Reston, Virginia, June 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A record number of attendees will head to
Orlando, Florida next week to attend the Future Business Leaders of America, Inc. (FBLA) National
Leadership Conference (NLC). The annual event is attracting more than 17,000 middle school, high
school, and college students, as well as their teachers, volunteers, and exhibitors from across the
country.
While at the NLC, students will take part in more than 100 business-related competitions, engage
in over 200 educational workshops, and meet with over 100 colleges, universities, and employers.
The Collegiate NLC is from June 24-27, and the Middle School and High School NLC will take place
June 29-July 2. Both events will be held at the Orange County Convention Center.
“We are thrilled to welcome a record number of attendees to Orlando as we recognize their
outstanding accomplishments during this culminating event of our program year,” FBLA Interim
President & CEO Randy W. Fiser said. “By providing our members with the ability to compete
against top students in the country, network with peers and potential employers, and learn
through professional development sessions, the NLC is ensuring that today’s students become
tomorrow’s leaders.”
Collegiate members will hear from Gorick Ng, a Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The
Unspoken Rules: Secrets to Starting Your Career Off Right and a career adviser at Harvard
University, during the Collegiate NLC Opening Session on June 24. He will share tips with students
about how to launch their careers successfully.
Shawn D. Nelson, the Founder and CEO of Lovesac, is the featured speaker for the Middle School
and High School NLC Opening Session on June 29. Nelson, who wrote the Amazon bestselling book
Let Me Save You 25 Years: Mistakes, Miracles, and Lessons from the Lovesac Story, will talk about his
career journey with attendees; he is donating all net proceeds from his book to FBLA. Nelson will
also meet and offer feedback to 12 FBLA members chosen to display their businesses at the NLC.
Throughout the conference, students and teachers will have the chance to attend learning
workshops on topics such as leadership development, how to land a job, and ideas for growing their
FBLA chapters. Students can also have professional headshots taken and receive individual
feedback on their resumes and LinkedIn proles.
More than 500 volunteers will serve as judges for the more than 100 competitive event categories at
the NLC, ranging from nancial literacy to impromptu speaking to social media strategy. FBLA will
award more than $121,000 to the top-ranked students in these events.
Additionally, FBLA will recognize recipients of some of the nearly $80,000 it awards each year in
nancial aid and scholarships.
Attendees will also have the chance to meet with dozens of employers and representatives from
leading colleges and universities. Corporate exhibitors include CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP), FICO,
Fidelity, Kendra Scott, McGraw Hill, Men’s Wearhouse, National Geographic Learning/Cengage, the
National Retail Federation Foundation, PNC Bank, the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and U.S. Coast
Guard. University exhibitors include Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University, the Costello College of Business at George Mason University, the Indiana
University Kelley School of Business, Ringling College of Art and Design, Savannah College of Art
and Design, and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
In addition, the NLC will feature a screening of the documentary “This Is Not Financial Advice” with
an exclusive video greeting from Co-Director Chris Temple. The movie premiered at the 2023
Tribeca Film Festival and explores investing strategies through the lens of cryptocurrency.
For credentials to cover the event, reporters should reach out to Director of Communications &
Marketing Mary Lynn J. Rynkiewicz at [email protected].
Future Business Leaders of America, Inc. is a nonprot 501(c)(3) education association with more
than 200,000 middle school, high school, and college members worldwide. FBLA inspires and
prepares students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through
relevant career preparation and leadership experiences. The association is headquartered in
Reston, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. For more information, visit fbla.org.
