
Nashville Entrepreneur Center announces new and returning Entrepreneurs and Executives-In-Residence
The EIR role is critical in helping entrepreneurs scale their businesses by offering industry-specific insights, personalized mentorship, and strategic ecosystem navigation.
The Nashville Entrepreneur Center (NEC) on Monday announced Entrepreneurs and Executives-In-Residence (EIRs) for its 2025 accelerator cohorts, each bringing an exceptional track record of entrepreneurial success, leadership, and innovation.
These seasoned professionals, drawn from diverse industries and disciplines, bring their real-world expertise, mentorship, and strategic insights to guide emerging entrepreneurs toward success. Their active participation ensures every program delivers practical value and fosters a supportive community of innovators.
New to the EIR ranks in 2025
Clay Banks joins the NEC as the new EIR for the TakeOff Program. Over his 23-year entrepreneurial journey, Banks co-founded or started eight companies, raising more than $7 million in seed and venture capital. His latest venture, HAVEN, gained widespread recognition and was featured in leading publications such as Inc., Forbes, and TechCrunch. HAVEN’s innovative approach also landed Banks on Season 10 of the hit ABC series Shark Tank. After successfully exiting HAVEN in 2023, he turned his attention to his latest project, GloriLight, a children’s nightlight platform aimed at fostering spiritual growth. Beyond his business ventures, Banks is a dedicated mentor and advisor to direct-to-consumer brands, a published author, and an endurance athlete who has completed five Ironman races.
John Anderson brings more than 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, and technology advisory services. As the former co-owner of Resource Communications Group (RCG), he played a key role in transforming the company, leading to a 3.5x revenue increase and a successful exit in 2023. A prominent figure in the Nashville tech community, Anderson serves on the board of the Greater Nashville Technology Council (NTC) and has been recognized with numerous awards, including NTC’s “Champion of the Year.” He is passionate about workforce development and economic growth, making him a perfect fit for mentoring growth stage founders in the InFlight Program.
Dr. Isaac Y. Addae joins NEC as the EIR for the Twende Program. An expert in social entrepreneurship, he has consulted numerous startup founders on scaling social impact. With more than a decade of teaching experience in business strategy, entrepreneurship, and leadership, Addae has held academic roles at Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University. In addition to his academic contributions, he serves as the Community Engagement Manager in the Nashville Mayor’s Office and has previously worked as Chief Strategy Officer of Pivot Technology School. A dedicated community leader, Addae created Conscious Conversation and has served on the boards of several notable organizations. He is also the author of Black Boy Fly: Embracing My Ancestry, Blackness, and Purpose in the African Diaspora, further exemplifying his commitment to empowering communities.
Jason Moore, Co-Founder and CEO of Stratasan, and several of his current or former executive team are serving as EIRs for Project Healthcare. He was one of NEC’s first founders, pitching his initial idea to Michael Burcham, the Entrepreneur Center’s first CEO. Over the years, Moore and his team built Stratasan into a successful company, culminating in its acquisition in 2022. Now, he is being joined by Stratasan veterans: (a) Brian Dailey, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer; (b) Haley Devlin, former Chief Operating Officer; and (c) Carrie Nall, former Senior Vice President of Finance.
Returning as EIRs
Additionally, Beth Chase and Katherine McElroy will continue serving as Supporting EIRs for the InFlight Program while David Malone returns as EIR for Project FinTech.
- Chase is a serial entrepreneur, board member, and community leader. She was the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of c3/consulting, growing the firm to the largest in Middle Tennessee prior to merging with Ankura Consulting Group. Chase has collaborated with Fortune 500 and private equity teams in an array of industries including healthcare, financial services, supply chain/logistics, and technology.
- McElroy has spent her career in various executive roles growing start-ups. As a management consultant and operations leader, she was one of the original partners at c3/consulting. Before c3, she was Chief Information Officer and on the leadership team that grew TCS Management Group to be the industry leader of workforce management software prior to its acquisition by Aspect Software.
- Malone was a Co-Founder of Confirmation where he led the company from a garage start-up to a global financial solutions provider, culminating in its acquisition for nearly $500 million. His strategic leadership in building sales forces and developing global partnerships has made him a sought-after mentor for fintech entrepreneurs. Malone’s experience scaling businesses and navigating complex financial landscapes will be invaluable to NEC participants.
What EIRs do and why it’s important
The EIR role is critical in helping entrepreneurs scale their businesses by offering industry-specific insights, personalized mentorship, and strategic ecosystem navigation. Their commitment ensures that every participant is equipped with the tools, strategies, and network to achieve impactful results.
EIRs work closely with NEC’s program team, contributing to curriculum design, cohort resourcing, and the overall success of accelerator programs. They also serve as advocates for NEC, representing the organization at events and connecting entrepreneurs to valuable networks. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact on Nashville’s entrepreneurial landscape while enhancing one’s own industry influence and expertise.
Key outcomes of the EIR program include fostering start-up growth in revenue, job creation, and funding, as well as positioning Nashville as a hub of entrepreneurial excellence. By volunteering their time and expertise, EIRs help fuel NEC’s mission of increasing the likelihood of success for our entrepreneurs.
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