2016 Ultimate DECA Power Trip

INNOVATIONS AND

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

CONFERENCE

NOVEMBER 18-20

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NOVEMBER 18-20, 2016

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WELCOME

EMILY FRASER

NORTH ATLANTIC REGION VICE PRESIDENT @decavpemily

GREETINGS FROM YOUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS These past few months you’ve posted, shared and tweeted your excitement for this year’s Ultimate DECA Power Trip, and now we are finally here! As two regions come together, there is no doubt that this will be one of the most powerful weekends of your year.

When you arrived in Washington D.C., you took a huge step towards owning your future.

There’s no better place to learn how to become a great leader than in a city full of powerful and innovative minds. Whether this is your first DECA leadership conference or one of many, the Ultimate DECA Power Trip offers dynamic and exciting programs that will leave a lasting impact as it ignites your leadership abilities.

SOUTHERN REGION VICE PRESIDENT @decavpvictoria

While in D.C., take hold of all the opportunities that are presented to you by networking with industry leaders, successful entrepreneurs and DECA members from across the North Atlantic and Southern Regions. This is your chance to reach out and make connections that

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will last you the next few years or your whole life! Stay engaged this weekend and be a part of the conference conversation with social media, and remember to use #DECAPowerTrip on Twitter and Instagram. You may even get a like or RT from @DECAInc! Having been to the Ultimate DECA Power Trip before, we can assure you that you are going to have an incredible time! The next few days will be full of opportunities that will enhance your leadership skills and overall DECA experience. Our challenge to you is to take every opportunity presented the next three days. You’ve made it to the Ultimate DECA Power Trip, so now it’s time to #OwnYourFuture and get powered-up!

On behalf of your DECA Executive Officer Team, welcome to the 2016 Ultimate DECA Power Trip!

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VICTORIA MENG

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

REGISTRATION

8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

COMPETITIVE EVENTS EXPERIENCE ■ Congressional Hall B | See page 17.

■ Congressional Registration Desk

■ Lafayette Room

EDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING SERIES ■ Meeting Room 16 | See page 45.

7:00 PM - 8:15 PM

OPENING SESSION ■ Grand Ballroom | See page 9.

8:30 PM - 9:15 PM 9:30 PM - 10:15 PM

11:30 AM

LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON

Honoring our chartered association officers and chartered association advisors. By invitation.

■ Mount Vernon Square

LEADERSHIP LABS ■ See pages 13 and 15.

9:30 PM - 10:15 PM

DECA INC. STRATEGIC PLAN OPEN FORUM

11:30 AM - 12:45 PM

LUNCH ON YOUR OWN D.C. FOOD TRUCKS Participate in the conference fundraiser benefiting D.C. Central Kitchen and DECA’s scholarship fund.

■ K Street | See page 31.

■ Meeting Room 14 | For chapter advisors.

11:30 PM

CURFEW SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

LEARNING LABS ■ See pages 33, 37 and 41.

4:30 PM - 7:00 PM

EXPERIENCE D.C.

7:00 AM - 4:30 PM

CONFERENCE HEADQUARTERS ■ Congressional Registration Desk

7:00 PM

AT-A-GLANCE

SHOP DECA IMAGES

8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

AGENDA

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM 6:30 PM - 10:30 PM

DECA AFTER DARK: D.C. NIGHT TOUR ■ Grand Ballroom | See page 51.

7:00 AM - 4:30 PM ■ Lafayette Room

8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

COLLEGE, CAREER AND COMPANY EXHIBITS ■ Congressional and Grand Ballroom Foyers, and Grand Ballroom North | See pages 47 and 49.

11:30 PM

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

SHOP DECA IMAGES ■ Lafayette Room

8:30 AM - 11:30 AM

LEARNING LABS ■ See pages 19, 23 and 27.

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CURFEW

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

CLOSING SESSION ■ Grand Ballroom | See page 53.

All events will be held at the Renaissance D.C. Downtown Hotel unless otherwise noted.

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SHOP DECA IMAGES

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FRIDAY 7:00 PM - 8:15 PM

OPENING SESSION

■ GRAND BALLROOM

Kat competed on season 6 of NBC’s The Voice and finished as a semifinalist. On The Voice, her coach, Adam Levine said what many had said for weeks: “Kat Perkins is hands down one of the best singers we’ve ever had on The Voice.”

Since then, she has performed worldwide in over 10 countries and almost all 50 United States sharing her message of being Fearless and inspiring others through the power of music. She has been a number one rock artist on iTunes five times and her single “Fearless” topped the iTunes charts when it was released.

She is an entrepreneur, nationally recognized speaker, world-touring entertainer and aspiring author. When not on stage, you can usually find Perkins nannying, writing, recording and constantly coming up with new projects as well as managing other bands in the business. @katperkinsmusic

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KAT PERKINS

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LEARNING LABS WILL YOU BE AN

#ULTIMATEDECAMEMBER?

DECA members who earn seven circles through the Learning Labs and Competitive Events Experience and obtain 20 circles by visiting the College, Career and Company exhibits are eligible to win an iPad mini as well as other awards.

CLASSROOM CONNECTION

This conference will reinforce 21st Century Skills. Through participating in interactive sessions, DECA members will be able to: Financial, Economic, Business + Entrepreneurial Literacy · Make appropriate personal economic choices · Understand the role of the economy in society · Use entrepreneurial skills to enhance workplace productivity and career options Creativity + Innovations · Use a wide range of idea creation techniques · Create new and worthwhile ideas Critical Thinking + Problem Solving · Interpret information and draw conclusions based on the best analysis

Turn in your #UltimateDECAMember card at conference headquarters by 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Winners will be announced at Sunday’s closing session.

Communication + Collaboration · Demonstrate ability to work effectively and respectfully with diverse teams Leadership + Responsibility · Use interpersonal and problem-solving skills to influence and guide others toward a goal · Demonstrate integrity and ethical behavior in using influence and power · Act responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind Partnership for 21st Century Skills

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CONNECT LEADERSHIP LABS

BUILDING A FUTURE SQUAD GOALS AS BIG AS THE Wonder how you can take your leadership team EMPIRE STATE to the next level? The answer lies in team building and leadership analysis. Through a series of group BUILDING challenges, leadership assessments and reflection Ever wonder how to strike it rich on Wall Street? It’s not easy, but it’s no secret that shrewd savings and wise investments are keys to a successful future. Join us as we collaboratively explore how to save and grow your money through interactive simulations higher than the Empire State Building.

■ New York DECA Association Officer Team

CONGRESSIONAL HALL B

NO DIAMOND LEFT BEHIND You are constantly working together with new people.

Learn the different phases of teamwork, how to effectively work together as a team and how different leadership styles contribute to teamwork.

activities, you will develop and practice skills such as interpersonal communication, problem solving, conflict resolution and teamwork.

■ Pennsylvania DECA Association Officer Team

8:30 PM FRIDAY

DECA wants to see your best chapter photo in D.C.! Be sure to share your photos on Instagram all weekend with #DECAPowerTrip, and don’t forget to follow @decainc too.

MOUNT VERNON SQUARE

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS Come on down! Learn about strategies for increasing membership and engagement in your chapter through our fast-paced, interactive game show. Survey says that you’ll get some great tips about how your chapter can #OwnYourFuture!

