Together…

CEO is all about community. And when a community works together, great things happen. Last Friday was the perfect example.

Normally, our Friday class days are hosted at Wisper Internet. But when we learned Wisper provides free public WiFi at The Mill—a new outdoor venue in Mascoutah—we made a last-minute change and decided to take class outside. When our board member Vern Hamm heard about our plan, he made one quick phone call, and we had another surprise: a guest speaker—none other than Darryl Stein.

Darryl is one of those salt-of-the-earth leaders who doesn’t just talk about making an impact—he lives it. A farmer by profession, he’s also built businesses, supported local ventures, and extended his generosity far beyond Mascoutah. He’s provided hygiene supplies and meals for the homeless in St. Louis, purchased a bus and filled it with clothing and shoes before driving it all the way to Honduras (yes, you read that right!). He even spearheaded and effort to bring a young girl from Honduras to the U.S., housed her, and made sure she received life-changing surgery. When it comes to giving back, Darryl is the real deal.

And then there’s The Mill. Built in 1849, it was once the heartbeat of the local economy. Twenty plus years ago, Darryl partnered with Tim Boyce (also one of our board members) to purchase the mill—with a dream to bring it back to life. Nine years ago, Darryl and his sons began dismantling the old mill—nail by nail, board by board—with a vision to create a gathering place at the center of town.

Today, that vision is reality. The old weigh station is now a stage for concerts and movies. The site of the mill itself is a covered pavilion with picnic tables, restrooms, and concessions, while the original foundation still stands. If walls could talk, the stories they’d tell! And in true Darryl fashion, this space was generously donated to the city of Mascoutah.

For our students, Darryl didn’t just share the history of The Mill. He shared life lessons from an entrepreneur whose focus has always been giving. One thought in particular will stick with us:

“Don’t pursue success to achieve happiness; pursue happiness and success will follow.”

Thank you Wisper Internet for providing free public WiFi.
Thank you Vernon Hamm for making that quick call.
And most of all, thank you Darryl Stein—for your vision, generosity, and wisdom that inspired our young leaders.

It truly takes a village. And Friday, we had one. ❤️