National Leadership Conference
2021-2022 Virtual Conference
FBLA-PBL members have the competitive edge, as the best and brightest of FBLA and PBL convene to compete in leadership events, share their successes, and learn new ideas about shaping their career future through workshops and exhibits. This four-day conference is considered the pinnacle of the FBLA-PBL experience, especially for those running for national office. FBLA-PBL has forged partnerships with industry leaders to underwrite competitive events and scholarships for students achieving national ranking.
Nebraska PBL's 2021
NLC Recognitions
Nebraska PBL Dominates National Competition
More than 12,000 participants from across the country convened online for the FBLA-PBL 2021 National Leadership Conference (NLC). The event, which connected middle school, high school, and collegiate level students through competitive events, leadership sessions, and networking, provided students with the collective opportunity to win more than $110,000 in cash awards.
The award is part of the FBLA-PBL National Awards Program, better known as competitive events, that recognizes and rewards excellence in a broad range of business and career-related areas. For many students, the competitive events are the capstone activity of their academic careers.
This year’s NLC featured 60 events at the collegiate level. Events were modified to accommodate the online experience. FBLA-PBL has forged partnerships with industry leaders to underwrite competitive events and scholarships for students achieving national ranking.
Nearly 70 Nebraska PBL members were among the competitors in attendance at the virtual National Leadership Conference. Nebraska PBL members captured seven first place wins and the state chapter brought home 64 Top Ten finishes. As a state, Nebraska finished first among all of the competing states.
Seven First Place Event Winners
Out of the 64 national awards won by its members and chapters, Nebraska PBL had seven first place honors.
Logan Dye (Wylie, TX) – York College – Client Service
Tommy Ganos (Gering), Andrew Kurtenbach (Rapid City, SD), & Siddhant Shelke (Pune, India) – Chadron State College – Global Analysis & Decision Making
Kitra Cody (Cody) & Moriah Toledo (Fruitland, NM) – York College – Human Resource Management
Ellie Anderson (Leawood, KS) & Ellie Floral (Bellevue) – University of Nebraska Lincoln – Management Analysis & Decision Making
Joran Teijema (Schagerbrug, The Netherland) – Nebraska Wesleyan University – Management Concepts
Jessica Chen (Lincoln) – University of Nebraska Lincoln – Sales Presentation
Sydney Atkinson (Butte), Joseph Hiatt (Spencer), & Megan Wallman (Syracuse) – University of Nebraska at Kearney – Small Business Management Plan
Other Top Ten Finishes
The following list includes the winners, city/state (if available), the college/university, and the event:
Second Place Winners
Kitra Cody (Cody) & Josh Santiago (Norfolk) – York College – Accounting Analysis & Decision Making
Jon Spradlin (North Platte) – University of Nebraska at Kearney – Accounting for Professionals
Austin Guhde-Egger (Peru) – Peru State College – Computer Concepts
Tommy Ganos (Gering) – Chadron State College – Financial Analysis & Decision Making
Diego Korol (Santiago, Chile) & Josh Santiago (Norfolk) – York College – Forensic Accounting
Noah Wynn (Auburn) – Peru State College – Future Business Executive
Abbie Gardner (Chadron) – Wayne State College – Hospitality Management
Jessica Chen (Lincoln) – University of Nebraska Lincoln – Marketing Concepts
Andrew Kurtenbach (Rapid City, SD) – Chadron State College – Sports Management & Marketing
Third Place Winners
Kenzie Bertolas (Anoka, MN) – Midland University – Accounting for Professionals
Morgan Anderson (Omaha) & Jenny Beans (Kearney) – University of Nebraska at Kearney – Business Decision Making
Kelsi Leininger (Shenandoah, IA) – Peru State College – Business Ethics
Abbie Gardner (Chadron) – Wayne State College – Business Law
Morgan Anderson (Omaha) & Jenny Beans (Kearney) – University of Nebraska at Kearney – Forensic Accounting
Justin Kenney (Milford) – Wayne State College – Insurance Concepts
Jennifer Campos (Alliance), Siddhant Shelkhe (Pune, India), & Phillip Soto (Scottsbluff)– Chadron State College – Integrated Marketing Campaign
