DECA Direct | September-October 2016

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2016

www.decadirect.org

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DECA DIRECT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

HOW WILL YOU OWN YOUR FUTURE THIS YEAR?

WILL YOUR CHAPTER ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE

WHY THE COLLEGIATE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY SHOULD BE ON YOUR CALENDAR

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EDITORIAL

Publisher Paul A. Wardinski Managing Editor Janelle Arrighi Editorial Committee Jeff Collins, Sarah Williams, Christopher Young Advertising Cindy Allen, Nick Edwards Design Frank Peterson, Shawna Hession

DECA EXECUTIVE OFFICERS President Donald LeCompte North Atlantic Region Vice President Emily Fraser Central Region Vice President Brandon Allen Southern Region Vice President Victoria Meng Western Region Vice President Rohan Ghiya

COLLEGIATE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS President Alyssa Duncan Vice President Cameron Brown Vice President Mike Rich Vice President Felix Albl Vice President Terrius Harris

3 YOUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT WITH COLLEGIATE DECA

5 OWN YOUR FUTURE CHECKLIST

IS SOLOMO REALLY DEAD?

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President Kevin Reisenauer President-Elect Mary Peres Secretary Pam O’Brien Treasurer Ev Vaughan Members Jeff Back, Ginger Hill, Olga Plangianakos, Jackie Schiller NAB Chair Stephanie Wissink Ex-Officio Members Tammie Brewer, Paul A. Wardinski

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE DECA Direct Magazine 1908 Association Drive Reston, Virginia 20191-1594 communications@deca.org

CHAPTER BUZZ

THE TRUTH ABOUT OWNING YOUR FUTURE THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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DECA Direct (ISSN 1080-0476) is published four times each year—September/ October, November/December, January/ February and March/April. Copyright ©2016 by the Distributive Education Clubs of America, Inc., 1908 Association Drive, Reston, Virginia 20191-1594. All rights reserved. Annual non-member subscription rate is $5.00. Periodicals postage paid at Herndon, Virginia and additional mailing offices. $1.00 of membership fee goes toward subscription to DECA Direct, a publication of DECA, (USPS 566-200), Volume 5, Number 1.

Postmaster—Send form 3579 for change of address to: DECA Direct, 1908 Association Drive, Reston, Virginia 20191-1594.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2016

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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HOW WILL YOU OWN YOUR FUTURE THIS YEAR? HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT

@deca_donald

SEP 6

The 2016-2017 DECA year is all about YOU! This year’s theme truly embodies what DECA is all about, which is giving members like you the ability to develop skills that prepare you for college, careers and beyond.

This year you have an opportunity to create your personal brand and take responsibility for what your future holds. By doing all that you can now prepare for the years ahead and you will be setting yourself up for success against the competition.

Stock Market Game begins

Here are a few ways that you can Own Your Future this year by taking advantage of all that DECA provides:

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OWN YOUR FUTURE BY….

Piper Jaffray Taking Stock with Teens Fall Survey ends

OCT 7-10

MBAResearch Conclave Mobile, AL

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Virtual Business Challenge Round 1 begins

BECOMING ACADEMICALLY PREPARED Now is the time for you to set your sights on the 2017 International Career Development Conference in Anaheim, CA. By putting in time to study and prepare, you might just make it to the international stage in April!

BECOMING COMMUNITY ORIENTED Whether it be by raising money or donating your time and efforts, get involved with organizations within your community and make a difference in the lives of those around you.

BECOMING PROFESSIONALLY RESPONSIBLE Learn from experts in the field who will help you develop ethical business and leadership skills and who will teach you what it takes to be a successful critical thinker.

BECOMING AN EXPERIENCED LEADER Take your DECA experience to the next level by running for an officer position in your local chapter or association. This will be an experience you will never forget!

These are just a few ideas, but we want to know what you’re planning to achieve this year! Let us know on social media by posting with #OwnYourFuture, and be sure to tag @DECAInc in all of your social media posts throughout the year.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2016

DONALD LECOMPTE

The stage is set, and the DECA year is ready to begin. Now it’s time for you to answer the question…are you ready to Own Your Future?

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YOUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT WITH COLLEGIATE DECA COLLEGIATE DECA EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT

@decapresalyssa

Collegiate DECA can impact every member’s life in a different way, but I have found that even though everyone has a different DECA story, the common theme is that everyone has been impacted in a positive way because of their membership.

