Independent Banker Magazine

Four of our students of Belleville CEO - Cassandra Amorado, Montez Douglas, Heather Gosebrink, and Alan Plantz - had the opportunity to be on the cover of the Independent Banker magazine with the Executive Director of Midland Institute of Entrepreneurship, Craig Lindvahl. The magazine included an article about the CEO program and how it is growing throughout the nation. CEO is creating future entrepreneurs and helping them become the leaders of tomorrow. The impact it will have for its students and alumni is everlasting.

Written by Sandy Amorado

Our Grand Gala - Silver Sponsorships

CEO Board Meeting

Also on Tuesday, several of the students were allowed into the CEO Board Meeting to request additional funds for their upcoming personal businesses. The students presented both their products and business ideas and had to justify their need for additional money. They were asked questions about their businesses and projected their future earnings for the board.

Written by Heather Gosebrink

Our Grand Gala - Bronze Sponsorships

Kurrus Funeral Home

On Wednesday, the students vsited Kurrus Funeral Home. They were given the opportunity to tour the facility and see the business side of funeral services. One thing that surprised the students was that Mr. Dale Kurrus is the 5th generation to run the family business. The whole experience was very exciting for the class – as the students were allowed into areas seldom seen by ‘outsiders’.

Written by Aliyah Gillespie

Our Grand Gala - Token Sponsorships

Gala Committee Work Day

On Friday the class broke out into small groups to work on our Gala: 

"On Friday, the decoration committee worked on center pieces at a student's home. It was a lot of hard work but they are coming along nicely." (Melony Allen)

"Alan, Stephen, and I went to several businesses to ask for gift card donations for our gala and received them from Ace Hardware, Chipolte, and Taco Bell.” (David Rauckman)

“Aliyah and I went on 159 and gave out flyers to Hollywood Tan, Dunkin donuts, Burger King, Olympika, Subway, and Schnucks.” (Heather Gosebrink)

“Today Jessica, Erik, and I traveled along 159 in a separate group to pursue donations from businesses.” (Malik Marks-McRath)

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

This week was interesting. I have been to many funerals in my lifetime, but I have not ever been given a tour of one. Kurrus Funeral Home was interesting because I have actually been there before. However, we were able to get a behind the scenes look at what goes into making a successful funeral home. I had no idea how many different aspects there were in planning a funeral. Some of the things that Mr. Kurrus told us about surprised me. I did not know that they cremated the bodies and animals at the home. So much goes into a funeral business that I did even think of.

 Mr. Kurrus told us that the reason he got into this family business is because he gets to help people in their most difficult times of their lives. This was not what I would have thought to be his reasoning. I did not really think of owning a funeral home to be directly to help people, but it really is. He also said, “I’m here to support the community and to help the community as much as I can.” I liked this because he is a family business owner. “If you buy things locally they will remember you.” This quote kind of ties together the CEO Program. If you stay local and buy locally people will continue to stay with your company. This is the cycle of how CEO is supposed to work.

 Written by Heather Gosebrink

The week began on a light note at The Edge. The owners allowed the class to come in and watch a movie called “Back to School". While it was hard to follow with no audio and just captions, I reallyappreciated the gesture. It was very generous of them to offer.

On Tuesday, the class visited Kurrus Funeral Home. Personally, I grew up with funeral homes having a negative connotation. I’ve always had an eerie feeling at the thought of them. Kurrus shot down a lot of the stereotypes for me. Our speaker, Dale Kurrus saw funerals as more of a celebration. Also a way to have closure. I’ve yet to experience a death of a person close to me, it’s always been one of my biggest fears but hearing Kurrus speak about it gave me more perspective. He is very passionate about helping people deal with a very hard time in their life. Besides that, he discussed the business part of owning a funeral home. He told a few stories about how people have attempted to run his business. With a company such as this one, it is important to buy and sell caskets. A casket company will attempt to force Kurrus to only use their caskets. Kurrus taking this deal would mean to put all their eggs in one basket. If that company fails, Kurrus would go down with it. That's why diversification is important. It's less risky and another company wouldn't be controlling yours. Kurrus then took the class on a tour through the funeral home. This part made me very nervous. Even though I've never really had to deal with death, this doesn't mean I do well with it. The site of caskets and a crematorium made me very uneasy. I eventually loosened up and realized that it's all necessary and natural. Every one is going to die whether they want or not and this is all part of the process. I didn't realize I needed this tour until I actually went there. I am grateful for it.

Written by Melony Allen

In addition to “The Edge” we went to Kurrus Funeral Home. It is a sad business but it is very interesting. At Kurrus Funeral Home we learned what happens when a person dies, information about the family owned business, and background on Mr. Dale Kurrus (the current owner of Kurrus Funeral Home). We never would have known all the preparation that goes into getting a body ready for burial if we had not visited Kurrus Feneral Home. Secondly it is astonishing how Kurrus Funeral Home is a sixth generation family owned business. All of the other business owners talk about how family owned businesses barely make it to the third generation but Kurrus Funeral Home is the first one that we have heard from that has made it to sixth. Lastly Mr. Dale Kurrus attended Belleville West, then SIU to get his licenses in order to work at a Funeral Home. Not long after that he began working at the family business.

 Written by Montez Douglas