Want to know more about CCE’s impact? Read the 2022 Impact Report.
Creative Vision
Creativity is the most important leadership quality for success.
Margaret Collins
Founding Executive Director
CCE was launched from the work Margaret directed at the Piedmont Triad Partnership based in Greensboro. She led the creative economy initiative between 2007-2011. Prior to her move to North Carolina, she worked in New York City as an Artist Manager and Senior Booking Representative for ICM Artists. Her work entailed booking concert engagements for the ICMA roster throughout the Southeast, managing soloists and attractions. Other positions held in NYC include Shaw Concerts, Vice President, and Frank Salomon Associates, Artist Manager. Â
Collins has been named a Triad Power Player by the Triad Business Journal and serves on the Board of Directors of the Piedmont Triad Film Commission. Nationally, she is a co-founder of the Creative Economy Coalition. Originally from Shelby, NC, Collins attended Wake Forest University and UNC School of the Arts receiving a B. A. in music from WFU studying trombone and piano. In Washington DC, she received an M.A. from The American University in Performing Arts: Arts Management. Margaret enjoys playing in the Winston-Salem Community Band, practicing yoga, and hiking on scenic trails. Her husband Ray Collins is the founder of TrueVoice, a vocal presentation coaching business. They have a son, Michael, who is studying Radio and TV broadcasting.Â
Kami Leslie
Program & Operations Manager
Born in Brazil and raised in France, Kami joined the CCE team with 25+ years of experience working internationally in theater, live entertainment, and education as a producer, executive director, event manager, and educator. Her unconventional profile reflects upon her desire to connect the incompatible and to build bridges between Creatives, Businesses, and Educators.
She has worked for the Cirque du Soleil, Franco Dragone, the MGM, the Wynn, Otis Elevators, ING Insurance, the Asian Film Awards and multiple TV series, including one with an audience of 600M viewers. She co-founded an international theater and arts festival and produced hundreds of short and long-term projects, shows and events working with communities at risk, youth, professionals, and universities around the world.
Kami speaks 5 languages and holds a masters in Chinese Language and Culture from the Aix-en-Provence University France. After nearly 20 years in Asia, Kami took two years off to focus on family and together with her husband they created a food-truck business in Provence, France, called Tres Tacos.
In 2019 she moved to Winston-Salem with her husband Chad Leslie (who teaches at UNCSA) and their two boys Leo and Yilan. She loves yoga, meditation, and spending quality time with her family camping, cooking and traveling.
Help is Our Goal
We Help Build the Creative Economy
The Center provides programming designed to have a meaningful impact on creative businesses and entrepreneurs.
Community
Experience
We build experts and leaders in entrepreneurship
Instruction
Opportunities
We create chances for success
Verticals
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
- Creative Health Tech
- Culinary
- Data Visualization
- Digital Design
- Education Tech
- Fashion
- Graphic Design
- Industrial Design
- Museum Tech
- Augmented & Virtual Reality
- Music
- Performing Arts
- Photography
- Planning / Design
- Product Design
- Publishing
- Software (creative industries)
- Studio & Fine Arts
- 3D Printing (creative products)
- TV & Film
- Video Games
- And More!
570
+companies launched
210
mraised in
investment
10
14revenue
earned
7850
successful
campains
We help build the creative economy
The Center provides programming designed to have a meaningful impact on creative businesses and entrepreneurs.
Creative Journeys Start from The Center
We help launch, grow, and accelerate local creative entrepreneurs, businesses, and leaders.
- History of CCE
- Building Strong Relationships
- Recruiting & Employment
History of CCE
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.
Building Strong Relationships
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 calendar.
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.
Recruiting & Employment
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
The Momentum Directory is a great source to find the creative professional you need for your next project or position.
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!