SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2018
www.decadirect.org
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DECA DIRECT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WHAT #READYFORIT MEANS TO YOU
MEET YOUR 2018 -2019 DECA OFFICER TEAMS
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READY FOR NEW IDEAS TO REACH YOUR GOALS
ARE YOU READY? 2018-2019 CONFERENCES
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BACK TO DECA: TIPS AND TOOLS
EDITORIAL
Publisher Lou DiGioia, CAE Managing Editor Hayley Petty Advertising Cindy Allen, Megan Balkovic Design Shawna Hession, Frank Peterson
DECA EXECUTIVE OFFICERS President Andrew Weatherman North Atlantic Region Vice President Rachel Lynch Central Region Vice President Nick Matthews Southern Region Vice President Dylan Heneghan Western Region Vice President Jonathan Wilson
COLLEGIATE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS President Ryan Bognar Vice President Allison Brown Vice President Jack Evans Vice President Andy Stebbins Vice President Dennis Williams
10 INSIDER’S GUIDE TO GROWING YOUR CHAPTER
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE DECA Direct Magazine 1908 Association Drive Reston, Virginia 20191-1594 communications@deca.org
DECA Direct (ISSN 1080-0476) is published four times each year—September/ October, November/December, January/ February and March/April. Copyright ©2018 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 7, Number 1. Postmaster—Send form 3579 for change of address to: DECA Direct, 1908 Association Drive, Reston, Virginia 20191-1594.
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CLASSROOM CONNECTION
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2018
President Jacklyn Schiller President-Elect Curtis Haley Secretary Dave Wait Treasurer Olga Plagianakos Members Shannon Aaron, Ginger Hill, Mary Peres, John Stiles National Advisory Board Chair M. Andy Chaves Ex-Officio Members Lou DiGioia, CAE, Richard Faulkner
This issue of DECA Direct includes instructional content focused on the following performance indicators from National Curriculum Standards: •
Utilize resources that can contribute to professional development
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Balance personal and professional responsibilities
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Organize and prioritize work
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Apply project-management tools to monitor and communicate project progress
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“Sell” ideas to others
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Use social media to solicit new ideas and solutions
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FROM STHM TO THE WORLD SERIES In less than a month after graduating from Temple University’s School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management (STHM), Jesse Rathner found himself in the role of a lifetime experiencing the World Series from the front office. Working in the Service Excellence department for the Cleveland Indians, he helped develop the service capabilities including the Indians’ customer service experience at their home ballpark, Progressive Field.
EVERY EXPERIENCE BEGINS WITH YOU
YOUR FUTURE BEGINS WITH US Step into a world of experiences reimagining sport, hospitality and tourism. Learn beyond the classroom in the city of Philadelphia.
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Schedule a tour today at sthm.temple.edu/DECA
WHAT #READYFORIT MEANS FOR YOU HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION PRESIDENT @DECA_Andrew
SEP 10
Stock Market Game begins DECA Scholarship Site opens
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Piper Jaffray Taking Stock with Teens Fall Survey ends
OCT 5-8
MBAResearch Conclave Kansas City, MO
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Virtual Business Challenge Round 1 begins
When famed automobile racer Bobby Unser said “success is where preparation and opportunity meet” he might as well have been speaking about DECA. This year’s theme, Ready For It, is about YOU and truly embodies the purpose of this great organization: empowering you with a dynamic, flexible toolkit to be successful in a myriad of career paths. Through networking in DECA’s exciting, enriching educational conferences, competing in our rigorous competitive events program, and serving as a chapter or association leader, you set yourself miles ahead of your peers and prepare yourself for a future of endless possibility. Throughout this year, the Executive Officer Team challenges you to take your DECA experience to new heights. Here are a few ways that you can become #ReadyForIt this year: •
Set your sights on Orlando, Florida and the 2019 International Career Development Conference by beginning to study and prepare now.
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Become active in DECA’s Twitter and Instagram space and network with some of the world’s most driven and passionate high school leaders and entrepreneurs.
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Expand your DECA leadership experience by running for a chapter or association officer position.
Keep us up-to-date on social media with your accomplishments and activities by using #ReadyForIt and tagging @DECAInc and your executive officers. Orlando is ready. We are ready. The question is...are you #ReadyForIt?
