I honestly have moments every single day in CEO that fill me with pride and joy.

This is one I’ve been holding onto for a couple weeks now. In the middle of all the trade show excitement, I didn’t want this story to get lost—because it deserves to be its own moment.

Recently, we welcomed Nicole Moore into our classroom—but for me, this was something much more personal. Nicole is someone I had the privilege of coaching years ago at Mascoutah High School. And I can still picture that version of her—a young, driven teenager with true leadership skills. To watch her walk back into the room now—as a confident, successful junior high teacher in Lebanon, pouring into our current students—was one of those full circle moments that just stops you for a second.

It’s hard to put into words what that feels like as a facilitator.

Nicole represents ChadNic Properties, one of our legacy founding investors, founded in 1976 and celebrating 50 years this year. Her family’s story is deeply rooted in hard work, service, and a genuine commitment to community. She shared about her father, Jon Bailey, who built the business with those values at the core, and how today her brother continues that legacy as CEO, alongside her aunt who plays a key role in operations.

And what I appreciated most is that she didn’t just talk about success—she showed our students what it actually looks like behind the scenes.

Nicole is also building her own path within that legacy. She and her husband, Anthony, own JCL Apartments—another example of how this family continues to grow while staying grounded in the values it was built on. She also shared that both she and her father serve on the Board of Trustees at McKendree University, continuing their investment in education and future leaders.

She talked about people skills, patience, and the importance of understanding every role in a business—not just your own. She broke down real concepts like dynamic pricing, financial awareness, and even navigating the legal side of property management. But what really stuck with our students was her emphasis on creating a sense of community—because when people feel valued, everything works better.

And you could see it clicking.

Those are the moments we hope for. Moments where students aren’t just listening—they’re seeing what’s possible for themselves.

Nicole, I am so proud of you.

And to Nicole and the entire ChadNic family—thank you. Thank you for believing in the future of this program as a legacy founding investor nearly two years ago, when the Silver Creek Area CEO steering committee first cast a vision for what this could become.

Before there was a Board of Directors. Before there was a classroom. Before there were 20 students. Before there was even a facilitator.

That kind of belief is what makes all of this possible—and it does not go unnoticed.