Tommy Baker Day Celebrates the Business School’s First Entrepreneur-in-Residence

The Center for Entrepreneurship in the School of Business celebrated Tommy Baker‘s 30 years at the College of Charleston with Tommy Baker Day on Thursday, April 14, 2022.

Baker has helped build a community of entrepreneurs at the College since 1991, when he was named the School of Business’ first entrepreneur-in-residence. As entrepreneur-in-residence, he developed a senior-level seminar in entrepreneurship and started teaching in 1993. In 1992, he joined the School of Business Board of Governors and was its first chair. Baker is instrumental in building relationships and recruiting members from the business community who strengthen the board and provide service leadership for students and the school. In 1995 the College recognized Baker with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters.

The highlight of Tommy Baker Day was Tommy Baker Hour, a fireside chat in the Beatty Center Wells Fargo Auditorium. Baker moderated the chat, which included Jim Newsome, president and CEO of the South Carolina Ports Authority; Jack Jones, former VP and general manager of Boeing South Carolina; and Lt. Gen. John Rosa, former president of The Citadel.

In addition to the fireside chat, three finalists for the Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award presented their business pitches to a panel of judges. The finalists included:

Brandon Alston (sophomore theatre major): Fresh Prince Fits

Nicole Birnbaum (junior communication major): Flip Rings

William Helfgott (sophomore Spanish major): River Bluff Honey