PBL Business Leader Winter 2013

PBL Business

LEADER

Volume 24, Number 2, Winter 2014

A Publication for Members and Advisers of Phi Beta Lambda

4

SAY HELLO TO CONFERENCE SEASON (and Goodbye to Stress)

5

4 TIPS FOR AN EFFECTIVE RESUME Staffing Firm CEO Shares Thoughts on Resume Building

7

MARCH FOR BABIES 4 Ways to Support the Cause

8

GET THE MOST OUT OF PBL WITH CMAP

COMMUNICATION MISTAKES 10 10 and how to fix them

contents

President's Message 3 Conferences 6 Competitive Events 9 Sponsors & Partners 11 Fundraising 12 Chapter News 14

NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

NATIONAL STAFF

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ADMINISTRATION Jean M. Buckley President and CEO ceo@fbla.org

Monty Rhodes, chair

Georgia FBLA Executive Director monty@georgiafbla.org

Southern Region

Ted Harshbarger, chair-elect

Kelly Wilkerson

FBLA Adviser Warren Township High School kwilkerson@wths.net North Central Region

Nebraska PBL State Adviser Peru State College

FBLA-PBL Division Presidents

Mountain Plains Region

fblapres@fbla.org

tharshbarger@peru.edu

Zulema Garcia

Cole Simmons

FBLA National President Georgia

KPMG LLP

Donnie Iorio

Business/Industry Representative

pblpres@fbla.org

zgarcia@kpmg.com

Karen Heslep

PBL National President South Carolina

PBL Adviser ASU-Mountain Home

David Jones

Professional Division National President

kheslep@asumh.edu

pdpres@fbla.org

Southern Region

Maryland

Lisa Hofstetter

Ex-officio Members

lhofstetter@brookfield.k12.mo.us

FBLA Adviser Palm Beach Gardens Community High School

FBLA Adviser Linn County Area Career and Technical Center

Tammy Skinner, past chair

North Central Region

tammy.skinner@palmbeachschools.org

Shea Padilla

Southern Region

Arizona FBLA-PBL State Chair

Jean M. Buckley

Western Region

ceo@fbla.org

shea.padilla@azed.gov

FBLA-PBL, Inc. President and CEO

FBLA Adviser Hidden Valley High School

chris.pendleton@threerivers.k12.or.us

Western Region

2013–14 PBL NATIONAL OFFICER TEAM

Katie Clark Mountain Plains Region Vice President University of Denver pblmpvp@fbla.org

Doug Peterson Customer Service/Mailroom Associate custsvc@fbla.org MEMBERSHIP Troy D. White Director, Marketing & Membership marketing@fbla.org Lisa Frye Smothers Membership Director membershipdir@fbla.org

Ashley Witherspoon Customer Service/Database Associate custserv@fbla.org

EDUCATION Barbara Small Education Director education@fbla.org Candi Pucek North Central Region Vice President Illinois State University pblncvp@fbla.org Glenn Gilyot Southern Region Vice President Xavier University of Louisiana pblsrvp@fbla.org Bryan Poulsen Western Region Vice President Dixie State College pblwrvp@fbla.org

PBL Business Leader Winter 2014 Volume 24, Number 2 (ISSN 0279-9685) is published three times a year (fall, winter, and spring) by Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda. Editorial and advertising sales offices at FBLA-PBL, Inc., 1912 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1591 703.860.3334. Materials may be reprinted with prior permission of the editor. Editorial submissions are encouraged and should be addressed to the editor. All FBLA-PBL, Inc. publications use the Chicago Manual of Style. Publisher: Jean M. Buckley. Managing Editor: Lindsey A. Frederick.

