On Wednesday, our Gateway CEO students had the opportunity to spend time with Donna Green, owner of Uptown Scoops and what a great reminder that there is SO much more behind a local business than what customers see from the outside.
Donna opened with encouraging students to always understand their 'why'. For Donna, Yes…there are cookies. There’s ice cream. And there’s a fun place to gather. This all circles around creating a family centered business where families and the community can gather, set their phones down, enjoy yard games AND a delicious treat. Adding the pergolas with coverings and fans on the patio have been a game changer to ensuring customers can also be very comfortable even when it is extremely hot. What else is behind running this business though?
Behind it all is vision, hard work, resilience, attention to detail, and a whole lot of grit. Donna shared how Uptown Scoops grew from an idea into a business that has become part of the community. We talked about everything from building a strong team and creating a positive culture to systems, hiring, customer experience, product quality, marketing, and knowing when to adjust along the way.
One thing that really stood out was Donna's commitment to quality. From the ingredients to the cookies being made fresh, she doesn't believe in cutting corners. She also reminded our students that just because something is trending doesn't mean it's necessarily right for your business. Know your customer. Know your product. Know what makes you different.
And then there was the bigger lesson:
Build a business—not just a job.
Create systems. Build a team. Develop a culture. Find your goal and then let the business work toward it.
We also loved hearing about Donna's commitment to the Uptown community and her involvement in making Collinsville a better place. Entrepreneurship isn't just about making money—it can be about building something that contributes to the community around you.
And, of course, our students had some important research to do…
🍪 Which cookie is the best?
🍦 And where does Uptown Scoops rank among the ice cream shops?
We're willing to do the research. With strong Google reviews, Uptown Scoops has become a destination just off the highway for some of the best custard in the Metro East.
A HUGE thank you to Donna for opening her doors, sharing the real stories—the wins AND the struggles—and giving our students a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build something meaningful.
These are the experiences that make CEO so powerful.
It's one thing to talk about entrepreneurship in a classroom.
It's another to sit across the table from someone who has actually built it.
Thank you, Donna, for letting us learn from you! 🍦❤️
#CEO #CollinsvilleCEO #Entrepreneurship #UptownScoops #ShopLocal #Community #StudentEntrepreneurs #LearnByDoing
