Ignite CAPS - Jackson R2

10/10/2026

Ignite CAPS 🫶🏻 Mac's Mission and Southeast Missouri Pets

10/10/2026

Our Ignite CAPS Medical Associates had an incredible visit to EBO MD to dive deep into the world of radiology!

Radiology plays a vital role in modern medicine. It’s often the very first step in diagnosing conditions, guiding treatment plans, and saving lives. Getting a firsthand look at this dynamic field gave our associates a clear view of how critical imaging technology and skilled professionals are to patient care.

A huge thank you to the team at EBO Imaging for opening your doors, sharing your expertise, and making such a meaningful impact on our associates' career journeys!

10/09/2026

10/09/2026

Today, our Ignite CAPS associates in Business, Education, and Medical took a major step forward by getting their professional headshots taken—just one of the many core tools Ignite CAPS provides to help them build a standout professional portfolio.

A quality headshot serves as your digital front door. Whether on LinkedIn, a resume, or a personal portfolio, a professional photo conveys confidence, approachability, and credibility before you ever say a word. It signals to future employers, mentors, and industry partners that you take your professional journey seriously.

We always remind our associates: you will get out of this program what you put into it. We give them the tools, and we hope they take full advantage and "do it all!"

So grateful to Cheekwood Studio for spending the day with us and playing a big role in their career journey!

10/09/2026

This week, our Ignite CAPS business associates sat down with an incredible lineup of local leaders for one-on-one mentorship sessions. The insights and wisdom shared by these industry experts continue to shape and inspire our future leaders!

Here’s a recap of where our associates landed this week:

• Nolan + Chris Edmonds (President and CEO of Element 74): Nolan caught up with Chris to dive into his entrepreneurial journey and the story behind Element 74. A standout takeaway from their chat was the power of loving what you do, along with a realistic look at entrepreneurship—remembering that in business, the highs will be very high, but the lows will be really low.

• Jack + Jeff Brune (Entrepreneur & VP of The Pickleball Factory & PARC Motor Club): Jack got an insider look at what it takes to run successful ventures. Jeff shared the origin stories of both PARC Motor Club and The Pickleball Factory, gave Jack a behind-the-scenes tour of daily operations, and broke down actionable advice on what it takes to launch and own a similar business.

• Kendall + Erica Koetting: Kendall gained invaluable dual-perspective advice from a seasoned lawyer with deep experience in both courtroom litigation and corporate business law.

• Jaylon + Jared Ritter ("The Bright Blazer Broker” at Ritter Real Estate): Jaylon got an in-depth dive into the world of real estate, receiving expert advice and a realistic breakdown of what it takes to build a thriving real estate career.

• Jaylon & Stella + Diane Drury (VP of Midamerica Corp) & Colton Edwards (Real Estate and Development): Jaylon and Stella had the incredible privilege of learning from Diane and Colton, whose mentorship on commercial real estate and business development proved invaluable for these future agents.

These one-on-one conversations with industry leaders offer real-world perspectives that go far beyond standard classroom learning. We are overwhelmingly grateful to our local business community for taking the time to mentor, guide, and invest in our Ignite CAPS associates. What an incredible community we are blessed to be a part of!

10/08/2026

Our Ignite CAPS associates in the Medical, Business, and Education pathways stepped out of the classroom and into the community for a powerful Service Learning Day!

To start the morning off strong, crews split up between Mac's Mission and Southeast Missouri Pets. Associates jumped right in to tackle to-do lists, support local shelter operations, and—the absolute best part—give some much-needed love and affection to the animals! 🐶🐱

Service learning is a core piece of what we do at Ignite CAPS. Days like this remind us that real leadership starts with community engagement. Giving back helps build empathy, civic responsibility, and strong local roots—and as an added bonus, working alongside peers proved to be an incredible team-building experience! 🤝✨

Swipe through to enjoy a few snaps from our day! 📸

🎥 STAY TUNED: We’ll be dropping a video reel soon with highlights from the day!

10/07/2026

A huge thank you to Chelsea Dillick and the team at Think Team Dillick for an incredible morning with our Ignite CAPS Business Associates!

Chelsea opened up about her vast career journey before real estate, shared the real successes and challenges of the industry, and poured so much wisdom into our associates' personal and professional growth.

Here are a few powerful takeaways from the visit:
3 Keys to Success:
🤝 Communication & Leadership: Start building these skills now, and never stop developing them.
💐 Leave It Better: Strive to leave people, places, and situations better than you found them in all areas of life.
🥰 Own Your Happiness: You are the ultimate factor in creating a fulfilling life—it’s up to you to choose joy.

When asked during the Q&A what catches her eye on a resume, Chelsea shared that the most impressive traits aren't just bullet points; they are being “hungry, humble, kind, and coachable.”

We are so grateful to Chelsea and Team Dillick for investing their time and wisdom into shaping the next generation of leaders!

10/02/2026

Our afternoon Ignite CAPS cohort kept the momentum going with their own fast-paced Design Sprint! ⚡

Rapid sprints like this build essential real-world skills: rapid teamwork, clear communication, and quick thinking under pressure. Great job by the afternoon crew! 👏

10/02/2026

30 Minutes. Cross-Pathway Teams. Real High-Stakes Pitches.
Our Ignite CAPS associates just wrapped up a fast-paced Design Sprint, bringing high energy and serious creativity to the challenge.⚡
Guided by Dan Presson (Vice President of Economic Development) and Jakob Pallesen (Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center), associates stepped out of their daily pathway silos and teamed up in cross-functional groups.
The Challenge:
⏱️ 30 minutes to collaborate, solve a problem, and prepare a live pitch.
🎤 Live pitch back to the entire room.
❓ Q&A fire round where the audience put them to the test with tough, real-world questions!

In the real world, innovation rarely happens in a vacuum. Fast-paced sprints force students to leverage different skill sets, communicate under tight deadlines, adapt quickly, and defend their ideas under pressure.
Super proud of how our associates stepped up to the challenge and delivered! 👏

10/02/2026

For this Ignite CAPS shadow rotation, Adria had the unique opportunity to shadow her dad Dr. Limbert at Advanced Dermatology and step directly into a day in the life of a dermatologist.

Dermatologists do so much more than just treat skin conditions like acne, eczema, or psoriasis; they perform vital skin cancer screenings, execute minor surgical procedures, and help patients feel confident in their own skin every single day. Balancing complex medical diagnoses with hands-on care makes it a rewarding and dynamic field in healthcare.

While learning about the intricacies of dermatology was an incredible experience, what made this rotation truly special was getting to see her dad at work. Adria walked away with a whole new level of appreciation and respect for the dedication, expertise, and care he brings to his patients every day.