Young entrepreneurs gather for CEO trade show

KOKOMO, Ind. (AP) - Landscaping, interior design and locally produced and sold honey were just some of the businesses on display at the second Kokomo CEO trade show Wednesday.

"In the course of the year they've learned how to create a business plan; they've learned how to work the process of ideation, where they come up with a concept and they've learned how to work that through fruition," said CEO facilitator Morgan Young, speaking of the 18 students involved in this year's Kokomo CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) trade show.

The students, who come from high schools in several counties, are chosen each year to participate in the program, which is aimed at developing young entrepreneurs while increasing economic development and sustainability in the Kokomo region.

"We're not trying to find necessarily the kid who is the best scholastically, but we're trying to find that kid who has that heart for entrepreneurship," Young said.

The students chosen for the program have been preparing for two hours at the start of their school day for the entire school year. They've developed and executed their own business plans, culminating in the display of their ideas for the community and potential business investors to see.

Young, who owns Morgan Young Photos and the popular Main Street Café in downtown Kokomo with his wife, Sandra, is a prominent business owner in the community in his own right.

"One of the biggest things they're taking away from Kokomo CEO is how to be a successful adult, more so than just a successful business person," Young said. "They're learning the skills that you need to be successful in life."

In addition to marketing techniques and developing business plans, students learn how to interact with the public, provide great customer service, and foster meaningful business relationships.

Abigail Gerig, a student at Tri-Central High School in Sharpsville, is a testament to that.

"Probably the biggest thing that CEO has taught me is more about how to actually talk to adults and have better conversations," Gerig said. "And I've just gained a lot of connections from CEO, which has helped me to understand a lot more in a lot of different ways."

Gerig owns Dragonwood, a honey and syrup maker business that she has run for seven years now. Her family also owns a beekeeping business in Tipton County.

"(We're) primarily focused on providing natural sugars to local markets," Gerig said. "We sell honey and maple syrup. We've been beekeepers for about 12 years now and maple syrup makers for four years and we just focus on providing local products."

Gerig sells many products through her honey and maple syrup business, like liquid and cream honey, local and wildflower honey, traditional maple syrup and maple candy.

And although her family has been in the honey business for years, Gerig found Kokomo CEO helpful in many ways, which is why she encourages students who may not be entrepreneurial-minded to consider joining the class.

"It's a fantastic program, not just for entrepreneurs, but for any high school student that wants to grow personally," Gerig said.

Throughout the school year, students visit anywhere from one to three businesses each week. The goal is to expose them to businesses at every level, from the local businesses just starting out, to major companies, Young said.

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Source: Kokomo Tribune, http://bit.ly/1VYaONL

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Information from: Kokomo Tribune, http://www.ktonline.com