SEP

Collegiate DECA is not just networking, competing, or attending different conferences, but it is a decision that will enable you to Own Your Future.

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Collegiate DECA offers so many opportunities for you to own your future. From being a chapter leader and attending exciting conferences in New York and California, to competing for international glory and networking with industry leaders (who are looking to hire students like you!), the possibilities for professional and personal growth are endless.

Stock Market Game begins

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Early-Bird Registration Deadline for Collegiate Leadership Academy

OCT 4

Registration Deadline for Collegiate Leadership Academy

7-10

MBAResearch Conclave Mobile, AL

The best part is that Collegiate DECA can help you, even if you’re not sure what you want your future to be yet! You could have a passion for something completely different than your major, and Collegiate DECA gives you an incredible outlet to participate in other events and experience all the possibilities for your future.

For example, I was a business marketing major, but I competed in the Sales Management Meeting event, and attending the Collegiate Leadership Academy’s Fashion Merchandising Track. I loved being able to experience different industries, and I know no matter what my future holds, I’ll be ready.

As we embark on a new semester and a new Collegiate DECA year, take a moment to think about what you want to achieve by next spring. Whether you’re just beginning your collegiate journey, or starting your final year before entering the workforce, Collegiate DECA is ready to help your Own Your Future in 2016-2017!

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2016

ALYSSA DUNCAN

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Check out what DECA members across the globe were up to during this #SummerofDECA! Want to be featured in the next issue of DECA Direct? Share your best photos on Instagram with #OwnYourFuture.

@_iowadeca

@vallieelise

@californiadeca

@oklahomadeca

@marinishimura_

@officialracinecasedeca

@texasdeca

@beaverdam_deca

@aaron_deivaprakash

GET MORE DECA DIRECT ONLINE

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decadirect.org

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR DECA SBE WEEK 2016

DECA HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITIVE EVENT EVALUATION FORM UPDATE

4 TIPS TO RECRUIT MEMBERS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

2016-2017 COLLEGIATE DECA COMPETITIVE EVENT TOPICS

WHAT I LEARNED FROM MEETING A CEO

http://bit.ly/sbeweek2016

http://bit.ly/eval_updates

http://bit.ly/recruit_social

http://bit.ly/coll_event_ topics

http://bit.ly/ceo_meeting

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SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2016

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MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN

There is power in numbers, and helping your chapter excel by further expanding the DECA experience to more members, keeping alumni involved, and engaging professional members can earn your chapter acclaim!

PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN

Showcase all the hard work that your DECA members are putting in this year, and prepare to reap the rewards. If you’re indeed a devoted and committed DECA chapter, accept my challenge, and prove that you embody what it truly means to Own Your Future.

If anything holds true of DECA members, it’s that we all share a competitive spirit! With that in mind, I’m confident your chapter will accept my challenge to complete ALL FIVE of DECA’s Chapter Campaigns this year!

As many chapter officer teams are beginning to plan their year ahead, what better time to start thinking about DECA’s Chapter Campaigns than now? These campaigns were developed to help chapter’s better organize their Program of Leadership and give chapters the ability to earn the recognition they deserve.

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK CAMPAIGN

In conjunction with the celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week during November 14-20, 2016, the GEW Campaign gives your chapter the opportunity to share the entrepreneurial spirit with members and non-members alike!

COMMUNITY SERVICE CAMPAIGN

Being community oriented is a cornerstone of DECA’s membership, so why not get recognized for the impact you’re making right in your own hometown?

Are you ready to grow your chapter and build lasting partnerships within your school and community? Let the games begin!

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2016

WILL YOUR CHAPTER ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE?

This campaign provides chapter members an opportunity to share with their school and community what DECA is all about. You can also showcase how your chapter is making a positive impact on its members for their futures as well.

ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN BRANDON ALLEN

Central Region Vice President

Completing the Advocacy Campaign is a great way to celebrate Career & Technical Education Month in February not only within your chapter, but in your school too!

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WHY THE

SHOULD BE ON YOUR CHAPTER’S CALENDAR

As the new year begins and you’re sitting down with your Collegiate DECA chapter, scheduling chapter meetings and competitions, there is one event that you cannot forget to include on your calendar this year: Collegiate Leadership Academy in New York City, November 3-5, 2016.

