Tuesday morning Silver Creek Area CEO headed to Old Base Factory in O’Fallon to learn more about the realities of entrepreneurship from someone who has experienced it firsthand.

Our student Emmet had donut duties before the sun had even risen, and it was for a pretty special reason. He wanted everything set up before the rest of us arrived. He was proud to have us visiting his dad’s business, and it was fun to see how much that meant to him.

Old Base Factory is the brand-new food hall across from the Sports Park in O’Fallon, and it gave us plenty of room to spread out, sit down and dig into a business lesson. Mike Wallace, owner of 3 Day Kitchen & Bath and co-owner of Old Base Factory, walked us through the experiences that helped shape his career as an entrepreneur.

Before 3 Day Kitchen & Bath, Mike owned Definitive Home and Design, where he handled everything from residential construction and home building to design, sales and project management. He shared the story of a massive remodeling project that included a kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, a front door and a basement. What seemed like a great opportunity turned into a four-month project, and by the end, neither Mike nor the customer was happy.

That experience taught him the importance of knowing what your business does best, having the right systems in place and recognizing when a job stretches beyond what you’re equipped to handle. Those lessons helped shape his move to 3 Day Kitchen & Bath, where the focus is on a more defined type of project and a process designed to get it done efficiently.

Mike became a franchisee when there were only about six locations. Then, in June 2025, he and his partners purchased the entire 3 Day Kitchen & Bath brand. His involvement with Old Base Factory is another part of his business story, and he gave our students an honest look at how experience, tough decisions and knowing when to make a change can influence the direction of a business.

The students weren’t just sitting and listening, either. When Mike explained how his company completes many kitchen and bathroom remodels in three to five days, one student asked whether customers pay more for that kind of speed. That led to a conversation about efficiency, overhead and the processes that allow a business to do quality work without letting a project drag on.

Then Mike put the students to work. He brought in the numbers from an actual kitchen project and had them work through a profit and loss statement for a $50,000 job. They had to account for labor, sub contractors and materials. He reminded them about hidden costs like permits, dumpsters, insurance and overhead. Mike explained that he had to learn this side of business himself, because bringing in money and actually making a profit are two very different things.

We also had a pretty funny exchange when one of our students shared a story about a family friend who had promised a quick, inexpensive remodel but was still coming back to fix things many months later. Mike asked if the guy’s name was Chuck….and if he had a truck. If you’ve ever heard the phrase “Chuck and a Truck,” you can imagine where that conversation went!

Charlie was our CEO of the Day and did a great job introducing Mike and getting the morning started. Being CEO of the Day gives our students another opportunity to practice their public speaking and professional skills.

One thing that stood out to me was Mike sharing that he wished he’d had opportunities like CEO when he was in school. He asked the students if it was easier to get up for CEO or for a regular school day, and the answer came back loud and clear: CEO! Their enthusiasm said it all. Mike thinks it’s pretty cool that these students get to meet business owners, ask questions and learn directly from people who have been through the challenges of running a business. I love that he recognizes what a special opportunity this is for them.

We’re also grateful to Mike and 3 Day Kitchen & Bath for generously sponsoring our class quarter-zips through our Badge Business. They’ll help our students look professional while staying warm as the colder months approach, and we truly appreciate their investment in Silver Creek Area CEO.

Thank you to Mike and everyone at 3 Day Kitchen & Bath and Old Base Factory for welcoming us into your business, sharing your experiences so openly and supporting our students. And thank you to Emmet for helping set up the visit and making sure we had donuts, coffee and juice waiting for us when we arrived. We’re lucky to have people like you willing to share your time, experience and resources with our class. Visit 3 Day Kitchen & Bath online: https://3daykitchen.com/st-louis-missouri/