■ New Jersey DECA Association Officer Team

RENAISSANCE WEST B

■ Tennessee DECA Association Officer Team

PERSONAL LEADERSHIP This inspirational workshop will enhance your awareness of how personal leadership impacts your success in the changing world today.

■ Michael J. Galante, Speaker, American Management Association

CONGRESSIONAL HALL A

TEXAS TWO STEP Have you ever wondered why people aren’t as engaged or excited about your message as you are?

Have you ever felt as though they just “didn’t get it?”

Introducing the Texas Two Step! Learn an invigorating two-step method to ensure your audience absorbs your message. Learn how to Two Step your audience, and you’ll be on your way to owning your future!

■ Texas DECA Association Officer Team

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MEETING ROOM 16

WHAT DO YOU THINK? This is your opportunity to provide feedback to DECA Inc. about what it’s like to be a DECA member. What do you enjoy most about being in DECA? How could DECA enhance the member experience? Bring your ideas to share in this interactive forum.

■ DECA Inc. Staff

MEETING ROOM 14

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RENAISSANCE WEST A

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CONNECT LEADERSHIP LABS BE A LEADER TO LISTEN TO

OPERATION MOTIVATION

Ever wonder what makes great public speakers, like Steve Jobs, so compelling to listen to? Find out the secrets to becoming a credible and captivating leader with this workshop! Interesting stories and action-packed activities will help you explore how active listening and modeling can make you a better communicator.

Get excited about the DECA year ahead while learning and applying your skills in fun, interactive scenarios.

Go back to your chapter loaded with ideas you can use to motivate your members and get them ready for competition.

RENAISSANCE WEST B

COLLABORATION CONQUEST Join us for a conquest to practice effective problem solving through collaborative teamwork. Work in teams to solve a series of problems collaboratively within your team as you compete with others.

■ Virginia DECA Association Officer Team

CONGRESSIONAL HALL B

GET IN-CREDIBLE! Discover the importance of branding when it comes to positioning yourself, while also representing the DECA brand. This workshop will teach attendees that the key to success in business is not in learning to manipulate and control others, but in developing yourself into a trustworthy, respectable and credible individual.

■ Emily Fraser, North Atlantic Region Vice President

RENAISSANCE WEST A

GOAL SETTING WITH ATTITUDE Become inspired to set goals, develop plans and follow through to build more meaningful lives, careers and relationships.

■ Michael J. Galante, Speaker, American Management Association

CONGRESSIONAL HALL A

If you aren’t following decainc on Snapchat yet, you’re missing out on awesome conference snaps you won’t find anywhere else!

■ Massachusetts DECA Association Officers

MOUNT VERNON SQUARE

OWN IT! Research shows that you have seven seconds to make a good first impression. In order for you to be remembered well, there are some things you can do in those crucial seven seconds. Learn tips, ranging from choosing the appropriate apparel to knowing the importance of non-verbal cues, that will help you put your best foot forward.

■ West Virginia DECA Association Officer Team

MEETING ROOM 16

TRADING, CREATING AND COMMUNICATING Get ready for an exercise in supply-chain management, product design and communication.

Work in groups, assign roles within your group and work together to achieve a goal. You must manage the resources and determine your team members’ strengths and weaknesses in order to maximize the benefits of strengths and minimize the effects of weaknesses.

■ Arkansas DECA Association Officer Team

MEETING ROOM 15

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■ Victoria Meng, Southern Region Vice President

9:30 PM FRIDAY

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SATURDAY 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM ■ CONGRESSIONAL HALL B

COMPETITIVE EVENTS EXPERIENCE Be the ultimate competitor in a DECA Individual Series role-play. At your assigned time, report to the Congressional Hall B to prep for a role-play. Top performers will be recognized with medallions sponsored by Johnson & Wales University on stage at Sunday’s closing session. DECA members will receive credit toward their quest to become the #UltimateDECAMember.

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COLLEGE LEARNING LABS COLLEGE AND CAREER SUCCESS

MAKING THE MOST OF COLLEGE

Learn what to look for when selecting a specialized college program and discover scholarship opportunities that could help take you all the way to the top.

■ The Art Institutes

There are so many experiential opportunities in college, including study abroad programs, major projects and internships. Learn the benefits of taking advantage of these opportunities and how they can translate into career success.

■ Harrisburg University

■ Berkeley College

■ Hult International Business School

■ Bowling Green State University, College of Business

■ Temple University School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management

■ Relativity School

GRAND BALLROOM CENTRAL

COLLEGE SUCCESS 101 Discover how to navigate college life and find success in your new university. Learn first-hand from college administrators and recent graduates on how to make the most of your time.

■ UMass-Amherst, Isenberg School of Management ■ West Virginia University, College of Business and Economics

RENAISSANCE WEST A

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE

■ LIFE University

Learn the steps to discovering the right colleges for you! This session focuses on becoming strategic about the college search and selection process, staying organized and understanding that the decision about where to apply involves both your head and your heart.

■ Radford University, College of Business and Economics

■ Arizona State University, W.P. Carey School of Business

■ Wesleyan College

■ The Catholic University of America

GRAND BALLROOM SOUTH

■ FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management

■ Kansas State University, College of Business ■ Keiser University Flagship Campus

FINDING THE RIGHT FIT Discover the tools you need to choose the college or university that will best meet your needs, interests and abilities.

■ Fashion Institute of Technology ■ George Mason University, School of Business ■ Johnson and Wales University ■ RIT - Saunders College of Business ■ Oklahoma State University, Spears School of Business

CONGRESSIONAL HALL A

What was the best college tip you heard today? Share it with @DECAInc on Twitter using #DECAPowerTrip!

■ Georgian Court University ■ Lawrence Technological University

RENAISSANCE WEST B

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■ Texas Tech University, College of Human Sciences

8:30 AM SATURDAY

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COLLEGE LEARNING LABS

8:30 AM SATURDAY

WHAT I LEARNED

WHAT SURPRISED ME THE MOST

HOW I CAN USE THIS TO OWN MY FUTURE

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CAREER LEARNING LABS Why get out of your comfort zone at a young age? How can you create success habits early? What steps can you take to find a passion? What is the best way to approach entrepreneurship at a young age? Engage in a discussion that will answer these questions and more.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. – CREATING ADVENTURES AT WORK AND PLAY

■ Matt Balducci, Vice President, College Works

GRAND BALLROOM CENTRAL

EFFECTIVE SALES NEGOTIATING SKILLS Learn the art of selling and negotiating. You’ll receive tips and proven techniques that apply to everyday events as well as to situations you will face in your career that will last you a lifetime.

■ Michael J. Galante, Speaker, American Management Association

GRAND BALLROOM SOUTH

HOW TO DRESS FOR SUCCESS As you begin your career, professionalism is very important. Learn the essentials for preparing for an interview, selecting the appropriate apparel and avoiding common mistakes. We’ll cover everything from the basics to the finer points of making a positive first impression.

■ Mike Sins, Director of Special Events, Men’s Wearhouse

CONGRESSIONAL HALL A

As you explore educational and career tracks, how can a global company help you to live what you love?

Find out how Marriott engages its associates and customers through the rich mobile and global world to create opportunities to grow, innovate and succeed.

Want to see exclusive DECA Inc. content like conference promos, sample roleplays, and career tips from industry leaders? Then go check out DECA Inc.’s Vimeo page at vimeo.com/decainc!

