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

We've been busy working on the Trade Show and Annual Report this week while taking time out to meet with some growing employers in the healthcare and transportation industry. 

Trade Show - May 8th at the LifeSpan Center, 5-7 pm

Upcoming This Week

Monday, April 23rd - Tour of Wave Graphics
with Dan Paulson
320 N. 2nd St.,  Mattoon

Tuesday, April 24th - Welcoming Douglas County CEO and Trade Show Planning
with Eric and Jean from the LifeSpan Center

Wednesday, April 25th - Creating Radio Spots at Cromwell Communications
with Lucy Englum
209 Lake Land Blvd., Mattoon

Thursday, April 26th - Tour of Consolidated Communications
with Michael Smith
121 S. 17th St., Mattoon

Friday, April 27th - ClassE will be held at the Coles Together Annual Meeting
with Ken Gronbach (Demographic and Generational Marketing)
Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Education Center
Special Time 11:30 am - 1:15 pm

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.
Practicing Trade Show Pitches

The students were asked to write goals they wanted to achieve at the trade show and what interesting activity or information would draw the trade show attendees to their booth.

We took some time to role-play with Laura Sullivan and then practiced our pitches on each other. 

Learning About Healthcare

Jerry Esker, CEO and Kim Uphoff, VP of Development, spoke to the students about Sarah Bush Lincoln Healthcare System and answered questions about the demographics of the region and industry trends. The new cardiac center and acquiring the Bonutti Clinic are both opportunities that will enhance the services that the hospital provides.

Next, we then toured the new Regional Cancer
Center and saw the very expensive and highly advanced linear accelerator.
Finding Opportunity Close to Home

We took a bit of a drive to Toledo to visit with Greg Ervin of Ervin Equipment. Greg's family was in farming and the construction business, but Greg saw an opportunity in leasing trailers all over the United States and Mexico. We discussed NAFTA, the Panama Canal, driverless technology and other challenges in the transportation industry.
He discussed how it might have been advantageous to move his
company to a metropolitan area for recruitment purposes, but has enjoyed employing people in his hometown. 

In 2000, he began to lease quality coach trailers to the country western industry. Diamond Coach was created because he felt that they could create a better quality product than what he found on the market. Both businesses have grown exponentially over the years.
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!


money_bag_tree.jpg

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