Business Professionals of America (BPA) is a career and technical student organization

Career and Technical Student Organization

Career and Technical Student Organizations are vocational organizations primarily based in high schools and career technology centers. Often, on the state level, they are integrated into Departments of Education or incorporated as non-profit organizations. Many states define CTSOs as "integral...

 that is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio

Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...

. BPA aims to develop leadership, academic, and technological skills in the workplace among students and leaders within the community. BPA's colors are navy blue, tan, and red.

At the beginning of meetings or other events, BPA members recite their pledge: "We are met in a spirit of friendship and goodwill as we prepare for productive careers in a world-class workforce. We work together to develop professionalism and leadership through Business Professionals of America and pledge our loyalty to our nation."

BPA's motto is: "Today’s students. Tomorrow’s business professionals."

Officers at National, State, and Chapter Levels

Every Business Professionals of America chapter has presiding officers for the national organization, state associations, and local chapters. They all share and carry out similar tasks at all levels.

• President: A good leader is one who can work with people and in turn get people to work with him/her for the good of the organization. He/she knows the work that has to be done and recognizes that it will take many people to do the job. The leader keeps informed at all times of the efforts and progress of those whom a responsibility has been given and sees that the organization is moving forward.

• Vice-President: The office of vice president usually carries specific responsibilities for program planning. In most organizations, this is a major task involving many skills and much hard work. In BPA, the vice president has the responsibility of coordinating all Torch Awards Program activities and assisting the president by meeting with all committees, coordinating the program, and assuring that all activities are in keeping with general chapter practices.

• Secretary: A good secretary contributes much toward the efficiency of a chapter. Some chapters have one or more recording and corresponding secretaries while others have only one secretary. Some duties include keeping a complete and accurate account of proceedings of the chapter’s business meetings and the meetings of officers, keeping membership lists including a record of attendance, answer all correspondence promptly, and file the letter and the reply for future reference. This position is vital to the stability and progress of the chapter. It requires a responsible and organized individual that will get things done before or right on deadlines without delay in order to keep chapter activities running and stable.

• Parliamentarian: The chapter parliamentarian is responsible for the smooth running of meetings according to proper parliamentary procedures. Suggested duties include being present at each meeting to advise the presiding officer, being familiar with the by-laws of the local chapter, and the state and national organizations; studying parliamentary procedure so as to be familiar with all of its principles.

• Treasurer: A good treasurer should be accurate, prompt and resourceful. Some suggested duties are serving as chairman of the finance committee, help plan the chapter budget for the year, and keep accurate financial records.

• Historian: The historian will provide pictorial and factual information to be kept as permanent records of the chapter’s activities.

• Reporter: The reporter writes articles for the media, including the school newspaper and local paper regarding chapter news and spotlights.

• Sergant at Arms: Keeps order at meetings, but at a larger level (similar to parliamentarian).

Types of awards

BPA rewards members in three categories:

• Competitive Events: Members are rewarded for high placement in competitive events.

• Special Recognition Awards includes: Air Force Recruiting Salute Award, Community Relief Service Award, BPA Marketing and Public Relation, Chapter Activities Award of Excellence, Community Action, Outstanding Service Award, Entrepreneurship Exploration, Hall of Fame and Outstanding Service Awards, Member Recruiter, Merit Scholar, National Center Capital Improvements Campaign, Safety Awareness, Special Olympics, Environmental Action Award, and The Professional Cup.

• Torch Awards: Members are rewarded for excellence in seven categories such as "Patriotism," "Leadership," "Love, Hope, and Faith," and more.

Leadership Conferences

There are several levels of competition held at conferences and competition advancement is sought at each level in events referred to in the Competitive Events section.

• Regional Leadership Conference (RLC)

• State Leadership Conference (SLC)

• National Leadership Conference (NLC)

Many regions opt to arrange Fall Leadership Conferences in which there is no competition. These conferences are usually less formal than at RLC, SLC, and NLC.

Competitive events

Many different types of competitions, known as "events," are part of BPA. "Open Events" are electronically scored multiple choice tests. Other events can be computer-based, judged, or test-based. Events offered fall under the categories of Financial Services, Administrative Support, Information Technology, or Management/Marketing/Human Resources.

