Austin Smith
Occupational Goal: Future Marketing Director

“I have always been interested in business and marketing. I have learned much from my CTE business classes. The CTE Marketing Pathway gave me the opportunity to learn about a field that I was unfamiliar with. This field intrigued me in many different ways and opened new doors for my educational goals. Marketing taught me the basics in areas such as promotion, marketing, retail, and business ethics. The marketing program was one of the most influential experiences of my high school career.

“My occupational goal is to work up from an intern to an entry-level marketing position, and ultimately be the marketing director for a corporation and lead the marketing department.”

—Austin Smith, Mountain High School

UtahCTE.org congratulates Austin on the CTE Scholarship and Tuition Award he received to Weber State University. Austin was one of 102 students honored at the CTE Scholarships and Tuition Awards banquet on Wednesday, May 1, 2013.

 Left: Blair Carruth, Assistant Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education
Middle: Austin Smith
Right: Jared Haines, Vice President, Utah College of Applied Technology 

By Carley Herrick
Utah DECA State President

This March Utah DECA hosted its annual State Career Development Conference at the Davis Conference Center in Layton, Utah. Over 1,100 students and advisors attended this two day event, displaying their skills in the areas of entrepreneurship, finance, management, and hospitality as they competed in both role play and written plan events. During the first day students competed in preliminary role-play events where they had a chance to think on their feet as they had ten minutes to solve a problem and present their solutions to a judge. Students also took a coordinating exam that tested their knowledge in their chosen event.

The second day of the conference kicked off with the Preliminary Awards Session where the top twenty were announced in each role-play category. Throughout the rest of the day students competed in final role-play competitions and also had the opportunity to compete in written event competitions. These written events are composed of 11 to 35 page business plans that must be completed one week prior to the Conference. Judges then reviewed the plans and listened to students’ presentations. Students who did not compete during the second day had the opportunity to visit the conference exhibits where they met with college representatives, state officer candidates, and local businesses.

The conference finished with the Grand Awards Session where the top ten finalists and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners were announced and received awards on stage. On April 23-28, 2013, these finalists will join 16,000 other students in Anaheim California to compete in the DECA International Career Development Conference. During the Grand Awards, the 2013-2014 Utah DECA State Officer Team and President were announced and several DECA chapter advisors were recognized for their dedicated service and contributions to marketing education and Utah DECA .

The 2013 Utah DECA State Conference was a great success thanks to lots of hard work and preparation from students, advisors, volunteers, and educational directors. Thank you for your continued support and best of luck to our national qualifiers!

By Carley Herrick
Utah DECA State President

Over 400 Utah DECA members recently made the trip up the canyon to the beautiful town of Park City for the annual DECA Fall Leadership Conference. During the opening session of the conference, DECA members had the opportunity to hear from local entrepreneur Alan Martin, CEO of Campus Book Rentals, who gave an inspiring speech about overcoming barriers and achieving success. Students then had the chance to attend breakout sessions where they enhanced their leadership abilities with the U.S. Army, worked on their competition skills with success coach and former DECA member Michelle McCullough, and earned a chance to win cash prizes as they learned about teen marketing from Mountain America Credit Union. Later that evening, students showed off their moves at the DECA dance while helping to raise money for one of Utah DECA’s long time advisors whose son suffers from cystic fibrosis and recently underwent a double lung transplant.

The next morning, members woke up bright and early for an intensive competition training session. After orientation, students participated in partner role-plays where they had a chance to demonstrate their business and marketing expertise as they worked to find creative, effective solutions to real world business situations. After their presentation, students had an opportunity to get valuable feedback from their judges. Soon after, students packed up their bags and said goodbye to their newfound friends as they headed back to their different schools with all the knowledge and skills they need to thrive over the coming year. The success of the conference can be summoned up with a quote from a first year DECA member, “I seriously knew nothing about DECA and now I feel like it’s part of me. I’m so excited about DECA, Fall Leadership has been an incredible experience!”

If you’re not a member of a DECA, and would like to become a member, talk to your school counselor to get connected with the DECA advisor in your school.

DECA is a student leadership organization that provides hands-on leadership development. Students learn how to develop, price, place, and promote products in the right business setting. The organization builds self-confidence, work attitudes, and communication skills.

