Budding entrepreneurs and business leaders from Flathead, Glacier and Whitefish high schools qualified to compete at the DECA International Career Development Conference April 25-30 in Orlando, Florida. 

DECA is a nonprofit organization that prepares high school students for marketing, finance, hospitality and management careers. Competitions help prepare students for a career setting by using skills applicable to the business industry. 

To advance to the international stage, students needed to demonstrate their mastery of skills and knowledge through team decision-making, individual and written events at the state competition held Feb. 2-4 in Missoula. Students making it to the top two, or three, depending on the event advance to the international competition. Students may only choose to compete in one event at internationals. 

The international conference is expected to bring together more than 15,000 high school students “vying for international honors,” according to www.deca.org. Students will also be able to participate in different leadership development activities.

Top two advance in the following events: 

Business Growth Plan 

2. Logan Bingham and Maclean VandeVoort, Whitefish  

Business Solutions Project 

4. Brayden Jenkinson and Kord Madsen, Glacier 

Buying and Merchandising Operations Research 

5. Madhav Gautam, Wyatt Jensen and Ethan Ronngren, Glacier 

7. Mason Loeffler, Whitefish

Career Development Project 

1. Nola Brown and Lucy Marzo, Whitefish

Community Awareness Project 

3. Ada Milner, Flathead High School

Community Giving Project 

2. Bailey Kallal and Lauren Rossi, Whitefish  

5. Mary Mercer, Myli Ridgeway and CJ Thew, Whitefish 

6. Emma Presley, Reid Sanders and Hilda Weber, Glacier 

Finance Operations Research 

4. Anastasia Alevizos and Shailey Green, Whitefish  

6. Annabelle Barrile and Marcus Mercer, Whitefish 

Franchise Business Plan 

3. Vincent Lam, Madison Nickel and Elijah Williams, Flathead 

4. Oliver Casey, Griffin Ingersoll and Huzhao Miele, Glacier 

7. Laney Franchini-White, Madi Gilchrist and Kyrie Gislason, Flathead 

Hospitality and Tourism Operations Research 

1. Carmela Forcone and Unity Loveless, Whitefish 

2. Jack Boone, Alyssa Conrad and Maya Kinkaid, Glacier 

Innovation Plan 

1. Abigail (Scout) Berry and Milla Owens, Whitefish 

2. Kolbe Ghekiere, Flathead 

3. Ada Milner, Flathead 

6. Lola Case, Emery Eash and Cheyenne Heino, Flathead 

7. Chance Lenz, Forest Sanderson and Logan Yuasa-Green, Flathead 

8. Matthew Himsl, Andrew Johnson and Cameron Wells, Flathead 

Integrated Marketing Campaign (event) 

1. Jake Dunker, Iona Sarraille and Vanessa Solomon, Whitefish 

3. Quinn Berkram and Marlo Carpenter, Glacier

8. Chance Lenz and Keegan West, Flathead

Integrated Marketing Campaign (product) 

4. Lohla Helpenstill and Emy O'Dell, Flathead

Integrated Marketing Campaign (services) 

7. Brooklynn Bowen and Cassidy Dennison, Flathead 

8. Matthew Himsl, Madison Nickel and Ali Putzler, Flathead 

International Business Plan 

1. Hannah Cantrell, David Moody and Brett Pesola, Flathead 

2. Lohla Helpenstill and Gannon Wisher, Flathead 

7. Bella Fletcher, Audrey Smith and Virgina Smith, Flathead 

Sales Project 

2. Connor Howard, Tanyon Murray and Kord Madsen Glacier 

Start-up Business Plan 

1. Tyron Byers and Michael Pendergrass, Glacier 

3. Maggie Zonich, Whitefish 

4. Kinsey Bergman, Kailey Lacy and Lindsey Lemler, Glacier 

5. Arianna Behrens and Claire Timm, Flathead

6. Ilyassou Ba and Ella Donohue, Flathead 

Top three advance in the following events:

