Land of Lincoln CEO Class of 2023 exhibits small businesses at annual tradeshow

 

[May 03, 2023] 

On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, the Land of Lincoln CEO program hosted its annual tradeshow. The CEO Tradeshow is a time when each of the students take what they have learned throughout the school year and create a business model that includes logs, marketing materials, and the sales pitch that will bring customers or clients to their doors. It is the essential final step of the program that is designed to help young people see the work, dedication, and skill that is required to own a small business.

This year there were seven students from four high schools involved in the program. The CEO program brought in one student each from Mount Pulaski High School and Olympia High School, two students from Hartsburg Emden High School, and three from Lincoln Community High School.

This year, the students began the tradeshow with a ribbon cutting hosted by Lincoln Daily News. The students were joined behind the ribbon by LLCEO Board Chairperson Bridget Schneider, CEO Facilitator Lisa Kuhlman, 2022 Little Miss Logan County, Lincoln City Clerk Peggy Bateman and Mayor Tracy Welch. Holding the ribbon were LDN ribbon cutters Karen Castelein and Alice Roate, Director of the Logan County Tourism Bureau. Nila Smith led the ceremony.

Prior to the ribbon cut, Board Member Michelle Bauer said she wanted the ribbon cutting to be about the kids, and another small business owner experience for each student. To achieve that there was a limited number of people behind the ribbon including the seven students.

The event opened with Smith talking about how difficult it is to start a small business in this day and age. She said that the CEO program is a head start for young people, giving them an understanding of what it is going to take to be an entrepreneur and also giving them experience as a business owner that they can take with them into their college educations and their careers.

Schneider was asked to speak on behalf of the board. She said she had served on the board since 2016. She’s very proud of the community that has been so supportive. She added that after this many years, she is seeing the students come back and speaking to her and others about the value of the CEO program. She said that some say that at the time perhaps they didn’t appreciate the true value in what they were learning, but as they mature and head toward careers, they are thankful for the opportunities they had.

The class of 2023 students were asked to introduce themselves. In the front center are Kyleigh Ott, Ashlyn Duvall and Maggie McNalis. In the back are Emma Petro, Ben Crombie, Riley Freitag, Isabella Bree-Elmore.

Mayor Welch talked on behalf of the city of Lincoln. Welch said that the city is an investor in the CEO program, and he has over the years seen the value of the program. “You are set on a path of success with the information you are given.” Welch said he was excited for the businesses on this evening and looking forward to seeing what the students are doing this year.

The ribbon cut was held at 4 p.m. and kicked off the first 30 minutes of the evening which was dedicated to the investors in the program. At 4:30 the event was open to the public, and students spent the next couple of hours selling their products and services to interested guests.

Isabella Bree-Elmore is a junior at Lincoln Community High School. She is a cheerleader in Basketball and Football and works part time at Flossie and Delzena’s in downtown Lincoln. She enjoys drawing, creating and spending time with family and friends.

Bree-Elmore chose party planning with a new twist as her small business for the tradeshow. Pop-Up! Party Planning is Bree-Elmore’s concept for those who want a party but don’t want or have time to do the work to plan and coordinate one. Her business model includes four packages for clients to choose from and four optional “add-ons.” She will come to your home or venue, set up the party and make it great. Then when it is all over, she takes it down like it was never there, and the client gets all the credit for a great party without doing any of the work.

Ben Crombie is a Junior at Lincoln Community High School. He’s involved with soccer and cross-country track and participates in several extracurricular activities. He plans to continue school, going to college to earn a degree in Marketing.

Crombie is building on his strengths in marketing and social media to create BLC Marketing Services. The company is designed to accommodate small business owners who have a lot of things on their plate and no time to pursue social media marketing. Crombie will go to the business and conduct an interview with business owners to evaluate what they need and how Crombie can accommodate those needs.

Ashlyn Duvall is a junior at Hartsburg-Emden High School. She enjoys science, accounting, and English. She is a member of the FFA, Chess club, Scholastic blow, the Hartem Antler and senior beta. She enjoys reading and listening to music. Her college plans include majoring in education or social work with a minor in business.

Duvall’s business is “Enlightened Earth.” She was selling natural products with a sales pitch of “promotes superior health and prosperity with our all natural, chakra based candles and wax melts which are reiki blessed by a reiki practitioner.”

Riley Freitag is a junior at LCHS. He is completely focused on his education at LCHS and not involved in sports or other activities. He serves as a lifeguard at the Lincoln Park District and enjoys exercising and hanging out with his friends. Riley likes building things and is quite proficient at designing Lego structures. He plans to attend Illinois State University with a major in Business communication.

Attention to Detail, a vehicle detailing service is Freitag’s business. His goal is to deliver a superior quality service understanding car culture and the importance of a good-looking car in the personal and social lives of his clients. He notes that a well detailed vehicle gives the driver a sense of having a new vehicle which is “a thing people admire and want.”

Maggie McNalis is a senior at Olympia High School and grew up in the Danvers area. He enjoys her English classes and is involved in basketball, yearbook and a member of the National Honor Society. He is an officer in her 4-H club and shows cattle at the McLean County Fair. Her plans are to pursue a degree in agriculture education.

Lee Designs by MM is a jewelry business focusing on custom made earrings. McNalis says it is simple to wear your favorite colors or you sport of school logo with custom designed statement earrings. McNalis had many pairs of earrings on hand but will make specific designs upon request.

Kyleigh Ott is a junior at Hartsburg Emden High School. She enjoys volleyball, softball, is a cheerleader, and participates in the Scholastic Bowl and senior beta. She loves animals and hopes to pursue her love for animals by moving to Florida and earing an “animal-related degree.”

Ott played off her love of animals to create her small business “Lead the Way.” She creates custom design dog collars, harnesses, and leashes. She offers cool colors and a customized vinyl for personalization and cuteness.

Emma Petro is a junior at Mount Pulaski High School. She takes her education seriously and derives her best pleasure from making her friends at school smile. She is employed part time at Blade’s Hair and Nail Salon in Lincoln as a receptionist. She enjoys working out and spends as much free time as she can working on mental and physical strength. Emma dedicates her Sunday’s solely to her church, her youth group, and her family. She will be joining the Air National Guard after high school. She also plans to receive education to become a personal trainer and would like to someday own her own gym.

Petro business was Vision Images Photography that coupled her interested in photography for her love of physical fitness. She says that the goal is to spread “body positivity” by capturing the training and body building process in her lens. She does fitness photos in action and will also take photos to document a complete fitness journey from beginning to end.

[Nila Smith]