Coffee County Central high school’s DECA club represented our chapter at the 2024 DECA S&E Marketing Conference in Orlando, Fla. from Jan. 31 through Feb. 4. DECA is known as the “Distributive Education Clubs of America.”
The S&E Conference gives students an insider’s perspective of multiple jobs within sports marketing and management. During the conference there are two meeting days from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Four speakers discuss their jobs, eight speakers in total. Each speaker acknowledges how they got where they are in their career, and the importance of DECA helping marketing major students succeed after high school and college.
In the 2024 conference, the speakers included: Lauren Hoffman-Senior manager of Brand and Marketing Strategy Universal Orlando Resort, Erin Lasser-Assistant Director of Communications Planning Universal Orlando Resort, Stephen Kubiak-Senior Manager of Social Strategy and Content Universal Destinations and Experiences, Alyson Sologaistoa-Vice president of public relations Universal Orlando Resort with Kristen Smith-Director of Public relations Universal Orlando resort, Haley Meier-Senior Director of Tourism and Group Sales Orlando magic, Sarah Hollis- Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer USA Track and Field, Katie Klimowich- Lifecycle Lead Sports electronic Arts, and Kido Okeleke-Global Special Projects Jordan Brand.
Each speaker engaged with the audience through questions, personal experiences from their participation in DECA, and an overview of their careers.
In hindsight, each career represented by these individuals are all from an insider’s perspective of the importance of marketing and what position marketing plays in multi-million dollar organizations such as Universal of Orlando, Jordan, and USA Track and Field.
Ultimately, the Sports and Entertainment conference is an eye-opening trip for any member of DECA, whether they are struggling to figure out what they want to do or need help navigating through the marketing and management fields.
