Horizon DECA Members Learn How To Make an IMPACT in Seattle,Washington!

Eleven Marketing/DECA students along with Mr. Samora and Ms. Valentine joined 2,700 other students from the Western United States and Guam for the DECA Western Regional Leadership Conference in Seattle , Washington this past November 16-20^th. Our trip to Seattle for the Western Regional Leadership Conference was a great success; we had fun, learned lots, and fell in love with Seattle ! Our group had the opportunity to explore the beautiful city of Seattle as well as learn how to make an impact in the highly competitive world of business and marketing. The entire Colorado contingent stayed at the gorgeous downtown Hilton Hotel. The Hilton was situated perfectly, allowing us to explore the entire downtown and waterfront area on foot and by monorail. The opening and closing sessions as well as the workshops were held in the Washington Trade and Convention Center, just a block from our Hotel.

Upon arriving in Seattle , checking into our Hotel, and after lunch and a little shopping at the Westlake Shopping Center , we visited the Seattle Japanese Gardens located in the Washington Park Arboretum. After riding the monorail to the Seattle Center , our group spent the rest of the day at the Seattle Center where we visited the Space Needle, took in a 3-D I-Max movie at the Boeing I-Max Theater and a laser show at the Planetarium in the Pacific Science Center . We also managed to squeeze in dinner at Bambino’s East Coast Pizza. Our second day in Seattle we explored the Pike Place Market on the waterfront (we did see some flying fish at the famed Pike Place Fish Market) and took a Washington Ferry ride to Bainbridge Island and had a very nice dinner at Troiani Ristorante Italiano. The conference officially opened Saturday night with a keynote speech by Mike Egan, Director of Corporate Affairs for Microsoft.

Sunday morning’s workshops focused on developing Marketing and Leadership Skills and Sunday afternoon’s workshops focused on developing Competitive and Life Skills. We enjoyed a delicious meal together Saturday evening at Ivar’s Acres of Clams down on the Puget Sound waterfront before taking the monorail back to the Seattle Center for an evening of entertainment at the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum.

Monday morning was filled with local Seattle area (behind the scenes) business tours. Our group got to tour Boehm’s Candy Company (makers of fine European Style chocolates) and the exclusive Tournament Players Club Snoqualmie Ridge Golf Course. Monday afternoon featured interactive FOCUS team building training sessions. The conference concluded with an inspirational message from motivational speaker Albert Mensah, a native of Ghana who immigrated to the United States .

Next fall we will gather in Phoenix , Arizona for the 2007 DECA Western Regional Leadership Conference.

Click  HERE  to view the pictures from our trip.