Archived News

Discovering Your Strengths

CEO Business Visits


Badge Project Complete

The Belleville CEO students would like to thank all of the Platinum, Gold and Silver Investors who participated in their first project.  

Platinum Sponsors who will appear on our badge, shirt and website:

Our Gold Sponsors will appear on the shirt and website:

Our Silver Sponsor will appear on the website:


Kaskaskia Engineering Group

Geri Boyer, Owner

On Tuesday, the Belleville CEO class visited Kaskaskia Engineering Group to hear from the founder, Geri Boyer. During her presentation, the class got to meet the KEG dogs. They play an important role in the office as stress relievers, and it is a unique technique for coping with a busy work day. The core value of the company is to emphasize each person’s strengths and to use them in beneficial ways to support the rest of the business. Throughout the company are many different types of engineers because KEG does a wide variety of projects, including some as big as the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge. The class was able to pick up a lot useful information from the trip and would like to thank Kaskaskia Engineering Group for sharing their time and expertise with us.

 Written by Elizabeth Harla


CEO Empowerment Day

Kevin Nicol, President/CEO TNF

“Success.” “The secret to how to make money.” “Spot or Lot? Lot not spot.” These are just some of the phrases that the Belleville CEO class were exposed to this past Wednesday while at the Third Annual CEO Empowerment Day. This phenomenal program, sponsored by the Nicol Foundation, connected many CEO classes together and provided an opportunity for the individual classes to unite and learn some key points to help them be good businessmen and ladies, and in any aspect of life they venture in. At the start of the program, there was entertainment from Steve Davis, an Elvis impersonator. Once completed with the performance and changed into business attire, Mr. Davis shared his story of how he got into the business of impersonating Elvis. His story truly shows the key roots of entrepreneurship. Throughout the program, we got to experience a session entitled “The Art of Communication” by Mr. Bob Schultz of the Midland Institute. There was also the opportunity to speak with four local US Olympic Alumni, as well as receive a presentation from a local facilitator, Pete Visintin of Macoupin County CEO, who offered a hands-on, interactive experience entitled, “The Art of Conversion”. To wrap up the day, we got to meet three administrative representatives from Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville (SIU-E). The administrators consisted of Mr. Todd Burrell, the Director of Undergraduate Admissions; Dr. Timothy Schoenecker, the Dean of the School of Business; and JoAnn Dimaggio May, who runs the Small Business Development Center  at SIU-E. The Belleville CEO class would like to thank the Nicol Foundation for continuing to support the CEO program and also would like to thank all of the guest speakers that came to support and educate us.

 

Written by Mahlik Good


More CEO Empowerment Day


Kurrus Funeral Home

Dale Kurrus, Owner

On Thursday, the Belleville CEO class got the opportunity to go to Kurrus Funeral home. Mr. Dale Kurrus shared a lot of valuable information with us. He told us the importance of keeping a good business is your reputation. It was interesting to hear all of the amazing stories that people in his field of work encounter. Mr. Kurrus was surprisingly open to giving a tour of the crematory. It shows that loved ones are in great hands and that the Kurrus Funeral Home can be trusted throughout the process of losing a loved one. It's good to know that even in such a sad profession that Mr. Kurrus is full of life and tries to lighten the mood. The class really enjoyed the visit, the tour, and speaking with Mr. Kurrus, and we were happy to be given the opportunity. Thank you.

 Written by Taylor Smith


Student Journal Highlights for this week

Week 5 of the Belleville Ceo class has been the busiest. We were invited to attend the Ceo Empowerment Day in Collinsville, Illinois. It was sponsored and put on by Kevin Nicol, president and owner of the NICOL Foundation. We spent the whole business day here meeting with other CEO classes, presidents of companies speaking, influential business men and women, and future entrepreneurs. Each and every speaker hit on his or her own topics of strengths and weaknesses. However, at the end of the day it all wrapped up into three main points: your mindset is a huge attribute in the business world, work/effort means everything, and excuses get you nowhere in life.

Probably one of my favorite speakers was Steve Davis. Steve Davis is an Elvis Presley impersonator. He gave us a very moving speech about how came to be in this job, and how he became one of the best in the nation at doing it. A lot of the points he touched on, and spoke to us about really caught my attention. Mr. Davis is a man that found what he was good at, what he loved to do, and made a business out of it. He even told each one of us to find something in life that we love and enjoy and become the best at it, and to strive to be the best. As an Elvis impersonator, he loves what he does, and in order to get where he is today he had to take risks and learn along the way. However, one of the biggest things that struck me that he said was, “You have a freedom of choice, but not a freedom of consequences.” What he does for his job, he does for other people. Along the way in his career he has made huge connections and relationships with many influential people such as Bruno Mars. He encouraged us on how important relationships really are in someone's life, and how they can come back to help you.

