Mr. Roger Wigginton

President and Owner
Don Rodgers Ltd – Friend of CEO

On Wednesday, Mr. Roger Wigginton of Don Rodgers, Ltd. clothing store dropped by to show the students the true meaning of salesmanship. Having never heard from anyone in the garmet or textile industry, the students hung on every word the 67 year old owner had to offer. He described how he started out - at K-mart - and he knew that retail was the place he belonged. Together with a partner, he started a ladies only apparel company in 1976.   He later expanded, and moved, before finally settling on his current location. Mr. Wigginton explained how his fashions are unique, the highest quality, and will always stay in style. Thank you, Mr. Wigginton, for your enthusiasm and sharing your knowledge with our class!

Written by Jessica Stern

Mr. Gary Peck

Owner/Operator
Garjo, Inc. dba McDonald’s Restaurants - Friend of CEO

Mr. Gary Peck is the Owner/Operator of a McDonald's franchise in the area. He discussed franchising and licensing. He also talked about how business has its ups and downs. The skills he taught us will be useful in our future endeavors. Thank you, Mr. Peck, for coming and speaking to the CEO Program.

Written by Sandy Amorado

Just a Reminder!

Our door is always open. Entrepreneurs, visitors, guests, and friends are welcome and highly encouraged to join us. Drop in and share your story with our students or participate in our class discussions. Check out the schedule on the website.

If you are interested in hosting our students for an educational visit about your business operations or would like to speak to the class and share your story, please email the facilitator, Julie Siebers, at jsiebers@bths201.org or call or text her at 618.719.3177.

Journal Tidbits

Have you ever felt like giving up?  How have you invested so much time in something that seems like it is really going practically nowhere?  What you have been working on is a waste of time?  Well, I have.  Business is a difficult route to venture on.  There are so many different paths to choose.  Honestly, I felt like I am on a path towards nothing.  Being a participant in the CEO Program, I learned the road I have decided to go on is towards a life full of opportunities.  Perseverance will always be on my side no matter.  There is something out there.  I just have to grab it and take it.  Business takes time and I am willing to journey on that route.

This week we had the chance to listen to many wonderful people: Patrick McKeehan, Roger Wigginton, and Gary Peck.  I have taken away a lot from this week.  Patrick McKeehan came to visit the program and to announce the winners of the Elevator Pitch Competition.  He explained why the winners chosen.  I could not be happier for my fellow Belleville CEO participants who won. 

Roger Wigginton from Don Rogers discussed the concept of retail.  I was really excited about him because I want to work in the fashion business in the future.  I learned a lot from him from how work is never done and contributing in the community is huge.  He discussed that he did go through some struggles, but at the end of the day he knew things will be alright.  Wigginton, literally, was one of the most entertaining speakers we had.

Gary Peck, the President and Owner/Operator of a McDonald's franchise in the area, came and spoke to the class.  I loved how he discussed the differences between franchising and licensing.  Peck started from the bottom and worked his way to the top. It really was an informative presentation.

What I am taking away from this week and many of the other weeks is to believe in myself.  I have had an issue of second guessing my next move.  With my business, I have thought of just moving onto a new idea because I felt like it was going nowhere.  I think businesses thought I was too young because of the way I sounded on the phone.  Honestly, I was tired of it.  It feels like I am running a marathon that is never ending rejection.  Then, I realized I have put my heart and soul into this product.  Why give up now?  I am running a marathon, but I am not going to give up now. The trade show is in a couple of weeks and I am ready to run this marathon for as long as it takes.  I am not ready to give up. 

Written by Sandy Amorado

I'm so proud of the people that won the elevator pitch!  Heather one hundred percent deserved it because she worked so hard. ..Also, when David goes to the Allsup elevator pitch, are we going to watch him? I'm not sure what time it's at but that would be pretty cool to watch other people too. 

