the spotlight

March 2014

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President’s PageThe Bulletin: Regional UpdatesCommittee UpdatesCollege Interview AdviceProfessional InterviewPequannock FBLA Marketing Chapter SpotlightsCompany Mergers & AcquisitionsPBL InterviewNJ FBLA AsksAlumni InterviewsTen Chapter Publicity Tips2014 SLCPublicity Committee Members

President’s PageUpdates from your state president

Welcome back to The Spotlight, NJ FBLA!

! It’s been quite an eventful few months for us, and things are only going to get more exciting from here!! As we turned the page from 2013 to 2014, we put our four regions—North, North-Central, Central, and South—center stage. Over the course of December and January, we had a chance to meet up with members from across New Jersey, at our Regional Summits. The Summits gave members and advisers a wonderful opportunity to network within their regions, take part in some educationally entertaining leadership workshops, and swap experiences, ideas, and advice. (And, of course, the food was delicious!)! We had a great time getting to meet so many of your and learning about all the incredible things you and your chapters have been up to! From organizing carnivals to benefit charities, to keeping new and returning members involved throughout the year, the number of creative ideas and unique programs you brought to the table was simply amazing!! Of course, no NJ FBLA winter would be complete if we didn’t have a chance to compete, and I’m thrilled to say that this year’s Regional Competitive Events were a sight to behold. Congratulations are in order for the nearly 4,300 members who took part—you worked hard and put lots of time into your events, and it certainly shows! From Accounting to Word Processing, you put your skills to the test and performed brilliantly.! And so, with a nice chunk of 2014 already under our belts, it’s time to take a look at all that these coming months have in store for us!! February brings with it FBLA-PBL Week, a chance for all of us to celebrate the vast array of opportunities that are open to us, as FBLA members, while also taking a moment to give back to our communities, spread the benefits of career education to those around us, and recognize some of the dedicated people who help to make everything we do possible.! We’ve got a whole host of programs for you and your chapter to take on in the coming months, too! From the Inspiring Patriotism Project, for the creative minds among us, to the American Enterprise Essay Contest, for my fellow writers, there’s a way for everyone to put their unique skills to the test. And for the service-inclined, the Community Service Challenge and the Poster Design Competition offer another chance to put your Excellence in Action.! Looking even further forward, the 2014 State Leadership Conference is just above the horizon—from competitions to campaigning, and everything in between, your state officer team is hard at work to make sure that March 27th and 28th are two days we’ll all look back on with pride and pleasure. Stay tuned—there’s a lot more to come!! As always, if you have a question, comment, suggestion, or even just want to chat, feel free to reach out to any of your state officers—we’d be more than happy to help!

Yours in leadership,

the bulletin:updates from your regional vp’s

Greetings Northern Region! As we near the midway point of the school year, I must congratulate all of you for your continued dedication and commitment to NJ FBLA. After all, even some inclement weather couldn’t stop members from competing in FBLA’s rendition of Shark Tank at the Northern Region Summit this past January! Furthermore, congratulations to all members who placed at Regional Competitive Events, and I look forward to seeing your continued success! Ultimately, with large membership increases and extensive participation at regional competitive events, our region has truly accelerated achievement these past few months. At the same time, we still have half a year of FBLA ahead of us, including the hallmark of the NJ FBLA experience—the State Leadership Conference. Two days filled with fun and friends, this year’s SLC will be a

conference to remember, so be sure to attend. Even if you didn’t place at regionals, you can still compete in myriad state-only open events. So, I wish you all best of luck in your events and I look forward to seeing you this March at the SLC—perhaps when you’re receiving a trophy on the stage! As always, feel free to contact me at jlu@njfbla.org

anytime with any questions, suggestions, or anything FBLA-related! So, let’s keep on illuminating the Northern Region while accelerating achievement!

john lu

northern region vp

Hello Southern Region FBLA! I hope you all have been well and have managed to stay warm during the past few snowstorms! I am proud to say that NJ FBLA's Southern Region has had an excellent year so far! On January 17th, I had the honor of hosting our Southern Region Summit. Meeting such talented members from all across South Jersey was truly an unforgettable experience.It was truly a treat to hear what our local chapters are accomplishing. From Nerfball Tournaments to 5k Runs, the Southern Region is keeping extremely busy. If you want to promote any event, please feel free to shoot me an email! Now onto Regional Competitive Events. Congratulations to all of those who placed! For those of you that did not place, please do not let this discourage you. There are still events that you can compete in and be sure to stay involved in this organization. I cannot wait to see all of you at the State Leadership Conference in March! andrew lopez

southern region vp

Hello North Central Region! We are quickly passing the halfway mark of our school year! I would like to first extend a congratulations to those of you that placed at your Regional Competitive Events, I cannot wait to meet you all at the State Leadership Conference in March - keep up the good work! For those of you who didn’t place, there are still many events you may participate in at SLC. I would also like to thank all of the local chapter officers that joined me for my Regional Summit on January 15, it was a great success! Getting to meet all of you personally was wonderful, and I hope all of you learned something new from this event as well. The North Central Region has seen great membership numbers this year, and I hope to see this reflected in our fundraising as we. It is important to keep members involved within your chapter as well as on the state-level, so if you are

interested in having me visit your chapter, please feel free to contact me to schedule a visit! As we approach SLC, the one thing I cannot stress enough is to study and prepare for your events! Good luck to all those who will be competing and campaigning. I want this year to be your year, so if you have any ideas as to how I can make your FBLA experience better, please let me know at ale@njfbla.org. Thank you to all of you that continue to Accelerate Achievement and make this year the best ever!

