Cathy McClelland
Cathy McClelland is founder and former president and CEO of the Detroit Entrepreneurship Institute (DEI), which provided comprehensive entrepreneurship services to small businesses until 2009. For nearly 20 years the organization provided entrepreneurship training, technical assistance and financial literacy education to individuals with limited resources. Under McClelland’s leadership, the DEI serviced 7,448 clients, trained 5,079, and helped 1,078 small businesses get established or expand.

McClelland led the DEI in a direction of dynamic growth. In addition to developing and operating a state-licensed proprietary school, DEI operated several social venture businesses that provided funding to further its mission. With McClelland at the helm, the DEI received local and national recognition, numerous awards, as well as newspaper and television coverage.

Considered an expert in the field of microenterprise development, McClelland has committed her professional career to helping build a solid economic foundation for those with limited resources. She is a strong advocate of poverty alleviation through entrepreneurship, and believes that if given the opportunity and resources, people will opt for self-sufficiency over dependency.