Dr. Lyn Stabler was among the Mississippi Technology Alliance’s first employees, most recently serving as vice president of policy and analysis. Lyn will be leaving MTA at the end of July, opening a new chapter in her life. We asked her to offer some perspective on how the innovation and technology landscape has changed in Mississippi since she began working with the commission that established MTA.
P.I.: What brought you to MTA?
I was introduced to many aspects of science and technology-related economic development in Mississippi when I served as facilitator and staff support for the Mississippi Science and Technology (S&T) Commission. The Commission was appointed by Governor Fordice in 1997 to assess Mississippi science and technology assets and recommend ways to bring our impressive university research capabilities, private sector strengths and natural resources together in innovative ways to catalyze economic development. The S&T Commission was composed of representatives from Mississippi’s science and technology “system” of leading technology companies such as Mississippi Power Company, Chevron and Triton Systems, research universities, community colleges, federal labs and MDA. The Commission assessed the state’s science and technology assets and gaps and reached consensus to recommend the creation of MTA, (then MS Tech Inc.) to drive technology and innovation-based economic development. I continued to provide staff support as MTA was organized and became a full time employee in 2002. My main focus at that time was to support the development of the organization and create the MS Innovation Index to monitor progress toward long term strategic goals.
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