ETEC - Brett Malone | Cherokee Farm Development Corporation
Friday, November 13, 2026 (7:30 AM - 8:30 AM) (EST)
Description
Join ETEC on Friday, November 13th, in-person or virtually, as we welcome Brett Malone, President and CEO, Cherokee Farm Development Corporation, to ETEC to speak about the new developments at the Peninsula Innovation District.
Building on UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm, the Peninsula is evolving from a 60-acre research park into a district spanning more than 300 acres, with over $750 million in planned investment and development. It brings together UT Knoxville, including the UT Institute of Agriculture, and UT Medical Center with companies, entrepreneurs and private development partners.
There’s a lot happening, including a planned 150-room hotel and conference center, expanded medical and research facilities at UT Medical Center, and two new research buildings — the Quantum Foundry and the BioSciences and Engineering Building — targeted for completion in 2030. The district also recently received the 2026 Emerging Community of Innovation Award from the Association of University Research Parks.
Malone's bio can be found below.
No registration is necessary for in-person attendance.
Register in advance for the VIRTUAL ETEC online meeting here: https://tennessee.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrd-CgrDMiHNTsDsHqH0FyubCh2ys57LzH#/registration
For more information about ETEC’s weekly meetings, click here.
Visit the Find Us page for the meeting location, address, and map.
Brett Malone
President and CEO
Cherokee Farm Development Corporation
Brett Malone is president and CEO of the Cherokee Farm Development Corporation, which leads the Peninsula Innovation District and UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm. Since joining CFDC in September 2024, he has drawn on more than 20 years of research and commercialization leadership to strengthen academic, industry and government partnerships that drive innovation and economic growth across East Tennessee, particularly in clean energy, health sciences and advanced manufacturing. Under his leadership, the Peninsula Innovation District was named the 2026 Emerging Innovation District by the Association of University Research Parks.
Previously, Malone led the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, transforming its 200-acre campus into a thriving research ecosystem. He grew revenue 50% in three years and expanded the center to hubs across Virginia, including a partnership with the Thomas Jefferson National Lab.
Malone co-founded Phoenix Integration and led it as CEO through a successful exit, and he served as chief operating officer of Intrexon, now Precigen, through its early growth and IPO. He has built collaborations with Boeing, GE, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic and DARPA. He holds a doctorate in aerospace engineering from Virginia Tech.
Special thanks to Strata-G
for sponsoring ETEC Friday Morning Meetings in November.
Images
1201 Oak Ridge Turnpike
Oak Ridge, TN 37830 United States
Complimentary coffee, bagels, muffins, and pastries will be available before the meeting.
The meeting will be held at the University of Tennessee Outreach Center, located at the back corner of the building on the Applebee's side. The entrance faces the Quality Inn and Applebee's. Look for the awning and sign marked University of Tennessee Outreach Center.
Please note: The main entrance to the ETEC office will be locked.
Directions
From Knoxville via S. Illinois Avenue (TN-62 W):
- Turn right onto S. Rutgers Avenue.
- Continue to the intersection of Rice Road and Rider Road, across from ORNL Corporate Headquarters.
- After passing the Quality Inn, turn left onto Rider Road.
- The University of Tennessee Outreach Center will be on your right.
Alternate Route from Knoxville via S. Illinois Avenue (TN-62 W):
- Take the sharp right onto Lafayette Drive.
- Turn left onto W. Gettysburg Avenue.
- Turn right onto Manhattan Avenue.
- Continue straight across S. Rutgers Avenue onto Rice Road.
- At the intersection of Rice Road and Rider Road, turn right onto Rider Road.
- The University of Tennessee Outreach Center will be on your right.
* Weather Policy * |
ETEC prioritizes the safety of our meeting attendees during weather conditions. If inclement weather is expected on a Friday morning, and we decide to move to an ALL-VIRTUAL Zoom format, we will notify members by 5:00 p.m. the evening before. Newsletter subscribers will receive an email, and notices will be posted on the ETEC homepage and the calendar event page. We encourage all attendees to check for updates and use the Zoom registration link to join virtually if necessary. If you do not receive an email and there are no notices on the website, we will proceed with the in-person (hybrid) meeting as planned, but we advise everyone to use their own judgment based on road conditions in their areas. |