Kokomo CEO Trade Show a big hit

Students offer advice to next class of future business leaders

The lobby in Northview Church was a bustling locale on April 26, as the students from the Kokomo CEO program set up shop for a trade show. Dozens of future business leaders hawked their wares to a robust crowd of supporters, friends and family.

The trade show is the culmination of the year-long business training program. The students, hailing from seven area high schools, met each morning during the school year. The participants toured area businesses, talked to the leaders of those businesses, and received a level of hands-on training and experience that is invaluable.

That training and experience was brought to bear at the trade show. CEO participants current and past were present to capitalize on what they learned. And they had advice to share with those students who will follow them in the 2023-24 cohort.

Anna Perry’s business involves creating coasters, trays, and other useful objects with a material called jesmonite. She explained that the CEO program taught her a lot about starting a business; skills she hopes to apply later in life as a wedding planner. She will attend Purdue University in the fall to pursue a degree in Hospitality and Tourism.

She strongly encouraged other students to get involved in the CEO program.

“Take advantage of every opportunity that they offer,” said Perry. “It's a good way to make connections, and you learn a lot throughout the process.”

Lauren Webber is a 2022 alumnus of Kokomo CEO. While she is attending Western Kentucky University and pursuing a degree in Marketing, she still operates her CEO business, which involves making personalized and custom cups, sweatshirts, and tumblers. She is grateful for the lessons she learned through the Kokomo CEO program.

“I feel like CEO was so good for me,” said Webber. “I had a lot of hands-on experience, and that's the type of learner I am. Learning how to start a business and manage it was really cool, because I do want to pursue business. I don't know if I want to own my own company one day, but I definitely learned a lot that I've been able to use.”

Webber had advice for the next Kokomo CEO cohort.

“Definitely show up and ask questions,” said Webber. “That's how I got all of my knowledge; learning from different business owners, how they started, and how it all works.”

Kyan Gamble intends on joining his family’s business, and his Kokomo CEO start-up company has been instrumental in teaching him skills he will need.

“It's been a long journey, but I feel like it's easier to talk to people,” said Gamble. “If you talked to me a year ago, I'd be nervous and stressed, but now it's just a walk in the park.”

Gamble said paying attention and taking notes will greatly benefit the next class of Kokomo CEO participants.

“Take notes. Take notes,” said Gamble. “I have notes on my phone that I've learned from the mentors and the people who have come to talk to me about being an entrepreneur and just about life lessons in general. And I've learned a lot from them. So, paying attention and taking notes is a big thing.”

Andrew Ryan is an aggressive and enthusiastic salesman. His business, built around hook-and-ring games and wall-mounted bottle openers with catch trays, gave him new insights that will serve him well. The business likely won’t last long. He’ll focus on his college studies in the fall.

“We're allowing custom orders right now, and I want to fulfill all those orders,” said Ryan. “Then, I'm going to be moving away from college, so I won't be able to do this in the future.

“But I learned a lot about woodworking making the products. And the CEO program taught me a lot about time management. This has been a lot of work, building my company, participating in CEO, schoolwork, and I'm working on getting my Eagle Scout right now. I have a lot of stuff going on. I learned a lot of lessons, especially a lot about awesome money management stuff as well.”

Ryan’s advice for the next cohort of CEO students is to start on your business early.

“I was lucky,” said Ryan. “I started planning my business about the first week I got into the class. That really gave me a jump on being able to get this done. If you wait until the last minute, it's just not going to work, or if it does work, it’s just not going to be very good. So, the sooner you start, the better it's going to be.”

Check out the Kokomo Lantern Facebook page and group, as well as kokomolantern.com to see additional photos from the Kokomo CEO Trade Show.