Klassi R. Duncan
Vice President of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI, Urban League of Louisiana (ULLA)
Klassi R. Duncan currently serves as Vice President of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI) at the Urban League of Louisiana (ULLA), a state-serving National Urban League affiliate based in New Orleans, LA. The Center’s operations include: the Women’s Business Resource Center, the Contractor’s Resource Center, and the Small Business Support Services Center. She also oversees the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Supportive Services Program – Region B (New Orleans/Hammond), and the SBA Community Navigator Pilot Program on behalf of ULLA. The CEI provides small business education, counseling services, and access to resources to women and minority entrepreneurs across the state of Louisiana.
In this role, Klassi is responsible for the oversight and management of the organization’s operations, programming, and staff. Her responsibilities include establishing and leading the strategic direction of the organization, developing market-specific training curricula and special events, fund development and management, fostering strategic partnerships, and increasing the Center’s impact in the community.
In addition, Klassi develops and manages several programs designed to support women and minority-owned businesses in gaining equitable access to capital and other resources. These programs have also assisted small businesses in recovering from the economic hardship presented by COVID-19 and Hurricane Ida. Past and current programs include: Ford Emergency Capital Access Program (New Orleans); Resilient Restart Small Business Micro-grants Program (Baton Rouge); Google Storefront Kits for Black-owned Small Businesses Program (Louisiana); PepsiCo Black Restaurant Accelerator Program (Louisiana); Wal-Mart Black Women in Retail (Louisiana), etc.
Prior to joining the Urban League of Louisiana, Ms. Duncan served as the Director of Business Support & Evaluation for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at Delgado Community College, New Orleans, La.
Klassi is an active member of the United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, the International Council for Small Business, and is a member and serves on the Board of Directors as Secretary for the Association for Women’s Business Centers.
Ms. Duncan earned a BS in Business Management and a Master’s in Business Administration at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, FL. She is also a Certified Professional in Supply Chain Management and a Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity.