Kentucky DECA
Preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing,
finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.
Back row, Left to right: Riley Thompson, VP Public Relations (Trigg County); Lania Hite, VP Membership (Trigg County)
Front row, Left to right: Ellie Swift, VP Communications (Graves County); Ana Muse, President (Pulaski County); Stella Bower, VP Finance (Jessamine CTC)
Why DECA?
Click on the DECA Badge above to see the benefits of being a DECA Advisor!
CTE -- it's the WAY TO BE!
Click Above to see how Kentucky CTE and CTSOs are helping students be prepared for the workforce today and in the future!
Dates to Remember
CONFERENC
WORKSHOPS
October 18, 2023 – Region 1 Fall Workshop @ MSU, Murray
October 25, 2023 – Region 2/3 Fall Workshop @ WKU, Bowling Green
November 1, 2023 – Region 4/5 Fall Workshop @ EKU, Richmond
CONFERENCES
November 17-19, 2023 - The Ultimate DECA Power Trip @ Austin, TX
January 24, 2024 – Region 1 Conference @ MSU, Murray
January 26, 2024 – Region 2/3 Conference @ WKU, Bowling Green
January 31 - February 4, 2024 - Sports + Entertainment Marketing Conference, Orlando
February 1, 2024 - Region 4 Conference @ EKU, Richmond
February 2, 2024 – Region 5 Conference @ EKU, Richmond
March 3-5, 2024 – Kentucky DECA SCDC @ Hyatt Regency Downtown, Louisville
April 27-30, 2024 – DECA ICDC @ Anaheim, CA
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IMPORTANT DATES INCLUDING DEADLINES
December 1, 2023 - Blue Panda opens for RCDC Registration
December 15, 2023 - Regional Registration Deadline for TDM, Written, PSE events (all regions)
January 10, 2024 - Regional Registration Deadline for KY Only Tests, Principles, PFL, and Individual Series events (all regions)
January 10, 2024 - Regional Project Upload Deadline (all regions)
January 10, 2024 - Regional Deadline for Substitutions or Changes (all regions)
January 15, 2024 - Regional Scholarship Application due - Regions 1 and 2 only
January 15-19, 2024 - Regional Testing Window for TDM, Professional Selling, and Integrated Marketing events (all regions)
January 16, 2024 - 2024-2025 Regional Officer Applications due (all regions)
January 16, 2024 - RCDC Registration payment due (all regions)
February 1, 2024 - Revisions to projects qualifying for SCDC due uploaded to Blue Panda (Regions 1-3)
February 1, 2024 - Real Estate Pilot Event projects due uploaded to Blue Panda (all regions)
February 3, 2024 - Denise Hamilton scholarship application, Andrew Dodson scholarship application, Advisor's scholarship application due
February 4, 2024 - State Officer Applications due
February 8, 2024 - Revisions to projects qualifying for SCDC due uploaded to Blue Panda (Regions 4, 5)
February 10, 2024 - SCDC chapter registration submission deadline
February 10, 2024 - SCDC registration payment postmark deadline
February 12, 2024 - SCDC housing forms due to Hyatt Regency Downtown, Louisville
February 15, 2024 - Outstanding chapter member of the year video resume deadline (email to Lisa.Oakes@education.ky.gov)
February 16, 2024 - Kentucky DECA Diamond in the Rough nominees due
March 3-5, 2004 - State Career Development Conference, Louisville
April 27-30, 2024 - International Career Development Conference, Anaheim, CA
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For specific DECA deadlines and due dates:
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Interested in Volunteering
with Kentucky DECA?
Submit the documents located in the link above to Lisa.Oakes@education.ky.gov
How Has DECA Made a Difference?
When I was younger, in my mind, my future involved becoming a super model, and then a police officer, and then a wife. To be honest, it wasn’t until I got MUCH older that I had any aspirations just for myself. I sorta just let life happen.
DECA for me was a foundation building opportunity that I didn’t realize would so impact my future. The club helped me build friendships, learn life lessons, gave me confidence and encouragement that really came into play as I aged. Being a regional and state officer, coming in first in my event at state, in the top 10 at national, trips to multiple states, ALL the learning and experiences not only were fun, but educational and life developing.