north central region vp

Hello Central Region! We are more than half way through the FBLA year and what an amazing half it has been. With regional competitions complete, multiple chapter events and fundraisers, and a large increase in membership, our region has been doing a fantastic job. I would like to congratulate all of the members that placed in competitions and I encourage those that did not to participate in a state level competition. In addition, the Central Region Summit was held on January 17th and students were able to exchange ideas, learn from guest speakers, and even build a business of their own. The State Leadership Conference is quickly approaching, so I hope that many of your schools are getting ready for the conference through fundraising and test preparation. I cannot wait to see many of you there! If you have any questions about competitions, the State Leadership Conference, or anything else, please feel free to contact me via email at jparekh@njfbla.org. Let’s build on the great successes of this year so far and continue to accelerate achievement.

jay parekh

central region vp

membership committeeThe NJ FBLA State Membership Committee is working on a multitude of projects at the moment, especially due to the State Leadership Conference that is fast approaching! Members are working to make a Membership Experience Video as a reflection on their time in FBLA, both the experiences they have had and the ones they will have in the future! Members also plan to release a "Local Chapters Accelerating Achievement" Newsletter, designed to inform chapters on what other chapters around the state are working on. All of the members are extremely excited to present their work to the members of New Jersey FBLA, and look forward to the 2014 State Leadership Conference on March 27-28, 2014. To learn more about new membership community projects, please feel free to contact Emily Ramos at eramos@njfbla.org. Thank you!

Community service committeeThe NJ FBLA Community Service Committee has been working very hard to encourage members and advisors to contribute to various non profit organizations, such as the March of Dimes and Ronald McDonald House. Previously, the committee was working on promoting community service projects to local NJ FBLA businesses by implementing the March of Dimes Change for Change fundraiser. This was a simple yet effective program designed to encourage local businesses to help contribute to the March of Dimes. Currently, we are collecting all of the March of Dimes Change for Change collection boxes and are submitting all raised funds to the March of Dimes. The NJ FBLA Community Service Committee has completed the very first 2013-2014 NJ FBLA Community Service Promotional Video, which is designed to inform members on why it is important to take an active role in community service. The video is now available on YouTube for members to view! In the past month, the community service committee has been working diligently to enhance the Community Service Action Guide. Many new innovative fundraisers have been added to the guide and a complete new section specifically designated for the March of Dimes has been added! In late December, the committee had a New York City trip where many members got the opportunity to explore New York and enjoy the wonders of the city. As a result, the Community Service Committee has become a stronger and closer unit. As of now, the committee is working on several new projects to ensure that all local chapters are successful in their upcoming community service projects. We are contacting local chapters throughout the state to gather innovative community service projects that chapters found to be very successful. For example, Walkhill Valley Regional High School's exclusive community service fundraiser to support the March of Dimes is the Super Fun Night. Union County Technical Vocational High School have initiated a very innovative program called Project Hope, which focuses on helping a specific charity each year. Middle level FBLA members are very important in our organization because they are the ones who will be leading New Jersey FBLA in the near future. In result, we believe that it is vital for middle level FBLA chapters to get a head start on learning and participating in community service programs! The Community Service Committee is working on creating a very intuitive presentation for middle level chapters, therefore middle level members can gain valuable insight about various community service programs available in FBLA. In addition, the committee is working on promoting March of Dimes online fundraising, which is a great way to encourage chapters to reach their goal of raising money for the March of Dimes. Our committee is working very hard on promoting online fundraising and are encouraging local chapter to establish March of Dimes teams, in order to help support the March of Dimes. Lastly, the Community Service Committee is working very hard on promoting new community service projects, such as the March of Dimes' Walk for Babies event and many other new programs, which will be coming soon! We encourage all members to do their part and give back to their community. To learn more about new community service projects, please feel free to contact Chirag Chadha at cchadha@njfbla.org. Thank you!

New Jersey FBLA is the home to four committees that are comprised of members from all over the state. Each year, the committees set out on strengthening NJ FBLA. Led by state

officers, these committees aim to help the state achieve the most it can. Community Service, Membership, Publicity, and Presidential

Action’s Council committees all help to serve the state in the most effective way possible. Check out these updates and see how your

state committees are “Accelerating Achievement” this year!

