Meet Nealy Hamson, Facilitator for Jefferson County CEO.

In this role, Nealy doesn’t operate as a traditional classroom teacher. Instead, she orchestrates a yearlong, community-embedded entrepreneurship experience—aligning real-world business visits, guest speakers, mentor partnerships, and major milestones like the class business venture and each student’s personal startup.

Working closely with the Jefferson County CEO Board, Nealy ensures program fidelity and elevates the support of our investors, mentors, and local business leaders so students have the tools, networks, and experiences they need to succeed. She also serves as Regional Support for the Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship, partnering with CEO programs across Southern Illinois to strengthen facilitator practice and board engagement.

At its core, the Facilitator role is about connecting students to opportunities, coordinating resources, and guiding the program’s rhythm throughout the year—so our young entrepreneurs can focus on building skills, confidence, and businesses that make an impact.