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 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.
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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]
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