■ Matt Felix, Assistant General Manager, Marriott Marquis D.C. ■ M. Andy Chaves, Senior Executive, Marriott International, Inc.

RENAISSANCE WEST A

OPEN YOURSELF TO OPPORTUNITIES When you begin your career search, don’t just assume the obvious. Instead, learn how to explore all avenues of careers while being careful not to limit yourself by assumptions and biases. Gain insight on how to go broad so you can identify your passion and build your personal brand.

■ Janet Thomas, Director of Organizational Development, NAPA Auto Parts/Genuine Parts Company

RENAISSANCE WEST B

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COMFORT ZONE 101

9:30 AM SATURDAY

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CAREER LEARNING LABS

9:30 AM SATURDAY

WHAT I LEARNED

WHAT SURPRISED ME THE MOST

HOW I CAN USE THIS TO OWN MY FUTURE

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CAREER LEARNING LABS CREATIVITY, BUSINESS TRENDS AND YOUR CAREER

RÉSUMÉ BUILDERS, INTERNSHIPS AND BEYOND!

Rapidly changing business trends have a direct effect on career and job opportunities, and collaboration is a key component for today’s most successful companies. These visionary companies are hiring people who understand the connection between creative and bottom-line thinking. Nationally known trend forecaster and author Tom Julian has partnered with FIDM to create a presentation that will prepare students with an insider’s view of the topline trends in retail, branding, and consumer product, as well as the “WOW” brands, career-minded students should be watching.

Taking advantage of internships, part-time jobs and key coursework is just the start to a great résumé.

Professionals from the dynamic world of residential property management will guide you on how to start building your résumés to ensure a variety of career opportunities. Hear how these successful professionals have navigated their own career success and what they look for in the candidates they choose to hire.

■ Candice Chancellor, College Representative, FIDM/ Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

■ Brian Peteritas, Manager, Digital Content, National Apartment Association

GRAND BALLROOM SOUTH

■ Noelle Sharbaugh, Senior Director, Greystar Management

Hospitality is a key component to a successful restaurant. Learn how one restaurant company empowers its employees to take pride in being part of something special so the guests feel great. You’ll also learn about career and leadership opportunities within the industry.

■ Brenna Pearson, Manager, Great American Restaurants

RENAISSANCE WEST A

MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE WORLD Get an introduction into the world of business and entrepreneurship. Discover the endless possibilities that individuals can pursue to have a career and life of their dreams based on innovation, prosperity and social change. Learn how to define your purpose in life and how to make an impact on the world by living a life of your dreams while creating miracles for yourself and others.

■ Dr. Dawn Barton Cadwallader, IMPACT Tour Director, LIFE University

RENAISSANCE WEST B

Did you discover a new career path today? Let @DECAInc know on Twitter what awesome new industry you discovered today using #DECAPowerTrip.

■ Sarah Levine, Director, Workforce Development National Apartment Association Education Institute ■ Marlene Ball, Recruiter, WinnResidential

GRAND BALLROOM CENTRAL

UNREAL CAMPAIGN From cosmetics to car parts to food, almost every product you can think of has been made into a counterfeit. Fake goods have negative economic, health and social effects on all of us. Learn about the importance of trademarks, the harms of counterfitting and smart purchasing decisions to make a difference.

■ Laura Heery, Coordinator, Communications International Trademark Association

CONGRESSIONAL HALL A

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FOOD IS FUN!

10:30 AM SATURDAY

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CAREER LEARNING LABS

10:30 AM SATURDAY

WHAT I LEARNED

WHAT SURPRISED ME THE MOST

HOW I CAN USE THIS TO OWN MY FUTURE

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SATURDAY 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM ■ K STREET

D.C. FOOD TRUCKS During your Saturday lunch break, participate in a fundraiser to benefit D.C. Central Kitchen and DECA’s scholarship fund.

D.C. Central Kitchen’s mission is to use food as a tool to strengthen bodies, empower minds and build communities.

A variety of food trucks will be waiting on K Street, right outside the Renaissance Downtown D.C. Hotel, to help you find quick, convenient and tasty food options in between a packed conference schedule.

A percentage of the profits will be donated to the D.C. Central Kitchen and DECA’s scholarship fund.

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CAREER LEARNING LABS DRIVING YOUR CAREER IN MARKETING

FINDING FREEDOM – START YOUR FIRST BUSINESS TODAY

Learn about brand strategy, experiential marketing and creating fans with an iconic brand such as Lamborghini. Discover the roles that vision, strategy and marketing play in sales and long term growth.

Leveraging his experience with luxury in Lamborghini, along with his experience of premium mass market brands with Audi, Rico will offer an experience guaranteed to motivate your creative thinking about your career in marketing.

The key to starting your first company is starting now.

Take risks. Be bold. Embrace failure, and treat it as a learning experience. Every entrepreneur stumbles before he or she succeeds. Once you accept that the life of an entrepreneur is a process and not an outcome, you will find yourself on the path to success.

Get a guidepost for launching your first company.

RENAISSANCE WEST A

ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET: 3 CRITICAL SKILLS TO ENSURE SUCCESS The entrepreneurial mindset is as critical to traditional employees as it is for those who plan on being self-employed. This workshop explains three critical entrepreneurial skills you should develop: take action, embrace change and focus on the essential. Learn why they are important to your business and career as well as specific actions you can take to develop them.

■ Brandon Jubar, Deputy Director, Customer Advocacy US Department of Labor

RENAISSANCE WEST B

Don’t forget to follow decainc on Snapchat for exclusive content and behind-thescenes snaps!

■ Yoeli Barag, Gradster

CONGRESSIONAL HALL A

SOCIAL MEDIA ESSENTIALS FOR COLLEGE AND BEYOND Your online life can and should be a digital portrait of your best self, a way to shed light on your potential and convey your character to a first time audience: college admissions representatives, scholarship committees, potential employers and internship opportunities. Learn techniques you need to use social media to create and disseminate an accurate and compelling picture of your life.

■ Alan Katzman, CEO and Founder, Social Assurity LLC

GRAND BALLROOM CENTRAL

THE MILLENNIALS ARE COMING Discover the effect millennials are having on the financial planning industry. Learn from a former DECA member, who is now a certified financial planner, about the profile of millennials in the economy and strategies to help millennials find success in building wealth.

■ Samuel P. Boyd, CFP, Senior Vice President, Capital Asset Management Group, Inc.

GRAND BALLROOM SOUTH

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■ Rico Macaraeg, Brand Marketing Manager, Automobili Lamborghini America

1:00 PM SATURDAY

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CAREER LEARNING LABS

1:00 PM SATURDAY

WHAT I LEARNED

WHAT SURPRISED ME THE MOST

HOW I CAN USE THIS TO OWN MY FUTURE

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CHAPTER LEARNING LABS BOOST YOUR CHAPTER’S SOCIAL MEDIA STATUS IN A GIF-Y Discover six easy ways to take your chapter’s social media pages from generic to #goals. From branding your pages correctly and creating awesome content to share, to using GIFs and creating your own Snapchat geofilters, you’ll definitely leave with at least one awesome new idea you can implement as soon as you get back home!

■ Janelle Arrighi, Communications Manager, DECA Inc.

GRAND BALLROOM SOUTH

DECA LEADERSHIP STYLES Take the DECA Leadership Styles inventory to glean insight into your nature—or how you are naturally wired to lead. Learn more about yourself while also learning how to interact with those with differing and similar leadership styles.

