Dr. Carlton McLellan (Ph.D.)is a Lima, Ohio-born entrepreneur, global diplomacy expert, and Founder, Owner, and CEO of Vibe Coffeehouse & Café. The coffeehouse is headquartered in Dr. McLellan’s hometown of Lima, Ohio, but he is a long-term resident of the Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia (DMV) area, which is where he currently calls home. With more than two decades of international affairs experience—including senior roles with U.S. and global organizations—Dr. McLellan envisioned Vibe as more than a coffee shop. He created it as a cultural hub to inspire, educate, and connect people through the shared global love of coffee.
Incorporated in 2017 and officially opened in 2021, Vibe Coffeehouse is the culmination of Dr. McLellan’s lifelong passion for building bridges across cultures and his love of coffee shops – and course coffee – as the perfect vehicles for doing so. He has traveled, lived, and worked in more than 30 countries – of course frequenting coffeehouses in all those countries – and also engaged or collaborated with people from over 150 nations. These global experiences are channeled directly into Vibe’s activities and its mission, which is to be “a proudly Black-owned, coffee-centered, community source of pride, providing products & spaces to inspire creativity, positivity, & socialization, while also exposing individuals to other countries & cultures through the global love of coffee.”
Under Dr. McLellan’s leadership, Vibe has become a true community anchor—partnering with more than 150 individuals and organizations since opening. The café roasts its coffee in-house, specializing in African-origin coffees while also showcasing unique blends from around the world. Beyond coffee and keeping with its themes of cultural exchange and community-building, Vibe nurtures local creativity by supporting artists, makers, and entrepreneurs. It has also forged collaborations with multiple cigar enthusiasts, brands and companies, reflecting Dr. McLellan’s love and appreciation of premium cigars and the cultural and artisanal parallels between coffee and cigars.
Vibe’s impact has been recognized widely for business excellence and social impact, including a Rising Business of the Year Award nomination and recognition on the Ohio School Boards Association Business Honor Roll for its youth engagement activities. Vibe Coffeehouse has also partnered with multiple local education institutions, including a long-standing initiative with Lima Senior High School’s DECA program, mentoring students and collaborating on fundraising, event management, and business learning projects that give young people hands-on marketing and entrepreneurial experience.
Dr. McLellan earned his Ph.D. in International Policy Studies from the University of Pretoria (South Africa), a Master's from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Bachelor’s from Ohio University. Alongside running Vibe Coffeehouse, he continues to serve as a senior international exchange and diplomacy professional, contributing to global cultural initiatives and ongoing research on diplomacy. While he now resides in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area, his vision for Vibe ensures that his roots in Lima remain deeply connected to his global journey.