Committee Updates

From Suraj Khasnavees

President’s Action councilThe State President’s Action Council (PAC) has been working hard to spread the FBLA-PBL message across New Jersey. The PAC’s primary focus so far has been on governmental outreach—reaching out to elected officials on behalf of our organization. Members of the PAC worked to craft missives that were at once personal and professional: conveying their own experiences in FBLA and explaining what it’s meant to them, while simultaneously outlining the core values of service, education, and progress, that define our organization. The five members of the PAC contacted a wide array of elected officials, from local mayors, to county freeholders, and even members of the New Jersey State Legislature! Their ongoing outreach efforts are a key element of NJ FBLA’s commitment to work towards bridging the gap between business, education, and government, this year. Contact Sohum Pawar (spawar@njfbla.org), for more information on reaching out to your own chapter’s elected officials—don’t miss out on a chance to do your part in spreading the message of FBLA!

publicity committeeSince the December edition of The

Spotlight, the Publicity Committee has been working hard to ensure that the February edition is just as informative and helpful. Over the past few months, committee members have been conducting interviews, surveying members across the state, creating membership guides, and more. PubComm’s commitment to NJ FBLA’s public relations is exceptional should truly be commended. Currently, the committee is beginning to plan out the fourth and final edition of the state newsletter. Remember, you do not have to be a member of the Publicity Committee to write for The Spotlight - if you would like to contribute, feel

free to contact Mimi Hess or any of the Publicity

Committee members.

committee chairssohum pawar

chir

ag ch

adha

emily ramos

mimi hess

College Interview Tips and Tricks By Ellen Guo

College interview coming up? What about one for an internship or summer program? No

need to stress! Whether you’re a senior or a freshman, here are some tips to ace that

interview.

If this is your first time going to a college interview, I know how daunting and stressful that can be. But don’t worry: an interview is not going to make or break your chances. It is nowhere near the most important part of your application, and is just another way for a college to gain insight into aspects of you that might not be included in your essays.

Research. If you haven’t researched what programs the school has, do it. You might find something unexpected that you’re really interested in. I also recommend reading over your notes and your essays to see what you’ve said and what you haven’t said. Use the interview to reinforce the image you have already presented while providing a new perspective.

Also, look up your interviewer—LinkedIn profiles make great general overviews. Don’t get me wrong, definitely do NOT try to feign interest in your interviewer’s field of study, but researching might help you determine good starting points for conversation. He volunteers at an art museum and you love to paint? Bring up painting. She teaches psychology and you’re taking psych this semester? Go for it.

That being said, if you do bring up academics, there’s no need to pretend you’re a scholar of what you want to study. The interviewers know you are only in high school, and, rather than see you stumble over esoteric facts, they want to see why you’re interested in something. Be ready to display your passion!

Bring your resume! This can be a somewhat controversial point, but I have brought mine to all of my interviews and it has been a great starting point for conversation. While at once making you look put-together and prepared, it also allows your interviewer to take fewer notes and to concentrate more on the discussion.

Think about the activities and experiences that are important to you. If you already have ideas flowing in your mind, you will be able to answer the interviewer’s questions much more gracefully. But that brings me to my next point.

Do not over-prepare. There is no need to prewrite and memorize answers—a robotic, canned response does not sound nearly as genuine as an on-the-spot one.

Dress appropriately for the occasion. Avoid wearing jeans or t-shirts, but do not wear a suit to a coffee shop either. Depending on the location, somewhere between dressy casual and business casual should be fine.

Just talk! Keep your eye contact, be confident, and respond to what your interviewer has said. Remember: a college interview is just a conversation.

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Professional interview: Brian C. HaggertyBy Rana Mohamed

Mr. Haggerty is slightly paradoxical in that he loves people and enjoys great company and intelligent conversation; but also loves to be quiet, alone and read. He loves being in a constant state of mental evolution where he can expand his knowledge, thinking and awareness of life and the world around him. Mrs. Haggerty’s joy in life comes not through material items, but rather through human interaction, laughter and mental experience. 

1. Please state your name and what your current occupation is? 

My name is Brian C. Haggerty. I am an Author, Public Speaker, Mentor and Educator.

2. If you could sum up your career in a couple of words, what words would you use?

My career has been one of business and politics; very much entrepreneurial.

3. How has your career impacted your life? 

My career offered the opportunity to me to experience an abundance of different people, places and things. The mix of business and politics had taught me a great deal about people. I realized that "politics" as a profession is one thing, but "politics" as a means of networking, relationship-building and advancement is pervasive in business, as well. 

4. What is your most memorable career experience? 

My most memorable experience was coming to Belleville High School. The impact of being around young people was the greatest experience of my life. It not only opened my eyes to the many personal benefits of being around young students, it also birthed and fostered an entire new career path for me which never would have occurred were it not for the students and their enthusiasm for the program I had begun. 

Professional interview: Brian C. HaggertyBy Rana Mohamed

5. If you could give FBLA members tips about the business world, what would you say?

Success in business is the result of diligent work. But, more than the actual work itself, success comes through networking. If there is any single thing in which an upcoming professional should invest his or her time, it is in developing your personal people skills. Opportunities come through relationships. Establish a reputation for solid character, like ability and respect and you will go as far as you can dream.

6. What is you leadership style and how has it helped you achieve success?

My leadership style has always been to surround myself with the best and brightest people-- especially those who know more than I. No one can be an expert in everything. So don't try to pretend that you are. I love to inspire people to be the best that they can be and will always recognize another's talents and abilities. I believe that building someone up-- encouraging them and treating them with the utmost kindness will always bring out their personal best. 

7. What is the single best piece of advice from your book?  

My best single piece of advice in my book is to embody all of the greatness in your own life that you would wish to see demonstrated toward you from others. 