2:00 PM SATURDAY

LEAD2FEED Did you know your chapter can earn recognition and perhaps even money for your charity and your school through service learning projects? Learn about the importance of identifying a community need and then using projecting management, decision-making and teamwork to affect change. Come away with a free process and start-to-finish materials.

We want to see your chapter in its favorite leadership lab! Share a selfie on Instagram using #DECAPowerTrip and tag @DECAInc in it too.

■ Linda J. Spahr, Program Manager, Lead2Feed

CONGRESSIONAL HALL A

OWN YOUR CHAPTER Make your DECA chapter the best ever with new tips, dynamic strategies, innovating sharing and creative methods to take your chapter to the next level.

We’ll cover membership, competition, fundraising, community service, motivation and more so you’ll go back to your chapter with the knowledge to make a difference.

■ New Hampshire DECA Association Officer Team

RENAISSANCE WEST B

■ Victoria Meng, Southern Region Vice President

GRAND BALLROOM CENTRAL

I AM DECA: CREATE YOUR STORY

■ Emily Fraser, North Atlantic Region Vice President

RENAISSANCE WEST A

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Learn how to create a response to, “What is DECA?,” that showcases your unique DECA experience and tells your personal DECA story. Learn the value of showing your chapter interests, DECA achievements and what makes DECA exciting for you. The next time you’re asked, “What is DECA?,” you’ll be ready to give a response that shows you’re ready to own your future!

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CHAPTER LEARNING LABS

2:00 PM SATURDAY

WHAT I LEARNED

WHAT SURPRISED ME THE MOST

HOW I CAN USE THIS TO OWN MY FUTURE

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COMPETE LEARNING LABS CONQUER THE VIRTUAL BUSINESS CHALLENGE Have you ever wondered what it’s like to manage a hotel, football franchise, restaurant or a retail store?

How would you do at managing personal finances or putting your accounting knowledge to the test?

Learn how you can do all of these through online simulations as part of the DECA Virtual Business Challenges. Receive an overview of the challenges as well as tips and tricks to help you succeed in DECA’s online competitive events.

■ Jim Schroeder, Education Consultant Knowledge Matters

GRAND BALLROOM SOUTH

CREATE AN AWESOME WRITTEN EVENT

OWN THE DECA EXAM Want to own your DECA competitive events exam?

Leave this session with a blueprint for the exams that will help you prepare to excel in DECA testing. Learn key tips to improve your test scores and what to study.

■ Josh Shankle, Texas DECA

3:00 PM SATURDAY

Did you know you can find tons of awesome competition tips and tricks on DECA’s Pinterest page? Head to pinterest.com/ decainc right now!

RENAISSANCE WEST B

ROCK THE ROLE PLAY In this informative and interactive workshop, we will break down DECA’s role-play competitive events.

Learn exactly what is required for a successful case study solution and garner some competitive events strategies used by DECA champions that consistently make the stage.

■ Kellen Scott, Virginia DECA

GRAND BALLROOM CENTRAL

Do you have a great idea for a project but don’t know how to put it on paper? Discover the keys to creating a winning written event. Topics will include the importance of the written portion, how to get started and what to include, as well as requirements and penalty points. Make sure your project has what it takes to wow the judges!

■ Annie Hulsey, Virginia DECA

RENAISSANCE WEST A

When you’re competing in front of a judge, professionalism is very important. Learn the essentials for preparing for an interview, selecting the appropriate apparel and avoiding common mistakes.

We’ll cover everything from the basics to the finer points of making a positive first impression.

■ Mike Sins, Director of Special Events, Men’s Wearhouse

CONGRESSIONAL HALL A

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HOW TO DRESS FOR SUCCESS

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COMPETE LEARNING LABS

3:00 PM SATURDAY

WHAT I LEARNED

WHAT SURPRISED ME THE MOST

HOW I CAN USE THIS TO OWN MY FUTURE

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SATURDAY MEETING ROOM 16

8:30 AM

CHAPTER COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES

1:00 PM

CONNECTING WITH BUSINESS PARTNERS

Content is king. Learn how to put together a comprehensive chapter communications strategy that speaks to both your internal and external audiences.

We’ll discuss effective ways to communicate with your chapter members, within your school and to your community using traditional and emerging techniques.

Engage in a panel discussion with DECA’s National Advisory Board partners to discover best practices for connecting at the local level to provide DECA members realistic insight into the industry and promote meaningful, relevant learning.

■ Annie Hulse, DECA Certified Trainer, Virginia DECA

■ Mallory O’Neil, Campus Recruiting Manager, Vector Marketing

BEYOND THE STAGE Students participating in DECA’s Competitive Events Program develop and apply various knowledge and skills essential for success in the 21st century. Peek beyond the stage to discover how DECA’s Competitive Events Program connects to National Curriculum Standards and what students gain from engagement in the program.

■ Ryan Witzig, Director of Learning and Assessment DECA Inc.

10:30 AM

CHAPTER ENHANCEMENT THROUGH PROJECT MANAGEMENT Reaching exceptional levels does not occur because of any one major initiative. It’s built on a combination of little acts of excellence. Discover how to deliver projects and activities with intentional acts of planning, implementation, communication and evaluation to make the mission of DECA come to life for members.

■ Shannon Aaron, DECA Certified Trainer, Georgia DECA

■ Sarah Levine, Director, Workforce Development, National Apartment Association Education Institute

■ Mike Sins, Director of Special Events, Men’s Wearhouse ■ Linda J. Spahr, Program Manager, Lead2Feed ■ Stacey Thomas, Admissions Representative Johnson and Wales University

2:00 PM

NAVIGATING THE VIRTUAL BUSINESS CHALLENGES The DECA Virtual Business Challenges are official DECA competitive events where participants use highly visual simulation software to manage a business or their financial wealth. Learn how to get your members involved in this totally interactive technological event.

The event is free for DECA members and is completely web-based.

■ Jim Schroeder, Educational Consultant, Knowledge Matters

3:00 PM

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Are you in need of bite sized training tips for partnership development? Discover how to leverage your DECA network with school administrators, faculty, parents, district and state administrators and the business community. Leave with strategies for utilizing your DECA network to open doors to effective partnership development.

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9:30 AM

Get DECA news right from your inbox!

Sign up to receive the DECA Direct Weekly newsletter every Tuesday by visiting decadirect. org and entering your information on the homepage.

