Southern California Black Chamber Beverly Hills chapter names Sir Lance McCarthy chairman

The Beverly Hills Chapter of the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce named Sir Lance McCarthy, PhD, as chairman of the board on July 28, 2026, as part of a broader push to expand access to capital, partnerships and global business opportunities. Chapter leaders say the move is designed to strengthen governance, member value and economic opportunity for entrepreneurs in Southern California and beyond.

Why it matters: - The Beverly Hills Chapter is positioning itself as a business platform, not just a membership group. - The leadership change is aimed at helping member businesses secure capital, strategic relationships, contracting opportunities and market access. - The chapter says the model is designed to benefit entrepreneurs who have historically lacked equal access to influential business networks.

What happened: - Dr. Marie Y. Lemelle, president of the Beverly Hills Chapter of the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce, announced the appointment of Sir Lance McCarthy, PhD, as chairman of the board on July 28, 2026. - The chapter says the appointment is part of a strategic expansion of its Beverly Hills platform. - Dr. Lemelle said the chapter is intended to connect entrepreneurs with capital, knowledge, strategic relationships and global markets.

The details: - The Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce supports entrepreneurs, professionals and business owners through business development resources, referrals, networking, workshops, seminars and strategic partnerships. - The organization operates across 15 Southern California chapters. - The chamber affiliates with the Black Business Association, The Crenshaw Chamber of Commerce, San Diego Workforce Partnership, Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce, Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce and Jewish Chamber of Commerce. - The chamber describes its mission as fostering economic growth and development “from the desert to the sea.” - The Beverly Hills Chapter meets every third Thursday of the month from 6 to 9 p.m. - Businesses, prospective members, corporate partners and community stakeholders can contact marie.lemelle@blackchamberofcommerce.org or marielemelle@platinumstarpr.com for meeting location and additional information. - The chapter’s quarterly publication, The Beverly Hills Star News, is powered by Platinum Star Public Relations and reflects a national and international focus. - The chapter says its Beverly Hills platform is built to engage technology, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare and the nonprofit sector. - The chapter’s stated priorities include access to capital, corporate and government procurement, business development, financial literacy, global business development, executive visibility, youth mentorship and community partnerships. - Current SCBCC member benefits include monthly networking, educational workshops on technology, marketing and financial planning, business exposure and referrals, membership directory visibility, grants and RFP information, and signature events. - Dr. Lemelle is also Founder and CEO of Platinum Star Public Relations, Platinum Star Media Group and Pitbull PR Agency. - Sir Lance McCarthy is Chairman of the Black Agenda and has a background as a global economist, TED Talk speaker and DAVOS presenter. - Dr. Lemelle serves as International Goodwill Ambassador for the DreamChild Foundation in Accra, Ghana, and as Ghana Chair of the Pasadena Sister Cities Committee. - In October 2026, Sir Lance McCarthy, Dr. Lemelle and a delegation are expected to return to South Africa for an economic summit and global civility awards event.

Between the lines: - The appointment signals a shift toward institutional building, with emphasis on governance, credibility and long-term value. - The chapter is trying to turn Beverly Hills’ concentration of entertainment, finance, luxury, media and investment leaders into practical business opportunities. - The focus on international commerce suggests the chapter wants local growth and global reach to reinforce each other, not compete. - The partnership between Dr. Lemelle and Sir Lance McCarthy extends prior collaborations including Billionaire Brunch events, Faith and Finance workshops and work with the U.S. Global Business Forum and U.S. Asia Business Forum Inc. - The chapter is framing success as measurable economic outcomes, not just attendance or event volume.

What's next: - Dr. Lemelle and Sir Lance McCarthy will work together to strengthen governance and organizational capacity. - The chapter plans to build relationships with business leaders, corporations, financial institutions, investors, government agencies and international partners. - Future efforts will focus on member growth, sustainable partnerships, financial readiness and community impact. - The chapter expects to expand programming around procurement, capital access, mentorship, financial literacy and global business development. - For interviews, booking business summits and virtual or in-person appointments, contact marielemelle@platinumstarpr.com.

The bottom line: - The Beverly Hills Chapter is using a leadership change to recast itself as an economic engine for entrepreneurs, with local networking tied to capital, contracts and global opportunity.