MT. VERNON, Ill. (April 25, 2025) — The Southern Illinois Manufacturing Academy in Mt. Vernon was buzzing with shoppers last night as the annual CEO Trade Show drew a packed house. Hosted by Rend Lake College, this event was a platform for the creativity and drive among the latest group of high school seniors finishing the Jefferson County CEO program. The students showcased their personal businesses and forecasted a bright future for local entrepreneurship.
Local business leaders, friends, family, and community members of all ages filled the high bay area at RLC's SIMA. The businesses on display covered a myriad of goods and services. Guests had the chance to explore everything from candies, custom leather goods, spices and handcrafted soaps to skin care, Asian sauces, seashell crafts, caffeinated Boba supplements, bagels, coffee, lawn care and even personal training. Each booth reflected the unique talents of its entrepreneur who were tasked with selling their vision to a roaming panel of evaluators.
Winning both the People’s Choice and Great Expectations awards, the standout entrepreneur of the night was Kaylee Down and her HappyGoLucky Coffee Company. Malakai Mays won Best In Show with Amaysing ChaCha; Emmalee Kroeschen won the Alumni Legacy Award with Shello There; and Natalie Callahan won the Chamber Membership Award with her Happy Daisy Co.
Here’s a complete list of the young business owners and their projects:
- Layney Ulrich - Preserved Petals
- Alisa Pak - Yuchae's
- Ava Wheeler - Ava's Natural Glow Tallow
- Blake Sanders - Elite Soccer Training
- Bradley Rodriguez - Bo & Arrow Bagels
- Daylon Pollard, Dayne Pollard, and Liam Asbery - Full-Stack Boba LLC
- Emmalee Kroeschen - Shello There (Winner of Alumni Legacy Award)
- Gracie Lowery - The Spice Box
- James Dudley - JD Leathercraft
- Jaxon Dalby - Next Gen Sports Training
- Kalli Wheeler - Sweet Grace Candies
- Kaylee Down - HappyGoLucky Coffee Co. (Winner of People’s Choice and Great Expectations Award)
- Lucas Lynch - Lynch's Lawn Care
- Mackenzie Hughes - King City Vintage
- Malakai Mays - Amaysing ChaCha (Winner of Best In Show Award)
- Natalie Callahan - Happy Daisy Co. (Winner of Chamber Membership Award)
- Sarah Butler - Sarah's Soaps
- Sierra Birdhorton - Sugar Sensation
- Tryton Fassett - Fassett House-Sitting
Congratulations to program facilitator Nealy Hamson and all the students on their creativity and dedication. The diversity of ideas was great to see and it was obvious that visitors enjoyed the successful event.
Jefferson County CEO Board Members
- Eric Black
- Mark Black
- Matthew Hefley
- Carol Martin
- Kirk Dunbar
- Brian Harland
- Luke Johnson
- Madison Moser
- Ben Sperry
- Jamie Storey