A large thank you to Rana Mohamed for putting in the effort and initiative for contributing to The Spotlight! Rana is a junior at Belleville High School and the FBLA community service vice president. Rana is an outgoing, passionate, and determined leader within her community. Also, she loves spending her free time watching movies, drawing and baking with friends.

Pequannock Township:Marketing Plan

! In 2013, Pequannock Township High School’s FBLA chapter was approached with a challenging task to sponsor the school district by promoting education through business. Eager to work, the PTHS FBLA Executive Board began developing a marketing plan by formulating packages, locations, and deals with the assistance of their advisor. Location, placement, and cost were all trivial factors that needed careful consideration while planning. A committee, made up of several executive board officers, began meet regularly to plan and introduce the proposal to the Pequannock Board of Education.

After the plan was revised, the entire executive board gathered for a private meeting with select members of the Board of Education. During the meeting, the students pitched the marketing plan while also emphasizing the benefits of FBLA and explaining how the potential profits would benefit both the organization and community. Potential profits for year one are estimated at $30,000.

One of the biggest points of discussion during the meeting was the profit split between the Board of Education and Pequannock FBLA. Half of the profits will go towards the maintenance of the athletic fields in the district handled by the Board of Education, and the other half will benefit FBLA. PTHS FBLA’s portion of the profit will go towards funding FBLA initiative such as senior scholarships, leadership conferences, and community events. Each year, PTHS FBLA distributes scholarships to senior members who have earned recognition through their contribution and service to the organization. Traditionally, the money is raised through fundraisers; with the profits from the marketing plan, FBLA will have the opportunity to give out more scholarships at greater amounts for those deserving of the acknowledgement. Furthermore, PTHS FBLA has grown not just in numbers, but in commitment as well. In order to continue our

commitment to the organization, funding will help offset the cost for FBLA leadership conferences and events. In addition to scholarships and conferences, Pequannock FBLA also does their share to reach out to the local community. Proceeds from the marketing plan will go towards Intergenerational Prom. Every Memorial Day Weekend, PTHS hosts a prom for the nearby Cedar Crest senior citizens. Due to a low budget, most of the food is donated or made by parents, and the decorations are created by organization members. With proceeds from the marketing plan, the event can be catered by local businesses, strengthening our community support.

With the Board of Education’s approval, three package options – Gold, Silver, and Bronze – were finalized, and the sponsorship program was established. Each package includes a banner located in a specified section that correlates with the package level (Bronze being the least expansive option and Gold serving as the prime location). The Gold Package also includes FBLA Professional Membership for the business owner as well as advertisement on the school website. The higher-level packages include a banner or plaque to be displayed in the business to show the company’s support for the Pequannock Township School District. Each business will also receive a letter of appreciation showing the school district’s gratitude for supporting education through business.

The sponsorship program is such a unique opportunity that gives FBLA members the chance to experience the skills needed to operate a successful business partnership, as well as the dedication required to make the operation effective. Pequannock’s chapter of FBLA is excited and looking forward to implementing the program in the years to come. For more information about our packages, visit www.sponsorpequannock.com.

By Amanda Mayer and Melissa Tahan

Local Chapter Spotlight: Lyndhurst

The Lyndhurst FBLA chapter is located in the Northern Region and is led by chapter president, Diana Shinnick, who is also a member of the state publicity committee. Lyndhurst FBLA chapter members attended the Northern Region Summit in January where they were given the opportunity to network with other Northern Region members. At the summit, they were able to enhance their leadership and public speaking skills. Lyndhurst FBLA members competed in regional events and will be traveling to the State Leadership Conference in March. They’re ambitious and ready to compete in New Brunswick and hopefully National Leadership Conference in Nashville. This year, Lyndhurst is focusing on increasing chapter membership. They are looking to involve more

underclassmen. So far this chapter has been having a great year and they are looking forward to upcoming events this year.

By Rachel Korkodilos

Local Chapter Spotlight: East Brunswick

East Brunswick High School’s FBLA chapter has been very productive so far this year. Two East Brunswick alumni came in from NYU Stern and Georgetown to talk about their experience with FBLA, and their high school and college experiences. They have also held an Economic Trading Game where students used different items (pencils, rulers, scissors and paper) to learn some basic economic principle such as supply and demand. The members were split into different groups and given a random set of supplies and traded with other groups to try and make the most profit. On January 15, chapter president Andy Le held the North Central Regional Summit, which was a great success. Members from across the region got a chance to network and share their experiences, advice, and ideas with other local chapter officers. The summit aims to connect local chapters and give chapter officers ideas of how to offer their own chapter members the best FBLA experience possible. East Brunswick FBLA also participated in the Shark Tank activity and improved their public speaking and impromptu speaking skills. Going forward, East Brunswick FBLA has a team handball tournament planned for February 28. They hope this fundraiser will draw many people and help to support the March of Dimes. The chapter is also currently working on obtaining partnerships with restaurants such as Chipotle to help in our efforts. Best of luck to East Brunswick FBLA in their efforts to better their local chapter and community.

