National first-place finishes for FIU’s future business leaders

Members of the FIU’s Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL) chapter made an impressive showing, including two national first-place finishes, at the PBL National Leadership Conference, June 24-27, in Chicago, Illinois.

Members of the FIU Chapter of Florida Phi Beta Lambda at the national awards in Chicago. Top: Adrian Peart, Albert Amaya and Eric Semino; Bottom: Katarina Perez, Lais Negron, Kevin Carballe, Elizabeth Alvarez and Gedma Estrada.

Elizabeth Alvarez was named the national organization’s 2015-16 Parliamentarian, the result of earning the highest score on the parliamentarian procedures exam. Alvarez becomes the third national officer in the FIU chapter’s history. In addition, the team of Alvarez and Lais Negron landed first place in the very competitive Emerging Business Issues event, earning a $1,000 cash prize.

Seven students from the College of Business’ chapter were among 2,000 students attending the event, titled “Step Up to the Challenge.” Many members of the FIU delegation were recognized at the Awards of Excellence program on the conference’s closing night, including Adrian Peart, who placed fourth in the macroeconomics competition.

In the Future Business Executive event – the organization’s most prestigious competition — Kevin Carballe, president of the FIU chapter and FBLA’s Florida State president, placed ninth in the nation.

FIU Panthers scored two national first-place finishes at the Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference. Left to Right: Adrian Peart, Gedma Estrada, Kevin Carballe, Katarina Perez, Lais Negron, Elizabeth Alvarez, Giselle Garcia and Albert Amaya.

“For many students, the conference’s competitive events that recognize and reward excellence in a broad range of business and career-related areas are the capstone activity of our academic careers,” Carballe said. “The national conference also has students immersed in educational workshops, visiting an information-packed exhibit hall and attending motivational keynotes on a broad range of business topics. This conference presents many excellent opportunities – and a good time.”

“Having one of our members achieve a national office and other students placing well in competitions shows how these students are working hard to rebuild FBLA-PBL at FIU,” says chapter advisor Yanyn San Luis ’10, assistant director of Alumni Relations. “We definitely have strong leadership in this group, with juniors and seniors who came in as freshmen now shaping this chapter for success.”