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Epi Fagundo Customer Service Associate/Receptionist general@fbla.org

Robert Smothers Conference Manager conferencemgr@fbla.org

Beau Cobb National Secretary Johnson & Wales University pblsec@fbla.org

Karthik Krishnan Eastern Region Vice President pblervp@fbla.org

Mary Ait Staff Accountant finance@fbla.org

CONFERENCE Richard Bowen Conference Director conferencedir@fbla.org

Donnie Iorio National President University of South Carolina pblpres@fbla.org

Stephanie Boardman National Parliamentarian University of Northern Iowa pblparl@fbla.org

Becky Grant, CMP Programs Coordinator programscoordinator@fbla.org

Tom Payne, CPA Director, PBL College/University Relations phibetalambda@fbla.org

Chris Pendleton

Morgan Melot National Treasurer Oklahoma State University pbltres@fbla.org

Elena R. Daly Executive Assistant execasst@fbla.org

May Durkovic Education Support Specialist educationspec@fbla.org COMMUNICATIONS Lindsey A. Frederick Communications Manager communications@fbla.org FBLA-PBL, INC. 1912 Association Drive Reston, VA 20191-1591 P 703.860.3334 F 866.500.5610 fbla-pbl.org

Follow us on:

FEBRUARY 1–28 9–15

By Donnie Iorio, PBL national president New semester, new courses, and new professors: Guess what that means, PBL? It's time for the second half of our membership year!

You’ve been going strong, recruiting and showcasing Excellence in Action through your innovative ideas. We’ve had three stellar NFLCs, where not only did you develop your business and leadership skills, but you also participated in one of our best March of Dimes fundraisers to date, raising $4,554.77 at the NFLC Blue Jeans for Babies dances. We also hosted the first-ever State Officer and New Adviser Tracks at the conferences, which had great reviews!

It’s the time of year to finalize your competition decisions.

Check out the online Competitive Events Reference Guide for tips, videos, and official event information. Also check out your state’s website for the most up-to-date information for State Leadership Conferences.

Finally, I can’t wait to celebrate with you in Nashville this summer at the National Leadership Conference (NLC).

There, PBL's best and brightest compete in leadership events, share successes, and learn new ideas to shape their career future through workshops and exhibits. This four-day conference is considered the pinnacle of the PBL experience, especially for those running for national office.

Speaking of national office, if you're thinking about entering the race, reach out to our current officers for campaign tips and advice.

As always, it’s an honor to lead you.

In Leadership,

Donnie Iorio 2013–14 PBL National President

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National Career and Technical Education Month

FBLA-PBL Week

10

National Presidents' Open Forum

11

Each One Reach One Day

12

Adviser Appreciation/Professional Attire Day

13

Career Awareness Day

14

FBLA-PBL Pride Day

15

Community Service Day

28

PBL Business Leader—spring issue copy deadline

MARCH 1

Dues deadline to receive spring publications

National Awards Program Committee— application receipt deadline

Career and Membership Awards—receipt deadline

15

PBL Advisers’ Hotline—spring issue copy deadline

ON THE COVER The 2013–14 PBL National Officer Team.

dates & deadlines

President’s Message

Say Hello to Conference Season (and Goodbye to Stress)

By Katie Clark, PBL MPVP

Spring conference season is approaching and we all know what a stressful time this can be. Why not work together to alleviate the pressure? Here are a few ways FBLA-PBL divisions can give each other some much-needed support.

FBLA CONFERENCES Some states hold district and state leadership conferences for FBLA members. This is the perfect opportunity for PBL and the Professional Division to join forces with local FBLA state officers. PBL and Professional Division members can judge (depending on age), time, run members to presentation rooms, and host workshops.

Professional Division members, in particular, make excellent judges. Competitive events draw from real-world experience, and what’s better than being critiqued by those with firsthand industry knowledge?

PBL members can take advantage of this time to host a “What is PBL?” workshop, designed to inform and encourage FBLA members to continue their FBLA journey in college.

To make things easy, a template for this presentation will soon be available on the FBLA-PBL officers' online resource, The Boardroom.

PBL CONFERENCES FBLA members can also help at PBL conferences. While they can’t yet judge, FBLA members can run members to

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presentation rooms and and monitor the comprehensive testing room. Once again, Professional Division members make excellent judges.

