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INNOVATIONS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIPCONFERENCE

NOVEMBER 20-22, 2015

#DECAPOWERTRIP

The anticipation that has built up as you’ve learned about the Ultimate DECA Power Trip and all Austin has to offer has been incredible! As three regions come together for one EPIC conference, there is no doubt this will be one of the most powerful conferences of the year.

When you arrived in Austin, Texas, you took a huge step towards your success. Austin is one of the fastest growing cities in both population and innovation. From South by Southwest (SXSW), a web startup music festival, to the University of Texas, and now the host of the Ultimate DECA Power Trip, Austin has earned its title as the #1 City to Watch. Whether you’re attending as a #DECAPowerTrip returner, association officer or first-year member, the Ultimate DECA Power Trip will leave a lasting impact as it ignites your leadership abilities.

As you spend your time in Austin, utilize all the opportunities available to you by networking with our conference speakers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and DECA members from around the globe. Stay engaged in the buzz that surrounds Austin and the Ultimate DECA Power Trip using #DECAPowerTrip on Twitter and Instagram.

Use every opportunity as a learning experience and take in all that Austin has to offer! You’ve made it to the Ultimate DECA Power Trip, so now it’s time to #beDECAepic and get powered-up!

WELCOME

GREETINGS FROM YOUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

On behalf of Texas DECA, welcome to The Ultimate DECA Power Trip in Austin, Texas!

Austin is a terrific environment to begin your EPIC DECA year, and with so many events and activities to enjoy, you’ll find yourself wishing this #DECAPowerTrip would never end!

Along with entertainment, there are many opportunities to network and make connections with our community of business professionals in several diverse fields who hail from all corners of the globe.

Austin is also home to one of the best business schools in the country: the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin! Several of you will have the opportunity to tour the campus and get a taste of college life, and some of you will even visit where the Longhorns play – the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium – during the eduTOURS!

After long days of learning, there is an abundance of ways to unwind. Lady Bird Lake near downtown Austin provides scenic views for all to see while engaging in water sports. South Congress offers an eclectic mix of shops, dining and food trucks. Also, the Barton Springs Pool provides therapeutic relaxation next to a real geothermal source. And of course, don’t forget to enjoy a true Texas tradition: Whataburger!

On behalf of Texas DECA, we hope you enjoy your stay in Austin, and we can’t wait to see how you’ll be EPIC here at The Ultimate DECA Power Trip!

WELCOME

GREETINGS FROM TEXAS DECA

TEXAS DECA ASSOCIATION OFFICER TEAMSara Stein, Shifan Daruwalla, Haley Milam, Dylan Amaro, Victoria Meng

Thank you to Sandra Hinesly, Texas DECA association advisor, and the Texas DECA association for hosting The Ultimate DECA Power Trip. We appreciate all of your hard work in recruiting speakers and competitive events judges and providing direction for the programming.

For a list of things do to in Austin, visit www.austintexas.org/deca.

8:30 AM - 4:00 PMCOMPETITIVE EVENTS EXPERIENCE■ Grand Ballroom 5 | See page 13.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21

10:00 AM - 6:00 PMREGISTRATION■ Lone Star Ballroom Foyer

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22

7:00 PM - 8:15 PMOPENING SESSION■ Grand Ballroom 5-8 | See page 11.

8:30 PM - 9:15 PM 9:30 PM - 10:15 PMLEADERSHIP LABS■ See pages 15 and 17.

11:30 PMCURFEW

7:00 AM - 4:30 PMCONFERENCEHEADQUARTERS■ 404

7:00 AM - 4:30 PM 7:30 PM - 9:30 PMSHOP DECA IMAGES■ 401

8:00 AM - 4:00 PMCOLLEGE, CAREER AND COMPANY EXHIBITS■ Grand Ballroom Foyer and Grand Ballroom 5

See pages 31 and 33.

8:30 AM - 11:30 AMLEARNING LABS■ See pages 19, 21 and 23.

11:30 AMLEADERSHIP LUNCHEONHonoring our chartered association officers and chartered association advisors. By invitation.

■ Lone Star Ballroom A

8:30 AM - 4:00 PMEDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING SERIES■ 408-409 | See page 35.

11:30 AM - 12:45 PMLUNCH ON YOUR OWN

4:30 PM - 8:00 PMEXPERIENCE AUSTIN

8:00 PM - 10:30 PMDECA AFTER DARK: BOOTS AND BLAZERS■ Grand Ballroom 5-8 | See page 37.

11:30 PMCURFEW

9:00 AM - 10:30 AMCLOSING SESSION■ Grand Ballroom 5-8 | See page 39.

12:30 PM - 9:00 PMSHOP DECA IMAGES■ 401

All events will be held at the JW Marriott Austin

unless otherwise noted.

1:00 PM - 4:00 PMLEARNING LABS■ See pages 25, 27 and 29.

1:00 PM - 4:30 PMEDUTOURS■ See page 43. Advance purchase required.

8:30 AM - 11:00 AMSHOP DECA IMAGES■ 401

7:00 PM - 8:15 PMOPENING SESSION■ GRAND BALLROOM 5-8

JOSH SHIPPJosh Shipp a.k.a. “The Teen Whisperer” is a former at-risk foster kid turned teen advocate. His TV series Teen Trouble (A&E, Lifetime) documented his work with teens in crisis. He is the author of The Teen’s Guide to World Domination and was listed on Inc. Magazine’s 30 under 30 list. He helps adults understand teens and teens understand themselves. He is a recognized teen expert for media outlets such as MTV, CNN, FOX, The New York Times, 20/20, and Good Morning America. He’s worked with groups of parents, educators, and mental health professionals plus has spoken to more than two million teens live. His ultimate goal is to help as many young people as possible. His online mentoring program for teens “A Year of Awesomeness” has a worldwide reach and his free newsletter offers exclusive strategies to parents, educators, and youth workers.

FRIDAY

@joshshipp

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 from these companies:

COMPETITIVE EVENTS EXPERIENCEBe the ultimate competitor in a DECA Individual Series role-play. At your assigned time, report to the Grand Ballroom 5 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.

