In the summer of 2023, Jules Belfi, an Entrepreneurship and Finance major at UNC Greensboro, was inspired to create the CEO Marketplace. Jules is a high-energy and optimistic person who is passionate about impacting her community. Her friends on campus are no exception. Jules saw that students around campus made beautiful pieces of art, music, and more but the artist didn’t have a platform to promote their goods. The CEO Marketplace was created to emphasize the intertwinement of business and design and to give students a platform where they could sell their goods in a live business scenario.
With the creation of any event, there is a lot of behind-the-scenes work. While Jules had the vision, she was unsure how to execute it. Her first stop was Hayes Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship, Dianne H.B. Welsh. Before her retirement, Dr. Welsh had been the CEO club’s faculty advisor since she arrived at UNCG in 2008. “I try to have students explore their own entrepreneurial ideas and run with the ball, as long as they stay within the university’s guideposts,” Welsh said. To stay within university guidelines, Jules met with several departments to work out the logistics and feasibility of the marketplace. From there she joined the CEO Club and started putting the event together.
The Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization Club (CEO) Marketplace evolved from an idea and moved to actualization on College Avenue. The marketplace is designed to highlight the importance of entrepreneurship and business foundations. UNCG offers all students access to the Entrepreneurship minor. The Entrepreneurship Cross-Disciplinary Program, formally directed by Dr. Welsh, has won 7 national and international awards since its inception. The program has even seen more students adding the minor based on their awareness and knowledge of the CEO Marketplace.
This spring’s CEO Marketplace was hosted on March 19, 2024, from 10-4:30 pm. Over 60 student vendors filled the street of College Ave. Business owners Catie Bozzano, Deja Harris, and Grace Holcomb all spoke highly of the event. Catie Bozzano is an Interior Architecture major and the owner of CatiexClothing. Her business offers thrifted treasures, clothing, and more. “I’ve done the Flea Market in Raleigh, but having something on campus has been nice,” Bozzano said. Grace Holcomb, a Bryan School Marketing major communicated similar sentiments. “For a while, I’ve been wanting to be a vendor at my local Farmer’s Market. Participating in the CEO Marketplace gives me great experience and will prepare me to take that next step.” Grace’s business, Baby J Candle Co, is based on Baby Jenny from One Tree Hill, as Grace was the actor. Deja Harris is no different, her small business is entitled Press Ons by Dej. “I’ve set up on College Ave to sell press-on nails before, but being able to work at the marketplace has been great. I’ve invested in myself and have seen my business grow thanks to encouragement from my aunt,” Harris said.
Jules Belfi and the CEO Club could not have been happier with the turnout of the Marketplace. While Jules doesn’t personally sell at the Marketplace, she gets plenty of hands-on experience. “I’m kind of like the manager of the restaurant, making sure everything runs smoothly,” says Belfi. “I want people to understand that if you have skills or talents, you can actually utilize business and entrepreneurship fundamentals.” The Marketplace serves as a great way for students to promote their businesses and build the confidence and courage it takes to be an entrepreneur. With Jules graduating in May 2025, she does hope that the CEO Marketplace will continue in her absence.
