Growing Entrepreneurs - Nurturing Success


 
We've been busy creating flyers, proofing the annual report, recording radio spots and making product so we will be ready for the ClassE Trade Show. Remember to bring friends, relatives and your wallets to the Lifespan Center on May 4th to support these new business start-ups!

Sat., May 2nd 
ClassE Lawn Spring Cleaning 
Students can mulch, mow, pick up sticks, etc. Give Luke a call at 217- 273-7166. 

Monday, May 4th
ClassE Trade Show
4:30-6:30 pm
Lifespan Center
Tradeshow 4:30 - 6 pm
Program/Awards - 6-6:30 pm
 
ClassE Schedule - 8-9:30 am
Location: Lifespan Ctr. (unless noted below)
11021 E. Cty. Rd. 800 N. Charleston (Loxa Road just NE of the hospital)

Mon., April 27th - Work Day (Sales Figures are Due in Excel)

Tues., April 28th - Lorenz Supply Tour
with Brian Titus
113 S. 21st St., Mattoon

Wed., April 29th - Staples Tour
with Ed Dowd
1201 Charleston Ave East,  Mattoon

Thurs., April 30th - Consolidated Communications Tour
with Michael Smith
121 South 17th St., Mattoon

Fri., May 1st - Effingham Field Trip Day and 3-D Printing at Lake Land College
8 am - 3-D Printing with Leo Kitten at 112 West Bldg. LLC
9 am  - 2:20 pm Travel to Effingham to Midland State Bank for Tour with Lee Harms, Talk with Keith Sutterfield of Sutterfield Videography, Etiquette Lunch at the Firefly with Dwight Erskine, then bowling at the K-Bowl.



Preparing for the Trade Show

We worked on flyers, discussed the menu with Besties' Bakery and stopped by the Staples store to get information about posters and other trade show materials.



JJ's Stadium Grill with Jerry Myerscough

We had the opportunity to ask Jerry Myerscough about his businesses. Jerry successfully owns and operates seven Arby's a nd two Freddies' restaurants plus  owns three other independent restaurants that he doesn't manage. He discussed th e advantages and disadvantages of franchising versus being an independent restaurant. The "Limited Time Offers" that Arby's have been using such as the gyro wrap has been a very good marketing strategy for them. We also discussed minimum wage, Obamacare and other policies that affect hi s workers and how he manages. He feels that site selection, quality and service are the key ingredients for success in food industry.


Class Investors

Advanced Digital Solutions

Anonymous (2)  

SEED Center at Eastern Illinois University

City of Charleston

City of Mattoon

Coldwell Banker Real Estate

Commercial Electric

Corrie Appraisal & Consulting, Inc.

Curry Construction

Dau Consulting

Diepholz Auto Group

Ealy's Real Estate Appraisals

Eastern Illinois Properties

First Federal Savings & Loan Association

First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust

First Neighbor Bank

Flesor's Candy Kitchen

General Electric

Gilbert, Metzger & Madigan LLP

Jerome C. Groniger

Howell Paving, Inc.

Innovative Staff Solutions

Lake Land College

LD Mechanical Contractors

Lifetime Eye Care

Lorenz Supply Company

Marketing by Jones, LLC

McDonald's of Coles County 

Midas

Mid-Illinois Concrete, Inc.

Pinnacle Foods Group, LLC

Reed's Fly-On Farming

Company

Rural King Supply

Sarah Bush Lincoln 

Health System

Scholes Trucking, Inc.

Eli & Ann Sidwell

Slumberland Furniture

The Sparks Foundation

Unique Home Properties

United Graphics, Inc.

Upchurch Group, Inc.

Vantage Outsourcing

Veolia Environmental Services

Wells Fargo Advisors

West & Company, LLC

Wireless Mikes 
Other Financial Contributors
Coles County Council on Aging Lifespan Center
Class Hosts

 

 

 

Due to the increased enrollment, the class will meet at the Coles County Council on Aging LifeSpan Center for the entire year. We will still be touring businesses 2-3 days per week. Thank you LifeSpan for this great partnership.

 

Coles County Council on Aging Lifespan Center 

 
Cromwell Radio Tour

Jim Laake and Lane Blickem welcomed the ClassE students into their studios to discuss the radio industry and record our trade show commercial. Although some students were nervous, they became pros at speaking in front of the microphone. They were also impressed with how the sound man can edit their errors. Jim spoke about how free service radio is doing quite well because it fills the local need for news, weather and sports.


 
  


Teaching Youth About Entrepreneurship

ClassE students are passing on entrepreneurial words of wisdom to Laura Shaw's third grade class as they start their own class business. Their business is Concrete Colors and they have chosen to make colored sidewalk chalk and sell it at their school and also at our ClassE trade show. We have helped with setting the price, the slogan and a little bit with the production.