CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) began in the Fall of 2008 in Effingham, Illinois. 
The CEO program:

• Is funded by business investors
• Is open to high school juniors and seniors
• Selects students through a rigorous blind application process
• Serves students from public, private high schools and home school.
• Meets for 90 minutes each day
• Provides 2 high school credits
• Utilizes area businesses as host sites and never meets in a classroom.
• Visits 40+ area businesses each year
• Hosts 40+ guest speakers each year
• Emphasizes 21st century Learning skills
• Provides the opportunity for each student to start their own business
• Provides a mentor from the business community for each CEO student
• Hosts an annual trade show to showcase student businesses

Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities is a year-long course designed to utilize partnerships that provide an overview of business development and processes.

Our local business community partners with area schools to create project-based experiences for students by providing funding, expertise, meeting space, business tours, and one-on-one mentoring. Students visit area businesses, learn from guest speakers, participate in a class business, write business plans, and start and operate their own businesses. Business concepts learned through the experiential CEO class are critical; the 21st century skills of problem-solving, teamwork, self-motivation, responsibility, higher-order thinking, communication, and inquiry are at the heart of a student’s development throughout the course.