This week was our second to last week of CEO. On Tuesday we met with Brent Emmerich from Midland Institute.   He focused a lot on computers and websites. Something that stuck with me was that the United States only makes but 8 and ½ percent of the total worldwide internet user population. Before hearing this I really thought the U.S used the internet the most. Most of the population is sucked in by Internet use. Especially with smartphones as the main cell phone. We are addicted to our phones. Also, only 40% of the world’s population has access to internet. We do almost everything through the internet. Nowadays people wouldn't know how to survive without the Internet it's our life line.

On Wednesday we met with Terry Beach, the Executive Director of St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants Dept.  He focused a lot on how much new stuff is going on around not only Belleville, but St. Clair County. They are especially focusing on around East St. Louis and the highways by the racetrack by there. It’s crazy how much money they can get from grants and such. Their top growth areas is I-64 corridor to Scott widening to six lanes, Rieder Road for a new exit, IL Route 15 in Belleville, and Belleville east end. For the River Bridge District is spending $8 million on street rebuilding and agri-business and such. Scott Air Force base is 60% of the population. Without Scott there wouldn't be much of any business at all.

On Friday we met at Gas Light Vinyl in Belleville with Greg Bach. The store was so cool. It was old and really cool with all the art. In the back there was a bunch of old cars and the building being old it had really cool architecture. He has only been in business for like a year and a half and their business is about to go booming. Within around a 20 mile distance he’s the only place that does vinyl wrapping. This next week is our last week of school and CEO. We have our final presentation.

05/07/2017

These next few weeks are very important weeks for us. This week was the start of them being of elevator pitch week. Although on Monday we visited Padgett Construction. Padgett Construction is a family owned business in Swansea. David Padgett really focused on how much the business is family oriented. It was started in the late 70’s by the 90’s they had to shut down because they were not doing the books and did not realize how much money they were losing. Padgett Construction is known for making exclusive homes and one of a kind. Their homes are usually huge and expensive. Most of their customers have families, but do not hire them until their 40’s. On Tuesday, we met back at Artigem and Patrick McKeehan came back to help us with our elevator speeches. Today was honestly the first day I really focused on my speech. I am really bad a public speaking and always don’t know what to say. I went up there and forgot everything I was even thinking about. Although, my pitch was not even near long enough it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would have been.

On Wednesday, Kurt Artinger also helped us with our elevator speeches. The second day was a lot better than the first day. We did a lot better than we all thought we would.

Thursday, was the day of our elevator speech and it was stressful. I am a horrible public speaker and was so nervous. But once I got in there it wasn't stressful at all. I didn't do as bad as I thought I would do, but my pitch wasn't long enough.

On Friday, Joann DiMaggio-May and Ed Hoering came back to tell us who won. Although, they said that everyone did a very good job and we did a lot better than last year’s class. On Tuesday, we have Banker Day and by April 19 we have to have everything ready for our trade show. For my booth I have no idea what I am going to do, but I want my dog there.  We only have a couple more weeks until the end of the year and it's so exciting.

04/07/2017

This week was a hard week. I missed Monday because I was in Indy for volleyball, but I also missed Tuesday. On Tuesday I had a college tour and a meeting with the volleyball coach for St. Louis Community College Meramec and was offered a full ride to play volleyball.

On Wednesday, we met at Artigem for the last day of working on our business plans. We also worked on a balance sheet for our business plan. For our business plan we had to have the actual business plan, a profit and loss statement, a resume, a balance sheet, a 3 year cash flow, a year cash flow, and our start up expenses. The financials were very difficult to figure out how to actually do them. Most of us had trouble with them at first, but after that they weren't as complicated.

