Dr. Whitaker was born and raised in Somerset, Kentucky. He moved to Lexington in 1985 pursuing his education at the University of Kentucky.  An avid student, he obtained his Masters in Business Administration in 1991, and returned to graduate from the College of Law in 1996. He then completed a Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1998.

After spending time in Detroit and Atlanta, Dr. Whitaker returned to Lexington, Kentucky where he now lives with his wife of 29 years and their three children. He has worked in industry and management prior to practicing law. He is an experienced litigator with a deep knowledge of business practices and finance.