GODFREY - Six Riverbend CEO students shared lessons from business visits, fundraising and plans for their own ventures at the monthly North Alton-Godfrey Business Council meeting, where members also heard an appeal for mentors to help students develop business plans.
Liam Rorie, Reese Bechtold, Colleen Meisenheimer, Jake Campbell, Daniel Bennett and Ethan McLeod attended the meeting to provide updates on their experiences in the program.
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C.W. “Zeke” Jabusch, president and founder of the council, praised the program’s work connecting students with area businesses and helping young people find direction.
“The young people who spoke this morning were articulate, professional and well-spoken,” Jabusch said.
Riverbend CEO was established in the fall of 2015, with the support of local business community partners and area schools to create experiential learning opportunities for students. The CEO program allows students to learn from local business leaders and develop workforce skills of problem solving, teamwork, self-motivation, responsibility, communication, and professionalism.
Casey Hamburg, a Riverbend CEO facilitator, asked those attending to consider serving as mentors, describing a commitment of about 45 minutes twice a month to help students with their business plans. Those conversations can take place by phone or Zoom.
“Any help would be appreciated,” Hamburg said.
Bechtold, of Marquette Catholic, said students spend the first semester visiting businesses to learn how they operate efficiently.
“It has been so fun,” she said.
Meisenheimer said the CEO program students have been organizing fundraisers and working with sponsors. Upcoming events include a bake sale sponsored by Duke Bakery and a trivia night. She said she has learned a considerable amount through the program.
Rorie, of Civic Memorial, said the second semester of the program focuses on applying lessons from business tours and fundraising. Students work on trivia night and develop their own businesses, beginning with a business plan presented to a board of bankers.
The bankers then tell students how much funding they will receive from the class project, Rorie said. Students also present what they have learned throughout the year at a trade show.
“It is fun to see how much we have in Alton region and everything we have to offer,” Rorie said.
Bennett, a senior at Marquette Catholic, said the program emphasizes creating opportunities and using students’ ideas to distinguish their businesses. Students learn about finance, accounting, analysis, marketing, and operations, he said.
Bennett also highlighted the lasting value of the connections students have made with people who could help them in the future.
Campbell said he has benefited greatly from the program. His favorite business visit was Revity Credit Union because it related to what he hopes to do in the future.
McLeod agreed the CEO program has been a great learning experience. Personally, a focus for McLeod has been on a lawn care business, and he said his favorite business visit was Landmark Realty.
Grace Schwarte provided information and a photograph for this story.
