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

The Beverly Hills chapter of the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce has appointed Sir Lance McCarthy, PhD, as chairman of the board. The move is part of a broader push by chapter president Dr. Marie Y. Lemelle to expand access to capital, global business ties and strategic partnerships for members.

Why it matters: - The Beverly Hills chapter is trying to shift from a standard networking group into a business platform that helps members win contracts, capital, partnerships and market access. - The chapter’s leadership says the new structure is meant to create measurable economic outcomes for entrepreneurs, especially businesses that have historically lacked access to influential networks. - The appointment adds an international business lens to the chapter’s local mission in Beverly Hills and across Southern California.

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. - The announcement was made July 28, 2026. - The chapter says the leadership change is part of a strategic expansion. - Dr. Lemelle said the chapter is intended to be more than a membership organization.

The details: - The Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce supports entrepreneurs, professionals and business owners with 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 says its mission is fostering economic growth and development “from the desert to the sea.” - The Beverly Hills chapter’s quarterly publication, The Beverly Hills Star News, is powered by Platinum Star Public Relations and carries the chapter’s “where Hollywood and beyond meet Wall Street” positioning. - The chapter has relaunched with a focus on strategic connections, business development, access to capital, storytelling and partnerships. - The chapter identifies technology, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare and the nonprofit sector as priority industries. - Dr. Lemelle said Beverly Hills offers access to leaders in entertainment, finance, luxury, hospitality, professional services, philanthropy, real estate, media and international investment. - The chapter meets every third Thursday of the month from 6 to 9 p.m. - Businesses, prospective members, corporate partners and community stakeholders can reach Dr. Lemelle at marie.lemelle@blackchamberofcommerce.org or marielemelle@platinumstarpr.com. - Sir Lance is also chairman of the Black Agenda. - Sir Lance’s background includes work as a global economist, TED Talk speaker and DAVOS presenter. - Sir Lance said leadership should prioritize integrity, long-term institutional value and collaboration. - As chairman, Sir Lance will work with Dr. Lemelle on governance, organizational capacity and relationship-building with business leaders, corporations, financial institutions, investors, government agencies and international partners. - Their goals include financial growth, organizational strength, member value, sustainable partnerships, community impact and opportunities for future leaders. - The appointment builds on prior joint efforts by Sir Lance and Dr. Lemelle, including Billionaire Brunch events and Faith and Finance, a workshop for church organizations focused on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, stewardship and wealth building. - Their work with the U.S. Global Business Forum and U.S. Asia Business Forum Inc. is aimed at international commerce and market expansion. - The chapter’s expanded agenda will add programming around access to capital, procurement, business development, financial literacy, global business development, executive visibility, youth mentorship and community partnerships. - Existing SCBCC member benefits include monthly networking, educational workshops on technology, marketing and financial planning, business referrals, membership directory visibility, grants and RFP information, and signature events. - Dr. Lemelle serves as International Goodwill Ambassador for the DreamChild Foundation in Accra, Ghana. - Dr. Lemelle is also Ghana chair of the Pasadena Sister Cities Committee. - Dr. Lemelle, Sir Lance and a delegation plan to return to South Africa in October 2026 for an economic summit and global civility awards event.

Between the lines: - The chapter is signaling that its value will be judged less by event attendance and more by whether members gain real business outcomes. - The leadership pairing suggests a push to combine local chamber relationships with international commerce, media visibility and institutional credibility. - The emphasis on capital readiness, procurement and global partnerships reflects a broader strategy to move small businesses closer to revenue and scale.

What's next: - The Beverly Hills chapter will continue its monthly third-Thursday meetings and expand programming under the new leadership structure. - Sir Lance and Dr. Lemelle are expected to use the chapter to deepen ties with corporations, investors, government agencies and international partners. - The October 2026 South Africa trip may extend the chapter’s global business agenda. - Businesses and partners can request meeting location information and additional details by contacting marie.lemelle@blackchamberofcommerce.org or marielemelle@platinumstarpr.com.

The bottom line: - The Beverly Hills chapter is trying to turn chamber membership into a more active engine for capital, contracts and cross-border opportunity.