Future Business Leaders of America mixes fun and learning to prepare students for career and/or post-secondary options! WV FBLA is a co-curricular student organization that is implemented in Business, Marketing, Finance, and Arts/AV Career clusters in High Schools and Career Technical Centers in the state of West Virginia and is part of the national organization FBLA. WV FBLA encourages students to become local business Leaders in their communities through community services and leadership activities. West Virginia Future Business Leaders of America is not a club to which a few students in school join. Rather, WV FBLA is a powerful instructional tool that works best when it is integrated into related curricula and classrooms. WV FBLA instructors are committed to their members around service, education, and progress.

Future Business Leaders of America, Inc. (FBLA) is the largest business Career and Technical Student Organization in the world. Each year, FBLA helps over 230,000 members prepare for careers in business. FBLA inspires and prepares students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences.

Goals of the WV FBLA State Leadership Conference
» To ensure the expansion of knowledge regarding the Business, Marketing, Finance and related career content.
» To afford the recognition of competency through demonstrated proficiency of skills.
» To nurture a commitment to professional organizations.
» To afford opportunities for leadership development.
» To afford the unity of membership and fellowship.

WELCOME

CONFERENCE INFORMATION

Conference Headquarters

The WV FBLA Conference Headquarters is located in the Conference Room 4 at Camp Dawson Conference Center. A staff person(s) will be available throughout the conference schedule to receive guests, messages, etc., and to give directions and assistance as needed. Headquarters will close on Friday 11:00 a.m - 3:30 p.m. to complete event tabulations and prepare for the Closing Awards Ceremony.

Trading Pin Submitted by Ali Neff, Wirt County High School FBLA

T-Shirt Design Submitted by Ella Lewis, Huntington High School FBLA

The National Anthem will be sung by Ali Delaney Redden from Greenbrier County High School FBLA, played on the viola by Madolyn Long from Buckhannon-Upshur High School and Signed by Alecsis Butler from Buckhannon-Upshur High School

Sales Table

Conference T-shirts and WV FBLA items can be purchased at the Sales Table located in the Expo Hall. The 2024 WV FBLA trading pin in packets of 5 for $15/packet. The table hours are from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. on Friday.

Conference Name Badges

Conference name badges serve to admit WV FBLA members to all official functions and must be always worn. During participation in your competitive event, you will show your school or state issued ID to the registration table and remove your ID Badge during your presentation.

Safety

While at the conference, you should observe all safety precautions.

» Do not walk alone; stay with your group.
» Do not walk alone in the hotel, including visits to vending and ice machines.
» Only students assigned to a hotel room should be in that Hotel Room. Hotel Rooms are not lounge areas, utilize the conference sitting areas to network with other members.
» Wearing pajamas in the hotel hallways is not permitted.
» Students are not permitted to leave the conference with anyone except their official school delegation.
» Your advisor must ALWAYS know your whereabouts.
» Observe Curfew. Students outside of their hotel rooms after curfew and after their advisor has visually checked the room will be sent home at their own expense.

Hotel Room Checks

WV FBLA enjoys a great reputation for the behavior of its members at Conference Centers and Hotels. Help us maintain this reputation by being courteous to all hotel and conference center employees. Advisors must personally check all rooms upon checkout.

Voting Delegates

Each chapter can register a minimum of two voting delegates according to the Bylaws. Voting delegates are identified by a specific ribbon. Only voting delegates with the appropriate ribbon will be allowed to vote. All registered voting delegates will vote for state officers using voting ballots during the designated hours found within the conference schedule.

Cell Phone and Smart Devices Policy

Competitors may not use cell phones or smart devices during WV FBLA competition unless the guidelines indicate they may be used as an electronic resource or presentation equipment. Competitors may use cell phones or smart devices to access electronic event guidelines used during the event orientation. The cell phone or smart device may not make any noise or vibrate during the event. Cell phones or smart devices may be used in holding rooms and on event buses if the use of the cell phone does not violate event confidentiality and ethical standards. Violation of any part of the cell phone policy will result in the assessment of penalty points.

Judge and event personnel’s cell phones and smart devices should be on vibrate or airplane mode during competitive events and may be used as a timer. Judge cell phones and pagers must be turned off during competitive events.

