This research project was conducted by Micah Melling, Central Region

Vice President for 2011-2012.

Central Region DECA DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, management, hospitality,

and finance in high schools and colleges around the globe. DECA’s Central Region encompasses 13 state

associations in the Midwest as well as the Canadian province of Manitoba.

State/Provincial Associations Iowa Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Manitoba Michigan Minnesota Missouri North Dakota Nebraska Ohio South Dakota Wisconsin

History Of the 17 charter states accepted to National DECA in 1948, over a third of them were from the Central

Region (Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, and Indiana). In 1968, the first Central Region

Leadership Conference (CRLC) was held in St. Paul, Minnesota. Due to the great success of the first

CRLC, this conference was made an annual event.

Throughout the late 60s and 70s, CRLCs drew close to 2,000 attendees each year. In 1975, the Central

Region Board of Governors adopted the Central Region Conference Articles of Agreement, which

provided a specific direction for the region. In 1977, the 10th annual CRLC was hosted by North Dakota.

This conference stands out in DECA history because a large snow storm and sub-zero temperatures kept

delegates in North Dakota for several extra days.

Highlights of CRLCs in the 80s include a performance by super-band Three Dog Night in 1986, the 20th

annual CRLC in 1987, and the adoption of a new Central Region Conference Articles of Agreement in

1987. In 1996, over 3,500 students attended the CRLC held in Minneapolis, making it the largest CRLC

on record.

Central Region Today Since the turn of the millennium, DECA’s Central Region has continued to be a force in the international

organization. Quality Central Region Vice Presidents are elected each spring to serve National DECA.

Also, National Presidents have come from the Central Region in recent years. The Central Region

Leadership Conference continues to be a premier DECA conference and boasts between 2,000-3,000

attendees each year.

Central Region Vice President The current Central Region Vice President for National DECA is Micah Melling from Clinton, Missouri.

More information on Micah can be found on the DECA website (deca.org).

Central Region DECA Online Central Region DECA can be found on three online outlets: website (crdeca.org), Facebook, and Twitter

(@DECA_CR).