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Greetings!
I am looking for volunteers to listen and critique the students' final business pitch presentations from 7:30 - 9 am on Monday, April 22nd (at EIU Renewable Energy Center) and on Tuesday, April 23rd (at the Lifespan Center). You can volunteer for just one or both days. Each student will give a 10-15 minute pitch about their business, and they would love to hear your suggestions for improvment. This will also prepare them for questions they may be asked at the trade show. Please email me at jcdau@eiu.edu if you are willing and able to join us those days.
Please remember that the deadline to apply to be a part of next year's ClassE 2013-2014 has been extended. Click here for the student application. Please feel free to forward this
e-blast to students who may be interested in joining us next year!
Monday, April 8th - Sales Strategies
EIU Renewable Energy Center, 2110 18th St Charleston
Tuesday, April 9th - Wave Graphics Tour
with Doug Paulson at 504 Shelby Ave. Mattoon
Wednesday, April 10th - Work Day
at EIU Renewable Energy Center, 2110 18th St Charleston
Thursday, April 11th - Giving Back to the Community
with Joe Dively
Lifespan Center at 11021 E County Road 800n, Charleston
Friday, April 12th - Two Book Club Reviews
with Eric Wiles and Rhydon Vassay
EIU Renewable Energy Center, 2110 18th St Charleston
Mark your calendar:
ClassE Trade Show/Millennial Entrepreneurs Presentation
Tuesday, May 7th, 5-7 pm Lifespan Center
with Jack Schultz and Craig Lindvahl |
No Class! - Monday, we were of on the class Spring Break! |
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Visto Presentation
with Vince Higgs
Vince Higgs, CEO class alum, Camp e3 counselor and Lake Land College student, spoke to the class about his upstart company called Visto. Visto now produces, sells and intalls truck kits that converts truck engines to run on propane.This conversion will substantially reduce the cost of fuel for the buyers of this product. He led us through the highs and lows of bringing a new product to market. He discussed expanding the company and gaining expertise from investors as this company has grown and become more complex.
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Birch Electric
with Hugh Birch
Wednesday, Hugh Birch met with ClassE at the EIU Renewable Energy Center and shared his experience as a business owner. He discussed personnel issues such as: hiring, firing, managing and putting together an employee manual to clearly communicate the expectations of the company to employees. They learned that it is best to decide in the first ninety days whether an employee will be a good fit with your company. Hugh also stated that, "75% of your work should be regimented or routine, and the other 25% should be learning somethin new."  |
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Persimmon Lane Tour/Green Green Crafts of Home
with Duska Cornwell and Dan Smith
Thursday, we went to the square in Charleston to meet at Persimmon Lane, an antique shop owned by Duska Cornwell that specializes in retro and industrial pieces. Duska told us how she got started on the square and how difficult it is to attract customers to downtown. One way that she has gotten the word out about her shop is by teaming up with other businesses on the square and using co-op marketing, visitor guides and creating a local map with all 14 antique and resale shops in town. Duska says that, in her business, it is easy to get a bad reputation if you don' give a fair price, so she always researches the inventory before pricing a unique object. Many of the students had to try the old-time soda she sold there.
After listening to Duska, we walked over to What's Cookin' and we talked with her father, Dan Smith, who makes furniture and other items out of reused materials and items in Casey.
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Work Day
with Jennifer Garren, Business Solutions Center
Friday, we had a work day and Jennifer discussed internet security and the rights of employers to view anything on company computers. Jennifer also warned not to put inappropriate pictures or posts online that potential clients or employers could see.
The class discussed the trade show promotion and reviewed sample trade show booth to get them thinking about their booth for the May 7th ClassE Trade Show. Colton Anderson and Michael Strader presented to the class and requested more money to cover start-up costs for their landscaping business.
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Class Investors
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Advanced Digital Solutions Bella Vein Laser Center Medical Spa City of Charleston City of Mattoon Coldwell Banker Real Estate Commercial Electric Corrie Appraisal & Consulting, Inc. Curry & Co. Curry Construction Dr. Dean and Jeanne Dau 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 Porter Auto Body Reed's Fly-On Farming Rural King Supply Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System Scholes Trucking, Inc. Eli & Ann Sidwell The Sparks Foundation Unique Home Properties United Graphics, Inc. Upchurch Group, Inc. Vantage Outsourcing Veolia Environmental Services Wells Fargo Advisors West & Company, LLC |
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Other Financial Contributors
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