MMA Future Business Leaders Attend 2024 State Conference

Competitors from the Missouri Military Academy Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter joined attendees from nearly 400 chapters at the Missouri State Leadership Conference on April 14-16, 2024, in Springfield. Eleven MMA cadets qualified to compete at state during the district competition held in February. Congratulations to MMA's Sales Presentation team for finishing in the top 10 in their event at state!

The MMA Color Guard presented the colors in front of more than 5,000 high school students at Great Southern Bank Arena (see photo below).

At the state conference, FBLA members competed in over 76 competitive events ranging from Accounting and Business Ethics to Social Media Strategies and UX Design. The top 10 individuals/teams in each event were awarded medals onstage.  

From left to right, back row, Cadets Michael Pfeifer, Malachi Imrie, Kruze Hagan, Tiago Ruas and Paulo Pereira De Abreu Donnabella. Front row, Cadets Marcus Miller, Samuel Way, and Miles Matthews.

MMA’s Sales Presentation team earned a spot on stage and finished in the top 10. Team members Cadets Kruze Hagan (Kirksville, Missouri), Miles Matthews (Fairfield Bay, Arkansas), and Samuel Way (Milton, Georgia) brought home tenth-place medals. Below, Cadet Way accepts his medal on stage.

Throughout their time at the conference, members engaged in over 45 various specialized leadership academies led by professional trainers in various topics such as exploring all types of leadership styles, learning various communication techniques, strategizing time and stress management, and much more.  The Leadership Expo held over 30 exhibitors, including universities and military partners, for members to connect, and offered leadership activities to engage members. 

The conference keynote speaker was Amy Gallimore, creative director and CEO at Four 16 Training Solutions, LLC. Gallimore empowered all attendees to change their approach from looking at leadership as a “job” to an “attitude.” Four16 Training Solutions is a company that specializes in inspiring keynote messages, interactive leadership workshops, and provides creative curriculum to clients all over the United States.

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About Missouri FBLA

Missouri Future Business Leaders of America is a non-profit 501(c)(3) student business organization with over 12,000 members making it the second largest membership in the nation.  Its mission is to inspire and prepare students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences.  The state association is headquartered in Jefferson City, Missouri.  For more information visit www.missourifbla.org.