Meet the IIE Team
Wade Martin, Ph.D.
Director, Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
California State University, Long Beach
Dr. Wade Martin is a Professor of Economics and Director of the Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at California State University, Long Beach. He works primarily in the area of risk analysis related to business development and sustainability for local economic development. He has worked on research and development projects for Downtown Long Beach Alliance, CalRECYLES, the World Bank, U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the USDA Forest Service, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Government of Indonesia and has been a visiting scholar at Harvard Institute for International Development. Dr. Martin has published in numerous academic journals, edited three books and been a commentator on Market Place on NPR as well as for numerous newspapers. He has served as editor-in-chief of the academic journal Contemporary Economic Policy.
Ebony Utley, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
California State University, Long Beach
Ebony A. Utley, Ph.D. is a professorpreneur. As a Professor of Communication Studies at California State University Long Beach, she researches, publishes, and teaches interpersonal communication. Her expertise has been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Network as well as other national and international radio, print, and online outlets. As an entrepreneur, she curates experiences and develops products for social impact. Her contributions include but are not limited to raising awareness about the dark side of technology, improving romantic relationship communication, supporting women recovering from infidelity, preventing domestic violence, and healing through yoga. Her two worlds collide as the Associate Director for the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at CSULB.
Isabelle Bart
Assistant Director, Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
California State University, Long Beach
Isabelle Bart is the Assistant Director of the Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at California State University, Long Beach. She was previously the Director of the SBDC (Small Business Development Center, a program of the Small Business Administration) at University of California Irvine Beal Applied Innovation center that provides strategic consulting services to startups, and the Executive Director of RevHub OC, where she managed partnerships and led operations of their social impact incubator. Isabelle has been a long-time supporter of entrepreneurs, serving as a lead instructor for the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program and as an innovation advisor at UCI Beall Applied Innovation. Isabelle also held various leadership roles in business planning, marketing strategy and digital transformation for several organizations in the healthcare and nonprofit sectors. She has been an advocate and volunteer as a board member for various nonprofits such as Academies for Social Entrepreneurship, which promotes the development of social enterprises and business ventures to address social & environmental problems. She is a member of the global Catalyst 2030 group promoting and working towards achieving the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Isabelle holds a Masters in Business Administration from ESSEC Business School in Paris, France.
Monique Palmera
Content Creator, Coordinator, Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
California State University, Long Beach
Monique Palmera is a Content Creator and Coordinator for the Institute. As a graduate of California State University, Long Beach, she received her degree in Business with a specialization in Marketing, where her coursework and research centered on innovative strategies and solutions. Since then, Monique has held positions that have advanced her skillsets and furthered her personal development of the qualities essential in today’s entrepreneurial climate. Her ability to transform thoughts and ideas into creating marketing content allows her the opportunity to tactfully aid the IIE in connecting with our diverse community.
