Bio
Kelly Wampler has been with the Innovation Crossroads program since its founding, previously supporting ORNL’s Industrial and Economic Development Partnerships Office. As Program Manager, she draws on her extensive knowledge of ORNL’s processes and procedures to oversee operations for Innovation Crossroads; including establishment of program policies and procedures, fellow recruitment, logistical oversight of the rigorous selection and on-boarding process, coordination of program curriculum, oversight of fellowship experience, and event coordination. Kelly takes great pride in ensuring entrepreneurial fellows receive needed mentorship and technical support to get the most out of their ORNL experience. In addition, Kelly serves as the program communications lead. She provides communication, marketing, and digital media support for internal and external initiatives. She enjoys engaging with the broader Knoxville-Oak Ridge entrepreneurial ecosystem. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Tennessee Technological University.
Awards
- Federal Laboratory Consortium 2023 Excellence in Technology Transfer Award for Electrifying the Entrepreneurial Spirit of a Food-Waste-to-Fuel Startup
- Federal Laboratory Consortium 2024 Excellence in Technology Transfer Award for Direct Air Capture of CO2: Low Cost, Energy Efficient, Scalable
- 2025 UT-Battelle Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer: For transferring ORNL’s APEX CDR direct air capture (DAC) technologies – including BIG-NET solvents, high-flux DAC contactors, and catalytic regeneration – to industry, thereby reducing capital costs and energy use, enabling Fortune 500-scale deployment, and advancing ORNL’s leadership in scalable carbon removal.