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2018
ANDREW WEATHERMAN
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NETWORKS
EXPERIENCE
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
TECHNOLOGY UNLOCKED
PERSONAL ATTENTION
CAREERS DIVERSITY “Outside of the classroom, I was able to collaborate with students from multiple colleges and educational backgrounds to give a more realistic approach to real world application” Ken Radzyminski, BS International Business Business Intelligence Analyst, Cleveland Cavaliers | Cleveland, OH
Get the Saunders Difference 94% job outcomes rate Top ranked programs Real-world experience via paid co-op Access over 200 minors across 9 RIT colleges Now offering popular RIT Hospitality Program Proud to sponsor DECA for six years
VISIT saunders.rit.edu/DECA Students: Get FREE Saunders Gear Advisors: Access Resources for your classroom
Visit our exhibit at: 2018 Ultimate DECA Power Trip Baltimore, November 16 2019 DECA ICDC Conference Orlando, April 27
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#
Management Information Systems USA Today
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#
Simone Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Best Colleges Online
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#
Best Undergraduate Business Programs U.S. News
ACCOUNTING • BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION • BUSINESS EXPLORATION • DIGITAL BUSINESS • ENTREPRENEURSHIP • FINANCE • HOSPITALITY • INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS • MANAGEMENT 4 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS • MARKETING • NEW MEDIA MARKETING • SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT BACHELORS OF SCIENCE DISCIPLINES:
READY FOR NEW IDEAS TO REACH YOUR GOALS RYAN BOGNAR COLLEGIATE DECA PRESIDENT @cdecapresryan
SEP 24
Stock Market Game begins—Round 1
OCT 5-8
MBA Research Conclave Kansas City, MO
We’re just five months removed from the 2018 International Career Development Conference in Washington D.C., and just as you are ready for the new school year, your 2018-2019 Executive Officer Team is ready to make this the best year of Collegiate DECA to date! We are excited to assist new chapters start and see current chapter continue to thrive as we continuously look for new ways to improve our product by strengthening existing chapters and growing our base. With over 15,000 members across the globe we know that Collegiate DECA members join DECA for many different reasons, but whether you’re here because you’re looking for real world work, ways to take your starting a business plan and turn it into a real business, or anything in-between we’re here to help you reach your goals. We know you’re ready for new ideas from Collegiate DECA and we strive to make that possible. The 2018-2019 Collegiate DECA Executive Officer Team looks forward to seeing you and your chapter at ENGAGE in New York City on November 8-10, 2018. #ReadyForIt
ENGAGE conference registration and housing due
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2018
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JONATHAN WILSON Western Region Vice President
RACHEL LYNCH
North Atlantic Region Vice President
ANDREW WEATHERMAN
NICK MATTHEWS
Division President
Central Region Vice President
DYLAN HENEGHAN Southern Region Vice President
@decavpjonathan
@decavprachel
@DECA_Andrew
@decavpnick
@decavpdylan
@decavpjonathan
@decavprachel
@DECA_Andrew
@decavpnick
@decavpdylan
MEET YOUR 2018-2019
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2018
OFFICER TEAMS
JACK EVANS
ANDY STEBBINS
ALLISON BROWN
@cdecavpjack
@cdecavpandy
@cdecavpallison
@cdecapresryan
@cdecavpdennis
@cdecavpjack
@cdecavpandy
@cdecavpallison
@cdecapresryan
@cdecavpdennis
Vice President
Vice President
Vice President
RYAN BOGNAR Division President
DENNIS WILLIAMS Vice President
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CA X-Celerate AREDEYOU READY?
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2018-2019 DECA CONFERENCES ENGAGE CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 8-10, 2018 NEW YORK CITY
CENTRAL REGION LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 16-18, 2018 DETROIT, MI
Collegiate DECA members are invited to spend three days in NYC, exploring the city as well as career paths. Attendees will choose a specific track (Marketing, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality or Business Management) and gain experience working with leadership coaches, attending site visits and more!
Members and advisors from all across the Central Region come together with industry partners each year at this exciting conference. Attendees learn how to excel in DECA’s competitive events program by participating in leadership development activities. In addition, members attend presentations from marketing professionals in the area.
WESTERN REGION LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
NEW YORK EXPERIENCE
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Central Region Leadership Conference
Western Region Leadership Conference 2018 is the chance to tell your story! Join us in Anaheim, California for the most creative, immersive, and interactive WRLC ever.
INNOVATIONS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 16-18, 2018 BALTIMORE, MD This is the springboard for DECA members to unleash their innovative and creative ideas. Attendees will engage in exercises to learn about lean startups, rapid prototyping, ideation and pitching their ideas.
ULTIMATE DECA POWER TRIP NOVEMBER 16-18, 2018 BALTIMORE, MD
Join over 1,000 of DECA’s most engaged students and advisors for a weekend packed with leadership development, college preparation, career exploration and professional development.
NOVEMBER 28-DECEMBER 1 & DECEMBER 5-8, 2018 NEW YORK CITY It’s the concrete jungle where dreams are made and the city will become a living classroom for DECA members as they explore marketing, finance, fashion, hospitality and so much more.
SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 6-10, 2019 ORLANDO, FL Whether you are planning a career in sports and entertainment marketing, competing in DECA’s Sports and Entertainment Marketing competitive events or simply want to learn more, this is the place to connect with leading sports and entertainment marketing executives.
INTERNATIONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE APRIL 27-30, 2019 ORLANDO, FL As DECA’s pinnacle event of the year, ICDC never disappoints. Last year, nearly 20,000 people attended ICDC to compete for DECA Glass. This year in Orlando will surely be even more memorable. Whatever it is that excites you most – meeting Mickey, hanging with Harry, or taking selfies on stage at Grand Awards – set your sights on it now to make sure you are Ready For It when April arrives.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2018
NOVEMBER 15-17, 2018 ANAHEIM, CA
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BACK TO DECA TIPS & TOOLS
From planning an event to preparing for competition, everyone in your DECA chapter has a lot going on. The most successful chapters plan purposefully, communicate clearly and collaborate consistently. How? There’s an app for that. In fact, there are lots of apps for that. DECA Direct Magazine surveyed DECA members, officers and advisors from chapters across the globe to see how they prepare for the year and what tools they rely on to keep them on track.
What do you do to get organized at the start of the year?
What tool would you recommend to help others get organized?
Use a planner or calendar to keep track of events and school work
Organize backpack and clothes for the first day
Create a To-Do list for the year ahead
Set goals for the upcoming year
Have meetings with officers and advisors
Organize and delete old files from computer
60% Planner 16% Remind App 12% Set Goals
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What has been the most helpful app or program that your chapter has used to collaborate, plan and prepare?
3% 8%
6%
Other
23%
GroupMe
9%
GROUPME
“This app allows our chapter officers to effectively coordinate events and communicate with each other very efficiently.” Harrison High School
GOOGLE DRIVE
“Drive allows our leadership team to share folders of competitive materials, including practice tests, sample roleplays, and study guides for each event!” Apponequet High School
REMIND APP
“It communicates to members important things they have to do for the chapter such as attending meetings and volunteer work.” Wayzata High School
If you could give one piece of advice to new members joining DECA, what would it be?
Winning is great, but it isn’t everything about DECA. It’s such an amazing experience and a chance to make great friends! Study, try your best, but have fun.” Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School Between the butterflies and cramming, remember to make friends and have fun!” George C. Marshall High School
27%
Remind App
24% Google Drive
“We check our Instagram way more than we check our e-mail, so it is very helpful and quicker than other apps in knowing what is going on and when events are happening.” Holmen High School
Try to go to all the meetings. They are really fun and make new friends, so don’t be shy or intimidated.” North Gwinnett High School Take every opportunity you can! Even if it’s out of your comfort zone.” Moore Norman Tech Center Don’t hesitate to reach out to older members for help; we’ve all been in your position before.” Lynbrook High School Never be afraid to speak your mind. You have ideas and a voice to share them. DECA revolves around being dedicated and confident. If you feel you may lack these traits that’s alright. DECA is an organization where you learn and grow. Do not hold back on opportunities like DECA!” Auburn High School
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Chapter Advisors can also help share the savings. To receive additional cards for your DECA student members visit officediscounts.org/deca (for printable cards) or email support@officediscounts.com (for a mailed supply of cards).
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officediscounts.org/deca
Gabby Bergstrom, Luke Hess and Lauren Merletti have gone to school together for years, but DECA is what bonded them, both as friends and – years later – as business partners. The story of Casey’s Cabana began on the bus ride from Rochester after the New York DECA State Career Development Conference. While sitting on the dock of Casey’s Cabana, two of the three restaurateurs (Gabby and Lauren) joined DECA Direct Magazine for an exclusive interview about starting a business, the challenges they faced and how their DECA experience got them to where they are now.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2018
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ight in the heart of the Niagara River, between Canada and the United States, Buffalo and Niagara Falls, lies Grand Island, N.Y. The island, which is the size of Manhattan, is full of parks, neighborhoods and marinas. If you approach the island by boat, you’ll find its newest establishment, a dockside restaurant called Casey’s Cabana. The eatery boasts a perfect 5-star rating on Facebook and 4.9 stars on Google, with patrons commending the staff and service as well as the food and atmosphere. Amazingly, the owners came up with the idea only months before the grand opening in June. Even more amazing, the owners are rising juniors at Grand Island High School.
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G: I’ll admit – it sounded crazy at first but that’s just my
G: We actually joined DECA in 8th grade (JV DECA, as we call it.) The 8th grade members get to sell sportswear at football games. It’s a chance to get a glimpse into what DECA is like and – like anything else – you really get out of it what you put into it. So, I’d say the three of us really dove in. We were at every football game and every community service event. We were able to really build relationships because we were there so often. It was amazing to have older high school students to guide us and walk us through everything.
personality, I guess. I just like dive right in – no holding back. They are both slightly more reserved. While that meant I definitely had to work to convince them initially, I actually think that’s one thing that has really made our team so strong. We balance each other really well. We met right after states to discuss our DECA project. They were both still pretty resistant to actually opening a restaurant but we were all excited about working on a big project together for DECA. As cliché as it sounds, all roads really just led us here. The further we got into our project, the more we would say well we already have all this work done; we could just open the restaurant for real.
L: The work that you do for any DECA project is real. You’re
thinking through real situations and taking the steps actual entrepreneurs take. So, eventually, we all just decided that we might as well put our hard work into practice. Once we were all on board, it moved really quickly. States were March 8 and we put the money down for the property on St. Patrick’s Day. We pitched to the Grand Island Small Business Alliance to get some small business money.
G: The moment that sticks out in my mind is when we first came to check out the building.
L: It was a mess. It was dirty and needed a lot of work. It was also our first chance to really imagine it, though.
G: We started pointing out spaces like ‘oh we could put the grill here or the ice cream machine there.’ It just became real. It was a weird almost magic moment.
L: It definitely started with DECA. We actually came up with the idea on the bus ride home from states. The three of us knew we wanted to do a project together this upcoming year so it started out as a discussion about a potential project. We were just throwing ideas out there and, over the course of the two-hour trip, the idea just sort of slowly came together. Our advisors were there and everyone was brainstorming and contributing ideas until we got back to Grand Island and were like ‘wow – we might really have something here.’
G: Our DECA Advisor, Mrs. Cheryl Chamberlain, is like our second mom. She has been with us every step of the way – from brainstorming on the bus to finding our employees to coming to support us as a customer.
L: She was hugely instrumental in our GI Small Business
Alliance meeting too. She helped us set it up. She was in the meeting fighting for us. She’s worked with us and with the school to help make this crazy idea a little less crazy.
G: It was really hard in the beginning when it felt like no one was helping us or taking us seriously, Mrs. Chamberlain was there. When other people were literally saying we were crazy, she was fighting for us and coaching us before news segments and making sure we were always prepared.
