LLCEO Class of 2024 demonstrates business knowledge at annual tradeshow

 

[April 25, 2024] 

The Land of Lincoln CEO program hosted its annual trade show Wednesday, April 24.

The Land of Lincoln Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (LLCEO) program is “the standard for entrepreneurship education in the United States.” In morning sessions, students in the program “get real-life, hands-on learning experiences” hearing from a variety of guest speakers and visiting businesses throughout Lincoln, Logan County and beyond.

This year’s, there were four students representing two schools.

The students began the trade show with a ribbon cutting hosted by Lincoln Daily News. Students were joined behind the ribbon by LLCEO Facilitator Lisa Kuhlman, several LLCEO Board members, two city aldermen, the Lincoln Tourism representatives, the LEAD director and 2023 Logan County Fair royalty.

Holding the ribbon were LDN ribbon cutters Karen Castelein and Chassidy White.

LLCEO board member Michelle Bauer led the ceremony, thanking everyone who came to the trade show. The LLCEO program is getting ready to head into its tenth year and Bauer said she is really excited about this class and the work they have put in. She said there were former LLCEO students at the trade show and an alumni booth highlighting previous years, which is really encouraging for the LLCEO Board. Bauer said it is important to see the program continue and do exactly what its intention is, which is to build young entrepreneurs that go out into the world and continue their entrepreneurial spirit.

After a countdown from three, 2024 LLCEO students Jaedyn Gulley and Alex Steffens cut the ribbon.

LLCEO Board Chairman Rachael Judd has been on the board for six years. This year is her first year as Board Chairman. Judd said more than anything, she loved that kids stuck with the program even through the COVID years when it was harder. We are excited to see the class growing. There were four in this year’s class and next year, there will be twelve, tripling this year’s number. In 2025, the program will celebrate 10 years, which Judd said is a big deal.

Th ribbon cutting kicked off the evening. At 5:00 the event was open to the public and the students spent the next hour selling their products and services to those interested.

The 2024 LLCEO class consisted of Amy Dederich, Aiden Frye, Jaedyn Gulley and Alex Steffens.

Each student briefly discussed the business they started as people stopped by their tables.

Aiden Frye (pictured right)

Aiden Frye is a junior at LCHS, where he is a dual sport athlete, playing football and wrestling. He is reborn through the Almighty Lord Jesus Christ and volunteers at Lincoln Christian Church. He also participates in FFA, school choir and church choir. Frye is interested in going into the ministry and/or serving his community as a firefighter and looks forward to putting the leadership skills he gained through the LLCEO program into practice and trust God’s will for his future.

Frye’s business was Aiden Lawncare. He does about five lawns per week but expects his business to grow in the next few weeks and throughout the summer. Frye values his relationship with his customers, trying to keep communication open in case of misunderstandings. He also values customer satisfaction. In his lawncare business, Frye does a variety of jobs like mowing, weeding, trimming, leaf blowing, mulching, hedge trimming and laying down rock. He is sometimes assisted by LCHS senior Luke Garretson.

Jaedyn Gulley (pictured left)

Jaedyn Gulley is a junior at LCHS, where he is a dual sport athlete competing in football and baseball while also working hard at academics and extracurricular activities. Gulley is working to balance his day to day life with his newfound interest in business. He hopes to have a bright future beyond LCHS thanks to the lessons he has learned in the LLCEO program.

Gulley’s business was Mighty Mulch, which involves mulch distribution with ease for the customer. His mulch is intended to keep plants safe throughout the summer and winter even in harsh environments. Gulley’s goal is to keep people from doing back breaking labor, so he delivers and lays the mulch. He suggests using red mulch and his mulch is sourced naturally from Atlanta. Gulley sprays the mulch with insect repellent.

Alex Steffens

Alex Steffens is a junior at LCHS with an interest in technology. He is the vice president of his class and starting varsity goalkeeper for the school’s soccer team. Steffens is also involved in LCHS Math Club, LCHS Chess Club, LCHS LEAF Club, Chester 4-H Club and multiple accelerated classes. He helps his community by volunteering at his local church and in his free time, enjoys learning to do new things and playing soccer. In the future, Steffens looks forward to going into the information technology field.

Steffens is the Iron Shield Pool and Hot Tub Solutions owner. Iron Shield takes iron out of water as the filter he uses takes 94 percent of harmful iron particles out of water and can save people thousands of dollars on expensive filters or having water brought in. The iron filter is put on the side of the pool or hot tub and Steffen said it should last for years.

Amy Dederich

Amy Dederich is a senior at Olympia High School. She is the OHS yearbook editor. STEM Club President and Student Council Point Secretary. She has earned the OHS Spanish Department Award and the NCWIT Regional Award for Aspirations in Computing while also being the English State Qualifier for the ACES Competition. Dederich likes to dance, play soccer and hang out with friends in her free time. She plans to attend Maryville University of St. Louis this fall to complete a five year master’s program in Cybersecurity with a minor in Spanish.

Amy on the left

Dederich’s business is Scholar Solutions. Her business provides digital organizational solutions for high school and college-aged students as they apply for various scholarships. Dederich said Scholar Solutions provides students with a scholarship tracker that helps them keep track of all scholarship applications and reminds them of application deadlines. For $19, you get a PDF with a link to make a copy of the spreadsheet and a video tutorial. The spreadsheet can be used indefinitely. She also has a free scholarship guide with resources.

Before the trade show began, next year’s facilitator Sarah Tomaszewski was introduced followed by seven next year’s twelve students signing up for the program.

To learn more about the Land of Lincoln CEO program, visit llceo.com

[Angela Reiners]