#DECACLA is hosted in the heart of New York City. Therefore, if you attend the conference, you’re not only adding more DECA experience to your resume, but you’re also heightening your chances of maybe finding that dream internship, or even for those seniors, dream job. However, what about those of you who have already been to The Big Apple? Well, NYC is constantly evolving, so whether it’s your third #DECACLA or your first time in NYC, there will certainly be new opportunities and experiences you won’t find elsewhere.

However, if that isn’t enough to convince you to attend #DECACLA, then think about all the unbelievable connections you will make with

hundreds of people. At CLA, you’ll be surrounded by other Collegiate DECA members just like you, CEO’s and executives from Fortune 500 companies, plus members of DECA’s National Advisory Board. The possibilities for professional growth are endless! Whether you’re learning the secrets to operating a large corporation, or realizing that the person you are sitting next to shares the same ideas and passions that you have, the connections you can make will last a lifetime.

Lastly, we all know how each Collegiate DECA year plays out. We all begin the year strong, just like you are now, excited about the competitions to come and the experiences that you will share.

Then, about halfway through the year, we usually become overwhelmed with everything happening and hit a slump.

CLA is a great way to re-energize your chapter! #DECACLA is not just about granting you amazing opportunities and connecting you with magnificent

people, it is also a time to bring your chapter members together and get motivated to conquer the rest of the year. #DECACLA is not just another professional development conference for you to test your skills and explore a new city. Instead, it’s a weekend filled with experiences to prepare you with the leadership skills and resources you need to be successful in DECA, and the real world!

So if you’re looking for an amazingly unbelievable opportunity to explore NYC, make everlasting connections, and inspire your chapter to give their all, #DECACLA is the place for you! Mark your calendars now and we’ll see you in November!

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2016

First of all, who doesn’t want to go to NYC? Then, add in the amazing career opportunities, unbelievable networking events, and a challenging case study competition, and you’ll quickly realize that this is one event you can’t afford to miss!

Learn more at deca.org/cla.

TERRIUS HARRIS

Collegiate DECA Vice President

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Use the following checklists as a guide when planning your activities for the upcoming year. What will you achieve individually, as a chapter member or as part of an entire DECA association? The options are endless and outcomes are unmatched. Get started today and be sure to share your checklist with @DECAInc on Twitter and Instagram. We want to see what you’re planning to do this year! Then, display this checklist in your DECA classroom so the entire chapter knows what you will be accomplishing and attending before the school year ends. At the end of the year, share another photo with @DECAInc showing all your completed activities, which conferences you attended and more.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2016

Are you ready to make this DECA year the best one yet? DECA offers countless programs, conferences, and campaigns that give you and your chapter access to new, unrivaled opportunities, and most importantly, the chance to OWN YOUR FUTURE!

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2016-2017

#OWNYOURFUTURE CAMPAIGNS DECA’s Chapter Campaigns are great ways to help your chapter guide its activities for the year, plus you’ll earn recognition from DECA Inc. and allocations to attend the 2017 International Career Development Conference!

■ More details on campaign requirements and deadlines at http://bit.ly/campaigns_16.

WANT TO COMPLETE

DATE COMPLETED

MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK CAMPAIGN PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMUNITY SERVICE CAMPAIGN ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN

CHALLENGES Unleash your creativity and show DECA how you can apply the skills you’ve learned in the classroom to real-world situations. DECA’s corporate partners offer a great variety of video challenges that will not only get you thinking on your feet and collaborating with your fellow chapter members, but earning awesome international recognition at #DECAICDC 2017!

■ More about video challenge requirements and deadlines at http://bit.ly/videochallenge_16.

WANT TO COMPLETE

DECA IDEA CHALLENGE FIDM CHALLENGE HERFF JONES CHALLENGE

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DATE COMPLETED

CHECKLIST CONFERENCES DECA offers an array of educational conference opportunities that allow you to explore future career paths, network with industry leaders, and create incredible memories that will last a lifetime! Extend your classroom learning into the real world by attending any of DECA’s incredible conferences this year.

■ More about DECA’s conferences at http://bit.ly/conferences_16.

