Last Friday’s site visit took us into a world that, for some of our students, felt like stepping into a dream… and for others, a whole new perspective.

We visited HPJ Performance, a high-performance automotive shop that specializes in building and upgrading vehicles for maximum horsepower and capability. This stop was made possible by our very own Alexus Zacheis, who connected us with her dad, Michael Zacheis, and his team. There’s something special about the culture we’ve built in the Silver Creek Area CEO program. It feels like a family. And you could see that in Alexus. She wasn’t just coordinating a visit, she was genuinely proud to bring her CEO family into a place that means so much to her.

After the visit, she shared, “I was super excited for this visit and actually learned more about my dad than I already knew. His passion for this business is like no other. This is my main motivation to keep working so hard because no matter what obstacle comes in my way, I can handle it if he could.”

We were welcomed into a small front office lined with photos of race cars, HPJ gear, and the kind of energy that tells you right away… this is more than just a business.

Over doughnuts, Michael shared his story. What started as a hobby grew into the largest performance specialty car shop of its kind in the Midwest. He walked students through the early days, beginning with the Horsepower Junkies STL online forum back in 2013. What started as a place to connect car enthusiasts, share knowledge, and build community turned into hosting events like Dyno Days, building a reputation, and eventually opening their doors in 2015.

It didn’t happen overnight. It was built on passion, consistency, strong workmanship, and a deep understanding of the community they were serving.

He also spent time talking about something every entrepreneur in the room needed to hear. Marketing matters. From a strong social media presence to sponsorships on race cars and showing up at racing events, HPJ has built a brand that reaches far beyond our area. Because of that reputation, they’re serving customers not just locally, but from all over the country.

And that message landed.

Students talked about trusting yourself enough to go after something you actually enjoy. About the power of finding your niche and doing it really well. About the reality that even successful business owners are still figuring things out as they go.

And yes, there were loud engines, fast cars, and a few wide-eyed moments.

But what stuck most was something simpler.

Build something you care about. Put in the work. Keep going.

Thank you to Michael, Tony, and the HPJ Performance team for letting us step into your world for a morning.