Carolinas Entrepreneur Hall of Fame Celebrates New Laureates
The McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte, along with its Entrepreneurial Leadership Circle (ELC), recently honored distinguished business leaders at the 13th annual Carolinas Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. The event celebrated the contributions of entrepreneurial leaders who have created innovative pathways to success and career opportunities in the Carolinas and beyond.
This year’s Class of 2023 inductees included Louis Foreman, founder and CEO of Enventys Partners, and Jennifer Appleby, executive chair of Wray Ward. Betsy Hauser, founder and CEO of Tech Talent & Strategy, received the 2023 Innovator of Distinction award.
“At Queens, our job is to prepare our students for lives of meaning and purpose. Royals Rise when they can collaborate with the local business community and contribute to the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Dan Lugo, president of Queens University. “We thank Jennifer Appleby and Louis Foreman for being such worthy examples of bold vision and entrepreneurial savvy and honor Betsy Hauser for her innovative approach to workforce development as the recipient of our Innovator of Distinction award.”
In addition to serving 11 years as an adjunct instructor of entrepreneurship and innovation in the McColl School of Business, and currently as an assistant professor at Wake Forest University, Foreman leads Enventys Partners, a successful ideation, crowdfunding, product development, and marketing firm in Charlotte. He began his first entrepreneurial venture while a sophomore at the University of Illinois and has since created 10 successful start-ups, while inspiring the creation of over 20 others. He is a renowned inventor with 10 registered U.S. Patents and his firm, Enventys Partners, is responsible for developing and filing hundreds more. In addition, Foreman is an Emmy® award-winner, accomplished author, government advisor, and advocate for entrepreneurs and intellectual property rights. In 2022, he was inducted into the International IP Hall of Fame.
“Louis’ journey through entrepreneurship has not only reshaped industries but also inspired countless individuals to follow in his footsteps,” said Chris Dennis, commercial developer at E-Fix Development Corp. “His commitment to education is impressive – he shares his wealth of knowledge and has been a guiding force at prestigious educational institutions throughout his career. He is a true trailblazer in the world of entrepreneurship and innovation.”
A respected business leader and engaged community leader, Appleby began her 30-year career at Wray Ward as an art director. Over time she would become its longest-serving president and chief creative officer, leading the organization for more than two decades. Under her leadership, she transformed Wray Ward into the largest integrated marketing and communications firm in the Charlotte region and one of the largest woman-owned agencies in the southeast. Appleby has received numerous awards throughout her career including Queens University’s Charlotte BusinessWoman of the Year Award, the Charlotte Business Journal’s Women in Business and Most Admired CEO awards, and most recently, the Charlotte Business Journal’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Appleby retired from day-to-day agency management in December 2022 and serves as the agency’s executive chair.
“Jennifer’s myriad business, board, committee, and service initiatives continually show her dedication to enhancing the vibrancy and inclusivity of Charlotte,” said Kathryn Black, retired strategic initiatives executive at Bank of America. “In every corner of our community, from arts and culture to human services, her influence has left an indelible mark. Her entrepreneurial spirit, tireless dedication, and boundless generosity have enriched us all.”
This year’s Innovator of Distinction Award was presented to Betsy Hauser, founder of Tech Talent & Strategy, a tech recruitment, training, and staffing company. In addition to being a dedicated mom of four children, Hauser recently founded The Talent School, a private K-12 hybrid school in Huntersville. Named one of Charlotte’s 50 Most Influential Women, Hauser has implemented training techniques that have improved the technology industry by providing diverse talent pipelines to drive growth, innovation, and diversity. She has received numerous accolades such as Emerging CIO of the Year, 40 Under 40, and Most Admired CEO.
“To me, an innovator possesses an insatiable curiosity—an adult version of that child who constantly questions the world, asking why things are the way they are,” said Keith Luedeman, a member of the ELC’s selection committee and founder of goodmortage.com. “Betsy views obstacles as opportunities. When faced with a challenge, a spark ignites within her. She is a true innovator, a trailblazer, and a shining example of what relentless curiosity and determination can achieve.”
Carolinas Entrepreneur Hall of Fame inductees are selected by a committee comprised of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and historians representing both North Carolina and South Carolina. Laureates are selected based on a set of criteria that include looking at each honored individual’s legacy of shaping the business and economy throughout the Carolinas and beyond.
Learn more about the selection committee and past Hall of Fame classes by visiting the Carolinas Entrepreneur Hall of Fame webpage.