CCHS students Rece Poole, Elizabeth Pope, Karla Martinez, Miya Cardin, and Logan Singer, and SRTC students Mirian Gutierrez-Villeda, Megan Craig, and Erica Langley look on as Mayor Bill McIntosh signs the proclamation.

MOULTRIE — On Feb. 8, members of Colquitt County High School’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Southern Regional Technical College’s FBLA-Collegiate met with Moultrie Mayor Bill McIntosh where he signed and issued a proclamation in recognition of FBLA week, observed this year from Feb. 11-17.

FBLA is a national, nonprofit organization and educational association with a quarter million student members preparing for careers in business and business-related fields. The association has four divisions: Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) for high school students; FBLA-Middle Level for junior high, middle, and intermediate school students; FBLA-Collegiate for postsecondary students; and Professional Division for business people, FBLA alumni, educators, and parents who support the goals of the association.

“Through our on-campus FBLA efforts, we are training tomorrow’s leaders today. Success in business starts while young people are in school, learning leadership qualities while building lifelong networks in the business community,” commented Ann Young, FBLA-Collegiate Advisor at SRTC.

The mission of Future Business Leaders of America, Inc. is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs. FBLA is the largest career-focused student organization in the world. Each year, FBLA helps more than 250,000 members prepare for careers in business.

FBLAs programs focus on the following:

• Leadership Development: Members develop essential soft skills by holding chapter officer positions at the local, state, and national levels; by networking with accomplished business professionals; and by participating in business-focused workshops, seminars, and academic competitions.
• Academic Competitions: Members demonstrate their business expertise at high-profile regional, state, and national competitive events. The top students are recognized with trophies and cash awards.
• Educational Programs: Members create career portfolios, enhance their knowledge with world-recognized skills certifications, and have access to select college scholarships.
• Membership Benefits: Members receive exclusive discounts and enhanced benefits for travel, education, and more.
• Community Service: Members work with the March of Dimes to help end premature births by participating in awareness campaigns and the March for Babies fundraiser.
• Awards and Recognition: Members build a portfolio of accomplishments with various valuable career skills.