Mentors
CEO Mentor
A mentoring program provides an effective networking model for WACC CEO students. Establishing effective one on one connections, that will strengthen the student's awareness of employment opportunities in our County and develop greater social skills through this mentorship experience. Every WACC CEO student, known as a student, is matched with a mentor from the business community. Ultimately, these relationships strengthen the CEO program's success and builds generational bridges between the student and the business community.
Here are the following responsibilities and activities:
- Meet with the student for scheduled meetings to discuss what they are learning in CEO
- Attend Monthly Mentor Mornings
- Review the student's business plan for their individual business
- Experience the weekly progress of their Protege through reading their journal entries of what they experience each day in CEO
Would you like to be a Mentor?
A mentor is a business owner, entrepreneur, or intreprenuer from our areas business community. A mentor is someone willing to share his or her time and expertise with a CEO student. Please contact us, if you are interested in being a CEO mentor. You will be provided mentor training and be required to have a background check to enroll in the program. Successful mentoring partnerships are advantageous for everyone – the student, the mentor and the CEO program.
Our Mentors
Dean AhlersSterling Federal Bank
President/CEO
Caroline Arnould
Value Lab
Owner
Karla Belzer
U of I Extension
County Director
Scott Brown
Wendler Engineering
Engineer
Gary DeVore
Haylee Knutti DVM
Morrison Veterinary Clinic
Associate Veterinarian
Aaron Flick
Wahl Clipper Corp.
Senior Marketing Associate
Corey Gabler
Steel River Systems
Managing Member
Rebecca Garland
Verifacts, LLC
Member, CCO
Lynn Hammer
Retired Business Owner
Chris Hammitt
Hammitt Insurance Agency
Owner
Brian Hawkins
The Cornerstone Agency Inc
Insurance Produce
Dr. David Hellmich
Sauk Valley Community College
President
Mark Humphreys
MCR Technologies Group, Inc.
President/Owner
Nik Jakobs
Jakobs Bros.Farms Inc
Owner
Dallas Knack
Sauk Valley Community College
Marketing Coordinator
Matthew Lenox
Dixon Chamber & Main Street
Marketing Director
Patrick McBride
McBride Insurance Agency
Owner
Terry McGuire
HALO
Senior Vice President
Ryan Miller
KSB Hospital
VP/CPO
Krista Morthland
The Kitchen Incubator of NWIL/GSDC
Director/Business Manager
Seth Nicklaus
Dixon Park District
Recreation Director
Alex Oliver
Olive Nut
Owner
Mary Oros
Sauk Valley Bank
Market President
Nicholas Pepper
7:24 Fitness on The Rock
Owner/Health and Fitness Coach
Suzy Perino
Sauk Valley Bank
Market President
Alejandro Rivera
RE/MAX Sauk Valley
Broker/Owner
Bailey Russell
Wahl Clipper Corp.
Senior Marketing Associate
Janel Stahr
Stahr Media and AroundPtown.com
Chief Operating Officer
Daniel Swihart
Open Door Community Church
Senior Pastor
Mike Venier
Venier Jewelers
Owner
Sena Warkins
Imprintable Memories
Sales and Marketing
Bill Wescott
Rebecca Wilson
Pine Creek Escape
Owner
Christy Zepezauer
Woodlawn Arts Academy
Executive Director