Poplar Bluff High School seniors Mackenzie Murphy, Hannah Vaughn and Ellie Hoyt entered a room in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center on the campus of Three Rivers College Feb. 2 for a chance to compete at the state level of the Future Business Leaders of America Leadership Conference.
Four judges, composed of area business professionals, welcomed the trio of students to a hypothetical meeting between hotel owners and their marketing team, portrayed by the three ladies.
The PBHS seniors began to explain the benefits of choosing their hotel over the many other options in a large city. They also presented ideas of how to increase business and answered questions from the judges.
"We felt better about our presentation than last year," the three students agreed. "We were more confident."
Competing for the second year, Murphy, Vaughn and Hoyt said they applied the advice received from judges last year to improve their presentation this year.
Judges' feedback from the previous year encouraged more than just one team member to be engaged in the presentation and dialogue.
Teams of students were given business situations with 20 minutes to prepare for their presentation in front of the judges.
Even though the three girls participated in the presentation portion of the competition last year, Murphy, Vaughn and Hoyt said they did not plan on doing the same this year.
"After scoring well on the online part, we were encouraged to present this year," Vaughn said.
Kevin Henderson of First Midwest Bank joined the panel of judges for the seventh year.
"It's always interesting to see the different presentations," Henderson said. "It's refreshing to see teams go above and beyond and gives you hope for the future."
Once the presentation began, students had seven minutes to leave their impression on the judges for a chance to advance to the state conference in Springfield.
Henderson continues to return as a judge and support FBLA students because he believes the competition is a good experience for the students to be put in front of people in the business world for a real life experience.
Neelyville High School junior Jessica Williamson returned to the FBLA event for the second year.
Accompanying her was fellow junior Taylor Smith, who was competing for the first time.
"I told her to be calm and don't stress," Williamson said of advice given to Smith. "It's easier once you get in there. What to say just comes to you."
Williamson and Smith told the judges how they as a hotel marketing team would attract more business conferences to their hotel while showing their loyal customers are appreciated as well.
Lead Chapter Adviser Irene Jackson of Neelyville High School said the day of the event went very well and students were able to receive good feedback from judges.
She credited the conference being held in one building opposed to being spread out as in years past for the smoothness of the competition and praised Three Rivers College for its assistance.
The top five online test takers will advance to the state competition while the top performance in each category will also advance.
Nearly 380 students competed at the conference representing Advance, Bell City, Clearwater, Current River Career Center, East Carter County, Greenville, Naylor, Neelyville, Poplar Bluff, Puxico, Southern Reynolds County (Ellington), Twin Rivers, Van Buren and Zalma.
The following top five students advanced to the FBLA State Conference.
Accounting I -- first, Blake Bleem, Twin Rivers; second, Nicole Smith, Neelyville; third, Brandt Lefler, Poplar Bluff; fourth, Adam Mize, Neelyville; and fifth, Emma Early, Poplar Bluff.
Accounting II -- first, Jesse Griffin, Neelyville; second, Kaley Thies, East Carter; third, Shelby Richmond, Puxico; fourth, Claire Costello, Advance; and fifth, Chaney Trout, Neelyville.
Advertising -- first, Jillian Scranton, Naylor; second, Jessica Williamson, Neelyville; third, Kory Ricker, Van Buren; fourth, Matthew Dollins, Neelyville; and fifth, Olivia Douglas, Twin Rivers.
Agribusiness -- first, Trevor White, Southern Reynolds; second, Charles Sheppard, Neelyville; third, Randall White, Southern Reynolds; fourth, Olivia Crites, Twin Rivers; and fifth, Wyatt Spencer, Current River.
Business Calculations -- first, Cameron Bleem, Twin Rivers; second, Blake Bleem, Twin Rivers; third, Logan Dunlap, Poplar Bluff; fourth, Adeesh Mishra, Poplar Bluff; and fifth, Hannah Finley, Twin Rivers.
Business Communication -- first, Cameron Bleem, Twin Rivers; second, Mikayla Stromatt, East Carter County; third, Hannah Burke, Twin Rivers; fourth, Lauren McDonough, Poplar Bluff; and fifth, Kassi Bright, Zalma.
Business Law -- first, Brandon Sipes, Current River; second, McKenna Black, Clearwater; third, Layke Lawson, Poplar Bluff; fourth, Juan Ventura, Poplar Bluff; and fifth, Elijah Fisher, Puxico.
Computer Problem Solving -- first, Wyatt Murphy, Poplar Bluff; second, Jacob Devaughn, Puxico; third, Kevin Colque, Southern Reynolds; fourth, Jacob Redford, Poplar Bluff; and fifth, Jacob Abner, Neelyville.
Cyber Security -- first, Kaleb Miller, Puxico; second, Maicey Conway, Southern Reynolds; third, Brett Jackson, Clearwater; fourth, Macy Hager, Van Buren; and fifth, Mason Libla, Poplar Bluff.
