Collier County high school students are earning college credit and business skills through a partnership with Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). The Southwest Florida CEO Program, which began in 2024 at FGCU’s Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship, offers participants hands-on business experiences and leadership development.
The program is part of the national Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities Program network. According to Kelly Wilson, the program facilitator and director of student success and community outreach at the entrepreneurship school, activities can be tailored to meet regional needs.
“Students gain far more than academic credit. They develop real-world entrepreneurial thinking, leadership skills and personal professionalism they can’t find in a traditional classroom,” Wilson said. “Through daily interactions with business leaders, hands-on company visits, mentorship and experiential learning, students build confidence, discipline, teamwork, accountability, communication skills and real business experience.”
Each weekday during the school year, students visit participating businesses to interact with executives and entrepreneurs. Wilson added: “They learn how to turn ideas into action, how to collaborate with people and how to show up prepared and professionally — at 7 a.m. every morning. Most importantly, they leave the program with the mindset and work ethic of future leaders.”
Bill McDowell, Mark Ain Endowed Chair of Entrepreneurship and dean of the entrepreneurship school at FGCU said: “Our dual-enrollment partnership with Collier County is one of the many exciting initiatives we’ve launched. It gives students an early hands-on pathway into entrepreneurship, and we’re already seeing how this program is empowering young innovators to think boldly, build confidently, and shape their futures with intention.”
Over 20 local partners participate in the current cohort including Naples Comprehensive Health, Bank of America, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Arthrex, Halstatt investment firm, Barron Collier Companies, Naples Airport Authority, Collier Community Foundation, Fifth Avenue Family Office, The Naples Chamber, Venture X coworking space provider Sails restaurant group as well as Cogent Bank.
Community mentors report that participation benefits both them and students. Wilson stated: “Our partners enjoy mentoring future leaders… giving back to the community… helping shape young people who could one day become employees or community leaders.” She also noted that partners value student professionalism.
Moorings Park—a senior living community—is among this year’s partners. Brett Swanson from Moorings Park explained: “We partnered with the program because we believe deeply in intergenerational engagement… Our residents have extraordinary professional backgrounds… this program gives them a meaningful way to share their experience.”
Swanson described benefits such as connecting students with professionals for mentorship while providing retirees opportunities to remain engaged: “It’s mutually beneficial. The students learn from our residents… Our mentors truly enjoy investing in these students.”
This year’s class includes 18 participants from Aubrey Rogers High School; Barron Collier High School; Gulf Coast High School; First Baptist Academy; The Village School; plus home-schooled students. Last year’s inaugural class had 16 alumni including Gage Miner—now dual-enrolled at FGCU majoring in psychology while completing high school.
Miner credited his experience for building key skills like time management and public speaking: “Facilitators… helped me take an idea and learn how to bring it to fruition. This was not something you could find anywhere else at the high school level.” He plans on using these skills for his goal of becoming a psychiatrist focused on brain research.
Wilson highlighted that uniting public-, private- and home-schoolers in one classroom makes this program unique: “The sense of community… prepares students not just for college or entrepreneurship but for life,” she said.
