Marcia Mellitz provides consulting services in support of entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology development.  Formerly Vice President, Program Development for BioSTL for the St. Louis bioscience cluster. In 1996, she founded and served as President and CEO of the Center for Emerging Technologies (CET) through 2010, supporting the development of early-stage biomedical and other advanced technology companies by providing entrepreneurs access to business, technology, and financial resources. She collaborated with community partners to develop the specialized facilities, capital, resources, and services necessary to grow a vibrant bioscience industry, funded by federal, state, and private sources. She is currently engaged with T-REX, St. Louis’ downtown innovation center.

CET received the US Economic Development Administration (EDA) 2003 award for Excellence in Tech-led Economic Development and National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) designation as one of the Nation’s top ten incubators, first in company revenue growth.  The 46 companies, while she was at CET, included:  medical diagnostics, therapies, instruments, and devices, working in cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and others; plus advanced IT, materials, and biofuels.  They obtained $800 million in financing while at CET (including graduates, $1.4 billion), providing an economic impact to the region of $2 billion and creating 600 direct and 2,000 indirect jobs. Many companies have products on the market and several have been bought. The Bio Entrepreneur Development (BED) Program she developed created another 65 companies or ventures, and 96 jobs and attracted more than $7 million in investment. CET’s Board of Directors included representatives from UM-St. Louis, Washington University, Saint Louis University (two medical schools), business, and venture capital.

Ms. Mellitz was instrumental in the early development of the CORTEX Innovation District, in partnership with Washington University, Saint Louis University, and University of Missouri-St. Louis, BJC HealthCare and Missouri Botanical Garden.  Ms. Mellitz consults on strategic planning and does grant to foster technology-based economic development in St. Louis and around the country. She is a national leader in the commercialization of university technology, technology company development, and innovation districts. She has spoken at national conferences and has received numerous awards. 

Ms. Mellitz’s previous work experience includes:

• Microbiology research at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and FDA
• ITT Commercial Finance, marketing the IBM account
• Directing Operation Food Search, a national model distributing S14 million of surplus food
• Extensive consulting on entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology commercialization

She has served on a variety of civic, university, and cultural boards, including:

• CORTEX Founder Award for Startup Innovation
• Washington University School of Medicine Institute of Clinical & Translational Sciences (NIH CTSI grant) Governing Board
• Association of University Research Parks (AURP)
• CORTEX Innovation District and Planning Committee
• Co-Founder, Translational Medical Alliance Conferences
• Missouri Botanical Garden Commission for the St. Louis Zoo Museum District, past Chair
• Chair, St. Louis County Air Pollution Appeal Board
• Hope Happens organization to support the Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine
• Advisory Board, Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience (magnet STEM high school)
• Advisory Board, BALSA, providing teams of Washington University graduate students and postdocs for company research and assessment projects
• BioGenerator (creates companies from university and other technology)
• Science and Leadership Committee – St. Louis Science Center
• Coulter Oversight Committee, Washington University School of Biomedical Engineering
• Louis Regional Competitive Initiative Steering Committee
• International Women’s Forum, St. Louis affiliate