My interest in the CEO Program is rooted in a desire to see my children and all youth in the area be able to “bloom where they are planted.” I want to see them use their talents and skills to build business in Montgomery County and to be engaged citizens who are committed to the county’s long-term well-being.

I became a member of the Montgomery CEO program to give youth more possibilities.

I am President of All Precision Manufacturing LLC. and a graduate of Western Illinois University.

I became involved with the Montgomery CEO program for the future of our County. I believe in the program's potential to have a positive, long lasting impact on our area. I want the younger generation to be believers of Montgomery County.

Amy Patton is a Certified Public Accountant at Patton & Company, PC in Hillsboro. Patton & Company, PC was established by RM Patton in 1975 in Hillsboro. They provide a wide range services to individuals and businesses in a variety of industries throughout Illinois.

I believe that investment in our local youth is one of the most productive things we can do. The results of the CEO program in Effingham for the past seven years have been phenomenal. I want to make the same thing happen in Montgomery County.

Computations customizes and integrates accounting software to meet the needs of businesses.

Serving as a Director on the inaugural Board of the Montgomery CEO Program is an honor. This program will immediately and directly enrich young minds in our communities and, with long-term success, will provide opportunity and prosperity across Montgomery County. It is a program that says to our youth AND our county, “We believe in you!”

Misty Borrowman is CEO of National Bank, which is headquartered in Hillsboro and operates 11 banking locations in South-Central Illinois. Borrowman joined National Bank in early 2010 as Chief Financial Officer and was promoted to CEO in late 2014. Her previous career experience includes 11 years with Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis, where she first worked in Corporate Accounting and later as the Executive Assistant to the VP of Human Resources. Prior to joining Anheuser-Busch, Borrowman was with KPMG Peat Marwick in St. Louis as a financial institutions auditor. She attended Western Illinois University and is also a CPA. Borrowman and her husband, Tim, have 5 children. They reside in southern Montgomery County, where they raise registered Boer goats, a few cattle and hay.

I was involved with the Effingham CEO program from March 2008 to December 2015. I watched the program blossom from an idea and a dream into a curriculum that is now taught in 27 classes in four states. I have watched average high school students develop into mature entrepreneurs with goals and vision. I can not express how excited I am to welcome this program to my home community!

Valerie Belusko joined the Effingham County Community Foundation and the Mattoon Area Community Foundation as part-time administrative assistant in March of 2008. Belusko now works full time for the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation and her role with the foundation includes accounting and database management activities in addition to supporting donor services and grant programming.

"The CEO program provides a much needed alternative direction our students can consider. It can open up new mindsets, opportunities and provide a path to success that is not covered in conventional curriculum. It can be the spark that ignites a fire!"

Kurt Aumann was born, raised and lives in rural Nokomis, IL. His first business, a magazine about antique tractors, was started in high school and was later sold when he took over the family auction business. He has built Aumann Auctions into one of the largest auction companies in the midwest and has developed several niche markets which has allowed the company to conduct auctions in over 35 states. In 2006 he franchised his auction business model and formed MarkNet Alliance which has grown to 63 auction companies in 24 states and conducted over 6,000 auctions last year.

As a small business owner, I see the need daily for more business training. I believe Montgomery CEO will be an effective program to give our young people the opportunity to see a variety of businesses and how many decisions go into operating them daily. They can then take that knowledge to start their own business.

Along with my wife, Karen, we are owners of Borgic Farms and Borgic Pork Partners. I am a member of the Board of Directors of National Pork Producers Council.

Learning by observing successful business models in action while being provided the opportunity for hands-on experience creates an excellent and stimulating preparatory environment for our business leaders of tomorrow. The Montgomery County CEO Program is perfect for our youth and for the futures of their communities.

• B.S. Business – University of Wisconsin
• Master’s Degree Healthcare – The George Washington University
• Fellow American College of Healthcare Administration
• Past Vice President – St. Mary’s Medical Center
• Past Chief Operating Officer – St. Luke’s Memorial Hospital
• Present Chief Executive Officer – Hillsboro Area Hospital

I believe in the CEO program because of its philosophy, “Learning by Doing”. The CEO program offers talented high school students with the unique opportunity to take ownership of their learning, engage in real-world experiences, and develop entrepreneurial skills. It is the hope that students will become successful business leaders and contribute to the economic development of their community.

Marchelle is the Regional Superintendent of Schools for Christian and Montgomery Counties and serves as the administrative agent for Montgomery and Christian County CEO programs. Previously, Marchelle taught 4th grade, directed the Litchfield Summer Gifted Academy and served as a statewide gifted education trainer and National Board Certification coordinator. Currently, she serves on the CEFS Board of Directors and is a member of the Litchfield Rotary Club.

As a high school principal I see the relevance of the CEO program and the economic impact that it can have on Montgomery County and beyond. The program allows students to experience a variety of business operations and provides them a relevant application opportunity. In my brief experience with these students, devotion and pride in their projects are evident. I look forward to watching these students become future business leaders.

Hoster graduated from Lewis University with a B.A. Biology and from Illinois State University with a M.S. in Education.  Hoster has previously been a junior high and high school science teacher, coach and athletic director, and has a love of outdoor recreation.  

The CEO program is a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn from our local businesses. It provides an opportunity for our students to learn how to network in the real-world, give them insight to what makes a small business successful and give them the opportunity to develop their own business model. I have witnessed the growth and success from the students involved last school year and it was remarkable.

I have been with the Panhandle School District for five years. I hold a Master's Degree of Human Development Counseling as well as a Master's Degree of Public Administration. I reside in Hillsboro with my husband, Kenny and our daughter, Kendall.

My husband is the Business Manager at Roger Jennings in Hillsboro as a result I value the importance of local small businesses in Montgomery County.

As superintendent of the Hillsboro Community Unit School District #3, I am excited about the CEO programs for two reasons. I see this as a unique and valuable educational opportunity for our students that did not previously exist. In addition, the program has the potential to positively impact the local economy by encouraging our talented youth to pursue and create business opportunities here in Montgomery County.

As the Principal at Nokomis High School, my goal is to provide multiple opportunities for student success. The CEO program provides opportunities for students to do just that. Connecting students with local businesses, providing instructors and mentors, and supporting “real-world” experiences definitely makes this program a life-changing experience. I am thrilled to be involved in this special learning opportunity for our student leaders.

Graduating from Eastern Illinois University in 2011 with a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, Rachelle McDowell is the JH/SR High School Principal in Nokomis. Previously, she taught junior high math in Nokomis for 24 years and coached girls basketball. She resides in Nokomis with her husband Adam and children Alexis and Austin.