Three Goals You Would Like to Accomplish: 1. I would love to see more training for parent volunteers at the regional conference. Last year a couple of our presentation and role play groups reported that the parents who were judging their skits did not have much training on how they should be judging the events.. I believe it would be positive to have some training for volunteers before the events to help judges score with the best of their knowledge.

2. I would like to see more of an outreach to a younger audience for FBLA. In my personal experience I did not learn about FBLA until I was a freshman in high school. I think having an opportunity to have an FBLA exploration day or week run by FBLA students would be a great way to give exposure to younger students (maybe start at middle school) as well as giving leadership experience to current FBLA members. Younger students could spend a day doing different interesting activities that tie to various business skills.

3. Gaining knowledge (career conference), and possibly connections, to various companies/business fields would be incredibly helpful to members. Utilizing our own parent network to help access those would be invaluable.

How Can the High School Division Offer a Differentiated Experience: To deliver a truly differen0ated experience for high school students, the division can implement several initiatives that set it apart from other organizations. One approach is to facilitate virtual meetings with business leaders, providing students with direct access to real-world insights and guidance from professionals in various industries. This exposure helps students gain a deeper understanding of business principles and career opportunities. Additionally, organizing in-person conference sessions focused on business and skill development will allow students to engage in hands-on learning and interactive workshops. These conferences can cover a range of relevant topics and foster growth in essential business skills. Leveraging Edgewood’s extensive parent and business network can further enhance student learning. By tapping into these resources, students can benefit from mentorship, networking opportunities, and practical experiences that prepare them for future success. To enrich the program, the division can also consider an annual trip to cities such as Chicago, where students can experience the business environment firsthand. Furthermore, implementing shadow days will enable participants to observe professionals in action, deepening their understanding of daily business operations and career pathways.

How Can the High School Division Expand Membership Outreach: To attract more high school students and expand membership, the high school division should utilize social media platforms and other online marketing channels to give FBLA a fresh, youthful appearance that resonates with the target demographic. By emphasizing the unique benefits of joining the club, FBLA can better connect with prospective members and showcase the value it provides. In addition to marketing efforts, strengthening the sense of community within FBLA is essential. Hosting quarterly social events will not only highlight the club’s vibrant community but also encourage current and prospective members to engage and collaborate with each other. These initiatives will help foster a welcoming environment and further promote the organization’s appeal.

How Can We Improve Capacity and Capabilities to Lead as a CTSO: To improve the organization’s capacity for hosting regional conferences, it is essential to consider utilizing larger event spaces. Expanding the size of venues will accommodate more participants and allow for a broader range of activities, fostering greater engagement and learning opportunities for students. Outreach efforts should include actively seeking parents and volunteers who are willing to support the organization. Their involvement can enhance operational efficiency and provide valuable resources for planning and executing events. By building a robust volunteer network, the organization can extend its reach and impact within the community. Exploring a partnership with the University of Wisconsin (UW), a top-tier institution located nearby, presents significant opportunities. Collaborating with UW could be mutually beneficial, as it would enhance FBLA’s programming while allowing UW to connect with local families for its own marketing, research and fundraising initiatives. Working in tandem would strengthen ties between the organizations, creating advantages for both FBLA and UW.

Three Goals You Would Like to Accomplish: 1) Continuing transparent communications with Wisconsin regions. I think it is very important that all Wisconsin chapters are on the same page. 2) Community Service. Giving back to our local communities is a fundamental aspect of FBLA and should continue every year. I want to provide more opportunities for local chapters to continue supporting their communities in different ways. 3) Add more high school and middle school chapters statewide. It is always important that we keep growing as an organization. So it is important to add more chapters at more schools statewide for students to get into business with.

How Can the High School Division Offer a Differentiated Experience: The high school division of FBLA can offer a differentiated experience because of the focus on business opposed to other clubs and organizations. The competitive events are very diverse and there is a niche for everyone to be a part of, whether that is finance, graphic design, or international affairs. Additionally, with the opportunity to serve on the State Officer Team, those with great interest take their experience to the next level. FBLA is also very future-focused and provides many opportunities for members to explore their career interests.

How Can the High School Division Expand Membership Outreach: The high school division can help expand membership outreach by student promotions and social media. Local Officer teams and other alumni members can reach many students in schools and can connect with them over FBLA, since there is something for everyone to do within FBLA and be a part of something bigger. Social media can also be a powerful source of new membership because almost everyone is on social media in some way. Posting about FBLA and quickly informing viewers can lead to more impressions and engagement, which can lead to more members.

How Can We Improve Capacity and Capabilities to Lead as a CTSO: One way that FBLA can improve capacity and capabilities in leadership is by focusing on developing leadership skills at every age level of FBLA and making those resources readily available to anyone in FBLA. From middle school to high school, there are many skills that need to be learned regarding leadership. It is also important that we keep these skills ready to use year-round and not just before the competitive season. State Officers are trained throughout the year, and it is crucial that the expectations for them are clearly set. For advisers, it is important that they are always up to date with regulations and rules within events, while also maintaining connections with members. Developing a toolkit for new advisors, or for returning advisors, would be beneficial to chapters to stay in the know with FBLA. As a CTSO, it would also be valuable to collaborate with other CTSO advisors on career development and readiness goals for upcoming seasons.