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.