By Justin DiRe

Company Mergers and Acquisitions An Editorial by Eli Nachmany

The advent of companies merging allows the economy to progress in a smooth manner. Mergers and acquisitions are two separate entities, but both serve an important role in the perpetuation of the free market. In Layman’s terms, the difference between a merger and an acquisition is that the former is more of a mutually beneficial result than the latter. Merging gives two companies the necessary resources to thrive as they aim for collective business goals. A typical merger situation can be seen in the banking industry, where banks frequently partner up with one another to expand profits and cut costs. When banks come together, the increase in capital gives way to huge gains in the bottom line. Another big component of bank mergers is an increase in customer

base. Should a bank merge with a stock broker, it’ll get the added bonus of the broker’s clientele. Mergers are prevalent in resource-based industries, like banks with money or oil companies with gasoline. Corporate shares are generally the currency in these transactions, as the merging businesses will swap stocks back and forth between shareholders. With a newly vested interest in both companies, shareholders tend to set new initiatives and work harder toward achieving cumulative objectives. Overall, mergers tend to increase employee morale. A renewed sense of pride in their company motivates workers to be more productive. The combination of increased resources, bigger profit margin, motivated board members and happy

employees is a package that many companies have a tough time passing up. However, that’s not the only way companies can come together. In the early 20th century, oil mogul John D. Rockefeller mastered the art of horizontal integration. Horizontal integration is a process by which one business acquires competing corporations and thus consolidates the market.When overdone, the strategy can lead to a monopolized market, as it did in Rockefeller’s case. With less stringent regulations on the economy back then, the businessman was able to control the oil industry and amass an exorbitant profit. At around the same time, steel tycoon Andrew Carnegie set precedents in vertical integration. The vertical integrator aims to acquire each of the

Company Mergers and Acquisitions An Editorial by Eli Nachmany

different links of a production process to control the entire manufacture of a certain good. For example, if a certain corporation that sells Product X acquires the company that synthesizes Product X’s raw materials, another company that manufactures Product X from said materials and finally a third company that retails Product X to customers, the corporation has vertically integrated. The benefits of vertical integration are that the company will be able to oversee every aspect of the production and fix problems internally, but a potential problem is that it’ll need to spend extra resources to coordinate the process. Horizontal integration takes care of competition by eliminating it, while vertical integration simply beats down the competition with a superior product and more

consolidated chain of command. Today, acquisitions are more about optimization than monopolization. In the modern day, we see recognizable social media companies more than willing to shell out large sums of money in the interest of acquiring smaller such companies and winning the market share as they horizontally integrate. However, some top computer companies choose to acquire businesses that specialize in certain parts of the manufacturing chain, vertically integrating these corporations in a consolidative race. Unlike mergers, acquisitions aren’t limited to resource-based companies (as mergers usually are). Also, acquisitions tend to be less “friendly”. The latter statement is especially reflective of the controlling nature of the mother company. Should a large corporation

pour money into a related operation, said large corporation will expect to take over the day-to-day operations of its new subordinate. Such overarching influence can, at times, breed bad blood between the two companies. Ultimately, the acquiring company needs to balance stern leadership with cooperative strategy. While mergers deal in stock, acquisitions are more liquid. Businesses typically buy out other businesses with cash. Between mergers and acquisitions, it becomes beneficial for executives to be aware of the competition. Researching not only an individual’s own corporate statistics, but how other companies in the same industry are doing, can be the key to long-term gains. Awareness of other companies in the market is an invaluable trait for an executive in today's day of corporate partnership.

After FBLA: Joining PBL1. How has PBL impacted your life?PBL has helped me become a better me. Now, believe me this is not a cheesy line, it is the truth. I have become so much more self assured, confident, and truly grown as an individual into my own skin. I have overcome fears, accomplished goals, and realized what I am truly capable of. It is for all these reasons that I so openly encourage FBLA students to continue on into PBL; there are lessons that cannot be learned in textbooks and I believe our national organization helps us to learn them with guidance and resources we might not otherwise have.

2. Would you recommend PBL to current FBLA members and why?

Yes, I most certainly would. The ability to begin college as a part of this national organization of like-minded students provides a smooth transition into collegiate life as well as a supplement to their preexisting curriculum. Being a part of FBLA-PBL provides opportunities for growth, networking, personal leadership enhancement, service, and instills a lifelong thirst for education and learning. I cannot begin to describe the amount I have gotten out of FBLA-PBL in the time I have been a member. There is no doubt in my mind that I would encourage every FBLA student to continue on within our organization as a member of Phi Beta Lambda.

3. What are some of FBLA-PBL goals this year?Our goals for PBL include increasing our membership by 5%, raising $3000 for the March of Dimes, and continuing to build our relationships with businesses throughout New Jersey, both large and small, in an effort to gain more corporate sponsors.

4. What are some of the events you have participated in as part of PBL, and what have you learned from them?

I have taken part of SLC, NFLC, NLC, as well as countless fundraisers. I have coordinated fundraisers with my chapter for March of Dimes, Salvation Army, Hurricane Sandy relief, Better World Books, and the list goes on. Service is my passion and FBLA-PBL has given me the opportunities and skills I need to turn my passion into world changing action. Being a part of leadership conferences has allowed me to push myself out of my comfort zone. I have excelled in leaps and bounds in my ability to speak in front of crowds and to individuals I do not know. This is what is helping me to network every day and continue on my path to becoming a professional.

