Queens University of Charlotte issued the following announcement on Nov. 6.
Queens McColl School of Business recently recognized leaders whose contributions have shaped business and economy in the Carolinas and beyond at their 11th annual Carolina Entrepreneur Hall of Fame induction ceremony and dinner. The events took place at the Quail Hollow Club and included remarks from Queens President Dan Lugo, Queens' students, and sponsors.
In 2020, Queens announced the addition of the Inaugural Innovator of Distinction award to recognize emerging leaders or businesses that would be honored as part of the Carolinas Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. Before the recognition of the Carolinas Entrepreneur Hall of Fame Inductees, this new award was presented to Derek Wang, CEO and Co-Founder of Stratifyd, Inc.
Wang received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. His post-doctoral research about the ways artificial intelligence could be used to engage with unstructured data laid the framework for what would become Stratifyd, Inc.
"This award seeks to highlight leaders making a significant impact on the Charlotte region," said Richard Mathieu, dean of the McColl School of Business at Queens. "Dr. Wang's passion for furthering tech and entrepreneurial opportunities for students and graduates in the community made him the ideal inaugural recipient."
The Carolinas Entrepreneur Hall of Fame Class of 2020 is comprised of Doug Lebda, Ed Weisiger, Sr., and Ed Weisiger, Jr.
Lebda is LendingTree's founder, Chairman and CEO. LendingTree was a result of Lebda's idea for a customer-centric loan-shopping process that envisioned a website to simplify an otherwise complex experience. A graduate of Bucknell University and the University of Virginia, Lebda has marked this influential Charlotte-based company with successful leadership that evolves with the industry.
Ed Weisiger, Sr. serves as Chairman Emeritus at CTE (formerly Carolina Tractor & Equipment). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University and served in the Army. He has served as the President of Better Transportation of North Carolina, Inc., the Chairman of the North Carolina State Board of Trustees, among many other civic and community activities.
Ed Weisiger, Jr. is Chairman and CEO of CTE (formerly Carolina Tractor & Equipment), a founding partner of Beacon Partners, and a founding partner of WSC & Company. Alongside roles he holds at various business organizations, Weisiger, Jr. serves in various capacities supporting community organizations including Myers Park Presbyterian Church, North Carolina State University, the Bechtler Museum, and beyond.
The common thread among all Carolinas Entrepreneur Hall of Fame inductees is their work ethic and heart for community change and innovation in their respective industries and the Class of 2020 was no exception. The selection committee consists of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and historians representative of both North Carolina and South Carolina.
Original source can be found here.
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