This is Richland County CEO member Summer Downen. As this chapter of CEO comes to an end, I just want to say thank you to everyone who made this experience what it was. Thank you to our investors, board members, mentors, facilitator, guest speakers, business owners, and community members who poured so much time, advice, encouragement, and support into all of us throughout the year. Your belief in our ideas gave us the confidence to grow not only as young entrepreneurs, but as people.

One of my favorite memories from CEO was setting up and running our class business together. Watching all of our ideas come together and seeing everyone work toward the same goal was such a rewarding experience. Between the planning, problem-solving, long hours, and event days, our class truly bonded like a family. We learned how to work through stress together, support each other, and celebrate each other’s successes. Some of my favorite moments came from the laughs, chaos, and memories we made while preparing for everything behind the scenes.

Through CEO, I learned so much about business, leadership, communication, responsibility, and perseverance. Running my own business taught me how much work truly goes on behind the scenes, from budgeting and marketing to customer service and problem-solving. But it also showed me how rewarding it is to build something you genuinely care about. More than anything, CEO taught me to take chances on myself and trust my abilities.

What I’ll miss most about CEO is the people and the environment. Every morning brought something different, and being surrounded by driven, creative individuals made the experience special.

To the Class of 2027, take every opportunity you can. Ask questions, make connections, step outside your comfort zone, and don’t be afraid to fail. The more effort you put into CEO, the more you’ll get out of it. It goes by way faster than you think, so enjoy every moment of it.