On Thursday, we went to Sips n Splatters and visited Chris and David Brandt. It’s funny because they actually live down the street from me and also grew up with my parents. I love their business. I think it was such a great idea and to see how much money they can make in a day is awesome. David started this business in his loft and people started showing up more and more and by less than a year he had enough money to actually start this business in the building he is located in now. They now have 3 different buildings the one by Seven, one in Maryville, and also Splatter Mania down the street from the original one. Splatter Mania is all for kids. They created it for kids 6 and over so the kids did not have to be in the original one with older people. They talked a lot on how much time they put into this business at first. They literally lived there. They had a loft right behind the wall, but also on top of the building. They spent many late nights trying to figure out the best plan to how to run this business and the art parties, while this is going on Chris also had a job. I think it's awesome how much time and effort they put into this business, because most people would have given up.

03/31/2017

On Monday, we visited Trinity Financial Group, Mike and Verna Dunnigan talked all about their business. Something that really stuck with me was how they grew up in small houses and when getting married were poor. Now they are multi millionaires and no one would even be able to notice. They have worked their tail off to get where they are now and feel the need to give back to the community.  They are very involved with Belleville CEO and brought the chocolate fountain possible at our class business. Mike talked on how when his kid were younger he started investing money for his kids and when they are 65 they will be millionaires. I never thought on how putting away money each month will actually be able to make someone a millionaire.  

On Tuesday, Mike Wenzel, with Wenzel & Associates, LTD visited us. During his visit he focused on how cash flow is the most important thing in a business. No cash flow equals no profit. He also explained how you have to be able to sell your business. If you can’t sell your business or product then your company won't have a very long future. He also is very involved in the community.

On Wednesday, we were visited by US Bankers to help us with our financials for our business plans. Our financials are actually a lot harder than they look. We didn’t have much help with financials until they came and they really did help us. Although, some of us weren't ready they still helped us even figure out what to do. They talked on how you need to love what you are doing and to show it to your banker when getting a loan. Everything should be ready and prepared before your meeting to receive a loan.

On Thursday, we did housekeeping and worked more on the financials with our business plan, because everything is due next Wednesday. I think the hardest part of the business plan is either the cash flow or having each paragraph long enough for the minimum criteria. You have to be in very much detail of everything you plan on doing and everything you have done.  

03/24/2017

This week we got a break from our business plans, we got to visit and talk to a lot more people than usual. Although on Monday, JoAnn DiMaggio-May visited us and really helped us with our business plans. I thought I was almost done with my business plan and I am nowhere near close to being done. Most of my paragraphs that are supposed to be a page long were only one or two sentences. Mrs. DiMaggio-May has helped us a ton this year and it has been so helpful.

On Wednesday, we visited Associated Bank with Phillip Hickman and Amy Kempfer and  learned so much about their bank. Seeing how many Associated Banks are around us I would have never known that they are located out of Green Bay, Wisconsin. He talked about the different sizes of banks and how Associated Bank is only a medium sized bank and in my mind I would have thought it was a large bank. He also talked a lot on how the depression in 08 really hit banks. The government put millions of dollars in banks when the depression hit. Even though, banks did pay them back they made around $100,000 off of that. The government also made some banks that didn't need the money, take it. Which forced the banks to owe money to the government for years. It also was crazy that they have never been robbed. Even though while we were there we tripped the security alarm and the police showed up. It would be scary to work in a bank because of how high the probability of getting robbed everyday is.

On Thursday, Patrick McKeehan visited us at Artigem and he was awesome! He focused a lot on our personal businesses and helped us figure out our customers and made sure people would actually buy our product or service. He also helped us how and what to say about our elevator speeches. He was so much help to us with our personal businesses. On Friday, we worked on personal businesses and bios. We are really getting close to our trade show and most of us are not ready at all.

03/17/2017

On Monday, we met with Kurt Artinger on our first day at Artigem. At first he took us on a tour and told us all about the history. There is so much history in just one room there. Artigem used to be the old YMCA, then was turned into storage for ammunition and storage during two wars. The building also housed the German group Turner Association and back in the day that was very popular. He still has the stage sitting there and the same stage cover from back then it was so cool. The architecture of the gym turned into working space is awesome. It's very creative, but also means something.

