About CEI
The Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) at USC Upstate’s George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics (JCBE) provides aspiring student entrepreneurs across all academic disciplines with opportunities, tools and resources needed to conceptualize and launch their small businesses. CEI also serves as an innovation hub for the Upstate’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by fostering collaboration and providing access to education, faculty research and expertise, and community engagement. As part of its mission, the center encourages students to participate in the new Entrepreneurship and Innovation major and minor courses of study and other programs available through JCBE, which aims to create successful, dynamic entrepreneurs and business leaders for the private, public and nonprofit sectors.
Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization
JCBE is one of only two active chapters of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) in South Carolina. Founded in 1983, CEO supports more than 16,500 emerging collegiate entrepreneurs across the world. The JCBE chapter is free and open to all USC Upstate students.
The Director
Brian Brady
Director, Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
864-503-7623
Prior to joining the Johnson College of Business and Economics in 2016 as director of the GreenHouse Business Incubator and instructor in entrepreneurship at the University of South Carolina Upstate, Brian was an instructor in residence at the UConn School of Business for more than seven years, teaching both graduate and undergraduate courses in entrepreneurship, marketing, and management. While at UConn, Brian also held a dual appointment as director of the UConn Stamford Learning Accelerator and was a co-founder and director of the Women Entrepreneurs Empowerment Forum. Previously he served as director of corporate advertising at ADP and also held management positions at Omnicom/BBDO and Pitney Bowes. Brian received a master’s in communications from Fairfield University and a Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University. In addition, he has completed Ph.D. courses in adult learning from the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education.
For questions about the center, its programming, Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization, or the Entrepreneurship and Innovation major and minor courses of study, please contact Brian Brady at bbrady3@uscupstate.edu.
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