ClassE is where we grow entrepreneurs and nurture success. This is what we have been learning this week.

There are only two more weeks of class and we continue have great tours, meet new people in the community and help out where ever possible. Please plan to meet these great students at the trade show. Sorry, there are no pictures from the Consolidated Tour or Coles Together Luncheon, because the facilitator was out of town.

On May 9th, Please bring your family and friends to Buffalo Wild Wings and mention ClassE. Ten percent of your bill will be donated to ClassE.

All Are Invited to the ClassE Trade Show - May 8th at the LifeSpan Center, 5-7 pm. 

Upcoming This Week

Monday, April 30th - Exit Strategy 
with John Inyart, of Inyart Tire and Auto

WEIU Issues and Attitudes - noon - Mason and Jake G. and Lyndsay

Tuesday, May 1st - LSC Communications Tour
with James Lanman
6821 E. County Road 100 N., Mattoon

Wednesday, May 2nd - Learning about Cabi Clothing 
with Kelly Green
29 Stonegate Drive, Charleston

Mattoon Exchange Club - 7 am Pagliacci's - Reese and Silvey

Thursday, May 3rd - Tour of Diepholz Auto Group
with Ron Diepholz
631 W. Lincoln Ave., Mattoon

Friday, May 4th - In-class work and Evaluations 
with Laura Sullivan, EIEFES

ClassE meets daily from 8-9:20 am at the Lifespan Center (unless noted above). 11021 E. Cty. Rd. 800 N., Charleston (Loxa Road - northeast of SBLHS). Class is open and welcome to everyone.
Wave Graphics

Dan Paulson started Wave Graphics right out of high school and has grown the business by asking for the business and eventually buying three print shops in Champaign. The retiring owners usually financed his acquisition so they were there for a few years to help make sure the business had a smooth transition.They employ 110 people. His brother, Doug, runs the shop in Mattoon and they do hot market printing with very fast turn around time. They did the Chicago Cubs shirts for the World Series. 

They also build on-line storefronts for some of their larger customers as a service and as a way to add value to their relationship.
Preparing for the Trade Show

ClassE welcomed Douglas County ClassE and their facilitator Stephany McMahon to class. Students interviewed each other and learned about their businesses.  Eric from the LifeSpan Center demonstrated how to set up the pipe and drape that we will use at our trade show. Former ClassE classes built these frames and we are letting the Douglas County CEO class borrow them for their trade show.
Learning about Broadcasting and Promotion

Lucy Englum, General Manager of Cromwell Radio, let the class know that the radio industry is alive and well. 91-93% of the population turn on the radio each day. Cromwell Radio's owner owns 31 stations and current challenges to the industry is the Ad Tax proposal.

Then the students went down to the studios to record their tags for the trade show commercials. It was a fun day! Thank you Cromwell for becoming a new investor to ClassE!
 Consolidated Communications and Coles Together Luncheon

The team at Consolidated Communications told the class about their ever expanding business. The Lumpkin Family took a risk and bought the first telephone lines in Coles County. Over the years, Consolidated Communications continues to grow and serve the needs of the community. 

Friday, the students attended the Coles Together Luncheon where they networked and listened to a speaker who discussed big data and using that for marketing.


We are so thankful for the generosity of the Coles County businesses that sponsor ClassE. For a complete listing and more information about these businesses, please click below.  We also appreciate the that the Lifespan Center serves as our home base throughout the year. We hope you support them as they support us!


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  Investors 
ClassE | 217-549-2564 | [email protected] | www.keepitclasse.org
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