Centralia nonprofit Kiddin’ Around is bringing Business Week back to Lewis County.
Business Week is a national program that has been a long-established tradition locally.
This will be the program’s first year back since 2019.
From Dec. 12 through 15, high school juniors will be spending their days at the Northwest Sports Hub where they will work in teams with a company advisor who will help guide them through a business simulation, tradeshow, shareholders presentation and more.
“At Kiddin’ Around, we are passionate about helping Lewis County be an incredible place for Children and Families. We believe strongly that this is a wonderful place to grow up and raise a family, and a great place to own a business,” wrote Naomi Robb, Kiddin’ Around board president, in a news release. “We absolutely love this community and take great pride and joy in watching it flourish and grow. Most of us are business owners and most of us are parents so we are passionate about what Kiddin’ Around is bringing to the community.”
Students will also hear from local business owners about their experiences in starting and running their own businesses, their successes and failures, and advice for how to succeed.
“We are thrilled to be bringing Business Week back to Lewis County. It’s such an important program where kids get exposure to multiple aspects of business,” Robb said in the release. “We know how much fun the students and company advisors have always had, and we can’t wait to see the valuable connections made, and lessons learned this year. We are so grateful to have such an incredibly supportive community.”
Kiddin’ Around has enlisted the aid of Staci Sume, who has been instrumental in the administration of Business Week in the past.
“I have been a part of this program for the past 5 years (before the pandemic) and have seen the amazing results. It is a fun, fast-paced week full of learning, growth, connections and relationships that can last long past this program,” wrote Sume in the release. I have even seen students and company advisors connect down the road and lead to job opportunities. … It is a wonderful event to be a part of and I hope to watch it grow and positively impact as many students and businesses as possible”
Kiddin’ Around is still looking for company advisors and judges. For more information on how to get involved, please email lcbusinessweek@gmail.com.
