Nashville, Tenn. (January 27, 2025) – Nashville Entrepreneur Center (NEC) is proud to announce 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.
Meet the New EiRs:
TakeOff Accelerator
Clay Banks, CEO and Founder, InPaceline
Clay Banks joins NEC as the new EiR for the TakeOff Program. Over his 23-year entrepreneurial journey, Clay has co-founded or started eight companies, raising over $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 Clay on Season 10 of the hit ABC series Shark Tank. After successfully exiting HAVEN in 2023, Clay turned his attention to his latest project, GloriLight, a children’s nightlight platform aimed at fostering spiritual growth.After successfully exiting HAVEN in 2023, Clay turned his attention to his latest project, GloriLight, a children’s nightlight platform aimed at fostering spiritual growth. Beyond his business ventures, Clay is a dedicated mentor and advisor to direct-to-consumer brands, a published author, and an endurance athlete who has completed five Ironman races.
InFlight Accelerator
John M. Anderson, Entrepreneur, Business Leader, Advocate for Innovation & Community Building
John Anderson brings over 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, and technology advisory services. As the former co-owner of Resource Communications Group (RCG), John 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, he serves on the board of the Greater Nashville Technology Council and has been recognized with numerous awards, including NTC’s Champion of the Year. John is passionate about workforce development and economic growth, making him a perfect fit for mentoring growth-stage founders in the InFlight Program.
Additionally, Beth Chase and Katherine McElroy will continue serving as Supporting EiRs for the InFlight Program.
Beth Chase is a serial entrepreneur, board director and community leader. She was the founder and CEO of c3/consulting, growing the firm to the largest in Middle Tennessee prior to merging with Ankura Consulting Group. Beth has collaborated with Fortune 500 and private equity teams in an array of industries including healthcare, financial services, supply chain/logistics, and technology.
Katherine 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 CIO 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.
Twende Accelerator
Dr. Isaac Y. Addae, Award-Winning Educator, Speaker, and Strategist
Dr. Isaac Y. Addae joins NEC as the EiR for the Twende Program. An expert in social entrepreneurship, Isaac has consulted numerous startup founders on scaling social impact. With over a decade of teaching experience in business strategy, entrepreneurship, and leadership, he has held academic roles at Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University. In addition to his academic contributions, Isaac 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, he created Conscious Conversation and has served on the boards of several notable organizations. Isaac 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.
Project Healthcare Accelerator
Jason Moore, Co-Founder & CEO of Stratasan
Jason Moore’s entrepreneurial journey embodies the mission of Nashville Entrepreneur Center. As one of NEC’s first founders, Jason pitched his initial idea to the first CEO, Michael Burcham. Over the years, Jason and his team built Stratasan into a successful company, culminating in its acquisition in 2022. Now, Jason and his leadership team are returning to NEC as EiRs, ready to mentor the next generation of healthcare innovators. His journey, from an uncertain pitch to a nine-figure exit, exemplifies the power of perseverance and community support.
Stratasan’s leadership team bring their own healthcare expertise as EiRs:
Brian Dailey, Co-Founder & CTO of Stratasan: A seasoned engineering leader who leverages technology to address complex challenges. He has a long career in the intersection of healthcare technology and entrepreneurship, working as an engineer, manager, co-founder and CTO.
Haley Devlin, Former COO of Stratasan: Haley played a pivotal role in Stratasan’s acquisition by Syntellis Performance Solutions in 2022. With over a decade of experience in sales, marketing, and product leadership, Haley has honed her skills across startups, growth-stage companies, and scaling organizations.
Carrie Nall, Former SVP of Finance at Stratasan: A seasoned accounting professional with expertise as a Fractional CFO and Controller, Carrie specializes in strategic financial planning, cash flow management, and providing financial clarity to support business growth and sustainability. Her practical approach ensures organizations have the financial tools they need to thrive.
Project FinTech Accelerator
David Malone, Co-Founder of Confirmation
David Malone returns as EiR for the Project FinTech Program, bringing his deep expertise in financial services. As the co-founder of Confirmation, David led the company from a garage startup 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. David’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 startup 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.
For more information on NEC Programs and how to get involved, visit www.ec.co/advise.
About Nashville Entrepreneur Center (NEC):
Nashville Entrepreneur Center (NEC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) founded in 2010 to help make Nashville the best place to start and grow a business by increasing the likelihood of success for entrepreneurs. Through world-class education and a vibrant membership community, NEC has supported over 14,000 entrepreneurs who have collectively raised $300M in capital, generated over $400M in revenue, and facilitated over $100M in exits. For more information, visit www.ec.co and follow @entrecenter on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube & X.
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Press Contact: Angel May | angel.may@ec.co | Mobile: 615-838-8100