Team Members
Brooke Gillis
CEO
Brooke is a veteran leader in the tech startup space and is dedicated to advancing the growth of Birmingham's startup community. She previously served as the Program Manager at Techstars, where she worked to launch the company's first-ever Alabama EnergyTech accelerator program. No stranger to Innovation Depot, Brooke spent multiple stints there in different capacities—most notably an 8+ year run with Instagift, a Birmingham startup with roots in The Depot. She also was instrumental in helping design and develop the Velocity Accelerator that ran in the building for 6 years. Brooke's passion for entrepreneurship and community culture inspires her to strengthen an already vibrant ecosystem in Birmingham. She holds a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Alabama. She and her husband have resided in Birmingham for 17 years, and they have two teenage sons and an adorable Cavalier named Annie.
Amanda Williams
Community Manager
Amanda joins Innovation Depot with more than six years of experience in events, operations, and marketing. She has nonprofit and startup experience, which feeds her passion for providing service and resources to the community. Originally from New Jersey, Alabama has always been a second home to her. Amanda holds a B.S. in Psychology from Birmingham-Southern College. When she's not working, Amanda spends her time cooking, gardening, and hanging with her husband, Jordan, and cat, Salem.
Shaun Pollard
Experience Manager
Shaun has served as the Experience Manager at Innovation Depot for 17 years. Her job consists of many responsibilities: from customer service to billing. She is also an entrepreneur who launched her own cleaning business (Pollard’s Janitorial Service) in 2014 and now serves several small businesses in the area. Shaun has two pet parakeets named Charlie and Parker.
Brooke Gillis
CEO
Brooke is a veteran leader in the tech startup space and is dedicated to advancing the growth of Birmingham's startup community. She previously served as the Program Manager at Techstars, where she worked to launch the company's first-ever Alabama EnergyTech accelerator program. No stranger to Innovation Depot, Brooke spent multiple stints there in different capacities—most notably an 8+ year run with Instagift, a Birmingham startup with roots in The Depot. She also was instrumental in helping design and develop the Velocity Accelerator that ran in the building for 6 years. Brooke's passion for entrepreneurship and community culture inspires her to strengthen an already vibrant ecosystem in Birmingham. She holds a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of Alabama. She and her husband have resided in Birmingham for 17 years, and they have two teenage sons and an adorable Cavalier named Annie.
Amanda Williams
Community Manager
Amanda joins Innovation Depot with more than six years of experience in events, operations, and marketing. She has nonprofit and startup experience, which feeds her passion for providing service and resources to the community. Originally from New Jersey, Alabama has always been a second home to her. Amanda holds a B.S. in Psychology from Birmingham-Southern College. When she's not working, Amanda spends her time cooking, gardening, and hanging with her husband, Jordan, and cat, Salem.
Shaun Pollard
Experience Manager
Shaun has served as the Experience Manager at Innovation Depot for 17 years. Her job consists of many responsibilities: from customer service to billing. She is also an entrepreneur who launched her own cleaning business (Pollard’s Janitorial Service) in 2014 and now serves several small businesses in the area. Shaun has two pet parakeets named Charlie and Parker.
The Depot is fortunate to have a board made up of many local Birmingham leaders. Together, they help guide Innovation Depot toward growing its impact.