Bylaw Proposals Details

Three Goals You Would Like to Accomplish: If successful in my campaign, I would like to see the officer team accomplish three goals that relate to each of FBLA’s three pillars. In terms of education, I would increase the percentage of members who complete at least the second level, or “Leader Award,” of the Business Achievement Award by 15%. I would achieve this goal by expanding the advertising for the award and creating an incentive that would make members further inclined to complete the program. By expanding the outreach of the BAA, more members would build the knowledge that is critical to the essence of FBLA. For the service pillar, I would plan and promote a charitable project to benefit one of FBLA’s partners. This would allow members to engage in service, create tangible good for an organization, and enrich the ethicality of FBLA’s brand. Regarding progress, I would promote inclusivity by working with the secretary-treasurer to make events more economically accessible for all members. Speaking from experience, the costs of going to conferences can sometimes create a barrier that makes it almost impossible for members to attend. Last year, multiple members of my chapter qualified for NLC, but unfortunately lacked the funding that would’ve allowed them to fly to and stay in Georgia. To create a level playing field for competitors, I would attempt to lessen the prominence of this obstacle.

How Can the High School Division Offer a Differentiated Experience: The high school division could offer a differentiated experience by conducting a research poll of member opinions to gain insight regarding what works and what doesn’t about the current state of FBLA. This would allow the executives of the organization to better understand the wants and needs of its member base and make more informed decisions and improvements to the organization.

How Can the High School Division Expand Membership Outreach: The FBLA state officer team could implement multiple strategies to encourage an increase in membership outreach, such as hosting online seminars to educate local officers about recruitment, promoting a member recruitment day/week, and providing a recruitment-focused workshop at leadership conferences. An expansion in membership outreach would happen in the high schools themselves, so the implementation of efforts would need to occur throughout all levels of the organization, especially at the local level.

How Can We Improve Capacity and Capabilities to Lead as a CTSO: As a Career and Technical Student Organization, FBLA encourages the real-world application of business concepts by creating an environment that fosters growth, learning, and leadership development. FBLA could expand its ability to lead in this area by providing more development opportunities to its members, encouraging collaboration between members of varying chapters, and offering connections to different businesses to potentially allocate internships, job shadows, and networking opportunities.

Three Goals You Would Like to Accomplish:   If I were success in my bid for state officer three goals I would like to see accomplished by the state office include 1) Promoting and creating resources to help members prepare for competition. One of my biggest goals as a state officer would be to see as many Wisconsin members take home trophies at Nationals as possible. 2) Effectively manage a state officer team. My experience as a state officer has allowed me to see what works well whilst managing a team, and what things could be improved upon. 3) Create more resources for local chapter officer teams. This is something I was very passionate about during my term as Region 7 Vice President, and something I will continue to prioritize. 

How Can the High School Division Offer a Differentiated Experience: I believe that the high school division can offer a differentiated experience by providing more resources for members that choose not to compete, or don’t qualify for state/national competitions. Many members that don’t advance in competition lose interest in FBLA, and I believe that by providing more resources and activities for these members at the state level like workshops, career resources, and more would lead these members to become more actively involved in FBLA. 

How Can the High School Division Expand Membership Outreach: The high school division can expand membership outreach through partnerships. I believe that partnering with other related CTSOs like DECA and FCCLA would benefit FBLA, as many members in those organizations have the same interests as FBLA members. Having state officers from other CTSOs attend FBLA conferences means that our members will be exposed to different ideas that will help them to form meaningful connections. My school is unique in that we have a joint FBLA | DECA chapter, meaning that we have more opportunities to compete and get involved. 

How Can We Improve Capacity and Capabilities to Lead as a CTSO: I believe one way for FBLA to improve capacity and capabilities as a CTSO is promoting leadership positions for members. State officer councils are a great way for members to get involved and further their experience without taking on the full responsibility of being a state officer. This is a great stepping stone for members who are interested in getting more involved in FBLA. 

Three Goals You Would Like to Accomplish: 1. I would love to see enhanced member engagement across chapters. I feel that while FBLA builds strong connections within your chapter, there is untapped potential for networking with members of other chapters. Personally, I value the connections I have made from attending conferences and meeting other Wisconsin FBLA members very much! I believe that having designated programs and times where members can network both at conferences and throughout the year is important. 2. It would also be nice to see improved resources for local chapters. This year, Wisconsin FBLA piloted a new “Local Chapter Officer Training” (LCOT) video series on Youtube. where the State Officer spoke about items that would be helpful to leaders at the local level. Expanding the visibility and outreach of similar programs would guarantee that local chapters continue to sponsor high quality community service, fundraising, social, and competitive initiatives. I believe releasing more LCOT training material in key areas such as Champion Chapter, leadership, communication, or service would positively benefit all members of Wisconsin FBLA; the benefit gained from these videos would apply to spheres outside FBLA too. 3. Finally, increasing Wisconsin FBLA’s involvement in service initiatives is important to me. Service has numerous benefits; in addition to growing the character and experience of members who are involved in service, community service also creates immense positive reward for the community. I believe that the Executive Board should encourage service through programs like the Alzheimer’s Foundation Game Board, donation dashes, 5ks, Capstone BAA, and Lifesmarts. Promoting resources that instruct local chapters on how to effectively develop their own service project would be majorly beneficial! 

How Can the High School Division Offer a Differentiated Experience: For one, increasing the amount of post secondary education and workforce related resources offered by Wisconsin FBLA would give members unique advantages. Personally, I joined FBLA to expand my own future career potential, and explore the possibilities of what I could accomplish after high school. Wisconsin FBLA could possibly conduct interviews with professionals from many different fields, or promote a list of internship opportunities to members. By offering these resources targeting the member’s futures, Wisconsin FBLA would be able to ensure members gain both well-rounded experiences and ones relevant to their future aspirations. Further, establishing a mentorship system would leave a unique mark on Wisconsin FBLA. Through every aspect of FBLA, having an experienced figure to guide you along the way would be extremely beneficial, and the relationship you can establish would be unforgettable. In sum, Wisconsin FBLA can offer a differentiated experience through increasing future career resources and offering mentorship opportunities. 