WANT TO ATTEND

DATE ATTENDED

WESTERN REGION LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE #WRLC2016

ULTIMATE DECA POWER TRIP #DECAPOWERTRIP

INNOVATIONS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONFERENCE #DECAIEC

CENTRAL REGION LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE #DECACRLC

NEW YORK EXPERIENCE #DECANYC

SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING CONFERENCE #DECASEM

INTERNATIONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2016

#DECAICDC

Once you’ve filled out what you want to complete and attend this year, snap a picture of your #OwnYourFuture checklist and share it on Twitter and Instagram! Be sure to tag or mention @DECAInc. WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOUR AWESOME GOALS FOR THE YEAR! 15

2016-2017 COLLEGIATE DECA

#OWNYOURFUTURE CHECKLIST

CAMPAIGNS Collegiate DECA’s Chapter Campaigns will get your chapter in gear for an incredible year by encouraging you to boost your membership goals and advocate for Career & Technical Education throughout your community and association!

■ Learn more today at http://bit.ly/collcampaigns_16.

WANT TO COMPLETE

DATE COMPLETED

I AM DECA JUMPSTART CAMPAIGN MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN

CONFERENCES Collegiate DECA’s educational conferences give you a jumpstart to your professional career with access to industry leaders, insight into today’s competitive job market and experience that will enhance your resume and college experience.

■ Learn more today at http://bit.ly/collconferences_16.

WANT TO ATTEND

DATE ATTENDED

COLLEGIATE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY #DECACLA

INTERNATIONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE #CDECAICDC

Once you’ve filled out what you want to complete and attend this year, snap a picture of your #OwnYourFuture checklist and share it on Twitter and Instagram! Be sure to tag or mention @DECAInc and @CollegiateDECA. WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOUR AWESOME GOALS FOR THE YEAR! 16

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SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2016

Many current DECA members might not actually remember when the SoLoMo trend first emerged.

JANELLE ARRIGHI

Communications Manager, DECA Inc. 18

Apps like Foursquare were dominating the marketplace, encouraging users to “check in” at their favorite locations, like restaurants, stores and entertainment venues, using their mobile devices. This radical concept may not seem that innovative now, but 10 years ago, the concept of being able to broadcast your location and activities using GPS-enabled smartphones was all the rage.

Fast-forward to 2016 and you may think that SoLoMo is really not relevant anymore. Without apps like Foursquare or the novelty of location-based social networking, is SoLoMo dead? Not at all!

While the actual term “SoLoMo” isn’t being tossed around on blogs or Twitter anymore, the true concepts that drove this movement are very much still present, most notably in the latest and greatest social networking app, Snapchat.

At it’s core, Snapchat is SoLoMo: SO[CIAL] Snapchat is the latest way to connect with friends, either by sharing photos or utilizing the chat feature.

LO[CAL] Geofilters are what make Snapchat the ultimate location-based social media site. It’s now easier than ever to tell your followers where you are and what you’re doing by adding creative, location-based geofilters to your snaps.

MO[BILE] Snapchat lives on mobile, and unlike other sites like Facebook, can only be accessed on a mobile device.

As Snapchat continues to consume our lives, the basic elements of SoLoMo will continue to live on.

While it’s still fun to check in on Facebook, add a location to your Instagram photo or add your current city to your tweets, Snapchat’s geofilters continue to dominate the location-based social networking scene.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2016

The year was 2007, and thanks to the rising popularity of mobile devices, the ability to connect with brands and businesses based on your location was the newest phenomenon. SoLoMo – which stands for social, local, mobile – represented the dramatic change that was occurring in society as mobile devices became the dominate form of communication, entertainment and connectivity.

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When it comes to owning your future, DECA provides plenty of ways to explore your opportunities in marketing, business, finance, hospitality, fashion and more.

3 Day Startup (3daystartup.org) teaches entrepreneurial skills to students around the world, and has worked with tens of thousands of student entrepreneurs over the years. They’ve heard just about every common myth surrounding student entrepreneurship and are here to share the truth, so you can be better prepared to create your own future!

STARTUP MYTH 1:

PEOPLE WILL STEAL YOUR IDEA FOR A STARTUP Your first idea for a startup is like your first child. In your certainty that it can change the world, you are blind to its weaknesses. This lack of objectivity sometimes causes young entrepreneurs to over-inflate the significance of an idea.

