Last week, our Silver Creek Area CEO students had the privilege of hearing from someone who has truly poured into our Silver Creek Area CEO program from day one… Marc Voegele, CEO board member, investor, and one of our biggest champions.

Marc and his wife Diana own Express Employment Professionals offices in Fairview Heights and Glen Carbon, serving businesses and job seekers throughout the surrounding communities. Marc spoke often about building their businesses together and the partnership they share in both entrepreneurship and life.

Marc has also been actively involved in the Granite City, Edwardsville, Riverbend, and Gateway CEO programs and joked that he “drank the CEO Kool-Aid,” but the truth is, his belief in young people — and in this program — runs much deeper than that. What our students experienced wasn’t just a business presentation. It was a life story filled with grit, faith, setbacks, perseverance, and lessons earned the hard way.

Marc shared how he grew up in a small home with seven people and one bathroom, yet never once felt poor. Perspective, he reminded students, shapes everything. From debate team to soccer championships, he learned early that success isn’t always about being the most talented person in the room… it’s about being the one willing to outwork everyone else and never quit.

Throughout his career, he has worn many hats — salesman, manager, restaurant owner, real estate investor, and business owner. And along the way came fires, failed partnerships, lawsuits, financial uncertainty, health scares, personal loss, and moments where the future felt anything but certain. Yet woven through every story was the same message: keep showing up, keep learning, keep your integrity intact and have faith through every chapter.

When facing bankruptcy and sitting alone in a cornfield in Nebraska, feeling completely out of options, he finally said, “Okay God, You’ve got to take care of this because I can’t.” Within hours, circumstances shifted in a way he never could have orchestrated himself.

When heart issues surfaced at 49 and mortality became very real, when his youngest brother died by suicide, and when tragedy struck unexpectedly on a dark road — he didn’t pretend those seasons were easy. He trusted the plan and accepted that sometimes you can’t see what’s being built in the middle of the struggle… you just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

That quiet, steady faith has shaped how he leads at Express. He stressed that culture matters more than strategy. Integrity matters more than titles. And leadership means serving the people you lead.

One story that stuck with our students was his pursuit of a client he called every week for two years before finally getting through. When the client answered, he admitted he knew Marc had been calling all along. He was simply waiting to see if Marc had the persistence to earn his business. A powerful reminder that “no” often just means “not yet.”

Marc challenged students to become students of their craft, explaining that just 15 minutes of intentional learning each day can turn anyone into an expert over time. He talked about adapting as technology changes, owning mistakes, building strong company culture, and allowing people to grow — even when that growth comes through failure.

But perhaps the most meaningful takeaway came when he spoke about leadership and character. At Express, mistakes are expected… because growth only happens outside of comfort zones. And when mistakes happen, integrity means owning them.

He shared a simple question he uses when building teams:
Would I rather have this person on my team… or be playing against them?

Marc also reminded students that networking is simply making friends, success comes from giving before getting, and discipline will carry you further than motivation ever will.

We are grateful for leaders like Marc who invest their time, wisdom, and heart into the next generation. The impact of conversations like these won’t always be visible today… but they are shaping future leaders, business owners, and community builders right here in our communities.

Thank you, Marc, for continuing to believe in our students and for showing them what perseverance, humility, faith, and servant leadership truly look like.