The four students who were part of the 2nd year Little Egypt CEO program got to show off the businesses they created during a Trade Show this week at the Greater Centralia Chamber of Commerce conference room.
Each also shared what they got out of the program.
Centralia High School Senior Esai Uribe developed a vehicle detailing business. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Centralia High School Senior Esai Uribe turned his passion for vehicle detailing into the business he developed for the class. And Uribe says he isn’t done yet with the business.
“I actually just bought a lot recently so I’m hoping by the winter time I can get a garage and concrete poured and I can continue it. And hopefully it will continue to grow into my full-time job.”
Uribe plans to continue his education at Kaskaskia College so he can stay close to home and develop his business at the same time. He says the biggest thing he learned from the CEO program is communication is key and make friends with anyone you meet. Uribe’s brother was one of the three first Little Egypt CEO students last year.
South Central Senior Lucas Germain developed a business making candles out of recycled items. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
South Central Senior Lucas Germain developed a business of making homemade candles out of recycled items along with soybean and essential oils.
“We go to different businesses and we ask questions about how the business grows, gets made and how they make money. We go to businesses in Centralia/Salem area, tour them and talk to the employees that do everything there.”
Germain doesn’t plan to keep the candle business as he goes to John A. Logan Community College to get his HVAC certification. He says what he learned in the CEO program would allow him to be a one man repair business. Germain called the program his best platform in high school.
Centralia High School Senior Raeann Thurman showed off the interior design and room styling business she developed.
“I definitely learned how to talk to people. I wouldn’t be doing this interview right now, I’d be crying…I’m serious. It’s taught me lots of common sense life skills that most teenagers don’t have and lots of public speaking.”
Thurman plans to build on her project as she continues her education at Kaskaskia College with hopes of a degree that can combine interior design, real estate, and home staging.
Centralia High Senior Courtney Wessling says she hopes to communicate with others who have experienced mental health issues in her mental health themed sweatshirt business.
Centralia High Senior Raeann Thurman developed an interior decorating business. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
“Basically we started with our class business which was selling t-shirts. We got a startup fund from that and with that I bought all the blank sweatshirts and all the materials I needed and then started designing.”
Wessling says the biggest thing she has learned from the CEO program is to slow down and take your time on things and not stress out. She plans to go to Kaskaskia College where she will study marketing. Wessling also wants to continue to work on her business.
The Little Egypt CEO program will see a big expansion next year, with 12 students from high schools throughout Marion County participating. We’ll talk to the Program Director Emily Haake on Friday about plans heading into the third year of the program that’s funded by area businesses.
