Entrepreneurship Takes Off as NEX GEN CEO Club Inspires Future Leaders

By Grier Herring, Shield Editor 

What started as an idea for a high school club has quickly become a place where future entrepreneurs are learning to transform passion into action. Once a month, students in the NEX GEN CEO Club meet to hear from guest speakers who share their experiences as entrepreneurs. NRCA juniors Tyler Stavlas, club president, and Ashton Dalton, vice president, have created an avenue for students to express their creativity through a business and entrepreneurship club. 

In the summer of 2025, Stavlas and Dalton had the idea of washing windows to make money, which led them to grow their skills and earn more in an hour than their friends did in one day. Their positive experience made them wonder if they could create similar opportunities for other students. “We were interested in empowering the next generation of youth to do the same thing,” said Stavlas. Their willingness to take action sets an example for the students who take part in the club. 

Stavlas approached NRCA’s high school principal, Mr. Bruce Dial, with the idea of starting a business club. Once he had administrative approval, Stavlas recruited Dalton and Eli Godoy, club treasurer, to join the leadership team. Working through meeting logistics, the leadership team secured pizza sponsors for club meetings during lunch.  

Inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs is a large part of their motivation for this club, with over 100 registered members and close to 75 people attending each meeting. Stavlas said, “We hope it'll inspire them to start businesses and just be able to put their time to value.”  

Guest speakers are a great way for students in the club to experience firsthand how entrepreneurship is essential to the community. From CEOs to chefs, the club has featured many different speakers in its first year at NRCA, including a TikTok star with over one million followers who “...spoke to [students] about how to start a social media [account] to help with their business,” said Stavlas.  

These speakers have inspired students to put their own ideas into action. Sophomore Grady Kuebler, who attends every meeting, described how the first speaker, Mr. [Mihali] Stavlas, impacted him: “I have learned that you can start almost anything from nothing. You must be passionate about it, and you must be ready to work hard for it.” Lessons gained from these meetings and guest speakers have helped students find their business passion and begin to act. 

The club has guest speakers lined up through May, supported by a strong community of professionals from different industries willing to invest in students. Each guest speaker session includes a Q&A time with students, and meetings often include small competitions to make learning fun, such as the $20 Startup Challenge, where students created and pitched business ideas using a $20 budget. 

Although this club is primarily to encourage others, Stavlas and Dalton have learned a lot about themselves through this process. “[We’ve learned] how to lead others into starting their own business, while learning, ourselves, how to lead others,” explained Stavlas.  

The NEX GEN CEO Club has been a meaningful space for students to explore entrepreneurship and turn ideas into real opportunities. Through guest speakers and collaboration, it encourages students to take initiative and believe in themselves. As the club continues to grow, it is clear that it will leave a lasting impact on the next generation of business leaders.