We know the idea myth is real because we routinely receive emails from students asking how they can maintain their secrecy in an open, collaborative environment. The trouble with the idea myth is that it downplays the level of hard work required to launch a company. While having a great idea for a startup is important, it matters little in comparison with the ability to develop and execute a sophisticated business model.

STARTUP MYTH 2:

INVESTORS HEAR A GREAT IDEA AND WHIP OUT THEIR CHECKBOOKS Securing investors is an excursion that, according to Vijay Thakkar, the founder of Jolly Company, “will take up 80% of your time as an entrepreneur.”

In other words, landing investors is no casual undertaking. Consider this: for all intents and purposes, your

investors will be your employers. They want to know you and your startup are a winning bet. Expect them to fill a dossier on every salient detail on you and your company.

Young entrepreneurs will be tempted to snatch the first check they see, no questions asked. This is almost always a mistake that can precipitate a rocky partnership.

Serious investors will expect entrepreneurs to throw countless hours into learning everything they can about the person who wants to make their dreams a reality. You need to know your investor. Who have they invested in? What is their relationship with previous companies in which they have invested? Do they share your values?

Will they give the right amount of time and attention to make you succeed?

Bottom line: know your investor.

STARTUP MYTH 3:

PEOPLE READ BUSINESS PLANS Business plans are slowing meandering down the Myspace path to irrelevance (some would argue they arrived long ago). We see a trend in schools decreasing their emphasis on business plan competitions for short-form intensives such as 3DS, as well as pitch competitions.

The trouble with business plans is that you are attempting to predict the future, rather than taking iterative snapshots of the present, learning from them, adjusting and evolving quickly.

Unless a serious investor requests it, any student considering writing a business plan would be better served to spend those 50+ hours on an application to TechStars or Capital Factory Accelerator.

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2016

MAIA DONOHUE | 3 DAY STARTUP

THE TRUTH ABOUT OWNING YOUR FUTURE THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP

However, if these typical industries don’t excite you, there’s always the creative and fast-paced world of entrepreneurship. After all, there’s no better way to #OwnYourFuture than to literally create it yourself!

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STARTUP MYTH 4:

ALL STARTUPS ARE TECH RELATED Remember “there’s an app for that”? That was so five years ago. It was only a few years ago that apps could do everything from identifying constellations to finding a friend with whom to share a plate of fish sticks and tartar sauce (somebody needs to develop a “fish stick finder” app).

Yes, when we hear stories of startups that blow up overnight, they are usually tech. This does not mean that a startup must be tech- related. At 3DS, we see an increase in non-tech startup ideas.

Sure, these concepts might not achieve the mind-numbing climb of Slack and Instagram, but they are plenty feasible.

STARTUP MYTH 5:

CUSTOMERS CARE ABOUT CLEVER FEATURES We have observed time and again that startups do well when they reduce complexity. Features add complexity.

Complexity adds weight. Features require more thinking and input from your users. Every second that requires a customer to think and add input

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increases your likelihood of losing that customer forever.

As an entrepreneur, your job is to solve your customer’s problem as elegantly as possible. Features seldom solve problems.

STARTUP MYTH 6:

IF PEOPLE AREN’T INTERESTED IN YOUR STARTUP, IT MEANS YOU’RE A VISIONARY Some take rejection harder than others.

It’s tempting to explain away criticism and apathy as coming from laggards that don’t know what they want.

Disinterest from potential users can be tricky terrain to navigate. We at 3DS encourage students to talk to countless customers to better understand needs, problem, and pains. An inability to find interested customers may mean that your startup doesn’t have wheels. It could also mean that people you are talking to are not your customers. But before dismissing dissenters as fossils who don’t know what they want, be sure that someone out there does.

Learn more about 3 Day Startup and its resources for aspiring entrepreneurs at 3daystartup.org.