On Tuesday, we met at the St. Clair Country Club with Thad Payne. He taught us all about etiquette. Most of us had no idea what he was talking about and it was cool to learn about. He was in the military and planned parties for all the countries and high up people to go too. There are very many different utensils and little details you need to know for etiquette that I would never have known.

On Wednesday we were at Artigem and our first draft of our business plans were due. We worked on finishing them and then starting our bios, which are due next Friday. We are really starting to get down to the end of the year and really cracking down on everything with our individual business and it is very stressful. We have the elevator pitch coming up and I hate speaking in front of people, but hopefully I can get it together. On Thursday, we worked on bios, business plans, and elevator speeches. On days we are at Artigem we just focus on personal businesses and finish whatever we need to finish on our own. It's good to have time in class to do this and not have to do everything out of class on our own.

03/10/2017

This week was a long week working on our personal businesses. Monday and Tuesday we started working on our personal business plans. Business plans are a lot more complicated than you would think. Starting this class I didn’t realize how much stuff goes into a business that people on the outside don’t see. Especially starting one. We have our first draft due this week and it’s very detailed and for me complicated.

On Tuesday we also had a tour of the new part of PPM and it’s awesome! To look from where it has come from to what it is, is great. I love how her office looks and how modern it is. It has such a relaxed atmosphere.

On Wednesday we met at Leisure Time Pools with Bob DeRousse and he is very inspiring. Overcoming cancer three times and still barely missing work is incredible. He has had so many accomplishments and really does know what he is talking about. He told us be involved in what you are doing. Be involved in clubs, in college, in what you work with. Do what you love or you won't ever want to go to work and do it.

On Thursday we worked on business plans and finished our cleaning. Thursday was our last day at PPM, which means we also switched what we were in charge of. I finished all the thank you notes and passed the chair to the next person. We also worked to finish our personal business plan. This class is about to be getting very stressful with the tradeshow and elevator talk coming up. I really do not like talking in front of people and I am not very good at it so that won’t be any fun. We also have a book report due in a week and another draft of our personal business and everything has to be ready for the trade show.

03/03/2017

On Tuesday Mike Riley came to PPM and talked to us about his physical therapy services. He owns a physical therapy company. He is also very involved in his community. Everyone keeps telling us how it is very important to know people and have your own “circle”. 

On Wednesday, we worked on our personal business plan and finished the rest of the thank you notes. I have changed my business again. Now I want to do a babysitting, dog sitting, and house sitting business. I am thinking the name will be something around Bear’s Sitting, instead of Bear’s Babysitting. For the last two summers I have worked a summer camp counselor at Vetta and also work at an after school program.

On Thursday, we went to Gateway Classic Cars and it is awesome. There is so much money Sal put into that company when people thought it was just going to fail. In the last 5 years this business has skyrocketed. There are 15 stores up and running and the planning for more and to keep growing. I would have never thought that business would make so much money. Although people usually do spend a lot of money on cars. When he started this business he had nothing and had no idea what he was doing. This would be his third business he started, the other two failed. He talked on how all businesses go through an up and down period and you have to make it through the down period where most businesses failed and the ones that make it out are the ones that end up growing and are booming. They even have their own airplane to travel to different stores around the U.S.

02/24/2017

This week and next week are the final stretch to our class business. This week was a lot of trying to finalize our sponsorships and booths.

Although, on Tuesday, we did visit Mathis, Marifian, & Richter. They focused a lot on how much their business has grown. In 1984, they started our as mostly taxes. Today they have 22 lawyers and pretty much do everything except they do not do divorces and union trials. Although, they still focus a lot on corporate things. They also talked when joining someone in business you should make an agreement if someone leaves on who gets what and what happens. This agreement would protect yourself and your business. On Wednesday, we went and visited businesses to gain sponsorships, booths, and silent auction donations. In our group we went to all businesses downtown, businesses in Greenmount Commons, and Archford. We gained a gold sponsorship from Archford, and some silent auction donations from some downtown businesses.

