The Growth Lab Experience: Your Vision Is Bigger Than You
The Entrepreneurship Center for Growth and Excellence is partnering with People Optimum to present The Growth Lab Experience, an entrepreneur development lab designed for established entrepreneurs in North Birmingham, Northside, Pratt and Smithfield who are ready to grow beyond their own capacity.
Participants will receive hands-on support and infrastructure, including:
- A plan to build the team your business needs
- Three months of expert coaching
- Six months of CRM and tech support
- Let’s Creait™ Strategic Retreat
- A fellowship of Birmingham entrepreneurs
Learn More:
September 4 | 2–3 p.m. | Innovation Depot
September 8 | 2–3 p.m. | Forge
September 9 | 4–6 p.m. | Avery’s
Applications close September 18.
Dr. Alice Gordon Holloway Highlights EC's Mission to Help Birmingham Businesses Grow and Scale
Dr. Alice Gordon Holloway, Interim Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship Center for Growth and Excellence (EC), recently joined Alabama 42 to discuss the organization's renewed efforts to help Birmingham entrepreneurs grow, scale and connect with the resources they need to succeed.
During the interview, Holloway shared that the EC relaunched in February 2026 following several years of research into the needs of entrepreneurs and the resources available to support them.
At the heart of the EC's strategy are what Holloway calls the "Three A's" — Accelerate, Activate and Amplify.
"We want to basically accelerate, we want to activate, and we want to amplify businesses," Holloway explained. "And doing so, that helps us to figure out how we can help them grow and scale their businesses right here in Birmingham."
Turning Business Needs Into Action Plans
Holloway explained that the EC uses data, research and technology to better understand what individual entrepreneurs need. Business owners can connect with the organization online and identify goals such as hiring additional employees, securing more contracts, expanding products or services, or simply making valuable business connections.
The EC then uses that information to help develop a customized resource and action plan, connecting entrepreneurs with organizations, programs and opportunities that can help them move forward.
The approach is particularly important for entrepreneurs who spend so much time working in their businesses that finding the time and resources to work on their businesses can become a challenge.
"We want you to be successful," Holloway said while describing the EC's approach. "How can we help you? How can we support your enterprise?"
More Than 300 Entrepreneurs Reached in 2026
Holloway also shared an important indication of the EC's early reach. According to Holloway, the organization has already connected with more than 300 entrepreneurs in 2026, with a goal of reaching hundreds more before the end of the year.
The EC's work also extends beyond entrepreneurs themselves. Business owners and resource partners are encouraged to connect with the organization, creating a broader network of businesses and organizations working together to strengthen Birmingham's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Watch the complete Alabama 42 interview with Dr. Alice Gordon Holloway below to learn more about the Entrepreneurship Center for Growth and Excellence and its work to accelerate, activate and amplify Birmingham businesses.
Business owners and resource partners interested in getting connected can learn more and sign up right here at ECBham.com.
August is National Black Business Month: Celebrating Entrepreneurship, Growth and Economic Opportunity
As Birmingham's central hub for entrepreneurs, the EC connects business owners to the knowledge, tools, strategic partnerships, and resources they need to grow. Through a data-driven approach, the organization works to strengthen the city's entrepreneurial ecosystem by helping businesses increase revenue, create jobs, navigate challenges, and position themselves for long-term success. The EC's mission is to serve as a coordinated resource that connects entrepreneurs to the right support at the right time while fostering collaboration across Birmingham's business community.
Whether a business owner is seeking workshops and programming, strategic guidance, ecosystem connections, or access to trusted partners, the EC is committed to helping entrepreneurs move forward with confidence. By coordinating resources rather than duplicating services, the organization helps business owners focus on what matters most—growing their companies and creating lasting economic impact.
Helping Businesses Scale
Under the leadership of Interim Executive Director Dr. Alice Gordon Holloway, the Entrepreneurship Center for Growth and Excellence continues its mission of helping Birmingham businesses move beyond simply surviving to strategically scaling. The EC works alongside entrepreneurs to identify growth opportunities, strengthen operations, connect them with the right partners, and build pathways that lead to increased revenue, job creation, and long-term sustainability. Whether you're launching a new venture or preparing for your next phase of growth, the EC is here to help connect your business with the resources needed to succeed.
To learn more about the Entrepreneurship Center for Growth and Excellence or to connect with available business resources email connect@ecbham.com
The Entrepreneurship Center for Growth and Excellence Names Dr. Alice Gordon Holloway Interim Director
Veteran strategist, entrepreneurship scholar, and Birmingham business leader to guide the EC’s mission of connecting local entrepreneurs to growth and opportunity
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — July 24, 2026 — The Entrepreneurship Center for Growth and Excellence (the EC), Birmingham’s central hub connecting small businesses and entrepreneurs to the resources they need to grow, today announced the appointment of Dr. Alice Gordon Holloway as Interim Director. Dr. Holloway steps into the role bringing more than two decades of experience spanning corporate strategy, supplier diversity, economic development, and entrepreneurship education across Alabama.
In her new role, Dr. Holloway will lead the EC’s data-driven strategy to connect Birmingham entrepreneurs and small business owners with the knowledge, tools, partnerships, and resources needed to drive revenue, wage, and job growth across the city’s business ecosystem.
Dr. Holloway currently serves as Founder and CEO of Skye Connect Inc., a consultancy practice specializing in strategic management, supply chain integration, research and organizational development, and stakeholder engagement, since 2013. She also serves as an Instructor of Management at the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business, where she has taught and mentored students in strategy, entrepreneurship, and innovation since 2021, and has previously held teaching appointments at Samford University’s Brock School of Business and the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Collat School of Business.
Earlier in her career, Dr. Holloway held senior roles at Alabama Power Company and Southern Company, including Supplier Relations & Diversity Manager, State & Community Outreach Manager, and Senior Media Relations Specialist, where she managed annual supplier diversity spending and served as a corporate spokeswoman on regulatory, environmental, and economic development issues.
A sought-after speaker and researcher, Dr. Holloway has presented at national conferences including the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship and the Academy of Business Research, and has delivered keynote addresses and workshops on entrepreneurial growth strategy, business acceleration, and leadership for organizations across the Southeast. She holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration, Entrepreneurship and Management from the University of South Alabama, an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a B.A. in Communications from the University of South Alabama.
“I am honored to join the EC at such a pivotal moment for Birmingham’s entrepreneurial community and to work alongside our partners and resource providers,” said Dr. Holloway.
The EC works to coordinate Birmingham’s business support ecosystem through programming and events, ecosystem coordination among service providers and funders, and strategic connections for businesses navigating growth and complex regulatory environments. Dr. Holloway’s appointment comes as the organization continues to expand its reach among Birmingham-area entrepreneurs and resource partners.
About The Entrepreneurship Center for Growth and Excellence
The Entrepreneurship Center for Growth and Excellence (the EC) is Birmingham’s central hub for entrepreneurs, driving a best-in-class, data-driven strategy that connects small businesses to the knowledge, tools, and resources they need while coordinating the ecosystem to spark revenue, wage, and job growth. Learn more at www.ecbham.com.