⛳️🦖 𝐂𝐄𝐎 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐓𝐋!!! 🧗‍♂️🎉

Edwardsville CEO had the incredible opportunity to tour 4 amazing locations in St. Louis this past Friday. Not only did they get the chance to peek behind the curtain of these many fantastic businesses, they were able to have amazing conversations with the entrepreneurs, leaders and staff that manage the day-to-day operations!

We would like to extend a 𝑯𝑼𝑮𝑬 𝑪𝑬𝑶 𝑻𝑯𝑨𝑵𝑲 𝒀𝑶𝑼 to all of the businesses and team members (listed below) that shared their time, talent and resources with our crew. What an incredible experience!! Enjoy reading through a few of the students’ favorite takeaways from our day below:

T-REX

No one knows your business like you do 🦖
Resilience is key 🔑
Collaboration is a tremendous catalyst for growth 👏🏻
It is okay to move to different places or locations for your business and be okay with change 💪
The ability to filter advice from others is very important 👂

So iLL

Do what you love 🧗‍♂️
Stick with an idea you are passionate about 💡
Invest in your niche for long term success 📍
Be excited to go to work every day 🥳
It’s okay to start from 0 and to do everything yourself💪

Topgolf (St.Louis - Midtown)
Take care of your team first ⛳️
Take care of your team so they take care of your customers 👍
Make sure you do something that you enjoy 🥳
Your customers won’t enjoy the experience if you aren’t enjoying what you are doing – HAVE FUN!! 🎉

Gateway Arch

There will always be unforeseen circumstances…you have to be willing to adapt & pivot 🌟
Listening to customer feedback is very important 👂
Teamwork is vital – it takes all departments, all members of the team, communicating and collaborating to create an enjoyable customer experience 👏
I never realized how many different people/companies went into running the arch I’ve known since my childhood. ❤️

𝑺𝑷𝑬𝑪𝑰𝑨𝑳 𝑻𝑯𝑨𝑵𝑲𝑺:

Rockstar Party Bus St. Louis
- John Richter

T-Rex
- David Berczek (NGA Public Affairs)
- Hailey Russell (CEO- Chippin)
- Matt Hanks (NGA)
- Matt Taylor (Another Reality Studio)
- Jessie Bleile (Academic Outreach NGA)
- Kevin Golinghorst (Geospatial Innovation Center)
- Kathleen Klein (Community Director – TRex)
- Zach Ridings (XR Lab manager)

So iLL
- Dan Chancellor | Founder – So iLL

Top Golf
- Patrick Cleary (Operations Manager)
- Sherry Lane (Sales Account Manager)

Gateway Arch
- Sarah Clarke | Director of Operations | Gateway Arch