We are
students.
educators.
leaders.
experts.
entrepreneurs.
The Center for Creative Economy.
Creativity is the most important leadership quality for success.
Since 2011, we have helped launch, grow, and accelerate creative entrepreneurs and businesses.
Our vision requires a focus and collaboration for success. We cannot accomplish it on our own.
Our vision:
To be known as a premier economic development organization that is building the creative economy and creative community in Winston-Salem, the Triad, North Carolina, and in the Southeast region.
We help build the creative economy
The Center provides programming designed to have a meaningful impact on creative businesses and entrepreneurs.
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Want to know more about CCE’s impact? Read the 2022 Impact Report.
Our Creative Focus
We are often asked about the creative businesses we serve. Below is an array of industries showing the diverse make up the creative economy. There is a concentration of design, artisanal skills, and creative technologies that serve various industries. All creatives and artists are welcome to engage with CCE's events and programs. We hope to see you soon!
- Advertising
- Art & Health
- Animation
- Animatronics
- Apparel & Textiles
- Apps (creative industries)
- Architecture
- Augmented & Virtual Reality
- Crafts & Artisan
- Creative Health Tech
- Culinary
- Digital Design
- Education Tech
- Fashion
- Graphic Design
- Industrial Design
- Museum Tech
- Music
- Performing Arts
- Photography
- Product Design
- Publishing
- Software (creative industries)
- Studio & Fine Arts
- 3D Printing (creative products)
- Toys & Games
- TV & Film
- Video Games
- Planning/Design
- Data Visualization
Creative Journeys Start from The Center
We help launch, grow, and accelerate local creative entrepreneurs, businesses, and leaders.
The Beginning: 2007 - 2011
The Center for Creative Economy began as a program of the Piedmont Triad Partnership (PTP) where CCE founder, Margaret Collins, served as the Director of Creative Economy. There she organized Triad creative leaders to establish a Creative Economy Initiative throughout the 12 county Piedmont region in NC. This effort was made possible with support from the WIRED grant funded by the U.S. Department of Labor.
The Startup Phase: 2011 - 2015
To ensure the momentum would not be lost from its early success, the Center for Creative Economy was established as an independent non-profit organization in 2011.
CCE based itself in Winston-Salem, NC, and built upon the programs established at PTP in order to connect and grow regional creative businesses. These included Triad Design Leadershop, a series of Design Thinking keynotes and workshops; Design Link, a collective of regional design teams collaborating with city agencies, non-profits, and private companies to solve design-based problems in our communities; and Swerve, a hub for creatives to gather, network and learn at monthly meetups, with an online directory.
Where we are now: 2015 - Present
Since 2011, CCE has created and launched programs which address the lack of inception stage business training available for creatives and artists.
CCE launched its first creative business accelerator in 2016 in collaboration with Creative Startups in Albuquerque. This program provides the business development tools that creatives need to be successful. After 3 years of hosting the accelerator, CCE launched its own curriculum and rebranded as the Velocity creative accelerator in 2019. Also in 2019, CCE renamed the Swerve program to Momentum to reflect our focus on company growth.
In 2020, CCE launched the Kinetic boot camp for creatives and artists in the idea stage of development. Kinetic provides the basic tools of customer discovery, business model and financial forecasting to get you started on the right foot.
CCE educates and provides customized mentoring to fulfill our mission to Launch, Grow and Accelerate creative entrepreneurs and businesses. From Kinetic to Momentum to Velocity, we cover the early stages of business development and growth from pre inception, and inception to market validation and traction. We collaborate with numerous partners throughout the Piedmont Triad, North Carolina, and nationally.
The Creative Economy Matters
Creative industries are valuable to the global and U.S. economy, contributing over 700 billions dollars. In North Carolina alone, the creative job sector continues to increase year over year.
Online Partner Directory
Support other members, and let them support you. Our members and partners are displayed in an online directory.
Professional Workshops & Events
We host different types of business events throughout the year. From networking events to workshops. Check out our calandar.
The Expert Network
We love playing matchmaker with creative businesses. If you need an expert or mentor to give you advice or draw you a map, we’ll help get you there.
Community & Networking
Momentum brings together creative entrepreneurs at all stages of their journey to breakdown creative silos, connect, and build an innovative community. From online forums and resources, to private networking events.
Find Qualified Candidates
The Momentum Directory is a great source to find the creative professional you need for your next project or position.
Find Creative Jobs for You
Looking for a job? To find creative job openings in the triad, visit our jobs listed on Momentum, our hub for creatives.
Post Your Creative Resume
Be a rockstar. Post your creative resume and let our local businesses and members reach out to you for work.
Creative Job Board
Looking for opportunities in a creative field? Our jobs tool helps you discover whose hiring and what possibilities await you!
What Makes the Creative Economy
CCE has three major programs specifically designed to have a meaningful impact on creative businesses.
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Momentum
We bring creatives together through lively, monthly meetups, and a directory of local businesses, artists, and service providers.
Momentum Network -
Velocity
Hit the gas on your startup!
Velocity Accelerator
The Velocity business accelerator helps entrepreneurs develop viable businesses rooted in creativity. -
Kinetic
A 4-week program for creatives to determine their unique value proposition and to get ready to launch their business.
Kinetic Boot Camp
A team of creators
Get to know our team. These are the folks behind The Center for Creative Economy

Juana Ramirez Manriquez
Marketing & Communications Assistantjuana@ccetriad.com

Margaret Collins
Founding Executive Directormargaret@ccetriad.com

Ashley Morgan
Program & Operations Coordinatorashley@ccetriad.com

Angela Huntley
Marketing & Communications Manager
Jody Cauthen
Development Consultant