5. What are some essential leadership skills you have learned from your position as PBL State Vice President?

I most certainly have learned a lot in my time as Vice President. I think the most important leadership skill I have learned is effective communication as an individual while playing a key role as a member of a team.

Conducted by Vanessa Ting

An interview with Brittany Bayo, NJ PBL State Vice President

Brittany Bayo and PBL National Secretary, Beau Cobb

NJ FBLA Asks...

How has FBLA influenced your career goals?

By Emily Portuguese and Priya Soni

"Compe'ng  in  business  communica'ons  really  confirmed  for  me  that  I  want  to  be  a  journalist.  Now  I  know  how  to  communicate  in  the  business  world  and  will  be  fully  prepared  for  the  Medill  School  of  Journalism  at  Northwestern!"

Mira  WangHanover  Park  High  School

Northern  Region

“FBLA  has  influenced  my  career  goals  by  enhancing  my  business  skills  in  finance  and  entrepreneurship.    I  plan  to  incorporate  these  business  skills  in  a  computer  science  major  during  college  and  eventually,  move  on  to  a  career  in  a  business  oriented  firm  by  serving  as  a  computer  science  technologist  wri'ng  computer  programs  for  business  applica'ons."

Smeet  UdeshiUnion  County  Voca>onal  Technical  Schools

North  Central  Region

"FBLA  has  given  me  a  be2er  idea  of  what  field  I  would  like  to  go  into  because  I  have  taken  different  tests  that  have  taught  me  about  several  aspects  of  business.  It  also  has  given  me  the  proper  tools  to  accomplish  my  goals  by  teaching  my  how  to  network  and  other  important  skills.  FBLA  has  inspired  me  to  achieve  my  goals  through  hard  work  and  dedicaCon."

Joe  FlorioWhippany  Park  High  School

Northern  Region

“I've  done  a  lot  of  digital  design  and  communicaCons  projects  for  the  compeCCve  events  Website  Design  and  Electronic  Career  PorKolio.  These  events  have  shown  me  how  art  and  design  can  speak  to  other  people.  Instead  of  going  into  a  purely  engineering  and  math  base  future  of  computer  science,  I'm  now  going  to  integrate  computer  science  and  communicaCons  design  so  I  can  conCnue  using  digital  design  to  touch  lives.”  

Karen  XuLivingston  High  SchoolNorth  Central  Region

It  has  opened  my  eyes  to  the  world  of  business  and  has  allowed  me  to  discover  different  career  op'ons  that  anyone  is  eligible  to  make  their  profession.  Now  that  I  know  what  I  want  to  be,  I  can  set  my  goals  high  and  try  to  achieve  what  I  set  out  to  be.  

Kevyn  TeapeBurlington  Township  High  School

Central  Region

Alumni Interview: kelli kyle1. Please tell us your background and previous involvement in FBLA. I joined FBLA my freshman year of high school, and never looked back. That first year, I received first regionally for Intro to Business Communication, and I attended the State Leadership Conference for the first time. I loved the organization so much, that I decided to return my sophomore year. That year, my adviser recommended I compete in FBLA Principles and Procedures- I received first place both regionally and statewide. This qualified me for the National Leadership Conference in Orlando, FL. My first NLC was amazing and packed with tons of exceptional opportunities. I attended many workshops and really bonded with the NJ state officer team. The following year, I competed in Word Processing II. I received fifth place regionally and second in the state. Once again, I was off to the NLC in San Antonio. The San Antonio NLC was the first conference in which I truly learned the power of networking. I made connections with FBLAers from all across the country, and it was great. My final year in FBLA, I decided to switch over to the performance events. I chose to compete in Job Interview. I placed third in the region, and first in the state. This event allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new within FBLA. The final NLC I attended was in Anaheim, CA. The city was beautiful. The conference itself held many networking opportunities for me. Although I have never placed nationally, I still took much away from each national, state, and regional conference I was fortunate enough to attend.

2. How has FBLA impacted your life? FBLA transformed me into a professional. I entered as a young high school freshman- nervous, yet eager to learn. FBLA gave me the tools I needed to put myself out there and thrive in the business world. As a college journalism student, I consistently use the skills I acquired from FBLA to help me with interviews, presentations, and networking. FBLA gave me the confidence I needed to succeed in college and the "real world."

3. Would you recommend this organization to current high school students? Why? I would most definitely recommend this organization to high school students. When my high school officer team marketed FBLA to freshmen, we highlighted the conferences above all. If you ask any member what their favorite part about FBLA is, they will most likely say the conferences- SLC and NLC. However, once these students join the organization, they will find that it is so much more than that. It is a vessel for transporting students into the business world. It requires a normal high school student to step out of his/her comfort zone and perform tasks that no other student would ever think of doing at that age. FBLA students meet with local, regional, and even national businesses to fundraise. They conduct themselves in a manner that is both warm and professional. They learn how the principles of business can help them succeed in the professional world. And they have an amazing time doing so. I feel that high school students can get so much out of this organization, and I would definitely recommend that they give it a try.

