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Camp Ceo gives particpants business skills

By Karen Binder, The Southern

Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:07 PM CDT

CARBONDALE ? Jenna Jamieson was not sure what she wanted to study in college until she attended Camp CEO, an intensive, but fun week-long entrepreneurship program for high school students.

"After attending Camp CEO and learning about all the components it takes to run a business I realized that owning my own business was something I really wanted. I know Camp CEO further confirmed that I love being a leader and that leading my own business some day could actually be possible," the Carbondale student said.

Sponsored by the Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center within Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Office of Regional and Economic Development, Camp CEO is set this summer from July 13 to July 18.

The experience promises 25 campers they will leave with their own business plan, a briefcase, business cards, marketing plans, entrepreneur skills and a chance to compete for "venture capital" to start a company. There also are some more typical camp activities, such as room and board in campus dormitories, pizza and outings for swimming, bowling and movies.

The cost of camp is $595, which includes meals, equipment, materials, transportation and lodging. Scholarships are available.

The camp agenda focuses on building skills in negotiation, sales, customer service, leadership, problem solving, networking, time management, record-keeping and public speaking through leadership training, team building, business site visits, networking receptions, speakers, professional etiquette dinner and more.

Emily Carter launched the program five years ago with help from her staff. As a result, it's attracted awards as well as attention from The Wall Street Journal.

"The camp is going gangbusters," Carter said, adding that Millikin University in Decatur is using the program for the first time this year.

A highlight this year will be a muffin selling contest inspired by Donald Trump's "The Apprentice" reality television show, except this will substitute Cristaudo's bakery in Carbondale for New York City.

By the way, Camp CEO is only one of three levels of educational programs from The Entrepreneurial Center. The center sponsors a version of Camp CEO for the grade school level at Lewis School in Carbondale but presented in weekly segments.

Then there's the Saluki CEO Corps, which is co-sponsored by the Entrepreneurial Center and Marian King of the Innovation Center. Despite its campus connection through the SIUC College of Business and Administration, the corps encourages students in all majors to join. A chapter of the Collegiate Entrepreneurial Organization, the corps' diversity "allows all students to work together and maybe let them see a way to stay in Southern Illinois after graduation," Carter said.

Carter added that the multilevel educational programs are important to attracting and maintaining youth interest in staying in the region.

"The earlier the better is best when it comes to planting the seed of entrepreneurship at all ages," she said. "Entrepreneur knowledge is really about life skills that everybody needs to know, whether it's money management, business planning or talking to an audience."

karen.binder@thesouthern.com

351-5080