STATE OFFICE
Meet the 2025-26 Team
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 grandchildren).
Emelia Singleton is proud to serve as the Association President for the 2026-2027 school year. She is a senior at Pulaski County High School, and this is her second term as a state officer and her fourth year in DECA. Outside of DECA, Emelia is actively involved in student leadership and advocacy. She is the founder and chair of the Pulaski County Youth Advisory Committee, founder and president of her school's Best Buddies chapter, a litigation and policy member of the Kentucky Student Voice Team, and works as a legal intern for a local defense attorney. Through these roles, she works alongside students and community leaders to create opportunities for young people and strengthen student voices. She also serves as Senior Class President and NHS President.
Outside of school and community involvement, Emelia enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, painting, practicing yoga, and exploring new places. She is grateful for the opportunities DECA has provided and is excited to serve members across Kentucky throughout the year. She looks forward to connecting with members across the state and helping them become The Next Big Thing!
Aspen Delaney is beyond excited to serve as your Kentucky DECA State Vice President of Public Relations and Region 3 Vice President of Membership! With a deep passion for student leadership and a huge heart for the commonwealth, Aspen can't wait to help members from every corner of Kentucky discover their "Next Big Thing." Her DECA journey started at John Hardin, where she proudly serves her second term as chapter President. After recently finalizing at the 2026 ICDC in Hotel and Lodging Management, she is ready to use her experience to help students across the state shine. Beyond the blazer, Aspen attends the Academy at EC3 and will be graduating with her Associate in Arts and Science. She puts her business skills to work every single day as a PR intern, the founder of her painting business, Nepsa Creates, and by helping run her family’s service dog training business. Aspen is also a massive advocate for inclusion and loves working heavily with the John Hardin Best Buddies chapter.
When she finally gets a break from her busy schedule, you can almost always find Aspen hanging out with her animals, baking, scrolling on TikTok, or catching up on some much-needed sleep. Aspen is so ready to hit the road, connect with incredible members, and make this an unforgettable year for Kentucky DECA!
Piper Mangan is a senior from Grayson County High School and is serving as the 2026-2027 Vice President of Membership for Kentucky DECA. She also currently holds the position of Region 2 Vice President of Public Relations. Her previous leadership roles include two years of chapter leadership, 2025-2026 Vice President of Communications for Region 2 DECA, and Vice President of Finance for Kentucky DECA. Piper is also involved in GCHS Chamber Orchestra and Varsity Golf. She has competed in various competitive events through DECA.
One of Piper’s most memorable DECA experiences was attending ICDC 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia, where she was able to meet new people and reunite with old friends from previous DECA events. This year, she is focused on increasing membership, engagement, and strengthening relationships between chapters in Kentucky DECA.
Jonas Blakeman is the 2026-2027 VP of Communications for Kentucky DECA and a senior at Somerset High School. Now in his fourth year of DECA, he also serves as his chapter’s President and is a three-time ICDC competitor in the Business Solutions Project. Outside of DECA, Jonas is involved in FCA, Student Council, BETA, Rho Kappa, the school musical, and competes in Track and Baseball. His favorite DECA memory is riding the slingshot at ICDC with no warning. This year, his goal is to grow Kentucky DECA in membership, success, and spirit—leaving a legacy that lasts.
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Abigail Woods is proud to serve as your Kentucky DECA Vice President of Competitive Events for the 26-27 season. Abby is a senior at Mercer County, where she currently serves as Chapter President. As she enters her fourth year of DECA, she has several past and present leadership positions, including Region 4 Vice President of Finance for 26-27 and Vice President of Membership for Mercer DECA 25-26. Outside of her DECA responsibilities, she serves as the historian for her Student Y Chapter, as well as the Secretary for the National Beta Club. She is also actively involved in the National Honor Society, Student Council, Pep Club, the Athletic Leadership Committee, Track, and Cross Country. In her free time, she enjoys trying out new things, hanging out with friends, running, and traveling. Throughout her experience, she has competed in the Sports and Entertainment Marketing Roleplay Series, where she discovered her passion for leadership and competition. She is excited for the opportunity to give back to Kentucky DECA members and help them find their own “why.” This year, Abby looks forward to empowering members across the state and helping Kentucky find its NEXT BIG THING!
Kaitlyn Bass is thrilled to be serving as the Kentucky DECA Vice President of Finance for the 2026-2027 school year. Kaitlyn is a senior at Ryle High School and this is her fourth year in DECA. She is also currently serving as the Vice President of Competition at the chapter level. Her previous position includes serving as the Vice President of Marketing for the 2025-2026 school year. Outside of DECA, Kaitlyn is the Brass Captain for the marching band. She is also passionate about serving her community in any way that she can. Kaitlyn has been a mentor on the GO! Pantry Ambassador Council for the past three years, as well as an ECYD Team Leader for the past five years. She is very involved in her church and is very strong in her faith. In her free time, Kaitlyn likes to bake, go fishing, and spend time with her friends and family. She is so excited to take on this position and can’t wait to see the amazing things that Kentucky DECA will accomplish!