SATURDAY8:30 AM – 4:00 PM • GRAND BALLROOM 5

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

LEARNING LABS

CLASSROOM CONNECTIONThis 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

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

HOW TO HAVE AN EPIC INTERVIEWCollaborate with fellow DECA members to prepare for what will be one of the most important moments of your life: your next interview!■ Pennsylvania DECA Association Officers

GRAND BALLROOM 1

8:30 PM FRIDAY

THE AVENGERS’ TEAMWORK SECRETHow are the Avengers such an amazing team? It takes more than superpowers to be an incredible team. Challenge your teamwork abilities and learn how to “click” with your teammates.■ Georgia DECA Association Officers

LONE STAR BALLROOM C

BE PROFESSIONAL. BE EPIC.You’ve witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly - but rarely the EPIC - when it comes to professionalism. Learn how easy it is to use filler words in nervous situations, how to dress appropriately, and how to look and sound like an EPIC professional. ■ Arkansas DECA Association Officers

402-403

OPERATION MOTIVATIONAre you excited for what the DECA year has in store for you? #DaretoDECA by attending this “on your feet” workshop that will enhance your public speaking and listening skills through interactive activities. ■ Massachusetts DECA Association Officers

GRAND BALLROOM 2

SOCIAL MEDIA BOOT CAMPWe live in a world dominated by technology and social media. Social networking sites are becoming a part of our everyday lives. Learn how to use social media to increase chapter involvement, market your chapter, and enhance your professionalism.■ Tennessee DECA Association Officers

GRAND BALLROOM 3

VEGAS, BABY: DON’T GAMBLE YOUR FUTURE!Embark on a journey to understand three important areas of your future: college, career and choices. In this enthusiastic and fun-filled environment, we will help you develop the skills needed to secure a successful future, without having to take a gamble!■ Nevada DECA Association Officers

GRAND BALLROOM 4

#BEDECASOCIALHow will you #beDECAsocial this year? Get introduced to a variety of social media tools to assist in recording and organizing your network capabilities. Different strategies and campaigns used to engage audiences and potential followers will also be provided. Finally, get several examples of social media posts that have taken negative impacts on the careers and educations of the users that posted them.■ Alec Romero, Executive President, DECA

301-302

LET’S EAT GRANDMA?An important part of becoming an experienced leader is effectively communicating under many different circumstances. Your communication skills will be put to the test as you compete in a number of different communication challenges. Sharpen your communication skills and become an EPIC communicator.■ Tyler McBee, Southern Region Vice President

GRAND BALLROOM 1

9:30 PM FRIDAY

“CHANGE” THE DECA EXPERIENCEThis is your chance to learn how to be EPIC by utilizing your skills in networking, leadership and teamwork to fundraise for success. Learn how to use creativity when fundraising to engage students, members, businesses, advisors and the community, and re-establish the meaning of what it takes to be DECA epic.■ California DECA Association Officers

DON’T WORRY. JUST BE EPICOverwhelmed by deadlines and your to-do list? Feel like the stress in your life is spinning out of control? If so, it’s time to take action. Master your stress before it masters you by learning how to cope with stress and reduce its harmful effects. Receive tips on managing your time, finding your “center,” and living a healthier, de-stressed life, as well as a simple technique that’s the equivalent of a “power nap.” ■ West Virginia DECA Association Officers

301-302

INTERNATIONAL CRISIS AND COLLABORATIONThis simulation of real-world political and economic relations will put your leadership skills to the ultimate test! As you assume the role of an assigned nation, you’ll navigate potential problems in a crisis-filled world. The outcome will be in your hands as you work to find a solution through diplomacy, trade and any other tools at your country’s disposal. ■ Texas DECA Association Officers

402-403

ON THE SPOTCan you handle the hot seat? Public speaking is the world’s greatest fear, but it’s even worse when you have limited time, no knowledge of the topic and unusual circumstances. Learn how to extinguish the fear of presentations through impromptu exercises that will help you excel in unexpected communication. ■ Marizza “Mitch” Mitchell, Western Region

Vice President

GRAND BALLROOM 2

PACK YOUR BAGS AND COME CAMPINGCome prepared to use your communication, strategy, problem-solving and teamwork skills to work through a series of obstacles. Who will come out the strongest team? ■ Virginia DECA Association Officers

GRAND BALLROOM 3

SHAPE UP YOUR NETWORKCIRCLES of influence, fair and SQUARE, DIAMONDS are a girl’s best friend. The coolest angle to approach leadership is the TRIANGLE. Learn the shapes of success through networking. Make friends, discover ideas and shape up for an epic DECA experience!■ Tara Nath, North Atlantic Region Vice President

GRAND BALLROOM 4

8:30 AM SATURDAY

COLLEGE & CAREER SUCCESSLearn 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

■Hult International Business School

■Relativity School

■University of Florida, Zimmerman Advertising Program

COLLEGE SUCCESS 101Discover 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 four years. ■ Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY

■ Keiser University

■ NC State University Poole College of Management

■ UW Seattle Foster School of Business

■ West Virginia University

402-403

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. ■ Isenberg School of Management, UMass Amherst

■ Rochester Institute of Technology, Saunders College of Business

■ Texas Tech University, College of Media & Communications

■ University of Texas at Dallas, Naveen Jindal School of Management

GRAND BALLROOM 3

COLLEGE TIMELINEThe process for applying to, being accepted to and preparing for college can be overwhelming. Gain insight on the college timeline so you are best prepared to apply for college, apply for scholarships or financial aid and begin your transition – without missing a deadline!■ Berkeley College

■ Grove City College

■ Johnson & Wales University

■ Mercy College

■ Wharton School of Business – University of Pennsylvania

GRAND BALLROOM 1

MAKING THE MOST OF COLLEGE

Discover the tools you need to choose the college or university that will best meet your needs, interests and abilities. ■ Cornell University School of Industrial and

Labor Relations

■ LIFE University

■ Schoold

■ Wesleyan College

GRAND BALLROOM 2

What was the best college-ready tip you learned today? Share it with @DECAInc and use #DECAPowerTrip.