James Monken

James Monken
Friday, September 22, 2017Learn More About James

Wednesday we had a field trip to Gateway Center; The Nicol Foundation had their third annual TNF CEO Empowerment Day. We had an opportunity to meet new CEO classes and also their facilitators. There were CEO classes from Granite City, Alton, Macoupin, and Midland. I talked to Richard from Macoupin, he told me there are eight schools in that county and that Macoupin is forty-five minutes away from Collinsville. Kevin Nicol was our first speaker. He told about his passion (youth, education, spiritual faith, American exceptionalism) and his purpose (Unique perspective, networking, and mindset). It is very important to network as much as possible the more people you know the better, and the better opportunities you’ll have for your business. He think that the schools are teaching us to just work for someone else and not how to be your own boss, that’s why I’m so grateful to get the opportunity to be in this class we get more opportunities and information  than most college students that take business and management classes. One quote that he told us about that I remember is: “Weaker people need security; stronger people demand Freedom! If it’s to be, it’s up to me.” I feel like this valuable to people that wants to get into the business world and become their own boss  because in my opinion I think quote means most people will wait until something is thrown their way instead of taking action and going out and putting themselves out there to get their own business. We also met an Elvis Presley Impersonator his name is Steve Davis. He sang many of Elvis’s songs and he told us about how he got into the business and how he became a well-known impersonator. He had a few complications through time until he figured out how good he really is at what he does. We talked to plenty other people such as: Todd Burrell, Derrick Crass, Donnie Wilson, etc... They provided with free food and beverages and overall I enjoyed the field trip I learned something new.

Thursday we met Dale Kurrus at Kurrus Funeral Home. It is a family business.   It began in 1883 and has went down six generations and his son is also in the business. He likes to be there for people in their time of need and he said most people feel uncomfortable about having a funeral home as a business and they shouldn’t be because it something normal and natural. He gave us a tour of the home and showed us where the caskets are and also the crematorium. He told us about the different kinds of ways your can perish your loved ones and your pets, you can spread their ashes and you put them in necklaces, or urns.

Entering my fifth week of CEO I began to learn about the other possibilities of the entrepreneurship world. I used to think that owning a business usually meant being stuck behind a desk most of the time, but there are other ways to be an entrepreneur that don't involve desk work or make desk work fun. I also learned how important a strong team of employees can be to a business.

Geri Boyer, owner of Kaskaskia Engineering, does an amazing job of making the office a great place to work. Geri knows that having happy employees means better productivity in the workplace, so she does her best to make the office feel like home. She has two friendly dogs in the office to help relieve some of the stress that work brings. Her office is also 100% kid friendly, so moms can take care of their kids and still have a job. Geri also tries to keep the workplace peaceful by having a great team of employees who can work together easily. Geri achieves this by focusing on each individual employee’s strengths, weaknesses, and personality traits to make sure every project has a variety of views to get the job done the best possible way.

At CEO Empowerment day we learned that hard work and staying focused on your goals really can pay off. Sometimes what you do for the rest of your life is something you never thought you would end up doing, like Elvis impersonations for example. The Elvis impersonator at CEO empowerment day told us how he went from a college kid living off of 20$ a week from his parents to making six figures each year with an idea he got from a college professor's costume party. He never thought he would be Elvis for a living but once he realized the opportunity he focused his energy on being the best Elvis out there, and he pretty much accomplished his goal.

Olympic athletes are great examples of hard work pays off. Their lives are dedicated to training to be the best athlete in their respective sport. Also since most Olympic athletes have the same mind set they usually create amazing teams, just because of their mindset. This can translate into the business world by proving that having a team of employees who all have a similar mindset can improve productivity.

James Wiegers

James Wiegers
Friday, September 22, 2017Learn More About James

This week was one full of great learning opportunities and cremation. Monday we were at Allsup and went over how we were going to wrap up the badge project and discussed how we have done so far in accordance to what our goals were at the start of the project. We didn’t sell all of what we had originally planned but we still made it out of the project with a fair amount of profit left over for our class business even after we actually purchase our badges and all of the tshirts.

