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 This new program for high school students with drive has a lot of
people talking. The Land of Lincoln Creating Entrepreneurial
Opportunities (LLCEO) application is now open for Logan County
students who will be seniors next year.
The first LLCEO class is slated to begin in the fall of 2015,
following a wait for acceptance by the programs producer, the
Midland Institute, and much preparation that includes ongoing
fundraising and mentorship sponsors. Since its inception, both the
business and education sectors have looked at the program with great
anticipation and excitement.
Rural communities in the U.S. have struggled to survive as
industrial work has dried up. With the loss of job choices, our
brightest and most ambitious students go off to college and then
pursue careers that take them elsewhere. On occasion a few of these
young adults return to their rural home to raise their families.
This CEO program was designed to stem ‘brain drain’ by spurring
positive business experiences with students while they are high
school seniors. The entrepreneurial training program has
consistently seen more young business-oriented adults wanting to
return home to build their careers and enjoy the quality of life
where they grew up after participation in the program.
 Local
entrepreneur, Patrick Doolin of Integrity Data, is one of those few
who made it back to raise his family in Lincoln. Doolin saw the
potential of the program for Logan County. While the program was in
development, Jack Schultz first brought attention to it during his
“Boom Town” talk in 2003. Schultz was an investor in his area CEO
program, the first to launch in Effingham seven years ago.
Craig Lindvahl initiated the CEO program under the Midland
Institute. He and Midland Institute staff work especially close with
business, school and community leaders in the first year. Due to the
extensive oversight to ensure each program’s success, Lindvahl
limits how many programs he launches. The setup that includes
materials, content, mentoring and guidance has a one-time fee of
$20,000 that goes to Midland Institute. Doolin, LCHS
Superintendent Robert Bagby and Chamber of Commerce Executive
Director Andi Hake sat in on some of CEO classes last March and came
back with rave reviews about how the students conduct themselves as
professionals in every manner; behavior, dress and preparedness.
“It’s been a breath of fresh air to see what we’ve seen,” said
Doolin. “The first thing we noticed was that these did not look like
high school seniors. They did not sound like high school seniors;
they did not act like high school seniors. They acted like they were
college graduates.” “Listening to them talk to each other about
their businesses - it was astounding. It was exciting,” said Doolin.
Andi Hake commented, “I had to remind myself that these were
students.”
Doolin explained that each class will set up a business model that
they work on as a group. In addition, each student becomes
responsible for creating their own business, not as a simulation,
but an actual running operation that they are in charge of. Part of
creating these businesses involves students creating two to three
business plans and selling their ideas to actual investors. He said
that some of these businesses are still in operation from previous
classes in Effingham.
The latest updates
Much has already been accomplished in getting the program here and
final formalities of the organization are coming together quickly.
New board
 On
Feb. 19, the LLCEO Board held its first official meeting. The board
consists of April Doolin, serving as president; Andi Hake, its
treasurer; Robert Bagby, Mount Pulaski Superintendent Todd Hamm,
June Harnacke from the New Holland Banking Center, Sarah Sisk, Todd
Nobbe, Clyde Reynolds and Patrick Doolin.
Hake said that Sisk will be a great value as a LCHS school counselor
who understands the dynamics of schools and is familiar with the
timing of when things need to happen for the students.
Hake added that it is in the works to add three ex officio
representatives from higher learning colleges in town. These board
members would be non-voting. They would bring expertise and guidance
on credits with the potential to offer dual high school and college
credit to participants in the LLCEO program beginning in 2016.
Participating schools
The program requires ownership under an education entity approved by
the State Board of Education.
 Superintendent
Bagby has agreed to administer it under the Lincolnland Technical
Education Center (LTEC). LTEC has eight consolidated school
districts participating in career programs -- Lincoln,
Williamsville, Hartsburg-Emden, Mount Pulaski, Illini-Central,
Greenview, Athens and PORTA/Ashland-Chandlerville Central high.
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Since a number of Olympia students are from Logan County,
Olympia is being included for the LLCEO program.
Hake said that Mr. Bagby “is the reason the program has been
able to jump off as quickly as it has; he’s a huge proponent.”
Facilitator/instructor In other updates, the position for a
facilitator (teacher) for the class was posted with applications due
in by Feb. 28. There are several candidates already and they will be
interviewed in March.
Students who may be interested
Guidance counselors at all the schools have applications. There have
been juniors expressing interest, including a number from Olympia
and Illini Central. More awareness is needed and there are people
who will to go to students to explain this unique program.
Hake hopes that more students will look into joining this first
program. Presentations include testimonials of current and former
students that are persuasive.
Student applications are due in by Mar 11.
Board members will not participate in choosing the participating
students. A Selection Committee with representation from each
community will be formed and they will use a blind process to
evaluate student applications.
Identifying information will be removed from the student
applications; so committee members will not know who the student is,
what school they come from, or their gender. “The blind application
is a proven process that has always leveled out who would be
accepted into the program,” Hake said.
 More business participation is needed yet. Lincoln College made its
willingness to support the program last fall. Many other businesses
have come forward as well. But businesses can provide site visits,
speakers, mentors, and locations for the class to meet.
More funds are needed yet. Though the one-time fee of $20,000 has
been paid to get the program off the ground, “We can have the
program now,” Hake says, more funds are still needed for the
facilitator (instructor) salary and other backup costs.
Sponsorship requires a three-year commitment of $1,000 a year.
 Any
board member is willing to talk to those who may be interested in
supporting this program. “There’s no push,” Hake says, “We don’t
really have to [push,] the program sells itself.”
| You can
contact any board member or the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber
of Commerce (217) 735-2385 to learn more about this program. |
Read more about the CEO program
[Derek Hurley and Jan Youngquist]
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