Wall-to-Wall People at CEO Trade Show

The biggest crowd yet turned out Wednesday evening for the 2013 Effingham County CEO Trade Show.

(CHRIS LIDY WON THE "ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD" VOTED ON BY HIS FELLOW C-E-O CLASSMATES)

Some two dozen businesses were shown off at the Effingham Performance Center by members of the CEO class.  The students have developed the businesses in the months since the class completed their CEO Experience as a project earlier this school year.

(SHANNON DAUGHERTY FARED WELL AT THE SHOW WITH HER DESIGNER SCARVES)

Everything from cupcakes to auto detailing to jewelry was seen among the student-run businesses, as well as baseball memorabilia, decorative scarves and photography.  Students either had an idea and contacted vendors with whom they could work, or they developed a product and then found those who could market the merchandise.

(MOLLY HIGGS WAS A HIT WITH HER VARIETY OF CUPCAKES)

Class member Chris Lidy was voted "Entrepreneur of the Year" by his fellow classmates, while Ryan Ruholl and Landriah Hardiek won $4,000 and $1,000 scholarships, respectively.

(LANDRIAH HARDIEK IS PRESENTED A $1,000 SCHOLARSHIP BY JIM SCHULTZ IN MEMORY OF HIS FATHER, JOHN SCHULTZ.  RYAN RUHOLL RECEIVED A $4,000 SCHOLARSHIP)

The Trade Show had been preceded by a presentation for about 80 individuals by CEO instructor Craig Lindvahl and local entrepreneur Jack Schultz.  Lindvahl and Schultz spoke at the Thelma Keller Convention Center to those interested in establishing a CEO program in their schools or communities.

(WILL BECK, WORKING WITH CHARLIE SCHULTZ, HAD A VARIETY OF BASEBALL MEMORABILIA AVAILABLE AT THE TRADE SHOW)

Lindvahl is leaving as local CEO teacher as of the end of the school year.  He's taking over the establishment of CEO in other communities elsewhere in Illinois.  Kent Probst, who has been working with Lindvahl this year, will take over the local program for 2013-2014.