Klassi Duncan
Klassi R. Duncan currently serves as Vice President of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI) at the Urban League of Louisiana based in New Orleans, LA. The Center’s operations include: the Women’s Business Resource Center, the Contractor’s Resource Center, and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise(DBE) Supportive Services Program – Region B (New Orleans/Hammond). 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.
Under her leadership, the Women’s Business Resource Center was awarded the 2020 State and Region VI Women’s Center of Excellence Award, the 2019 Region VI Women’s Center of Excellence Award, and the 2017 Women’s Business Champion Award by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Louisiana District Office for their work in promoting and developing women-owned businesses across the region.
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 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.