How Can the High School Division Expand Membership Outreach: Wisconsin FBLA can expand membership outreach by highly simplifying the chapter start-up process. By easily laying out all the steps required to create a chapter, consolidating them all in a single spot on the state website, the process of adding new chapters and members to Wisconsin FBLA will be streamlined. We can continue this by providing resources such as recruitment flyers or meeting templates to individual schools, in order to help pre existing FBLA chapters grow their membership as well. Wisconsin FBLA can also improve membership through building a widely recognizable brand on social media. By using eye-catching graphics and partnerships with other brands and organizations, brand recognition and membership will positively increase. 

How Can We Improve Capacity and Capabilities to Lead as a CTSO: Wisconsin FBLA can do this through leadership development and member empowerment. First, Wisconsin FBLA should focus on turning members into strong and competent business leaders. We can do this through expanding on existing programs such as State Executive and National Councils, Linking Leaders, and BAA’s, or achieve this through creating new ones. For example, fostering partnerships between state officers and local chapters, where state officers provide leadership advice to chapters. Wisconsin FBLA can also do this through encouraging members to take on leadership roles themselves. FBLA can accomplish this through promoting capstone level BAA projects, or giving members opportunities to sit in on mock board meetings or competitive event prep sessions, where members can gain active experience through participating in simulations that mimic real-world scenarios. We can also highlight membership accomplishments through member of the month programs, or encourage members to apply for national recognition awards like the NCR Rising Trailblazer or Northern Stars. 

Three Goals You Would Like to Accomplish: If elected as state Vice President for Wisconsin FBLA, I would focus on three key goals to foster growth and engagement within the organization. First ,I aim to strengthen collaboration within the executive board. As a current executive board member, I've seen the potential for greater involvement. Therefore I would introduce an Executive Council Workshop, similar to the State Officer Workshop. This would allow board members to come together, brainstorm and share ideas for new initiatives. It would also foster teamwork and provide a place for members to take lead on projects that they are passionate about. Second, I plan to enhance connections between FBLA members and local professionals by organizing a panel with FBLA alumni at one of our conferences. This interactive Q&A session would give students valuable connections and insight into industries that they are interested in. Lastly, I would work to create more personalized resources for competitive event preparation. Recognizing that not all members benefit from traditional study rolls, I envision developing a YouTube series or digital toolkit tailored to different learning styles, helping members prepare for events in a way that suits them well. Drawing from my experience at UW Credit Union, I would work to bring financial literacy workshops and seminars to FBLA members. Through my connections I believe that we can provide practical skills and valuable financial advice to our members. Given that the executive council board is relatively new to FBLA, I'm excited about the chance to leverage my experiences to help create more structured and impactful opportunities for members and to contribute to the organization's growth. 

How Can the High School Division Offer a Differentiated Experience: Unlike any class you take in school, FBLA allows its members to collaborate with others and learn skills that can be used in a professional setting. As indicated by its mission, FBLA empowers students to become community-minded business leaders and prepares students for their futures by active participation in presentations, exams and networking. Traveling to conferences at different levels including regional, state, and national, provide high school students opportunities to improve business proficiency and create amazing memories. In addition, there are many other leadership opportunities in chapter officer boards, state executive councils, and state and national boards which allow students to connect with like-minded individuals and create lasting relationships, all while learning valuable skills for future endeavors.

How Can the High School Division Expand Membership Outreach: By hosting a future club fair for incoming freshmen students, we can introduce them to FBLA and the positive impact it can have on their high school experience and beyond. This event will provide an interacting and engaging overview of FBLA while sharing its mission and core values. Students will explore being an FBLA member and how it can enhance their leadership and business knowledge while deciding if it's the right fit for them. This would be a great opportunity to get new members while connecting and sharing the FBLA mission pillars. Furthermore, one of my initiatives if elected would be to improve outreach with our middle school chapters. Increasing awareness of other chapters across our state, will allow me to introduce middle school students to the club earlier which would potentially increase participation. Finally, enhancing our social media presence is a key component in increasing membership. Utilizing social media forms like Instagram with engaging content such as short video clips highlighting member success, can allow others to feel a rush of excitement and urge to join FBLA.

How Can We Improve Capacity and Capabilities to Lead as a CTSO: We can improve our leadership as a CTSO through targeted efforts at both local and state levels. At the local level, we can inspire Middleton High School students by celebrating the achievements of FBLA members. Sharing their successes through a bimonthly newsletter can motivate others to strive for excellence and leadership.

On the state level, collaborating with other CTSOs, such as DECA, HOSA, and FCCLA, allows us to address common challenges like funding issues or equity gaps. By working together to develop solutions, we can strengthen communities, foster inclusivity, and elevate how our leadership is perceived across Wisconsin.

Three Goals You Would Like to Accomplish: 1. My first goal would be to create stronger partnerships within local business in communities where FBLA chapters are located. This could help promote the opportunities for internships and youth co-ops in business related fields. 2. Secondly, I think it is important to create citizenship among local chapters. This is a great opportunity to do group service work as well as stand out in the community where the chapters exist. This is a great opportunity to meet like minded individuals and create lasting relationships. 3. Lastly, I believe that a stronger bond between high school and middle school FBLA programs could benefit the FBLA organization. This could later drastically increase membership in the high school program and provide opportunities for peer mentorship as well as build excitement for the program. 

How Can the High School Division Offer a Differentiated Experience: I believe that the high school division can offer a differentiated experience by offering a simulation within school that depicts what an FBLA competition would look like. This can make people who are apprehensive about going to their Regional Leadership Conference feel more comfortable with the material presented. There could also be a way that examples for presentation competitions from topics that are no longer used be posted online as a resource for those who need additional clarification on what an FBLA presentation competition looks like. I also think that the high school division could benefit from more transparency when it comes to national events. I think that there could be a better way of communicating events to ALL members and not just advisers sometimes 

How Can the High School Division Expand Membership Outreach: I believe that the key to increasing membership starts with the lower grade levels in school. I think that high school FBLA and middle school FBLA within a school district should be related. This provides an opportunity for high schoolers to mentor middle school students as well as middle school students to see how high school can offer so many more opportunities for them as they progress through the organization. This will ultimately lead to a larger portion of members in FBLA as well as members who have been in FBLA for a longer period of time. To do this I would recommend a toolkit for high school advisers to connect with younger students. This could entail: Recruiting for high school FBLA, Starting a middle school chapter, mentorship of youth, etc.