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FBLA members and advisers should develop an awareness of one’s appearance. The purpose of the dress code is to uphold the professional image of the association and its members and to prepare students for the business world.

During FBLA conferences, appropriate attire is required of all attendees and presenters.

Dress Code for Conferences & Competitive Events

Click Here to View the Full Dress Code Document

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Preparation and understanding are the keys to success in WV FBLA competitive events. Our goal is for every competitor, at all levels, to have a positive event experience, and we believe that happens when competitors understand what to expect and then prepare to the best of their ability.

Rules to Remember

At the West Virginia state level competitors may compete in TWO EVENTS (One Presentation & One Objective Test), except for the chapter and partner events. Individual and team participants in national competitions must have competed in the same event at the state level for which they are entered at the national level. National designated that any student who did not place in the Top Ten in during their membership can repeat that event at the State and National Level. Students who place in the Top 4 at the West Virginia State Leadership Conference will have the opportunity to continue to the National Competition in ONE COMPETITIVE EVENT. This competition must have taken place in the school year immediately preceding the FBLA National Leadership Conference.

Study the Guidelines

To be successful, you must follow the rules! Read your guidelines at least three (3) different times. At the National Leadership Conference, any of the skills in the guidelines can be part of the state/national event scenario.

BE SURE you have mastered EVERY SKILL in the guidelines. Guidelines are posted at www.fbla.org
Keep Track of Your Time Invest in a wristwatch, or a stopwatch, and keep track of your own event time. Many competitors complain about not seeing the timekeeper during their events or running out of time. We recommend you practice by keeping track of your own time.
Event Time All competitors must be at their competitive event at the designated time and place. The competitor’s failure to report to the competition area within five (5) minutes of the appointed time may result in disqualification from the event and inability to compete. For possible special circumstances, prior arrangements must be made by the State Advisor for West Virginia Future Business Leaders of America.

Equipment, Supplies

It is a bad experience for the competitors and the judges when a WV FBLA member arrives at an event without the necessary equipment. The guidelines list what the competitor needs to bring. WV FBLA will simulate the experience of the National Leadership Conference Competition to appropriately prepare members for the event. Students will not be provided with presentation software, projection screens, or devices for events, if a student needs to utilize presentation software it is the responsibility of the student and the school to bring the necessary equipment such as: computers, portable monitors, tablets, Bluetooth speakers, etc. It is the competitor’s responsibility to assure that the equipment they bring to the event and use is in good working order. Equipment failure (when the equipment is provided by the competitor) may result in an inability to judge all or part of an event that involves the use of equipment. This includes battery-operated laptops and other devices.

Tips for Success in WV SLC Competitive Events

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2024 State Leadership Conference Code of Conduct

WV FBLA members have an excellent reputation. Your conduct at every WV FBLA function should make a positive contribution to extending that reputation. Listed here are rules of conduct for WV FBLA state and national conferences.

Attendee Expectations

1. Behave in a courteous and respectful manner, refraining from language and actions that might bring discredit upon themselves, their school, other attendees, advisers, or FBLA.
2. Obey all local, state, and federal laws.
3. Avoid conduct not conducive to an educational conference. Such conduct includes, but is not limited to, actions disrupting the businesslike atmosphere, association with non-conference individuals, or activities that endanger self or others (running in the General Sessions, standing on chairs, etc.)
4. Keep their advisers informed of their activities and whereabouts at all times. Accidents, injuries, and illnesses must be reported to the local or state advisers immediately.
5. Observe the curfew of 11 p.m. Local and state advisers as well as security personnel will enforce curfews. Curfew is defined as being in your own assigned room by the designated hour.
6. Refrain from using or possessing alcoholic beverages and controlled or illegal substances at any time or under any circumstances.
7. Act as guests of the hotel and conference center. Attendees must obey the rules of these facilities. The facilities have the right to ask an attendee or attendees to leave. Do not throw anything out of windows or over balconies. Do not run. Noise should be kept at a reasonable volume, especially in the hotels. Remember there are other guests in the hotels who have rights as well. Trash (this includes pizza boxes, bottles, cans, etc.) must be placed in the proper receptacles and not left on guest room or meeting room floors. Individuals or chapters will be responsible for damage to any property or furnishings and their repair or replacement.

Local and state advisers are responsible for the supervision of attendee conduct.