I knew everything when I was 17. At least I did until I turned 20, 25, 40. The older I got, the more I realized just how important DECA had been for my future.
My plan now, when I grow up (HA!), is to start my own business. I’m a General Manager in a restaurant and have been in the industry for 24 years. DECA enabled my ability to analyze numbers, market my restaurant, build sales, negotiate with vendors, employee relations, and a general business acumen. All that will transfer to my business when the time comes.
My advice is to always be self introspective, learn from your mistakes and listen to your heart. That will guide you to what you love to do. When you do what you love, you’ll never work a day!!
------ Liz Creech, former
DECA member
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About Kentucky DECA
DECA is a unique organization that develops skills needed to succeed in the Business and Marketing field. Skills in areas such as advertising, promotion, selling, finance, and distribution are emphasized. Management and entrepreneurial concepts involving creative problem solving, effective leadership through goal setting, consensus building, project implementation, and many others are also included to help students succeed in a Marketing or Business career. DECA helps a student focus on and apply classroom learning to specific careers in fields such as Business Administration, Fashion, Sports and Entertainment, Retailing, Finance, Hospitality, Travel/Tourism, and many more.
GET TO KNOW US
Your 2023-2024 State Leadership Team
Kentucky State Advisor
Lisa is Kentucky DECA's State Advisor. She attended Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, later transferring to Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville where she received her BS in Business Education. She received her MA Ed in Business Education from Eastern Kentucky University. She has been involved in education in a variety of venues including as a Business and Marketing Teacher at George Rogers Clark High School, Winchester, KY; Vocational Computer Teacher at Saguaro Correctional Complex, Eloy, AZ; Director of Education at Anthem College, Las Vegas, NV; Adjunct Instructor at ITT Tech and Eastern Kentucky University. She enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with her family (especially her 5 grandchildren).
Vice President of Finance
Stella Bower is Kentucky DECA’s Vice President of Finance. She attends West Jessamine High School, where she is also local DECA chapter president. She participates in Y-club, Beta club, National Honor Society, choir, theatre, and stage management. Her goals for Kentucky DECA in the 2023-2024 year is to grow membership, spread awareness about all the unique opportunities DECA has to offer, and to show that there is a place in DECA for everyone.
President
Ana Muse is this year's Kentucky DECA State President. She is a Senior at Pulaski County High School where she serves as an officer for FCA and in her local DECA chapter. She also is an active member in NHS, HOSA Club, Executive Council, and Beta Club. After high school, Ana plans to attend University to pursue a degree in Medicine. In her free time you can find her enjoying baking, reading, and spending time outdoors with family and friends. This year, she hopes to motivate people to get involved with DECA and emphasize the role that experiences within DECA will play within each member's lives in whatever vocation they choose to pursue!
Vice President of Communications
Ellie Swift is Kentucky DECA’s Vice President of Communications. She is a Junior at Graves County High School where she is on the tennis team, a student employee for the GC Trust Bank and an officer for Eagles for Christ. After high school, she plans on attending Murray State University majoring in Business Management. Her goal for Kentucky DECA is to spread kindness to everyone and teach others what DECA is all about.
Vice President of Public Relations
Riley Thompson is Kentucky DECA’s Vice President of Public Relations. He is a Senior at Trigg County High School where he participates in baseball, cross country and track. Also, he is a member of BETA, Black Hole, Teen Court, KYA, NHS, TSA/STLP and a proud alum of Morehead State GSP. After high school, he plans on attending the University of Kentucky majoring in Finance and minoring in Public Policy. His goal for Kentucky DECA is to inform the present and future local, regional, and state officers on the importance of the role they play in each member's success.
Vice President of Membership
Lania Hite is Kentucky DECA’s Vice President of Membership. She is a Senior at Trigg County High School where she participates in soccer, BETA, TSA/STLP, and FCA. After high school, she plans on attending a four year university where she plans to majoring in Business Marketing and minoring in Sales. Her goal for Kentucky DECA is to grow the program back in membership numbers and encourage each officer, regional and local, to work together throughout Kentucky to reach new members on all levels.
Contact Us
300 Sower Blvd. – 5th floor, 5 SW 04
Frankfort, KY 40601
(502) 564-4286, ext. 4269
