CEO History
The moment that CEO became an idea.
The Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship
Partnering with Communities
The Midland Institute, headquartered in Effingham, IL partners with communities throughout the United States to establish and support excellent CEO programs. For every community interested in CEO, the Institute strives to make it an easy and fun process to implement the program and provides ongoing direction to keep the program a success.
Supporting Communities
The Institute guides CEO communities through the process of establishing their local CEO board, hiring their facilitator, implementing the student application process, as well as providing on-going training and support. The Institute serves as a resource for all CEO programs throughout the United States. The Midland Institute is a non-profit with a 501(c)3 status that is governed by a board of directors.
The moment that CEO became an idea.
The first CEO program began in Effingham, IL in 2008. The genesis of CEO came from a student who wanted to connect with a local entrepreneur but wasn’t sure how to go about it. The conversation between the entrepreneur and the student provided the impetus to form an entrepreneurship class based on real world, real life opportunities and experiences.
A little bit about our HistoryPastYesteryear
2010
The Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship was formed to support the expansion and growth of the Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities Program.
2011
CEO expansion begins.
2013
CEO spreads to 5 communities in Illinois and Indiana.
2014
12 CEO Programs continue in three states: Illinois, Indiana, and Minnesota, impacting nearly 200 young people.
2015
CEO grows to 27 classes in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Minnesota. Nearly 400 young people participate in the program. The First National trade show & National Conference is held that summer in Effingham, IL.
2016
37 CEO classes begin in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Minnesota.
2017
39 CEO programs begin in communities across four states.
2018
41 programs perpetuate the mission of CEO in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Colorado.