LEVERAGING YOUR DECA NETWORK

■ Jeff Victor, DECA Certified Trainer, New Jersey DECA

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COLLEGE + CAREER EXHIBITS

SATURDAY | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

CONGRESSIONAL + GRAND BALLROOM FOYERS AND GRAND BALLROOM NORTH

berkeleycollege.edu

berry.edu/academics/campbell

bu.edu/hospitality

bgsu.edu/business

shopdeca.org

fidm.edu

fitnyc.edu

hospitality.fiu.edu

business.gmu.edu

georgian.edu

go4thegoal.org

gradster.com

harrisburgu.edu

hult.edu/undergraduate

iflipd.com

unrealcampaign.com

isenberg.umass.edu

jwu.edu

cba.ksu.edu

keiseruniversity.edu

ltu.edu

lead2feed.org

liberty.edu

life.edu

marriott.com

tmw.com

mercy.edu/business

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COLLEGE + CAREER EXHIBITS

SATURDAY | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

CONGRESSIONAL + GRAND BALLROOM FOYERS AND GRAND BALLROOM NORTH

mgt.ncsu.edu

pepsico.com

radford.edu/cobe-fellows

relativityschool.org

saunders.rit.edu

socialassurity.com

spears.okstate.edu

summerdiscovery.com discoveryinternships.com

whitman.syr.edu

sthm.temple.edu

depts.ttu.edu/hs

artinstitutes.edu

cua.edu

fte.org

michiganross.umich.edu

admissions.arizona.edu

haslam.utk.edu

uta.edu

kenan-flagler.unc.edu/programs/ undergraduate-business

rochester.edu

vectormarketing.com

wpcarey.asu.edu

wesleyancollege.edu

be.wvu.edu

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SATURDAY 7:00 PM â– GRAND BALLROOM

No trip to D.C. would be complete without the opportunity to see the monuments at night! This breathtaking experience is a can’t miss event and is definitely Instagram-worthy. Tag your photos with #DECAPowerTrip and look for Snapchat filters at each stop!

Stops may include the Jefferson Memorial, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Korean Memorial, The White House, Iwo Jima Memorial, U.S. Capitol Building and Washington Monument.

Please report to the Grand Ballroom prior to your assigned boarding time on your ticket provided in your registration materials. You will join your group and be escorted to your bus for the evening.

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DECA AFTER DARK: D.C. NIGHT TOUR

#DECAPOWERTRIP

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SUNDAY 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

CLOSING SESSION

■ GRAND BALLROOM

BYRON V. GARRETT

One of the most compelling voices of our time, Byron V. Garrett is Chairman of the National Family Engagement Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming education through meaningful family engagement. Throughout his career, he has been a visionary agent of change, promoting the idea that everyone has an obligation and opportunity to serve the best interests of our nation’s most precious resource – youth.

Byron serves as the Director of Educational Leadership & Policy for Microsoft and a consulting author for Scholastic.

Byron has served as a lead strategist and planner for NBC News’ Education Nation and produced the first-ever Building a Grad Nation Summit for the America’s Promise Alliance which featured Vice President Joe Biden. He was appointed by The White House as co–convener of the Helping America’s Youth initiative, an interagency effort to address challenges facing youth and to promote successful solutions. @byronvgarrett

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HOTEL DRIVEWAY HOTEL DRIVEWAY

LIBERTY MARKET LIBERTY MARKET

PLAZA OMS STARBUCKS PLAZA STROOMS STARBUCKS

REST MOUNT VERNON SQUARE MOUNT VERNONROOMREST ROOM SQUARE

LOBBY LEVEL LOBBY LEVEL

HOTEL MAP

RS

ESCALATORS

A

RENAISSANCE CLUBRENAISSANCE LOUNGE (Second CLUBFloor) LOUNGE

A

(Second Floor)

K STREET

ENTRANCE HOTELINDULGE PENN QUARTER Floor) ENTRANCE INDULGE (Second PENNHOTEL QUARTER

REST ENTRANCE PENN QUARTER PRE-FUNCTION(Second CONGRESSIONAL BALLROOM HOTEL Floor) INDULGE ROOMS (Second REST PENNFloor) QUARTER PRE-FUNCTION ENTRANCE CONGRESSIONAL BALLROOM INDULGE ROOMS HOTEL DRIVEWAY (Second Floor)

HOTEL DRIVEWAY

LIBERTY MARKET LIBERTY MARKET

HOTEL REST DRIVEWAY ROOMS HOTEL REST DRIVEWAY

GRAND SOUTH GRAND SOUTH RENAISSANCE BALLROOM RENAISSANCE BALLROOM

B (Second Floor) A B A

B

GRAND CENTRAL GRAND CENTRAL

VIP

B

GRAND CENTRAL GRAND CENTRAL

WEST EAST

EAST

GRAND NORTH GRAND NORTH

B

WEST EAST

EAST

PRE-FUNCTION CONGRESSIONAL BALLROOM REST PRE-FUNCTION CONGRESSIONAL BALLROOM PRE-FUNCTION CONGRESSIONAL BALLROOM ROOMS REST ROOMS REST ROOMS

CENTER BUSINESS CENTER

A B A

VIP HOLDING

UNCTION CONGRESSIONAL BALLROOM ROOMS

REST ROOMS REST ROOMS

A

GRAND NORTH GRAND NORTH

A

BUSINESS PRE-FUNCTION RENAISSANCE PRE-FUNC TION GRAND BALLROOM PRE-FUNCFEDEX TION&GRAND BALLROOM FEDEX & CENTER BUSINESS PRE-FUNC TION GRAND BALLROOMBUSINESS FEDEX &

CONGRESSIONAL REGISTRATION CONGRESSIONAL REGISTRATION

B

RENAISSANCE REGISTRATION RENAISSANCE REGISTRATION

CAPITOL CAPITOL

B

WEST WEST

PRE-FUNCTION

PRE-FUNCTION RENAISSANCE PRE-FUNCTION PRE-FUNCTION ARENAISSANCE RENAISSANCE RENAISSANCE

A

MEETING C MEETING C PLANNER OFFICE PLANNER C PRE-FUNCTION RENAISSANCE OFFICE PRE-FUNCTION RENAISSANCE PRE-FUNC TION GRAND BALLROOM PRE-FUNCTION RENAISSANCE FEDEX &

CONGRESSIONAL REGISTRATION CONGRESSIONAL REGISTRATION

B

CENTER

CENTER BUSINESS A CENTER

B

A B A

B

OFFICES PLANNERREGISTR GRAND ATION OFFICES REGISTR ATION

REST ROOMS REST

RENAISSANCE REGISTRATION RENAISSANCE REGISTRATION

RENAISSANCE REGISTRATION RENAISSANCE REGISTRATION

BALLROOM LEVEL BALLROOM LEVEL

Leadership Luncheon and Competitive Events Experience

Conference Pen and Ultimate DECA Member gift

REST ROOMSREST ROOMS

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BALLROOM LEVEL BALLROOM LEVEL

Night Tour and Lanyards

MEETING PLANNER MEETING PLANNER C OFFICE OFFICE

ROOMS

A

LAFAYETTE CARNEGIE MEETING LAFAYETTE CARNEGIEPLANNER MEETING GRAND LAFAYETTE CARNEGIE MEETING OFFICES PLANNERREGISTR ATION GRAND LAFAYETTE CARNEGIE PLANNER MEETING GRAND OFFICES REGISTR ATION

THANKS

A C

BALLROOM LEVEL BALLROOM LEVEL

PRE-FUNCTION

GRAND BALLROOM PRE-FUNCTION

GRAND BALLROOM

PRE-FUNCTION CONGRESSIONAL BALLROOM

A

PRE-FUNCTION CONGRESSIONAL BALLROOM

A

B

REST ROOMREST ROOM

MEETING ROOM LEVEL

ACCESS TO LOADING DOCKS

PRE-FUNCTION

REST

C

GRAND BALLROOM PRE-FUNCTION

A

B

GRAND BALLROOM

C

PRE-FUNCTION CONGRESSIONAL BALLROOM PRE-FUNCTION CONGRESSIONAL BALLROOM

A

B

A

LAFAYETTE CARNEGIE HOLDING ROOMVIP MEETING HOLDING ROOM VIP LAFAYETTE CARNEGIE HOLDING PLANNER MEETING GRAND ROOM ROOM OFFICES PLANNERREGISTR GRAND GRAND SOUTH ATION GRAND SOUTH OFFICES GRAND SOUTH REGISTR ATION GRAND SOUTH RENAISSANCE BALLROOM RENAISSANCE BALLROOM RENAISSANCE BALLROOM CAPITOL RENAISSANCE BALLROOM CAPITOL