Code of Conduct Violations

Should an attendee violate the Code of Conduct, the FBLA staff member on duty will meet with the attendee and/or state and local adviser/chaperone. Attendees could face the following consequences pending the outcome of the meeting:
1. Attendee is given a warning for behavior that violates the code of conduct and their adviser/chaperone is notified.
2. Attendee is remanded to the custody of their adviser/chaperone and banned from all conference activities and facilities. FBLA will require that the adviser/chaperone notify a student attendee’s parents/guardians.
3. If an attendee’s behavior or actions violate the law, FBLA will notify local security and authorities immediately.

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2024 FBLA Honor Code

The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Honor Code embodies principles of integrity, trust, respect, and responsibility essential for fostering excellence an ethical leadership in a community devoted to learning.

Every member, local adviser, and state leader must maintain and enforce these principles. To ensure a high standard across FBLA, every competitor registered in any competitive event must agree and certify to comply with the following guidelines:

· Compliance: Competitors are required to read and adhere to the FBLA Competitive Event Guidelines relevant to their event.

· Original Work: Competitors must ensure that all content submitted for FBLA competitive events is their own work or that of their team members. Proper citation of sources is mandatory.

· Use of Materials: Only materials explicitly allowed by FBLA Competitive Event Guidelines may be utilized.

· Independence: No external assistance beyond what is explicitly permitted in FBLA event instructions or guidelines is allowed.

· Cell Phones and Smart Watches: Cell phones and smart watches are prohibited in the objective testing area unless pre-approved accommodations require their use. Any visibility or report of these devices will be considered a violation of the Honor Code.

· Data Storage: Competitors are prohibited from saving any FBLA competitive event or test materials provided by the FBLA National Center or a state organization to any storage device or cloud storage.

· Originality: Competitive entries must be entirely original and not previously entered in FBLA national competition by the competitor or others. (It is the intent to preclude local chapters from rewriting the same event, and it is recognized that chapters may utilize the same or similar activities on an annual basis in some events. In this case, chapters may use these activities, ensuring that the project or portions of projects are not rewritten and therefore plagiarized.)

· Honest Participation: Competitors must engage in all FBLA competitive events with honesty and integrity.

In the event of an alleged Honor Code violation, the State Competitive Events Committee will investigate. If a violation is confirmed, penalty points, including disqualification, may be imposed at the discretion of the State Competitive Events Committee. Additionally, information regarding the violation may be forwarded to the appropriate school for future action regarding academic integrity.

By registering for the 2024 State Leadership Conference, participants acknowledge their understanding of the Honor Code and the consequences of violating it.

2024 - 2025 State Officer Candidates

Ava Bratton

WV FBLA State President Candidate
Ava Bratton is a Junior student athlete at Roane County High School enrolled in Honor Academics and plays on the football team as a running back and line backer, as well as being involved with our Softball team. Besides sports, she is heavily invested into her future. Ava plans on perusing college for architecture and civil engineering. She have been involved with FBLA sincere freshman year and has went to nationals 2 times and placed top 3 at states. With chapter experiences as a Vice President officer and Experience as your 2023-2024 state Vice President, Ava believes she is prepared to step up and take the lead. She plans to achieving many things to not only benefit, but also grow West Virginia’s Future Business Leaders of America by continuing to develop a state wide app and to expand West Virginia’s Middle Lever. Please feel free to get in touch with Ava Bratton if you have any question or suggestions through Instagram Direct Messages @ava.bratton or email @ajbratt1@stu.k12.wv.us !
Email: ajbratt1@stu.k12.wv.us
Lincoln Thorn

WV FBLA State Vice President Candidate
Lincoln Thorn is a FBLA member of four years, he served as the 2023-2024 WV State Parliamentarian and has also served as his local chapters Vice President. Over this time he has won first place in Hospitality & Event Management, Intro to Information Systems Technologies, and Parliamentary Procedure. In school Lincoln serves in student council as both the Treasurer and the Secretary for the class of 2025. Lincoln takes pride in attendance and has gained perfect attendance in both his Sophomore and Junior Years.
Brooke Patterson

