost Benefit Analysis Methodology by performing cost studies at facilities such as Ogden Air Logistics Center, UT; Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, GA; Norfolk Naval Shipyard, VA; and Lockheed Martin Electronic & Missiles Company, Orlando, FL. Lead Site Coordinator for JG-PP and JG-PP/Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) projects, which focused on reducing or eliminating hazardous materials from specific processes. By working with stakeholders responsible for affected defense systems, defined and documented validation requirements of current and alternative technologies. Managed contracts and assisted in execution of validation testing.Researched and recommended various pollution prevention, waste management, and remediation technologies for the NDCEE. Some pollution prevention topics included various surface finishing processes; scrap tire reuse and energy recovery; eliminating ink stenciling on electronic components. Alternatives documented included ion vapor deposition, powder coating, autodeposition, and chemical stripping. Performed Pollution Prevention Assessments at military facilities.Researched waste treatment technologies including diffusion dialysis, electrodialysis, electrowinning, evaporation, ion exchange, membrane filtration, ozonation, and reverse osmosis. Investigated and presented information on remediation treatment technologies. Performed remediation surveys for Naval Facilities Engineering Command to collect design information and compiled into a design document.

M.S., Energy And Mineral Engineering (Option: Environmental Health And Safety Engineering)

B.S., Chemical Engineering