Katherine Peck

Through reaching out to high schools that lack a DECA chapter, I plan to grow the brand name of DECA and overall help schools obtain knowledge on what DECA has to offer. I will do this through traveling to different schools, growing DECA social media platforms, and presenting information to students to spark interest in joining DECA.

Through DECA and marketing classes, I became academically prepared for being a leader in my community and chapter. For example, I am currently the store manager for our school-based enterprise. I also brought Mercy Mats (handmade mats for homeless) into clubs I participate in, and overall promote volunteering to others at my school. Through organizing volunteer opportunities like Salvation Army bell ringing and helping our local food pantry 'Project Concern,' it enables me to utilize my marketing skills such as advertising, promotion, and knowing one's audience.

Being employed in the food industry for over 3 years has shown me how much I use marketing tactics and skills obtained from DECA. I previously worked as a Hostess at a family restaurant and currently work at McDonald's as a crew member. Through DECA, I learned more about customer relations and service by competing in the Quick Service Restaurant Management category. This helped me in the work place to enhance my customer service skills and overall job performance.

Being new to DECA this year was a challenge trying to fit myself into a leadership role. However, having marketing knowledge from classes I took, DECA naturally came to me and I was assigned to be the Vice President of Marketing in my chapter. I soared into many new and innovative ideas for our chapter which connects to my mission statement, Planting New Chapters where I reached out to local high schools such as Cudahy High School and Saint Thomas Moore to give a presentation to business students where I could spark interest in starting a DECA chapter. Aside from my mission, as a community service-oriented person, I naturally wanted our chapter to start volunteering more. We are planning on making many more field trips to our local food pantry which is in connection with Hunger Task Force.  In addition to my community service, another project I implemented was a food drive for our school through National Honor Society.