Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

Let's get down to Business.

The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) is the premier Western New York resource for entrepreneurs like you who are looking to overcome your challenges, inspire innovation, and propel your business to growth and profitability.

Learn to be the leader you were meant to be

Whether you’re an emerging entrepreneur or an established leader, our peer-based, mentor driven programs give you the confidence you need to successfully start a business or take an existing company to the next level.

Designed by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, the CEL’s individualized and interactive programs fit your demanding schedule. Based on proven principles and centered on best practices and emerging trends, our programs allow you to explore new methods for business growth in a confidential, noncompetitive environment with assistance from fellow classmates, UB School of Management faculty and external business experts.

The CEL Advantage

The CEL Advantage

23,000 Western New Yorkers employed by CEL businesses; 1,400 GRADS; $2.3 billion + economic impact 
from CEL businesses.
CEL Alumni
“CEL Core has taught me the ins and outs of my business while allowing me to grow as a professional. Not only have I gained numerous amounts of knowledge, but I have developed relationships with my classmates that will last a lifetime.”
7/18/22

Sara Evans

  • Principal and Director of Interior Design, MidCity Office Furniture
  • Core Grad ’22
“The CEL team guided me in my startup journey which then allowed me to cultivate a larger economic impact in WNY. I am forever grateful for the amazing network.”
7/18/22

Shareefa M. Albanna

  • Founder and CEO of Arabica Enterprises LLC and PURSUIT Business Consulting
  • M&T Bank Minority and Women Emerging Entrepreneurs ’21
“The MWEE program has been instrumental to my professional development, which has propelled my business growth. I am appreciative of CEL’s focus on the success of local entrepreneurs.”
7/18/22

Deidre Batson-Griggs

  • President, Kiper Moving and Transportation LLC
  • M&T Bank Minority and Women Emerging Entrepreneurs ’20
“The program gave me the resources, tools and confidence to move forward in my business.”
7/18/22

Michelle Spencer

  • Owner, Aging Well Care Management
  • M&T Bank Minority and Women Emerging Entrepreneurs ’22
“CEL Core is an exceptional program for people looking into how to run and manage any business. The knowledge and skills that I took away from this experience are priceless.”
7/18/22

Vanessa Gabriele

  • Managing Attorney, Gabriele Law PLLC
  • Core ’22
“The CEL Core program gives you an instant network of people that want to help you succeed. It changes your brain to think about issues from outside of your current circle. I highly recommend this program.”
7/18/22

Jordan Lema

  • CEO and Executive Producer, Lemur Studios
  • Core ’22
“The Reimagine Entrepreneurship master class helped me to create a strategic plan to grow my business by focusing on one thing at a time.”
9/22/22

Adrianne Easley-Brown

  • Owner, Visions and Dreams Graphics LLC 
  • Reimagine Entrepreneurship ’22
“Starting and running a business can be challenging. The MWEE program offers critical foundational information, along with the classroom environment and instructors to help you better understand the “why” behind the fundamentals.”
7/18/22

Craig Garner

  • Owner, ENG23 Home Services Corp.
  • M&T Bank Minority and Women Emerging Entrepreneurs ’22
“Through the transformational CEL Core program, I have learned so much about streamlining our processes to be as efficient as possible and gathering and using the data we need to be able to forecast where we are going.”
7/18/22

Julie Kruger

  • Owner, Kruger Immigration Law
  • Core ’22
“At a time of uncertainty, I learned that everyone is going through similar challenges. The Key Persons program helped conquer those challenges.”
9/22/22

Jordan Stapf

  • Manager, Chiavetta‘s Barbeque and Catering
  • Key Persons Leadership Development ’20
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CEL Events

Shop Small and Local

When: Thursday, February 9 | 12 - 6 p.m.

Where: UB Educational Opportunity Center, 555 Ellicott St. Buffalo

Join us for a day of networking and excitement at the CEL Alumni Vendor Fair. Support local entrepreneurs vending creative new products and services and enjoy food, raffles/free giveaways. Admission is free and open to the public.

