You know someone really believes in CEO when they keep showing up.

And Vern Hamm keeps showing up.

Vern was one of the founding investors in Silver Creek Area CEO. He continues to invest in our program every year, serves on our Board of Directors, mentors our students one-on-one, and today he joined us as a guest speaker.

And honestly, I think Vern just really loves CEO.

If you know Vern, you know he is a straight shooter. He doesn’t sugarcoat much of anything, and definitely not entrepreneurship. Today was no different.

Vern shared his own journey with our students, from graduating high school without really knowing what he wanted to do, to building a career that took him around the world and eventually starting his own successful consulting business. He talked about taking risks, understanding your numbers, knowing your customers, building relationships and being willing to work hard for what you want.

He gave them the real version of entrepreneurship, including the hard parts, the mistakes and the things you learn along the way. And I think our students appreciate that about Vern. He tells them what he thinks, challenges them to think differently and isn’t afraid to be blunt.

Our CEO of the Day, Emmet, did a great job representing our class. He was the first to greet Vern with a handshake, introduced him to the class, helped lead us through the morning and closed out the class before we gathered for pictures. Those small leadership opportunities are such an important part of what our students experience in CEO.

And our Photographer of the Day, Nathan, was there to capture the morning for us.

Vern, thank you for being such an important part of Silver Creek Area CEO and for investing so much of yourself in our students. We are lucky to have you.