Monroe County Startup

09/04/2026

A big THANK YOU to Guest Speaker, Kit Timmons with TAB (The Alternative Board), for spending time with our Monroe County StartUP students!

Kit shared valuable insight into what it really takes to start and grow a business, including the importance of networking, the five challenges every business owner faces, and the mindset and commitment it takes to turn an idea into a business.

We are so grateful for local business leaders like Kit who are willing to share their experiences and knowledge with our students. These real-world conversations are such an important part of the StartUP experience!

Thank you, Kit, for investing in our future entrepreneurs! Check out Kit and what he has to offer here: https://www.thealternativeboard.com/tabwithkit

09/01/2026

Big thanks to Jim Schutte for speaking to our students last week! We appreciated Jim sharing not only his experience a successful local business owner, but also the things that have helped him get where he is today… discipline, great mentors, building relationships, continuing to grow and strong leadership.

One of our favorite parts of StartUP is giving our students the opportunity to learn directly from people in our own community who have built businesses, taken risks, learned along the way and continue to push themselves forward.

Thank you, Jim, for being so open with our students, answering their questions and sharing your experiences. We are very lucky to have business leaders like you willing to invest their time in the next generation of leaders!

08/28/2026

A big THANK YOU to First National Bank of Waterloo for welcoming our Monroe County StartUP students for a tour!

We appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the banking industry, and especially the conversation about trust… how it’s built, why it matters, and the important role it plays in both business and relationships.

Thank you for investing your time in the students and helping them learn from real world business experiences.

08/27/2026

Check us out in the Republic-Times

Another school year means students from several area schools will be expanding their entrepreneurial skills as part of Monroe County startUP, and though this year’s class is particularly small, a…

08/21/2026

A big Thank You to Makers On Main Street for welcoming our Students for our very first tour!

Our students had the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run a small business, hear about the journey of entrepreneurship, and gained viable insight into the tough decisions you have to make when owning a business. What a great way to kick off a year of learning, connecting and thinking like entrepreneurs!

08/19/2026

Introducing the Class of 2027 for the Monroe County StartUP program!

Khloe, Bella, Naomi, Reese, Avery, Zach, Wyatt and Mason invite you to follow along in their journeys as they learn, connect, create and grow as young entrepreneurs! Throughout the year, these students will step outside the classroom to meet local business owners, tour businesses, build leadership skills, and learn what it takes to turn ideas into action. We can’t wait to see where this year takes them!



07/23/2026

A huge thank you and shout out to Conrad Press, LTD - Columbia IL for generously donating the printing of our materials! Your support helped us save valuable resources and made a real difference. We are incredibly grateful for your generosity and your willingness to invest in our program.

Check back to our page soon for our new Class of 2026-27 announcements and introductions!

05/22/2026

As the 2025-2026 Monroe County StartUP year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on just how much this group experienced in only nine months.

This class met with mentors, bankers, CEOs, founders, and community leaders. They pitched businesses, received difficult feedback, solved problems, represented themselves professionally, built relationships, and stepped into situations many adults would find uncomfortable.

One lesson repeated time and time again by our guest speakers was that careers rarely follow a straight path. The twists, turns, and unexpected opportunities often become the moments that shape who you are and where you ultimately end up.

The majority of these students have now graduated and begun entirely new chapters.

To the Class of 2025-2026: Continue setting your goals higher than what feels comfortable, because you are capable of far more than you realize. I am incredibly proud of you!

This class is filled with leadership, ambition, resilience, creativity, and tremendous potential. I watched you grow in confidence, communication, professionalism, and your willingness to challenge yourselves. I have no doubt you will go on to build businesses, lead organizations, strengthen communities, and create opportunities for others.

As you move into your next chapter, continue setting your goals higher than what feels comfortable. Aim bigger. Expect more from yourself. Stay curious. Take risks. View unexpected turns as opportunities instead of obstacles.

Thank you to our students, families, mentors, board members, sponsors, guest speakers, and supporters who continue making Monroe County StartUP possible.

To the StartUP Class of 2025-2026: Thank you for your efforts, your willingness to embrace challenges, and for making this an exceptional year. I look forward to watching what each of you accomplishes next.

- Jim Hopkins

05/22/2026

Thank you to Jim Schutte for returning to Monroe County StartUP during our final week of class.

With all but one student graduating this year, Jim was invited back to help close out the experience and share perspective as students prepare to begin entirely new chapters.

Jim has a unique ability to connect leadership, business, and life experiences in a way that challenges others to think differently, ask bigger questions, and reflect on the paths they want to pursue moving forward.

As students prepare to leave Monroe County and step into college, careers, entrepreneurship, and new environments - conversations like these are tremendously valuable.

Thank you, Jim, for investing your time in our students for a second visit this year and for helping provide a meaningful send-off to an exceptional group of young adults.

Your willingness to share openly, challenge thinking, and encourage the next generation is sincerely appreciated!

05/21/2026

A sincere thank you to Chris and Stephanie Chambers for joining Monroe County StartUP during our final week of class to share an important message as our students prepare to spread their wings beyond the communities many have called home their entire lives.

Monroe County is a unique place to grow up. The safety, support, and sense of community many of our students have experienced here is something special. As students graduate and move into college, careers, and new environments, understanding that the world may look different beyond our county lines is important.

Chris and Stephanie shared practical advice and real-world perspectives on topics including campus safety, drink spiking, safe driving habits, seat belt use, distracted driving, situational awareness, and personal responsibility.

These conversations may not always be comfortable, but they are necessary.

Thank you both for investing your time, experience, and genuine care into preparing our students not only for professional success, but also for the everyday decisions that help keep them safe.

The impact of guest speakers often extends far beyond a single class period. I expect this conversation will remain with many students for years to come.

Thank you, Chris and Stephanie, for helping equip the next generation as they begin new chapters.