A Milestone Moment for NACCE: Partnership, Place, and Purpose

NACCE proudly marked a major milestone with the ribbon-cutting celebration of our new headquarters in Cary, North Carolina, on December 4, 2025. The event brought together educators, entrepreneurs, and community partners to celebrate growth, collaboration, and the future of entrepreneurship education.

During the celebration, NACCE officially announced a new national partnership with Baker Hill, launching CEED to Success, a pilot program designed to support underserved entrepreneurs, including veteran-, women-, and minority-owned businesses. Built on Baker Hill’s Community Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development (CEED) framework, the initiative leverages NACCE’s nationwide network of community colleges to deliver training, mentorship, financial readiness support, and meaningful connections to local financial institutions and partners.

Ribbon-cutting attendees were also inspired by a keynote address from Dr. Jermaine Ford, President of Florence-Darlington Technical College and NACCE Board Treasurer. Dr. Ford shared powerful insights on entrepreneurship, emphasizing that opportunity grows when collaboration is intentional and reminding attendees that at NACCE, there is always an open door for innovators, partners, and community leaders committed to making a difference.

Following the ribbon-cutting and networking lunch, NACCE hosted its inaugural entrepreneur-focused Power Workshops, welcoming 40 entrepreneurs, community college leaders, and business leaders for an afternoon of learning and collaboration. The three workshops focused on entrepreneurial mindset and sales, building effective public-private partnerships, and enhancing entrepreneurs’ financial readiness. Led by NACCE leadership, college partners, and industry experts, the sessions emphasized trust, collaboration, and access to capital as key drivers of local economic growth.

This day represented more than the opening of a new space. It marked a renewed commitment to empowering entrepreneurs, strengthening communities, and advancing inclusive economic growth through education, partnership, and action. We are grateful to our partners, speakers, attendees, and event sponsor, Baker Hill, for helping make this celebration a meaningful step forward for NACCE and the communities we serve.