Mentors

CEO Mentor

A mentoring program provides an effective networking model for WACC CEO students. Establishing effective one on one connections, that will strengthen the student's awareness of employment opportunities in our County and develop greater social skills through this mentorship experience. Every WACC CEO student, known as a student, is matched with a mentor from the business community. Ultimately, these relationships strengthen the CEO program's success and builds generational bridges between the student and the business community.

Here are the following responsibilities and activities:

  • Meet with the student for scheduled meetings to discuss what they are learning in CEO
  • Attend Monthly Mentor Mornings
  • Review the student's business plan for their individual business
  • Experience the weekly progress of their Protege through reading their journal entries of what they experience each day in CEO

Would you like to be a Mentor?

A mentor is a business owner, entrepreneur, or intreprenuer from our areas business community. A mentor is someone willing to share his or her time and expertise with a CEO student. Please contact us, if you are interested in being a CEO mentor. You will be provided mentor training and be required to have a background check to enroll in the program. Successful mentoring partnerships are advantageous for everyone – the student, the mentor and the CEO program.


Our Mentors

Dean Ahlers
Sterling Federal Bank
President/CEO

Caroline Arnould
Value Lab
Owner

Karla Belzer
U of I Extension
County Director

Scott Brown
Wendler Engineering
Engineer

Gary DeVore


Haylee Knutti DVM
Morrison Veterinary Clinic
Associate Veterinarian

Aaron Flick
Wahl Clipper Corp.
Senior Marketing Associate

Corey Gabler
Steel River Systems
Managing Member

Rebecca Garland
Verifacts, LLC
Member, CCO

Lynn Hammer

Retired Business Owner

Chris Hammitt
Hammitt Insurance Agency
Owner

Brian Hawkins
The Cornerstone Agency Inc
Insurance Produce

Dr. David Hellmich
Sauk Valley Community College
President

Mark Humphreys
MCR Technologies Group, Inc.
President/Owner

Nik Jakobs
Jakobs Bros.Farms Inc
Owner

Dallas Knack
Sauk Valley Community College
Marketing Coordinator

Matthew Lenox
Dixon Chamber & Main Street
Marketing Director

Patrick McBride
McBride Insurance Agency
Owner

Terry McGuire
HALO
Senior Vice President

Ryan Miller
KSB Hospital
VP/CPO

Krista Morthland
The Kitchen Incubator of NWIL/GSDC
Director/Business Manager

Seth Nicklaus
Dixon Park District
Recreation Director

Alex Oliver
Olive Nut
Owner

Mary Oros
Sauk Valley Bank
Market President

Nicholas Pepper
7:24 Fitness on The Rock
Owner/Health and Fitness Coach

Suzy Perino
Sauk Valley Bank
Market President

Alejandro Rivera
RE/MAX Sauk Valley
Broker/Owner

Bailey Russell
Wahl Clipper Corp.
Senior Marketing Associate

Janel Stahr
Stahr Media and AroundPtown.com
Chief Operating Officer

Daniel Swihart
Open Door Community Church
Senior Pastor

Mike Venier
Venier Jewelers
Owner

Sena Warkins
Imprintable Memories
Sales and Marketing

Bill Wescott


Rebecca Wilson
Pine Creek Escape
Owner

Christy Zepezauer
Woodlawn Arts Academy
Executive Director