How Can We Improve Capacity and Capabilities to Lead as a CTSO: I believe that by highlighting the many ways interpersonal skills, teamwork, and goal setting are used within the FBLA organization; this could make FBLA stand out amongst other CTSOs. By doing this, others would also be intrigued on how FBLA can bring all of these skills into their lives. By highlighting these attributes that FBLA brings to your resume, increased membership, and a better reputation can be achieved. 

Three Goals You Would Like to Accomplish:  Increasing membership involvement. FBLA has been an organization which has taught me so much about myself through exposing me to different fields I may enjoy. I have developed leadership and speaking skills which are essential in success. I wish for more people to have the ability to gain this exposure as I did in order to find their interests and develop skills that they will carry for the rest of their lives. Implementing greater financial aid/ making conferences more accessible. Attending FBLA conferences have been part of some of the most shaping moments of my life. Whether through winning an award holding substantial merit, or delivering a presentation which exposes me to skills such as public speaking and confidence. These events are an amazing way for members to step out of their comfort zone which is why providing more support for members regarding the financial aspect of attending these conferences will immensely benefit both the organization of FBLA but also countless high schoolers across our region. Expanding Career Readiness Programs and Resources. Preparing members for future careers is at the core of the organization’s mission, and I would work with the officer team to enhance career readiness programs. This could include organizing mentorship opportunities, internships, and workshops focused on critical skills such as leadership, communication, and problem-solving. By offering these resources, we would help members build connections and prepare for successful careers beyond high school. 

How Can the High School Division Offer a Differentiated Experience: The high school division can offer a differentiated experience by creating specialized programs and opportunities that cater to students' diverse interests and career goals. For example, offering leadership training workshops, industry-specific competitions, and skill-building activities will allow members to explore different fields, from business and finance to technology and creative industries. To further enhance the experience, mentorship programs can be implemented, where newer members are paired with experienced students or alumni for guidance and support. Additionally, establishing various leadership tracks based on student experience, and collaborating with other clubs or organizations on school projects, can offer more personalized growth opportunities. By providing flexibility in how students can participate, whether through virtual or in-person activities, the division can ensure that students feel included and engaged regardless of their schedule or interest level.  

How Can the High School Division Expand Membership Outreach: Expanding membership outreach in the high school division requires making FBLA more visible and accessible to students. One effective method is to engage with students during school-wide events like club fairs, assemblies, or class orientations to introduce them to FBLA and its benefits. Additionally, connecting with teachers or other school administrators to promote FBLA during relevant classes or career planning activities can help raise awareness among students who may be interested in developing leadership and business skills. Offering interactive and fun introductory activities, such as hands-on workshops or competitions, can also attract new members by giving them a little introduction of what FBLA offers. Another important strategy is to create a welcoming environment where new members feel valued and included, making them more likely to share their positive experiences with others. Encouraging current members to personally invite friends and classmates can also create a more inviting and peer-driven membership growth.  

How Can We Improve Capacity and Capabilities to Lead as a CTSO: To improve the capacity and capabilities of student leaders in a CTSO, it’s important to focus on providing consistent leadership development and support. One approach is to offer regular leadership training sessions, workshops, or retreats that focus on core leadership skills such as communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution. By equipping students with these skills, they are better prepared to take on officer roles and lead initiatives within the organization. It’s also crucial to provide clear structures and mentorship for student leaders, allowing them to learn from more experienced peers or alumni. Encouraging student leaders to take ownership of projects, such as planning events or managing chapter activities, helps build practical leadership experience and fosters accountability. Finally, creating a feedback portal where both leaders and members can share their experiences and suggestions can improve the organization’s effectiveness, ensuring continuous growth and stronger leadership within the chapter. 

Three Goals You Would Like to Accomplish: Three goals I would like to accomplish are to increase member involvement in competitions, promote leadership development, and aid with chapter growth.

How Can the High School Division Offer a Differentiated Experience: A few ways for the school division to offer a differentiated experience is to encourage students to participate in leadership development boot camps and personalize learning opportunities based on individual interests. 

How Can the High School Division Expand Membership Outreach: We can expand membership outreach by targeting rural areas and offer them discounts or scholarships to start an FBLA chapter at their school. Additionally, we could implement virtual models for students who don’t have the opportunity to participate in FBLA, such as some homeschooled students. 

How Can We Improve Capacity and Capabilities to Lead as a CTSO: We could further our use of technology and invest in tools that improve how we manage our chapters, and collection of data and analytics. Furthermore, the National Leadership Conference could offer more specialized workshops if we enhance our educational reach of NLC. 

Three Goals You Would Like to Accomplish: Improving Team/Communication Skills In order to have good relationships with our local chapters, other national officers, advisors, and others we need to make sure we have solid communication skills so that we can easily communicate our thoughts and ideas with other chapters and officers. • More Involvement with other chapters The importance on working with other chapters is vital to how we work together as a FBLA Organization if we don’t have that then we can’t improve on our • Involving local chapter officers more These officers are the leaders of our local chapters and lead their schools FBLA Organization. I believe that we should include them more in our decision so that they feel like they have a say in the way FBLA is ran because it’s not only effecting the officer but the local chapter officers and their members.  

How Can the High School Division Offer a Differentiated Experience:  High school divisions can provide a differentiated experience by opening up more variety for students to collaborate with others to get more people involved in the FBLA community. To get more of that variety, we need to come up with more collaborative workshops where they can get more students involved in different business-related careers. 

