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:
Mt. Vernon Township High School had six participants. They are:
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.
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