Walt Whitman’s DECA International third place winning team of Caitlin Meuser, left in photo and Kate Simone, right; with DECA Advisor Joseph Innaco
Walt Whitman's DECA team, and their adviser, Joseph Innaco, and co-adviser, Diane Zamow, just returned from the 62st Annual International DECA Career Conference, held in Atlanta. Whitman's finest competed against more than 14,000 high school DECA competitors from every US state, as well as Canada, Mexico, and Germany.
New York DECA is part of an international student organization whose program of leadership and personal development is designed specifically for students interested in marketing, management, and entrepreneurship. The goals of DECA, commonly known as the four points of the DECA Diamond, are to promote leadership development, civic consciousness, social intelligence, and vocational understanding.
This year, as in years past, the Whitman kids competed well and continued the tradition of DECA dominance.
Congratulations to the following participants: Caitlin Meuser and Kate Simone–-third place international trophy winners in the event of Entrepreneurship Promotion Project; Jonathan Balsano–-overall top-ten finalist in the event of Accounting Applications; and Kevin Klima–-top-ten semifinalist in the event of Automotive Services Marketing. Also representing the state were the following Whitman students, who should be recognized for their outstanding effort: Matt Garton–-Business Services Marketing Series, Edmund Gezelter–-Marketing Management Series; Amanda Horn–-Quick Serve Restaurant Management Series; Carly Bencivenga–-Internet Marketing Management Team Decision Making Event Linsey McDonald–-Internet Marketing Management Team Decision Making Event; Michael Giambrone–- Leadership Development Academy; Jenn LaCara–-Entrepreneurship Written Event; Sam Dewitt–-Entrepreneurship Written Event; Courtney Bryggman–-Fashion Merchandising Promotion Plan Event; and Jordan Stone–-Entrepreneurship Participating Event.