The first-ever Little Egypt CEO students Cruz Uribe, Brendan Franklin, and Kaiden Roberts talk about their experiences before a Salem Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
The first Little Egypt CEO class shared their experiences and promoted their upcoming Business and Trade Show during a Tuesday appearance before the Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce membership meeting.
Facilitator Emily Kracht says with the COVID-19 year it turned to be positive to have only three students who allowed them to still be able to get into many businesses.
The three students are Odin High Senior Kaiden Roberts who is currently working on his business The Lawn Boy, Centralia High Senior Brendan Franklin who is working on his gaming supply business Table Top Supply Company, and Centralia High Senior Cruz Uribe who is developing a clothing line under the name of Beanx.
Roberts notes they started with a Class project of providing a drive-in movie last fall as a fundraiser and in the second semester are now developing their own business.
“Getting out of my shell. Becoming something that I didn’t think that I would be doing. Last year I never thought I would be starting up my own business but here I am each one of us are starting our businesses with $400 we raised on our own which is really awesome. Honestly getting CEO into these communities, giving you guys the opportunity to help students in your community grow which I love to see. Growth of the community because there are a lot of kids out there that want that opportunity but don’t know where to start.”
Franklin says the program has brought him out of his comfort zone.
“It’s helped me expand my personality. I’ve become much more confident in what I do and that’s a big part of CEO as well. It’s not just the business aspect. It changes those who participate and helps them feel, I say more comfortable, but it’s more of a confidence thing.”
Uribe says the CEO program has given him a lot of opportunity and knowledge by meeting with business people throughout the region.
“I’m so nervous right now I’m out of my comfort zone, but I’m used to this right now because I do it all the time every day of the week. They hadn’t heard me talk for months and months but they helped me grow into a more mature and knowledgeable person. In the beginning, I wasn’t going to join the CEO program because I was scared to take a risk but I’m glad I did because it’s helped me out in so many ways. I’m so grateful for that.”
All three are now preparing for the CEO program’s 2021 Business and Trade Show that will be held on Tuesday, April 27th from 5:30 to 7 at the Centralia Chamber of Commerce conference room at 210 East Broadway downtown. Everyone is invited to attend and talk to the students about their business.
We’ll talk more to Kracht about the CEO program moving into its second year on the news Thursday.
