Kentucky DECA
Preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing,
finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

Left to right: Aiden Corder, VP Membership (Somerset); Brooklyn Williams, President (Graves County); Riley Thompson, VP Public Relations (Trigg County)
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 11, 2022 – Region 4/5 Fall Workshop @ EKU, Richmond
October 19, 2022 – Region 1 Fall Workshop @ MSU, Murray
October 26, 2022 – Region 2/3 Fall Workshop @ WKU, Bowling Green
CONFERENCES
November 11-13, 2022 - The Ultimate DECA Power Trip @ Arlington, VA
November 16-20, 2022 - New York Experience Week 1 @ New York, NY
November 30 - December 4, 2022 - New York Experience Week 2 @ New York, NY
December 9-11, 2022 – Central Region Leadership Conference @ Milwaukee
January 25, 2023 – Region 1 Conference @ MSU, Murray
January 27, 2023 – Region 4/5 Conference @ EKU, Richmond
February 1, 2023 – Region 2/3 Conference @ WKU, Bowling Green
February 1-5, 2023 - Sports + Entertainment Marketing Conference, Orlando
March 5-7, 2023 – Kentucky DECA SCDC @ Louisville
April 22-25, 2023 – DECA ICDC @ Orlando
IMPORTANT DATES INCLUDING DEADLINES
October 18-28, 2022 - Virtual Business Challenge Round 1
November 15, 2022 - Initial Membership Dues Deadline
December 1, 2022 - DECA Chapter Campaigns and Membership Campaign Deadline
December 15, 2022 - Regional Registration Deadline for TDM, Written, PSE events
January 10, 2023 - Regional Registration Deadline for KY Only Tests, Principles, PFL, and Individual Series events
January 10, 2023 - Regional Project Upload Deadline
January 10, 2023 - Regional Deadline for Substitutions or Changes
January 12, 2023 - School-Based Enterprise Certification Documentation due
January 13, 2023 - Student Scholarship Applications due
January 16, 2023 - 2023-2024 Regional Officer Applications due
January 17-27, 2023 - Virtual Business Challenge Round 2
Revised Deadlines
February 6, 2023
Online testing due for RCDC
Job Interview Submissions due for RCDC Regions 2, 3, 4
Revised Projects due for SCDC Regions 1, 4, 5
February 8, 2023
Revised Projects due for SCDC Regions 2, 3
February 10, 2023
DECA Outstanding Member of the Year video submissions due
SCDC Registration due
DECA at the Bell Challenge Registration due
State Officer Applications due
February 13, 2023
Diamond in the Rough Award Nominees due
February 14, 2023
SCDC Registration Checks Postmarked
February 15, 2023
DECA dues paid for all Conference competitors
February 20, 2023
Housing Form due to Galt House and KY DECA for SCDC
February 21, 2023
Deadline for Substitutions for SCDC
February 24, 2023
DECA at the Bell Challenge videos due
March 1, 2023 - Advocacy Campaign due
March 3, 2023 - Executive Officer Candidate Applications due
April 6, 2023 - ICDC Qualifying Written Entry Submissions due
April 22-25, 2023 - ICDC in Orlando, FL
Why DECA?

Click on the DECA Badge above to see the benefits of being a DECA Advisor!
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

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 2022-2023 State Leadership Team

Kentucky State Advisor
Lisa Oakes 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:
*Business and Marketing Teacher - George Rogers Clark High School, Winchester, KY
*Vocational Computer Teacher - Saguaro Correctional Complex, Eloy, AZ
*Director of Education - Anthem College, Las Vegas, NV
*Adjunct Instructor - ITT Tech and Eastern Kentucky University
She enjoys reading, hiking, and spending time with her family (especially her grandchildren).

President
Brooklyn is a Senior at Graves County High School where she is a member of the varsity Tennis team, FEA, FBLA, and Pep Club. She is an alumni of the Governor's Schools for Entrepreneurs and the Hugh O'Bryan Youth Leadership program. In the future, she plans to attend Murray State University and major in Business Education. She is excited to travel around the state and meet other passionate Kentucky DECA members!

Vice President of Public Relations
Riley is a Senior at Trigg County High School where he participates in Baseball, Cross Country, and Track. He is also a member of BETA, Black Hole Club, Teen Court, KYA and TSA/STLP. Upon graduation, he plans on attending University of Kentucky and major in Management. His goals for Kentucky DECA include sending as many individuals to ICDC as possible and further information everyone on the importance of the DECA mission statement.

Vice President of Membership
Aiden is a Senior at Somerset High School in Pulaski County where he is a member of the Tennis team, Solar Car team, and National Honor Society. He is a proud alumni of the Governor's Scholar Program and plans on attending Murray State University when he graduates. Having been a member of DECA since his Freshman year, Aiden looks forward to finishing his DECA high school career strong and meet his goal of increased membership for Kentucky DECA. His wish is that all members have positive DECA experiences as he has had.