PLANNING A CONFERENCE Finding judges, timers, and workshop presenters causes officers the most stress. Using FBLA, PBL, and Professional Division members at conferences can make the planning process less stressful and leave time to enjoy the host city attractions, as well as engage in personal networking and developing life-long friendships.

Katie Clark

is the PBL mountain plains region vice president.

When she's not busy with school, being a nanny, or growing the PBL Mountain Plains Region, you can find her drinking hot tea, catching up on her favorite TV shows, or cuddling with her calico cat, Zoey. Follow @NatPBLMPVP tweets or like Katie on Facebook /NationalPBLMPVP.

THOMAS B. MORAN has more than twenty-two years of experience in the staffing industry and has held executive leadership positions within the industry’s largest firms. Prior to Addison Group, Mr. Moran served as chief executive officer for Mastech Inc., Frontenac Company, Inc., and Hudson Highland Group, Inc.

4 Tips for Effective Resumes Staffing Firm CEO Shares Thoughts on Resume Building

T

h ough job numbers may be increasing, the job market is still a competitive place. With human resources (HR) departments receiving hundreds of resumes it’s crucial for an applicant to have a resume that’s effective in order

to stand out. Thomas Moran, CEO of Addison Group, provides his insights on perfecting a resume.

1Resumes are not the place for run-on sentences. Keep BE PRECISE

bullets short and to the point. In addition, remove first person references to shorten and strengthen sentences. “It’s your resume, so the first person is assumed. Applicants can also start each bullet or sentence with an action verb by removing the first person pronoun. The result is a direct and stronger sentence,” explains Moran.

2When HR employees browse resumes, there’s a good USE KEYWORDS

chance there are a handful of words they’re specifically looking for. “The best place to search for keywords is in the job posting,” says Moran. “Look for ways to integrate buzzwords from the posting into your resume that will register with the computer program or employee who is screening resumes.”

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3 For applicants with a lengthy employment history, it’s not PRIORITIZE

necessary to include every position ever held. Focus on the experience that is relevant for the current job application and tailor it specifically.

4A great resume looks modern and is easy to read. Make REFORMAT

sure name and contact information is at the top and easy to find. For the modern aspect, employers will look for any relevant social media profiles so applicants should be sure to include direct links. In addition, a distracting or outdated font can give away the age of applicants, unfairly dating them.

The traditional Times New Roman font is acceptable, but one that’s more modern is encouraged, as well.

conferences

2013–14Conferences

ROAD TO

Nashville

2014 NATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE (NLC) Held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, the 2014 NLC will be filled with achievement, opportunities, and excitement. It’s time to make plans to attend!

MORE INFORMATION You can get up-to-date information about the NLC at fbla-pbl. org/2014NLC. The NLC Guide will be available in March.

2014 CONFERENCE DATES PBL NLC June 24–27

Workshops will feature informative and motivational sessions on a variety of topics. Visit the exhibits to get information about fundraising opportunities, colleges and universities, technology vendors, and to network with other future business leaders from across the country.

ONLINE NLC REGISTRATION Online registration opens in early March. Complete chapter registration early to take advantage of savings.

In addition to nearly sixty competitive events, the NLC also includes certification tests, open events, tours, and officer campaigns. Check out fbla-pbl.org/2014NLC for additional information.

2014 INSTITUTE FOR LEADERS The Institute for Leaders (IFL) is held just prior to the NLC on June 23–24. Hosting PBL's most dedicated members, outstanding speakers, and powerful business leadership training, the IFL is a great way to step up your leadership skills and prepare for the coming year.

SUGGEST A TOPIC OR GUEST SPEAKER If you would like to suggest a topic or recommend a speaker, email conferencemgr@fbla.org.

