Michigan Tech College of Business Newsblog

Tag: DECA

It’s on to Nationals for MTU DECA

Published
DECA students standing in a group with their advisor to the left
Left to right: Jenny Apriesnig (faculty advisor), Zach Hooper, Sammy Perrone, Ethan Semenchuk, Jaylen Body, Lexi Dembrowski, Madelyn Carey

Back from the Michigan Collegiate DECA Career Development Conference in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the business Huskies of Michigan Technological University made a strong first appearance, participating in and winning competitions while earning a spot to nationals.

Student competitors included:

  • Jaylen Body (management)—first place, hotel and lodging
  • Sammy Perrone (marketing)—first place, fashion merchandising and marketing 
  • Lexi Dembrowski (accounting with data analytics)—first place, financial accounting 
  • Ethan Semenchuk (engineering management)—third place, corporate finance
  • Madelyn Carey (accounting and finance)—third place, financial accounting 
  • Zach Hooper (management information systems)—third place, entrepreneurship operations
  • Lexi Dembrowski and Madelyn Carey—second place, event planning 
Students standing in a group with DECA plaques

Their successful showing qualifies the team for the national competition in April at the International Career Development Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.

In addition to the competitions, students contributed to roundtable discussions where they chose from topics including: Global citizen strategy, career tips and tricks, nonverbal communication, and conflict resolution.

The conference was attended in person by Collegiate DECA groups from Cleary University, Davenport University, Michigan State University, and the University of Michigan. Eastern Michigan University, Kettering University, and Northwood University competed virtually.

Between functions, the Huskies explored downtown Kalamazoo and visited with downstate-based parents (and enjoyed home-baked cookies!). Other social highlights included singing carpool karaoke and navigating fresh snow to the Mackinac Bridge.

It was a fun and successful trip!

Jenny Apriesnig, assistant professor of economics and DECA advisor

To support Michigan Tech DECA’s goals and travels, connect with Advisor Jenny Apriesnig. Follow the group on Instagram @mtu_deca.

About the College of Business

The Michigan Tech College of Business offers undergraduate majors in accounting, construction management, economics, engineering management, finance, management, management information systems, and marketing, as well as a general business option. Graduate degrees include the TechMBA®, a Master of Engineering Management, a Master of Science in Accounting, and a Master of Science in Applied Natural Resource Economics.

Continue Reading →

Collegiate DECA at MTU: Reactivated and Ready to Go!

Published
By
(Photo: Left to right: Jaylen Body, Madelyn Carey, Rachel Weyenberg, Lexi Dembrowski, Katie Draves, Madison Mattila, Zach Hooper, and Sammy Perrone)

By Jaylen Body, Michigan Tech management student and DECA club president

After a five-year hiatus, Collegiate DECA has been reactivated on the campus of Michigan Technological University, and members are gearing up to hit the road for their first State Career Development Conference February 4-6.

Collegiate DECA is a program that prepares emerging leaders in the areas of finance, marketing, hospitality, management, and entrepreneurship. It’s for students interested in not just problem solving, but business problem solving. Participants engage in competitive events where they’re faced with business problems reflective of real-life situations in industry, and are challenged to develop innovative solutions before presenting their ideas to industry professionals. In addition to competitions, students can dive into Collegiate DECA challenges, like the Stock Market Game or the Virtual Case Simulation—an interactive, browser-based simulation allowing students to take charge of a virtual business environment.

This month, members of MTU DECA, advised by Jenny Apriesnig, assistant professor of economics, are preparing to attend the State Career Development Conference in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where six Huskies will participate in individual and team competitive events. To kick off preparations, the group invited College of Business accounting and DECA alumna Katie Draves to inspire current members.

Detailing her experiences, Draves credits DECA for being an organization that has “something for everyone,” explaining that no matter the area of study, DECA is an organization anyone can get involved in.

Speaking on the career benefits of being in DECA, she promises students that they’ll learn to be well rounded and prepared for different situations, and will gain exposure to valuable networking opportunities.

When asked for tips and advice on how members participating in the state conference can succeed, Draves says, “Get to know your strengths and weaknesses,” but most importantly, she encourages students to learn from their unique experiences while competing.

“Get to know your strengths and weaknesses.”

Katie Draves, Michigan Tech alumna

Thinking about the upcoming opportunity, first-year marketing student Sammy Perrone says: “I hope to make connections, build relationships, and gain knowledge and skills that will help me build a foundation for my college and career endeavors.”

“I hope to make connections, build relationships, and gain knowledge and skills that will help me build a foundation for my college and career endeavors.”

Sammy Perrone, Michigan Tech marketing student

Michigan Tech Collegiate DECA welcomes new members of all majors. The group is a good fit for students looking to get involved in a professional organization that applies classroom material to real business problems. Follow along on Instagram @mtu_deca.

About the College of Business

The Michigan Tech College of Business offers undergraduate majors in accounting, construction management, economics, engineering management, finance, management, management information systems, and marketing, as well as a general business option. Graduate degrees include the TechMBA®, a Master of Engineering Management, a Master of Science in Accounting, and a Master of Science in Applied Natural Resource Economics.

Continue Reading →

MTU’s DECA Soared at State Conference

Published
By

SGroup DECA 2016tudents from Michigan Tech’s chapter of Distributive Educational Clubs of America (DECA) attended the State Career Development Conference over spring break. The competition has three different types     of events which include case studies, business simulations, and prepared events. The students are given thirty minutes to an hour to prepare the event depending on the type, and then present their findings to judges who grade them based on specific performance indicators. For the business simulations and case studies, no outside materials are allowed. The competition is designed to take the knowledge students learn inside the classroom and apply it to real world problems. The judges are professionals from that specific area meaning that the judge typically works for a firm within that industry and/or holds certifications which makes them competent to judge the event. This year, eleven members from Michigan Tech attended the conference, and nine qualified for the International Career Development Conference. Ken Arndt placed third in the corporate finance event, and Cassandra Barry (pictured below) placed first in the accounting event. In Michigan Tech’s chapter of DECA, placing first in any event had only occurred three times, once when the chapter was established, and twice in 2013.

 

C Barry DECA

 

 

Continue Reading →

DECA sends its thanks to the Michigan Tech Alumni Association

Published
By

Alum Assoc

The Alumni Association has donated funds to Michigan Tech’s Student Organization, DECA.

DECA wishes to thank the Alumni Association for helping to support the opportunity to attend the State Leadership Conference in Madison, WI this coming spring. Without the association’s help the School of Business and Economics’ DECA Students would not have been able to achieve their goal of competing and representing our University at the state level.

The purpose of the Michigan Tech Alumni Association Board is to sponsor events that allow them to contribute to the University’s strategic goals. The students of DECA and the School of Business and Economics would like to thank the Michigan Tech Alumni Association for their support!

 

Continue Reading →

DECA Students Travel Downstate

Published

10930160_10206174179699473_5292633694813577562_n

Michigan Tech’s Collegiate DECA members attended the DECA State Career Development Conference earlier this month. In addition to networking with thousands of DECA members from Michigan, members were afforded the opportunity to take knowledge developed inside the classroom and transform it into solutions to real world problem. Of the students who attended, 75% of them qualified for the National Conference to be held in Orlando, FL at the end of April. One of the students, Jeffery Hines, even placed 2nd overall in his event. Other awards were handed out to the National Conference nominees, proving not only their ability to be hands on with problems, but the ability to solve them in a timely, and professional manner.

Are you interested in joining Tech’s DECA team? Contact Advisor Soonkwan Hong at shong2@mtu.edu or visit their webpage.

This article was written by Cassandra Barry.

Continue Reading →