FINDING THE RIGHT FIT

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. ■ Cornell University School of Hotel Administration

■ NextTier Education

■ William Peace University

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

GRAND BALLROOM 4

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE

9:30 AM SATURDAY

LESSONS LEARNED AND SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY IN YOUR CAREERMike Dunn will take you through lessons learned in seizing your aspirational career goals. From youth, during college and throughout his professional development, he’ll walk you through a purposeful journey to learn, grow and lead in life and in your career.■ Mike Dunn, Vice President of Global Assurance &

Transformation, Dell

GRAND BALLROOM 1

LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR…Learn how one State Farm insurance agent operates the many components of his franchise, including the importance of the entrepreneurial spirit, building customer relationships and marketing strategy. He will even discuss his experience filming a national State Farm commercial that put him alongside the iconic Coneheads. ■ Brent Allen, Agent, State Farm Insurance

GRAND BALLROOM 2

#TRUEAUSTINLearn what it takes to use digital marketing to increase travel and tourism in Austin. Using Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and even e-mail, Austin is telling its story as the #1 city to watch – and even using local bloggers to help answer visitor questions. ■ Katie Cook, Director of Digital Marketing, Austin

Convention & Visitors Bureau

GRAND BALLROOM 3

CULTURE SHOCKShould I “Whip” or should I “Nae Nae?” Explore when and how to share your cultural and generational perspective in the workplace. Learn how to identify a company culture and decide if that culture coincides with your interests and values.■ Daleen Byrd, Training and Development Manager

Stein Mart, Inc.

■ Stefanie Ellis, Training and Development Manager Stein Mart, Inc.

■ Jennifer Wellington, Director of Employment and Organizational Development, Stein Mart, Inc.

Did you discover your dream job today? Tell @DECAInc which presenter inspired your professional goals during #DECAPowerTrip.

CURRENT BUSINESS TRENDS IMPACTING CAREERSRapidly 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 give you 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. ■ Kirsten Bond, FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design

& Merchandising

402-403

WHY THE WORLD NEEDS PR PROS Jaren Anderson, account supervisor at Edelman (the world’s largest public relations firm), will discuss his career in marketing communications, including the types of clients he has worked with, interesting projects and campaigns and challenges along the way. He will also discuss the growing importance of PR and marketing communications for today’s businesses, regardless of industry. Jaren will then take you through what the varying career path may look like for a job in this sector.■ Jaren Anderson, Account Supervisor, Edelman

GRAND BALLROOM 4

10:30 AM SATURDAY

CORNER: FLAVORS OF TEXASUnique dining experiences are all the rage. Learn from a veteran restaurant manager what it took to design a restaurant concept and open its doors using the Corner Restaurant as a case study. Also, learn about the Burger Bar concept paying homage to the legendary food trucks of Austin.■ Brian Jaymont, General Manager, Corner Restaurant

at the JW Marriott Austin

GRAND BALLROOM 1

DISCOVER THE POWER OF HOSPITALITYMarriott is committed to helping its guests travel brilliantly, which reflects the lifestyle of the next generation of travelers, who seamlessly blend work and play in a mobile and global world. Learn how Marriott has developed a culture that puts people first, and discover the many career opportunities in the hospitality industry. ■ Scott Blalock, General Manager, JW Marriott Austin

GRAND BALLROOM 2

THE GIFT OF GIVINGCorporate philanthropy and community relations are essential pillars of success for any business. Learn how to create brand awareness, build customer and employee loyalty and reach key influencers through experiential events. You’ll discover important strategies to create meaningful, long-term partnerships, hear how to maximize your fundraising capabilities through creative event elements and get the unique opportunity to see first-hand an event coordinator’s best practices for making events shine in a competitive space.■ Cassie LaMere, Event Marketing Director, Lexus of

Austin & Lakeway

GRAND BALLROOM 3

AMERICA’S HEALTHIEST GROCERY STORE™What started as one small store in 1980 in Austin, Texas, has now developed in to the world’s leader in natural and organic foods with 431 stores. Learn current trends, challenges and product service innovations within Whole Foods Market, as well as career opportunities within the grocery industry.■ Wade Taylor, Store Team Leader, Whole Foods

Market-Domain

■ Amara Lopez, Marketing Team Leader, Whole Foods Market-Domain

CAREERS IN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENTLearn about a dynamic industry where you can engage your entrepreneurial spirit and marketing talent in a career that makes a difference in people’s lives every day. You’ll hear from a panel of professionals who will share their experiences and journey along their path to success. ■ Sarah Levine, Director of Workforce Development

NAA Education Institute

402-403

Let’s see a #DECAPowerTrip selfie with your favorite presenter of the day.

LIFE AFTER DECA: 10 YEARS AFTER SERVING AS NATIONAL PRESIDENTBob Redd will share his college and career journey after serving as the 2004-2005 National DECA President. Since graduating from Ohio University, Bob has worked for Dell for the last six years, including 13 months in Shanghai, China. He will share his tips for success on how you can maximize your full potential. ■ Bob Redd, Consultant, Dell

GRAND BALLROOM 4

1:00 PM SATURDAY

MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE WORLDGet 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 Cadwallader, Impact Tour Director

LIFE University

GRAND BALLROOM 1

#STARTUPLIFELearn about the experience of launching a new technology, being part of a team that has quadrupled in size in a year, managing growth and witnessing a company culture come to life!■ Bradford Stein, NextTier Education

GRAND BALLROOM 2

THE BRAND OF “YOU”It’s a golden age for young entrepreneurs with the advent of social media and digital platforms. Never before has it been easier to put forth an idea and attract support. Making the most of this timely opportunity starts with establishing credibility and instilling professional confidence in those around you. Creating the brand of “you” starts now.■ Glenn Kalison, Relativity School

GRAND BALLROOM 3

DEVELOPING YOUR MOST IMPORTANT ASSET: YOU!What do your teachers and peers recognize about you? Are you trustworthy? What are your values? Learn how to build your personal brand with practical knowledge to help grow your positive reputation, leadership style and brand image.■ Beth Pann, The National Society of

High School Scholars

FAILING FAST TO FIND SUCCESSSometimes you have to experience personal hardships and triumphs to learn valuable lessons and find success. Learn key entrepreneur frameworks like lean startup, business model canvas and design thinking and then engage in a hands-on ideation exercise.■ Joshua Caleb Collins, Catapult Ideas

402-403

Let’s see a #DECAPowerTrip selfie with your favorite presenter of the day.

UNREAL CAMPAIGNFrom 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 and smart purchasing decisions to help make a difference.■ Laura Heery, Unreal Campaign/International

Trademark Association

GRAND BALLROOM 4

2:00 PM SATURDAY

GOT A REPUTATION FOR YOURSELF NOW You may not think you can have much of an impact on your chapter’s social media presence, but the truth is just one member at a time can help your chapter create an EPIC reputation online. Discover how a few likes, RT’s and favorites can help your chapter increase membership, find new sponsors and open the doors to incredible opportunities. ■ Janelle Scudder, Communications Manager

DECA Inc.

