The McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte is a committed contributor to, and a vital part of Charlotte's entrepreneurial community. The Entrepreneurial Leadership Circle (ELC) is a group of entrepreneurs who in turn support the McColl School, its leadership, students and faculty.

Started some twenty-plus years ago by Hugh L. McColl Jr., former chairman and CEO of Bank of America, the ELC has grown to be the recognized leader in fostering and rewarding entrepreneurship. The group remains intimate by design, however, with by-invitation membership limited to 100 of the leading entrepreneurs in the city.

ELC membership provides exciting opportunities to learn best practices in business building from both peers and nationally recognized experts, including Dr. Chuck Bamford, the Dennis Thompson Chair of Entrepreneurial Leadership at the McColl School of Business.  Membership benefits include invitations to all ELC events, including:

• Lunch and Learn sessions that combine discussion of timely business topics with the opportunity to network with fellow business owners.
• In-depth strategy sessions led by  Dr. Bamford.  In these half-day sessions, ELC members learn to apply leading-edge strategies to their own businesses.  The small size of our group allows maximum interaction with Dr. Bamford, a widely recognized expert on corporate strategy and decision making.
• An annual gala dinner at the beautiful Quail Hollow Club during which the ELC inducts prominent Carolinians into the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame.  Past inductees have included the late Thomas H. Davis, James Buchanan Duke, R.J. Reynolds (posthumously), along with Ralph W. Ketner, Leon Levine and Jerry Richardson, among others. The stories and wisdom shared at this event never fail to inspire ELC members.

ELC members are also invited to exclusive McColl School events, such as the Leaders in Action Lecture Series, EMBA Leadership Forums and the Queens Learning Society Speaker Series. Members have the opportunity to attend various community events, including the annual Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards dinner and the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneurial Awards, as McColl School guests.

While we have strong programs for members, our most important impact is achieved through our sponsorship of for McColl School student-entrepreneurs. Each year, we award tuition assistance fellowships to students who demonstrate an aptitude and concentration in entrepreneurship.  ELC members also mentor, provide leadership coaching, lecture in class and participate in case studies. To our great delight, many of these students have graduated and launched their own ventures as a result of our support.

I'm proud to be a part of this vibrant group and hope you will join us in our mission to support and recognize entrepreneurship in the Carolinas.

Sincerely, 

Lisa Bell

Chair, Entrepreneurial Leadership Circle
President, Tivoli Partners