Conducted by Patricia Kou

Alumni Interview: kelli kyle4. What is the most important lesson you've learned from FBLA?The most important lesson I've learned in FBLA is networking. In college, networking is key. It's how you secure jobs, gain internships, and learn new things. Networking is the heart of any professional advancement, and FBLA does a wonderful job of stressing that. The FBLA conferences I attended all taught me how to network with both business professionals and other students. It's a nice practice for the "real world," because you get to network with students your own age. It's less scary, for one thing. You also never know who you're going to meet or how they are going to help you later in life. Networking is thrilling, really, and FBLA does a wonderful job giving high school students a jump start on the whole process.

5. How has FBLA helped you adapt to college? FBLA has given me the confidence to put myself out there in college. As a college freshman, I've already been to professional business conferences around the country. I've met business professionals, spoken to large crowds, and learned the basics of networking. These skills have allowed me advance in college. I'm not afraid to talk to professors. I'm not worried about speaking up in class. Meeting new people as a college freshman is not nearly as frightening as it was in high school. In high school, I was secretary of my FBLA chapter. In college, I'm now secretary of our school's Society of Professional Journalists. My FBLA experience has greatly shaped me as a leader: it has given me the ability to pursue leadership roles I never would have thought of taking on before. While I still have a lot to learn, my experiences in FBLA are facilitating my transition to college.

6. What is your favorite FBLA memory?As a four year member of FBLA, I have compiled tons of amazing memories. It's really difficult to pick just one, because with each conference I attend I emerge with more and more amazing experiences to share. However, if I had to pick one, I would say my favorite memory would most likely be my junior year SLC. That was the year my best friend, Nicole Dowdell, was elected as Southern Region VP. As her campaign manager, both she and I talked the voting delegates to death about how our girl Nicole had the keys to success! Junior year was also the year my team won Battle of the Chapters with my apparently frightening facial expressions and "Will Smith" as the final winning answer. In addition to this, I received NJ state member of the year, and earned a spot to my second NLC by placing second in Word Processing II. Junior year SLC was probably one of my favorite years in FBLA. That was the year FBLA became more than just a club for me. It was really a family. But I think the best part of all of it was that I had one more year to do the same thing all over again, and that was just really cool.

Conducted by Patricia Kou

Alumni Interview: julie chen1. Please tell us your background and previous involvement in FBLA. My name is Julie Chen and I am currently a freshman at NYU. I plan to study Finance and Management in the Stern School of Business. During my senior year I served as the State Parliamentarian as well as chapter president for Parsippany Hills High School. I’ve attended NLC for Parliamentary Procedure as well as Management Information Systems.

2. How has FBLA impacted your life? Through FBLA, I have been able to meet new people, travel to new places, and experience new things. As a result my thinking has significantly matured, with new perspectives I did not have before.

3. Would you recommend this organization to current high school students? Why?

I definitely would. Even if you aren’t majoring in business, FBLA has a lot to offer. Once you join and get involved, you won’t regret it! world.

4. What is the most important lesson you've learned from FBLA?

TFBLA has taught me that persistence and effort pay off, and not to let things like fear or past failures discourage me from pursuing what I want. With dedication and determination, the freshman who could not make it past regionals could one day be Chapter President and on the State Board. If I had given up after a setback, I would have never experienced the amazing feeling of placing at my next three State Leadership Conferences, nor had the most amazing times at two National Leadership Conferences. If I were too timid to apply for committees or run for state office, I would have never built the friendships or had the experiences that I am proud of today. I’ve learned to actively pursue my goals with no regrets because if I let opportunities pass, I’ll never know what I’m missing out on.

5. How has FBLA helped you adapt to college?

In FBLA, your level of success is completely reliant on yourself. There is no one forcing you to prepare for your competitive event, no penalties if you decide not to try. Your performance and how much you are able to get out of FBLA depend solely on your own motivation. In that sense, college is the same, with all responsibility placed on you and you alone. My experience with FBLA made the transition much easier.

6. What is your favorite FBLA memory?

My favorite FBLA memory has to be winning Battle of the States at the National Fall Leadership Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was a team effort with all of the State Officers. Even those that weren’t competing quizzed us over dinner and supported us from the audience. It felt great to be able to win on behalf of New Jersey for the second consecutive year.

Conducted by Tiffany Mao

Alumni Interview: cecilia kang1. Please tell us your background and previous involvement in FBLA. I didn't join FBLA until my junior year in high school. A friend of mine (who was our local chapter's president our senior year) and I competed in Emerging Business Issues and placed 1st and 5th at States and Nationals 2012, respectively. This was when I knew what I finally wanted my major to be in college: business. I decided to apply for the National Eastern Region Board later that summer and was selected to serve as the National Eastern Region Communications Director. My senior year, I competed in Electronic Career Portfolio and placed 2nd and 7th at States and Nationals 2013, respectively. In just two years, I was able to serve with my local chapter and compete with some wonderful future business leaders who I still consider to be my friends, even in college.

2. How has FBLA impacted your life?

FBLA has definitely impacted my life the most by showing me what I did well in and what I enjoyed doing. It's what has helped me decide my major in college.

