Mississippi Technology Alliance History
1998:
Mississippi Science & Technology Action Plan published.
501c3 organization formed as Mississippi Technology, Inc., with the mission to champion technology–based economic development in Mississippi.
Clay Lewis serves as interim Chief Executive Officer on loan from the Mississippi Development Authority.
1999:
Mississippi Legislature endorses the Mississippi Science & Technology Action Plan.
The first meeting of the Board of Directors of Mississippi Technology Alliance Incorporated was held May, 1999 with the following Directors attending: Dr. Malcolm Portera; Dr. Horace Fleming; Mr. Don Durham; Mr. Charles Doty; Mr. Warren Hood, Jr.; Mr. John Palmer; Dr. Robert Khayat; Mr. Jimmy Heidel; Mr. Kelly Algood; Mr. Dwight Evans; Mr. Don Meiners; Dr. Olan Ray; and Mr. Garry Ruff.
First Conference on High Technology held in Jackson.
2000:
Dr. Angeline Godwin Dvorak named Chief Executive Officer of Mississippi Technology, Inc.
MTA participates with Harvard University Professor Dr. Michael Porter to conduct analysis of communication and information technology industry in Mississippi.
Communication Information Technology organization of Mississippi (CIT.ms) formed.
MTA Board of Directors added Mr. Matt Holleman and Mr. John McCullouch to the Board.
2001:
First MTA staff hired.
Name changed to Mississippi Technology Alliance.
MTA publishes the first Innovation Index.
Technology @ Home in Mississippi Tour visits 16 Mississippi cities.
With funding from the U.S. Department of Labor, MTA and the Mississippi Development Authority conduct industry and workforce analyses of the automotive, forest products, polymers and communication and information technology industry clusters.
MTA Board of Directors added Mr. Ashby Foote, Mr. Dan Grafton and Mr. Billy Mounger to Board.
2002:
MTA takes the Technology @ Home in Mississippi Tour to 16 more Mississippi cities.
Andy Taggart named Interim President and Chief Executive Officer.
First issue of Pointe Innovation magazine published.
Pointe Innovation magazine receives Excellence Award from Southern Economic Development Council.
Mississippi Alternative Energy Enterprise formed.
Mississippi Technology Alliance assumes management of the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership in Mississippi.
Build-out of MTA Innovation Center begins in the Mississippi e-Center at Jackson State University.
2003:
MTA assumes management of the United States Academic Decathlon program in Mississippi.
AbsoCom Corporation becomes the first client to locate in the MTA Innovation Center.
Mississippi Polymer Cluster organization formed.
MTA Board of Directors added Mr. Barry Cannada to the Board.
2004:
MTA hosts its first United States Academic Decathlon state competition.
MTA presents the John I. Rucker Community Innovation Leadership Award to the Natchez-Adams County Economic Development Authority.
MTA Board of Directors added Mr. Edward Gough and Dr. Bill Rayburn to the Board.
2005:
MTA receives Regional Links Award from TechLINKS, a Georgia-based technology publication.
Pointe Innovation magazine receives Award of Excellence from the Public Relations Association of Mississippi.
Public Relations Association of Mississippi presents Certificate of Achievement to MTA for the Conference on High Technology Video.
MTA launches the Mississippi Angel Network to connect entrepreneurs with investors.
Strategic Biomass Initiative launched to fund commercial and applied research and development projects related to bioengery and biofuels.
MTA launches TechFix to help businesses recover after Hurricane Katrina.
MTA presents the John I. Rucker Community Innovation Leadership Award to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Technology Council.
MTA Board of Directors added Mrs. Jan Farrington to the Board.
2006:
Dr. Randy Goldsmith named President and Chief Executive Officer.
MTA launches the Breakfast with an Innovator networking events.
MTA launches the Entrepreneurial Service Providers network (ESP) and Mississippi Executive Talent Exchange (MXTX).
MTA organized a delegation from Mississippi Research Universities and the Mississippi Development Authority to sponsor an exhibit at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) national conference in Chicago.
Pointe Innovation magazine receives Certificate of Achievement from the Southern Public Relations Federation.
Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Mississippi (MEP.ms) receives national award for assisting manufacturers in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
MTA receives Award of Merit for the Breakfast with an Innovator series from the Southern Economic Development Council.
Madison Central High School wins first place in its division representing Mississippi at the United States Academic Decathlon national competition.
MTA presents the John I. Rucker Community Innovation Leadership Award to the Mississippi Delta Technology Council.
