The eight participants in the Little Egypt CEO program this year will display the businesses they have formed at their Trade Show Wednesday evening.
We finish our two-part series talking to the students about their business.
Abigail Patrick of Salem Community High School has developed a marketing business.
“It’s a digital marketing business,” Patrick said. “The goal is to go into social medias for different small businesses in Salem, hopefully to expand outside of Salem. I go in and take over their social media management and cater to what they need for their business and what to show online.”
Patrick plans to earn a Marketing Degree at Illinois State University while keeping her business in operation.
Audrey Donoho is the first home schooled student in the program.
“My business is fantasy-styled photography,” Donoho said. “I edit photos in a very ethereal way. My style is a bit darker than some bright fantasies like fairy tales, and I turn average photos into that more fantasy style.”
Donoho plans to continue her business as she studies business at Kaskaskia College next school year.
Jasmine Riley of Odin High School has turned her love of baking into a business.
“I make no-bake cheesecakes, fresh fruit breads, and cookies,” Riley said. “It’s something I’ve done for a long time and that I’m passionate about, and I’ve decided to make it something I could potentially use in the future.”
Riley also plans to keep her business running as she pursues a respiratory therapy degree at Kaskaskia College.
Ella Smith of Salem Community High School is also looking to continue her business after the CEO program.
“My business is a custom apparel business. I make apparel from sports to businesses to farms and personal interests,” Smith said. “I am in track, so I go to events and usually on site they have t-shirt makers, so they’ll make their shirt right on site and with their events, and that interested me because I thought that was fun and interactive with the community.”
Each of the eight entrepreneurs will have their businesses set up at the trade show from five to seven Wednesday night at the Harvest Room in the Orchard Shopping Center on Route 37 South in Salem. Everyone is invited to stop by.
