Tomorrow’s CEOs Debut Today: Student Entrepreneurs Launch Businesses on May 22

[SANTA MARIA, CA. May 19, 2025] - The NextGen CEO cohort of Spring 2025, featuring over 20 student participants learning how to start and run their own business, will officially launch their self-made businesses on May 22 from 4-6 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast’s Railroad Clubhouse located at 901 N Railroad Ave, Santa Maria, CA 93454.

NextGen CEO, courtesy of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber, is an eight-week digital business education course that teaches kids the basics of starting their own business, courtesy of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber. The program is targeted to those at a sixth-grade learning level and covers five main categories, including business fundamentals, cost models, marketing and customer service, money management and future planning. 

The Spring 2025 cohort of the program is in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mid Central Coast, hosted at the Railroad Clubhouse and Evans Park Club sites in Santa Maria.

The public is invited to come and support the students by buying from their stands and seeing the work they have put into their businesses.

Student-run businesses include selling jewelry, crochet items, handmade totes and bags, canvas artwork, hair bows, tie-dye shirts, personalized cups and lip gloss, flowers and plants, and more.

“After eight weeks of hands-on learning, creativity, and entrepreneurial thinking, our students are ready to launch their own small businesses and we couldn’t be more proud. NextGen CEO isn’t just about teaching kids how to start a business; it’s about planting the seeds for long-term workforce development by building real-world skills at an early age,” said Chamber President & CEO Michael Boyer. 

“The Business Launch Day will celebrate this cohort's innovation and hard work over the course as they've learned what it takes to open their own businesses. We invite the entire community to join us in supporting these young entrepreneurs as they take their first big step toward becoming tomorrow’s changemakers,” Boyer said.

“The NextGen CEO program at the Boys & Girls Club of Mid Central Coast is empowering young minds to dream big and think like entrepreneurs. Over eight weeks, our members have gained real-world business skills and turned their passions into real business ideas. It's more than a class, it's a launchpad for future CEOs,” said Anna Libon, Chief Program Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast

For more information on the NextGen CEO program, visit https://www.santamaria.com/education-workforce/nextgen-ceo/. 

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast:

Founded in 1966, Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast have been helping kids aged TK–18 create Great Futures. Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast provides after-school tutoring, mentoring, and access to healthy activities. Located on the Central Coast of California in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, we have 10 club sites in Atascadero, Creston, Guadalupe, Paso Robles, Santa Maria, and Shandon.  For more info about Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast, please call Kelly White O’Neill at (805) 354-7433 or via email at Kelly.whiteoneill@centralcoastkids.org or visit centralcoastkids.org. 

About the Santa Maria Valley Chamber

The Santa Maria Valley Chamber is committed to advocating for businesses, driving economic development, and enhancing regional prosperity. Through strategic partnerships, policy leadership, and economic initiatives, the Chamber plays a vital role in shaping Santa Maria’s future. For more information, visit www.santamaria.com.
 

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