Creating Future Business Leaders

The Future Business Leaders of America chapter at South Gwinnett is part of the largest career student organization in the world.  With more than 27,000 members in the state of Georgia alone – the largest in the U.S. – the program is creating leaders and solid future entrepreneurs.  Worldwide, the program has nearly a quarter of a million student members.  

South Gwinnett’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter is led by club president Tiffany McNeish, a senior who has participated in the program since her freshman year.  

“The skills I have learned will help me in the business world,” Tiffany said. “It gave me more confidence in my public speaking.” 

In the program, students learn etiquette, interview skills and focus on public speaking. However, Tiffany believes that she has learned more than just business skills through the FBLA. 

“I am more outspoken in the classroom and with my friends,” she said.  

She held the office of secretary and vice president in previous years, so running for club president was not too overwhelming.  

Tara Haynes is South Gwinnett’s FBLA sponsor.  She has been in charge of the program for seven years now.  

“Tiffany has been wonderful,” she said.  “She is the backbone of the FBLA.  She is dependable and plans things through.” 

Haynes nominated Tiffany for the Career Technology Education Student of the Year, an award that includes a scholarship.  One student from every school is honored annually in Gwinnett County with the award, and Tiffany was selected this year.  

Tiffany plans to attend the University of Kennesaw and major in biology, with a minor in early childhood education.  She wants to eventually open her own practice as a pediatrician.  

Another leader in South Gwinnett’s FBLA is Stacia Burke.  Stacia is Georgia’s FBLA state secretary, a position that requires a minimum of two years participation in FBLA, the completion of an extensive application with five essays and five recommendations, and a platform. 

And that’s just the beginning. Once those things have been achieved, state officers go through a qualifying process with a writing test, public speaking exercise and teamwork exercise.  Students with high enough scores are accepted as a candidate. 

When Stacia ran for state secretary, her platform centered on creating an ideal experience for members of the FBLA.  She envisions a four-year plan for members that includes connected chapters from various skills and a zero waste lifestyle. 

“People attend the conferences and live right down the street from each other,” said Stacia, “but none of us know each other.  Local chapters should do things together.” 

Her zero waste lifestyle is a philosophy she adopted while at a 21^st Century Leader’s conference.  This standard takes green living one step further and includes reusing items and composting.  Stacia has made this a part of her life and advocates for her team members to do the same.  

“As a state officer, it’s our responsibility to not only preside over the state, but to be an example,” Stacia said. “We will be going to the national leadership conference and embody what FBLA stands for.”  

Her job as state secretary entails ensuring effective communication by recording minutes, visiting local chapters, and leading presentations and workshops. A high school junior, Stacia aims to maintain her 4.0 GPA, be involved in leadership organization and attend the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.  She will major in marketing.

“Stacia is an impressive young woman,” Haynes said.  “The amount of professionalism she displays on a daily basis is something I’ve never seen in a student.  If she sets her sights on something, she will achieve it.”   

  For more information on the FBLA program, visit their website.