CAMERON BROWN Vice President

@ decavpcam decacam@gmail.com

TERRIUS HARRIS Vice President @decaterrius decaterrius@gmail.com

ALYSSA DUNCAN Executive President @decapresalyssa alyssaduncandeca@gmail.com

MICHAEL RICH Vice President

@deca_rich_exp decavpmike@gmail.com

FELIX ALBL

Vice President @ deca_felixalbl deca.felixalbl@gmail.com

CONNECT WITH YOUR 2016-17 OFFICER TEAMS

ROHAN GHIYA Western Region Vice President @ decavprohan decavprohan@gmail.com

EMILY FRASER

North Atlantic Region Vice President @decavpemily decavpemilyfraser@gmail.com

DONALD LECOMPTE Executive President @deca_donald decadonaldlecompte@gmail.com

VICTORIA MENG Southern Region Vice President @decavpvictoria decavpvictoriameng@gmail.com

BRANDON ALLEN Central Region Vice President

@ decavpbrandon decavpbrandon@gmail.com

CHAPTER BUZZ ▼ BROAD RUN DECA | VIRGINIA

The Broad Run DECA officer team took this photo after they finished planning their entire year! They’re so excited for 2016-2017!

▲ APPLETON EAST DECA | WISCONSIN

The Appleton East DECA officer team volunteered and ran the Olympic Game section at their region’s MDA Summer Camp.

Chapter members ran events that related to team building, leadership and fun!

◀ FLORIDA DECA | FLORIDA

Florida DECA Vice President, Shannon, showed off her #summerofDECA spirit all the way from the islands of Dry Tortugas!

▶ HARRISON DECA | ARKANSAS Senior members of Harrison DECA proudly wore their honor stoles at graduation in recognition of their incredible achievements the past four years.

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▲ WISCONSIN DECA | WISCONSIN

Chapter leaders from around the state improved their teamwork skills, leadership and competitive excellence at Wisconsin DECA’s Olympic-themed Chapter Opportunity Workshop in July.

▲ AUBURN MOUNTAINVIEW DECA | WASHINGTON

These Auburn Mountainview DECA members had so much fun presenting at #DECAICDC in Nashville!

▼ COPPERAS COVE DECA | TEXAS

▲ BLACKMAN DECA | TENNESSEE

Blackman DECA members dressed to the nines for a formal dinner during the 2016 Tennessee DECA Career Development Conference.

◀ BRYANT COLLEGIATE DECA | RHODE ISLAND

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2016

These Copperas Cove DECA members were so excited to advance to the Texas DECA association-level competition this past spring.

Bryant DECA members threw up their best DECA diamonds after the Grand Awards Session at the 2016 Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference in Washington, D.C.

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CHAPTER BUZZ

▲ MICHIGAN DECA | ONTARIO DECA

#Ontichigan (Ontario DECA and Michigan DECA association officers) reunited at the 2016 Emerging Leader Summit in San Francisco, Calif., in July.

▲ MONROE CTI DECA PENNSYLVANIA

During a summer planning meeting, Monroe CTI DECA members mapped out their plans to own their futures this year.

◀ STEWARTS CREEK DECA TENNESSEE

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2016

These Stewarts Creek DECA members spent their #SummerofDECA getting a head start on the upcoming year.

▼ STONE BRIDGE DECA | VIRGINIA

Stone Bridge DECA members posed in front of the Grand Ole Opry stage during the 2016 International Career Development Conference in Nashville, Tenn.

▲ GRAYSON COUNTY DECA | KENTUCKY

The 2016-2017 Grayson County DECA Officer Action Team was all business while planning the chapter opportunities for leadership this past #SummerofDECA.

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CHAPTER BUZZ ◀ NEW LONDON DECA | WISCONSIN

The New London DECA officer team participated in some team building activities during their #SummerofDECA to get ready for the upcoming school year.

▲ W.T. CLARKE DECA | NEW YORK

W.T. Clarke DECA brought a record-breaking 85 chapter members to the 2016 New York DECA Career Development Conference. Great job!

◀ LAKE TRAVIS DECA | TEXAS

Lake Travis DECA kicked off its #SummerofDECA by celebrating another successful DECA year.

▼ ELMWOOD PARK DECA | ILLINOIS

Elmwood Park DECA hosted a Daddy Daughter Dance for young girls in its neighborhood. The families had a ball, and members loved the opportunity to give back to their community!

▶ MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS DECA FLORIDA

Chapter officers from Marjory Stoneman Douglass DECA prepared an amazing breakfast for the teachers at their school.

▼ LYMAN DECA | FLORIDA

Lyman DECA is proud to introduce its chapter officers for the 2016-2017 year.

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