ClassE FY16 (1st Row): Matt Vaselovic, Morgan Hampton, Kyle Packer (2nd Row) Val Zendeli, Whitney Janssen, Jennie Hildebrand, Cole Diepholz, Jaz Monahan, Erin Anderson (3rd Row)  Katie Brush, Ryan Chambers, Kristen Doty, Kaitlyn Pearson, Hannah Houston and Jake Noelker

  Growing Entrepreneurs - Nurturing Success


Greetings!

This past week we brainstormed for group business ideas and went on our first tour outside the Lifespan Center given by Carol and Wendall Adams of Adams Memorials. We learned about entrepreneurial history both in Coles County and the United States and ended with a team building day. 

Like ClassE on Facebook - We will be pulling up pics from the past and sharing what is happening with some of our alums.

Also, check out our webpage www.keepitclasse.org for more information about the class.

Visitors In Class -Remember, we LOVE to have class visitors and all are welcome. You may want to contact me just to verify the place. This week former student Cole Keller came to visit.

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)

Monday, 9/7 - No Class - Labor Day

Tuesday 9/8 - Powersport HQ Tour
with Jim Short
5955 Park Drive, Charleston 

Wednesday 9/9 - 3-D Printing
with Leo Kitten
106 West Bldg. Lake Land College

Thurs. 910 - Group Work

Fri 9/11 - Group Work



Wendall and Carol Adams make a great team as they work to grow their memorial business throughout Central Illinois. They are one of the largest in the country and have also diversified with other businesses over the years.
Adam's Memorials are working with EIU to clean and refurbish the statues from the courthouse.
Bill Lair shared stories on the history of Coles County and successful entrepreneurs that had their beginnings here. He pointed out that you don't have to be in a large city to make it big.
We met in the Lifespan theatre and learned about the entrepreneurial giants of yesterday and innovative business practices. We will complete this 6-part series by the end of the year.
Students had to work together and get close to achieve this task.
Frank Brummer, former CEO of Farmweld, taught the group about taking it slow, communicating and supporting your team to become successful.

Class Investors 

(Click on the name to go to their website.)


Advanced Digital Solutions 

SEED Center at Eastern Illinois University

City of Charleston

City of Mattoon

Coldwell Banker Real Estate

Commercial Electric

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

Inyart Tire and Auto

Lake Land College

Lifetime Eye Care

Lorenz Supply Company

Marketing by Jones, LLC

McDonald's of Coles County 

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