How Can the High School Division Expand Membership Outreach: I believe that high school divisions can work on their membership outreach by devising new and interactive activities for students to expose them to the business world. These new activities will make members want to join after seeing all of the new opportunities that FBLA offers and what the future might hold for them if they choose to pursue a business career. 

How Can We Improve Capacity and Capabilities to Lead as a CTSO: We can improve the capacity and the capabilities as a CTSO by adding more guest speakers to talk about the importance of building relationships and introducing more workshops that have to do with communicating with your peers and learning to work well with peer groups. We can also improve it by creating more online competitions about certain events to help students connect and interact with students from other schools while still competing in their desired events. 

Three Goals You Would Like to Accomplish: First, I would introduce March as volunteer month, where chapters would compete by logging their community service hours leading up to SLC. The top chapters and individuals would then be recognized at SLC for their efforts. Secondly, I’d establish a state council made up of members from across Wisconsin who would apply for it. This council would focus on creating competitive event guides and study resources to help members succeed. Lastly, I would launch an initiative called "Ignite Together". This initiative would encourage chapters to collaborate on projects like fundraisers, service initiatives, and leadership events to foster teamwork across Wisconsin chapters. These initiatives are a lot, but if executed they would be pivotal for Wisconsin FBLA, enhancing the success of the organization state wide. 

How Can the High School Division Offer a Differentiated Experience: Let's face it, no other form of schooling is comparable to high school. Entering my freshman year, I had a rude awakening to what was forthcoming these next 4 years. But like any other newcomer to high school, I stacked club on top of club on top of club. One of those amidst the stack was Future Business Leaders of America. A club that made me enjoy socializing, that made me enjoy meeting new people, and made me enjoy leading. However, in my time of being a part of FBLA I noticed rifts between high school chapters, which can be solved and build a better FBLA high school experience. Each Wisconsin region consists of on average 7 counties. There are currently 71 Wisconsin FBLA high school chapters. Yet, there is still a lack of cross-region, or even inter-region collaborations between high schools. Promoting individuality as a chapter is key, as it allows members to grow as a leader and not become dependent on a separate source of external leadership, however, this individuality brings with it a sort of self isolation. Many chapters haven't yet worked together on accomplishing an initiative together. If I were to be elected as Wisconsin State Secretary/Treasurer one of my main goals would be to tackle these regional isolations and create cross-state collaboration. To accomplish this I’d work with regional vice presidents to reach out to local chapters within close proximity to see if they would be willing to work on an initiative together. Whether it be community service or cross collaboration awareness for FBLA the implementation of cross-region collaboration weeks would be more than beneficial to both chapters involved. This would not only benefit many high schoolers in breaking their shell of cross-communication with other leaders, but it would also benefit many emerging chapters across Wisconsin, increasing engagement statewide. Starting a new chapter is like stepping into uncharted territory.. exciting but overwhelming. Many new leaders within Wisconsin struggle with figuring out leadership structures, organizing meetings, or even knowing where to start with competitive events. It’s not that they don’t want to succeed, it's just that they don't know how to! That’s why, if elected as Wisconsin State Secretary/Treasurer I would make sure that there are guides for doing local chapter fundraising as well as how to run effective meetings, which are both the biggest part of FBLA on a local level. Another way we can offer a differentiated experience is by involving the high schoolers around Wisconsin. To empower and make sure that every Wisconsin future business leader's voice is heard, we must allow them the opportunity to have their voice heard! As Wisconsin State Secretary/Treasurer I would work with the Wisconsin State Reporter to open up submissions for any Wisconsin high schooler to submit a one minute video explaining a financial literacy topic, the American enterprise system, or more about a competitive event, such as event planning and what goes into having a successful event. Now If you ask a high school student what their most used apps are, they will most likely say a social media platform. Which is why creating a fun and engaging platform for many FBLA members to land on and enjoy is imperative for making the high school FBLA experience different from the others. Allowing these high school students to contribute to our own social media can provide them with a differentiated experience. By addressing regional isolation, supporting emerging chapters, and empowering students across the state, we can transform the high school FBLA experience into something non replicable. 

How Can the High School Division Expand Membership Outreach: Of the nine different Career and Technical Student Organizations options that high school students have to choose from, what is it about FBLA that stands out? FBLA offers opportunities that no other organization can. From leadership development, scholarships, and real-world experience, FBLA molds its members into confident, capable leaders who are prepared for the future. But in order for every student to realize this value, we must extend membership outreach. As Wisconsin State Secretary/Treasurer, I would focus on promoting scholarships and providing fun and educative resources for chapters in hopes of increasing our member count and retaining current members, building a stronger, more connected FBLA throughout the state. So let's begin with scholarships because what better way to get the attention of a high schooler than with free money? Scholarships are one of the great ways to show students and their families just how much FBLA can give back. Yet, many of these opportunities are simply missed because the chapters do not have the information to share them. As State Secretary/Treasurer, I would like to continue on a Wisconsin FBLA Newsletter. This newsletter would be sent out monthly containing details about upcoming events and deadlines. This would allow chapters to take advantage of such scholarships as well as remain informed on what's happening within Wisconsin FBLA. Around Wisconsin, many chapters struggle to keep meetings engaging or come up with fun initiatives that get members excited. But how can we? Many different national councils such as the National Secretaries Executive Council have created 50 chapter meeting ideas which have been put out nationally for everyone to see. However, few people know this list is available to them, and thus struggling chapters often have uninformed or unconnected members. Creating this newsletter would not only retain members within the chapters but also allow chapters to take their activities to the next level and make FBLA even more exciting for everyone involved. Membership outreach isn't just about numbers, it’s about creating an environment where each member feels empowered, connected, and thrilled to be part of FBLA. Further integrating FBLA into a high schoolers life, making it fun for the members across the state are ways we can positively grow the organization. If elected as Wisconsin State Secretary/Treasurer, I would be excited to implement these steps and ensure every member not only sees the worth of FBLA but that each one becomes a leader in it. After all, growing FBLA isn't just about adding more members, it's about ensuring that every single member succeeds. 

