The Class of 2024 of the Clinton County Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) program held their third annual CEO Trade Show Friday at Hidden Lake Winery in Aviston.
The Class of 2024 involves 19 students from Clinton County’s five high schools: Carlyle, Central Community in Breese, Christ Our Rock Lutheran in Centralia, Mater Dei Catholic in Breese, and Wesclin.
The CEO program is designed to utilize partnerships that provide an overview of business development and processes.
The local business community partners with Clinton County CEO to create project-based experiences for students by providing funding, expertise, meeting space, business tours and one-on-one mentoring.
Funding for the nonprofit program comes from financial pledges from local businesses and donations from other individual and group community investors.
The CEO program is an opportunity to help retain young people because, in addition to teaching entrepreneurship skills, the program opens their eyes to the opportunities in their own backyard by connecting them with local businesses.
Members of the public were able to view the students’ businesses at the Third Annual CEO Trade Show.
“The CEO Tradeshow is the culmination of the young entrepreneurs’ hard work, showcasing their businesses and the skills they’ve learned particularly in communication, to network with potential clients and partners gaining valuable experience in a real-world setting,” said CEO program facilitator Cheryl Timmermann. “It’s commendable to see how much hard work and dedication they’ve put into launching their businesses while balancing school and extracurricular activities. These CEO Seniors are going to be outstanding employers or employees in the future.”
Wesclin High School senior Delaney Fark was the “Best of Show” winner at the trade show for her entrepreneurial business, Whisk & Wick, which combine the warmth of a bakery with the allure of handcrafted artisanal candles.
Students from Central include: Lydia Links, Jonathan Husmann, Cole Buschmann, Cole Bruggemann and Makenna Budde.
Students from Wesclin include: Tristyn Elling, Mira Sedlacek, Mason Nordike, Gabe Kitterman, Delaney Fark, Charlie Brines and Valerie Mercado.
Students from Mater Dei Catholic High School include Eli Kohrmann, Zach Tebbe, Aidan Toennies and Katy Huels.
Students from Christ Our Rock include Alexa Childress and Mia Kleiboeker.
Students from Carlyle are Kaylee Wesselmann.
Board members for the program are: Jill Daughterty, board chair; Chad Sellers, board vice chair; Kurt Rickhoff, treasurer; Cheryl Boehne, secretary; and members Jennifer Filyaw, Dennis Litteken, Ed Carroll, Doug Gruenke, Angela Wurtzler and Randy Linthicum.
The program’s facilitator is Cheryl Timmermann.
For more information on how to be involved with Clinton County CEO, visit www.clintoncountyilceo.com.