WV FBLA State Secretary Candidate
My name is Brooke Patterson and I am serving as your West Virginia FBLA state Secretary for the 2024-25 year! I attend Greenbrier West High school in Greenbrier County. I have been active is FBLA since my sophomore year, and am currently my chapter president, along with a state officer. Outside of FBLA I am a member of the NSHSS, ASL, work at MSAA, work at Belt'z Pizza during the fair and am a member of my high school football cheer team, basketball cheer team, competition cheer team, Softball team, and my travel ball team the Titans, and Miss Raleigh County. I love to spend time with my friends and family, swim, wake board, tube, ski, and above all read. This past year I read 54 books but my goal for this year is to read 100. I plan to attend college to pursue business and hopefully play softball. My mission for FBLA is to have mine, your, and the whole state of WV voices heard. I want to put us on the map and be one of the fiercest FBLA programs out their. If you have any questions, want to chat, or just need to vent you can contact me through my Instagram, which is brooke_jayden73 or my email if brookejayden07@yahoo.com ! (Also make sure to check out my chapters TikTok page, greenbrierwestfbla)
Gavin Knotts

WV FBLA State Historian/Reporter Candidate
Gavin Knotts attends Philip Barbour High School. He has been in FBLA since his sophomore year but had his eyes on the organization his freshman year. He has three cats Wiley, Brittany, and E. Gavin has social anxiety but likes to challenge himself, and still loves to meet new people. His current future plans are to go to WVU through a dual major of Computer Engineering and Computer Science and become an entrepreneur starting up his own business. Gavin Knotts is happily adopted by his loving mother Carla Boylen, him being adopted gave birth to Philip Barbour High School’s community service project idea of, foster care awareness.
Makenzie Ross

WV FBLA State Historian/Reporter Candidate
Makenzie Ross is a junior at Buffalo High School. She is an active member in many sports and clubs. Which includes the BHS Volleyball Team, Track and Field Team, Pep Club, Link Crew, National Honor Society and of course FBLA. In her local FBLA chapter she is currently the secretary. She enjoys photography, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family. She hopes to pursue a career as a commercial airline pilot and make a positive impact on the world.
Savannah Wilkins

WV FBLA State Historian/Reporter
Savannah is currently a sophomore in high school and has been a member of FBLA since her Freshman year. She attended the fall State Leadership Conference and the fall National Leadership Conference this year and plans to do public speaking competitions this upcoming year.
Allison Neff

WV FBLA State Parliamentarian
Allison Neff, better known as Ali, is a three year FBLA member. She has served as her local chapter's reporter and president, and she has designed the WV FBLA pin two years in a row. Ali has at the competed at the 2021, 2022, and 2023 WV State Leadership conference, as well as at the 2023 National Leadership Conference.
Jaelyn Roberts

WV FBLA State Parliamentarian Candidate
Jaelyn Roberts is an Honor Student at Roane County High School in Spencer, WV. She has been a member of the National Junior Honor Society for 3 years carrying a 4.0 GPA. She has been a RCHS FBLA member for 1 year and served as Parliamentarian for the chapter. She also served on the Social and Fund-Raising Committees. She is a member of the RAZE Team at RCHS. This past year she served as the Roane County Raiders High School football team Manager. Other activities include Candy Striping at the local hospital, community service for various functions around the community, playing clarinet, reading, painting and spending time with her friends.

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Keynote Speaker

Adam Payne

Adam Payne (he/him) is a multimedia storyteller from Wheeling, WV who blends writing, visual narrative and performance in his work. Raised in the theatre, Adam quickly found his voice immersed in the arts. He attended West Virginia University and earned a Master of Science in Digital Marketing Communications, Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. Now as a creative professional, Adam continues art-focused work as he leads YNST (You’re Not Seeing Things) Magazine, a grassroots and mission-driven media outlet dedicated to amplifying the under sung creative voices of Appalachia's arts and culture.

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Conference Schedule

Thursday, March 7, 2023

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Registration & Check In

Registration Desk/Hotel Lobby

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Dinner Rotation Schedule

Cafeteria

5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Opening Session

Multipurpose Room

7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Fun Activities

Conference Center Areas

10:00 p.m.

Curfew

Hotel Room

Friday, March 8, 2023

7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Breakfast Rotation Schedule

Cafeteria

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Competitions & Expo Hall Open

Conference Meeting Rooms

11:00 a.m.

