Some future business leaders are getting an earlier start than others.

The Arizona chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) held its 45th annual State Leadership Conference last week at the Tucson Convention Center. About 800 students from around the state came to compete in more than 70 events to earn the honor of competing nationally.

“This event is really a culmination of all the hard work they have done throughout the year,” said Ryan Hamilton, state director of FBLA.

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Members participate in chapters at their middle or high schools, learning about the world of business. For competition, they can choose a presentation topic area such as: prepared speech, impromptu, emerging business issues, parliamentary procedures, management decisions, job interview, ethics, entrepreneurship (team) or Future Business Leader, which is a combination of several focuses.

Members can also choose competition areas such as website design, programming, desktop publishing or accounting and more.

“The FBLA really wants to create an interest in youth to understand the American business enterprise,” said Jeff Kiser, a senior from Round Valley High School in Eagar. “Their hope is that when the current business leaders retire, business doesn’t get flushed down the toilet, but that new leaders will be there and properly trained to fill those roles.”

Another believer in the program is Bill Palmer, a teacher at Metro Tech High School in the Phoenix Union High School District and chapter adviser for 18 years.

“It makes such a difference in these kids’ lives,” Palmer said. “They receive leadership training; they get involved and grow their knowledge. Many students, because of the work they have done through the program receive scholarships for college.”

Hamilton believes students receive confidence and knowledge through the program and competition.

“This is their future,” he said. “We want to give them the confidence to get up there and speak about these real life things. We ask them about the price of oil or we give them a business scenario and ask them to fix it.”

Hamilton said there are around 2,200 students in the Arizona program each year. Nationally, there are 230,000 students in the organization. But, while Arizona only makes up less than 1 percent of the total members, last year in Denver at the national competition, Arizona took first in the top two categories: Future Business Leader (individual) and Entrepreneurship (team).

Joe Pangburn

Inside Tucson Business

Contact Joe Pangburn by e-mail at jpangburn@azbiz.com or call (520) 295-4259. E-mail comments for publication to editor@azbiz.

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