The Future Business Leaders of America has student members preparing for careers in business or who are just simply interested in learning more about the free enterprise system. FBLA helps students develop leadership abilities, and prepare for entry into, and advancement within, a business or business-related occupation. Members learn how to engage in business enterprise, how to direct the affairs of a group, and how to compete honorably in competitive events. These activities help prepare students to be better employees and better citizens.
Students learn about the world of business and what is expected of them in the workplace. To help them develop competent, aggressive business leadership skills and to strengthen the confidence of students in themselves. Participation in the FBLA also helps to create more interest in and understanding of American business enterprise, and develop character.
There are over 240,000 active members in over 13,000 chartered chapters in 50 states, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, U.S. Territories, and Department of Defense Dependent Schools worldwide. In Pennsylvania during the last school year, there were 295 active chapters organized into 28 different regions.
Activities in the FBLA can include: a statewide leadership development workshop for local members and advisers; a local leadership development workshop sponsored by the local chapters in each of Pennsylvania's 28 regions; the Region’s Leadership Conference which is a local activity in which members participate in competitive events to qualify for the State Leadership Conference and to elect region officers for the following school year; the State Leadership Conference which is the major event in the year where qualifying members participate in numerous competitive events, attend leadership development seminars, and campaign for state office; and the National Leadership Conference which is held annually in five geographic regions to provide student members and advisers opportunities to share ideas, reaffirm common goals, and participate in leadership development seminars.
Ms. Kate Lengel, faculty member in Social Science and Economics, is the advisor to MMI's FBLA.
Student members of the MMI Chapter of Future Business Leaders of America placed in the top five in various categories in the Pennsylvania Region 16 Leadership Conference on Jan. 5 at Luzerne County Community College and continued on competing at the state level. The students who qualified for the state competition were, from left, front: Taylor Olian, Farrah Qadri, and Caroline Bandurska; back: Matt Farrell, Andy Mhley, John Walton, and advisor Kate Lengel. Missing from the picture is Nick Triano.
In addition to their regular competitions, the FBLA participates in annual service activities. In the fall of 2009, the FBLA delivered pumpkins, masks, and trick-or-treat bags to two Pre-K classes at Saint Jude's in Mountaintop.
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