Oh my gosh!! Don Willington is seriously the cutest. His personality is amazing. To be honest towards the end when he said he was selling himself the whole time, I didn't even notice. He had such great energy and was so passionate about him job. He is another person that I wish we could have seen earlier because I know some people would want him as a mentor. When he told me that his clothes were for older people I honestly till thought about going in because he makes them sound so cute. Or in his words "as cute as can be!" I'm glad he came in because he taught me how to sell myself.

Written by Emma Gregowicz

I'm so happy for the four winners. Heather, Stephen, Paige, and David I'm sure did awesome with their pitches. I wish now that it is over that we could hear the judge’s feedback and see why they did or didn't pick the winners.

Mr. Willington was a refreshing person to hear speak. He was so energetic, confident, and youthful. I liked how he knows his products inside and out and how he talked about not having anyone else run his business. I think going to a fashion buying market would super fun to experience. I can only imagine how exhausting it would be to make all those decisions. I think it's really cool how the trends are already set for the seasons. It’s so awesome that he has the gift for selling his products. He would have been an awesome mentor for me to have to help me sell my essential oils. I wonder if I could get him to allow me to sell my products in his store? Or even just leave some business cards? I'll have to stop by his store one day.

Going to speak at the Swansea Rotary was fun. It wasn't what I expected at all. Everyone was friendly and laid back. They got their business done, but they were having fun while doing it. That's how I want wherever I end up working to be like. I work better in relaxed atmospheres where I can build personal relationships with people. Someone at the meeting suggested we go to the other Rotaries in the area. I agree with him because that will bring a lot of awareness about the CEO program to other people in the area as well as a lot of business owners to contribute to the program.

I can't believe it's almost time for our trade show! I'm super excited to see everyone's finished products and how we all decide to decorate our booths. I have a few ideas in mind about how I'm going to decorate, but I really need to spend some time this week getting all of my materials together. 

This past weekend, I had a customer who needed an oil asap because she was running out of it. The way I run my business, I don't usually keep a stock of extra supplies. Luckily since I am on a team, I was able to get her oil and just repurchase it when I order. But this is a problem that I can see reoccurring. So I think I'm going to have to take out a loan from my mom and buy some oils that I know I will sell and that people will constantly be using. I guess this is a good problem to have, but it's also an expensive problem to solve.

Written by Aliyah Gillespie

 After what’s seemed like weeks, the winners of the elevator pitch competition. Pat McKeehan wanted to be able to thoroughly explain why the winners won. He first explained what the judges were looking for. The judges were looking for a business that seemed very realistic that they could help make happen. All of our businesses are very much realistic but they were looking for a business that was already about to be put into effect. My business still has a lot of pieces that need to be put together. I am very proud of my classmates and their awards but that didn’t stop me from wondering where exactly I fell short in my elevator pitch. I did very best and felt very prepared but I still wanted to sit down with Mr. McKeehan to find out exactly where I needed improvement. My biggest problem with my pitch was a detailed explanation of my cash flow. I also introduced this large problem and only gave the solution of ONE garden. I definitely need to tweak a few things in business plan after that meeting with him.

Roger Wigginton of Don Rogers Limited visited the next day. It’s so rare for me to actually gain energy from someone’s personality. To be 67 years old, he’s so full of life and could sell just about anything. I admired his confidence in his business and willingness to evolve and change it. Even though his business has been around for almost 40 years, it’s been through a number of changes but never lost its edge. The store prides itself of being the last independently owned retail stores in the St. Louis area. It ensures that their clothing is up to date and their customer service is top notch. Wigginton’s passion about his business was very inspiring. He’s willing to shamelessly promote himself and his business at any time. In his words, “advertising doesn’t cost, it pays”. Which is a very great way to put it. Many people become reluctant once they see the costs of advertising but don’t realize that their business will definitely reap the benefits. Don Rogers seems to benefit from it and Wigginton is a walking advertisement for the business itself. I hope to gain his confidence and charisma in my future business.