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MARCH FOR BABIES 4 Ways to Support the Cause

By Morgan Melot, PBL national treasurer

FBLA-PBL has united with the March of Dimes for nearly forty years to support stronger, healthier babies. Raising over $15 million dollars, FBLA-PBL consistently ranks as March of Dimes top clubs and organizations fundraising partner.

However, the March of Dimes is only as successful as you—the committed volunteers who believe in the mission and join the fight against premature birth. There are many ways you can encourage your local and state chapters to put Excellence in Action with the March of Dimes: MARCH FOR BABIES

MARCH OF DIMES GRANTS

March for Babies supports research and programs to help babies in your community and across the country get a healthy start. FBLA-PBL is a March for Babies partner, so put on your shoes and walk for the cause by organizing a mini march on your local campus or in your community!

The March of Dimes grant rewards members and chapters for their support of the March of Dimes partnership, by identifying innovative ideas and projects that enhance the growth, recognition, and support of FBLA-PBL and the March of Dimes partnership. Local and state chapters that participate in March of Dimes are eligible to submit grant requests.

As an incentive, hold a raffle or a silent auction and ask members to bid for a chance to pie an officer’s face. The top bid for each officer wins, and the money collected goes to the March of Dimes.

PROMOTE PREMATURITY AWARENESS

You might know that one in eight babies is born premature, and that prematurity is a common, costly, and serious problem, but do your friends, classmates, and teachers know?

November is Prematurity Awareness Month, and November 17 is Prematurity Awareness Day. This is perfect opportunity to educate people in your school about premature birth, the number one cause of infant mortality. Consider selling purple March of Dimes name badge ribbons at state and district conferences with all proceeds going to the March for Babies.

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RECOGNITION OPPORTUNITIES

The top local and state chapters that raise the most money for March of Dimes are recognized at the National Leadership Conference (NLC). Grant recipients are also recognized at the NLC. Additional recognition opportunities are available on the local and state levels.

Check out the numerous March of Dimes resources, including a March of Dimes packet, links to websites, and newsletters on the national website.

THE 2014–15

Get the Most Out of PBL with CMAP

POSTER DES IGN CONTEST

By Morgan Melot, PBL National Treasurer

The Career and Membership Achievement Program (CMAP) is a comprehensive tool designed to increase membership and award students who embrace PBL goals and projects. It also helps create an impressive portfolio to enhance your resume!

CMAP features the following three levels: Director Award, Executive Award, and the President Award, with each level building onto the next. The CMAP program is a relatively simple process and involves activities you are probably already doing. To begin, ask your adviser to sign you up on the national CMAP website, and supply your login information. Next, upload documentation of items, including bringing a friend to a meeting and participating in activities that promote your chapter like recruitment events, job fairs, Membership Madness, and chapter meetings.

Last year, I set a goal to complete at least one level of the CMAP program as an Oklahoma state officer, and I did it! This year I’m doing it again, and now I am encouraging you to do the same. It’s an easy way to grow your local chapter and get recognized on the local, state, and national levels. For more information about CMAP, contact your local chapter adviser, the state officer team, or simply log on to the national CMAP website. Questions? Email pbltres@fbla.org.

Morgan Melot

is the PBL national treasurer. When she isn't doing things for her local, state, or national officer teams, she enjoys spending time with friends, family, and her dog, Hercules. Follow @NatPBLTres tweets or like Morgan on Facebook /NationalPBLTreasurer.

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W

HO

E O T

:

N

R TE

1

Download the 2014–15 theme logo and the official FBLAPBL logo (see submission form for link).

2

Design a poster that incorporates the 2014–15 theme and captures the conference and membership experience. Include official logos and social media links.

3

Submit designs online by March 2. Visit go.fbla.org/postercontest for the submission form, full submission guidelines, and contest rules*.

4

Vote for your favorite design on Facebook from March 3–9.

FBLA-PBL will choose a winner from the top 5 designs.

5

Win a $250 Amazon gift card and have your poster seen by thousands of members across the nation. *All entries must follow the rules to be considered.

