✨What an incredible night celebrating 10 years of Jefferson County CEO at our Annual Trade Show ✨
Twelve young entrepreneurs showcased months of hard work, creativity, and growth—and the support from this community was incredible. From first conversations and ideas to fully developed businesses, this group has truly brought their visions to life.
A sincere thank you to our Trade Show sponsors for investing in these students and recognizing their efforts:
🏆 Great Expectations Grant (Rent One, Carrico Family): Anna Bousman – Sweet Sentimentals
🏆 Best in Show (Legence Bank): Anna Bousman – Sweet Sentimentals
🏆 Chamber Membership Award (Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce): Brennan Tate – BT Vendz
🏆 People’s Choice Award (Jefferson County Development Corporation): Allie Sweeten – Sweeten Syrups
🏆 Alumni Legacy Award (SMC Academy): Gage Peterson – Peterson Seasonings
🏆 Zo Williams Momentum Award (People’s National Bank): Gage Peterson – Peterson Seasonings
Thank you to everyone who attended, made a purchase, and supported these young entrepreneurs. Your encouragement and investment mean more than you know.
We also want to extend our sincere gratitude to our board members, mentors, investors, school districts, business owners, and guest speakers, as well as our strong partnership with Rend Lake College. Your time, guidance, and willingness to pour into these students throughout the year are what make this experience so impactful. This program simply would not be possible without your continued support and belief in our young entrepreneurs.
A special thank you to Cedarhurst Center for the Arts staff for being so accommodating and providing the perfect backdrop for this event. We are also grateful to CEO alum Callie Lueking of Flower Girls for the beautiful florals that helped bring the space to life.
We are proud of the Class of 2026 and excited to see where their journeys lead next!