Meet the New 2012-2013 DECA State Officers:
Carley Herrick - State President
Rebecca Pham - Executive Vice President
Josh Anderson – Northern Region VP
Camille Duncan – Central Region VP
McKaylee Eggett – Southern Region VP
Jared Seachris – VP of Public Relations
Kylee Shrader – VP of Events

The DECA state officers have worked hard to plan events and activities that will take place during the 2012-2013 school year. On October 11, 2012, Utah DECA state and chapter officers will gather in Park City, Utah for the DECA Fall Leadership Conference.

Who: DECA state and chapter officers
What: DECA Fall Leadership Conference and Training
Where: Yarrow Hotel in Park City, Utah
When: October 11-12, 2012
Theme: THRIVE

“During this event chapter officers from all over the state will come together for two days of DECA training.  Here they will have the chance to meet business professionals from Mountain America Credit Union, REAL Salt Lake, U.S. Army and several other organizations and gain valuable training in the areas of marketing, business, leadership, and advertising,” says Carley Herrick, DECA State President.

Chapter officers will have the opportunity to attend a region break out session where they will share and network with their local chapters and officers. This year’s conference will also include a special competition orientation in which students will have a chance to compete in a DECA Role Play Event and Exam. This will give students the opportunity to get personal feedback from judges and gain valuable competitive experience. The National DECA Western Region V.P. Victoria Cana will also be visiting our Fall Leadership Conference and giving a presentation to the students.

As part of the kick off for the new school year, the DECA state officers have released their goals. The year is expected to be filled with membership drives, training, community service, and preparing for competitive events.

Utah DECA Goals for 2012-2013
1. Create new chapters throughout the state with a special focus on the St. George area.
2. Implement DECA Competitive Event Training into core curriculum.
3. Gain more exposure statewide through Social Media
(i.e. reaching 1,000 “Likes” on Facebook)
4. Promote the National DECA THRIVE Campaign throughout the state (includes membership, community service, and advocacy campaigns)
5. Reach out and communicate effectively with local chapters.
6. Have the best DECA year ever!

There are over 2,000 DECA members in 52 Utah chapters. If you are not a member of DECA, and would like to become a member, talk to your school counselor to get connected with the DECA advisor in your school.

Peter Tibbetts
Occupational Goal: Advertising and Public Relations Manager

“I would like to be trained in advertising and public relations. I have a creative mind, I like people, and I can get along with just about anyone. [In high school,] I selected the Marketing Management Pathway and learned how to market myself along with any product. I started taking marketing classes in my freshman year to help lead me to this chosen occupation.

“I have always wanted to have a job in marketing. I eventually want to open my own business. I want to keep learning [about marketing] until I know as much as I can, and to be the best I possibly can be.” —Peter Tibbetts, Mountain High School

UtahCTE.org congratulates Peter on the CTE Scholarship and Tuition Award he received to Salt Lake Community College. Peter was one of 95 students honored at the CTE Scholarships and Tuition Awards banquet on Wednesday, May 2, 2012.

By Curtis Youngman, Professor of Marketing at Salt Lake Community College, and State Advisor of Utah Collegiate DECA

Emily Dzaitlik is a recent example of a how participation in the Concurrent Enrollment program, along with involvement in a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) leads to high school and college success. During a visit to Jordan High School, I met Emily when she was a senior. That year, Emily was president of the Jordan High School DECA Organization.

DECA involvement prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. Emily had participated in Fall Leadership Conferences, State and International Career Development Conferences (ICDC), and many community and campus service activities. She saw first-hand the value of leadership opportunities and the competitive nature of the business world.

That following year, after high school graduation, Emily was chosen as the Collegiate DECA State Vice President for Communication. She was a key player on the state leadership team, she effectively communicated with advisors, chartered leadership teams and the business community. Emily’s competitive nature rose again as she entered the Advertising Campaign Event and placed 1st in state and 2nd at the International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Being a state leader was not enough for Emily. While at the ICDC in Orlando she ran for an International position, and was selected to be one of the five student leaders representing the total international delegation. She has been a valued player with the national student officer team. It is exciting to watch! Seeing Emily step into positions that spur team building activities and critical thinking, and then displaying her leadership skills to others or delegating assignments and ensuring that the individual understand, shows the skills Emily has developed through her educational training.