Tuesday we found ourselves at Kaskaskia Engineering downtown, where we got to meet one of the biggest dogs in Belleville! We met with Geri Boyer, the owner of Kaskaskia and our board president. She explained to us how she runs her company as a strength-based  organization. When someone is hired they take a personality test which identifies their top five themes of talent. This is an amazing idea to me because it shows everyone who has what strengths and weaknesses which  in turn decides who works well together, how to be more productive, and add value to the company. Kaskaskia has the philosophy which they aspire to be a sustainable community to build a strong company using their resources. Geri started the business because of discrimination and abuse in the workplace when she first started as an engineer. Another interesting thing about the company is that it is a DBE company, meaning the owner is socially and economically disadvantaged. The Thing that interested me was that the groups discriminated against were individual races, and then women.It really made me realize just how far we still have to go as a country to get the equal treatment these groups keep asking for. Geri prides her business in hiring not based on gender, but on qualifications applicants have for the job, unlike many companies in today’s world.

Wednesday we went to the CEO conference and were able to see many guests who gave us their stories and the impact that businesses had on each of them. We focused on the art of communication and how important first impressions are in business especially. Steve Davis, an Elvis impersonator taught us that we have to keep it together regardless of what is happening in our lives when it comes to our businesses.

Thursday we got the amazing opportunity to go to Kurris Funeral Home. Dale Kurrus, the funeral director, explained to us how everything is run both prior to and during the funeral process. He told us how important it is to maintain professionalism in the workplace, especially in his field. He told us how funerals are important because they provide a final goodbye to loved ones of the deceased and that he strives to maintain excellence in his business because of how long his family has been a part of these people’s lives.

Josie Proffitt

Josie Proffitt
Friday, September 22, 2017Learn More About Josie

There are many aspects to running a business, and this week being responsible was the key idea. If you own a business everything that happens comes from the responsibility of you. As an business owner it is in your hands to decide what is the foundation of your business and what drives your businesses. Depending on your responsibility it will determine your business’s status and future.

An example of a business with a great need of responsibility is the Kurrus Funeral Home. Being a funeral home many tasks that involve being responsible come into play. Dealing with a dead body is a tremendous task that requires respect and responsibility. They have the responsibility of dressing the body, preparing for a funeral, cremation, etc. Also they do it in the cleanest and most respectful way possible.

Being respectful is a major responsibility for this company to survive. Dead bodies are supposed to be treated with the most respect, and if they do not go by that rule no one would want to be their customers. So having the responsibility of being respectful helps keep the moral compass that keeps their customers pleased, and also helps keep things running the right way.

Another thing they are responsible for is keeping up with trends. In the present more people are wanting to have bodies cremated rather than buried underground in a casket, since it is cheaper. With that being the demand for caskets go down. It is the owner’s responsibility to find another option that will make up for the loss in revenue from the lower demand for caskets.

These are just some examples of what is involved in running a business. As the owner it is your responsibility to set standards that keep your business running smoothly. The Kurrus was a great example of this aspect and will keep me motivated to stay responsible of everything I have control of in life.

Cam Wicks

Cam Wicks
Friday, September 22, 2017Learn More About Cam

This week, our class progressed tremendously, not only through our badge project, but also individually, as we visited three different businesses. At Kaskaskia Engineering, we learned about essential working conditions that helps a business thrive. Whether its accountability, being comfortable in your work space, or having faith as a team, Kaskaskia has major hit points to follow to help them strive as a company. Hearing this helped me understand the other necessities needed besides the focus on profit.

Wednesday, we went to an empowering meeting, where multiple speakers talked about their quest to success, and how rewarding determination can be when the goal is reached. Versatility was mainly covered in these lectures, as each person had intriguing stories to tell. From Elvis impersonations to Olympic medalists, every climb to success was different. At the end, we were grouped together and had to create a shirt that would sell the fastest. Through this, our group tied together and created a brilliant idea and design that would surely sell fast. Doing small activities like this excites me more to begin our class project and individual business.

Finally, we visited Kurrus Funeral Home, which was an aspect to the business world that I never put much thought into. Of course, this was an extreme example, but there are multiple business venues that do tasks that most people do not think about when they think of an entrepreneur. Kurrus helped me see this. As each week advances, I begin to collect more knowledge about the business world than I ever would have imagined. The snowball of ideas in my mind for successful enterprises only grows as the year goes on.