Seth Varner (Wahoo) – University of Nebraska at Omaha – Organizational Behavior & Leadership
Autumn Miller (McCook) – McCook Community College – Social Media Challenge
Diego Korol (Santiago, Chile) & Felipe Venegas (Santiago, Chile) – York College – Small Business Management Plan
Fourth Place Winners
Adrianna Fajardo (Griffin, GA) & Ella Montoya (Hampton) – York College – Accounting Analysis & Decision Making
Ella Montoya (Hampton) & Isaac Barnes (Florissant, MO) – York College – Community Service Project
Deanne Crocker (McCook) & Kyle Kinne (McCook) – McCook Community College – Digital Media
Ellie Foral (Bellevue) – University of Nebraska Lincoln – Microeconomics
Claire Schweikert (Papillion) – University of Nebraska at Omaha – Networking Concepts
Claire Schweikert (Papillion) – University of Nebraska at Omaha – Programming Concepts
Aubree Noble (Chadron) – Chadron State College – Strategic Analysis & Decision Making
Fifth Place Winners
Timberly Carr (Henderson) – York College – Business Communication
Autumn Miller (McCook) – McCook Community College – Business Presentation
Jon Spradlin (North Platte) – University of Nebraska at Kearney – Cost Accounting
Sunnie Stephens (Goodland, KS) – McCook Community College – Desktop Publishing
Seth Varner (Wahoo) – University of Nebraska at Omaha – Entrepreneurship Concepts
Moriah Toledo (Fruitland, NM) – York College – Global Analysis & Decision Making
Nikki Holthaus (Elkhorn) – University of Nebraska Lincoln – Impromptu Speaking
Noah Kreifels (Auburn) – Peru State College – Marketing Concepts
Sixth Place Winners
Chris Martens (Albert Lea, MN) – York College – Business Ethics
Caden Morris (Savannah, MO) – York College – Client Service
Kayla Flanigan (Omaha) – Midland University – Contemporary Sports Issues
Deanne Crocker (McCook) & Kyle Kinne (McCook) – McCook Community College – Desktop Publishing
Kimberly Frey (Tilden) – University of Nebraska Lincoln – Financial Concepts
Nikki Holthaus (Elkhorn) – University of Nebraska Lincoln – Hospitality Management
Isaac Barnes (Florissant, MO) & Victoria Miller (Alamosa, CO) – York College – Integrated Marketing Campaign
Kelsi Leininger (Shenandoah, IA) – Peru State College – Job Interview
Joseph Hiatt (Spencer) – University of Nebraska at Kearney – Justice Administration
Joran Teijema (Schagerbrug, The Netherland) – Nebraska Wesleyan University – Personal Finance
Aubree Noble (Chadron) – Chadron State College – Retail Management
Seventh Place Winners
Timberly Carr (Henderson) & Allison Myers (Kansas City, MO) – York College – Business Presentation
Sydney Atkinson (Butte) – University of Nebraska at Kearney – Management Concepts
Ellie Anderson (Leawood, KS) – University of Nebraska Lincoln – Personal Finance
Eighth Place Winners
Roberto Saenz (Mission, TX) – Midland University – Accounting Principles
Tyler Harms (Falls City) – Peru State College – Marketing Analysis & Decision Making
Ninth Place Winners
Kathryn Phillips (Scottsbluff) – Nebraska Wesleyan University – Accounting Principles
Kayla Flanigan (Omaha) – Midland University – Information Management
Allison Myers (Kansas City, MO) & Moriah Toledo (Fruitland, NM) – York College – Local Chapter Annual Business Report
Tenth Place Winners
Sunnie Stephens (Goodland, KS) – McCook Community College – Accounting Principles
Adrianna Fajardo (Griffin, GA) – York College – Cost Accounting
Noah Wynn (Auburn) – Peru State College – Financial Concepts
Dawn Castle (Imperial) – Future Business Executive
Who’s Who in PBL
Diego Korol (Santiago, Chile) – York College – Who’s Who in PBL
Other Recognitions
Jeanette Milius (Ashland), adviser for Nebraska Wesleyan University, represented Nebraska as their Adviser of the Year.
The York College and McCook Community College chapters were recognized with the Gold Seal Chapters of Merit. These awards recognize outstanding chapters that have actively participated in projects and programs identified with the goals of FBLA-PBL.
In addition, state adviser, Jennifer Claus (Ashland), assisted with the competitive events throughout the conference as part of the national awards program committee. She is in her first term on the committee. Claus has served as a state adviser for Nebraska PBL for 5 years.