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Schools

Marketing method a winner

By MARYAN PELLAND
Published March 29, 2007

For the first time, Hernando County will be represented at the DECA International Career Development Conference. Central High senior Yarinette Centeno qualified in the technical sales category and will face 200 opponents in Orlando next month.

Only four contenders come from Florida's 200 chapters.

DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) is a professional association aligned with high school marketing classes. It formed when the work/study program became a high school staple several years ago, giving students a way to complete high school and hold a job at the same time.

Gino Ortiz, Hernando's district adviser for the program, says the clubs have changed with the times, offering a variety of educational enhancements for students interested in business.

"Now, it's a development program for future leaders in marketing, management and entrepreneurship," Ortiz explained.

Two other Central High students are finalists at state level this year. Juniors Katie Nelson and Lauren Barber ranked high in the travel and tourism marketing category.

At district, state and international contests, students choose from 35 business categories such as conflict resolution, budget or marketing.

They take a qualifying test and then are given a problem or scenario to consider. They must create a solution and present it in front of judges.

Yarinette's challenge was to create a marketing strategy for promoting a new MP3 player to health clubs.

"I'm so excited that I won," she said. "I've never done anything like this before. I might be a little nervous, but I'm going out and do my best."

The conference is April 28 to May 1 and draws schools from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. At Orlando's Orange County Convention Center, thousands of students will be busy in competitions, testing and various activities.

Meanwhile, noncompetitors and advisors can attend academies and leadership courses, including a session designed to help students learn networking and workforce skills for post-college employment.

Eight years ago, Hernando County's DECA chapter, according to Ortiz, was a quiet little group of students not attracting much attention or interest. Now, Springstead, Hernando and Central have been designated DECA District 4, a "Gold Level" district.

"My co-adviser and I, and our members have built it up a lot over the last two years," Ortiz said. "Last year we were designated Gold Level for the first time - that's based on the number of projects and activities you complete in the community."

[Last modified March 29, 2007, 06:49:23]