Economics -- first, Thomas Hawks, Current River; second, Liberty Scott, East Carter; third, Elizabeth Bangert, Greenville; fourth, Jillian Page, Poplar Bluff; and fifth, Nathan Akers, Neelyville.
Health Care Administration -- first, Liberty Scott, East Carter; second, Logan Crafton, Van Buren; third, Victoria Leroux, Current River; fourth, Cameron Williams, Southern Reynolds; fifth, Bethany Meade, Southern Reynolds; Wildcard, Madison Hill, Neelyville; and Wildcard, Samantha Nelson, Poplar Bluff.
Insurance and Risk Management -- first, Macy Hager, Van Buren; second, Arian Stafford, Van Buren; third, Adam Mize, Neelyville; fourth, Courtney McGee, Poplar Bluff; and fifth, Caroline Olson, Southern Reynolds.
Introduction to Business -- first, Brett O'Dell, East Carter; second, Deven Gunter, Current River; third, Emily Dollins, Neelyville; fourth, Payton Reinbott, Neelyville; and fifth, Nicole Hart, Van Buren.
Introduction to Business Communication -- first, Hailey Oesch, Van Buren; second, Halee Bressler, Van Buren; third, Erin Inman, Twin Rivers; fourth, Chloe' Ray, Puxico; and fifth, Payton Golden, East Carter.
Introduction to Business Procedures -- first, Lainee Albert, Southern Reynolds; second, Trey Nicholson, Van Buren; third, Lexy McCollumn, Clearwater; fourth, Haley Voegtlin, Van Buren; and fifth, Kylie Miller, Puxico.
Introduction to FBLA -- first, Brianna Newcomb, Neelyville; second, Haillie Hampton, Van Buren; third, Madison McMeans, Puxico; fourth, Hailey Burke, Van Buren; and fifth, Natalie Baxter, Twin Rivers.
Introduction to Financial Math -- first, Gavin Brawley, Puxico; second, Nicole Hart, Van Buren; third, Sam Parsons, Poplar Bluff; fourth, Payton Reinbott, Neelyville; and fifth, Caleb Robison, Puxico.
Introduction to Information Technology -- first, Gavin Brawley, Puxico; second, Kurt Boone, Current River; third, Hunter Lourance, Twin Rivers; fourth, Carson McNail, Southern Reynolds; and fifth, Ethan Jameson, Clearwater.
Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure -- first, Makenzi Davis, Neelyville; second, Katherine Shands, Neelyville; third, Kolbie Mansfield, Neelyville; fourth, Haley Voegtlin, Van Buren; and fifth, Alyssa Austin, Twin Rivers.
Journalism -- first, Brandt Lefler, Poplar Bluff; second, Amanda Moore, Neelyville; third, Alyssa Cook, Poplar Bluff; fourth, Brooke Jackson, Van Buren; and fifth, Caroline Olson, Southern Reynolds.
Networking Concepts -- first, Sam Hamilton-Armstrong, Puxico; and second, Courtney Tripp, Van Buren.
Organizational Leadership -- first, Laine Albert, Southern Reynolds; second, Catherine Hawks, Current River; third, Hannah Burke, Twin Rivers; fourth, Nathan Heumann, Van Buren; and fifth, Zeke Webb, East Carter.
Personal Finance -- first, Hallee Laird, Advance; second, Mark Young, Naylor; third, Nathan Heumann, Van Buren; fourth, Abby Roach, Naylor; and fifth, Nathan Akers, Neelyville.
Securities and Investments -- first, Macy Hager, Van Buren; second, Cora Wiley, Van Buren; third, Brittany Croy, Puxico; fourth, Dakota Long, Current River; and fifth, Skylar Vaughn, Puxico.
The following top two students advanced to the FBLA State Conference.
Computer Applications -- first, Emily Pickett, Zalma; second, Rhegan Tutor, Neelyville; third, Destiny Ackerman, Poplar Bluff; fourth, Taylar Grimes, Southern Reynolds; and fifth, Mackenzie Hobbs, Neelyville.
Database Design & Application -- first, Joshua Hamann, Puxico.
Word Processing -- first, Cameron Williams, Southern Reynolds; second, Caitlyn Nely, Poplar Bluff; third, Abbey Trainer, Twin Rivers; fourth, Brooke Nelson, Current River; and fifth, Chulsey Brunk, Southern Reynolds.
Spreadsheet Applications -- first, Joshua Hamann, Puxico; second, Tasha Kirkpatrick, Greenville; third, Austin Ennis, Neelyville; fourth, Taylor Harlow, Neelyville; and fifth, Hannah Jennewein, Clearwater.
The following top students advanced to the FBLA State Conference.
Banking and Financial Systems -- first, Leah Sheppard & Kelsi Culbertson, Puxico.
Broadcast Journalism -- first, Salina Silkwood, Naylor; second, Cara Bubanovich, Cara Holland, & Taylor King, Poplar Bluff; and third, Devlin Cooper & Hannah McCoy, Current River.
