The Montgomery CEO Program held its inaugural board meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 6 at Hillsboro Area Hospital.

The agenda was full with discussion about the 38 investors to date and growing interest in supporting the program expressed by businesses, organizations and individuals.

Representatives from the Midland Institute were on hand to answer questions and provide guidance on issues related to hiring the facilitator for the program and recruiting students to participate.

Both efforts will be underway within the next three weeks.

Officers were also elected for the CEO Board of Directors, including Chairman Heather Hampton+Knodle of Knodle Ltd. in Fillmore; Vice Chairman Jeffrey Howell of All Precision Manufacturing in Nokomis; Secretary Amy Patton of Patton and Company PC in Hillsboro; Co-Secretary Merle Imler of Computations in Coffeen; Treasurer Misty Borrowman of National Bank in Hillsboro; and Reporter Valerie Belusko of Litchfield with Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation.

Other board members are Rex Brown of Hillsboro Area Hospital, David Mulch of the Montgomery County Farm Bureau, Phil Borgic of Borgic Pork Partners, Ltd. in Raymond, David Powell, superintendent of the Hillsboro School District, Lacy Glenn of Nokomis High School, Kevin Niemann of First National Bank of Litchfield and Marchelle Kassebaum, superintendent for the Regional Office of Education in Christian and Montgomery Counties.

Board members are seeking an educational representative from Litchfield School District and from Lincolnwood High School as well as at least one additional investor board member from Litchfield.

Anyone from the county who is interested in the CEO Program may experience it first hand in Effingham on Feb. 4. The current Effingham CEO class is hosting a conference called “CEO Experience."

Participants may register for the event through https://ceoexperience.splashthat.com. A networking event with the students is scheduled for 5 p.m. that evening.