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From DECA Advisor to Chick-fil-A Owner-Operator
Vince Merrell found ways to encourage youth throughout his career as a DECA advisor and a Chick-fil-A Owner-Operator in Las Vegas, Nevada. In this article, discover how Merrell's path to Chick-fil-A was surprising and unexpected.

Case Study of the Week: Creating an Employee Volunteer Program
Step into the role of the director of human resources for Platter Group, a large global media, marketing and corporate communications company. The president of Platter Group has asked you to create an employee volunteer program.

Giving Back to DECA
I recently had the privilege of attending the MO DECA Fall Leadership Conference. This experience was particularly special as it allowed me to impart valuable knowledge in various domains critical for their future success.

Cracking the Code on Black Friday Marketing Strategies
One of the biggest holiday sales is coming up, but what makes it such a big event and even an American tradition? The key is all in how it’s marketed. Explore some of the top marketing strategies for Black Friday and explore how you can apply them to your brand.

Entrepreneurship Advice From DECA Members
Entrepreneurship is a lifelong goal for some people, and DECA members work to tackle that and make their dreams a reality. Look at what some members are doing to reach their goals!

Maximize Your Black Friday Shopping Experience
Black Friday has come a long way since its early days. What started as a one-day event has now become a week-long shopping extravaganza and the growth of e-commerce has revolutionized Black Friday shopping.

Workplace Skills for Success
Unlock your path to success in the dynamic job market by discovering 7 emerging workplace skills you need to stay ahead of the competition. This article guides you to becoming the ideal candidate in a rapidly evolving professional landscape.

Chapter Campaigns: Ideas for Involvement
Are you and your chapter looking at ways to develop your program of leadership and gain recognition during the best month of the year, DECA Month? Check out this article to learn about all five of DECA’s Chapter Campaigns and ideas for submission.

Represent the DECA Blue: What Does Your Blazer Mean to You?
DECA Blazers don't just represent us during events; they collect our stories and are a big part of our DECA experience. Find out how much they mean to our members by hearing their stories in this article!

Exploring Non-Profit Careers
In this article, Cassidy Creighton, the Development Coordinator with NPCF, explains her college experience, navigating the job market and her first career in the non-profit sector.

Announcing the Winners of the 2023 DECA Pumpkin Contest
Congratulations to the winners of DECA's Annual Pumpkin Contest! With a record number of 650+ submissions from members all across the DECA world, the selection process was not easy, but the members have voted and we are excited to announce the top three winners in each category!

Case Study of the Week: Expanding the Product Mix at a Mobile Salon
Step into the role of the owner of Fresh Look Mobile, a business that provides mobile hair-cutting services. Your business partner thinks it would be smart to expand the product mix and has asked you for on brand suggestions.

3 Fundraising Ideas for Fall
It seems that in every facet of DECA, fundraising is a necessity. During these unique times, it's important to innovate to ensure your chapter can participate in events and remain secure for the future. Here are three virtual fundraisers to try this fall.

5 Ways Collegiate DECA Will Take You to the Next Level
It's official, the school year is underway. While things will look different, there are still many ways to take yourself and your Collegiate DECA chapter to the next level!

Video Call Tips and Tricks
Practically overnight, video calls have become a new societal norm. This guide will provide you with a few tips and useful tricks to help improve your online learning or telecommuting experience.

A Quick Guide to Understanding Servant Leadership
The concept of leadership has been around since the days of Aristotle and Plato and has evolved countless times throughout the centuries. But in 1970, a new theory emerged. Developed by Robert Greenleaf, servant leadership is the idea that empowered leaders serve their followers and to enable them to live and work to their full potential.

The Ethics of Leadership
Ethical leaders exist in all walks of life. They are the individuals who step forward when crises occur, come to the rescue of others and generally do what's right—no matter what. Anyone can talk the talk, but can they walk the walk? In today's high-visibility, social world, more people are taking note of leaders’ behavior and holding them accountable.

DECA Direct Magazine: Next Level Leadership
A new school year brings new chances to elevate your leadership to the next level. Discover fresh ideas to enhance your chapter and become a leader worth following in your school, community and beyond.

The Next Level is Inclusion
It has never been more important for emerging leaders to be characterized by teamwork, innovation, competency and integrity. Fortunately, those are the valued characteristics of DECA’s student leaders. What if this moment needs you and the unique values that drive your leadership?

Top Tips for Socially-distant Membership Recruitment
Building your chapter’s membership is one of the most important ways to set it up for success in the new school year. But what are the best ways to recruit within the “new normal” of more virtual interactions and less in-person activities? Learn how to recruit new members the socially-distant way with these top tips.

The Power of the Diamond
Throughout your DECA career, you’ll wear the blazer, throw up a DECA diamond symbol and add lots of blue to your wardrobe. You will also undoubtedly hear DECA’s core values and mission statement more times than you can count. But have you ever stopped to think about what they really mean?

Cultivate Your Chapter’s Culture
2020 is a year that has changed all of our lives. If your DECA chapter has experienced a decline in recent months, struggling to cope with virtual meetings and maintain engagement, your chapter culture may need a boost.

Discover Your DECA Leadership Style
There are hundreds of assessments to help you pinpoint your leadership traits, but the only one you need to take your leadership to the next level is the DECA Leadership Style Quiz.

Influence with Informal Leadership
While you may not have an official leadership title, you still have the ability to help take your chapter to the #NextLevel with your informal leadership influence. Read on to learn more about informal leadership and how you can use it to make this year a success for you and your chapter.