🎶 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚—𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒕. 🎶

CEO had the unique opportunity to visit AAA Swing City Music in Edwardsville with owner Art Risavy—entrepreneur and Mayor of Edwardsville!

Art shared the incredible story of Swing City Music, a business built over 61 years, rooted in grit, integrity, and a commitment to evolving with the times. From its beginnings with his father to the innovative shop it is today, students saw firsthand how hard work and adaptability fuel long-term success. We even got to enjoy performances from some talented CEO musicians! 🎸

The learning didn’t stop there. Students then headed to City Council Chambers, where Mayor Risavy and key members of the city team gave us a behind-the-scenes look at how our city operates.

One of the biggest takeaways? The parallels between running a business and running a city:

➡️ 𝑩𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌, 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒕
➡️ 𝑩𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
➡️ 𝑩𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆

Mayor Risavy left students with powerful advice:
💡 If you’re willing to put in the time, you will succeed
💡 Push yourself outside of your comfort zone
💡 Stay curious and seek out people doing what interests you

To Mayor Risavy, James Arnold (Economic & Community Development), Grace Pellock (Parks & Edwardsville Parks and Recreation), & Cathy Hensley (Communications Coordinator); Thank you for an inspiring morning and for showing our students what it looks like to lead—in business and in community. The City of Edwardsville