Ian Hass

Ian Hass
Friday, September 22, 2017Learn More About Ian

Geri Boyer, the CEO of Kaskaskia engineering is someone who really seems to love what she does. In fact, she stated that the reason she started KEG is because of her passion for engineering and to control the work experience. Her business is a strength-based organization that focuses on people’s individual strengths. Boyer believes that having this type of organization is more effective when putting together teams and selecting who does what task. Regarding individual people’s strengths, diversity between them leads to more potential within the job and the business.

KEG is the first business that I have seen, other than a pet shop or something similar, that allows animals in the workspace. Their explanation for allowing the dogs to roam around is that they have the ability to relieve stress and comfort. I think that the dogs are a nice edition, and I wouldn't mind having some in my own workspace. On a side note, that one dog was gigantic!

I’d have to say that the highlight of the CEO convention and Nicol Foundation presentation was Steve Davis’ performance and story. When I first came to this convention, I was not expecting, nor prepared for, an Elvis impersonator to come out and sing. Honestly, the performance was awkward, but it was entertaining nonetheless. His business surprised me, as he made much more than I expected him to make, being an impersonator and how he got cheated out of his money when he first began. Similar to Geri Boyer, he was able to create a business based of something he was passionate about. On another side note, I thought it was interesting how he met Bruno Mars as a child and saw him perform.

The other speakers at the convention explained how relations lead to success and how networking is having those relationships and bringing value to those that you met. Communication and conversation are two important aspects in business, though that should be pretty common knowledge. Even so, I still need to work on my own, and I think the visualization exercise that we did may help.

This week was the first time that I’ve been in a funeral home. Dale Kurrus explained that no one in his family is forced to inherit the family business, but someone usually does anyway. It’s a good thing that they do, because then the family business would probably be lost. …It was interesting to learn how expensive a funeral can be, since the caskets and services aren't cheap. It was also interesting to see how cremation works and where they do it.


Kaleb Leatherman

Kaleb Leatherman
Friday, September 22, 2017Learn More About Kaleb

Week five of CEO has led the class toward the end of our first assignment. As we have started to make arrangements to order our badges is already clear how far we have come since the first day of class. Our experience working together and figuring out how to set a project plan, communicate with business owners, and weigh the benefits vs. cost of products would not have been achieved had it not been for the amazing people that have gone out of their way to teach us about the business world.

On Tuesday we met with the Board President Geri Boyer at her company Kaskaskia Engineering. There we learned about the benefits of a strength based organization which identifies the top five themes of talent in an employee and uses them to help understand each other and build upon their talents. By understanding a person’s naturally recurring patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior; these traits can productively applied to each workspace project. She also taught us about the “rising tide raises all boats” concept of management. This concept is about wanting what is best for the community and not necessarily what is best for one’s own business individually. By doing what is best for those around you, your business will also benefit.

On Wednesday our class attended the CEO conference and listened to many different speaker. While some of the speeches were very helpful, I couldn't help but feel as if the time could have been spent more wisely. At one point we were split up into groups with students from different classes and had the write up a business model for selling t-shirts. This activity really got me thinking about different business tactics and allowed me to discuss them with the other students and listen to their ideas. I wish we had done more interactive things like this during the day.

On Thursday we visited the Kurrus Funeral Home and got to speak with Dale Kurrus. I really enjoyed this visit because I found all the information really interesting and I liked how Mr. Kurris was very straightforward with how the funeral process works. It was nice getting to learn about a job that not a lot of people like to talk about.

Emilie Smyth

Emilie Smyth
Friday, September 22, 2017Learn More About Emilie

Monday was kind of a blur to remember, but Tuesday was the highlight of my week. We visited Kaskaskia Engineering firm. Mrs. Geri Boyer showed us a presentation in the conference room. It was very interesting how she cared so much for her employees moral. She cares so much that she installed cable in all the rooms with a television so the children can stay occupied while their parents work. She also keeps dogs in the office to boost moral if someone is having a bad day. She also talked about their core values and how they all take a test to find everyone’s strengths. After the tour we took a picture as a group with Mrs. Geri Boyer and the dogs. Afterwards I stayed behind and talked to her about my interest in engineering. She told me to stop by so we could set up a day for me to hang out around the office for a day and speak with the other engineers. She then told me if I do come she then will try to get an aerospace engineer to talk to me also.

On Wednesday we had to go to a conference. When we arrived I was slow to engage in small talk but when I did I met a Jefferson County President, Jeff Haarmann. He invited us to go to the Blues stadium with his group. He gave me a card which got passed on to Mrs. Siebers. The conference overall though I thought it was too long, but I enjoyed hearing the Elvis impersonators story.