What a journey Emily has been on! One of her key points is to make sure the 2012 Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) is a very memorable and successful DECA experience for the 1,500-1,600 students who attend the conference on April 21-24 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Utah’s educational experiences help our students grow and prepare for successful careers. Yes, the CTE program is showing that direct connection between high school and the smooth transition to post-secondary education and careers. Emily’s transition could not have been any smoother. The challenging and rigorous training from Concurrent Enrollment provides experiential activities that assist students in their future opportunities. The key training that DECA and Collegiate DECA offers our students ties the training together and prepares students for their future.

There is a great need for students to engage in Career and Technical Education programs, and in Concurrent Enrollment to help them progress in career training and degree offerings; the value that the CTSO‘s provide to make a positive difference in the lives of our students. Bringing all of those skills into a complete and successful package is why we are all in the educational field.

CTE programs integrate student leadership elements; it compliments student participation in these course programs. CTE – A working educational program; let’s continue enhancing the results it offers.

Read about Concurrent Enrollment at Salt Lake Community College.

DECA is a student leadership organization that provides hands-on leadership development. Students learn how to develop, price, place, and promote products in the right business setting. The organization builds self-confidence, work attitudes, and communication skills. There are over 2,000 DECA members in 52 Utah chapters.

On March 1-2 DECA members from across the state met at the Davis Conference Center in Layton to compete at the DECA State Career Development Conference. Throughout the year DECA members prepared to compete in the following events:

• Principles of Business Administration Events
• Team Decision Making Events
• Individual Series Events
• Business Operations Research Events
• Chapter Team Events
• Business Management and Entrepreneurship Events
• Marketing Representative Events
• Professional Selling Events
• Online Events

Awards were given to approximately 150 Utah DECA students. Students placing in the top ten, of each event, received a medal and those who placed in the top three received a trophy.

The top five high schools with the most winners were:

1. Bingham
2. Fremont
3. Herriman
4. Riverton
5. Uintah

Winners now advance to the national DECA competition on April 28 – May 2 in Salt Lake City, UT.

We want to hear about the DECA conference, your skill competition and what your DECA chapter has planned for the rest of the school year. Send your stories to utahcte@schools.utah.gov.

If you are not a member of a DECA, and would like to become a member, talk to your school counselor to get connected with the DECA advisor in your school.

PERSONAL CAREER BRIEF

Introducing… Elizabeth Ziegler

A graduate of … Redwood High School (California)

Now working as … Public Information Officer I-Social Media Specialist, “in charge of representing the State Board of Education and State Office of Education Leadership and Programs on various social media platforms. These include a WordPress Blog, Facebook Fan Page, Twitter account, Flickr account and YouTube Channel.”

Employer … Utah State Office of Education

Check out this website … http://UtahPublicEducation.org

Current Events was her favorite class in high school because …“I didn’t realize it, but this course focused on the geo-political issues of the day sparked an interest in politics and the media that inspired me to become a reporter and to work in public relations for a government agency, which is my current occupation.”

Elizabeth’s first job … Gift wrapper at a small chain of department stores.

The worst job?  Call center worker “because the work entails encountering a lot of disgruntled, annoyed people and doing very repetitive tasks while sitting all day.”

A Career Highlight … Elizabeth was named the 2009 Utah Radio Reporter of the Year by the Utah Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Advice to students: “If you are interested in a career, go for it. Be persistent.”

And more …

About Elizabeth’s most significant training beyond high school:

“There were two critical opportunities I sought after college that were instrumental in getting me started on my career path.

• I realized after graduating with a degree in Literature from UC Santa Cruz that I missed writing on deadline. I considered going to graduate school to be an English teacher in high school or at the college level. But I soon realized it was the act of writing I missed and so began to pursue options for becoming a journalist. I turned to a local alternative monthly paper published and called the editor to ask how to get into the business. She asked me to come in and we chatted about editing, reporting and talked about some story ideas I had brought in with me. Soon I was helping proofread the paper before it went to press and contributing music reviews and features. For this work, I was not paid very much. But the experience, my “clips,” helped me land a full-time job at a newspaper.
• Around this same time, after college but before I had really gotten started on my career, I took a community college course in radio to get over my shyness. I was so nervous about public speaking and thought that this course would help. It was designed to train new volunteers for a community radio station and after the course ended, I became a late-night volunteer music DJ at the station. Many years later in my career, I pulled on this experience to transition from being a newspaper reporter into a public radio reporter. Without that class, I would never have been able to get my job covering the Utah Legislature for KCPW.