DESIGN. VOTE. WIN!

competitive events

Local and state competitions are just around the corner. Are you ready? Read up on eligibility guidelines, pilot and open events, and winning tips. Next stop: nationals!

2014 NLC PBL OPEN EVENTS Every PBL member attending the 2014 National Leadership Conference is eligible to take two open events without any prerequisites.

PBL OPEN EVENTS: • Agribusiness • Business History/Current Events • HTML/CSS • Leadership • Music Business • PBL Facts Do you know what competitive events you will enter at your State Leadership Conference? The top two winners from each state are eligible to advance to the national competition in Nashville on June 24–27. Remember, state guidelines may differ from national competitive event guidelines, so check your state handbooks.

COMPETITIVE EVENT RESOURCES Find guidelines, practice questions, case studies, and more online.

GET READY TO COMPETE Reports Preparing a Small Business Management Plan or Community Service Project report? The Small Business Management Plan may be for a real or fictitious business. This year the reports for the national competition should be submitted as a PDF. Check with your state adviser to learn how to submit events for state competition. Here are a few more things to keep in mind:

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• All reports have two components—written and presentation.

• Review the event rating sheet, then prepare the written portion in the order of topics listed on the rating sheet.

• Written component—the judges evaluate straight down the rating sheet; follow the rating sheet when writing the report.

• Presentation component— highlight what you or your chapter did. Your presentation score will be added to your previously scored written component.

Objective Tests (Multiple Choice) All objective tests have competencies and tasks. Preview this list in the online PBL Competitive Event Reference Guide.

Speaking Events It is important you know the time limit for your event. For example, Impromptu Speaking is a 4-minute presentation while Public Speaking is a 5-minute presentation. You are penalized if you go thirty seconds under or over time. Public Speaking is a prepared business speech developed from one of the FBLAPBL goals. Remember, practice makes better. A few tips: • Do not read from your notes • Do use hand gestures • Do look judges in the eyes Performance Events (e.g., Hospitality Management, Economic Analysis & Decision Making, Network Design, etc.)

The majority of case studies are interactive, meaning judges will participate in role playing with speakers; be prepared to justify your statements. If it is a team event, each member of the team must be part of the presentation.

Presentation Events (e.g., Business Presentation, Sales Presentation, etc.)

Sell your presentation to the judges.

These events allow the judges to ask questions after the presentation.

Interview Events Future Business Educator, Future Business Executive, and Job Interview all require a resume and letter of application. In addition, Future Business Educator and Job Interview require a job application, which can be found on fbla-pbl.org.

Future Business Educator finalists are required to present a lesson plan.

Read the guidelines carefully for each event.

OTHER TIPS Copyright notations—when in doubt, reference your sources for pictures, logos, etc. FBLA-PBL uses the educational copyright laws listed on page 4 of the FBLA-PBL Format Guide in your adviser's Chapter Management Handbook.

Good luck at your State Leadership Conference! The Spring PBL Business Leader will provide tips for national competition in Nashville.

MARVIN BROWN

10 Communication Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Whether you're engaging in chitchat with coworkers or talking to a prospective client, you need good communication skills in the workplace. Even if you're an introvert, being a great talker is a learnable skill.

All it takes is a few techniques and a little practice.

Here are some common communication pitfalls and how to navigate them.

1. SUCCUMBING TO LAZY TALK

Lazy talk consists of clichĂŠs or fillers. Examples include, "you know" and "like." Overusing the word "thing," when another word would be more descriptive. Vague expressions such as etc., "whatever" and "stuff like that" are also lazy talk.

THE FIX: Imagine your words have value; vague and meaningless words are worthless, and specific, interesting words cost more.

Make your speech more valuable by minimizing lazy talk.

2. CREATING CONVERSATIONAL DEAD ENDS

If conversation doesn't go back and forth, it serves little purpose. We create conversational dead ends by asking questions that have single-word answers. "How are you?" and "Hi" are two common examples.

