FBLA National Page:

http://www.fbla-pbl.org/

RESOURCES

FBLA Arizona page:

http://azfbla.org/

Our FBLA Chapter page:

http://www.santanfbla.com/

Linked Into Business

-Skyler Schwanbeck

Future Business Leaders of America is an organization run by advisor Joe Galish which merges business with education and helps men and women grow. Seen by Galish as “Future Leaders of America.”

It was asked,” How do you plan on furthering FBLA?”

Galish responded with,” Well it really starts with the students. As an advisor, I can only do so much but if you don't have the group motivated, you know you're going to struggle.” He went on to say that San Tan Foothills has a history of motivated students that have a “desire to be successful in life and take pride in what they do” and “believe FBLA is part of their family.”

Mr. Galish expects approximately 60 members in FBLA this year.

When asked,” What is the goal for FBLA? Mr. Galish replied, ”Our goals are to be successful in understanding that success in life is focusing on the process of doing the right things daily!" In addition, Mr Galish is not shy when he believes his students will win "the online testing tournament and regional, state, and national competitions.” Mr. Galish respects "Kids who work hard and have integrity. Kids you can trust to travel with.”

To have greater understanding of FBLA, we wanted to know what this online testing tournament was. Mr. Galish explained that it was statewide program based on objective testing. It has thirty-five to forty tests that range from Business Math to Business English and is a, ”Great opportunity for our kids to see where they stand as compared to other students across the state".

To wrap up the interview with Mr. Galish, we asked how FBLA builds character?” Galish said, ”I believe the kids already have character so I know about their character. We’re building their confidence.”

We followed up the question with of how it builds their confidence then?

Galish voiced, ”Through competitions, it exposes kids to things they wouldn't otherwise be exposed to both in performance events and academic events for their objective testing and just a host of other things. When you go to a conference, you will be exposed to professional speakers that teach you about life and success, not just in business but in every aspect of your life.”

FBLA is for the kids who love competitions and challenges. Those that are willing to sacrifice time to practice their chosen events. At this school, many students will succeed. ”We have returning students that dominate and it seems like every year there are new students that surprise and do incredibly well. These are the kinds of kids that when the light comes on, they just show up.”

How did FBLA come to be at STF? Why did Mr. Galish become the advisor? ”It fell into my lap, I just wanted to teach business. In order to teach business, we had to run a student organization and the organization we chose was FBLA over DECA. We charted our first year with the State of Arizona and took some kids to competitions and they loved it. I thought it was pretty awesome how it got kids fired up. so, the second year we dabbled in a few more events and before we knew we had a kid qualify for National competitions and we kind of just struck it rich early. ”By striking it rich early, kids believed in what we were doing and saw success with their hard work.".

FBLA supports the March of Dimes. San Tan Foothills FBLA proudly works with this sponsor. ”We recognized the need and support it wholeheartedly. Each year we participate in March for Babies where our student go to Casa Grande and walk for premature babies. ”March of Dimes funds programs that work to end premature baby death, birth defects, and infant mortality."