 Some specific strategies for learning more about jobs that interest you:

• Call organizations that interest you, contact individuals within the organizations who have jobs you think you might want, and ask them how they got there and what you can do to get started in their field.
• Don’t undervalue volunteer positions or internship opportunities, even if they are unpaid, because the personal contacts you make and the work you do in these positions will help you when it comes time to apply for a full-time, paid position in the career of your choice.

PERSONAL CAREER BRIEF

Introducing… Sandy Straley

A graduate of … Skyline High School

Now working as … Realtor-Broker-Property Manager

Employer … Sunview Homes

Check out this website … http://sunviewutah.com/

Psychology was her favorite class in high school because …“I am a very social person, so I enjoyed learning about how people think and react.”

Sandy’s first job … a secretary for the Salt Lake City Police Department.

The worst job?  Contact lens cleaner.  What made it the worst was the lack of variety; she found it extremely monotonous, which made it difficult to get excited about going to work every day.

Sandy reports her most significant training beyond high school has been “Real estate classes, broker classes, and continuing education throughout my career.”

A Career Highlight … Sandy is a “Million Dollar” salesperson, having sold a million dollars worth of property in one year!

Advice to students: “Make sure you get a college degree.” In today’s economy, employers often choose the person who has the degree over someone who only has experience.

By Jeff McCauley, Marketing Teacher, Davis High School

Seth Godin, a thought leader and business guru once commented, “If you graduate with a 4.0 from high school, what are you good at?” His answer; “high school.”

Sadly, in many ways he is right. However, in CTE we continually work to remain relevant, to be on the cutting edge.

This past fall the Davis Marketing Group at Davis High School piloted the first high school Social Media Marketing class in Utah, and possibly in the entire country. The reason for the class—simply to help students remain current and secure a competitive edge with relevant skills and knowledge.

The course was designed to cover the technology and application sides of social media in business. For each platform or medium, including Facebook, Twitter, mobile marketing, blogging, YouTube, etc., students studied three specific areas:

• How to use the platform/medium (the technology and “how to” aspect)
• How to use the platform/medium in the business world (application)
• How companies have used these platforms/media (case studies)

Through the course students developed reveal pages for Facebook pages, QR codes to direct scanners to websites, phone calls or videos, and iPhone/Android mobile apps. They created a list of influential business leaders to follow on Twitter and learned to personalize their YouTube page.

Kate Simpson commented, “I felt that the approach of learning by doing, rather than simply reading a textbook, [gave me] the skills that I can apply right now.” She also feels her use of social media has changed as she approached it from a professional perspective since future employers will no doubt look at her digital life in the interview process.

Lauren Underwood said, “The class opened new doors in the world of marketing that I will use the rest of my life.”

To a great degree, Breanna Barton is correct when she says, “Social media is the future of marketing.” While traditional marketing is critical, there will always be a role for social media marketing.

In a recent article in the Standard-Examiner, Darin Bernston of SEO.com said, “From an employer like us, we think it’s great that it’s being taught in high school to help get the students more prepared before college, since social media is becoming a big strategy for many companies.” It’s what is happening now and is something you definitely have to embrace, since social media is basically word of mouth on steroids.”

While social media marketing in secondary education is in its infant stages there is certain to be growth of such program offerings. In the fall there are plans by as many as six additional high schools to offer the course.

The big concern, of course, is that there will always be skeptics who contend social media is a trend, a fringe topic. I wonder if those who thought the Internet was a fad want to reconsider?

The Growth of Social Media

UtahCTE.org note:  Jeff McCauley and Breanna Barton were quoted in the January edition of Utah Business Magazine, “Schools Offer Social Media Classes to the Next Generation of Marketers.” Mr. McCauley’s class was then featured in an article in the Standard-Examiner on January 20, “Schooled in Social Media.” On February 1, a local TV news station visited Mr. McCauley’s Social Media Marketing class. Read their report online at KUTV 2.