THE FIX: When engaging in small talk, ask open-ended questions that spark meaningful exchanges. Examples: "What did you do that was exciting this weekend?" or "How do you

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is an expert in business communication strategies, a sought-after speaker, and the author of the instant classic How to Meet and Talk to Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime: Simple Strategies for Great Conversations.

stay so cheerful on a Monday morning?"

3. LETTING A SUBJECT PASS

People almost always offer an opening, conversationally speaking, but if you're not looking for these, an opportunity to go deeper may pass you by.

THE FIX: If someone says, "Thanks for noticing I lost weight.

It's always a battle to stay in shape since I love to cook," instead of nodding and saying nothing, you could follow up with a question or statement about dieting, fitness, or cooking.

4. OFFERING AN OPINION AS FACT

We've all been guilty of making declarations that sound as though they should be carved in stone. For example,"That's the best Italian restaurant around."

THE FIX: To avoid being labeled a know-it-all by your coworkers, colleagues, and clients, all you have to do is preface such statements with "It seems to me" or "I've come to believe" or "I think."

5. TRYING TO BE OVERLY CHARMING

Do you feel the need to tell jokes, throw around fancy words, and be the life of the cubicle? Being overly charming can backfire.

"Communication Mistakes" continued on page 13 . . .

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fundraising

As you plan your fundraisers for the school year, keep the following national partners in mind. For more details visit the Membership Benefits section of fbla-pbl.org, under "fundraising partners."

Country Meats features fresh

smoked snack sticks that everyone loves. Call 800-277-8989 or visit countrymeats.com.

Krispy Kreme FUNDraising offers doughnuts, partnership cards, fundraising certificates, and signature coffees to help your chapter raise some dough!

Learn more at krispykreme.com/ fundraising.

Otis Spunkmeyer is providing their

scrumptious cookie fundraiser.

Call 1-888-ASK-OTIS (888-2756847).

Ozark Delight Lollipops are only

available for fundraising. They do not sell to stores or other retail markets. Call Ozark Delight at 800-334-8991.

Pride Distributors specializes in

producing “Your Town”—Opoly, a custom board game. Call Pride Distributors at 800-451-5442 or visit Townopoly.net.

Schermer Pecans offers a delicious and healthy fundraising product.

Call 800-841-3403, email schermerpecans@yahoo.com, or visit pecantreats.com.

School Spirit Coffee provides

personalized packaging for their coffee fundraiser. For information, call 800-570-1443 or visit schoolspiritcoffee.com.

Tom-Wat Fundraising features

multiple fundraisers from catalog sales to delicious Auntie Anne Pretzels. Call 800-243-9250 or visit tomwat.com.

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. . . "Communication Mistakes" continued from page 10 THE FIX: Good conversationalists talk about plain, simple subjects when trying to get to know and get along with other people. Forget about being super eloquent, clever, or pretentious. Keep your exchanges simple and direct. Trying to impress others will only come across as disingenuous and fake. It's alienating to others.

6. FORGETTING TO SPEAK BODY LANGUAGE

You may be distracted at work and merely mumble a hello when a coworker walks past. Or when you meet someone new, you simply announce your name and that's your greeting. Body language is as important as verbal language when it comes to making first impressions, giving your message impact and winning people's trust.

THE FIX: When greeting a work associate, look up from what you're doing, make eye contact, and smile. You've just told that person with your body language, "You're worthwhile and I'm glad to see you." When meeting someone for the first time, say your name, while extending a firm handshake; research shows they're 75 percent more likely to remember you.

that they don't matter. In business, it's a missed opportunity to connect and possibly learn something.

THE FIX: Save texting and emailing for times when you're alone or actually in the presence of strangers, such as on the long commuter ride home on the train. Practice the art of small talk by asking a polite question about a topic—a current event, perhaps, or a specific detail about that person's family or interests. "Have you been golfing yet this year?"

10. TAKING CRITICISM POORLY

There's nothing worse than an employee or coworker who won't hear feedback, gets defensive, and thus impedes progress at work.

