Seventeen students from the Mayville State University Collegiate DECA chapter traveled to Fargo October 9 and 10 for the state leadership conference held at the Holiday Inn. DECA is a leadership organization with an interest in marketing, management, and entrepreneurship. Ten colleges and universities in North Dakota have Collegiate DECA chapters. The organization focuses on leadership development, community service learning, career awareness, and social responsibility.
The October state conference began with speaker Eddie Slowikowski and his “What I’ve Learned Along The Way” presentation. Connecting his love for music with his trials and tribulations of life, he was able to show how embracing your past can help you succeed in the future.
Later that evening students heard from, Scott Wild of Wild Inspires, Inc., who talked to the group on social media. His topic, “Social Media to Help You Land the Job,” provided a good deal of information regarding what social media can do for an individual, not only in a helpful way, but also in a hurtful way.
The night wrapped up with “Sports Marketing at Its Best,” a pannel discussion with the management team of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx. Adam Edwards, Mayville State’s Collegiate DECA member from Great Britain, was acknowledged immediately as Chris Wright (president of the Timberwolves and Lynx) is also a Brit.
The second day of the conference began with a networking breakfast which allowed students to connect with individuals from the various chapters in attendance.
Julie Trudeau from Butler Machinery then spoke to the group on “How to Wow Your Employer.” She gave interview tips, as well as resume building strategies to the students.
The favorite conference activity for most attendees, a roundtable executive mentorship program, followed. During this time students were able to network with a handful of execuitives representing Fargo-Moorhead businesses including Scheels, Sundog, Border States, Fargo Jet Center, Minnesota Timberwolves, Butler Machinery, Microsoft, and many more. Students who wished to further discuss any areas of interest were able to have lunch with the executives.
Even though the conference ended with this luncheon, the fun did not end for the Mayville State chapter members. Following the conference, the group was given a tour of the Microsoft campus in Fargo. Students were able to experience the unique culture, large cafeteria, multiple buildings, and of course, the game room. As the final actvity in their outing, the Mayville State DECA members attended the exibition game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Indiana Pacers at the Fargodome.
Seventeen Mayville State students took part in the state leadership conference activities this year. The chapter has a full year of activities planned, including pumpkin painting at Luther Memorial Home, Internship Preview Night, and the Fargo Force DECA Night.
The Mayville State Collegiate DECA Chapter is a nationally affiliated organization with the core values of competence, innovation, integrity, and teamwork. Membership in the Collegiate DECA- Mayville State University chapter is open to all majors and provides an excellent oppurtunity to build resumes, increase professionalism, and help ease the transformation from the classroom to the workforce. See more about the chapter at www.Facebook.com/MayvilleStateDECA.