THE JUNIOR CEO KICKS OFF SPRING 2023 SESSION

Kids learn how to “be their own boss” in this hands-on program.

Junior CEO, is a six-week digital business education course that teaches kids the basics of starting their own business. The program was developed by the Visalia Chamber of Commerce and has been licensed to the Santa Maria Valley Chamber who will be the program administrator for the local version of this program. Junior CEO is created with the theme of opening up a business selling strawberry-themed dessert. At the end of the program, Junior CEO Students will get to open their own dessert stands (or another concept that they created) at the Santa Maria Town Center.

The program is produced to communicate at a sixth-grade learning level and covers six main categories:

o Business Fundamentals (Forming a business plan, setting up a bank account, etc.)

o Cost Models

o Safety & Food Prep

o Marketing & Customer Service

o Money Management

o Future Planning

Each virtual session includes a local business leader as a guest speaker. Local business experts will also be available during regular “office hours” to answer questions and provide guidance.

The Chamber last hosted this program in Fall of 2022 with great success!

The fall cohort saw seventy-five total participants, with twenty-one total booths that at the business launch event hosted at the Santa Maria Town Center.

the Fall 2022 session included Caylee’s Candles (Caylee Suarez), which grossed $2429 in sales, and B’s Berry Dips (Brenden LeRoy), which grossed $1065 in sales.

The Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 sessions are presented by California Strawberries and Community Bank of Santa Maria. Session sponsors include: Coast Hills CU, CalPortland, Dignity Health, L & G Farms, and Your People Professionals.

The Santa Maria Valley Chamber is proud to bring back the Junior CEO Program for spring session. Sponsorship inquiries and comments can be directed to Strategic Intiatives Manager, Yuliana Nelson. She can be reached at yuliana@santamaria.com.