Volunteer Leadership:
Strategically Guiding FBLA

Standing Committees are established in the bylaws of the organization. Typical standing committees include a Finance (audit, budget, investments/reserves) Committee and a Governance Committee (nominations, organizational policies, and bylaws). Advisory Committees and Task Forces are established by the board and must be approved by board action in the form of a motion.

Alumni & Professional Network Advisory Council

The council will make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the utilization and support of alumni and businesspersons and provide non-binding strategic advice for association advancement. This will include recommendations for cultivating partnerships or sponsorships with businesses that result in tailored training to members with input and feedback from respective businesses and industries, on-site experiences for members within the industry or business they are pursuing, greater awareness of FBLA within the business community, and sponsorships, scholarships, and other funding opportunities.

Members:

  1. Brandon Griffin, Chair *
  2. Beau Cobb
  3. Ed Wilkins*
  4. Ellie Murphy
  5. Eric McGarvey*
  6. Jaya Singh
  7. Niel Patel
  8. Ryan Paul, Executive Committee Liaison*
  9. Sameer Somal*

Staff Liaison:
Elena Daly, Manager of Governance & Affiliate Relations

*indicates a current member of the FBLA Board of Directors

Collegiate Strategy Council

The task force will develop highly innovative proposals for the Board of Directors regarding the complete reimagination of the division to roll out beginning in the 2022-2023 membership year. This will result in developing structure, programming, and delivery that is appealing, leading-edge, challenging, relevant to collegiate coursework and industry standards, and tied to measurable results (including membership increases, greater retention from high school division, increased revenue, and internship and job procurement). Utilizing the work of previous task forces, existing research, membership trends, competitive analysis, input from business and industry representatives and alumni, and other data collection methods, the task force is empowered to submit feasible proposals that would vastly transform the division from its current offering.

The Collegiate Strategy Council will develop recommendations to be prioritized and implemented over a three-year period.

Members:

  1. Billy Colston, California State Adviser, Chair
  2. Megan Bergman, Local Collegiate Adviser
  3. Riley Herring, Nebraska State Adviser
  4. Deborah Pruitt, Local Collegiate Adviser
  5. Noreen Templin, Local Collegiate Adviser
  6. Mona Williams, Georgia State Adviser

Student Representative:

Kimberly Speece, Collegiate Vice President of Membership

Staff Liaison:
Bradley Brooks, Collegiate Program Manager

The council is established to engage FBLA stakeholders to ensure we are addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of the organization including governance, student member experience, content, and staff.

Deliverables

  • Assess DEI within the FBLA community using NPHR model.
  • Develop DEI-related data collection and analysis for student members and chapter advisers in collaboration with state key contacts, to include recommendations for data collection in the new National membership database.
  • Recommend revision of core documents—Values, Code of Ethics, Creed, and Pledge.
  • Establish a draft statement about FBLA DEI—anchored in mission, vision, core values.  The statement should demonstrate a commitment and define the culture of embracing and celebrating DEI that FBLA seeks to develop.
  • Prepare recommendations to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in the FBLA and Collegiate National Officer Program.
  • Governance Committee, in consultation with the DEI council, external consultant, and legal counsel, will update the volunteer management recruitment process and procedures to address DEI including the board of directors and committees.
  • Implement staff support to establish a culture of DEI through engagement activities, learning, and a review of human resource policies and procedures that foster a diverse staff with policies and procedures that ensure an inclusive and equitable work environment.
  • Education Programs Committee, working with the DEI Council and the national student officers, to develop program content and materials addressing DEI as part of the FBLA membership experience.

Members: 

Tiffany Perez, Chair
Bethany Duke
Kim Hamilton
James Hulce
Keith James
Caitlyn O’Neil
Margary Rogers
Jody Salsman

Staff Liaison: 

Mary Lynn Rynkiewicz, Director of Marketing & Communications

The Elections Committee will establish and provide oversight on policies and procedures that support the annual election of national student officers by division. In addition, committee members will support the National Center staff in conducting the elections including reviewing applications, establishing guidelines for campaign materials, and ensuring compliance with all policies and procedures by candidates, local chapters, and state affiliates.

Members:

  1. Dan Hazlett, Chair *
  2. James Hulce
  3. Duke Di Stefano*
  4. Abi Ludwig
  5. Bethany Duke, Collegiate National Parliamentarian
  6. Elise Carpenter, High School National Parliamentarian

Staff Liaison:
Lisa Smothers, Director of Membership

*Indicates a current member of the FBLA Board of Directors

The Finance Committee shall:

  • Review annual budget prepared by the President/CEO and present the reviewed budget to the board for approval.
  • Review all other financial matters or commitments prior to the presentation to the board, such as significant contracts, etc.
  • Review both short- and long-range goals included in the adopted strategic plan to assist in budget projection.
  • Review investment policy and make recommendations to the board as needed.
  • Conduct a review of investment performance annually with external investment advisors.
  • Make recommendations to the board of directors concerning financial policies of the association.
  • Review the results of the annual audit of FBLA’s financial statements with the CPA firm and report any significant findings to the board. Additionally, the committee shall review the draft of the organization’s Form 990 before it is filed with the IRS and have the opportunity to ask questions of the CPA firm.