GRAND BALLROOM 3

DECA BEYOND HIGH SCHOOLYour high school DECA experience may soon be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean you can’t continue your involvement in DECA! Learn about immediate opportunities to participate in Collegiate DECA, as well as other ways to stay connected like becoming a DECA advisor or alumni member.■ Johnnie Hubbard III, Chapter Advisor, Florida DECA

■ Holly Norris, Texas Collegiate DECA

■ Nicole Willis, Vice President, Texas Collegiate DECA

DECA LEADERSHIP STYLESTake 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.■ Marizza “Mitch” Mitchell, Western Region Vice

President, DECA

■ Alec Romero, Executive President, DECA

GRAND BALLROOM 1

DECA DIAMOND FUNDRAISING MODELJust like businesses have financial growth plans, DECA chapters also need to create financial plans that support forecasted expenses, identify possible revenue sources, and diversifies access to financial resources. The module helps DECA chapter leaders develop a diversified fundraising model to support the chapter’s annual activities. ■ Ginger Hill, Chartered Association Advisor

South Carolina DECA

402-403

Tweet a photo of your favorite chapter workshop from today and why it was so helpful. Remember to use #DECAPowerTrip!

EPIC DECA CHAPTERSLearn skills, tips, ideas, and methods that you can take back to your school and implement immediately to make your DECA chapter EPIC! Concepts like leadership, motivation and organization, as well as activities including community service, fundraising and competition, will be covered.■ New Hampshire DECA Association Officers

GRAND BALLROOM 2

I AM DECA: CREATE YOUR UNIQUE STORYLearn 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 career 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 an epic response!■ Tyler McBee, Southern Region Vice President, DECA

■ Tara Nath, North Atlantic Region Vice President, DECA

GRAND BALLROOM 4

3:00 PM SATURDAY

HOW TO DRESS FOR SUCCESSWhen 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. ■ Matthew Sadler, Business Outreach Coordinator

Men’s Wearhouse

GRAND BALLROOM 1

FROM THE JUDGES’ PERSPECTIVEEver wonder, “What is the judge looking for in a presentation?” Hear from business professionals that have judged at multiple DECA competitions and discover their expectations of what DECA members should do while presenting written events or participating in role-play events. Learn from the pros so you are in a better position to shine during your next DECA presentation.■ Jeffrey Victor, Chartered Association Advisor

New Jersey DECA

402-403

LEAN ENTREPRENEURSHIPParticipating in DECA’s new entrepreneurship competitive events that focus on the lean business model canvas? This session will give you the background on the methodology so that you are well equipped to make one epic entrepreneurship project.■ Joshua Caleb Collins, Catapult Ideas

GRAND BALLROOM 2

PRESENTING AND INFLUENCING SKILLSLearn the non-negotiables in how to present a positive, professional image. Be familiar with various presentation styles of delivery and determine which methods to use for specific audiences and situations. Gain insight into valuable tips that every successful presenter knows. Practice techniques for engaging your audience, asking effective questions and conveying your message in a concise, meaningful way.■ Melanie Bolke, American Management Association

GRAND BALLROOM 3

Are you ready to take the stage in the next DECA competition now? Let DECA know and tweet us your competition goals for this year!

ROCK THE ROLE PLAYIn this cutting edge, 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 of the most coveted competitive events strategies used by DECA champions that consistently make the stage.■ Curtis Haley, Chartered Association Advisor

Nevada DECA

GRAND BALLROOM 4

REER EX

SATURDAY8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Grand Ballroom Foyer and Grand

Ballroom 5www.amanet.org/oe www.artinstitute.edu www.aspirebeverages.com

amcm-online.com www.berkeleycollege.edu buildingbridgestowealth.org

www.uhd.edu www.uta.edu/business www.collegiatedeca.org

www.cornell.edu www.shopdeca.org www.fitnyc.edu

www.fidm.edu www.gcc.edu www.hult.edu

www.isenberg.umass.edu www.jwu.edu www.keiseruniversity.edu

www.life.edu www.menswearhouse.com www.mercy.edu/business

www.rpmcareers.org www.ngl.cengage.com www.nshss.org

jindal.utdallas.edu www.poole.ncsu.edu www.nexttier.com

www.ocm.com www.relativityschool.org www.saunders.rit.edu

www.schoold.co www.summerdiscovery.com www.hs.ttu.edu

www.mcom.ttu.edu www.usf.edu/zap www.unrealcampaign.com

www.vectormarketing.com www.wpcarey.asu.edu careers.walgreens.com

www.wesleyancollege.edu www.be.wvu.edu www.peace.edu COLL

REER EX

SATURDAY8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Grand Ballroom Foyer and Grand

Ballroom 5

8:30 AM

LET’S TALK ABOUT DECADo you need help getting more support for DECA learning activities? Learn how to communicate with stakeholders about how DECA’s Comprehensive Learning Program aligns with education initiatives and enriches the student learning environment. ■ Michelle Walker, Ph.D.

Director of Education, DECA Inc.

408-409

10:30 AM

COMPETITIVE EVENTS SUPER PREPARATION SYSTEM Looking for tools to formulate your chapter’s plan? If so, this workshop is for you. Learn how to lay the groundwork to create a customized system to help your chapter members adequately prepare for DECA’s competitive events.■ Jeffrey Victor, Chartered Association Advisor,

New Jersey DECA

408-409

9:30 AM

DECA CHAPTER STRATEGYThe key job of the DECA executive leader is bringing together people, ideas and resources to achieve results for stakeholders. Leave this session with an understanding of the core elements and tools of a successful DECA chapter strategy.■ Sarah Williams, Assistant High School Division

Director, DECA Inc. Certified Trainer

408-409

3:00 PM

DIAMOND FUNDRAISING MODELJust like businesses have financial growth plans, DECA chapters should create financial plans to support forecasted expenses, identify possible revenue sources, and diversify access to financial resources. Find out how to develop a diversified fundraising model to support the chapter’s annual activities. ■ Shannon Aaron, Georgia DECA Certified Trainer.

