This morning, Jefferson County CEO welcomed Tony Wielt - State Farm Insurance Agent as our guest speaker.

Tony wears many hats in our community, but his connection to Jefferson County CEO runs even deeper. Since the program’s inception nearly eleven years ago, Tony has supported CEO in a variety of roles including investor, board member, mentor, guest speaker, and advocate for our young entrepreneurs.

His message this morning centered around one powerful word: LEGACY.

Being a CEO student means something. It comes with honor and respect, but it also comes with responsibility and expectation. Tony reminded our students that what you do today matters. How you treat people matters. And the impact of those choices may still be felt 10, 25, or even 35 years from now.

A few takeaways from the morning:

🔴 Leaders also need to be led. Leadership isn’t always about being at the front of the room or having the biggest title.

🔴 Everyone has a gift. One person’s gifts aren’t more important than another’s. Know what you bring to the table and be willing to share it.

🔴 Don’t be uncomfortable being professional. You are interviewing every day through the way you communicate, show up, and treat others.

🔴 Don’t be afraid of hard. Some of the greatest feelings of accomplishment come from doing hard things.

🔴 People and relationships matter. The connections you build and the way you treat people can have an impact far beyond today.

At some point this year, each of our young entrepreneurs will become the CEO, CMO, CFO, and more of their own business. The habits, relationships, and reputation they are building right now will help shape the leaders they become.

Thank you, Tony, for investing in Jefferson County CEO from the very beginning and continuing to challenge our students to think about the legacy they are building today. 🚀