Antwan Stith

Antwan Stith
Friday, September 22, 2017Learn More About Antwan

This week in Belleville CEO was my favorite week we've had yet. Going into this week, I was just tired and did not think that it would turn out the way it did.

The Empowerment Day was a blast and I really feel like I learned a ton from all of the presentations and speakers. Meeting with all of the CEO groups was a great experience. It was really nice to hear about how they have going along with their badge project, and just what they have been doing when they meet every morning like we do. In a way it is inspiring, because it makes me want to go out and make our group better than the others. In another way it is humbling to see that maybe we are already doing better, and I could maybe offer some advice to the students who were struggling or holding back in their classes. From that aspect, I learned a good amount about myself, because to give advice you have to actually know it yourself and there were some moments where I thought to myself, “I really need to look into that subject more”, or “I actually have no idea how to help you out there, I’ll ask around”.

Near the end of the day, when we had to make a company out of a t-shirt, the ideas just came easy to me. My partner appeared so impressed with my creativity it gave me some more confidence for the future. The Empowerment Day was very well done, in my opinion.

My favorite part of the whole day was Steve Davis’ presentation and performance. I found his story very inspiring to find what you love doing, and go out and do it. This hit me, and as a person who is still deciding on what he wants his future to be, this was some very helpful advice. After his stories made me a little teary eyed, I realized that just doing what you love can change people’s lives in countless ways. So to find a job you love and keep it is the best way to go into the future.

To conclude, this past week for Belleville CEO was very interesting. Whether it was visiting a funeral home, or watching Elvis perform, CEO was there and learning. I really enjoyed this past week, and I learned so much for my future.

John Lewis

John Lewis
Friday, September 22, 2017Learn More About John

A day at the CEO Empowerment field trip was the most influential and was filled with new information! Mr. Nicol said one thing that I took with me and cannot forget. “Weaker people need security; stronger people demand freedom” Since I was a little girl I was always considered a leader and self-reliant. I stayed to myself although I had so many friends! To be completely honest, I believe that everyone needs to feel secure in some situations, to know that there's someone there for them in times of need. Security isn't a bad thing at all, and you wouldn't be considered weak. However, the need for security ALL THE TIME is a weakness for people who would be considered weak. “Stronger people demand freedom.” The people who want to get and do things on their own and not be told anything are the ones who would be considered stronger. They want to figure things out on their own. I believe that this would apply to me, but not all the time. I'd rather fail multiple times than to constantly ask for help. I've gotten so many quotes in which I can relate to from this entire day. I learn so many new things each time a person presented.

In class, we took a survey in which showed multiple traits about ourselves. One of the things I got was that I am an extrovert. I agree with this so much, but I cannot seek to interact with people when I first meet them, I'm actually an introvert in the beginning. CEO is helping me overcome this. I'm learning to speak with individuals more and be more open as soon as I encounter someone and I love it! I always have something to say or talk about although I don't know someone. I am learning to find out more about people from asking simple questions about what they do or what they're interested in.

Teonna Davis

Teonna Davis
Friday, September 22, 2017Learn More About Teonna

What things do you do that makes you lose track of time? This was a very interesting question from Geri Boyer of Kaskaskia Engineering Company. When I listened to the words she said you can tell she is a outstanding women. Her story that she told us was very good and interesting. She talked about how she was the only female working in the mining job and how other men would basically harass her because they did not want any women taking over men’s jobs. She was strong mentally and physically with having to undergo all of the negative comments from the men and her own boss. Now with all of that being said she now owns her own engineering company and that speaks a lot for itself. She said her business is a strength based organization. Geri said they concentrate on people’s strengths instead of their weaknesses. Which is very interesting because now of days you see businesses focusing more on people’s weaknesses. I loved how when you walk around to the different employees desk and they all have a plaque with their strengths on them. I have never seen any business do anything like that before. You can really tell that Geri cares about her employees because her actions shows it. Geri asked me a question, “Why do you want to own your own business.” I hesitated for a quick moment, and replied, “ Because I want to turn what I love into my career job.” I also liked how Geri said, “You have to understand your full potential.” I can really agree with that statement because I am still trying to reach my full potential.