Principles of Business Management Administration 

1. Hudson Capser, Flathead 

2. Marcus Mercer, Whitefish 

5. Abby Hayes, Flathead 

6. Aubrie Lindsay, Flathead 

Principles of Business Hospitality and Tourism 

1. Ili Hoerth, Glacier 

6. Noel Cantrell, Glacier 

Principles of Finance 

1. Anya Rountree, Glacier 

2. Shailey Green, Whitefish 

7. Will Scott, Flathead 

8. Griffin Ingersoll, Glacier 

Principles of Marketing 

1. Jaela Armstrong, Glacier 

Principles of Entrepreneurship 

2. Colton Crandall, Flathead 

5. Raya Gronley, Glacier 

9. Chance Isles, Whitefish 

Accounting Applications 

1. Amelia Remley, Glacier  

3. Tyron Byers, Glacier 

8. Stella Bayard, Glacier 

Apparel and Accessories Marketing Series 

1. Iona Sarraille, Whitefish 

2. Zoey Marzo, Whitefish 

3. Lyla Rudolph, Whitefish 

4. Tesla Liebe-Cohen, Glacier 

5. Ava Bee, Whitefish 

6. Miles Flake, Flathead 

Business Finance 

2. Owen Carpenter, Glacier 

5. Nazar Shostak, Flathead 

7. Luca Gignoux, Whitefish 

Automotive Services Marketing 

1. Michael Palmer, Flathead 

4. Anya Denmark, Glacier 

5. Hailey Fiala, Glacier 

7. Daniel Onyshchuk, Glacier 

Business Services Marketing 

1. Kennady Garvin, Glacier 

2. Brett Pesola, Flathead 

3. Jaela Armstrong, Glacier 

6. Oliver Casey, Glacier 

Sports and Entertainment Marketing 

1. Lillie Groom, Glacier 

2. Brayden Jenkinson, Glacier 

3. Carsen Wenz, Glacier 

4. Sam Engellant, Glacier 

6. Sarah Loran, Flathead 

7. Charlotte Osler, Glacier 

8. Parker Speer, Glacier 

Entrepreneurship Series 

3. David Moody, Flathead 

4. Logan Bingham, Whitefish 

5. Colton Crandall, Flathead 

6. Gracie Mae Kilmer, Flathead 

8. Emy Hansen, Whitefish 

Personal Financial Literacy 

1. Wyatt Jensen, Glacier 

3. Anya Rountree, Glacier 

5. Cole Moses, Whitefish 

6. AJ Zlogar, Glacier 

8. Hailey Fiala, Glacier 

Hotel and Lodging Management 

1. Maya Kinkaid, Glacier 

2. Lauren Rossi, Whitefish 

3. Michael Palmer, Flathead 

5. Jakoby Isles, Glacier 

6. Vincent Lam, Flathead 

Marketing Communications 

1. Zoey Marzo, Whitefish 

3. Jaela Armstrong, Glacier 

5. Jack Boone, Glacier 

Quick Serve Restaurant Management 

1. Josh Lee, Glacier 

2. Anna Tretter, Glacier 

5. Petra Mauldin, Whitefish 

6. Gretel Vine, Whitefish 

Retail Merchandising 

1. Kennady Garvin, Glacier 

2. Emmery Schmidt, Glacier 

4. Yris Hadziomerovic, Glacier 

6. Isabelle Wilson, Whitefish 

8. Henry McRae, Flathead 

Food Marketing 

2. Cole Moses, Whitefish 

4. Miles Flake, Flathead 

5. Bailey Kallal, Whitefish 

6. Audrey Conger, Bozeman 

7. Calvin Casey, Glacier 

8. Grace Miller, Glacier 

Restaurant Food Services Management 

4. Emmery Schmidt, Glacier 

5. Andrew Johnson, Flathead 

7. Lauren Pittman, Glacier 

8. Kase Madsen, Glacier 

Human Resources Management 

1. Syverson, Jack Glacier 

4. Hadziomerovic, Yris Glacier 

7. Milner, Ada Flathead  

Business Law and Ethics Team Decision-Making 

1. Owen Carpenter and Kennady Garvin, Glacier 

3. Maya Kinkaid and Josh Lee, Glacier 

4. Jake Dunker and Unity Loveless, Whitefish 

Buying Merchandising Team Decision-Making 

2. Alyssa Conrad and Anya Denmark, Glacier 

5. Alessandro Pipolo and Ali Putzler, Flathead 

8. Brooklynn Bowen and Cassidy Dennison, Flathead 

Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making 

1. Colton Crandall and Miles Flake, Flathead 

2. Jack Blodgett and David Moody, Flathead 

3. Vanessa Solomon and CJ Thew, Whitefish 

4. Carl Bitney and Sully Claridge, Glacier 

5. Quinn Berkram and Marlo Carpenter, Glacier 

6. Boston Case and Dylan Malmin, Flathead 

7. Petra Mauldin and Gretel Vine, Whitefish 

Sports and Entertainment Marketing Team 

1. Sam Engellant and Jack Syverson, Glacier 

Financial Services Team Decision-Making 

3. Mary Mercer and Cole Moses, Whitefish 

4. Jake Dunker and CJ Thew, Whitefish 

5. Calvin Casey and Anya Rountree, Glacier 

7. Kaitlyn Murphy and Eden Pickering, Glacier 

8. Hailey Fiala and Ava Stillo, Glacier 

Hospitality Services Team Decision-Making 

1. Owen Carpenter and Josh Lee, Glacier 

2. Jack Boone and Alyssa Conrad, Glacier 

3. Marcus Mercer and Mary Mercer, Whitefish 

6. Andrew Johnson and Cameron Wells, Flathead 

7. Kinsey Bergman and Kailey Lacy, Glacier 

8. Hunter Daniels and Thomas Jensen, Glacier 

Travel and Tourism Team Decision-Making 

6. AJ Zlogar and Charles Zlogar, Glacier 

7. Noel Cantrell and Ili Hoerth, Glacier 

8. Avery McPherson and Ryenn Schellinger, Whitefish 

Marketing Management Team Decision-Making Event 

4. Riley Davidson and Nolan Sterck, Flathead 

7. Lucy Marzo and Delila Vine, Whitefish 

Top two advance in the following events:

Hospitality and Tourism Professional Selling 

1. Zoey Marzo, Whitefish 

2. Yris Hadziomerovic, Glacier 

5. Vanessa Solomon, Whitefish 

Financial Consulting Event 

4. Lauren Rossi, Whitefish 

8. Ethan Ronngren, Glacier