How Can We Improve Capacity and Capabilities to Lead as a CTSO: Every state officer candidate is capable of majorly changing FBLA on a state level. however with a time constraint of one year some of the proposed changes may not be tangible. My mom would always tell me quality over quantity, and as I finish this application the more I realize how applicable this saying is to FBLA. Instead of creating 50 new initiatives to be accomplished, prioritizing the most important can shift the productivity of this organization. Instead of taking bigfoot sized steps toward success, taking average human steps may be the way. While maintaining individuality is vital, it can lead to isolation. Many chapters lack opportunities to collaborate with others on initiatives. Which is why my first step would be organizing cross-region collaboration weeks, such as joint community service projects or awareness campaigns. We can strengthen bonds between chapters and encourage communication and teamwork among members. This will not only benefit individual chapters but also increase engagement at the regional/state level. My second step would be to support emerging chapters and members across Wisconsin. Launching a new chapter is both exciting and challenging, and many leaders struggle with structuring meetings, competing in events, or conducting their first meeting. FBLA could address this by creating user-friendly resources, such as a New Chapter Guide. These tools would offer step-by-step advice, simplifying processes and boosting confidence among new members. Allowing members to submit videos of themselves explaining an aspect of business also creates a more informed, involved, and impeccable organization. 

Three Goals You Would Like to Accomplish: Three goals I would like to see accomplished during my time in office are increased accessibility for rural students, increased encouragement for new members and fostering more engagement between members and state/national officers. These goals are important to me as a rural student in a small chapter who has observed a sense of isolation from the state and national levels of FBLA.   

How Can the High School Division Offer a Differentiated Experience: The high school division of FBLA is almost essential for the development of young business leaders, due to the period of life that it covers. Although the middle level is helpful to get a head start in the business world, and the collegiate level expands knowledge and helps apply it to the real world, high school is the most essential level. During these years, students get their first job, learn to be adults, begin to mature, and discover their interests and possible career paths. FBLA at this level is a crucial helping hand in this development, especially in those who may be interested in the business world and might not know it. 

How Can the High School Division Expand Membership Outreach: The high school level is a very important period of time for the development of young business leaders, so it is also very important to be able to reach all young business leaders. In my opinion, the biggest membership issue of FBLA is the lack of opportunities for rural students. Students in large cities and urban areas are easily reached by FBLA and its opportunities, but those in smaller schools and less populated areas do not always have access to the same opportunities. I think that adapting to these students’ lack of resources, financially or otherwise, through offering more online or state-funded opportunities is key to gaining them as members of FBLA. 

How Can We Improve Capacity and Capabilities to Lead as a CTSO: I think that in FBLA, there are many existing opportunities to gain real world skills and applicable business knowledge, but there is always room for improvement. Creating additional diverse or specific events will help to expand the available skills we can oer to members. I also believe that the BAA courses are very helpful to young people looking to become leaders, but I have found that not many people are aware of them. Increased promotion of these sorts of opportunities will expand the leadership capabilities of FBLA members, and make FBLA as a whole a sort of city on a hill for other CTSOs. 

Three Goals You Would Like to Accomplish: Goal 1: See that the numbers of members in local and regional chapters rise. Many times FBLA is just like any other club. I want people to try new things and find a place for them somewhere where they might think there's not one. Goal 2: To see the relations of members from different chapters and regions grow throughout the state. By planning more events that active members can engage in. Goal 3: Make sure those who aren’t in FBLA are aware of what FBLA is, especially local businesses. Local businesses that are aware are more likely to support your local chapter and encourage the club members.  

How Can the High School Division Offer a Differentiated Experience: The high school division offers a wider variety of ages of students involved. Engaging with older students, who have more experience, will help those with less understanding of the organization to expand their knowledge and networking opportunities. The high school division also gives students the opportunity to individually grow in different areas. With dozens of topics and events to choose from, to hundreds of schools not only statewide, but nationally, students are allowed to grow in ways that will allow them to live up to their fullest potential and become the person they are capable of becoming.  

How Can the High School Division Expand Membership Outreach: In the high school division I feel that the best way to reach more students would be through social media and communication. Although social media can have its downsides, with its mainstream culture, it is the most efficient way to transmit a message to other students. Social media is a center in many lives, so if used correctly and efficiently, I believe that it can bring positive results in terms of membership outreach and outcomes. This can be done by letting students know not only what FBLA is, but their mission in the success and progress of students.  

How Can We Improve Capacity and Capabilities to Lead as a CTSO: By focusing on having a strong leadership foundation. Engaging in volunteering to start to create networks and develop soft skills can demonstrate commitment and boost one's confidence. Volunteering also helps one gain a perspective on different things like getting exposed to new ideas and creating and overcoming new challenges. Decision-making and adaptability are all crucial to help build a strong leadership foundation.  

Three Goals You Would Like to Accomplish: 1. To provide more resources and templates for the use of local chapters. I hope to make it easier for all chapters to get involved with the many aspects of FBLA. These templates would include letters to administration requesting fundraising support, letters to past members to encourage rejoining, and social media templates. 2. To create easy and clear communication. All chapters should be informed of every opportunity they are offered, whether that be leadership opportunities, online programs, additional competitions or scholarships. FBLA has many amazing resources, they can not be utilized if they are unknown. 3. To make state officers more accessible to local chapters. Making state officers expertise available to all who want it. This would be done by having a space online to submit any question to the state officer team, many resources can be hard to navigate or open-ended, local chapters shouldn’t be confused alone. 

How Can the High School Division Offer a Differentiated Experience: There are many organizations available for high school students. FBLA can offer a differentiated experience by continuing to expand both its available offerings and the variety of opportunities for members. As a new member I was drawn to FBLA because of its variety. I could improve my public speaking and my research skills. I have been a part of many clubs, FBLA is by far the most influential and important to me. This is because FBLA has offered me opportunities to not just learn about leadership but to actually lead, to not just learn about making change, but to actually make the changes I want to see. The more opportunities we can provide our members, the bigger difference we can make in their lives. With the expansion of technology, more and more organizations can offer a variety of opportunities. So FBLA must maintain its differentiated experience by expanding even more. 

