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Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA)

An Association of Marketing Students

About DECA

DECA, a national association of marketing education students, provides teachers and members with educational and leadership development activities to merge with the education classroom instructional program.

DECA is not extracurricular; it is an integral part of the classroom instructional program. DECA chapters attract students who are interested in preparing for entrepreneurial, marketing or management careers. While DECA membership consists primarily of students in marketing programs, membership extends also to alumni and to professionals in marketing education and in marketing teacher education.

Working hand-in-hand with the education and business communities, DECA’s goal is for its student members to develop a "career success kit" to carry into their business and personal lives after graduation; one that includes:

To accomplish this, DECA utilizes on-the-job experience, chapter projects, and a program of competency-based competitive events in specific marketing occupational areas. These events emphasize academic and vocational excellence as building blocks for successful marketing and management careers and demonstrate the direct relationship between marketing education and the real needs of business and industry. Each year more than 110,000 students participate in the competitions on the local, state and national levels.

A non-profit organization, DECA is governed by an elected Board of Directors. The National Advisory Board made up of representatives of major U.S. corporations and businesses who support DECA’s mission, and the Congressional Advisory Board made up of members of the U.S. Congress, offer members support and guidance.

Since July 1991, the organization is known by its commonly recognized acronym, DECA, accompanied by the tag line, "An Association of Marketing Students ". The familiar diamond DECA logo has been updated; newly designed to suggest the strength, stability, and forward-looking attitude of the association and its 180,000 student members.

DECA in Arkansas

Arkansas DECA received its national charter on April 25, 1947, but it has undergone several transformations to become the entity it is today.

Arkansas has had the honor of sponsoring several former DECA National Officers including former National DECA President Philip Hall (1975) of Fayetteville High School. Other National Officers have included Charles Hunter (1951), Bill Straub (1953), Charles Niven (1954), John Taylor (1960), Sue Harris (1961), and Torenson Busby of Jacksonville High School (1995-96).

Formed by loyal advisors, employers and interested corporate sponsors, the Arkansas DECA Diamond Club is an integral part of the success of Arkansas DECA.

The State Association is proud that many of its former state officers have pursued successful educational experience and careers.

Visit the official Arkansas DECA website

Contact Information

Jim Brock
Luther S. Hardin Building
#3 Capitol Mall, Room 505
D
Little Rock, AR 72201

Phone: 501-682-1768
Fax: 501-682-1268
E-mail: jim.brock@arkansas.gov

 

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The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration through a partnership with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Business and other institutions of higher education. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. It is the goal of UALR to eliminate discriminatory harassment and to promote equal opportunity regardless of race, gender, color, national origin, sexual orientation, age, religion, veteran's status, or disability.