April 27, 2021 – The community’s next generation of innovative thinkers will be on display next month as students from the Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) program showcase their products and services at the 1st Annual CICEO Trade Show.
This year’s trade show, which takes place at the Hickory Point Golf Course Banquet Facility, 727 W Weaver Rd, Forsyth, IL 62535 on Tuesday. The Trade Show is an Open House Trade Show on May 4th from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. The CICEO students (who represent Warrensburg-Latham High School, Maroa-Forsyth High School, Clinton High School, and Blue Ridge High School) will present 5 new businesses, with products ranging from cupcakes, custom made signs, custom made stickers, a clothing boutique, and a student who is doing interior remodeling services.
The annual trade show is the culminating event for CEO students who have spent the year developing their entrepreneurial skills to be able to bring a business concept into reality. That reality will be realized as individuals attending the shows will have the opportunity to buy products, sign up for services, and book appointment times with the owners at each booth.
To reach this point, students have stress-tested their business through a variety of different events, such as Banker Day and Shark Tank Day, they have navigated the paperwork necessary to be tax-compliant, and they have effectively managed their financial obligations in order to bring their product or service to market. The CEO program is designed to immerse students in experiential learning in leadership and entrepreneurship as well as build a professional network in their local community. The local trade show acts as the launch point for the students’ individual businesses as they exhibit the pinnacle of their entrepreneurial journey.
As the CEO students prepare for the trade show, they will be designing and printing banners for their booth, as well as business cards and other marketing material. They will be polishing their elevator pitches to potential customers and interested community members. Lastly, at this stage, they will be in the final stages of production and rollout for their services.
