Beginning in Fall 2009, the Whitewater University Technology Park was awarded a $4.7 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) to build the technology park infrastructure and to construct the Innovation Center. The project was partially funded by the federal grant, the Whitewater Community Development Authority, revenue bonding, and in-kind contributions from the City of Whitewater and the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. The total project cost more than $10 million.

As the cornerstone facility to the 130-acre technology park, the 35,000 square-foot Whitewater University Innovation Center was dedicated on May 5, 2011. With its sustainable design and energy saving technologies, the Innovation Center was one of the first buildings to achieve a USGBC LEED Silver certification in Wisconsin. From three tenants in 2011, the Whitewater University Innovation Center has grown to 97% occupancy and is now home to over 25 companies. Today, the Whitewater Innovation Center offers a collaborative environment with unique access to University services.

Together, the City of Whitewater, the Whitewater Community Development Authority, and UW-Whitewater collaborated to build and maintain the Whitewater Technology Park and Innovation Center. The City of Whitewater supports the building, while UW-Whitewater provides mentorship, resources, and programming.

In February 2018, the Whitewater University Innovation Center was nominated as the Mixed-Use Impact Award Winner. InBIA recognizes high-impact member organizations on a monthly basis.

As the Whitewater University Technology Park and Community Engagement Center's Executive Director, Elizabeth Thelen is a leader working at the intersection of technology, economic development and people. She has dedicated her career to connecting people, leading projects and organizations, and getting things done.  Elizabeth does this by building trusted relationships, strong networks and a passion for technology.  BDHS Consulting, AeroX Tech, The Water Council, HRDC, Slinger Speedway, Midwest Innovation Exchange are all organizations she has founded, co-founded or led.  

Thelen has a master’s degree in industrial organizational psychology from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and numerous certifications in teams, change, leadership, and entrepreneurship. She sits on a number of business advisory boards; including Secretary of Wisconsin Aerospace Advisory Board and Wisconsin Chapter leader of the national non-profit, Independent Women’s Network.  She has real world experience in technology projects, working with start-ups and researchers, organizing and leading teams, and leading businesses through change.  As an entrepreneur herself, Elizabeth has experience of what it takes to build a team, manage financials, inspire vision and implement for results.

Acting as president, vice president, director, network builder, coach, facilitator, or whatever title she has, Elizabeth brings energy, optimism and results to all her assignments. She has a core philosophy of asking people to take action, speaking up, and uses influence strategies to get real system change. She uses tools from advanced manufacturing, start-up processes, design thinking, behavioral science, system analysis and more to drive those results.