Gary Peck was a guest speaker I was very much looking forward to. McDonald’s is a controversial fast food restaurant as well as one of the largest fast food chains in the world. Peck started at the very bottom as a regular McDonald’s employee and gradually advanced. He learned more and more about McDonalds and decided to become part of its franchise. He now owns 6 locations and I have no doubt that he doesn’t love his job. McDonalds has gained a reputation of being poisonous, fattening food. He went into detail about how McDonalds has been going through lots of changes to clear its name. He believes that "the sharpest ones are the ones that are going to win" and in his eyes, McDonalds is definitely going to gain its reputation back. 

Written by Melony Allen

I realized that my vision for my business is more complex to other people. I don’t believe that I would choose any other idea that I’ve had, because this one means a lot to me. I wasn’t too happy that I didn’t even receive a third place prize for the elevator pitch competition, but I am happy for my classmates who did win. Overall, the experience was great and I learned so much valuable information. After my one-on-one session with Mr. McKeehan, I now have another vision for my business that can be accomplished much sooner to be ready for our trade show.

Roger Willington is purely a salesman. HIs demeanor says it all, he wants to sell us something and he will! I enjoyed our conversation with him this week; he really embraces endurance and hard work. He knows his craft and he strives to be the best at it. We’ve heard before; learn everything there is to know about what you do! So, after 40 plus years, he’s done that. His interesting choice of words kept the class on their feet and it made for a more intimate conversation, meaning we just felt more comfortable asking him questions and learning about what he loves. In this day and age, fashion is huge. What I thought was pretty interesting is he chooses to only sell clothing for men and women of an older age. I personally would love to buy clothes from him because he chooses to sell quality over quantity.

When we think of McDonald’s the greasy golden arches come to mind, followed by a growling stomach…  Mr. Gary Peck, owner of many MD’s franchises around the surrounding areas was incredible to have in our class! At 16 he started working in MD’s and now is the head of several stores. He first caught my attention when he said that many opportunities will come our way so take them! I faithfully believe that advice to be true; it can lead us to doors we never thought could be opened. The class nailed him with rigorous questions and he wasn’t holding back. When we get business owners like Mr. Peck, it makes CEO a better environment for me.

Written by Malik Marks-McRath

This week was pretty good, we got to see Patrick again, listen to Roger Willington, and Aliyah and I spoke at the Swansea Rotary Meeting. My personal business is still doing very well and orders are steadily coming in. I have actually started making money for myself! I am very excited and am working hard on making business cards and finances. Also, since I forgot to talk about Banker Day in the last journal I am going to touch on it in here as well.

Banker Day was helpful in my opinion. It was cool to talk to the different bankers about my business. They both had informational advice for me to keep track of and work on as I progress. They did not tell me to change much at all so I was pretty good to go.

I really enjoyed listening to Mr. Willington! Wow, he was an excellent speaker and seemed like a great salesman! I really want to visit his store because of how well he sold it to us. I thought it was cool that he was able to get a 25,000 dollar loan “on a handshake”. That amazed me because we cannot do that nowadays at all. “I understand marketing and advertising.” I found this statement he said completely accurate because he was very much a salesman. He knows about KMOX and how everyone in the area listens to it so he bought an ad on there. He said, “Advertising doesn’t cost, it pays.” I understand where he is coming from because if you buy an expensive advertisement like he did and people come to your business because of it, it pays off.

The Swansea Rotary meeting was fun with Aliyah. I think everyone was impressed with us and we told them a lot about the program. A lot of business men and women were there and they may want to be investors or guest speakers in the future!

I was surprised that I won the elevator pitch contest on Monday when Patrick came back and talked to us! After hearing his explanations it made sense though. I am excited that I have some extra money to use towards Goose Prints. I am continually getting a steady flow of orders and it is keeping me busy. I am still deciding how I want to set up for the trade show, but I think I have a general idea.

Written by Heather Gosebrink

This week in CEO was a very good one. To begin, winning runner up in the elevator pitch competition was really a huge honor. Mr. McKeehan also is one of my favorite people we have had in our class.

Tuesday was a really well needed work day and I got a lot done. The final product of the gnome is starting to fall into place really well and I am excited for the final outcome which should be within the week.