CEL Programs

Core Program

The flagship program of the CEL, Core empowers you to overcome business challenges, create new opportunities and develop meaningful connections in the business community. As a practicing entrepreneur, you will elevate your talents and operating abilities with the help of this peer-based, mentor-driven program delivered over the course of nine months.

View Program  View The Core Program

Emerging Entrepreneurs

The M&T Bank Minority and Women Emerging Entrepreneurs program will help you move your company to the next stage of development. You will work with a mentor, attend biweekly business development seminars and networking events, and complete a revised or newly developed business plan.
 

The M&T Bank Minority and Women Emerging Entrepreneurs program will help you move your company to the next stage of development. You will work with a mentor, attend biweekly business development seminars and networking events, and complete a revised or newly developed business plan.

View Program  View The Emerging Entrepreneurs Program

Mastery Forum

If you are a growth-minded business leader who wishes to push beyond your usual limits, this monthly forum is for you. Professional facilitators and individual coaches guide you as you navigate business challenges and execute strategic initiatives. Gain additional insights from expert speakers and an annual retreat.
 

If you are a growth-minded business leader who wishes to push beyond your usual limits, this monthly forum is for you. Professional facilitators and individual coaches guide you as you navigate business challenges and execute strategic initiatives. Gain additional insights from expert speakers and an annual retreat.

View Program  View The Mastery Forum Program

Class Connections

Already a CEL graduate? Class Connections is a monthly, two-hour facilitated session that provides a confidential forum for you to discuss challenges and opportunities with trusted peers. At the end of each session, you commit to one strategic action item and are held accountable to accomplish it.  

Already a CEL graduate? Class Connections is a monthly, two-hour facilitated session that provides a confidential forum for you to discuss challenges and opportunities with trusted peers. At the end of each session, you commit to one strategic action item and are held accountable to accomplish it.  

View Program  View The Class Connections Program

Key Persons Connections

An interactive forum for emerging leaders employed in small business, Key Persons Connections helps you develop crucial tools to become a confident leader and think with an ownership mentality. Topics include leadership styles, communication strategies, financial acumen and time management tactics.

View Program  View The Key Persons Connections Program

Mastering your Financial Reports

Become better equipped with the knowledge you need to lead your business to financial success and long-term stability with the Mastering your Financial Reports program.


 

Become better equipped with the knowledge you need to lead your business to financial success and long-term stability with the Mastering your Financial Reports program.

View Program  View The Mastering Your Financial Reports Program

Reimagine Entrepreneurship Initiative

If you are unemployed, laid-off or underemployed and wish to explore an entrepreneurial path, the Reimagine initiative offers robust training through boot camps and master classes in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Olean, Jamestown and Dunkirk, through a grant from Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR).

View Program  View The Reimagine Entrepreneurship Initiative Program

Family Business Program

Family businesses face the same challenges as other organizations in managing performance issues, succession plans, conflict resolution, accountability and strategic decision-making. But those challenges are often far more personal in family business. Learn to view your business through the lens of Family Systems Theory to understand and effectively manage family business issues.
 

Family businesses face the same challenges as other organizations in managing performance issues, succession plans, conflict resolution, accountability and strategic decision-making. But those challenges are often far more personal in family business. Learn to view your business through the lens of Family Systems Theory to understand and effectively manage family business issues.

View Program  View The Family Business Program

Business Essentials Workshop Series

Get ready to tackle a specific pain-point for your business. In the Business Essentials series, each session will be a workshop in the truest sense of the word. After attending our hands-on, interactive classes, you and/or your staff will leave with a solution that helps solve a specific business challenge.


 

Get ready to tackle a specific pain-point for your business. In the Business Essentials series, each session will be a workshop in the truest sense of the word. After attending our hands-on, interactive classes, you and/or your staff will leave with a solution that helps solve a specific business challenge.

View Program  View The Business Essentials Workshop Series Program

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Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership
School of Management
University at Buffalo
UB Downtown Gateway
77 Goodell St., Suite 201
Buffalo, NY 14203

Tel:  716-885-5715
Fax: 716-845-6999
mgt-cel@buffalo.edu

Meet our Staff