On Friday, our Silver Creek Area CEO students had the chance to visit Creekside Bar & Grill in Lebanon—and from the moment we walked in, we felt like more than guests.

We were greeted with doughnuts, warm smiles, and incredible hospitality. Each of us even left with a Creekside t-shirt! What stood out most was how kind, approachable, and encouraging the owners were. Several students commented on how comfortable they made them feel and how open they were in sharing their story.

Creekside is a woman-owned, family-owned business, led by Kristina Adams, Becky Faust, and Bethany Williams. Born from a joke at Texas Roadhouse and turned into a bold leap of faith, today they run a thriving bar and grill—and Bethany also owns a salon—showing what it means to take risks, diversify, and believe in your vision.

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about opening doors—it’s about perseverance. Securing sewer access took attending 26 city council meetings, learning the system, and speaking up consistently. The financial investment was huge, but their determination never wavered. They studied the game, made smart decisions, and kept moving forward.

With three owners, each brings different strengths to the table. As siblings, they were honest about the challenges of working together—but also about the trust, communication, and commitment that make them succeed. They balance each other, disagree at times, and always come back aligned.

Though Creekside has only been open about six months, their impact is already clear. They’ve donated over 330 gifts to Cardinal Glennon this year alone and continually give back to the community that supports them.

After the presentation, the students had an absolute blast connecting and having fun—playing the golf simulator, trying the claw machine, and enjoying each other’s company. Moments like these remind us how much this program feels like family.

We couldn’t have had such a smooth and memorable visit without a few behind-the-scenes heroes! Amy Venhaus guided our class beautifully in my absence, and Eli Slightom and DJ Schmitz took notes so thorough we might as well print a book about the day. Thank you for helping make it such a special and fun experience for the students.

We are especially grateful to Collin Adams, whose family owns Creekside Bar & Grill, for setting up this visit and sharing a business that clearly means so much to him. The class absolutely loved the experience.

This visit was a powerful reminder that successful businesses are built on resilience, teamwork, generosity, and heart—and we are so grateful to Creekside Bar & Grill for sharing all of that with us. 💜