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Interview with DECA's Newly Elected President: Paige Eldridge

Jean Merlain (JM): How does it feel, now that you are the newly elected president of DECA Inc.?

Paige Eldridge (PE): It really feels amazing getting all of the great support from each individual chapter. I cannot wait for training to start in May and really start to work with everybody. It hasn’t really hit me yet because I feel like this whole thing is just surreal

JM: Take us back to that moment when the new national team was being announced, what was going through your head?

PE: Everyone’s names were being called one by one and my name wasn’t called yet. I really didn’t know what to expect. It just felt like a surreal moment when my name was called. Since than, I’ve been trying to soak in all of the excitement.

JM: What are your top priorities for improving DECA Inc.?

PE: My top priorities for improving DECA Inc. will be to go back to the platform. Working on increasing Memberships. Improving CLA, making it more fun for participants. Eventually I will be adding the Advertising track to this year’s CLA. I will be working on Bridging communication gap between the National Team and individual chapters because the communication right now is very vague

I would like to make next year’s ICDC more of a ‘Green Conference’

JM: How will you help chapters recruit and retain new members?

PE: Adding the Advertising Track to this year’s CLA will spark interest and appeal to new individuals who are not DECA members at the moment. Spreading awareness about the organization to our virtual Chapters making them feel like they’re part of DECA. Also emphasize on the benefits members will get out of Joining DECA aside from the traveling experience. Explain to them that DECA is a place to network with professionals, make new friends, become a more efficient leader, etc.

And the ADVICE that I have for chapters to retain their members is for each chapter to have a monthly bounding event. They can do things like going to the comedy club, going bowling, etc. Trying doing some thing fun that will make the members feel like they’re part of an organization.

JM: Where do you see DECA five years 5 years from now?

PE: With the recent name change, I think that our members, and our partners will recognize DECA more. I’d like to see the advertising track added along with many different tracks. I’d like to see more diversity in DECA; I’d like to see the organization expanded to students in other career fields.

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FUN FACTS

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JM: Did you do DECA in high school?

PE: I wish I did it in high school, I went to small high school in Texas, they didn’t have any kind of major organization such as DECA. But joining DECA in college has helped shaped who I’ve become today. Josh Shankle was the one who told me about DECA because he and I went to the same school.

JM: Name 5 different things about you that you’d like to share with the DECA members.

PE:

1. From Texas, Like anything fried

2. Scared of Spiders

3. Love sweet tea.

4. Play Golf

5. Addicted to shoes.

JM: Where do you see yourself five years from now?

PE: Get bachelors and Masters Degree. Love Texas, but will be open to travel to places such as Florida, New York, etc. to get dream job working at an advertising firm.

JM: You’ve definitely worked hard to be where you are at today, what advice do you have for members who wish to run for national office someday?

PE: Be prepared, don’t under-estimate the experience because you never know what to expect. Practice a lot, have your chapter members come up with questions that might be asked to you. Be prepared for caucuses. Most importantly, be confident in yourself.

JM: As President, what legacy would you like to leave behind once your term is over?

PE: As President, the legacy that I would like to leave behind once my term is over as President, I’d like to feel proud that I added new tracks at CLA and that our membership has increased significantly.

JM: Any Final Word...

PE: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYONE’S SUPPORT. LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL

JM: I must say that I love your poise personality. I wish you the best as President and in your endeavors. You have a great head on your shoulder with great goals and vision. Rhode Island will be rooting for you and your team this upcoming year.

Keep in touch.

~Like Paige on Facebook- www.facebook.com/decapaige

~Interview done by Jean Merlain.

#Interview #DECA #Paige Eldridge

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