This week I also figured out my personal business. It will be a babysitting business called Bear’s Babysitting, because my nickname is ClaireBear. My logo should be a B with a teddy bear in the middle and then another B. Which will be BB and stands for baby. I am very excited to get this class business over with and start doing my personal business. Although, I am in charge of the silent auction and have a lot of great ideas and I am hoping they workout. Pinterest has been a great help with that. Our class business is 9 days away and we are nowhere close to being where we want to be. So please if you are reading this go to www.eventbrite.com and purchase a table for 8 people for the price of 7 thank you!

01/27/2017

This week we were really focusing on our business. We gained more booths and sponsorships. We have 2 booths from LuLaRoe and 2 booths from Kevin Nicol. We also got BND to interview us about our class business. Renae has helped us a lot with giving us advice and spreading our information to everyone in her contacts. We are finally going out and giving out our information.

On Wednesday JoAnn DiMaggio-May came back and helped us finally finish our business plan. She also brought a SCORE person with her. Although I did not get to speak to her, I heard she was very helpful with tips on their business plan and personal business.

On Thursday, we went to The Edge and met the owners. In the last 22 years they have made 8 renovations and are planning another one. Their business went from being the first sports pub in Belleville to then moving into the building they are in now. They have added laser tag, movies, and the bistro. They just renovated their sports bar and it is awesome! They have a huge TV wall with different panels that they can have on all different channels. They are now starting another add on. They plan on adding indoor go karts, indoor bumper cars, a patio, and a VR game. A VR game is virtual reality where you wear glasses that are like a 360 video screen where you can ride a roller coaster or play a game. They said that “if you aren't growing, you're dying”. Which is very true. Most business that don’t grow with the technology and customer’s wants usually fail.

On Friday, we worked the fish fry at the Scottish Rite and it was fun. We worked it to receive a discount on our price for having our class business there.

01/20/2017

This week we focused on visiting more than our class business, although on Monday we did get a lot done. We called radio stations and new stations and they agreed they would talk about us and spread our information on the class business. We also have received more booths and sponsorships.

On Tuesday, we met with Renae Eichholz, my mentor. It is very inspiring to where she got to being as young as she was. She made her way up the ladder fast and conquered everything in her way. With everyone thinking she wasn't capable of doing what she did, she didn't want to use the people she knew. She wanted to do everything by herself. Now realizing the hard way, she told us to use our resources and the people we know.

On Wednesday we went to the new police station and talked with Mayor Eckert. It really is incredible how much Belleville has grown and how much more he wants to grow it. The things he talks about is awesome. A new recplex with a new pool for Belleville would be great! We also had a tour of the police station and it was awesome. We saw where the mayor’s temporary office is because of the city hall being remodeled. We also saw the first level where the inmates are held and come in to be processed. Although there was no inmates which is great!

On Thursday, Joe Riley visited us at Precision Practice Management. He started a business knowing barely anything to knowing everything. The statement that stuck out to me the most was “someone I know had the need for it” and that's why he started his business. He didn’t start it for himself, he did it for someone else. He also said have your career be your passion. If you don’t love your job, you won’t last. Do what you love. He also said two very important things were to have ambition and want. Without that where would you be?

01/13/2017

...Anyway, over break I met with my mentor twice. We are really starting to focus on more and more details on my personal business. There is a lot more details and things to do for my personal business than I thought. I never knew that all those details went into a business. I still have to find a name for my business and then create a logo.

This week we met with the management from PPM (Precision Practice Management). They talked on how Renae started this business from her garage and now the business is huge. They keep growing and growing and bringing in different kinds of business and adding more technology.

We also met with the alumni from last year’s group. They gave us really good pointers on what to do to get more people to our class business and how to get more sponsorships. They also talked about how to get our personal business to be successful.

On Friday, JoAnn DiMaggio-May came and visited us to help us with our class business plan. We needed a lot of help and we still aren't done with it. We didn't do most of it right, but that's what this class is for. It is to fail and get back up and do it again.

