Perryville Area CEO Program to launch in Fall 2024, will prepare students for business world

PERRYVILLE, Mo. (KBSI) – Crystal Jones with the Perry County Economic Development Authority says the Perryville Area CEO Program will allow students to gather first-hand knowledge about the business world to prepare them for success in whatever field they pursue. 

“It also teaches the students leadership skills. They network with these business mentors,” she said. “They learn all about how to start a business and how to run a business.” 

Students will spend class time in local businesses learning from the people who drive the progress and success of Perry County… 

Jared Cochran, owner of Speed Fabrication in Perryville, said starting a business can be a difficult endeavor, especially if you don’t have enough resources or knowledge of the inner workings of running a business. 

“Why not teach the kids that are coming up?” he said. “Give them good skills. Give them good business skills. Give them good personal skills.” 

Cochran said not only will this program give students the tools necessary to start a business, but also to be a great manager or supervisor. 

“That helps business owners also grow, by having a good person underneath them that knows what they need to go through and do what the business owner has already done,” he said.

Perry County School District 32 Assistant Superintendent Craig Hayden said he is thankful to be able to provide this opportunity to students come next school year.

“I kid that I’m kind of along for the ride because I’ve got some awesome people here who have made this happen and have introduced it to our school district, and we’re glad that it’s going to be part of our course offerings coming up in the 2024-25 school year,” he said.

Perryville’s CEO Program is one of just two such programs in the state of Missouri.