The Albert and Christine Hendley Free Enterprise Leadership Series

The Albert and Christine Hendley Free Enterprise Leadership Series is a speakers’ series that brings nationally-known speakers and thought leaders on liberty, freedom, free enterprise and leadership to the Charlotte, N.C. region. 

Named in honor of the parents of Union county businessman John Hendley and his wife Julie, the Leadership Series preserves one of Senator Jesse Helms’ objectives for The Helms Center — to provide a forum for public policy speakers and promote the principles of free enterprise and leadership to students and the community at large. 


Featured Speakers

Why Socialism is Not the Answer for the United States
Daniel Di Martino

Daniel Di Martino graduated with a BA in Economics from Indiana University in Indianapolis. He’s currently pursuing a PhD in Economics at Columbia University in New York City. He’s appeared dozens of times on national TV channels such as Fox News, Newsmax, and CNN, and has written for USA Today and other news outlets.

Daniel Di Martino is the second lecturer in The Albert and Christine Hendley Free Enterprise Leadership Series. This speakers’ series is named in honor of the parents of the Hendley family who inspired their children to pursue hard work, entrepreneurship and free enterprise principles.


Free Market Capitalism and Global Prosperity:
Andrew Puzder

Andy Puzder, the former chief executive of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, says that capitalism is not a dirty word. As a former CEO in the restaurant industry, he knows how important the profit motive is to America’s ultimate prosperity. He is currently the Executive Chairman for 2ndVote Advisers, a Senior Fellow at Pepperdine University School of Public Policy and the America First Policy Institute, and a Visiting Fellow at The Heritage Foundation.

Puzder is the inaugural lecturer in The Albert and Christine Hendley Free Enterprise Leadership Series.