408-409

1:00 PM

DECA GOES LEAN IN ENTREPRENEURSHIPDECA’s Entrepreneurship Competitive Events are undergoing a major transformation. Get a better understanding of the lean startup business model and canvas, outlines of the entrepreneurship competitive events and begin planning how to integrate the entrepreneurship events into your program of study and courses.■ Lynore Levenhagen, Florida DECA Certified Trainer

■ Bob Hosier, Florida DECA Certified Trainer

408-409

SATURDAY

2:00 PM

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR COMPETITIVE EVENTS SUCCESSLearn strategies, tools, techniques, and tips to help your members set and achieve epic goals in DECA competition. Whether you want to help your members concentrate on techniques to improve their skills in comprehensive exams, role plays, or written projects, this powerful training program will instill the value of learning through competitive events and help you help your members get closer to their competition goals and potential! ■ Curtis Haley, Nevada DECA, Certified Trainer

408-409

8:00 PM - 10:30 PM■ GRAND BALLROOM

SATURDAY

BOOTS AND BLAZERSExperience Austin like a true Texan! Start the evening by learning the Texas Two Step with the help of high energy line dance instructors. Then take a break to visit our food truck stations with bite sized foods inspired by some of Austin’s most famous food trucks. End the evening with the sounds of Lauren Alaina as she performs in the Live Music Capital of the World exclusively for DECA members. Lauren is one of the hottest young rising stars in country music having made it as a finalist on the tenth season of Idol, where she sang alongside Carrie Underwood. Some of her top songs include “Georgia Peaches,” “Barefoot and Buckwild” and her latest songs, “Next Boyfriend” and “History.”

We invite you to dress for the occasion with your favorite Texas themed attire – although boots and blazers are not required!

@Lauren_Alaina

FILL THE BOOTS FOR MDA Bring your change and cash to help fill the cowboy boots. Proceeds will be donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, DECA’s chosen charity for over 30 years.

9:00 AM - 10:30 AMCLOSING SESSION■ GRAND BALLROOM 5-8

SUNDAY

JOHNNY EARLEWhy have thousands of customers from around the world chosen to get the Johnny Cupcakes’ logos tattooed on themselves? And how does Johnny get hundreds of people to camp outside his fake bakeries? Over the past decade Johnny Cupcakes, founded by speaker Johnny Earle, has grown from a “joke” to a multi-million dollar, highly exclusive t-shirt brand driven by a community of world-wide collectors. Johnny shares his story of how he took his t-shirt brand from the trunk of his rusty car at age 19 to a multi-million dollar business. Johnny will piece together how his success reinforces the power of details, experience and loyalty. Through his engaging, and certainly unpredictable journey, Johnny exudes the fundamental connection between the person and the brand. Johnny’s presentation provides blueprints for getting any small business, passion or idea off the ground, while also expanding the way existing creators think.

@JohnnyCupcakes

JW MARRIOTT4TH FLOOR

HOTEL MAP

The Lone Star Ballroom and the 300-level meeting rooms are on the 3rd Floor.

CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICASShuttle and walking tours feature stops at COTA’s most iconic and fascinating features, including the 25-story Observation Tower, COTA’s 3.4-mile racetrack, and the legendary uphill Turn 1, a 133-foot rise to the top with sweeping views of the Circuit and the Central Texas landscape. See the Austin360 Amphitheater, where some of the world’s biggest touring acts have performed, and the Pit and Paddock Building, where teams prepare to race and celebrities and VIPs mingle.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS LONGHORNS STADIUMTake a step behind the scenes of Texas football with a tour the historic Daryll K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. You’ll experience beautiful views of the campus and downtown Austin from the mezzanine level of the stadium. For those sports marketing enthusiasts, see what’s its like inside the Longhorns’ gameday press box, and then walk through the storied tunnel onto Joe Jamail Field, just like a Texas Football player on gameday.

AUSTIN EATS They don’t call Austin the “Food Truck Capital of the World” for nothing! Get a personal look at the pop-culture sensation that is food trucks from the experts themselves! This tour includes one BBQ stop, two food truck stops, as well as dessert, sodas and waters. Conversations will focus on the marketing and entrepreneurial aspects of running and operating a food truck, as well as the Austin food scene.

AUSTIN CITY LIMITS LIVEThe home of the Austin City Limits television show, the longest running music series in American television history. The Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater is a state-of-the-art, 2,700-person capacity live music venue, where no seat is more than 75 feet away from the stage. The Keller Pfluger Gallery features the photography of longtime Austin City Limits’ staff photographer, Scott Newton. Discover the ins and outs of maintaining an iconic entertainment venue and the marketing mindset behind this historic landmark.

EDUTOURS

Austin is home to a variety of sports and entertainment venues and entrepreneurial ventures that make it unique. DECA’s eduTOURs enhance the learning of marketing, finance, hospitality, management and entrepreneurship while experiencing the local culture. If you purchased eduTOURs, be sure to pick them up the tickets and instructions during registration prior to Noon on Friday.

Leadership Luncheon and Competitive Events Experience

THANKS

Lanyards Advisor bags

Network, grow and learn with other dedicated high school DECA leaders.

JULY 8-10, 2016SAN FRANCISCO

DECA.ORG/ELS

#DECAELS

Enhance and improve the skills needed to be an association officer that makes and impact.

Learn the ins and outs of being an effective and successful chapter officer.

W W W . S H O P D E C A . O R G

SEE IT WANT IT GET IT

Conference Pen and Ultimate DECA Member gift

WWW.DECA.ORG/POWER

CONTINUE YOUR POWER TRIPNOVEMBER 18-20, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C.

2019BALTIMORE

2018PHILADELPHIA

NOVEMBER 20-22, 2015

#DECAIEC

It’s finally time to put down the books and to spark every inch of creativity, vision and innovation at DECA’s Innovations and Entrepreneurship Conference powered by 3 Day Startup. Local to Austin, 3 Day Startup’s mission is to kickstart new student-run companies and build entrepreneurial capabilities in students and their communities. More than 90 companies have been launched by 3DS alumni.

Your investment to attend the Innovations and Entrepreneurship Conference will soon payoff as you dive deep into all of the conference’s exciting and dynamic activities. You will learn how to become the world’s next innovative entrepreneur.

This weekend is your opportunity to connect with other DECA members who also share in the dream to one day become a successful, innovative entrepreneur. Network with as many conference attendees as possible throughout the weekend! Stay engaged by using #DECAIEC on Twitter and Instagram to share your own experiences .

As a leader of the emerging innovators and entrepreneurs, you can decide what you want to create and where you wish to see the world in the decades to come. Dare to dream big. Dare to think different. Dare to #beDECAepic at this year’s #DECAIEC.

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

WELCOME

GREETINGS

CLASSROOM CONNECTIONThis 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:

• 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

Entrepreneurship standards from the National

Curriculum Standards for Business Administration,

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21

10:00 AM - 6:00 PMREGISTRATION■ 404

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22

7:00 PM - 8:15 PMOPENING SESSION■ Grand Ballroom 5-8 | See page 11.

