Partners & Opportunities

North Carolina DECA's continued tradition of excellence is made possible by individuals and businesses who partner with North Carolina DECA to prepare our next generation to be academically prepared, community oriented, professionally responsible, and experienced leaders. There are many ways to partner with North Carolina DECA on the local, state, and national level:

• Join the Friends and Alumni Association of North Carolina DECA
• Serve on an Advisory Board for DECA or Marketing Education
• Volunteer as a Competitive Event Judge
• Host a workshop at one of our conferences
• Assist local chapter advisors as a guest speaker
• Sponsor a scholarship or competitive event

Contact our state staff today to become a partner of North Carolina DECA. Together, we will prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance,hospitality and management.

JD Gidley, Ameriprise                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         In 1990, J.D. Gidley attended his first district DECA event and was instantly hooked!  He went on to run for state office and become a state Vice President.  He loved representing his state at the National Conference as an officer and as a competitor.  In 1993, he was elected as the North Carolina DECA President.  Throughout that year, he spoke to chapters across the state about goal setting and achieving excellence.  He finished his DECA career at the 50 DECA Career Development Conference.   Because DECA has been such a huge influence in his life, he gives back by donating his time at conferences, speaking to students, and financially supporting North Carolina and National DECA.  He is a managing partner of his financial planning firm, where he works with his clients in setting and working towards their financial goals.

The Art Institute of Charlotte

Find yourself in a creative career at The Art Institute of Charlotte, one of over 30 Art Institutes located in major cities across North America. They will help take you there with a real-world, hands-on education in Design, Media Arts, Fashion & the Culinary Arts. Just imagine: preparing for a career you'll love. Becoming the professional you've always known you could be.

King's College

Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, the high-quality staff at King's College has been preparing students for rewarding careers for over 100 years. Their distinguished reputation for providing thorough business training has helped thousands of graduates find jobs at many leading business firms.

Johnson and Wales University

Johnson & Wales University (JWU), founded in 1914, is a nonprofit, private institution. A recognized leader in career education, we offer accredited degrees in business, hospitality, culinary arts, technology and education to more than 17,000 graduate and undergraduate students, representing all 50 states and 93 countries. By integrating academics and professional skills, related work experiences, leadership opportunities and career services, JWU prepares driven students who are seeking a competitive advantage in the global economy. More than 83,000 alumni from 140 countries pursue careers around the world. The university is committed to urban revitalization and thoughtful historic renovation. Through active civic participation and unique learning opportunities, JWU improves the quality of life in its campus communities in Providence, R.I.; North Miami, Fla.; Denver Colo.; and Charlotte, N.C.

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

At UNCG you'll find a diverse, yet close-knit community where faculty and staff look for creative ways to teach and connect with students. Their students say UNCG is the perfect size: Large enough for variety and small enough to care about them as individuals. Even with more than 1,200 courses offered each semester, their students say they don't feel like a number.

Pitt Community College

In the Fall of 1997, Pitt Community College, as well as the entire North Carolina Community College system, converted from a quarter system to a semester system. Today, Pitt Community College offers 44 associate degree programs, numerous certificate programs, 22 diploma programs, and 18 University Transfer programs. The College has expanded its instruction to include more than 200 classes via the internet, classes via the NC Information Highway, telecourses, and community-based classes. During Fall semester 2003, 5,848 curriculum students and 4,234 continuing education students were enrolled.

Boddie-Noell Enterprises, Inc.

Boddie-Noell is a family business. They are one of the country's largest privately held companies. From the beginning, in 1962, their number one enterprise has been Hardee's restaurants. They opened one of the first, in Fayetteville, NC. Over the years, they have continued to grow and diversify. Today, they operate over 300 Hardee's restaurants and have branched into other new ventures and exciting business opportunities.

Sears Merchandise Group

Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,400 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 926 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com, and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End -- among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 13 million service calls made annually.

Otis Spunkmeyer, Inc.

In 1990, Otis Spunkmeyer entered the retail market by rolling out its signature cookie dough in 1 lb. and 5 lb. packages. In that same year, the company added ready-baked muffins to its line of select bakery products. Otis Spunkmeyer Muffins are available in foodservice and retail outlets throughout North America and Europe. Today, Otis Spunkmeyer muffins are the #1 premium muffin brand in retail.

Muscular Dystrophy Association

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is a voluntary health agency — a dedicated partnership between scientists and concerned citizens aimed at conquering neuromuscular diseases that affect more than a million Americans. MDA combats neuromuscular diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive medical and community services, and far-reaching professional and public health education.

Triangle American Marketing Association

For more than 20 years the Triangle AMA has offered marketing professionals the opportunity to learn and grow through professional development and networking. Now 500 members strong, we're the premier marketing association in the Triangle and Eastern North Carolina.