Business Ethics -- first, Kassi Bright, Mikayla Sargent, & Lindsey Umfleet, Zalma; second, Olivia Douglas, Makenna Estes, & Adam Woodard, Twin Rivers; and third, Jacob Redford & Lucas Redford, Poplar Bluff.
Business Plan -- first, Payton Hall, Makayla Kovach & Nicole Smith, Neelyville.
Client Service -- first, Madison Caldwell, Puxico; second, Adeesh Mishra, Poplar Bluff; third, Mackenzie Hobbs, Neelyville; fourth, Amaya Keele, Clearwater; and fifth, Alayna Stokan, Twin Rivers.
Digital Video Production -- first, Cara Bubanovich & Shelby Eichhorn, Poplar Bluff.
Emerging Business Issues -- first, Sarah Conner & Bailey Knight, Twin Rivers; second, Brett Keele, Dylan Pierce, & Jackson Winters, Poplar Bluff; and third, Joshua Hamann, Sophia Hancock, & Shelby Richmond, Puxico.
Entrepreneurship -- first, Allen Hendrix & Hayden Thomas, Twin Rivers; and second, Hana-Kate Cassinger, Haley Edwards, & Ashley Odom, Neelyville.
Future Business Leader -- first, Kaleb Miller, Puxico.
Global Business --first, Taylor Fritts, Adeesh Mishra, & Murphy, Poplar Bluff; second, Caitlyn Alcorn & Perla Mendiola, Clearwater; and third, Brent Geohagan, Easton McLain, & Shelby Richmond, Puxico.
Graphic Design -- first, Savannah Allen, Katlyn Brotherton, & Bayley Kelm, Puxico.
Help Desk -- first, Jacob Devaughn, Puxico; and second, Brandon Sipes, Current River.
Hospitality Management -- first, Taylor Smith & Jessica Williamson, Neelyville; second, Ellie Hoyt, Mackenzie Murphy, & Hannah Vaughn, Poplar Bluff; and third, Kylie Miller & Carley Siler, Puxico.
Impromptu Speaking -- first, Makayla Sullivan, Naylor; second, Devlin Cooper, Current River; and third, Kenny Collins, Poplar Bluff.
Introduction to Business Presentation -- first, Alissa Austin, Katie Baxter, & Isaac Thurman, Twin Rivers; and second, Mikayla Sargent & Lindsey Umfleet, Zalma.
Introduction to Public Speaking -- first, Bella Galloway, Twin Rivers; second, Chloe' Ray, Puxico; third, Elyxis Jordan, Clearwater; and fourth, Carson McNail, Southern Reynolds.
Job interview -- first, Logan Dunlap, Poplar Bluff; second, Jarrica Williams, Twin Rivers; third, Zeke Webb, East Carter; and fourth, Skylar Vaughn, Puxico.
Management Decision Making -- first, Brianna Hicks, Faith Hoppe, & Gavin Lindsey, Clearwater; and second, Brett Keele, Dylan Pierce, & Hank Traxel, Poplar Bluff.
Marketing -- first, Bayley Kelm, Tyler Norris, & McKenzie Smith, Puxico; and second, Talon Wilkerson & Isaac Wilson, Twin Rivers.
Parliamentary Procedure -- first, Katie Baxter, Cameron Bleem, Brooke Blume, Olivia Crites, & Hannah Finley, Twin Rivers; second, Kaitlyn Hoon, Lauren McDonough, Samantha Nelson, Caitlyn Nely, & Jillian Page, Poplar Bluff; and third, Brent Geohagan, Madison McMeans, Kaiti Payne, Carley Siler, & McKenzie Smith, Puxico.
Public Service Announcement -- first, Brianna Lawson, Clearwater; and second, Emily Dollins, Jesse Griffin, & Makenzie Hobbs, Neelyville.
Public Speaking -- first, Faith Littrell, Twin Rivers; second, Abby Roach, Naylor; third, Kassi Bright, Zalma; fourth, Skylar Vaughn, Puxico; and fifth, Alyssa Cook, Poplar Bluff.
Publication Design -- first, Madison McMeans & Gracey Wilkerson, Puxico.
Sales Presentation --first, Taylor Harlow, Neelyville; and second, Shelby Sullivan, Naylor.
Social Media Campaign -- first, Kasen Barnfield, Puxico; second, Jillian Page, Samantha Nelson, & Lauren McDonough, Poplar Bluff; and third, Payton Cates, Allison Goodman, & Serenity Raymond, Neelyville.
Sports and Entertainment Management -- first, Madison Caldwell, Sophia Hancock, Caleb Robinson, Puxico; second, Ryan Armes, Noah Burton, & Taylor Harlow, Neelyville; third, Aron Johnson, Alex Ketcherside, & Justin Moses, Poplar Bluff; fourth, Andrea Arnold, Abby Hester, & Erin Inman, Twin Rivers; and fifth, MaKenna Black & Cheyanne Burton, Clearwater.
Website Design -- first, Kimberly Moore & Katherine Shands, Neelyville.