David Lilly is a business growth and development advisor with 25+ years of experience in starting and expanding businesses, new products and new companies. He has created and grown businesses in diverse industries such as technology, e-commerce, energy production, utilities and clean technology.

David started in technology early – selling early home personal computers to military personnel while in still high school. He graduated from Auburn University and started his career in health care IT with Prudential Health Care Systems.

Anticipating the advent of the Internet long before it became a commercial platform, David attended Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and earned his M.B.A. with a concentration in entrepreneurship and technology innovation. At Emory, David developed a strong interest in e-commerce and digital media.

David’s role as Business Development Manager for Cox Enterprises New Media provided opportunities to work at the pinnacle of media convergence, assisting with a variety of merger and acquisition (M&A) activities and investments in Digital Domain, @Home, various internet service providers, online gaming platforms and early internet content development. He aided the development of numerous business opportunities in the Cox operating companies, including Cox Interactive Media, Manhiem.com, Fastball.com, GoWest.com/OLN, and websites for radio, television and cable properties across the United States.

David served on the small team that developed the business plan and prototype for AutoTrader.com – the online automotive marketplace category killer. He was tasked with initial site design and prototyping along with technical platform and operations development. He integrated the design elements and leading-edge technology infrastructure of www.AutoTrader.com, crafted a variety of related technology and content deals, and designed award winning (“big data” before the term was popularized) customer information systems to track customer traffic, preferences and use of the site.

David has since consulted with a variety of early-stage ventures, non-profit organizations, corporations, and new product development, or “pivot”, efforts in large corporate environments. In addition to traditional utility and energy company management and operational consulting, he provides business and new product development services for clients in clean technology and sustainable energy. David has aided both corporate and startup businesses in obtaining funds for development of clean water from wastewater, biomass, wind and solar development and funding projects.

In the mid 2000’s David and his family left Atlanta, GA to become resident of Sylva, NC, where his wife runs a successful entrepreneurial venture, and they have several business interests. David is an avid outdoor enthusiast and loves living in the Great Smoky Mountains. He serves on several regional and national corporate boards, consults with the Southwest Commission, has served as an adjunct faculty member in the College of Business Entrepreneurship program at Western Carolina University, and is an advisor to, and former board chair of the WCU Corporation for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.