Members:

  1. Ed Wilkins, Chair*
  2. Bob Kollar, Board Liaison*
  3. Evan Lemoine
  4. Liuling Liu
  5. Caitlyn O’Neal
  6. Dr. Biswaranjan Senapati
  7. Kent Storm

Staff Liaison: Robert Holst, Director of Finance & Operations

The Governance Committee will be charged with the nominating process for individuals to serve on the National Board of Directors as well as advise on matters of the organization’s bylaws and policies. Each year the Governance Committee will lead the process of recruiting and nominating candidates for election to the National Board of Directors. In addition, the Governance Committee will annually review the policies and bylaws for approval by the board of directors.

Members:

  1. Toby Neal*
  2. Monty Rhodes
  3. Stacee McCiff
  4. Wendy Mills, Secretary*

Staff Liaison:
Alex Graham, President & CEO*

*Indicates a current member of the FBLA Board of Directors.

The Membership Council’s charge is to prepare recommendations to address membership recruitment & retention and support for advisers in the FBLA middle school divisions, with an emphasis on:

  • Three-year development plan for FBLA Middle School division
  • Curricular experiences and programs that engage both students and parents/guardians
  • Opportunities for leadership at the National level
  • Expansion of competitive events to meet middle school curriculum needs in business and computer science
  • FBLA Middle School programming at National conferences
  • Virtual engagement opportunities with National Officers

The council will work in collaboration with the Membership Committee.

Members:

  1. Christina Perez, Chair*
  2. Cayley Newell
  3. Chris Dzurick, Executive Committee Liaison*
  4. Corbin Robinson
  5. Laural Mullen
  6. Lingling Xu
  7. Luciana Green
  8. Wendy Mills*

Staff Liaison:

Lisa Smothers, Director of Membership

The National Competitive Events Committee shall:

  1. Develop and maintain the long-term vision for FBLA’s competitive events program to guide tactical, data-driven decisions about future offerings.
  2. Align competitive events to evidence-based career and technical education standards and workforce development needs.
  3. Review competitive event proposals and make recommendations for additions/changes to the competitive events program.
  4. Develop, write, and edit competitive event guidelines.
  5. Review competitive event content, focus, and procedures; modify as appropriate.
  6. Develop yearly topics for appropriate competitive events.
  7. Conduct adviser and/or member workshops related to competitive events at National Fall Leadership Conference and as needed.
  8. Provide general oversight of competitive event management at the National Leadership Conference.
  9. Staff a competitive events desk and answer questions at the National Leadership Conference.
  10. Rule on eligibility and procedural concerns at the National Leadership Conference.

Members:

Middle School Division:

  1. Kim Hamilton (South Carolina), 2026
  2. Kristen DiStefano (Utah), 2025
  3. Susan Senninger (Missouri), 2024

High School Division:

  1. Jacqui Garrison (Nebraska), 2026*, Chair
  2. Denise Losh (West Virginia), 2025
  3. Jeff Victor (New Jersey), 2025
  4. Jamie Connor (Maryland), 2024
  5. Jacob Avila (California), 2026

Collegiate Division:

  1. Crystal Waye (Georgia), 2025
  2. Jeanette Milius (Nebraska), 2026
  3. Brenda Merkel (South Dakota), 2026
  4. Jessica DeVaal (North Dakota), 2024
  5. Thomas Fortenberry (Mississippi), 2024

Staff Liaisons:

Jen Staley, Director of Awards & Recognition
Jennifer Claus, FBLA Board of Directors Liaison

The Scholarship & Financial Aid Committee advises on policies and procedures for supporting student members and chapters with scholarship programs and financial aid. The committee will also review applications for aid using a criteria/rubric for each aid/scholarship program to identify recipients. FBLA aid programs include National Leadership Conference Scholarship Program, Dressed to Impress Scholarship, Distinguished Business Leader Scholarship and National Technical Honor Society Scholarship.

Members:

  1. Wendy Mills, Chair*
  2. Amanda Beaudo
  3. Kaelib Harp
  4. Riley Herring
  5. Kim Otto
  6. Gladys Pemberton
  7. Biswaranjan Senapati

Staff Liaison:

Jen Staley, Director of Awards & Recognition

*indicates a current member of the FBLA Board of Directors