Financial Services

• Fundamental Accounting
• Advanced Accounting
• Computerized Accounting
• Payroll Accounting
• Managerial Accounting
• Fundamental Spreadsheet Applications
• Advanced Spreadsheet Applications
• Banking & Finance
• Financial Analyst Team
• Economic Research Project Individual
• Economic Research Project Team
• Financial Math & Analysis
• Insurance Concepts
• Federal Income Tax Accounting Concepts

Administrative Support

• Keyboarding Production
• Fundamental Word Processing Skills
• Advanced word Processing Skills
• Integrated Office Applications
• Desktop Publishing
• Basic Office Systems & Procedures
• Advanced Office Systems & Procedures
• Legal Office Procedures
• Medical Office Procedures
• Database Applications
• Administrative Support Team
• Administrative Support Research Project Individual
• Medical Transcription
• Administrative Support Concepts

Information Technology

• Computer Network Technology
• Cisco Systems Administration
• Network Administration Using Microsoft
• C++ Programming
• VB.Net Programming
• Java Programming
• Fundamentals of Web Design
• PC Servicing & Troubleshooting
• Computer Security
• Digital Media Production
• Computer Animation Team
• Network Design Team
• Software Engineering Team
• Video Production Team
• Web Application Team
• Web Site Design Team
• Information Technology Concepts
• Broadcast News Production Team

Management/Marketing/Human Resources

• Global Marketing Team
• Entrepreneurship
• Small Business Management Team
• Graphic Design Promotion
• Interview Skills
• Advanced Interview Skills
• Extemporaneous Speech
• Human Resource Management
• Prepared Speech
• Presentation Management Individual
• Presentation Management Team
• Parliamentary Procedure Team
• Management/Marketing/Human Resources Concepts
• Parliamentary Procedure Concepts

National Leadership Conference

Every year BPA hosts a National Leadership Conference (NLC) with over 6,000 students from across the nation.

The 2012 National Leadership Conference will be held in Chicago.

Future National Leadership Conference sites:

• 2012: Chicago, Illinois
• 2013: Orlando, Florida
  Orlando, Florida
  Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
  
  
• 2014: Indianapolis, Indiana
  Indianapolis, Indiana
  Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
  
  
• 2015: Anaheim, California
  Anaheim, California
  Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
  
  
• 2016: Boston, Massachusetts

Past National Leadership Conference sites:

• 2011 Washington D.C.
• 2010 Anaheim, California
  Anaheim, California
  Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
  
  
• 2009 Dallas, Texas
  Dallas, Texas
  Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
  
  
• 2008 Reno, Nevada
  Reno, Nevada
  Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
  
  
• 2007 New York City, New York
• 2006 Orlando, Florida
  Orlando, Florida
  Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
  
  
• 2005 Anaheim, California
  Anaheim, California
  Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
  
  
• 2004 Cincinnati, Ohio
  Cincinnati, Ohio
  Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
  
  
• 2003 Dallas, Texas
  Dallas, Texas
  Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
  
  
• 1991 Orlando, Florida
  Orlando, Florida
  Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
  
  
• 1990 Minneapolis, Minnesota
  Minneapolis, Minnesota
  Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
  
  

History of Business Professionals of America

Business Professionals of America was formed in 1966 as the Office Education Association (OEA). Note that information retrieved below was accessed at http://www.bpa.org/information/history.

• 1963 Vocational Education Act was passed. The need for a student organization for students enrolled in career/technical office/business programs was recognized.

• 1964 American Vocational Association conducted a study of 43 states indicating that 67% of the state vocational education supervisors wanted a career/technical youth group for students in office/business programs.

• 1965 Another study confirms the ’64 study findings; State supervisors meet to develop guidelines

• 1966 In July, the Vocational Office Education Clubs of America (VOECA) was formed by the states of Iowa, Kansas, and Wisconsin. In August, VOECA convened a meeting of youth group representatives to decide the most effective means to implement the office occupations youth group. After intensive effort, articles of incorporation were filed for the Office Education Association (OEA). The first three states to affiliate were Iowa, Kansas, and Wisconsin.

• 1971 A national office was established for the Office Education Association in Columbus, Ohio, and the Board of Trustees approved the Alumni Division.

• 1973 The first full-time Executive Director of OEA was employed.

• 1982 The present National Center at 5454 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, Ohio was purchased.

• 1983 Dedication ceremonies for the new National Center were conducted in July.

• 1984 Board of Trustees commissioned the Market One firm of Columbus, Ohio to do a marketing study of the OEA. The resulting long-range marketing plan recommended reform of the national image of the OEA.

• 1988 Image reform recommendations of the marketing study were implemented—the OEA became Business Professionals of America.

• 1992 The National Center is paid off and the mortgage is burned in a ceremony at the National Leadership Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio.

• 1998-2002 Delaware, Florida, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas pilot a New BPA Middle Level program.

• 2002 The Middle Level Program was approved by the Board of Trustees.

• 2003 The Middle Level Program was approved by BPA Corporate. The BPA Middle Level Division is born.

• 2004 Middle Level Division members participate in the National Leadership Conference.