G: It really started out as kind of a joke. I mentioned the project to my dad and a friend of his actually found the property on Craigslist. I floated the idea to Lauren and Luke and they both initially said, ‘no way’.
L: It was crazy. 14
L: Basically everything at the beginning. Especially being L: This whole experience has definitely solidified my passion for business. I know that I love the business world, but maybe not the restaurant world.
G: Food is definitely difficult. It’s just so much. Honestly,
though, I think that’s why it’s been perfect for us right now. You know, other restaurants focus so much on their food, but a restaurant is so much more than that. Yes we want to make good burgers that taste good but we want to make people feel good. We said early on that our goal was to create a place that people wanted to come to, a place where they would feel welcome. Just the other day we had a 100-year-old woman come in and she sat and talked to us for over an hour. She had such great stories and so many things to share. That’s what this is about – the customer relations. I’ve fallen in love with that piece.
L: Yes – especially where we are. We have this amazing, small
island community and they have really shown us so much love and support. We have a few customers who come nearly every day we’re open. There are other business owners who have offered support and advice. We’re now friends with a reporter for the local newspaper so he’s been so helpful with sharing updates.
so young, we faced some unique challenges. We obviously knew that age would be a challenge but I think we went into it thinking ‘everyone will be so happy, they’ll just let us do what we want.’ Then, the very first day, we walked into the bank and got shot down when we said we were there to open a business account. Corporate America doesn’t care about our story or how hard we’ve worked. At the end of the day, we’re still not 18-years-old.
G: Age was definitely the cause of a lot of our set-backs. We
definitely found, though, that there are people willing to work with you. It takes finding the right people and asking the right questions. We had to be willing to make some sacrifices and be flexible with certain things, but we found ways to make it work.
L: The only other thing we’ve struggled with at times is that
we operate a very weather-dependent establishment. We live in Buffalo so the weather is totally unpredictable. Luckily, the weather has been unusually perfect this summer. The couple of bad-weather days, though, made us realize that we need a solid plan for next summer.
G: Without a doubt, we’ve made connections we otherwise
wouldn’t have. The whole community has really rallied around us.
G: We definitely plan to open next summer and probably the one after that. We will close once school starts up again, but that makes sense with the season and our location. There will be far fewer boats coming through at that point anyway.
G: Go for it. No matter what you do in life, there will be people doubting you or telling you that you can’t. Don’t let that stop you.
L: As much as this has been an amazing experience, there have obviously been huge challenges too. So my advice would be to push through those. Don’t take the easy road and give up when things get hard. If you push through, you’ll surprise yourself and things get so much better on the other side.
G: Another thing I’d say is to work with a team you love and
trust. A lot of people told us not to get into business together because we were already friends. They said it would ruin our friendship. Don’t get me wrong – we’ve had our fair share of fights but, at the end of the day, we trust each other completely. I know that if I can’t be here, Lauren or Luke can. If anything, we’re better friends now than when we started.
are able to run it. We would love to create the right systems and succession plans to allow Casey’s Cabana to continue to be run by GIHS DECA members even after we graduate and move on.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2018
L: We’ve also talked about how to carry this on even after we
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INSIDER’S GUIDE TO GROWING
YOUR CHAPTER There is a number repeated in the DECA world over and over again: 225,000. What is this number and why is it so special? 16
Members. There are over 225,000 members involved in DECA. The members are at the absolute core of what makes DECA so extraordinary. Without members, there would be no DECA. There would be no emerging leaders at the cutting edge of their respective generations breaking barriers in the workforce within their desired industries. This is why we need more. We need more members transforming into the movers and shakers of the 21st century and beyond. However, it is not that easy to recruit fresh, new members each year. Current members already know the vast variety of benefits DECA offers, but a prospect may not grasp the concept so easily. Here are three key points to convince a prospect to join a family full of endless possibilities:
1. HIGHLIGHT WHAT GOES ON VIA PICTURES AND VIDEOS Each year DECA, Inc. creates a membership video showcasing the main conferences and enthusiastic members that make DECA so great. Show this video so prospective members so they can visually see what DECA is about. Also, display pictures of chapter events for prospective members can picture themselves attending the same events with a huge smile.
2. ADVOCATE WITHIN SEVERAL VENUES A freshman orientation is a great way to speak personally with incoming freshmen, especially their parents. In addition, schedule chapter officers to attend business classes filled with eligible DECA members and present why each and every student should join.
3. CONNECT WITH THE ENORMOUS NETWORK OF DECA This organization is not just another extra-curricular buried in their high school--DECA is international, which means their network of friends is virtually international. DECA is proud of its presence on various social media platforms so demonstrate to prospective members the international network live on Twitter or Instagram, to name a few.
Ready to get started? On page 18, there’s a quiz for prospective members to determine if DECA is right for them. (Hint: the answer is always YES!) 
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2018
Like most components of DECA, there is always a prize for being the best. Stride to be the largest chapter in your association, largest membership increase in your association or largest chapter in the entire WORLD. Each of these accomplishments will guarantee chapter recognition at our International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Florida. All you need to do is recruit, recruit, recruit.
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ARE YOU READY TO JOIN DECA? 1. HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU GROW UP? A: Of course! I’ve been planning since I was five years old. B: Nope. I have no idea.
2. DO YOU HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE IN WHAT YOU WANT TO DO? A: Yes! I’ve been working a part-time job and researching all about it. B: Not really.
3. WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN TALKING WITH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS OR PRACTICE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IN YOUR DREAM JOB? A: That sounds awesome! B: Seems intimidating. No, thank you.
GO-GETTER (A): Yes! You ARE READY to join DECA! You are a go-getter with the enthusiasm and eagerness to be a very successful DECA member. IN THE MIDDLE: Yes! You ARE READY to join DECA! You know a little bit about what you want to accomplish but still need help to figure things out.
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4. DO YOU DESIRE TO EXPLORE POTENTIAL CAREER PATHS TO DECIDE AND PREPARE FOR COLLEGE? A: Possibly. B: Seems too far in the future.
5. WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN TRAVELING TO CITIES LIKE ORLANDO OR NEW YORK CITY WITH PEERS TO EXPLORE AND GAIN EXPERIENCE? A: Sign me up! I love to travel. B: Seems intimidating.
6. DO YOU LIKE MEETING NEW PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD? A: Is that even possible in high school?! B: Seems intimidating.
NEEDS A PUSH (B): Yes! You ARE READY to join DECA! You may not have all your questions answered and it can be very intimidating trying to figure out the next steps after high school. DECA is here to help! Talk to your chapter advisor or a chapter officer to learn more about the steps you need to take to become a DECA member.
Although the largest results are seen in September, increasing chapter membership is a year-long endeavor. It is effective to reserve the strongest recruitment methods for the beginning of the school since that is the time when students are most interested and driven. Personally as a chapter officer, I scheduled times with each business teacher in my school to visit the class and speak about the benefits of DECA and why each student should join. These visits spanned over two weeks to ensure every eligible business class was visited by a chapter officer. That year our membership numbers soared with an increase above 150%. The personal connections made in the classroom following a short 15-minute discussion about DECA solidified the student’s opinion whether or not the student decided to join (also free food can always help too!). Luckily for my chapter, each opinion was positive, and we succeeded in increasing membership. Try a few methods mentioned above as recruitment season approaches and remember to establish a personal relationship with each prospect. Always remember to emphasize “what’s in it for them” also known as the benefits—networking, friendship, resume builder, travel, soft skills, academic skills, etc. Ultimately, use concrete incentives to motivate and constant reminders.
Remember the Executive Officer Team wants to recognize YOUR chapter at ICDC in April, so RECRUIT! RACHEL LYNCH
North Atlantic Region Vice President @decavprachel
Remember the Executive Officer Team wants to recognize YOUR chapter at ICDC in April, so RECRUIT!
WE DRIVE THE DRIVEN.
®
WE EXPECT A LOT FROM OUR STUDENTS. THEY EXPECT EVEN MORE FROM THEMSELVES. As the #1 public undergraduate business program in the northeast,* the Isenberg School of Management is about much more than teaching business theory and case studies. We also focus on the business of preparing students mentally and emotionally to succeed. By charging our students with real responsibility, our great expectations fuel great achievement and create a strong network of successful alumni. At Isenberg, students, faculty, and alumni with incredible drive are driven even further. Learn more at isenberg.umass.edu/DECA. *According to U.S. News & World Report 2018 rankings.
www.isenberg.umass.edu
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efore he was your president, he was an international finalist, earning second place in the International Business Plan at ICDC in Anaheim. Andrew Weatherman took home DECA glass and now he’s taking the time to share his insider secrets with you. This is part one of a two-part series Andrew has authored for DECA Direct Magazine.
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STAGE 0: FINDING THE RIGHT EVENT Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room: written events aren’t for everyone. They’re a super fun and different way to compete, but they sure aren’t suited for the average member. Written events are a process, and they require months of preparation, all-nighters, and a lot — a lot — of research. If you love solving a challenging problem on your feet, then I’d advise staying away from written events (go for role plays!). However, if you like having a prepared plan and the opportunity to rehearse, go ahead and try a written event! Think a written event is for you? Great! Before you dive in and begin planning your paper, you must decide which event to compete in! The great thing is that DECA’s Competitive Event series offers a plethora of exciting events to chose from. Unfortunately, you can only pick one. In my opinion, choosing the right event is the most overlooked but vital part of the competition process. DECA breaks the written events into four categories: Business and Operations Research Events, Chapter Team Events, Entrepreneurship Events, and Integrated Marketing Campaign Events. Want to check out all DECA’s competitive event options? Take a look at the complete list on page 23. In this guide, I’ll summarize each written event and add a little commentary. For more details, head to deca.org/compete.
BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS RESEARCH EVENTS Events in this category have a maximum page limit of 20 pages and allow for a single competitor, a partnership, or a team of three. There are five events that fall under the Business Operations Research umbrella: Business Services, Buying and Merchandising, Finance Operations, Hospitality and Tourism Operations, and Sports and Entertainment Operations. Business Operations Research events provide you the opportunity to conduct research with a local business/organization and present your findings to a judge at competition. These events follow a topic that changes from year-to-year. The 2018 topic for every Business Operations Research event is as follows: The 2018 topic for each career category is the development or enhancement of a customer experience management strategy. Participants will collaborate with a local business or organization to analyze current customer experience management strategies and then present a plan to improve the customer experience within the business or organization. Business Operations Research events are a great way to connect with local business and understand how they work! If you like business research and strategy, Business Operations Research is a great fit for you!