8:30 PM - 10:15 PMINTRODUCTION TO LEAN STARTUP■ Lone Star Ballroom D

11:30 PMCURFEW

7:00 AM - 4:30 PMCONFERENCEHEADQUARTERS■ 404

7:00 AM - 4:30 PM 7:30 PM - 9:30 PMSHOP DECA IMAGES■ 401

8:00 AM - 4:00 PMCOLLEGE, CAREER AND COMPANY EXHIBITS■ Grand Ballroom Foyer and Grand Ballroom 5

See pages 31 and 33.

8:30 AM - 4:00 PMEDUCATOR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING SERIES■ 408-409 | See page 35.

11:30 AM - 12:45 PMLUNCH ON YOUR OWN

4:30 PM - 8:30 PMEXPERIENCE AUSTIN

8:30 PMDECA AFTER DARK: BOOTS AND BLAZERS■ Grand Ballroom 5-8 | See page 37.

11:30 PMCURFEW

9:00 AM - 10:30 AMCLOSING SESSION■ Grand Ballroom 5-8 | See page 39.

12:30 PM - 9:00 PMSHOP DECA IMAGES■ 401

All events will be held at the JW Marriott Austin

unless otherwise noted.

1:00 PM - 4:00 PMPITCH CREATION, DELIVERY AND FEEDBACK■ Lone Star Ballroom D

1:00 PM - 4:30 PMEDUTOURS■ See page 43. Advance purchase required.

8:30 AM - 11:00 AMSHOP DECA IMAGES■ 401

8:30 AM - 11:30 AMTEAM BUILDING, RAPID PROTOTYPING AND IDEATION■ Lone Star Ballroom D

CAM HOUSERCam Houser has transformed students into entrepreneurs on both sides of the Atlantic. Invigorated by the challenges facing entrepreneurship education, Cam runs 3 Day Startup programs in the U.S. and abroad. Before receiving his MBA from the University of Texas McCombs School of Business, he held Director and Project Manager positions at Amplifier, a startup providing e-commerce and fulfillment services to clients such as the Lance Armstrong Foundation, The Onion, and Despair, Inc. During his summers, Cam is a professor of Entrepreneurship at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas. He holds a BA from Davidson College.

Q BECKQ Beck is currently the Founder & President of Foundation for Consumer Protection and co-founder & CEO of Famigo. He started Famigo, a mobile platform for kid education and safety, during the second semester of his MBA and has been an entrepreneur ever since. Prior to business school, he spent nine years in the film industry as a development and production executive for numerous companies, including Nickelodeon and DreamWorks. He earned a BA from Columbia University and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.

HASS JOHNSONHass Johnson leads a team in Mid-Market sales at Bigcommerce Enterprise, the fastest growing eCommerce enterprise SaaS platform in the world. After completing his MBA at the University of Texas at Austin in 2010, he founded and ran a mobile platform as a service called ThaTrunk. After three years seeking a product-market fit with this solution, he joined Bigcommerce to get his second MBA in creating and scaling SaaS sales teams. Hass has helped start two strategic sales teams at Bigcommerce, and both have profoundly changed the trajectory of the company.

NARUBY SCHLENKER Naruby Schlenker is a co-founder of Ordoro, a web app that helps small- and medium- sized e- commerce retailers manage their orders, inventory, and supply chain. Founded in 2010, Ordoro streamlines everything that happens after a shopper checks out on an online retailer’s website, including inventory management, drop shipping, supplier integration, and the creation and printing of packing lists and shipping labels. Before moving to Austin for her MBA at UT's McCombs School of Business, Naruby worked for Eli Lilly and Co., rotating through several finance-related positions, including an assignment in her native Venezuela where she discovered her strengths in sales and marketing. While at McCombs, Naruby immersed herself in all things entrepreneurship including being the President of the Entrepreneur Society, competing in TVL business plan competition, 3 Day Startup, and the ATI SEAL program.

ALEXIS TAYLOR Alexis Taylor is a program manager at 3 Day Startup where she guides organizing teams through the program creation process and helps foster entrepreneurial communities through leadership development. Alexis is also responsible for new program generation, leading the organization’s program assessment initiative and building cross-university ecosystem knowledge through the 3DS Academic Council. Before joining 3 Day Startup, Alexis was the former Lead Organizer of 3 Day Startup Creighton, a locally run 3DS program where she was instrumental in launching the first program in the Midwest. She has also worked in the nonprofit sector for four years, in venture capital advising and vetting startups, and with an international startup called Appconomy.

10 Myths in Student EntrepreneurshipBy Maia Donohue

3 Day Startup has worked with tens of thousands of student entrepreneurs over the years. We have seen many myths over the years. Here are a few favorites.

Startup Myth 1: People will steal your idea for a startup Our first idea for a startup is like our first child. In our certainty that it can change the world we are blind to its weaknesses. This lack of objectivity sometimes causes young entrepreneurs to over-inflate the significance of an idea.

Believing that the idea itself has tremendous value will almost certainly lead us to be secretive (the world is full of mentors and professors who still tell students to “keep quiet and make people sign non-disclosure agreements,” advice my grad school advisor gave me only a few years back).

We know the idea myth is real because we routinely receive emails from students asking how they can maintain their secrecy in an open, collaborative environment. The trouble with the idea myth is that it downplays the level of hard work required to launch a company. While having a great idea for a startup is important, it matters little in comparison with the ability to develop and execute a sophisticated business model.

Moreover, your idea will change. When I spoke with Bart Bohn (Tech Stars alumni and current Director of Wireless at Austin Technology Incubator) about the most important factor in applying to an accelerator, he answered almost before I finished the question. “Team,” he said. Your idea can and will change. A great founding team will weather those changes. A poor team will rigidly cling to their original idea, which will weigh them down into obscurity.

Startup Myth 2: Investors hear a great idea and whip out their checkbooks Securing investors is an excursion that, according to Vijay Thakkar, the founder of Jolly Company, “will take up 80% of your time as an entrepreneur.” In other words, landing investors is no casual undertaking. Consider this: for all intents and purposes, your investors will be your employers. They want to know you and your startup are a winning bet. Expect them to fill a dossier on every salient detail on you and your company.

Young entrepreneurs will be tempted to snatch the first check they see, no questions asked. This is almost always a mistake that can precipitate a rocky partnership.