How Can the High School Division Expand Membership Outreach: To expand membership outreach to new members we should utilize the network of local chapters that are already established. Local chapters have direct connections with high school students eligible to join FBLA, and are eager to expand their own chapters. By providing local chapters with templates of emails to send to their student body about FBLA and why they should join, as well as, providing sample social media posts, we make it easier than ever for chapters to connect with potential new members. To expand membership outreach to our current members, encouraging them to stay in FBLA, we must create easy, open lines of communication between our members and our state officers. To do this we can utilize Instagram, an already established form of outreach. We can create a series of posts, first requesting members to use the Direct Message function to ask any questions they have for the officer team, anything from tips for fundraising to the President’s favorite color. We can then post the responses to certain questions, which would encourage others to ask more questions. Getting real time feedback from members can lead to changes that make members happier and more likely to stay in FBLA all through high school and even into college. 

How Can We Improve Capacity and Capabilities to Lead as a CTSO: To improve our members' capacity and capabilities to lead we must increase opportunities to actually lead. No matter how much information members are given on leadership, they can’t truly improve their capacity to lead until they are able to try. The hardest part about increasing leadership opportunities is that by their nature, not everyone can be a leader. In order to get the greatest number of members experienced as leaders, we must create opportunities that last a short amount of time. One way to do this is to create opportunities for members to create their own online workshops and present about whatever they are experts in, social media, competitive events, organizing their local chapter and so much more. This would allow members to practice several important skills of leadership, such as organization, guiding discussions, and increase their confidence. Additionally, it would allow fellow members to learn a variety of new information otherwise not available to them. 

The State Parliamentarian is the underclassperson scoring the highest on the parliamentary procedure written objective test at state competition and who has completed the state officer application, declaration, and candidate worksheet in accordance with deadlines.

2024-2025 Parliamentarian Candidates:

Cedona Bertram - DeForest
Rebecca Konkel - Big Foot
Max Olson - Milton
Ishika Pulimamidi - Middleton
Mouneeth Venigalla - Sun Prairie West
Robin Walby - Shawano
Amelia Weber - Menomonie

Three Goals You Would Like to Accomplish:   1. Implement sweeping overlook on the budget of the FBLA State Board. When, Where, and how the finances are being spent. And looking to implement significant budget cuts for unnecessary spending. 2. Increasing the amount of FBLA middle school chapters in the State of Wisconsin as investing and development in our youth will be crucial to high school success. 3. Improve spending by reducing the amount of money going to the “big” FBLA schools and instead focus on spending money to develop new chapters and help improve the state of chapters that are struggling and chapters that have previously shut down.    

How Can the High School Division Offer a Differentiated Experience: One of the main ways the high school FBLA division can offer a differentiated experience is using the organization outside of competitive events. One thing, however, I would like to change about competitive events is the introduction of industry-specific events such as Artificial Intelligence, Financial Technology, Cryptocurrency, and social impact ventures. Introducing events like these helps our members keep up with the changing business world and prepare them for a future past high school. Outside of FBLA some things I would like to add are leadership development, networking & collaboration, as well as internships.

Using leadership development, I plan to connect HS FBLA members with Colligate FBLA members and alumni for career guidance and college preparation. I also plan to create leadership certification pathways for FBLA members where they can earn real-world credentials, through online modules and workshops.

Using networking and collaboration I plan to enhance the togetherness and brainstorming of FBLA members. It’s not just whoever is on the state and national board should only be involved in FBLA. EVERYONE should be involved. I plan to build opportunities to collaborate with more local FBLA members from different states and countries through virtual exchange programs. I also plan to hold forums which invite chapter leaders and regular FBLA members from around the start to exchange ideas, challenges and solutions, furthering involvement within FBLA for all members.

Using internships, I plan to better prepare our high school FBLA members for real world experiences. Wisconsin FBLA has some of the brightest and most talented students, not just in the State, but in the entire world, and should be treated as such. I plan on working with large companies such as Northwestern Mutual, Johnson Controls, & Rockwell, to help secure internships for FBLA members, so they have a pathway to prepare themselves for college and beyond, through real work experiences.

How Can the High School Division Expand Membership Outreach: For me it all starts from the ground up. FBLA must start investing in its middle school programs. As a freshman in high school, I had no idea that FBLA even existed or what it was about. I only found out early in my sophomore year through extensive online research. I think it is crucial to invest in middle school FBLA programs, that way the future of FBLA high school, know what this club is about, and have an idea of how the club works, so they can compete, instead of not having a clue entering high school. Secondly, I think not enough is being done to support struggling chapters and defunct chapters. My school for one had a defunct FBLA chapter for 3 years before we restarted it. State investment is crucial to keep such FBLA programs afloat. As president, I plan on investing money into struggling FBLA program, or “smaller” programs, and invest in defunct programs to get them up and running. I also plan on sending local chapter leaders to nearby schools as advocates for schools which do not have FBLA to increase membership turnout for all. 

How Can We Improve Capacity and Capabilities to Lead as a CTSO: I have 2 main ways of the many ideas I have, in which FBLA can improve capacity and capabilities to lead as a CTSO.

1. Strategic Partnerships - By collaborating with leading companies from around the world such as Google, Deloitte, Northwestern Mutual, and Rockwell, FBLA can provide meaningful certifications, internships, and skill-building programs. Also, by partnering with community colleges and universities for dual-credit programs and research opportunities, FBLA can provide it’s members with crucial experience to help prepare them for various career pathways and college readiness. FBLA can also partner with organizations like Junior Achievement, for joint leadership events and competitions, which allows for a joint career readiness approach.

2. Modernization of Competitive Events - By adding events involving Artificial Intelligence, digital marketing, cryptocurrency, and blockchain. FBLA can help prepare it’s students to the ever changing business world by keeping them up to date with what is changing.