CHAPTER TEAM EVENTS In my home association of North Carolina, Chapter Team events are the Holy Grail; if you want to prove that you are
the best competing chapter, a great way to do that is to tackle the Chapter Team events. Like BOR events, Chapter Team events have a maximum page limit of 20 pages and allow for a single competitor, a partnership, or a team of three chapter representatives. There are six events that fall under the Chapter Team umbrella: Community Service Project, Creative Marketing Project, Entrepreneurship Promotion Project, Financial Literacy Project, Learn and Earn Project, and Public Relations Project. Chapter Team events provide the amazing opportunity to engage chapter members in school-wide/ community-wide activities that cover the specific event. Many chapters already put on amazing school/community activities, and the Chapter Team events allow you to showcase your chapter’s awesome outreach/impact! I always recommend chapters of any size to pick an event and go for it! If your chapter is up to the challenge, you can do all six events! If you like event planning and management and want to have a tangible impact on your school or community, try a chapter event!
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EVENTS My favorite written event category, Entrepreneurship Events give you the opportunity to “explore entrepreneurial concepts from idea generation, business planning, to growing an existing business.” Unlike Business Operations Research and Chapter Team events, however, the events that fall under the Entrepreneurship umbrella have different rules from one another. The Innovation Plan is the shortest written event available, clocking in at a maximum page limit of five. The Start-up Business Plan is an intermediary, having a maximum page limit of eleven. While the Franchise Business Plan, Independent Business Plan, Business Growth Plan, and International Business Plan have a maximum page limit of 10. Unlike all other written events, though, the Business Growth Plan has strict rules on who can compete; since this event involves crafting a detailed growth plan and strategy for a business owned by a DECA member, all competitors must be “documented owners/operators of the business — a parents’ business does not qualify.” All events, though, allow for a single competitor, a partnership, or a team of three. Having a budding affinity for the world of entrepreneurship, I instantly gravitated towards these events. My sophomore year I competed in Start-Up Business Plan, and my junior year I competed in International Business Plan. If you have any interest in entrepreneurship, I highly recommend looking into these events!
INTEGRATED MARKETING CAMPAIGN EVENTS This is a new event this year! The Integrated Marketing Campaign Events provide an opportunity for the participants to demonstrate promotional knowledge and skills needed by marketing personnel. There are three different events within IMC. Event includes a campaign that is related to any sports and entertainment event and/or company event. Product includes a campaign that is related to any hard/soft line retail
products including e-commerce. Service includes a campaign that is related to any service or intangible product. These events have a maximum page limit of ten pages and allow for a single competitor, a partnership, or a team of three. If tests aren’t your thing, I recommend staying away from these events. The test will factor into your overall score, and a low test score could spell doom for your Glass hopes. If you are a strong test taker who wants to compete in written events but still wants a taste of series events (and has an interest in the marketing field), definitely check these events out!
SO WHICH IS RIGHT FOR ME? Now that you have familiarized yourself with the numerous written events offered, you are probably overloaded with potential options and don’t know which to pick. Surprisingly, this is a great problem to have! Unfortunately, there is no binary solution. No formula, advice, etc. can make that decision for you. Go with your gut; ask teachers and fellow members, but the end decision is yours, so own it. “Choose something you are passionate about. The less passionate you are about your topic, the less productive you will be.” — Ben Smith; Wisconsin DECA VP of Event Management. When I decided to compete in a written event my junior year, it was a no-brainer: I love presenting and researching, so of course, I had to go the written route! The tough decision, though, was what event to pick. I knew I had to go for an entrepreneurship event so that automatically narrowed the field. The previous year, I competed in an eleven-page event, and I thought that limit was too restrictive, so I had to go for a thirty-pager. Honestly, the decision was only between two events — Independent or International. Like I said, I love researching, and I really wanted to squeeze the most out of this event as I could. That said, I chose the International Business Plan because it gave me the opportunity to research the culture and business/entrepreneurship environment of another country.
STAGE 1: THE CORE Now that you have a better understanding of what written event you’d like to compete in, we can move onto the skeleton of your event: the core member(s). This is the stage that you DO NOT WANT TO SKIP. You can slack on any other stage and produce a winning project, but if you chose to slack on this stage, then you can kiss your Glass hopes bye.
important decision you will make during your project. Your partner/group members, though, must be from your home chapter.
FLYING SOLO — PROS AND CONS If you are the type of person who wants absolute control over every aspect of your project, this is the route you need to take. Personally, I chose to fly solo. If you lack innate self-initiative and are a weak presenter, I urge you to not even consider this option. Flying solo feels great — you never have to deal with conflicting schedules, you can work on your own time, and you make every decision. But, that also opens you up to some pretty (potentially) devastating negatives. When it comes to presenting, you have the full load of work; you can’t rely on someone else to cover certain parts. When it comes time to make a decision, you have full say, so if you don’t consult outside help, you’re getting a very biased view. You have no one to hold you responsible to any deadline, and if you start to lose interest, you will have to find a way to reel yourself back in.
