be_ixf;ym_202403 d_28; ct_50

Evangel professor helps coordinate largest business student conference in the U.S.

Published on Aug 7, 2013 by Valorie Coleman

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. —  Elizabeth Fletcher, associate professor of business, was part of the national, four-member team that planned the Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda’s (FBLA-PBL) National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, Calif., June 22-25. About 1,800 attendees from around the country joined the event.

“Members of the Phi Beta Lambda National Awards Program committee are nominated by fellow teachers and state advisers from across the entire United States,” said Fletcher, who also serves as the university’s faculty adviser.

“We not only plan and implement over 50 competitive events each year, but also research, propose, design and implement new business-related events.  Reflecting “real-world” issues in the university competitive environment helps the students become excellent leaders upon graduation,” she said.

Six students from Evangel University participated in the national competition, earning trophies in three categories:

  • Business Decision Making — 6th Place trophies, Brandon Hoffman and Natalie Nordstrom (2013 EU graduates)
  • Marketing Analysis and Decision Making — 9th Place trophies, senior Grace LaPoint and Sapphire Fitzgerald (2013 EU graduate)
  • Strategic Analysis and Decision Making — 10th Place trophies, Grace LaPoint and Sapphire Fitzgerald

Junior Christopher Harness participated in the Computer Concepts & Cyber Security competition.

“I love seeing the exponential professional development of students as they prepare for this level of competition,” Fletcher said. “They are not working for a grade but for a more intrinsic purpose. They begin to see themselves as academically successful. Once they catch a vision of their possibilities, their future is unlimited!”

This was Fletcher’s second three-year term to serve on the national FBLA-PBL board.

FBLA-PBL is a nonprofit education association. Established in 1940, it is the largest business career student organization in the world with more than 250,000 in national memberships of students and advisers.