At Gainesville High School in Georgia, DECA advisor Logan Creekmur is redefining member engagement through creative programming that blends community, connection, and career inspiration. One of his chapter’s newest initiatives - “Dine with DECA” - has quickly become a highlight of the year and a best practice worth sharing.
The idea for Dine with DECA grew out of a successful pickleball social the chapter hosted last year. Mr. Creekmur noticed that while students were excited at the start of the year, engagement sometimes dropped for those not competing early on. He and his officer team wanted to create something memorable and motivating to keep members plugged in—and the concept of a formal dinner with a guest speaker was born.
The chapter hosted its first event on September 11, 2025, at a rooftop venue in Gainesville. The evening featured catered food, bingo, and a dynamic guest speaker—a 28-year-old local restaurateur who connected deeply with students by sharing his entrepreneurial journey, the importance of taking risks, and steps students can take now to prepare for the future. Not only did he stay long after his talk to chat one-on-one, but he also hired several DECA members he met that night.
Mr. Creekmur believes the success of the event came from focusing on finding the right speaker. “When the speaker connects, students naturally get excited about the event,” he explained.
Student officers ensured the program appealed to their peers. Generous contributions from local businesses owned by DECA members' parents covered the food and venue costs to make the event free, and the chapter’s social media amplified the experience through photos and videos. Since Instagram is one of their best recruiting and fundraising tools, they made sure to capture and share the experience with followers.
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Students loved the professional yet fun atmosphere, while the speaker called it the highlight of his week. Most importantly, members left reflecting on how their current choices could shape their futures—exactly the kind of mindset DECA strives to inspire.
For other advisors looking to replicate this idea, Mr. Creekmur offers simple advice: involve your officer team, bring in community sponsors, and capture the event. “Our goal was to give students a reason to join, stay involved, and see themselves as leaders,” he said.
Mr. Creekmur and his officers are already starting to plan out their next Dine with DECA event, to be held in late March. This date is intentionally selected so that members who are done with competition after their state conference still have events in the chapter to look forward to and engage in.
"We want to make sure that DECA is year-round for all students, not just competitors," Mr. Creekmur emphasized.
Mr. Creekmur hopes for their next event to secure a local entrepreneur in their community who focuses on the importance of intentional communication, especially the art of handwritten letters. In this digital age, where many students are no longer familiar with this communication avenue, this could be especially beneficial!
Through initiatives like Dine with DECA, Logan Creekmur is showing how intentional, student-focused experiences can transform chapter culture and keep members engaged all year long.
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