01/06/2017

This week was another productive week on our class business, but we also heard two presentations. On Monday our presenter was John Perles. Something that really stuck out to me was how each one of us could make the world a better place. If we would freeze life right now and make just ourselves a better person it will give life more value. We also need to look at where we are and build a bridge to where we would like to be.

On Tuesday I met with my mentor, Renae Eichholz. Working together we are focusing a lot on my personal business. For my personal business I want to do something contained around volleyball. Probably some sort of volleyball camp for kids who need help on improving their skills. Also for kids who are going to join a club team or approaching high school. Most middle school volleyball teams do not teach their students what they need to do before entering high school teams.  

On Wednesday we heard Todd Badgley speak, he is the president for FKG Oil. He spoke about how Moto Mart is doing what they were doing 15 years ago and bringing back the order to made option. Order to made will be one of the biggest competitors for fast food restaurants. What really stuck out to me was how he said the more fun at work you have the more you'll love it. They try and create an environment while on your days off you still want to come into the office. We also played a game of Moto jeopardy with all the questions being based off of what we talked about and what they sell.

On Thursday, we went out in groups to different businesses to find sponsorships and silent auction donations. Tim, Stephen, and I went to the Egg and I, Tim Hortons, Target, Dierbergs, Edward Jones Investments, and the Hilton Hotel. Most of the places took our flyers to get back with us later. Although, the Hilton donated to our silent auction.

12/09/2016

This week we focused a lot on the class business. We finally have our class business location secured and have our down payment paid for. We got the Scottish Rite for a great price thanks to Austin, Carson, and Kaitlynn. Next week we are going to all the different businesses around Belleville asking for sponsorships, booths, and silent auction donations. We will also be hanging up flyers for the class business. …I think the amount of money we spent on Ben Glenn is a lot, but it will be worth it. We are also allowed to auction his chalk painting off, as long as we donate used or new Legos. So if you have Legos please bring them to us so we can donate them!!

The speaker on Wednesday was Wendy Witte she spoke to us about donations and putting your money in the Greater St. Louis Community Foundation really helps so many people and businesses. One person named, Lucille Papendick helped a whole group of band students go to Carnegie Hall and perform. She has helped many other kids through music and education. It is very inspiring how many people one foundation has helped.

On Wednesday we had a presentation with Mark Bartle from Barcom. Looking at him and the business you would never expect him to have gone through what he did. He spent ten years with his family having nothing. Now he owns a huge business making tons of money. It shows you can't judge a book by its cover. It also shows you can do anything you put your mind too.

12/02/2016

This week was a really short week. On Monday we worked on the class business. Mike Crotty came in to help us with our decorations. Although we are not certain about our main piece of decoration, he made our table centerpieces and they look so good. Mr. Crotty and his mentee Kelly came up with a mini fountain made out of different material to make it look realistic.

Monday afternoon I met with my mentor, Renae Eichholz. I am so excited for her to help me through this class and help me with my business. She started a business in her house and then kept moving up. She is now in a huge building in downtown Belleville and is in the process of building on. She is also in the process of building a restaurant.

On Tuesday, we went to Fletcher’s Kitchen & Tap where we heard Derek Betz speak. Something I really got out of this is that you're going to fail. No matter what you do you will fail. They expanded their restaurant to St. Louis a couple years ago and it failed, but the restaurant in Belleville is booming. They made enough money at the Belleville location to support everything. Instead of trying to expand to another place they are focusing on the Belleville location and adding on a cocktail lounge.

On Wednesday, Cheryl Mitchell from Midland came and spoke to us. She really focused on how much this program is expanding. It is expanding faster than anyone would have thought. It is incredible how someone from such a small town can do such big things. This program started from a student talking about wanting kids to see how business work and a music teacher taking action to that. Their goal is to have this program across the nation. This program is spreading like wildfire. Everyone who hears about this program wants to be a part of it. In the next two years they are going to double the amount of classes they have now.

