Chris McAdoo will coach and guide Spark entrepreneurs to take their companies to new heights.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Members from across the University of Tennessee Research Park and Spark Innovation Center community gathered on March 6, 2026, for Spark’s quarterly meeting featuring the addition of a new mentor for eager Spark entrepreneurs.
Chris McAdoo was announced as Spark’s new 2026 Expert in Residence (EIR), a role in which he will offer regular office hours to Spark’s founders, coaching and guiding them through the early stages of their business development, to securing funding, launching and scaling their companies.
“McAdoo brings a wealth of experience in entrepreneurship and marketing, and he’ll be an incredible resource for Spark founders as they develop and launch their ideas into businesses,” said Bill Malkes, Executive Director of the Spark Innovation Center.
As founder of Fighting Shape Impact Company, McAdoo works alongside leaders and teams to clarify strategy, sharpen brands, and align organizations around meaningful action. Chris recently served as Chief Experience Officer at Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, where he advised founders and innovation-focused companies, leading successful programs like The Works Startup Accelerator, Inflection Point Capital, and BrandCamp. A seasoned entrepreneur whose ventures include an acquisition by a nationally renowned advertising agency, he’s also hosted the Big Ideas Welcome podcast and is an accomplished visual artist. Additionally, McAdoo serves as a Startup Coach at the Anderson Center at the University of TN Haslam College of Business.
“The SPARK team has created a vibrant, collaborative environment where complex, world-changing problems are being met head-on by some of the smartest people on the planet. I’m honored to work with founders, researchers, and innovation leaders who have the courage to take their breakthrough research “out of the lab” and into the market, and I’m excited to dig into the strategy, brand clarity, and business discipline to turn those breakthroughs into companies that create impact at scale.,” said Chris McAdoo, Expert in Residence, Spark Innovation Center.
For more information about The Spark Innovation Center or its partners and cohort members, contact Rachel Anderson at randerson@piper-communications.com.
About the Spark Innovation Center
The Spark Innovation Center is the University of Tennessee Research Park’s platform for advancing energy and infrastructure companies inside the Energy Valley. The organization works with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee Valley Authority, and the region’s energy and manufacturing base to move early technologies toward qualification and deployment. Spark alumni have progressed into national laboratory programs, utility pilots, and regional production. For more information, visit tnresearchpark.org/spark.