CONGRESSIONAL BALLROOM

B

WEST WEST

PRE-FUNC TION GRAND BALLROOMBUSINESS FEDEX &

ACCESS TO LOADING DOCKS

B

ROOM

A

CA

MEETING ROOM LEVEL PRE-FUNCTION RENAISSANCE MEETING ROOM LEVEL MEETING ROOM LEVEL RENAISSANCE PRE-FUNCTION PRE-FUNC TION GRAND BALLROOM FEDEX &

GRAND BALLROOM CONGRESSIONAL B REGISTRATION GRAND BALLROOM GRAND BALLROOM CONGRESSIONAL ACCESS TO LOADING DOCKS GRAND BALLROOM REGISTRATION ACCESS TO LOADING DOCKS

C

EAST REST ROOMREST EAST

B A REST MOUNT VERNON ROOMREST SQUARE MOUNT VERNON GRAND NORTH MOUNT VERNON ROOM SQUARE GRANDSQUARE NORTH

LOBBY LEVEL LOBBY LEVEL

RESSIONAL BALLROOM CONGRESSIONAL BALLROOM ONGRESSIONAL BALLROOM

B

GRAND CENTRAL RENAISSANCE CLUBRENAISSANCE LOUNGE GRAND CENTRAL (Second Floor) CLUB LOUNGE

REST ROOMREST MOUNT VERNON ROOM SQUARE

ROOMS

LOBBY LEVEL LOBBY LEVEL

RESTROOMS

SPORTS BAR LOUNGE PRESIDENTS SPORTS BAR

GIFT SHOPGIFT HOTEL SHOP

SQUARE

VIP HOLDING ROOMVIP HOLDING ROOM

PRE-FUNCTION

CAR RENTAL

BELLS TAND BELLS TAND

RESTROOMS

GRAND BALLROOM PRE-FUNCTION

EXPLORE MINGLE RECEPTION MIXX MINGLE RECEPTION LOUNGE MIXX PRESIDENTS NAVIGATOR MINGLE SPORTS BAR PRESIDENTS C LOUNGE B MIXX NAVIGATOR MINGLE SPORTS BAR C B LOUNGE MIXX PRESIDENTS HERTZ

CAR RENTAL HERTZ

RTY MARKET LIBERTY MARKET

ACCESS TO LOADING DOCKS

CONGRESSIONAL BALLROOM RESTROOMS EXPLORE CONGRESSIONAL BALLROOM RESTROOMS

GRAND BALLROOM

BELLS TAND BELLS TAND

FRANKLIN SQUARE FRANKLIN

ACCESS TO LOADING DOCKS

PRE-FUNCTION CONGRESSIONAL BALLROOM PRE-FUNCTION CONGRESSIONAL BALLROOM

NAVIGATOR NAVIGATOR

K STREET

EXPLORERELAX

ESCALATORS

RECEPTION RECEPTION

SQUARE REST ROOMSREST ROOMS

GRAND BALLROOM GRAND BALLROOM

ROOM FIFTEEN SQUARES FIFTEEN SQUARES

EXPLORERELAX

MEETING ROOM LEVEL FRANKLIN SQUARE MEETING ROOM LEVE FRANKLIN

REST ROOMS REST ROOMS

FIREVIEW ROOM FIREVIEW PLAZA RESTROOMS STARBUCKS ROOM FIFTEEN PLAZA STARBUCKS RESTROOMS RELAX FIREVIEW SQUARES FIFTEEN RELAX ROOM FIREVIEW SQUARES

Professional Learning Series Beverages

Advisor bags

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WASHINGTON, D.C.

#DECAIEC

2019

2018

BALTIMORE NOVEMBER 16-18

WWW.DECA.ORG/POWER

NOVEMBER 15-17

2017

NOVEMBER 10-12

PHILADELPHIA

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INNOVATIONS AND

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 18-20, 2016

#DECAIEC #DECAIEC

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#DECAPOWERTRIP

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INNOVATIONS AND

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

CONFERENCE

WELCOME

GREETINGS

This conference will reinforce entrepreneurial concepts taught in marketing and business classes. Participation in this conference will help students understand the concepts, processes and skills associated with identifying new ideas, opportunities, and methods and with creating or starting a new project or venture through:

Imagination and invention will abound in Washington,

•

you to get real-world insight on how to develop a feasible

•

•

employing entrepreneurial discovery strategies to generate feasible ideas for business ventures developing concepts for a new business venture to evaluate its success potential determining needed resources for a new business venture to contribute to its start-up viability

D.C., this weekend during the DECA Innovations and Entrepreneurship Conference. #DECAIEC gives you the opportunity to join together with passionate DECA members and knowledgeable speakers and embark on a three-day journey through the world of entrepreneurship.

Possibilities are endless as you learn about startups, engage in rapid prototyping and even pitch an idea for a new business. This conference presents a unique chance for venture and build up your potential for entrepreneurial success.

Here in D.C., you’ll be inspired by a city known for its wealth of opportunities and fostering the growth of some of our greatest leaders. You can #OwnYourFuture this weekend by breaking out of your comfort zone, making connections with successful innovators and meeting other members passionate about entrepreneurship.

Be sure to share your favorite moments, takeaways and successes from this conference on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #DECAIEC! Our challenge to you is to make the most of every opportunity presented to you by networking with DECA members, exploring the exciting history and culture of D.C., and reaching your full potential to impact and inspire others.

Entrepreneurship standards from the National Curriculum Standards for Business Administration, 2005.

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On behalf of your DECA Executive Officer Team, welcome to the DECA Innovations and Entrepreneurship Conference!

#DECAIEC

CLASSROOM CONNECTION

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

REGISTRATION

8:30 AM - 11:30 AM

TEAM BUILDING, RAPID PROTOTYPING AND IDEATION ■ Renaissance East

■ Congressional Registration Desk

■ Meeting Room 16 | See page 45.

7:00 PM - 8:15 PM

OPENING SESSION ■ Grand Ballroom | See page 9.

8:30 PM - 10:15 PM

INTRODUCTION TO LEAN STARTUP ■ Renaissance East

9:30 PM - 10:15 PM

DECA INC. STRATEGIC PLAN OPEN FORUM

11:30 AM - 12:45 PM

LUNCH ON YOUR OWN D.C. FOOD TRUCKS Participate in the conference fundraiser benefiting D.C. Central Kitchen and DECA’s scholarship fund.

■ K Street | See page 31.

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

PITCH CREATION, DELIVERY AND FEEDBACK ■ Renaissance East

■ Meeting Room 14 | For chapter advisors.

4:30 PM - 7:00 PM 11:30 PM

CURFEW

EXPERIENCE D.C. 7:00 PM

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19 7:00 AM - 4:30 PM

CONFERENCE HEADQUARTERS ■ Congressional Registration Desk

7:00 AM - 4:30 PM

SHOP DECA IMAGES ■ Lafayette Room

8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

DECA AFTER DARK: D.C. NIGHT TOUR ■ Grand Ballroom | See page 51.