11/11/2016

This week seemed very short. On Monday we met at Rauckman Utility Products. One part of the company they are pretty much the middle man. They recommend products to companies, take the company's orders and then send that to the company that the product is from. The other part of their business is selling their products. They make very different products for businesses like Ameren. Although right now they have been focusing on making utility gloves for linemen. Right from their business in Belleville selling them all over the world. They have been working on this product for years and they are still working on getting it perfect. Only one other company makes gloves and they aren't very customer friendly and they take as long as they want.

On Tuesday and Thursday we worked on our class business. We made a pros and cons list on The Shrine and The Scottish Rite. Also two different rooms at the Scottish Rite. We chose the Scottish Rites cafeteria area. It's going to take a lot of work and decorations to make it how we want it but we should be able to do it. We are also in the process of choosing a name for our business. We have a couple ideas but we are trying to figure out one to do with our theme. Our whole business is having a theme around the Belleville fountain and celebrating Belleville. We're wanting to give back to the community that helps us and is the reason we have this class. I was sick on Wednesday so I sadly did not get to hear Neal Eilers speak. This coming week we have three work days and I think we will get a lot done.

10/28/2016

This week was our move to Barcom. We also got further into the class business. On Wednesday we visited places we thought would be a good fit for our business. We visited the Lady of the Shrine and the Scottish Rites. Both very different from each other. The Lady of the Shrine’s space is very long and not very wide. The Scottish Rites has two different places for us. One room is a big banquet room that could fit what we would like to do. The other room is set up like an auditorium, it can fit around 800 people. This is probably a tad too big. I also think Fischer’s could be a good location for our business.

Also this week we listened to Charles Fike and Hamilton Callison speak. Charles Fike talked about his business Charles Fike LLC & Rafeedie. He also talked how getting to know your customer is very important. You want your customer to trust you and keep coming back. He usually only advertises by word of mouth, you will not see his face on any benches or posters.

Hamilton Callison talked about his family business Wirtz Beverage. He talked about how selling to different business that are different sizes can really change your numbers. Just because you sell more does not mean you make more money.

This week we also found out who our mentors are. My mentor is Renae Eichholz, I think she will be a great mentor for me. I have heard such great stuff about her. I am so excited to see where my personal business will go with her help.

On Friday we went to CEO empowerment day. This was put on by the Nicol Foundation. It was very moving to hear how a regular Granite City guy made it all the way to a CBS correspondent for the White House. Anyone can conquer their dreams as long as they try and not give up.

10/21/2016

This week was our last week at Allsup. Starting this Monday we move to Barcom Security. On Tuesday we talked with Brian Mentzer about his family's businesses. I've known Brian and his family for a couple of years. They are really good people. He was talking how his customers are really important to his family and they really try and help them when they're in need.

On Wednesday we went to the Chamber of Commerce and talked on how much they do for the Belleville community and the cities and towns around Belleville. They try and get all business owners together and talk about their company and see how they can help each other. Once a month they do a business after hours and a coffee cup connections for those businesses. They are a key component for where Belleville is today and how much it keeps growing. Also they help a lot with Scott Air Force Base and making them feel like they are welcomed into this community.

On Thursday we went to Peer 151 and learned all about how you don't have to have your own space for a business. At Peer 151 you rent a space and start your business from there. They have an accountant and other things on site to help you. Chris Oswald who is the main person also helps you with the start up. They are also starting a coding class for young individuals.

On Friday we worked on our class project. We really need to find a date and venue. Every date we've picked someone has something with their schedule conflicting. We also have been working on social media for our class.

10/14/2016

On Monday we went to Trep Start at SLU and I loved it. It was so much fun. Seeing how young you can be and still be an entrepreneur is incredible. There were 13 year olds there that started their businesses when they were 11. At Trep Start I learned that in the world of entrepreneurship nothing should stop you. Not even your age. With the help of your parents. your community, and volunteers you can have all the support and help you'll need. Also this week we learned how to create a business plan. I think a business plan will be challenging to create but worth it. On Wednesday we did more work on our class business.