Three Goals You Would Like to Accomplish: 1. My first goal would be to create stronger partnerships within local business in communities where FBLA chapters are located. This could help promote the opportunities for internships and youth co-ops in business related fields. 2. Secondly, I think it is important to create citizenship among local chapters. This is a great opportunity to do group service work as well as stand out in the community where the chapters exist. This is a great opportunity to meet like minded individuals and create lasting relationships. 3. Lastly, I believe that a stronger bond between high school and middle school FBLA programs could benefit the FBLA organization. This could later drastically increase membership in the high school program and provide opportunities for peer mentorship as well as build excitement for the program. 

How Can the High School Division Offer a Differentiated Experience: I believe that the high school division can offer a differentiated experience by offering a simulation within school that depicts what an FBLA competition would look like. This can make people who are apprehensive about going to their Regional Leadership Conference feel more comfortable with the material presented. There could also be a way that examples for presentation competitions from topics that are no longer used be posted online as a resource for those who need additional clarification on what an FBLA presentation competition looks like. I also think that the high school division could benefit from more transparency when it comes to national events. I think that there could be a better way of communicating events to ALL members and not just advisers sometimes. 

How Can the High School Division Expand Membership Outreach: I believe that the key to increasing membership starts with the lower grade levels in school. I think that high school FBLA and middle school FBLA within a school district should be related. This provides an opportunity for high schoolers to mentor middle school students as well as middle school students to see how high school can offer so many more opportunities for them as they progress through the organization. This will ultimately lead to a larger portion of members in FBLA as well as members who have been in FBLA for a longer period of time. To do this I would recommend a toolkit for high school advisers to connect with younger students. This could entail: Recruiting for high school FBLA, Starting a middle school chapter, mentorship of youth, etc. 

How Can We Improve Capacity and Capabilities to Lead as a CTSO: I believe that by highlighting the many ways interpersonal skills, teamwork, and goal setting are used within the FBLA organization; this could make FBLA stand out amongst other CTSOs. By doing this, others would also be intrigued on how FBLA can bring all of these skills into their lives. By highlighting these attributes that FBLA brings to your resume, increased membership, and a better reputation can be achieved. 

Three Goals You Would Like to Accomplish: First, I would introduce March as volunteer month, where chapters would compete by logging their community service hours leading up to SLC. The top chapters and individuals would then be recognized at SLC for their efforts. Secondly, I’d establish a state council made up of members from across Wisconsin who would apply for it. This council would focus on creating competitive event guides and study resources to help members succeed. Lastly, I would launch an initiative called "Ignite Together". This initiative would encourage chapters to collaborate on projects like fundraisers, service initiatives, and leadership events to foster teamwork across Wisconsin chapters. These initiatives are a lot, but if executed they would be pivotal for Wisconsin FBLA, enhancing the success of the organization state wide. 

How Can the High School Division Offer a Differentiated Experience: Let's face it, no other form of schooling compares to high school. Entering my freshman year, I had a rude awakening to what was forthcoming these next four years. Like any other freshman, I stacked club upon club. Among them was Future Business Leaders of America, a club that made me enjoy socializing, meeting new people, and leading. However, I've noticed rifts between high school chapters, which can be resolved to build a better FBLA high school experience. The North Central Region is made of several states, each with its own unique chapters and challenges. Despite this diversity, there's a noticeable lack of cross-regional unity and collaboration. While linking leaders does address the individual cooperation between members nationally, it fails to include whole groups of people working together? As the North Central Region Vice President, I would use the North Central Region Council to develop and plan state collaborations, regional webinars, and tip meetings. These initiatives would facilitate the sharing of best practices, resources, and support among chapters, fostering a more cohesive and supportive regional network. Supporting the growth of new state chapters, such as those in Michigan and Minnesota, is crucial for the expansion of FBLA. I would create a national guide on leadership enrichment tailored to the North Central Region. This guide would provide actionable insights and strategies for developing effective leadership skills within chapters. Additionally, establishing a national support system for new and upcoming chapters would be crucial in ensuring their success. This system would offer mentorship, resources, and a platform for new chapters to connect with established ones, facilitating knowledge transfer and support. Leadership development is at the heart of FBLA's mission, I mean we are the Future Business leaders of America. To enhance this on a national level, I would initiate programs aimed at helping leaders grow and thrive. This includes creating online resources and mentorship programs that connect emerging leaders with experienced ones. Furthermore, I would use my role to promote scholarships and opportunities for high schoolers across the region. These opportunities would be highlighted through the NCRC(North central region council), ensuring that every member in the north central region is aware of and can take full advantage of resources that enhance their academic and professional growth. Taking advantage of these opportunities is crucial for students who may not realize what FBLA in high school has to offer. High school is a time of growth, learning, and discovering who we are meant to become. Through FBLA, I've realized the incredible potential we all have to lead, connect, and inspire change. By addressing regional isolation, supporting emerging chapters, empowering leadership development, and promoting scholarships and opportunities, we can transform the high school FBLA experience into something unparalleled. If elected, I am ready to work alongside you to lead the charge and elevate our region to new heights. 

How Can the High School Division Expand Membership Outreach: High school isn't just about studying for that perfect 4.0, it's a time when we discover our passions and start to shape our futures. When I first joined FBLA, I found a club that ignited my love for leadership and opened my eyes to possible paths within the future. But here's the catch, not every student knows about the incredible opportunities FBLA offers. So, how can the high school division expand membership outreach and ensure more students get to experience this journey? Let's face it, we're living in a digital age where social media is the new norm. By using platforms like Instagram and TikTok to our advantage, we can reach students in a space they're already comfortable in. Creating engaging content, replicating current trends which have gotten traction on multiple forms of social media, can spark interest and make FBLA feel exciting. From my experience as the National Secretary's Media Director I know how important social media can be to retain member engagement. Being able to bring these skills to my North Central Region Council as well as the national officer team would be pivotal to gain the attention of members across the region. As I’ve mentioned above, supporting the growth of new and emerging chapters is crucial. Starting a new chapter can feel like diving into the deep end of a pool without a life vest. That's why creating comprehensive guides for new chapters is essential. A regional New Chapter Guide can lay out the roadmap, from setting up leadership structures to organizing the first meeting. A Competitive Events Guide can demystify the process of participating in events that often seem like they're in a foreign language. By providing these resources, we empower new leaders to hit the ground running. Enhancing member meetings is another way to maintain member counts across the nation. We've all had that meeting where we feel stuck in time and many members feel unengaged. To keep members engaged, local and state officers need access to tools and ideas that make meetings not just informative but also fun and interactive. FBLA Connect is an incredible resource for this, but only if we know how to use it. By offering training sessions and easy-to-follow guides, we can help officers make the most of this platform By showcasing the tangible benefits, leveraging social media, empowering our leaders with the right tools, and creating meaningful connections, we can make FBLA an organization that every student wants to be a part of. 

