FBLA’s National Leadership Conference Brings Record-Breaking Number of Students, Educators, and Volunteers to Orlando
June 20 2024 - 12:22PM
A record number of attendees will head to Orlando, Florida next
week to attend the Future Business Leaders of America, Inc. (FBLA)
National Leadership Conference (NLC). The annual event is
attracting more than 17,000 middle school, high school, and college
students, as well as their teachers, volunteers, and exhibitors
from across the country.
While at the NLC, students will take part in more than 100
business-related competitions, engage in over 200 educational
workshops, and meet with over 100 colleges, universities, and
employers. The Collegiate NLC is from June 24-27, and the Middle
School and High School NLC will take place June 29-July 2. Both
events will be held at the Orange County Convention
Center.
“We are thrilled to welcome a record number of attendees to
Orlando as we recognize their outstanding accomplishments during
this culminating event of our program year,” FBLA Interim President
& CEO Randy W. Fiser said. “By providing our members with the
ability to compete against top students in the country, network
with peers and potential employers, and learn through professional
development sessions, the NLC is ensuring that today’s students
become tomorrow’s leaders.”
Collegiate members will hear from Gorick Ng, a Wall Street
Journal bestselling author of The Unspoken Rules: Secrets to
Starting Your Career Off Right and a career adviser at Harvard
University, during the Collegiate NLC Opening Session on June 24.
He will share tips with students about how to launch their careers
successfully.
Shawn D. Nelson, the Founder and CEO of Lovesac, is the featured
speaker for the Middle School and High School NLC Opening Session
on June 29. Nelson, who wrote the Amazon bestselling book Let
Me Save You 25 Years: Mistakes, Miracles, and Lessons from the
Lovesac Story, will talk about his career journey with attendees;
he is donating all net proceeds from his book to FBLA. Nelson will
also meet and offer feedback to 12 FBLA members chosen to display
their businesses at the NLC.
Throughout the conference, students and teachers will have the
chance to attend learning workshops on topics such as leadership
development, how to land a job, and ideas for growing their FBLA
chapters. Students can also have professional headshots taken and
receive individual feedback on their resumes and LinkedIn
profiles.
More than 500 volunteers will serve as judges for the more than
100 competitive event categories at the NLC, ranging from financial
literacy to impromptu speaking to social media strategy. FBLA will
award more than $121,000 to the top-ranked students in these
events.
Additionally, FBLA will recognize recipients of some of the
nearly $80,000 it awards each year in financial aid and
scholarships.
Attendees will also have the chance to meet with dozens of
employers and representatives from leading colleges and
universities. Corporate exhibitors include CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen
LLP), FICO, Fidelity, Kendra Scott, McGraw Hill, Men’s Wearhouse,
National Geographic Learning/Cengage, the National Retail
Federation Foundation, PNC Bank, the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and
U.S. Coast Guard. University exhibitors include Duke University’s
Fuqua School of Business, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the
Costello College of Business at George Mason University, the
Indiana University Kelley School of Business, Ringling College of
Art and Design, Savannah College of Art and Design, and the Wharton
School at the University of Pennsylvania.
In addition, the NLC will feature a screening of the documentary
“This Is Not Financial Advice” with an exclusive video greeting
from Co-Director Chris Temple. The movie premiered at the 2023
Tribeca Film Festival and explores investing strategies through the
lens of cryptocurrency.
For credentials to cover the event, reporters should reach out
to Director of Communications & Marketing Mary Lynn J.
Rynkiewicz at marylynn@fbla.org.
Future Business Leaders of America, Inc. is a nonprofit
501(c)(3) education association with more than 200,000 middle
school, high school, and college members worldwide. FBLA inspires
and prepares students to become community-minded business leaders
in a global society through relevant career preparation and
leadership experiences. The association is headquartered in Reston,
Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. For more information,
visit fbla.org.
Mary Lynn J. Rynkiewicz
Future Business Leaders of America
7038604888
pquirk@fbla.org