...On Thursday we met with more of the mentors to get to know them and see which ones we connected with more. I was talking with Amanda and she really helped me figure out more of my personal business. I really want to do something with volleyball for it. She helped me think of how I should do a camp or training for kids that do not make their school team or kids that don't have a lot and to make them better using the resources I have and everything I have been taught. My mom works at Belle Valley so I could use their gym, volleyballs, and nets. Which that makes the whole process alot easier just having to get enough kids to participate. I also have a lot of friends that would donate their time to help. If I want to keep growing my business I can have friends help with other sports. I'm excited to move from Allsup to Barcom Security for the shorter drive.

10/07/2016

This week was very productive week for our class business. We decided to do a theme “Around the Fountain” being a class in Belleville it suits well. The fountain is in the middle of Belleville and is what Belleville is based around. We want art to have a big part in this business as well as businesses and restaurants that make Belleville what it is today. We are still deciding if we should have this during the week or weekend and what time of day we should.

…On Tuesday we went to Auffenburg and spoke about how much different business goes into each of their different types of dealerships and how they bring in different kinds of business.

On Friday we met with a few mentors and I really liked how it was set up. We got to talk with all of them and learn more about them and what they do with their businesses. I'm excited to find out who I get as a mentor. They were all really nice and you could tell they really loved what they do.

Tomorrow we go to Trep Start and I think it will be a really good opportunity to see people our age have their business already booming and see where we will be in a few months. Although first we have to get through this class business and it feels like it never will. It's going to be a hard task, but I hope we decide to work as a team and get this done.

09/30/2016

My favorite part of this week was going to Union School and doing the walk and talk with the students there. It is really amazing how much work and effort the staff puts into the school there. Most schools you go to don't have such great staff that will work above and beyond to make their students happy. In 2015 they won the most prestigious character award that you can. That's really showing you how much time and effort they put into teaching their students the right from the wrong considering that they are such a small school.

“Champions are made, not born.” We were told this when we visited Memorial Hospital on Wednesday. You can be a champion in anything not just sports. To be a champion you have to work hard and give it your all. To be a champion you have to work harder, wake up earlier, and stay up later. It's a motto we all should be using in life. In your life in whatever career path you decide to take there will be competition and you have to work your hardest and win the fight.

This week we were finishing up our badge projects and moving onto our class project. We have all our badges ordered and we have narrowed our class project to three different ideas. Im very excited to start focusing more and more on these projects and to see what the outcome is. This week we are choosing a CEO and CFO for our class project and talk more into detail on what business we decide.  We have very many different ideas and opinions on each idea we have narrowed down to and put lots of thought into each of them. We have gone through pros and cons with each one. Its really cool getting to see how much we have grown in the last 5 weeks and becoming closer with each other and becoming one team.

09/23/2016

This week was very productive. We finally got our badge projects to another level. We started to get sponsorships and our class is being very productive with it. We have two weeks until our badges are due around our necks and I really do think we will be successful. This year we also added a t-shirt each category gets one. We have three categories bronze, silver, and gold. Every category is different and receives something different.  We also are having Rauckman sponsor our polos for the second year.

On Tuesday we went to Holland and I loved it. I think going into construction management would be very interesting and a fun job. He talked about how you need to surround yourself with the best. Which is a very true statement. Not only in the work force, but in life. Surrounding yourself with the best is going to get you farther faster. Also, on how safety is in important in the workplace, but especially in construction. They have not had any time loss injuries in the last nine years which for a construction company is great.

On Thursday we went to the District 201 office and learned about how business goes into a school. It really surprised me on how much it does. Also a lot of advertising goes into a school. Each school has a video so when people move around here they pick that school district to move into.

On Friday we went to the Bank of Belleville and learned on how banks are such important to the community. Banks even use other banks to help them keep their money and help their business.

I'm excited to get our badges done and around our necks. In the next couple weeks we will start our group business and I can't wait to see where that will take us.

