Two members of Chattahoochee Technical College’s Phi Beta Lambda chapter placed at the 2016 National Leadership Conference – an event that drew thousands of future business leaders to Atlanta to compete in leadership events and learn new ideas. Organized by the Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, the event took place June 24-27 at the Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart.
Connie Vogel-Brown of Woodstock earned a seventh-place finish in Justice Administration and an eighth-place finish in Sports Management and Marketing, while Villa Rica resident Jessica Hollis placed third in Management Concepts.
“I am very proud of them. I feel that their success is a great accomplishment since this is a national competition. To place in the top 10 shows the amazing effort and hard work they have put in,” said Management Instructor and chapter advisor Ryan Greene.
Chattahoochee Technical College’s Phi Beta Lambda chapter is a student branch of a national organization that provides opportunities for students who have career plans in business and office occupations. Students hold monthly meetings, sponsor service projects, and participate in state conferences and competitions.
“I became involved with PBL while taking Business Technology classes for my major,” Vogel-Brown said. “My instructor was the advisor for the Chattahoochee Tech chapter, and she had been an active member for more than 30 years. I saw the value of being introduced to new resources and professionals who would be great assets when developing job search skills, such as interviewing, resumes, cover letters and receiving tips for making it to the top of the referral lists to meet my career goals.”
Hollis, who has previously competed against the nation’s best in both Chicago, said she became interested in Phi Beta Lambda after her instructor, Lisa Houston, informed her of the opportunities the chapter offered. She joined two years ago and has served in the capacities of secretary/treasurer and president.
Vogel-Brown and Hollis earned a spot at nationals after placing at the Georgia Spring Leadership Conference. Each state sends their top three competitors to nationals. The top ten national competitors are recognized on stage with a trophy, and the top three receive a cash award and engraved trophy.
Hollis said she used what she learned from CTC’s Principles of Management course to get ready for the competition, while Vogel-Brown prepared by studying the tests administered in previous years.
“New and more difficult questions are developed each year for the national competition so the participants never know what questions they will encounter. For the Justice Administration competition, questions included the spectrum of our American legal system: law enforcement, court procedures and corrections,” she said, adding that she also had to brush up on well-known court cases.
In addition to Justice Administration and Sports Management and Marketing, Vogel-Brown also competed in two open categories: Agribusiness and Non-Profit Management. Hollis additionally competed in International Business.
Moving forward, Hollis said she hopes to use the knowledge and skills she has gained at CTC to bring government, business and nonprofits together to accomplish common goals. Vogel-Brown, who is a student affairs assistant at the college’s Marietta Campus, is interested in exploring other opportunities at Chattahoochee Tech.