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By Emily Hovland

CEO Instructor

The Mower County CEO Program is quickly wrapping up year seven!

The CEO Program gives students the opportunity to learn about what it takes to start and run a small business while utilizing the community and business owners as their classroom. Students raise money through various class projects and are eligible to receive a grant to start their own small business. These small businesses will be highlighted at our CEO Trade Show, which will be held on Wednesday, May 14, from 4-7 p.m. at Packer Arena.

This year, 21 students took part in the Mower County CEO Program. They were able to connect with our business partners and develop mentor relationships which helped them to grow both personally and professionally. Through informative presentations, business tours, and mentorship sessions, our students have developed connections that will last a lifetime. We’ve welcomed a list of successful individuals to class to share their stories, their expertise, and their wisdom, and we’ve watched our students grow and mature throughout the year while learning many real-world lessons.

This year’s CEO students have visited more than 50 businesses and gathered business ideas from many guest speakers. The students raised money through the creation of sponsored ID badges and the Local Legends event which was a fabulous concert featuring Martin Zellar, Molly Kate Kestner, and Riley Olson! Students have worked hard to build their business plans, start their personal businesses, and develop a network of business professionals and mentors who are incredibly supportive and eager to help the students succeed.

We hope you will join us next week on Wednesday, May 14, from 4-7 p.m. at Packer Arena for the 2025 Mower County CEO Trade Show. Our students have been working hard all year to get their businesses up and running, and this is an amazing chance to support our students. This event is free and open to all.  Make sure to bring some cash for your purchases!  We are excited about the experiences these students have had and are looking forward to next year. We’d also like to thank the Austin community for their support and the continued opportunities for our students and businesses to connect.