09/16/2016

This is our third week of being in CEO. To me this was a very productive week. On Tuesday we went to Empire Comfort Systems and I was very impressed on how this company stood the test of time. Even being a family company and how many ups and downs that has. It was very interesting walking through the manufacturing company and seeing every process it goes through just to get sold on the market. It's hard to imagine how far this process has come from the beginning. It must continue to change as much as technology and the world changes.

We broke through all the different ideas and came together as a team for the badge project. We figured all the ideas so we could go get sponsorships. Honestly I did not think we would come to a conclusion this fast, but I'm happy we figured this out as a team.

At Greensfelder Hemker and Gale we learned a lot on how much time and dedication it takes to do the best you can with the job you love. By just the way they talked you could tell they thought every second of being up at 2 in the morning, being in the courtroom for days, and not seeing their family was worth it because they loved what they were doing.

Our trip to Althoff on Friday was a new experience by touring a high school not as a student, but as an outsider looking in. Since I go to East and have been in public school my whole life it was very different. Catholic schools are so much different than public school with the way they do everything. It was weird hearing how they have to fundraise for much of their money considering public schools do not.

We have many more tours and visitors this year and I am excited to hear what they have to say. Something we should all remember throughout this program is to be bold.

09/09/2016

This week was a wonderful week again. I keep learning more and more. Although we are having a very hard time with our badge project, this is really showing us that you really do fail and always have to get up again. Since there are 16 of us in this class, it is really hard to agree on everything. We all have so many different personalities, some clash and some connect very well. In the end we will all compromise with our ideas and become a team. To my thinking this is testing our team skills.

Mrs. Geri Boyer with Kaskaskia Engineering is a great person to look up to. She went into a career field being one of the only woman and she is doing incredibly well with it.  She said how they use the “Cardinal Way” which means you need to have trust in each other and work together. In a business and team setting, this is how it should always be. Also she talked about the secret to success and what she thought they were. How faith, living from abundance, and decisions based on “the highest good” were her top three.

Tthe Baltz’s talked on how they have to change their items for what their customers wants and needs are. How they have to change their showroom on what the customer is coming in to buy. That just shows us an example on how businesses really do work around their customers.

Holiday World was a fun trip. Learning on how much history it has and how it started from nothing and now is a huge park that has around a million people a year visit is incredible. They are also in their fourth generation of owning the park. Most business don't make it past the second. ... I am very excited for this coming week of CEO and cannot wait learn more about business and to meet new presidents and CEOs.

09/02/2016

This being our first full week of class I was nervous for what it would be like. I still feel nervous being this is a huge commitment but it will challenge me to be more responsible. Also I was also apprehensive going into a room of mostly strangers who are my peers. Would I measure up? Would I fit in?  To me the team bonding on Monday really helped me to get to know people and get all of us to communicate more. In my mind we really needed that, we have very many different mindsets and personalities. Which leads me to think that Reva Faber was a fantastic person to bring in. To me she taught us that we all have different personalities and we all need to be talked to in a different way. Also, that we are not all going to get along and agree on the same thing most of the time. We will have to work closely together and we will need to be able to respect others ideas and opinions. I have come to realize that listening to others can be hard at times but very important. Just like Dave Zura said “We should know when to speak and when to listen.” I have to realize when others in my class criticize my ideas they are not being hurtful just helpful. Dave Zura also said “fail fast and fail forward.” I have noticed that in playing volleyball that if you don't fail you won't go anywhere. Although when you do fail you can't just sit there and you have to get up and keep going. Just like Dory said “just keep swimming.” I feel the experience at Northwestern Mutual showed me to always follow your heart. He had a great job that provided more than he needed to have, but to him it didn't feel right. Being successful is not just how much money you make, it's about if you love and are passionate about what you are doing. Roger Lowery went for a job with it having no ceiling or floor. He did this because this is what he felt he would put everything into. To me being passionate about what you do is very important.

08/26/2016