MT. VERNON, Ill. (May 8, 2017) - Fourteen local students taking part in the inaugural Jefferson County CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) program finished the year with a bang last Thursday during the Trade Show. The year-end event, designed to showcase the students' businesses, welcomed approximately 300 individuals to the Mt. Vernon Hotel and Event Center, formerly the Holiday Inn.
In the CEO program, the students were immersed in real-world experiences by establishing and running their own businesses. Throughout the year, students are offered advice and support from various stakeholders within their CEO community including board members, investors, mentors, and a class facilitator.
In the fall semester, students learned to work as team by running a class business, which exposed them to all the key concepts of running a business including marketing, location, advertising, customer service, financial statements, business plans and more. In the spring semester, students then formulated their own business idea, wrote a business plan for it, and then started the business, which were showcased at the Trade Show.
Woodlawn High School students made up half of this year’s class. They are:
- Zach Ashby and his business Diamond Kings, a large hitting cage and gym
- Holli Buretta and her business Buretta Infrared Inspection, a home infrared inspection company
- Lexy Knox and her business Scoop, a social media management and graphic design company
- Kiara Lueking and her business KP Printing, a vinyl and printing company
- James Pak and his business Pakets, a company creating attachable pockets
- Austin Russo and his business Russo Outdoors, a high quality hunting equipment company
- Vanessa Seaman and her business Vanessa, which provides makeup artist services
Mt. Vernon Township High School had six participants. They are:
- Phoenix Graham and his business Renovatio Design, a custom art company
- Quinton Kujawa and his business K Boy’z Handymen, a home repair service
- Nishesh Patel and his business Herbful, an herb sales company
- Jonathan Payne and his self-named business as an IHSA (Illinois High School Association) licensed independent contractor
- Nicole Richard and her business Home Source Marketing, a social media advertising company
- Nick Villani and his business Villani Vending, a candy sales company.
Abby Potter from Webber Township High School also participated in the CEO program. She created Set Up, Get Up - a company that invented and sold a unisex outfit hanger.
During the Trade Show, locals and investors had the chance to speak to the 14 students and vote for the “Best of Show.†Potter placed first, followed by Knox in second and Russo in third. Monetary awards for the winners was provided by Jefferson Marion Washington Community Development Corporation.
Corey Phillips, Director of the RLC MarketPlace, served as the program’s facilitator. Representing the college as one of the many investors in the CEO program, Phillips said he was excited to see so much success in the first year.
“Tonight's Trade Show was a huge success. We are thrilled with the attendance and glad to, once again, see on display the incredible support of Jefferson County for this program and our students,†said Phillips. “This program is very unique and really challenges these students in becoming entrepreneurs. These students have responded and deserve all the credit. These 14 individuals have worked very hard all year long and have really set the bar high for future Jefferson County CEO classes.â€
The CEO program is open to seniors in Jefferson County’s four high schools - Mt. Vernon Township, Waltonville, Webber Township, and Woodlawn. Interested students are required to go through an application process in the spring semester of their junior year. Jefferson County CEO has accepted 17 students for next year’s 2017-18 class.
To learn more about the Jefferson County CEO program, visit the website at www.jeffersoncountyceo.org. To contact Phillips, email phillipsc@rlc.edu. To contact CEO Board President Jeff Haarmann, email jhaarmann@supernovaparterners.com.
Photos of each of the 14 students are pictured below. Click on the images for larger views. High resolution photos can be found on the RLC Flickr account.
Zach Ashby of Woodlawn High School with Diamond Kings
Holli Buretta of Woodlawn High School with Buretta Infrared Inspection
Phoenix Graham of Mt. Vernon Township High School with Renovatio Design
Lexy Knox of Woodlawn High School with Scoop
Quinton Kujawa of Mt. Vernon Township High School with K Boy'z Handymen
Kiara Lueking of Woodlawn High School with KP Printing
James Pak of Woodlawn High School with Pakets
Nishesh Patel of Mt. Vernon Township High School with Herbful
Jonathan Payne of Mt. Vernon Township High School with Jonathan Payne
Abby Potter of Webber Township High School with Set Up Get Up
Nicole Richard of Mt. Vernon Township High School with Home Source Marketing
Austin Russo of Woodlawn High School with Russo Outdoors
Vanessa Seaman of Woodlawn High School with Vanessa
Nick Villani of Mt. Vernon Township High School with Villani Vending
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