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ABOUT

At Hatch Fairhope, we’re fueling the next wave of tech innovation.

ABOUT

At Hatch Fairhope, we’re fueling the next wave of tech innovation.

About

Hatch Fairhope is a pioneering tech hub born from the collaboration between the City of Fairhope and the Baldwin Community and Economic Development Foundation. Designed for tech-driven entrepreneurs in Baldwin County, Hatch Fairhope is a vibrant platform that fuels the growth of both early-stage startups and established businesses. We create an environment where innovation thrives, offering entrepreneurs the tools and space they need to learn, develop, and succeed.

Our Mission

Hatch Fairhope’s mission is to cultivate a thriving entrepreneurial culture in our region, building a robust ecosystem that meets the needs of local innovators. Through strategic partnerships, we seamlessly integrate the University of Alabama’s resources with Baldwin County’s growing tech scene, unlocking new opportunities for collaboration and expansion.

Our Team

Rick Miller

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Rick Miller has over 30 years of experience working in both public and private companies in financial, operational, and administrative roles. He has served as CFO for companies in a wide variety of sectors including medical practices, manufacturing and distribution, real estate, advertising, and recreation. He has also served as COO for a fast-food operation in Oregon and Washington. As CEO of a venture-capital backed fitness technology company, he secured private placement financing and a national distribution agreement with a specialty retailer.

In addition to coaching, Rick has extensive experience in team building at the corporate and/or divisional level, strategic planning and budgeting, private equity negotiations and transition planning, line-staff conflict resolution, and entrepreneurial networking. Rick is the facilitator for the Mobile Chamber of Commerce’s Emerging Leader executive leadership program. Rick’s personal mission is to joyfully help individuals develop their God-given talent and abilities, and his passion is coaching/advising people to positively impact their colleagues, community, and companies in meaningful and lasting ways. Rick holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Alabama, where he was named outstanding undergraduate in the College of Business Administration. He holds an MBA from Harvard University and a middle school teaching certificate from Regis University in Colorado.

Keith Glines

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Keith Glines’ professional journey is marked by a commitment to innovation, creativity, and connecting businesses with their audiences. After 9 years in medical sales, Keith left the corporate world to start a digital consulting firm focused on creating web environments and specializing in social media in 2003. Keith holds the title of Visionary at Back Porch Productions, a content firm that specializes in developing, representing, producing, and investing in innovative creators across various media. With his extensive background in startups, Keith serves as Technologist for Hatch Fairhope and facilitates strategic partnerships for the incubator. In addition to his professional roles, Keith is a co-host of The Overlap Podcast, a weekly series that discusses the intersections between work, fitness, family, faith, and leadership, with the goal of simplifying big business brilliance for small business leaders.

Lee Lawson

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Lee Lawson boasts over 20 years of experience in economic development and has been the President of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance (BCEDA) since 2012. The BCEDA leads all economic development efforts for one of the fastest-growing counties in the U.S., Baldwin County, AL. Those efforts include marketing the county to corporate decision-makers, aligning its workforce development efforts, working with existing businesses and industries to help catalyze their growth, and fostering small business growth and entrepreneurship. Lee played a large part in not only identifying the need for a technology entrepreneur hub in Baldwin County but also in founding Hatch and seeking funding. Lawson is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, and a 2003 graduate of Troy University, where he lettered in Men’s Basketball and received a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and public relations. Lawson resides in Montrose with his wife, Regan Ware Lawson of Mobile, and is the father of son Knox and daughters Greer, Libby, and Ann Garrett.