Serious investors will expect entrepreneurs to throw countless hours into learning everything they can about the person who wants to make their dreams a reality. You need to know your investor. Who have they invested in? What is their relationship with previous companies in which they have invested? Do they share your values? Will they give the right amount of time and attention to make you succeed?

“I needed his permission to die” was how one serial entrepreneur once reflected on the overbearing nature of his first investor. Know your investor.

Startup Myth 3: People read business plans Business plans are slowing meandering down the MySpace path to irrelevance (some would argue they arrived long ago). We see a trend in schools decreasing their emphasis on business plan competitions for short-form intensives such as 3DS, as well as pitch competitions.

The trouble with business plans is that you are attempting to predict the future, rather than taking iterative snapshots of the present, learning from them, adjusting and evolving quickly.

Unless a serious investor requests it, any student considering writing a business plan would be better served to spend those 50+ hours on an application to TechStars or Capital Factory Accelerator.

Startup Myth 4: You’re not an entrepreneur unless you’re “taking over the world” and “disrupting” industries Venture capitalists aren’t looking to make a tidy return on their investments. They want to take down giants. To that end, the language of venture capitalists is ubiquitous in the startup world.

Aspiring entrepreneurs often end up mimicking VCs by dropping comments about “taking over the world…” or “disrupting the peppermint yo-yo industry by…”

No one should ever fault themselves for being ambitious. But is it possible that student entrepreneurs are setting themselves up for failure? Is anything short of becoming the next Steve Jobs a disappointment? Is there any fault in a startup that simply makes enough for its founders to live comfortably?

Startup Myth 5: Brilliant young coders will build your app just for experience Coders are not hurting for work. If you are a non-technical entrepreneur seeking a talented coder, the supply is thin. So how do you land a coder? First off, they won’t work for equity, and they don’t need to fill out a portfolio. If you want to work with a developer you either make them an equal co-founder or you pay a good wage.

The best way to find a coder is to learn to code yourself. Dive into CodeAcademy. Learn HTML, CSS, javascript and ruby. Once you get a foundation, you can start attending developer meetup groups and building relationships. Knowing some coding also helps communicate realistic expectations. You’ll get a better sense of what developers can accomplish and how long it takes.

Startup Myth 6: All startups are tech related Remember “there’s an app for that”? That was so five years ago. It was only a few years ago that apps could do everything from identifying constellations to finding a friend with whom to share a plate of fish sticks and tartar sauce (somebody needs to develop a “fish stick finder” app).

Yes, when we hear stories of startups that blow up overnight, they are usually tech. This does not mean that a startup must be tech-related. At 3DS, we see an increase in non-tech startup ideas. Sure, these concepts might not achieve the mind-numbing climb of Slack and Instagram, but they are plenty feasible.

Startup Myth 7: People care about your startup It’s natural to see ourselves as the center of our stories, as though we are peddling through the early days of our autobiographies. Thinking like this can put us at risk of not objectively approaching the problem our startup solves. As Ash Maurya states in running lean, “customers don’t care about your startup, they care about their problems.” Well said.

Startup Myth 8: Your startup needs to be something no one has ever thought of before. This misconception is bound up with the idea myth. We are only human, and we want to see ourselves as clever. We want to believe that we came up with a concept of truly original genius.

If you look at most great breakthroughs, however, they were neither unique nor original. From the lightbulb to YouTube, the success of most great ideas was iterative, based on analogy, and not terribly unique. That’s OK. Your startup doesn’t need to be unique; it just needs to solve a problem.

Startup Myth 9: Customers care about clever features. We have observed time and again that startups do well when they reduce complexity. Features add complexity. Complexity adds weight. Features require more thinking and input from your users. Every second that requires a customer to think and add input increases your likelihood of losing that customer forever.

As an entrepreneur, your job is to solve your customer’s problem as elegantly as possible. Features seldom solve problems.

Startup Myth 10: If people aren’t interested in your startup, it means you’re a visionary.Some take rejection harder than others. It’s tempting to explain away criticism and apathy as coming from laggards that don’t know what they want.

Disinterest from potential users can be tricky terrain to navigate. We at 3DS encourage students to talk to countless customers to better understand needs, problems, and pains. An inability to find interested customers may mean that your startup doesn’t have wheels. It could also mean that people you are talking to are not your customers. But before dismissing dissenters as fossils who don’t know what they want, be sure that someone out there does.

Cross-Pollination: the Value of Interdisciplinary Frictionby Cam Houser

In 1999, Steve Jobs overhauled the headquarters of Pixar – arguably one of the most creative and imaginative companies in the world. The innovations that came out of the Pixar shop stemmed from Jobs’ emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration. In planning the Pixar office, Jobs deliberately arranged the meeting rooms, bathroom, mailboxes, and cafeteria in the central atrium – forcing writers, engineers, and artists to intermingle. The brainstorming that came from these spontaneous, diverse run-ins led to ideas that grew into blockbuster hits like Toy Story, The Incredibles, and more. The New Yorker quoted Brad Bird – director of The Incredibles and Ratatouille – on Jobs’ role in encouraging collaboration. According to Bird, Steve Jobs “made it impossible for you not to run into the rest of the company.” [1]

At 3 Day Startup, we call this synergistic phenomenon cross-pollination, or collaboration with diversity in mind. Cross-pollination sparks creativity, serendipity, and interdisciplinary friction – essential ingredients of successful student startups.

With this insight in mind, 3DS purposefully embeds cross-pollination into our learning laboratory. Furthermore, by controlling for variables such as competition, diversity, and community feedback, we provide university students with the optimal environment for entrepreneurial learning.

Here’s our recipe for success. 3DS promotes cross-pollination by fostering a non-competitive learning environment. 3 Day Startup is unique compared to other university entrepreneurial programs in that its not a competition. Rather, 3DS is a living laboratory for entrepreneurial experimentation. While programs such as case competitions are great at introducing university students to entrepreneurial problem-solving, 3DS is different by design.

By design, the program intentionally removes barriers that inhibit teams from supporting one another. Therefore, there are no “winners” at a 3DS program. This lack of cut-throat competition encourages individuals to be more generous with their resources – allowing for the cross-pollination of ideas, skills, social networks, etc.

(This isn’t to say that a 3DS program is without competition – teams must compete against the mercilessly short time frame.)

While some believe that cut-throat competition is the optimal environment for innovation, we disagree with this notion of a zero sum game. In economics and game theory, a zero-sum game is a situation in which one person’s gain is another person’s loss. At the end of the “game”, the net change in benefit (or wealth creation) is zero for all parties involved.

