Inspiration High!
Today, our CEO students experienced something truly special. We walked into Bill Millikin’s Ace Hardware in Lebanon, expecting to hear a business story—but we left inspired by much more than that. Bill is a serial entrepreneur—and his energy, honesty, and generosity filled the room as he shared the journey that shaped his life, his businesses, and his community.
It all started with a spark in Junior Achievement at Danville High School, a moment that ignited a lifelong passion for entrepreneurship. Bill didn’t just tell his story—he brought it to life, asking questions, tossing out business terms, and pulling our students into the conversation.
He shared how he put himself through SIU–Carbondale, working 40 hours a week at a lumber yard while earning his degree. Bill loved his job, but dreamed of a career in finance. But as the early–mid 1990s brought rapid shifts in technology, his path took an unexpected turn. He spent several years in IT for a St. Louis based high end retail chain that once had 16 stores nationwide, but slowly dwindled to just one. When asked if he’d run what was left, he didn’t hesitate:
“I won’t run the company… I’ll buy the company.”
And so he did. Bill knew the consumer demand was still there, so he transformed that business from retail storefront into an e-commerce company, shipping products worldwide. This was long before online retail was commonplace—back when Amazon was still only selling books! He worked tirelessly, even creating a small apartment in his warehouse for a couple of days each week so he could avoid exhausting early-morning and late-night commutes—his family remained in Lebanon, and his dedication was unwavering.
Needing more family time, Bill sold the business and purchased Ace Hardware in Mascoutah reigniting that love he found while working at the lumber company in college. Here, his heart and values shine. At Ace, personal service and knowledgeable employees make sure customers get exactly what they need and leave happy—a philosophy that reflects Bill’s care for people as much as his business acumen. During COVID, he opened the upstairs for free batting cages and pitching lanes, giving kids a safe place to stay active. He added a Tropical Sno, a dairy-free business his daughters could run in college, and a place where family’s can gather for a sweet refreshing treat.
A few years ago when the hardware store in Lebanon burned down, Bill didn’t see it as a complete loss—he saw another opportunity in the town he calls home. He bought the property, built a new store on it, and turned a vacant adjacent building into a community event center, where our students spent much of the day listening to his story. Even adding a tenant like Consign and Design shows how his wheels are always turning, thinking about his next entrepreneurial adventure.
Bill is also a proud investor in Silver Creek Area CEO, and his excitement to host our class today was contagious. When a student asked if he’d thought about his next business venture and what that might be, he smiled and said:
“Do you mean since I woke up this morning, or since yesterday?”
Bill, thank you for sharing your story, your time, and your heart with our CEO students. Your journey is one of vision, hard work, and generosity. You inspire us all to dream bigger, work harder, and give more.
And yes—the Ace Hardware PEZ dispensers were an absolute hit with our crew of 20!!