MTA Board of Directors added Dr. Charles Grayson to the Board.
2007:
Mississippi Seed Fund formed by Mississippi Legislature.
MTA begins offering Innovation-Led Economic Development training courses.
MTA presents the John I. Rucker Community Innovation Leadership Award to the Jones County Economic Development Authority.
MTA presents FastTrac TechVenture entrepreneurial training in Mississippi.
MTA After Hours networking event is launched.
2008:
Mississippi Seed Fund makes its first investment, a $10,000 Proof-of-Concept award, to EdoBotanics, of Jackson.
Mississippi Seed Fund awards a $100,000 New Venture Development investment to Spatial Information Solutions, of Starkville.
MTA hosts the first Innovators Hall of Fame Awards Gala. Inaugural class of inductees includes Legends Award Recipient Ambassador John Palmer, Cellular South, Peavey Electronics and Edward Barq, Sr. and Dr. Arthur Guyton, posthumously.
MTA launches Business Plan Competition.
Mississippi Seed Fund awards $100,000 New Venture Development investment to 10Beyond, of Ridgeland.
Mississippi Seed Fund presents a $100,000 New Venture Development investment to On2Locate, of Ridgeland.
Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Mississippi (MEP.ms) center at the Center for Advance Vehicular Systems Extension Center in Canton (CAVS-E) receives award at MEP National Conference e for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle project.
Discovery Luncheon networking and information program launched.
MTA presents John I. Rucker Community Innovation Leadership Award to the Renasant Center for IDEAs, of Tupelo.
MTA Board of Directors added Mr. Mayo Flynt, Dr. Martha Saunders, Dr. Eric Clark and Mr. Glenn McCullough to the Board.
2009:
MTA signs a Partnership Intermediary Agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture to enhance opportunities to commercialize Agricultural Research Service research.
MTA hosts the Second Annual Innovators Hall of Fame Awards Gala. Inductees include Legends Award Recipient Jim Barksdale, Fred Haise, Fred Carl, and Dr. James Hardy, posthumously.
As part of the Second Annual Innovators Hall of Fame Awards Gala, eight high-growth ventures are recognized as 2009 Mississippi Companies to Watch. Companies selected include: printing company JM Digital Corporation, of Natchez; manufacturer Marine Gears, of Greenville; pharmaceutical marketing consulting firm Medical Marketing Economics, of Oxford; eco-friendly paint manufacturer Mythic Paint, of Hattiesburg; defense technology company Camgian Microsystems, of Starkville; innovative bakery Flathau’s Fine Foods, of Hattiesburg; geospatial technology firm NVision Solutions Inc., of Bay Saint Louis; and, manufacturer Trilogy Communications, of Pearl.
MTA introduces the PeerSpectives Roundtable in Mississippi.
MTA launches the Mississippi Innovators Hall of Fame website, www.innovatorshalloffame.com.
Mississippi Seed Fund presents a $10,000 Proof-of-Concept Award to SinhaTech, of Oxford.
MTA launches the Venture Coaching Academy.
Mississippi Seed Fund presents $100,000 Research and Development Award to Ablitech, of Hattiesburg.
MTA launches Entrepreneur in Residence program.
MTA presents John I. Rucker Community Innovation Leadership Award to Dr. Cecil Burge, vice president for research and economic developent at The University of Southern Mississippi, and Dr. Angie Godwin, president of the Area Development Partnership.
MTA Board of Directors added Dr. Hank Bounds, Mr. Joel Bomgar, Mr. Rich Sun and Mr. Hu Meena to the Board.
2010:
Tony Jeff named president and chief executive officer.
Mississippi Seed Fund presents $10,000 Proof-of-Concept Award to Diver's D\Lyte, of Ridgeland.
MTA partners with the Delta Regional Authority to expand high-speed internet access in Clarksdale and Coahoma County through the iDelta initiative.
Mississippi Seed Fund makes second $100,000 New Venture Development investment in Spatial Information Solutions, of Starkville.
MTA hosts third annual business plan competition, the New Venture Challenge.
Mississippi Seed Fund presents $100,000 Research and Development investment to Oxford Polymed Corporation, of Oxford.
Mississippi Seed Fund makes second $100,000 New Venture Development investment in On2Locate, of Ridgeland.
Mississippi Seed Fund makes second $100,000 Research and Development investment in Ablitech, of Hattiesburg.
MTA Board of Directors added Dr. Dan Jones to the MTA Board.