AT-A-GLANCE

■ Lafayette Room

EDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING SERIES

11:30 PM

CURFEW SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20 63 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

SHOP DECA IMAGES

COLLEGE, CAREER AND COMPANY EXHIBITS

■ Lafayette Room

■ Congressional and Grand Ballroom Foyers, and Grand Ballroom North | See pages 47 and 49.

CLOSING SESSION

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

■ Grand Ballroom | See page 53.

All events will be held at the Renaissance D.C. Downtown Hotel unless otherwise noted.

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SHOP DECA IMAGES

8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

AGENDA

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM 6:30 PM - 10:30 PM

THE PROGRAM

Through high-energy, sequential, hands-on entrepreneurship sessions, DECA members will embark upon a transformative learning experience and leave with a road map of how to use fundamental lean entrepreneurship principles in all areas of their life.

During the interactive workshops and exercises, conference participants will be divided into cohorts. Each cohort will then group into teams, enabling members to learn valuable lessons around team building, developing an early stage business concept, utilizing lean methodologies and delivering a pitch. Finalist teams will be selected to make their quick pitch in front of the entire audience during Sunday morning’s closing session.

INTRODUCTION TO THE LEAN STARTUP Members will receive an introduction to the transformative power of entrepreneurship, the accessibility of startups and lean startup principles. Then, members will participate in a hands-on exercise giving them an introduction to creative thinking, pitching, receiving feedback and understanding customer needs.

TEAM BUILDING, RAPID PROTOTYPING AND IDEATION After forming teams, members will engage in a hands-on exercise focused on rapid prototyping (a core concept within lean methodology) that addresses learning outcomes spanning concepts such as problem solving, teamwork and communication.

Members will brainstorm early stage business concepts and investigate these ideas through the lean canvas.

PITCH CREATION, DELIVERY AND FEEDBACK Informed by the preceding Lean Canvas exercise, teams will develop their business concepts and build a brief pitch to be delivered within their cohorts.

THE FACILITATORS 3 Day Startup’s (3DS) mission is to activate entrepreneurial potential in students of all kinds through experiential education and a global entrepreneurship ecosystem. Since 2008, 3DS has impacted more than 11,600 students in 30 countries across 6 continents. Over 90 companies have been launched by 3DS and $70 million raised by 3DS alumni.

KELLY PRATT Kelly Pratt is the exchange program manager at 3DS where she manages and implements 3DS grants, workshops and exchange programs, as well as helps to generate new grant opportunities and programs.

Before joining 3DS, Kelly attended graduate school at The Ohio State University where she managed a mentoring program in the university’s office of diversity and inclusion. Kelly has studied public policy, management and the nonprofit sector extensively. Before attending graduate school, Kelly served as a research and policy analyst for a national nonprofit child advocacy organization. Kelly holds a BS and an MPA from The Ohio State University.

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ELLYSON GLANCE Ellyson Glance is the brand journalist and program manager at 3 Day Startup where she works to develop, oversee and facilitate programs on the university and governmental level. Also, in her capacity as brand journalist, she works to tell the stories of 3DS alumni, organizers and team members, as well as to share the 3DS model and entrepreneurial values with as many people as possible across the globe. Before joining 3DS, Ellyson worked as the lead content and marketing developer for an early stage startup in Austin, TX. Ellyson holds a BA from Davidson College.

The Lean Startup: Best-Practice for Young Entrepreneurs

By Ellyson Glance, Brand Journalist and Program Manager, 3 Day Startup

That timeline can make or break an entrepreneur, because the time they spend on a detailed business plan for a product that has no market or value to customers is time wasted. Particularly now, when technology is constantly accelerating the rate of change in any given market, young entrepreneurs can’t afford to wait anymore. For their companies to be successful, they have to constantly change and adapt. Entrepreneurs must continuously learn about their customer base, how well their solution addresses problem, and how others are currently solving the problem.

These variables are not stagnant, they are ever-changing. And if young entrepreneurs in early-stage startups aren’t changing with them, they are falling behind. Fortunately for them, there is an alternative far more in-line with the needs and operations of an earlystage startup: the Lean Startup.

The business philosophy of “Lean Thinking” had been around for many years prior to the Lean Startup itself. At its core, Lean Thinking was all about decreasing waste in companies and organizations. Steve Blank, a prominent entrepreneur in Silicon Valley and Stanford professor, brought this methodology to startups by advocating Customer Development as a crucial step in the early-stages of a startup. These were the initial advancements that led to the development of the Lean Startup methodology.

In 2011, Eric Ries expanded on Lean Thinking and Blank’s Customer Development, effectively changing the landscape of entrepreneurship with his book The Lean Startup. Ries’ concept of the Lean Startup centers around the idea that startup entrepreneurs should launch with an MVP (minimum viable product) that isn’t perfect, finalized or decked out with complicated features and then engage with potential customers and investors in a continuous feedback loop.

This loop encompasses the core of the Lean Startup: “build, measure, learn.” This cycle demonstrates the need for entrepreneurs to build their MVP as soon as possible, deliver it to customers and measure its effectiveness and the customer response, and learn from these metrics to reconfigure and improve the MVP. The Lean Startup itself has iterated and grown beyond Ries. At 3 Day Startup, we have every participant at every program complete Ash Maurya’s Lean Canvas. The Lean Canvas is an adaptation of the Alexander Osterwalder’s

Business Model Canvas; and Ash Maurya created it in the Lean Startup spirit, which champions the fast, concise and effective startup. Lean Canvas promises an actionable and entrepreneur-focused business plan, focusing on problems, solutions, key metrics and competitive advantages.

And the Lean Canvas is “lean” in every sense of the word. It allows entrepreneurs to capture business model assumptions in one page so they can document their process as they build, measure and learn about their solution.

The most important aspect of the Lean Canvas is the impetus it puts on discovering the true strengths and weaknesses of an idea through this process.

Startup entrepreneurs need to engage in constant learning and constant growth.

Adhering to the Lean Startup model can seem like a lot of work, but it has allowed some of this generation’s greatest innovators and changemakers to break free from the constricting, traditional business model.

All with the idea that interactions with real customers can and will do more for your startup than 200 assumption-filled pages of a business plan.

So if you have a problem that you want to solve, get out there and find the people it’s addressing. They are your true experts.

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When an aspiring entrepreneur first sets his or her mind to starting a business, the amount of work that needs to be done can seem overwhelming. And by that we don’t just mean finding an idea, building a product and seeing his or her vision come to life. That’s all the fun stuff. But, in the world of business and entrepreneurship, the standard practice has traditionally been to spend a long time -- often between six months to a year -- on developing an idea and channeling it into a business plan to present to investors. This tradition was not only extremely time consuming, but was also highly risky. Entrepreneurs would toil over their business plans without ever testing them with customers to see whether they would hold up or collapse.

Youth, Inexperience and Low Expectations: Unseen Advantages of Student Entrepreneurs

By Nina Ho, student entrepreneur, and Cam Houser, CEO, 3 Day Startup

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor and philosopher of Stoicism – a practical philosophy that helps one deal with the complexity and randomness of life. Stoicism does this by promoting the power of perspective as a means for transcending negative emotions and the consequences of those emotions. The powerful takeaway from Aurelius’ quote is that “misfortune” is ultimately a relative concept. The labels of “good” and “bad” attributed to an event largely lie in the mind’s interpretation of the event. Thus, difficulties, trials and challenges – “what stands in the way” – is the way to move forward in life.

