I am proud to be part of the area business community bringing this transformational program to our high schools.  This is a unique opportunity for several enterprising area students to be out of the traditional school environment, raise their awareness of entrepreneurial opportunities, and allow them to experience starting a new business.  No doubt this will pay dividends to our community in the future.

Kevin PeskoPresident - Bank of Belleville

The BND has been a proud part of this community for over 157 years, and the mission of the Belleville CEO Program is a great fit. As a lifelong resident of the area, it’s rewarding for me to have the opportunity to invest in and play a small part in helping to shape, develop and encourage these young entrepreneurs.

Jay TebbeBND, President and Publisher

"I’ve been excited and proud to be part of this experience for our local students. I only wish I could’ve had the same opportunity when I was in high school. The CEO program has been a great tool in teaching lessons outside the classroom in a real business world setting and helping to shape the future business leaders of our community. "

Garrett Reuter, Jr.Officer

“When Jim Allsup and Roger Lowery first introduced the idea of expanding the CEO program to the Belleville area, I knew this was going to be a very special opportunity for our high school seniors. It is a difficult task to choose a career path when you have never been exposed to all the possibilities. This program allows students to meet and share the experiences of our local business and community leaders. This program not only gives students a head start in planning their future, it has the potential for changing it.”

Ed HoeringPartner, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP

“Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of any community because of the new businesses, jobs and economic opportunity they create for that community. And since Belleville needs new businesses, Belleville needs new entrepreneurs. That is why Belleville’s new CEO program is so very important. Its purpose is to give high school students a peek at what entrepreneurship is all about—because the more that students understand what entrepreneurship is, the more students will choose to be entrepreneurs. I am excited to be a part of Belleville’s new CEO program because it represents the future of what Belleville can be.”

Jim AllsupAllsup, Inc. President, CEO and Founder