How Can We Improve Capacity and Capabilities to Lead as a CTSO: Every national officer aspires to change the world and the organization as a whole. However, with the time constraint of just one year, many proposed changes may not be tangible. My mom always tells me, "Quality over quantity," and as I complete this application, I realize how applicable this saying is to FBLA. Instead of creating 50 new initiatives, prioritizing the most impactful ones can significantly enhance the productivity of FBLA nationally. Rather than taking giant steps toward success, taking measured steps might be the better approach. The first step I would take to improve FBLA as a CTSO ties back to its expansion. FBLA currently lacks a state chapter in Minnesota. As North Central Vice President, I would focus on giving Minnesota high school students the opportunity to participate in FBLA. Building states like Minnesota, with major hubs such as Minneapolis, can help FBLA gain greater recognition on a national level. It can also allow members within Minnesota to have their own individualistic FBLA experience. FBLA already offers a unique, differentiated experience compared to other CTSOs, such as its national officer councils. These councils have significantly increased individual participation at the state and local levels. Being part of a national council transformed my experience within FBLA, and expanding this opportunity to others can foster a deeper connection to the organization. However, I only learned about applying for these councils two weeks before the deadline! This is why my second step as North Central Region Vice President would be to expand awareness of and access to national council opportunities. Before many schools wrap up for the year, the North Central Region Council would send incentive letters to local chapters, promoting the benefits of joining national councils. These letters would highlight our region's accomplishments that year and include compelling reasons to get involved. Including more members at the national level will elevate FBLA to new heights. Many high schoolers prioritize their time based on what they value most. By prioritizing impactful initiatives over numerous ones, we can deliver lasting results. I will always strive to follow what my mom tells me; "quality over quantity”. 

Three Goals You Would Like to Accomplish: I would love to see enhanced member engagement across chapters. I feel that while FBLA builds strong connections within your chapter, there is untapped potential for networking with members of other chapters. Personally, I value the connections I have made from attending conferences and meeting other Wisconsin FBLA members very much! I believe that having designated programs and times where members can network both at conferences and throughout the year is important. 2. It would also be nice to see improved resources for local chapters. This year, Wisconsin FBLA piloted a new “Local Chapter Officer Training” (LCOT) video series on Youtube. where the State Officer spoke about items that would be helpful to leaders at the local level. Expanding the visibility and outreach of similar programs would guarantee that local chapters continue to sponsor high quality community service, fundraising, social, and competitive initiatives. I believe releasing more LCOT training material in key areas such as Champion Chapter, leadership, communication, or service would positively benefit all members of Wisconsin FBLA; the benefit gained from these videos would apply to spheres outside FBLA too. 3. Finally, increasing Wisconsin FBLA’s involvement in service initiatives is important to me. Service has numerous benefits; in addition to growing the character and experience of members who are involved in service, community service also creates immense positive reward for the community. I believe that the Executive Board should encourage service through programs like the Alzheimer’s Foundation Game Board, donation dashes, 5ks, Capstone BAA, and Lifesmarts. Promoting resources that instruct local chapters on how to effectively develop their own service project would be majorly beneficial! 

How Can the High School Division Offer a Differentiated Experience: For one, increasing the amount of post secondary education and workforce related resources offered by Wisconsin FBLA would give members unique advantages. Personally, I joined FBLA to expand my own future career potential, and explore the possibilities of what I could accomplish after high school. Wisconsin FBLA could possibly conduct interviews with professionals from many different fields, or promote a list of internship opportunities to members. By offering these resources targeting the member’s futures, Wisconsin FBLA would be able to ensure members gain both well-rounded experiences and ones relevant to their future aspirations. Further, establishing a mentorship system would leave a unique mark on Wisconsin FBLA. Through every aspect of FBLA, having an experienced figure to guide you along the way would be extremely beneficial, and the relationship you can establish would be unforgettable. In sum, Wisconsin FBLA can offer a differentiated experience through increasing future career resources and offering mentorship opportunities. 

How Can the High School Division Expand Membership Outreach: Wisconsin FBLA can expand membership outreach by highly simplifying the chapter start-up process. By easily laying out all the steps required to create a chapter, consolidating them all in a single spot on the state website, the process of adding new chapters and members to Wisconsin FBLA will be streamlined. We can continue this by providing resources such as recruitment flyers or meeting templates to individual schools, in order to help pre existing FBLA chapters grow their membership as well. Wisconsin FBLA can also improve membership through building a widely recognizable brand on social media. By using eye-catching graphics and partnerships with other brands and organizations, brand recognition and membership will positively increase. 

How Can We Improve Capacity and Capabilities to Lead as a CTSO: Wisconsin FBLA can do this through leadership development and member empowerment. First, Wisconsin FBLA should focus on turning members into strong and competent business leaders. We can do this through expanding on existing programs such as State Executive and National Councils, Linking Leaders, and BAA’s, or achieve this through creating new ones. For example, fostering partnerships between state officers and local chapters, where state officers provide leadership advice to chapters. Wisconsin FBLA can also do this through encouraging members to take on leadership roles themselves. FBLA can accomplish this through promoting capstone level BAA projects, or giving members opportunities to sit in on mock board meetings or competitive event prep sessions, where members can gain active experience through participating in simulations that mimic real-world scenarios. We can also highlight membership accomplishments through member of the month programs, or encourage members to apply for national recognition awards like the NCR Rising Trailblazer or Northern Stars.