Wednesday, we had Roger Wigginton, who is one of my favorite people in all of Belleville. Not only because he is just a genuine nice guy and does a lot for the community but of how good of a salesman he is. The way he can pick out his target audience and the way he treats and knows his customers is something every business owner should look after. When you walk into his store it does not feel like any other department store it feels like you’re going to talk to your best friend. He is such a personable guy and a real great business person.

Thursday, Mr. Peck had a very interesting speech about franchising. He was a very good speaker with some interesting topics but I just do not feel franchising is for me. I’m sure looking after one store is hard enough; seven must be a heart attack.   Friday, I had a Spanish field trip but I look forward for what is in the store this week,

Written by David Rauckman

Monday, Patrick came back and announced the winners of our elevator pitch contest. I am so happy that I tied for third place with Stephen. David got second, and Heather came in first place with her monogramming business. I loved his stories about his personal experiences with elevator pitch contests. I think if Sandy was already manufacturing and making products that there is a 100% chance that she would have won first place.

Tuesday we had a work day kind of. We worked on personal business things, and financials and such. I finally figured out all my financials and got them all straight. This day was very beneficial.

Wednesday Roger Wigginton with Don Rogers came in. He was so much fun and so funny. I loved how when he was talking about his store and clothes up that he would always say that is SOOOO CUTE. It was so funny, but it shows how passionate he is for his business. One thing that he said that really hit home with me was when he said, “You have to give back to the community what you take out.” That statement is so true because so many people will just continue to take and take and take and never give back at all. I also loved the statistic that he gave us. (60% of all new business fails within the first two years.) He was really a joy to have in class.

Thursday Gary Peck a franchisee came in. He owns six McDonald’s in the Belleville area. I had no idea that you could own a McDonalds independently under the corporation. I thought that the corporation owned them all, but apparently I was wrong. I also didn’t know that there are 35,000 McDonalds in over 100 Countries. That is CRAZY!!  I also think that it is so cool that 81% of all McDonalds are franchises. He was really cool.

Friday we had another work day. I found out that my shirts are in!! I will be busy getting all these shirts out. I also typed this journal in class and worked out some stuff for the future. This week was busy.

Written by Paige Montgomery

I thought the speakers this week were really interesting. Both the Don Rodgers owner and the McDonald's Franchisee were both extremely intriguing and they gave me a very good look on life. They both had such a positive outlook on what life is about and they really loved their businesses. I thought that Rodger WIllington was really interesting, he was able to build his business from the ground up. I really liked how he he is the only independent dealer left in the St. Louis area. That makes him really special and that he is able to get people from over in St. Louis bumps up his revenue a ton. That itself makes him pretty cool for being able to pull people over from another state. If you have a business where people are coming over to Illinois from Missouri that means you have a good business module. Usually it is the other way around but good for Don Rodgers for pulling people over. I think that the McDonald's guy was really interesting as well. I thought that it was cool that he built from the ground up in starting his McDonald's. He started form the general cook and worked his way up the food line. Overall I thought that they were both cool.

 On another note I really liked how the Don Rodgers presentation was extremely. I really liked that he was a big salesman. I mean he literally thought that he was selling us Don Rodgers. Like most of his presentation was him telling us how he would sell to us. he was the ultimate salesmen. On another note I was talking to my parents about him and they were talking about how he is a strong advocate for keeping West Main Street up to par. He has been making sure that the overall presence of West Main Street keeps updated and makes sure that they keep from falling into hard financial times. I like that he does various fundraisers to pick up the community. Someone who is a genuinely good person is someone that I want to do business with.

 With my business I think that I am on the right track. I have yet to order the banner because I am struggling to get my logo down. Besides that my cards are on the way. I have gotten some of my first customers through the flyer that I passed out. I think that there will be more to come and my profit will be coming in the long term. That is the main principle of what I have to do. Making sure I get my money is the next big thing for my business. Overall I think that it is coming successful.

 Written by Stephen Toejnes