3. Would you recommend this organization to current high school students? Why?

I would recommend this organization to high school students because it teaches you about yourself, your limits, as well as your aspirations. You're given the opportunity to grow alongside your peers while also learning about different aspects of the business world.

4. What is the most important lesson you've learned from FBLA?

The most important lesson I’ve learned from FBLA is how to make things happen, and how to take initiative. With all the event planning and competitive events that FBLA required, it was very important to be proactive.

5. How has FBLA helped you adapt to college? FBLA has helped me adapt to college by exposing me to so many different kinds of people. Conferences have definitely helped me keep an open mind when crossing paths with individuals with different backgrounds, and I think that's wonderful.

6. What is your favorite FBLA memory?

My favorite FBLA memories have got to be when I was just serving with my local chapter. I think that's the most rewarding thing: giving back to the community and serving with your peers.

Conducted by TIna Lu

Ten Membership Tips to a Successful Year

1. Spread the news! Make sure that all members are “in-the-know” about chapter events! This is important because your members are the backbone behind the success of your events. Besides, if more people are informed, then more people will attend or participate.

2. Utilize Social Media. Use all major social media platforms available to you! Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook are some great tools to get your message out to your members. Creating a Facebook group is a great way to connect members and network within your own school.

3. Use text alerts. Sometimes, there are some members who do not frequent social media sites. One way to make sure that they get the message is to send them one! There are some great services out there that will take care of this for you. All you would have to do is send a text to the system then the message would magically be sent to all your members signed up to the system. How convenient!

4. Create a newsletter for your local chapter. Depending on how busy your chapter is, a newsletter is a great way to quickly inform members about anything and everything. Post it on a bulletin board or e-mail it out to members.

5. Use social media often If you a newsletter is not practical or feasible for your chapter, remember to update social media platforms often. Tweet your members reminders about upcoming competitions, conferences, and activities.

6. Use pictures! A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Instead of posting a long, convoluted update about the upcoming committee meeting, use a picture with a couple of keywords. It’s quicker to read and still sends the same message.

7. Keep messages short and sweet. Again, no long updates! Try to stay under 140 characters or less. There’s a tweet character limit for a reason. Long messages tend to bore people quickly. Get to the point and get your message across.

8. Fun facts. Since FBLA is dedicated to everyone’s right to a good education, educate your members on the business world. Post quick facts or possible future careers in the business world in your Facebook group. High school is a time when students want to determine what career path they will want to follow. You can help them out by giving them a few ideas and encouraging them to join the business world!

By Cyrin Geluz

9. Use word of mouth! People love to talk, talk, and talk. Use this to your advantage. Select a few dedicated members from each grade level to spread the word for you. This will boost awareness among members and non-members alike. You might even convince a few students to sign up for FBLA!

10. Get ideas from other chapters. If you cannot seem to implement these ideas in your own local chapter, talk to other chapters. Ask them what they are doing to promote and publicize themselves. There are no bad ideas. What works for you may or may not work for others. Try it out!

As the Historian for her local chapter, Cyrin is responsible for making sure members are always up-to-date with the latest FBLA information. Here are some of the methods she uses to spread the word amongst her peers!

Walking into the oversized hall at The Hilton in East Brunswick, I could feel the excitement in the air. The lights dimmed, the music playing up on stage and every one mingling with each other. Opening session for NJ Sate Conference had begun! Every year the NJ FBLA Chapter holds its annual conference. This is unlike any stuffy business meeting you have ever attended. Filled with impact full business leaders who so you new business opportunities and filled with meeting young adults who want to make an impact on the world as much as you do. No overstuffed business tables, or a stale lunch, no this is the time to fire up your future! From meeting like minded young adults, to learning new leadership skills, this state conference will change your business career. And this year will be amazing! FBLA is offering amazing guests speakers, and rolling out the best for all its attendees this year. I remember the first time I attended my first State Conference during my freshman year. I remember not knowing what to expect, but I remember not wanting it to end! You truly get hooked on the new and amazing friends you meet, the new chances that you will take and the amazing leader you become through what FBLA has to offer. So come to this year's State Conference and you will realize that FBLA is an organization that can not only change the business community, but fundamentally change your life for the better.

State Leadership Conference2014

By Diana Shinnick

Communications DirectorEli Nachmany20

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4

Publicity CommitteeCommunications Director

Eli Nachmany

Communications Director

Cyrin Anne Geluz

Communications Director

Diana Shinnick

Communications Director

Emily Portuguese

Secretary

Suraj Khasnavees

Publicity Director

Ellen Guo

Publicity Assisant

Justin DiRe

Publicity Assistant

Tina Lu

Publicity Assistant

Priya Soni

Publicity Assistant

Vanessa Ting

Publicity Assistant

Tiffany Mao

Publicity Assistant

Rachel Korkodilos

Publicity Assistant

Patricia Kou

A large thank you to the thirteen outstanding members of the State Publicity Committee! These individuals have been hard at work to gather

content for the Spotlight and ensure that our state stays informed!

Editor’s CornerWant to write for the Spotlight? Contact Mimi Hess at mhess@njfbla.org.The Spotlight is published by the State Historian and the NJ FBLA Publicity Committee.