[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 147 (Wednesday, September 28, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6205-S6206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING CREATING ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the Creating 
Entrepreneurial Opportunities, CEO, program, a yearlong class that 
creates a real-world learning environment for high school students 
across Illinois.
  The CEO program was started by author Jack Schultz, Craig Lindvahl, 
and other community leaders to change the

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way America's youth approach problems and give them more control over 
their futures. The mission of the CEO program is ``to prepare youths to 
be responsible, enterprising individuals who become entrepreneurs and 
contribute to the economic development and sustainability of their 
community.''
  Throughout this program, participants visit 30 to 50 community 
businesses during the school year. They learn how to start their own 
businesses from actual CEOs of local, national, and international 
companies. They also develop important life skills: critical thinking, 
problem solving, teamwork, and communication. Through this program, 
students gain a new sense of self-confidence to become future business 
leaders.
  The success of the CEO program would not be possible without Craig 
Lindvahl, the executive director of the Midland Institute for 
Entrepreneurship in Effingham, IL. Every day he works to empower 
students through the CEO program. Craig, who is a nationally recognized 
teacher and filmmaker, has spent the last 5 years teaching the CEO 
program and bringing together business people, community leaders, and 
students from high schools across Illinois. The program has also 
expanded into Minnesota and Indiana.
  Under Craig's leadership, the CEO program is helping build a strong 
foundation for our students, which will have a lasting effect on their 
futures. Our Nation's economy is evolving at a rapid rate, and in order 
to meet labor demands and foster innovation, we need mentors like Craig 
and programs like CEO to help prepare our students with the necessary 
skills to be competitive and successful. I had a chance to see this for 
myself when I visited the Williamson and Jackson Counties CEO classes 
in May and watched students present their final projects.
  It is with great pride that today I recognize the Creating 
Entrepreneurial Opportunities program for the transformative education 
they are providing the next generation of entrepreneurs and community 
leaders.

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