Check-out of Hotel Rooms

Luggage Storage - Liberty Conference Room

11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Workshops

Conference Meeting Rooms

12:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Lunch

Cafeteria & Conference Meeting Rooms

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

State Officer Candidate Screening

Classroom 17

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Delegate Voting

Classroom 16

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Evening Snack

Multipurpose Room

4:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Closing Awards Ceremony

Multipurpose Room

7:30 p.m.

Departure

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OPENING GENERAL SESSION

I. Call to Order

II. Parade of Chapters & Roll Call

III. Reading of the Minutes and Treasurer’s Report

IIV. FBLA Pledge & Creed

V. Emblem Ceremony

VI. Keynote Speaker

VII. Code of Conduct – FBLA Attire

VIII. Report of 2023-2024 WV FBLA Activities

IX. Advisors’ Recognition/Design Awards/Businessperson of the Year

X. Recognition Voting Delegates

XI. State Officer Candidate Speeches

XII. Conference Information

XIII. Recess for Competitions

Agenda

AWARDS CEREMONY

I. SLC Recap

II. Message from the Board of Directors

III. Pledge of Allegiance

IV. Chapter Awards

V. Presentation of Awards

VI. Fairwell of 2023-2024 WV FBLA State Officers

VI. Installation of 2024-2025 WV FBLA State Officers

VII. Announcements

VIII. Adjournment

Immediately following the awards ceremony, all 1st – 4th place winners and Advisers will meet with Mrs. Wamsley to receive the National Leadership Conference Information Packet.

Immediately following the awards ceremony and NLC discussion above, all new State Officers must meet with Mrs. Wamsley. Their first duty, with their advisor’s assistance, will be to help clean up and load the conference supplies at the end of the Conference.

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Workshops & Activities

Conference Center
7:30pm -9:30pm
Activities include:
Glow in the Dark Volleyball - Outside
Cornhole - Outside
Swimming Pool - Pool
Dance (Limited Space) - Classroom 18
Singo - Classroom 3/5
Hang out area -Lounge area
Students and attendees will learn timeless and infinitely valuable lessons in Value Propositions; Calculating Firm Profits and Durable Competitive Advantage
Welcome to the world of absurdity! In this workshop we will dive into the world of Silicon Valley with the most ridiculous startup ideas in a session of quick thinking, outrageous pitches, and lots of laughs.
How States and Nationals Compare
National Competition Level
Refining your state presentation for Nationals
Working with local Businesses & Industry as mentors to improve your event or knowledge base
Practice, Practice, Practice
Stage Presence and Presentation Skills
Put your art and writing skills towards a great cause and create cards for our military members.
Can you answer all the questions and win the prize? Join us with your team and be prepared to answer questions and wager your score for the prize!
In this workshop members will learn about the importance of Stage Presence, Presentation Skills, pitching your idea, and engaging your audience or judges.
Using various treats, teams are challenged to build a car that actually moves
Join Current State Officers and State Officer Candidates to learn about best practices and their journey going from an FBLA Member to a Chapter Officer and/or State Officer.
11:30-12:30 ONLY
Robert James will present the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Site details and information emphasizing a student-led/simulated workplace and community service project for FBLA members. This opportunity is a great resume builder and students will gain skills which will last a lifetime. Christy Dean and Tina Viakley will offer details of running a site. Additionally, a few students will be on-hand to answer questions.
March 8th 2:30pm -3:00pm in Classroom 16

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WV FBLA Market Place

At the Expo Hall the WV FBLA Market Place will be open for members and Advisers to purchase items. Below are examples of some of the avaliable items.

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Expo Hall Participants

Thank You Camp Dawson

THANK YOU!

It takes a major effort on the part of many people to make our annual State Leadership Conference a success.

On behalf of WV FBLA, sincere appreciation is extended to:

Camp Dawson for your assistance in planning the 2024 West Virginia Future Business Leaders of America State Leadership Conference.

» Vickie
Instructor, Division of Management

Chairpersons and Judges in all Competitive Events

School administrators and parents who support our efforts behind the scenes.

WVDE Staff Members for your time and efforts behind the scenes.

All chapter advisors, who give up hours upon hours of their own time and resources to make local, state and national WV FBLA activities available to their members.

All WV FBLA members for your wonderful enthusiasm!