Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
SWITZ CITY – A White River Valley High School senior has been recognized by Conexus Indiana as a member of the Rising 30 2023 cohort.
Michael John Solliday is CEO of Wolverine Enterprises, the school’s student-run enterprise that operates six different businesses. Solliday leads the logistics team of WE and last semester he took on the task of building a website that would make it easier for customers to place orders for merchandise. He did this on top of his responsibilities as WE CEO and keeping up with his classes.
Katelyn Thomas, Wolverine Enterprises program director and WRV teacher, nominated Solliday for the Rising 30.
She said the old method used email for customers to place orders. Because the printing program does a lot of work for the school and sports teams, they deal with a high volume of product.
“It was cumbersome,” she said of the old system. “Michael John put together an online store to make it easier to place orders and collect payment.”
The Rising 30 program recognizes 30 young professionals who “exemplify leadership and innovation” in the state’s advanced manufacturing and logistics sector “and are poised to become Indiana’s future industry leaders.”
At 18 years old, Solliday is among the youngest individuals to be named to a Rising 30 class. Most of the honorees are in the working world, pursuing careers ranging from local startups to large corporations.
“It’s just an honor to be a part of it,” Solliday said. “A huge thank you goes to Miss Thomas because if it weren’t for her, I would not have been nominated. So, I’m thankful for her and thankful for being able to be in the position that I was in this year. I just feel very honored.”
Solliday said when he joined the WE program two years ago, he said he was intrigued by the role of logistics in business.
Taking on the CEO job has been an education in the challenges of the real world.
“I’ve definitely learned the value of communication skills and communicating with other people. If you have a lack of communication, you get confused very easily,” he said. “On the leadership side, I’ve learned the importance of leadership and presentation skills.”
After graduation, Solliday will attend the University of Southern Indiana and major in computer science with a possible focus on cybersecurity. He said he would like to return to the area and work at NSWC Crane.
“We’re proud of Michael John and thankful for the work he’s done and we’re excited to see what his future holds,” Thomas said.
In a press release from Conexus, the 2023 honorees will spend the next year working with the organization as thought leaders on subjects such as emerging technology, smart manufacturing, public policy and talent development.
Wolverine Enterprises
Wolverine Enterprises’ businesses are custom printing, precision machining, precision manufacturing (wood products such as rocking chairs) agriculture (chickens, plants, produce and welding), frozen feast and fine arts. The logistics team handles all the business operations – accounting, marketing and sales.
The program has 84 students, all juniors and seniors.