THE FIX: Try to listen to what the other person is saying about your work, not about you, personally. Then respond with a simple statement that shows appreciation, such as "Thank you for pointing that out to me," or "That's really helpful—you just did me a big favor."

7. EXITING AWKWARDLY

It's common to have difficulty ending conversations graciously with someone we've just met, not to mention those annoying people who corner us at the water cooler. Don't make up an untrue excuse, such as a phone call you're (not) expecting, or say, "Well, uh, I gotta go." If you do, it can create ill feelings.

THE FIX: Make the other person feel good before you say goodbye. "Richie, it's been a pleasure (smile, offer your hand), but I have to get back to my office. Hope to catch you later."

8. SPOILING A COMPLIMENT

Many of us have a difficult time accepting compliments. Two of the most common mistakes people make are contradicting the complimenter who tells you that you look great, "Nah, I'm a mess today," or discounting their words by bouncing it right back, "You, too."

THE FIX: Take it in, and let the other person know their gesture of generosity is meaningful. Smile and say something like, "Thanks! You made my day."

THE INNOVATION CENTER

Help Shape the Future of FBLAPBL!

We’re igniting innovation at the FBLA-PBL National Center and want to hear from you!

Have a great idea that you want to share?

Members and advisers can now submit, vote, and promote their ideas at The Innovation Center, and then check back to monitor the progress of their ideas.

9. TEXTING, NOT TALKING

How many times have you been in the elevator or break room where people who know each other are focused on their smartphones? This sends a rude message to the other person

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www.fbla-pbl.org/ideas

Colorado

Florida

St. Thomas University PBL celebrated Global Entrepreneurship at Crossing Borders: Panel Discussion and Networking Reception in November. The distinguished panel of experts included, alumnus Manny Mencia '73, senior vice president of Enterprise Florida, Inc., and the Honorable H. Ricardo Treco, Bahamas Consul General to Miami. PBL celebrated innovation and job creators in the community and learned more about the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapid globalization of markets and the fall of international trade barriers.

Nebraska

North Platte Community College PBL created a Duck Dynasty-themed castle, complete with a moat and ducks, for The Connection homeless shelter Out of the Box fundraiser. Businesses and organizations were asked to create cardboard shelters, then vote for their favorite by dropping money into buckets near each shelter. “It really surpassed our expectations," said PBL Chapter President Erin Mitchell. "We probably put about thirty-eight hours of work into the project.” All Out of the Box proceeds benefitted The Connection.

Utah

Weber State University (WSU) PBL partnered with the March of Dimes to bring a new service to low-income pregnant women. The Teddy Bear Den opened on November 13. WSU PBL members worked for more than a year to bring the program to Northern Utah. “This project has given students an opportunity to work more closely with area high schools and businesses in the community to gain their support,” said Laura Anderson, WSU PBL adviser.

The Teddy Bear Den, a March of Dimes community-based prenatal health program, is designed to promote healthy behaviors during pregnancy.

West Virginia

Davis & Elkins College PBL opened the student-run Beta Bean Cafe on November 4. "Beta Bean Cafe runs strictly for the benefit of the Davis & Elkins College students from a learning experience," said D&E VP for Student Affairs Scott Godard. The year-long process included drafting a full business plan and working in conjunction with administration, library staff, dining services, and the local health inspector. Student owned and operated, the cafe offers hands-on management, marketing, and accounting experience. “I believe our chapter of PBL is doing something amazing,” said Frank Cottrill, PBL president and cafe manager. “I would like to challenge other PBL chapters around the country to go to [their] administration and say they want to open a student enterprise on campus.”

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chapter news

Colorado Mesa University (CMU) PBL held their 9th Annual Business Executive Golf Tournament at Adobe Creek Golf Course and volunteered at the Hospice benefit car show in September. In October, they volunteered at the local Jail n’ Bail event and hosted their 5th Annual Harvest for the children of Grand Junction.