Chief says tech incubator has far surpassed her goals

BYLINE: DEB PETERSON

What did you do after you got your MBA?My first venture out of the lab, actually, was that I became an interior designer. I did that for a few years, and then it became clear that I needed to get serious.

What did you do to get serious?I started Operation Food Search, a food pantry that is still going strong today. I wound up getting the organization to the point where we had an annual acquisition and distribution of $14 million of surplus food to neighborhood organizations. We were recognized as a national model and became the topic of a front-page story in the Wall Street Journal.

Were you doing political work at the same time?Well, I had always been politically involved. I did consultant work with Sue Shear and Harriett Woods. I walked the streets with Sue and with Harriett because in those days, that was how you campaigned. In the second gubernatorial administration of Kit Bond, I helped get women onto boards and commissions. I worked both sides of the aisle and got to know a lot of people.

What did you do after you left Operation Food Search?

I realized that I didn't want to be locked into a social service agency, so I went to work in a marketing position for a finance company. At the time, I was thinking that what I really wanted to do was to stimulate the economy so people could buy their own food instead of needing to be given food.

Did you miss being involved in the sciences?

Yes, and I was reading a lot of science information and thinking that we needed to figure out a way to retain some of our country's critical technologies and to capitalize on the knowledge base that we have. I was thinking of ways to combine my business and science backgrounds.

What did you do?

I approached Mel Carnahan when he was governor. I personally started talking to him in 1993 about technology-based economic development. He had a desire to do something with this during his administration, so he hired me as a consultant to figure out what needed to be done.

Is that how the center got developed?More or less. Blanche Touhill was also very instrumental. She was trying to get the St. Louis Technology Center - which was a predecessor of the Center for Emerging Technologies - to become involved with the University of Missouri-St. Louis. We eventually created the Missouri Innovation Center, and my first office was at UMSL. The two centers sort of merged in 1996.

What is a founding principle of the Center for Emerging Technologies?Basically, what we are about is a grow-your-own philosophy. We created CET to support the development of startup and early stage biomedical and other advanced technology companies in the St. Louis region. We provide entrepreneurs access to business, technology and financial resources.

Has the center met your goals?In many cases, more than I even envisioned. Our first year, our member companies raised a million dollars each, and I was very excited. Last year, we had about a dozen member companies that brought in $720 million. Can you imagine?

What's the last, best book you read?I tend to read nonfiction, biography or public affairs. A book I read recently that I found interesting was "The World is Flat," by Thomas Friedman.

Do you have any hobbies?I love the performing arts and like to go to the theater and to see dance and film. I also like hiking, and I collect crafts and indigenous art. I love to travel. Next month, I will be in Israel and Jordan on an archaeology exploration.

What do you drive?Frankly, I drive whatever will take me someplace. I am driving a Lexus now, but that's because I got it from my parents. It's a 1999, beige.

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MARCIA MELLITZ MARYLAND NATIVE'S WORK BLENDS BACKGROUND IN SCIENCE AND BUSINESS

President and CEO of the Center for Emerging Technologies. She grew up in Silver Spring, Md., and came to St. Louis in 1970 after marrying a native.

Family: Sons Daniel, David and Guy. Daniel is married and lives in Long Beach, Calif. David is unmarried and lives in St. Louis. Guy lives with his girlfriend in New York City. Marcia is divorced.

Education: Undergraduate degree in microbiology from the University of Maryland; MBA from Washington University.