Ms. Angela Willis

Director of Operations/Former Director of Human Resources
Precision Practice Management – Investor

Ms. Angela Willis, a specialist in human resources, came in on Thursday to speak to the class about the importance of establishing good relationships in business. She gave the students step by step instructions for dealing with problems that arise in the workplace and explained that sometimes it is better just to “let these things go.” Ms. Willis concluded with the advice that it is always better for you to try and find a way to solve your own problems before taking it to a supervisor.

Written by Alan Plantz

Memorial Hospital Tour

Mr. Mark Turner, President & CEO
Mr. Mike McManus, COO
Mrs. Anne Thomure, Director of Community Relations
Ms. Jill Houba, RN and Chest Pain Coordinator
Memorial Hospital - Investor

To finish up the week, the students gathered in the conference room at Memorial Hospital to hear from CEO & President Mark Turner and COO Mike McManus. Besides giving the students a brief overview of how they got where they are, the duo covered business relationships, remedied the students’ fears, and let the class ask questions. Afterwards, Nurse Jill Houba showed the students around on a quick tour including the EMT area, a CAT scanner, and one of the emergency rooms. Thank you for a great presentation Memorial Hospital!

 Written by Jessica Stern and Edited by Montez Douglas

Belleville CEO Video

One of our CEO students, Jessica Stern, has been working on a Belleville CEO video for a couple months to showcase our program and help recruit students for next year.  She has been interviewing students and videotaping some of our tours and field trips.  Thank you, Jessica, for all of the hours that you have put into this awesome video!

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

What is more important?  The customers or me?  I think what I learned this week and every single week, to be honest, is that customers are one of the most important assets to a business.  Customers are the reasons why the company is able to withstand success in the community.  Without good customer service, a business would not survive.  Listening to Angela Willis, Anne Thomure, Mark Turner, and Mike McManus this week really put in perspective how much customers drive a business no matter what the field is.

Angela Willis is the Director of Operations and the former Human Resource Manager at Precision Practice Management.  Willis touched a lot on human resource and what it is.  She told us that the hardest thing to handle within a company is dealing with the people.  We were able to gain knowledge about how to resolve a conflict professionally.  Sometimes compromise may be the best way to address the issue.  I learned from her that in person is the method that should be used,  Truth be told, professionalism can go a long way.  Being professional demonstrates to people you take your job seriously and ready to do any task.  She also talked about motivates people: culture, money, happiness, etc.  With these motivators, people are able to find a drive to keep working.  The employees should have input in how the business should be run.  They are, at the end of the day, the ones working and keeping it alive.  Finding a balance between everyone can be a helpful tool for survival. 

Anne Thomure is Memorial Hospital's Communication Relations Director.  Mike McManus is the Chief Operation Officer.  Mark Turner is the President of the hospital.  I acquired a numerous amount of skills from them.  I learned to have a plan in whatever I am doing.  Prioritizing should be a key factor in whatever I do.  Be persistent and have real expectations and goals.  Always follow through in what I say.  Use failure as a motivator.  Be myself and know the role.  As Mike Turner stated, "Champions are made, not born."

Having a very medical-upbringing, I thought I wanted to be a doctor.  When I was younger, I aspired to be a pediatric orthopedic surgeon.  Crazy, right?  I was like 6 and dreams changed.  The medical knowledge was implementing in me.  I realized medicine was not for me.  It was not me.  Then, I found business and began to look at hospitals in a different perspective. Hospitals may not look like businesses, but they are.  There is so much that goes into it from the physicians to the patients.  The components are practically endless. 

As my high school career is ending and I am starting to be accepted into many universities, I am pondering on what I want to do with my life.  I still do aspire to pursue a career in International Business.  I have been thinking lately about a career in Healthcare Management, too.  I want to be able to help people in any way I can.  I want to leave my mark in the world.  Maybe I can use my International Business major somehow and work it into Healthcare?  I am still young and very indecisive.  I am anxious for whatever the future holds for me, but I know it will be great.

Written by Sandy Amorado

This week I thought was good balance between working on our class business and going out to other businesses.

Angela Willis' job seemed like a job that I could not see myself doing. I do not like to deal with conflict and wouldn't want to have to do that every day as my job. I liked how she said the main reason for conflict is because someone's needs aren't being met. Looking back on the times that our class had conflict, I can pinpoint times that peoples' needs were not met. Being conscious of that in the future will be very beneficial in any situation in life. I also liked the phrase she said, "Pick your battles". I often find myself in that position whether at school or at home. Some things are not worth arguing over and it is just better to let them go. A concern that came up was that there are a lot of side conversations or times that some students fall asleep but you can't see them. I'm glad that was brought up and now it's established that we can keep each other accountable. I feel like our class is like a sports team. The coach won't always be there to make sure we're doing what we're supposed to be doing, but we still work hard and keep each other accountable. We do this so we can improve as a team. The same should go for our class.

The Memorial Hospital visit was really cool. Since I volunteer there, it was nice to meet the people who help run the place. Mike and Mark had a lot of good advice. Sticking with the sports theme, I like how Mark talked about "Champions are made, not born." and to coach yourself and be coachable. I think that is a great motivator to work hard and become the champion. He said you didn't have to be the smartest, you just have to outwork others. The coachable part of his advice stuck with me because I know I'm going to have ideas and want them to be the best and have the mindset that there's nothing anyone can do to improve it. But, I need to be coachable. I need advice, and help from others who have already been down this road before me. I know a lot of people have said this before in their presentations, but when it's explained in the form of sports, I understand it and it sticks with me more. I really liked touring the trauma center. Sometime soon I plan on volunteering in that wing of the hospital.

I feel our class business is coming along slowly but surely. I still can't believe we spent a full class discussing food but I guess it could make or break your event, so I understand. I hope we select our location soon so we can continue to move forward with the other things that need to be done. 

Written by Aliyah Gillespie