Friday morning, our students got to hear what it really takes to build a business. And it was about so much more than business.
We were so grateful to welcome Steve Lanter, founder of Lanter Delivery Systems, to Silver Creek Area CEO. Steve grew up right here in Mascoutah, about a mile from where we were sitting Friday morning. His roots in this community run deep, and Mascoutah is a thread that runs throughout his story. Although he now lives in Arizona, his company is still based in the Metro East, and he remains connected to the place where it all began.
Getting Steve in front of our students was something we had hoped to make happen last year. Eli Slightom, a member of the 2026 Silver Creek Area CEO class, had suggested inviting him, but with Steve living in Arizona, finding a time that worked wasn’t easy. So when Steve was back in the area to visit family and conduct business, we were incredibly grateful that he made time in his schedule to share his story with our students. And I was so happy Eli could join us as a special guest, just as I had promised.
Before Steve’s presentation, our student CEO of the Day, Kelsey, took the time to research Steve and prepare a thoughtful introduction. She also prepared the closing remarks, helping bring the presentation to a meaningful conclusion.
We were also joined by Steve’s daughter, Caitie Morrell, who is a counselor at Mascoutah High School; MHS counselor Christine Renth; and CEO board member Vern Hamm.
Steve began by sharing the example his dad set. His dad started a milk distributorship with one truck and one driver. He worked incredibly hard, often starting in the middle of the night, but he never missed his kids’ sports games.
That story really stayed with me. It was a reminder that building a business is about so much more than the business itself. It’s about the people you love, the example you set, and what you want to leave behind.
Steve’s own story in Mascoutah was full of success, especially on the basketball court. He shared how much sports meant to him growing up and how his 8th-grade team had an incredible season, going 39–3. But he also talked about the challenges that came with success at a young age, including having to work through jealousy and difficult moments. Those experiences taught him that setbacks and challenges are part of the journey, whether you’re on the court or building a business.
That success continued at the University of Illinois, where Steve played basketball. He was recruited by both Kansas and Illinois, and ultimately chose Illinois. After a serious knee injury threatened his basketball career, he worked hard to come back. He went on to be part of a team that started the season 15–0 and beat Michigan State, then ranked No. 1 in the country.
But what I loved most was how Steve connected those experiences to leadership. At Illinois, he worked to become a point guard, a role that required him to understand every position on the court, communicate with his teammates, and earn their respect. Those lessons stayed with him long after basketball and became part of how he approached business.
Steve took our students through his entrepreneurial journey, and even that story brought us right back to Mascoutah. After graduating from Illinois, a conversation with the president of First National Bank of Mascoutah helped Steve recognize an opportunity in the courier business. It started with listening, asking questions, and recognizing a need that others had overlooked.
One of the things I loved hearing was how often Steve came back to listening to customers. When a major change in the banking industry threatened his courier business, an opportunity with John Deere helped him and his team pivot into parts distribution. That became a foundation for what Lanter Delivery Systems does today.
Our students got to hear what it really looks like to build and grow a business. Not just the exciting parts, but the thinking, planning, teamwork, and decisions behind it.
And Steve didn’t just talk about business.
He talked about the people who helped shape him along the way. His faith was a strong part of his story, and he shared how it carried him through difficult seasons and helped guide his decisions. He also spoke about the coaches and mentors who believed in him, challenged him, and helped him become the person he is today. They were people he could turn to, people who spoke truth into his life.
I loved that part of his message because it is something our students can relate to right now. As high school seniors, they are figuring out who they are, what they want to do, and who they want to become. Steve reminded them how important it is to surround themselves with people who will encourage them, challenge them, and help them grow.
He was also honest about the challenges that come with being an entrepreneur. He talked about difficult decisions, mistakes, and the importance of facing reality instead of pretending everything is fine. His message was to own it, be honest, learn from it, and keep moving forward.
He talked about company culture and the guiding principles that have helped Lanter grow. Deliver on commitments. Be one team. Give credit to the people doing the work. Be willing to take risks, learn from mistakes, and pivot when you need to.
One thing he said that really stuck with me was that leadership is about “we,” not “I.” He also reminded our students that the people on the front lines are the ones who ultimately determine the quality of the experience. I love that reminder.
And our students were all in. They were taking notes, asking questions, and really leaning into the conversation. They asked Steve about recognizing opportunities, building a distribution network, making difficult decisions, and learning from setbacks. Hands were going up throughout the morning, and we could have kept going long after our time was up.
Steve, thank you for making the time to be with us Friday morning. Thank you for coming back to the community where your story began and sharing your experiences, your faith, the people who helped shape you, and the lessons you’ve learned along the way. And thank you for believing in Silver Creek Area CEO and in what these students are capable of.
Eli, I’m so glad you were able to join us Friday, too!
This is what CEO is all about. Giving our students the opportunity to learn from people who have walked the path before them, and reminding them that they don’t have to figure it all out on their own.
What an incredible morning. I’m so grateful we got to share it.
