Heather Fennessey McWhorter

A proven leader, Heather McWhorter, MS, PE, ECM, is passionate about empowering individuals and communities to succeed through entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability.

As the UNCW CIE Director, she works with a team of staff, faculty, students, and 200 volunteers to nurture emerging startups and accelerate the entrepreneurial ecosystem in southeastern North Carolina as a vibrant hub of innovation and a central facility that offers educational events, UNCW connections, and a state-of-the-art incubator space. The CIE is working towards an inclusive, resilient, and robust entrepreneurial ecosystem that hires leadership-ready UNCW graduates, partners in UNCW research, and creates solutions for regional and global communities. uncw.edu/cie

Additionally, Heather has several volunteer roles to support entrepreneurs such as: the Leland Economic Development Committee (with a focus on entrepreneurs), Southeastern NC Biotechnology Advisory Committee, and UNCW Esports Advisory Council.

She has many accomplishments supporting entrepreneurs and innovators when serving roles such as Regional Director Regional Director of the UNCW Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC), the statewide Director of the SBTDC Business Launch Initiative, and a variety of entrepreneurial/innovation leadership roles at Penn State University, where she also received several degrees in Engineering.

Education

M.S. in Energy and Mineral Engineering, Penn State University
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Penn State University

Professional Service

Ecosystem Rising Stars Judge, GrepBeat (Dec 2024 - Present)
NC IDEA Foundation Core SEED Grant Reviewer (Sep 2022 - Present)
Economic Development Committee Member, Town of Leland (Jan 2023 - Present)
Community organizer, 1 Million Cups Wilmington (Feb 2020-Present)
Southeastern NC Biotechnology Advisory Committee Member, NC Biotech Center (Aug 2023 - Present)
Esports Advisory Council, UNCW (Oct 2023 - Present)
Judge: MADE Awards and Coastal Entrepreneur Awards (Jan 2018 - Present)
Wilmington Business Coalition (2020-2024)

Community Engagement

Mentor, WILMA Leadership Institute (Oct 2023 - Present)
Turnaround Task Force Leader and Facilitator (2023-2024)
All Ages, All Stages NC Governor's Task Force (2023-2024)
Co-chair, Volunteers, Work on Wilmington (2023)

Honors & Awards

Award of Excellence, Place
Issued by University Economic Development Association · Oct 2024
The University Economic Development Association (UEDA) announced the Awards of Excellence winners at its 2024 Summit in October 2024. This prestigious award celebrates programs that represent outstanding economic development initiatives, research, or accomplishments in the category of place, which honors institutions making transformative contributions to their communities and regions.

Wilmington Biz100
Issued by Greater Wilmington Business Journal · Dec 2021, Dec 2022, Dec 2023
Selected as a member of the 2023 WilmingtonBiz 100, which is an annual Business Journal program to recognize the top 100 Power Players, Influencers, Innovators, Connectors, and Rising Stars impacting Southeastern North Carolina’s business landscape.

James F. Merritt Million Dollar Club Inductee
Issued by UNCW · Nov 2021
The James F. Merritt Million Dollar Club is a university honor and recognition for faculty and staff who have received $1 million or more in external research funding.

SBTDC Executive Director's Award of Excellence
Issued by NC SBTDC Nov 2020
Recognized leadership in establishing a new program to meet a new federal requirement.

U.S. Delegate, Global Entrepreneurship Congress, Medellin, Colombia
Issued by Kauffman Foundation · Mar 2016
Every year, the Global Entrepreneurship Congress entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, policymakers and other startup champions from more than 170 countries to identify new ways of helping founders start and scale new ventures around the world. At the week-long GEC, delegates make connections, gain insights, learn about new research, and leave ready to renew their programs, policy ideas, or firm founder skills.