Raleigh, NC, October 16, 2026 – Inmates to Entrepreneurs (I2E), a nonprofit that provides free entrepreneurship education to people impacted by the justice system, has added five new members to its board of directors. The expanded board strengthens Inmates to Entrepreneurs’ ability to pursue its next phase of growth by broadening its leadership expertise and increasing its capacity to advance its mission.
The new board members include:
- Frederick Hayes – Founder of Treo General Services
- Chaz Henry – Chief Technology Officer of HyperCard.AI
- Keijuane Hester – Founder of Favor Desserts
- Nikki Grizzle – Owner of NG Consulting
- Michael Lockamy – Job and Resource Specialist with the NC Department of Adult Correction
The new members join existing board members Lawrence Carpenter, chairman of the board and founder of Superclean Professional Janitorial Services; Brandon Lowery, CEO of Royal Touch Mobile Detailing LLC; and Claudia Shivers, owner of Queen Coffee Bean. Together, the board will help guide the organization’s strategy and support its continued efforts to make entrepreneurship education accessible to more people.
Founded in 1992 by entrepreneur Brian Hamilton and Rev. Robert J. Harris, Inmates to Entrepreneurs is the longest-running organization of its kind. Over more than three decades, the nonprofit has helped thousands of people develop the skills to start and grow businesses, with program graduates in all 50 states. Graduates have launched businesses in industries ranging from landscaping and catering to retail and product-based ventures. The organization’s work also inspired “Free Enterprise,” an award-winning ABC television series featuring Hamilton.
“We’re excited to welcome these five new members to the Inmates to Entrepreneurs board. Each brings valuable experience and a unique perspective that will help advance our organization as we continue to expand access to entrepreneurship education. We know that starting a business can create opportunities for people who face barriers to traditional employment, and we look forward to building on I2E’s longstanding work to help more people pursue that path,” said Lawrence Carpenter, chairman of the board.
Inmates to Entrepreneurs offers a free eight-week entrepreneurship course to people with criminal records who are interested in starting or growing a small business. The virtual program covers essential topics including business planning, marketing, finance, operations, and legal considerations. The organization also delivers virtual and in-person entrepreneurship boot camps in correctional facilities, connecting participants with experienced entrepreneurs and practical business education.
In partnership with The Brian Hamilton Foundation, Inmates to Entrepreneurs also provides Starter U, a self-paced online entrepreneurship course, to learners who are incarcerated through tablet-based education providers such as Edovo.
With its extended board, Inmates to Entrepreneurs aims to reach more people through its entrepreneurship education programs, expand access to its courses in correctional facilities, and explore new opportunities to bring its resources to underserved communities. The new board members will help guide these efforts as the organization continues to provide practical tools and education to people pursuing business ownership as a path to financial stability
About Inmates to Entrepreneurs
Inmates to Entrepreneurs assists people who have been judicially-impacted in starting their own businesses by providing entrepreneurship education and resources. Founded in 1992, the organization is the longest-running program of its kind. Its goal is to reduce recidivism in the United States by providing an alternative path to financial stability and success. To learn more, visit inmatestoentrepreneurs.org.