TEAMING— PROS AND CONS If you have a strong core of one or two chapter members that possess wildly different (applicable) skill sets and mesh well, forming a team with those members is a great way to go. From the paper standpoint, the team route (when executed well) decreases the workload and dependence of all members. From a presenting standpoint, each member can cover certain parts of the pitch, which should allow for better (and impressive) flow and transition (plus you can wear matching outfits, and that’s pretty cool). However, this route also opens itself up to (potentially) devastating negatives: team communication has to be at maximum level during the project (I recommend Slack if you have a team of three); arguments can break out over trite team decisions. If done well, teaming can be a perfect option, but any slip up during the project could spell doom to all of your hard work. Tred with caution. I recommend setting aside a few weeks at the start of school to survey new DECA members and observe returners (summer changes some people). If you take this step early, there is absolutely no reason to rush to rash and impulsive decisions. If you decide to form a partnership or team, take a week to just talk — doesn’t have to be about DECA. No matter the skillset or promises offered by anyone, you must mesh well with your team (this isn’t necessarily a start-up; no need to be a Steve Jobs). Also, a word of wisdom: I’ve gotten burned by (looking back) ludicrous promises by teammates. Don’t be blinded by outlandish promises; they are almost always too good to be true.
TEAM OR NO TEAM — THAT IS THE QUESTION Every DECA written event allows you to compete solo, as a partnership, or as a group of three. Like every project or idea, the team is the backbone and will make or break everything. Choosing your team, or not choosing one, is the single most 22
ANDREW WEATHERMAN High School Division President @DECA_Andrew
PFL
PERSONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY
FINANCIAL LITERACY EXAM 1 ROLE-PLAY 2ND ROLE-PLAY FOR FINALISTS
PREPARATION TIME
INTERVIEW TIME
BUSINESS OPERATIONS RESEARCH EVENTS BOR
BUSINESS SERVICES OPERATIONS BUYING AND MERCHANDISING OPERATIONS
BMOR FOR
FINANCE OPERATIONS HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM OPERATIONS
HTOR
SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT MARKETING OPERATIONS
SEOR
NONE
PRESENT RESEARCH AND PLAN 1 TO 3
PAGES ALLOWED
INTERVIEW TIME
PAGES ALLOWED
INTERVIEW TIME
CHAPTER TEAM EVENTS COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT
CSP
CREATIVE MARKETING PROJECT
CMP
ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROMOTION PROJECT
EPP
FINANCIAL LITERACY PROMOTION PROJECT
FLPP
LEARN AND EARN PROJECT
LEP
PUBLIC RELATIONS PROJECT
PRP
NONE
PRESENT PROJECT 1 TO 3
ENTREPRENEURSHIP EVENTS INNOVATION PLAN
EIP
START-UP BUSINESS PLAN
ESB
FRANCHISE BUSINESS PLAN
EFB
INDEPENDENT BUSINESS PLAN
EIB
BUSINESS GROWTH PLAN
EBG
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PLAN
IBP
PAGES ALLOWED
NONE
PRESENT PLAN INTERVIEW TIME
1 TO 3
PAGES ALLOWED
INTEGRATED MARKETING CAMPAIGN EVENTS INTEGRATED MARKETING CAMPAIGN–EVENT
IMCE
INTEGRATED MARKETING CAMPAIGN–PRODUCT
IMCP
INTEGRATED MARKETING CAMPAIGN–SERVICE
IMCS
PRESENT ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN
MARKETING EXAM 1 TO 3
PRESENT PROMOTION PLAN
PAGES ALLOWED
INTERVIEW TIME
PROFESSIONAL SELLING AND CONSULTING EVENTS FINANCIAL CONSULTING HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM PROFESSIONAL SELLING PROFESSIONAL SELLING
FCE
FINANCE EXAM
HTPS
HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM EXAM
PSE
MARKETING EXAM
CONSULTATION N/A
SALES PRESENTATION
INTERVIEW TIME
ONLINE EVENTS SMG
STOCK MARKET GAME
VIRTUAL BUSINESS CHALLENGE–ACCOUNTING
PRESENT PORTFOLIO PAGES ALLOWED
INTERVIEW TIME
N/A
N/A
VBCAC
VIRTUAL BUSINESS CHALLENGE–FASHION
VBCFA
VIRTUAL BUSINESS CHALLENGE–HOTEL MANAGEMENT
VBCHM
VIRTUAL BUSINESS CHALLENGE–PERSONAL FINANCE
VBCPF
VIRTUAL BUSINESS CHALLENGE–RESTAURANT
VBCRS
VIRTUAL BUSINESS CHALLENGE–RETAIL
VBCRT
VIRTUAL BUSINESS CHALLENGE–SPORTS
VBCSP
NONE 1 TO 3 N/A
*Written entries must follow the specifications in the Penalty Point Checklist. Consult the DECA Guide for complete details.
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4. Where #3 will be held in 2019:
6. This year’s annual theme:
7. The prized possession of every DECA international champion:
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CHAPTER BUZZ Alma DECA members volunteered at the United Way’s annual “Fill the Bus” school supply drive. They collected donations from various community members and local establishments before helping pack the school buses with materials for kids in need.
CASTRO VALLEY DECA CALIFORNIA
Working with other students and local designers, members of Castro Valley DECA held a fashion show this year. Members got a real taste of the industry when they auditioned models, went on photo shoots, held countless meetings and spent hours planning their event. Ultimately, the fashion show was a huge success, raising over $500 for their chapter and providing advertising for local businesses.
IRVINGTON DECA CALIFORNIA
Four officers from Irvington DECA, Jasmine Tong-Seely, Kevin Mao, Sam Moturi, and Vishaank Ghai, appeared on the Fremont Unified School District’s talk show “Community Conversations” to discuss DECA – their personal experiences, conferences and the countless benefits DECA provides to its students. Moturi was named California DECA Member of the Year for his extensive work in implementing CTE at multiple schools and advocating across the state.
