Nealy Hamson

Nealy Hamson serves as a school counselor at Mount Vernon Township High School and the facilitator of Jefferson County CEO. She brings more than 24 years of experience as a classroom teacher and counselor and holds master's degrees in Educational Administration (McKendree University) and School Counseling (Missouri Baptist University). As the CEO facilitator, Nealy plans and schedules business visits and guest speakers aligned to key topics that help students advance through the program’s major projects: the class business venture and their individual business creation. She works closely with the Jefferson County CEO Board to ensure program fidelity and impact, and she engages the broader community: investors, board members, mentors, and business leaders whose support is central to the program’s success. Nealy is passionate about the CEO experience, which she believes is unmatched in building a growth mindset and helping students stand out from their peers. A cornerstone of her approach is the community component: students discover opportunities in their own hometowns while building relationships, networking, and learning to leverage local resources. In addition, Nealy serves as Regional Support for the Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship, partnering with CEO programs across Southern Illinois to assist facilitators and boards in strengthening and elevating their programs.