Essentially, Aurelius is speaking about “reframing” – an idea found in Stoicism, Buddhism, and positive psychology. Reframing is a cognitive tool that helps individuals reinterpret a situation, find the value in that situation and develop logical action steps to maximize the outcomes.

This lesson of reframing obstacles is valuable to college students because college and life are fraught with challenges and misfortune.

This holds even truer for the entrepreneurial journey. By embracing and reframing these obstacles, individuals can create opportunities from events that may be out of their control. Here are some reasons why student “obstacles” are actually unrecognized advantages, especially for entrepreneurial pursuits.

1. You possess the “student card.”

As a general rule of thumb, the majority of people want to help students. They remember the personal and professional exploration that came with their time in school. Many professionals will respond positively if you can effectively communicate your “ask,” respect their time and follow through. Upon graduating, however, the world is less likely to

open doors for you, so take advantage of your student status now.

[As a meta-example, I’m co-authoring this post with Cam because I reached out to him sophomore year using the “student card.” This relationship provided the foundation for me to pitch him on the idea of a summer internship position with 3DS. As a result, I got the chance to work alongside the 3DS Global Team and spent the summer writing about student entrepreneurship, performing international outreach and helping shape 3DS’ corporate brand identity.]

An added bonus of leveraging the “student card” is that people like you more when they help you, not necessarily the other way around. (Psychologists called this phenomenon the Ben Franklin effect.) That means that asking for help early on, noninvasively of course, is a great way to build rapport with industry professionals before you even graduate.

Beyond student status, using your “student card” is about extracting as much value from your educational experience as possible.

Whether that means finding scholarship money to study abroad or taking a difficult class for the skill it offers and not the grade, college is an optimal time and place to seek out personal growth through life-affirming experiences.

2. The world expects little out of you.

Secondly, at no other time in your life will youth and inexperience have such low repercussions. In other words, college will be the starting line of your professional career, and your “job” at this point is simply to make decent grades. While low expectations and being nameless may sound like barriers, they are actually marks of freedom. As a student, you have the ability to risk big without fear of jeopardizing social or professional status.

You’re allowed to make less-than-perfect decisions, learn from those mistakes and adjust your course.

Furthermore, a lack of awareness about limits, not knowing what can and cannot be accomplished, can represent an asset for creative problem-solving. Creativity and innovation are byproducts of being openminded, and young people tend to be more open-minded since “habits and prejudices” have yet to solidify. [1] The connection between youth and innovation is supporting evidence of why the Facebooks and Googles of the world had founders in their early twenties.

This goes to show that naïveté and ignorance may not always deserve their negative connotations.

3. Grades aren’t a defining factor.

We’re not saying that grades are unimportant – GPA definitely matters for getting into a good school and for professional tracks including law, medicine or consulting. Grades also teach the value of self-discipline and a strong work ethic. Most careers, however, care more about the skill sets you bring to an organization than the grades you made in college, especially those that are entrepreneurial in nature.

Here’s how we see it. Grades function as the school “currency.” This is how students “keep score” and maneuver within the system. Skill sets and abilities, however, function as the currency of the professional world. Successful individuals are those who can transfer the lessons learned from the pursuit of high marks to the pursuit of real-world skills. Awareness of this reality gives you an open lane to get a head start on acquiring and fine-tuning your craft. While your peers are chasing an expiring currency, you have the opportunity to invest in yourself and your future.

[1] The Wall Street Journal’s Fleeting Youth, Fading Creativity

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“The impediment to action advances action.

What stands in the way becomes the way.” — Marcus Aurelius

CONFERENCE INFORMATION Welcome to the Ultimate DECA Power Trip and Innovations and Entrepreneurship Conference. More than 1,200 DECA members, advisors, alumni and corporate professionals will participate in this year’s conferences. The following will help ensure a quality experience.

CONFERENCE HEADQUARTERS Congressional Registration Desk

NAME BADGES

Your name badge is your all-access pass to all conference events. Please wear it at all times during the conference. Lost badges may only be replaced by chapter advisors at conference headquarters.

DRESS CODE AND CODE OF CONDUCT

All delegates should adhere to the dress code and code of conduct for the duration of the conference. DECA prides itself on the professional behavior and dress of its members.

PROFESSIONALISM

All delegates are expected to show courtesy and respect to all workshop speakers, presenters, exhibitors and conference staff. Please be prompt to arrive and stay for the duration of the workshops and general sessions. Please only use cell phones to engage in social media activities relevant to the workshop. If a workshop is full, please make another choice.

HOTEL ETIQUETTE

Please keep your room in an orderly fashion during the conference so hotel staff can service all rooms. It is appreciated to tip houskeeping $5 per day. Split the tip with your roommates.

If you have excess trash, please ask for additional trash bags from the front desk. Rooms left with damage will be reported to conference staff and the local school will be responsible for damages.

ELEVATORS

Please be mindful that the elevators will be in high demand throughout the conference. Please do not delay the elevators.

Allow people leaving elevators to get out before you board.

Please use common sense, and do not overload elevators.

CURFEW

Curfew is 11:30 p.m. each night. All delegates must be in their designated rooms with the doors locked and noise kept to a minimum. Room service and deliveries are not allowed after curfew.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND EMERGENCIES

In the event where medical attention is required, contact the front desk of the hotel as well as your chapter advisor, chaperone, or conference staff member. Medical consent forms should be in the possession of each chapter advisor. If it is an emergency, call 911.

GRATUITIES

When dining, please consider these guidelines for gratuities: 15% of bill for good service and 20% of bill for exceptional service.

VALUABLES

Please use caution when carrying cash or leaving personal items unattended. DECA is not liable for lost or stolen items.

CHECK-OUT

Hotel check-out is 12:00 p.m.

DRESS CODE Business representatives, press personnel, hotel staff and guests will be seeing DECA’s finest members—show them a professional business image.

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BUSINESS ATTIRE FOR OPENING SESSION AND WORKSHOPS

UNACCEPTABLE ATTIRE

MALES: Business suit or sport coat with dress slacks, collared dress shirt and necktie; dress shoes, dress socks.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

FEMALES: Business suit or blazer with dress blouse and dress skirt or dress slacks or business dress; dress shoes.

The following items are not allowed: denim, athletic shoes, sweatshirts and t-shirts, shorts, hats.

CLOSING SESSION

Participants may wear jeans, conference t-shirts and athletic shoes or business casual attire.

CASUAL ATTIRE – DURING DECA AFTER DARK AND FREE TIME Neat casual clothing is acceptable. Shoes must be worn.

The following are unacceptable during any DECA activities: skin-tight or revealing clothing, athletic clothing, midriff-baring clothing, swimwear (unless swimming), and clothing with printing that is suggestive, obscene or promotes illegal activities.

DECA Inc. is committed to creating and maintaining a healthy and respectful environment for all of our emerging leaders and entrepreneurs. Our philosophy is to ensure all members, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or socio-economic status are treated equally and respectfully. Any behavior in the form of discrimination, harassment, or bullying will not be tolerated. It is the responsibility of all members to uphold and contribute to this climate.

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