State Conference Press Release

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Over 2,500 High School Students Come Together to Become the Future Leaders of the Workforce

Dearborn, March 9, 2012: Over 2,500 students from high schools and career and technical centers from all parts of the state will be attending Michigan DECA’s 69th Annual State Career Development Conference. The conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency, Dearborn, on March 9–11, 2012. This event is the only opportunity in Michigan where future marketing leaders can come together to prepare for their careers. These future leaders will have opportunities to compete for their chance to represent Michigan at DECA’s International Career Development Conference being held in Salt Lake City, Utah, in April. Students that have already begun to shine as leaders, and are aspiring to further develop their skills, will also have the opportunity to campaign for the right to serve Michigan DECA as a State Officer.

The Michigan DECA State Career Development Conference is the perfect opportunity for students to demonstrate and further develop the competencies important to success in marketing occupations. Through general sessions and dynamic programs, students are inspired to develop their leadership ability. Perhaps most importantly, this conference improves upon self-image and success patterns of each student in attendance. That is why this conference is such a worthwhile experience for students who wish to advance in their career, as well as necessary life skills for any future endeavor.

Nisah Tahara-Howard of Barton Malow describes the importance of the conference to business professionals, “As a public relations professional I was very pleased to see the caliber of students I had the honor of judging. It is clear to me your organization is needed to keep the pipeline full of young, eager and talented professionals in the making!” Over 450 business professionals will donate their time as judges for the competition aspect of the conference. These business professionals meet one-on-one with the students, and evaluate the student’s marketing abilities. Business professionals from companies such as Visteon, DTE Energy, T.J. Maxx, J.C. Penney, Ford Motor Company, Finish Line, and SEARS come back year after year to interact with Michigan’s finest marketing students.

Students have a chance to compete in over 40 competitive events. The leaders in the field of marketing education, in cooperation with marketing professionals working in every industry, have designed these events to contribute to the development of skills necessary for careers in marketing, management, merchandising and entrepreneurship. Regardless of the event students compete in, every competition provides a constructive avenue for individual and team expression, initiative and creativity. Once students demonstrate their acquired skills, they are recognized on stage in front of their peers as the top marketing students in Michigan.

After a month of intensive campaign planning and implementation, chapter leaders elect Michigan DECA’s candidates for state office. The results of this election will be announced at the Grand Awards Session, which will be the culminating event of this conference. Once elected, these eight leaders will begin their year-long term representing and leading over 7,100 Michigan DECA members.

Students also have the opportunity to explore different educational and career opportunities in the vendor exposition. Representatives from industry, colleges and universities like Northwood University, Kettering University, Ferris State University, Nike, and Men’s Warehouse provide the students with a vast amount of information they can use in planning their futures. This real life interaction with business professionals is another great opportunity for students to improve their communication skills.

DECA is the only international student organization operating through schools to attract young people to careers in marketing, merchandising, management and entrepreneurship. Its purposes are to teach occupational proficiency, and to promote understanding and appreciation for the responsibilities of citizenship in our free, competitive enterprise system.