Nearly 100 future entrepreneurs, one ThrillHouse, and a day full of connection! ๐ข
Our Union County CEO team joined CEO programs from across Southern Illinois for a Regional Networking Summit at ThrillHouse Family Entertainment Center in Marion, and the students came away energized, inspired, and more connected than ever.
We had a great time with future business leaders from Jackson CEO, Jefferson County CEO, Johnson County CEO, Little Egypt CEO, Mount Carmel CEO, Saline County CEO Program, Wayne County CEO.
We're so grateful to Midland Institute for Entrepreneurshipโs Director of Community Engagement, Chris Egleston, and Social Media Specialist, Kasie Woodworth, who returned to share their expertise. Chris showed students how to personalize a business pitch for the audience in front of them, and he used a few impressive magic tricks and a drawing demonstration to drive home the power of body language and reading a room. Kasie led an eye-opening session on target marketing, helping students think about how businesses identify their ideal customers through factors like age and location. Her talk also sparked some great reflection on how much of the advertising they see every day is aimed squarely at them, and where the line falls between smart marketing and consumer privacy.
When our Union County CEO participants were tasked with leading the icebreaker for nearly 100 of their peers, they decided the best way to get to know each other was to "Just Dance," and everyone did! Stepping onto the dance floor in front of a room full of new faces took real courage, and they embraced it with good humor and great spirit.
A huge thank you to the ThrillHouse team, Denny Chapman and Dylan for opening their doors and giving us a behind-the-scenes tour. Students were amazed by the sheer size of the facility and inspired by the story of a team that saw an opportunity, shaped an idea, and made it happen. And of course, the arcade, laser tag, and selfie booth made for plenty of laughs (and a few bragging rights).
Days like this are exactly why regional events matter. Participants stepped outside their comfort zones to meet peers from other counties, reconnected with friends from Johnson County they first met during our DISC assessment in August, and learned how other CEO classes approach challenges. As one student put it, these are colleagues "who I think I can now say are my friends!"
Building relationships across programs, hearing from experienced professionals, and seeing a thriving local business up close are experiences that shape confident, community-minded entrepreneurs.
Thank you to Jefferson County CEO facilitator, nealy_hamson for spearheading this event and to everyone else who made this day possible. We can't wait for the next one!
#UnionCountyCEO #CEOProgram #MidlandInstitute #YouthEntrepreneurship #SouthernIllinois