We’ve discovered that an environment of non-competition drastically enhances cross-pollination. In fact, the idea of an interdependent community, as opposed

to a group of fragmented competitors, is the hallmark of successful entrepreneurial ecosystems. Austin’s own Capital Factory is a great example of this. Through its investment of human and financial capital, physical coworking space, partnerships with the city, and centralized location for community events, Capital Factory fosters a thriving community for entrepreneurs. Capital Factory operates with the big-picture understanding that nurturing entrepreneurial activities and “passing it forward” helps the city at large. By investing in entrepreneurship, local economies benefits from “rapid job creation, GDP growth, and long-term productivity increases”. [2]

During a 3DS program, the emphasis on collaboration, not competition, dramatically affects how participants interact amongst themselves. Because student teams compete against the clock and not each other, we’ve seen collaboration that would never have occurred in a different setting. We’ve seen participants check each other’s code, contribute valuable ideas and feedback, serve as a “floating” designer for multiple teams, teach one another technical skills, and connect teams with experts from their own personal or professional networks – all in the span of three days.

3DS promotes cross-pollination through “staged” serendipity. “Staged” serendipity is the purposeful creation of an environment with artificially high talent and interpersonal diversity.

Similar to what Steve Jobs spurred at Pixar, other leaders have encouraged serendipity to increase the effectiveness of their organizations. For example, Tony Hsieh of Zappos is applying this concept to his Downtown Project, an ad hoc urban revitalization of downtown Las Vegas. Hsieh is using his fortune to turn Vegas into a quirky oasis for entrepreneurs and artists. In fostering the “most community-focused large city in the world,” Hsieh advocates the importance of being “collisionable”. The CEO schedules his meetings in coffee shops, bars, and coworking spaces – increasing the opportunity for spontaneous bump-ins to occur. [3]

When diverse individuals are in physical proximity of one another and intermingling, the likelihood of innovation increases. Like the accelerating collisions of atoms in a confined space, the quantity and quality of ideas increase with the addition of more people. Specifically, a high density of individuals from different backgrounds, technical expertise, and social groups amplifies creativity and the power of networks.

At 3DS, we’re deliberate in staging serendipity throughout the entire program. When students apply to get in, we take into account factors such as classification, academic disciplines, and skill sets to create the optimal talent pool. Because of this, 3DS is a petri dish for uncommon groups – undergrad and grad students, liberal arts and engineering, marketers and programmers – to interact.

Before the start of the three day weekend, we host workshops to introduce participants to one another and get them interacting early on. During the 3 days, students form self-selected teams from the eclectic talent pool that we’ve constructed.

After the program ends, we continue to influence serendipity by promoting intersystem collaboration among 3DS-affiliated universities. A great example of this is our alumna Alisa Wills. Alisa is the co-founder of Partender, a company that emerged from 3DS University of Florida. When Partender took off, Alisa relocated to New York. Afterwards, she moved to Israel where she became a citizen, organized a 3DS program in Galilee, and served as a mentor for 3DS Technion – the esteemed Israel Institute of Technology. Recently, the 3DS team sent her to the U.K. where she facilitated a program during London Technology Week. Because of the interconnectedness of the 3DS network, Alisa was able to share insights from her entrepreneurial ecosystems and learn best practices from new ones.

3DS promotes cross-pollination through community feedback sessions. During a 3DS program, teams give preliminary, intermediate, and final pitches and receive feedback from participants and mentors. The community feedback sessions are valuable because, in trying to articulate a pitch, presenters find gaps in their own knowledge. They then get the opportunity to fill in these gaps by interacting with peers and mentors who hold specialized knowledge. On the flip side, observers learn by critically evaluating the ideas pitched by their peers. Through peer-mentoring, students mutually benefit regardless of which “learner” role they take on. For example, a business student pitching an idea can get feedback from an engineering student about the feasibility of building a new product. Conversely, an engineering student can flex their strategic business muscle when giving feedback on a pitch.

In addition to feedback, the dissent of ideas also encourages intellectual growth and creative solutions. Dissent, or disagreement, is actually a productive force because it requires “us to engage more fully with the work of others and to reassess our viewpoints”. [1] Like rocks in a tumbler, ideas are polished by bumping against one another. Through community feedback sessions (aka the “grind”) students gain multidisciplinary insight from talented peers and mentors.

[1] The New Yorker’s Brainstorming Doesn’t Work Really Work

[2] Harvard Business Review’s The Big Idea: How to Start an Entrepreneurial Revolution

[3] Wired’s How Zappos’ CEO Turned Las Vegas Into a Startup Fantasyland

CONFERENCE INFORMATION

DRESS CODE

Welcome to the Ultimate DECA Power Trip and Innovations and Entrepreneurship Conference. More than 1,500 DECA members, advisors, alumni and corporate professionals will participate in this year’s conferences. The following will help ensure an EPIC experience.

CONFERENCE HEADQUARTERSMeeting Room 404 - 4th Floor

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

DRESS CODE AND CODE OF CONDUCTAll 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.

PROFESSIONALISMStudents 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 ETIQUETTEPlease 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.

ELEVATORSPlease 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.

CURFEWCurfew 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 EMERGENCIESIn 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.

GRATUITIESWhen 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-OUTHotel check-out is 11:00 a.m. on Sunday.

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

BUSINESS ATTIRE FOR OPENING SESSION AND WORKSHOPSFEMALES:Business suit or blazer with dress blouse and dress skirt or dress slacks or business dress; dress shoes

MALESBusiness suit or sport coat with dress slacks, collared dress shirt and necktie; dress shoes, dress socks

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

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

BUSINESS CASUAL ATTIRE DURING SELECTED CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES AND EDUTOURS(Activities specifically stating that business casual attire is acceptable.) Casual slacks (e.g. Dockers), blouse or shirt, socks, casual shoes. Jeans, t-shirts and athletic shoes are not included in business casual attire.

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

UNACCEPTABLE ATTIREThe 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.

RISK FREE FUNDRAISINGON CAMPUS MARKETING

OCM is now a proud member of the DECA National Advisory Board. Ask us about our program to help you

raise money for your DECA Chapter risk free. Nothing to buy and no money to collect.

CONTACT:Gerry Marrone

gerry@ocm.com732.567.8150

ON CAMPUSMARKETINGServing Students & Parents Since 1981

1 #decapowertripnovember 20-22, 2015 #decapowertrip. 4 #decapowertrip. 5 ... (sxsw), a web startup...

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