CONNECTICUT DECA CONNECTICUT
The Connecticut DECA Officer Team got down to business at their Officer Training this summer. They dove into DECA’s history, mapped out their big goals for the year and divided up the responsibilities. To close out the week, they invited their families to a ceremony in which they shared their plans for the year.
MARYLAND DECA MARYLAND
Maryland DECA Officers attended a training this summer with all CTSO leaders in the state.
WILMINGTON DECA MASSACHUSETTS
Wilmington DECA Officer Team attended ELS including their 1 chapter member who is a Mass DECA Association Officer! Represented 1 of 2 association present at ELS from the NAR.
Alma DECA
HIGHTSTOWN DECA NEW JERSEY
Hightstown DECA’s Chapter Officers Shivam, Aayush, Sam and Shivani spent their summer training, planning and bonding as a team to get #ReadyForIt this year.
Irvington DECA
RIDGEWOOD DECA NEW JERSEY
Ridgewood High School DECA’s Chapter Officer team has been organized to help its chapter members build opportunities to lead and develop. Ridgewood High School DECA is #NJDECABOLD.
CENTRAL CROSSING DECA OHIO
Southington DECA
Before embarking on a trip to Kings Island, Central Crossing Junior DECA was asked to make a commercial for K.I.’s annual Winterfest celebration. With the help of the whole class, the chapter was able to make an epic commercial! They won first place and $250 for their chapter.
NORTH MEDFORD DECA OREGON
At the 2018 Oregon SCDC, my fellow DECA member Philip Cary was elected District 3 Vice President. We were all so nervous for him, as the competition was very tough, but in the end he ended up becoming a state officer.
Connecticut DECA
SOUTHINGTON DECA CONNECTICUT
Members of Southington DECA kicked off their second summer of serving up “Reel Good Snacks.” This DECA-run business is a concession stand at the Southington Drive-In Theater. Student managers Kalli Gianacopolos, Callie Natelli, and Erin Robinson took over this year and created an operating schedule and trained more than 30 DECA members to work at “Reel Good Snacks”.
Hightstown DECA
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2018
ALMA DECA ARKANSAS
EAST PAULDING DECA GEORGIA
The Officer Team of EPHS DECA helped spread some joy to East Paulding teachers. On the last day of pre-planning, they handed out breakfast and coffee to faculty and staff.
Central Crossing DECA
27
CHAPTER BUZZ PENNSYLVANIA DECA PENNSYLVANIA
At the end of June, the Pennsylvania DECA State Officers went through and extensive summer planning. They worked on public speaking, state theme planning, creating charity fundraisers and devolving their Plan of Action.
NORTH KINGSTOWN DECA RHODE ISLAND
Mary Beth Clarke (North Kingstown High School DECA) was honored with the Young Leader Award by RI Treasurer Seth Magaziner. The award, which was presented during a ceremony at the Rhode Island State House, recognizes high school juniors across the state for their outstanding achievement in businessrelated courses, as well as a commitment to their community and demonstrating strong leadership skills.
LAKEVIEW CENTENNIAL DECA TEXAS
Lakeview Centennial DECA showed all of Texas that this coming year, they are READY FOR IT! This billboard was on I-30 in the middle of Dallas. Their chapter learned about billboard as a mode of advertising in class with Mr. Fleming. They then designed their own billboards and visited CC Outdoor DFW to learn more about the industry.
PITTSBURG DECA TEXAS
Luis Miner and Erik Enriquez, Pittsburg DECA officers visit with Pittsburg businesses about partnership opportunities. They recruited Guaranty Bank as a Diamond level partner.
VISTA RIDGE DECA TEXAS
Vista Ridge won its second trophy at ICDC 2018 along with four teams placing in the Top 10. We are hosting our first ever summer bash to celebrate our best season yet ,encourage chapter bonding and introduce our brand new advisor.
THE WOODLANDS DECA TEXAS
BROAD RUN DECA VIRGINIA
The Broad Run DECA Officer Team worked hard this summer to plan for a great year. They held a team workshop to solidify their theme (Ignite Your Passion), set all leadership meeting dates, schedule chapter meetings, and plan for fundraisers and DECA month.
NEWPORT DECA WASHINGTON
Shifa Somji (Newport High School DECA) started Chess 4 Girls as her DECA Marketing project and then turned it into a real, impactful organization. Shifa plays chess herself and is passionate about STEM education. The mission of Chess4Girls is to create a conducive environment for girls to continue playing chess through middle school, high school, and beyond. Chess4Girls offers workshops, strategy sessions, and girl-exclusive chess tournaments.
Pennsylvania DECA
Lakeview DECA
APPLETON EAST DECA WISCONSIN
The Appleton East DECA Officer Team checked volunteering off of their #SummerOfDECA Bucket List when they packed meals for families in need at Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. The hunger-relief organization provides quality food to those in need, works to solve root causes of hunger and advocates in their community.
Broad Run DECA
WAUSAU WEST DECA WISCONSIN
Wausau West and Appleton East DECA held their annual Chapter Officer Workshop at Thornton’s Whitewater Rafting Resort and Campground in Northern, WI. Students worked on planning for upcoming activities for the school year as well as whitewater rafting, paint balling and tons of networking.
Wausau West DECA
Newport DECA
The Woodlands DECA members volunteered this summer at the Crisis Assistance Center. They collected donations of Back to School supplies and clothes for kids in need.
Appleton East DECA 28
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SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER | 2017
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