When me and my CEO class took a field trip to have a meeting with the Nicol Foundation and to meet up with other CEO classes, it was very beneficial. We met new people and mingled with different business owners which was very fun. One of the speakers Donnie Wilson talked about how the best thing that happened to him was forming relationships. Which is a very key tool that I will take into the business world for myself. Another great speaker Pete Visintin talked about how you have to dream big. He had a great story that really woke me up about life. He was talking about how his dad got sick out of nowhere and how his whole personality changed about doing things. He started striving to do big things in his life. Instead of wasting time and taking things for granted.

I never knew what that building was across from Memorial until I went into it. The business is called Kurrus Funeral Home. It is very successful business which is being ran by Dale Kurrus. You can tell that this business is going to be owned by their own family for many generations. Dale Kurrus took us back to the rooms where they cremate people. At first I was thinking why would he take us back there and I kind of had this disgusting thought. But the thing is you can tell that Kurrus Funeral Home is a nice and clean place. It somewhere where you would want your loved ones to be taken care of when they pass away because Dale Kurrus was not afraid to show us any aspects of the funeral home.

I really enjoyed the talk at Kaskaskia Engineering. Since their work was similar to that of Holland, I saw some similar themes in both companies. Both expressed care for their employees as well as their customers. I found KEG's team-forming to be interesting, and I feel like it would be very beneficial in businesses that heavily rely on major teamwork. It was clear to me that Geri Boyer knew what she was doing in this business, and will continue to be successful.

I had mixed feelings about CEO Empowerment Day. I really enjoyed some of the speakers, but had trouble paying attention to others. I was very optimistic with the beginning of Pete Visitin's speech. I thought he was going to talk a lot about breaking boundaries set by society in regards to young age, but instead he set us up for a project. It wasn't that I didn't care for the project, but I felt he had a lot more keen insights into the subject and could've shared more of it with us. I'd say my favorite was Steve Davis. My mom is a huge Elvis fan, so I had already heard every song he performed for us. I also really enjoyed his story about how the demand for his business came to him more than he sought it out.

I really enjoyed Dale Kurrus's talk at Kurrus Funeral Home. I had been to several visitations, but it was when I was very young, and it was for distant relatives I hardly knew. I was very intrigued when he went into every aspect, whether it was the crematorium, the businesses trends, or the financials. One thing I had seen in the program but he didn't get to go over was cryogenics. I had wanted to ask him about it but forgot to! I'm going to try and send them an email asking about it.

Jacob Gall

Jacob Gall
Sunday, September 24, 2017Learn More About Jacob

One of the site visits this week was Kaskaskia Engineering Group, and it was really interesting. Personally, I enjoyed hearing the different jobs engineers have because I enjoy math and that field attracts me. Geri Boyer did a really good job of presenting them company’s values and work ethics. After hearing her talk, I was enthusiastic about touring the building and wanted to learn more about it. I think the way that they push each other to always do their best is very important and up lifting technique for business. Surrounding yourself with innovative minds is key to productivity. My favorite part, and the most unique, was the friendly dogs that wander the building. As a dog lover myself, I think that is an amazing way to relieve stress and help build a positive attitude in the company. A business term I had never heard before was DBE. Although “Disadvantaged” does not sound inviting, it is helpful for the business, and Kaskaskia hopes to grow out of it.

CEO Empowerment Day had a lot to offer. From performances to group projects it gave us many opportunities to learn. One quote I that stuck with me was “If it is to be, it is up to me.” It is a simple concept but hard to put into practice. Lots of times it is easy to slack off and expect others to fill in the gaps for you, but if you let that happen it may not turn out as well as it could have. The only way to ensure something is done right is to do it yourself. One of the lessons I picked up from Steve Davis that I think is very underrated is to know your worth. You are talented, and you should not be cheated out of what you deserve. Bob Schultz was able to give us a very good strategy to help with the art of conversation. I know I struggle with making small talk, and I really want to improve my skills in it. Whether at work speaking to customers, or conversing with adults, it is important to be able to hold up a conversation. There is always something you can learn about an individual or find something in common with them to spark a connection.


Alumni Spotlight Entries for this week

Carson Gamboe

"I graduated on September 8, 2017 from boot camp and just got to Naval Weapon Station in South Carolina (Goose Creek) last Tuesday for nuclear power school.  I will be here for a year and half.  

Regarding my business, The Watch List, I gave the business to my brother since he is in a business class in college.  He is going to maintain it and hopefully eventually turn it into an app.  I wil be getting a small cut of any profits that he makes."

Shown above is Carson and his grandfather
Shown below is a picture from his boot camp  graduation

Carson Gamboe
- Class of 2017


Share this news article

Belleville CEO Calendar