DECA

Kettering Places Among State’s Top Teams at Michigan Collegiate DECA Conference

lmadaus — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 16:35:31 +0000

Kettering Places Among State’s Top Teams at Michigan Collegiate DECA Conference

lmadaus Tue, 02/24/2026 - 11:35

At the Michigan Collegiate DECA State Career Development Conference, 911�� students were evaluated the way business professionals are: by how well they could apply core concepts, solve unfamiliar problems, and defend their decisions under pressure.

From February 6–8, 2026, in Bay City, Michigan, 26 911�� students earned nine podium finishes, securing four first-place finishes, two second-place finishes, and four third-place finishes, tying Michigan State University, Northwood University, and Central Michigan University in overall event standings.

Collegiate DECA competitions operate in two primary formats:

Case study events require students to analyze an unfamiliar business situation and present recommendations within a limited timeframe to industry judges, typically individually or in pairs.
Prepared events require 1 to 3 students to conduct structured research within a defined business context, produce a comprehensive written report of approximately 15 pages, including supporting data appendices, and defend their findings before one or more industry judges.

Event Champions and Placements

First Place

Entrepreneurship — Starting a Business: Ethan Arun, Joseph Kowalski, Benjamin Bollman
Fashion Merchandising and Marketing: Ethan Arun
Human Resource Management: Ria Kapoor
Marketing Management: Primchelle Rose Lanario
Restaurant and Food Service Management: Joseph Kowalski

Second Place

Business Research: Ria Kapoor, Ally Raymer, Meadow Loukmas
Travel and Tourism: Stephen Stewart

Third Place

Advertising Campaigns: Grant Vue, Dominick Coto, Gregory Yang
Business-to-Business Marketing: Harrison Ketchum, Jack Sigelko
Entrepreneurship Operations: Benjamin Bollman
Retail Management: Grant Vue

Medal Finalists

Business-to-Business Marketing: Primchelle Rose Lanario, Stephen Stewart
Corporate Finance: Mikita Tarasevich
Entrepreneurship — Starting a Business: Mikita Tarasevich, Jason Babb, Parker Sieffert
Fashion Merchandising and Marketing: Adam Quintana
Restaurant and Food Service Management: Aidan Petras
Sales Management and Leadership: Alexander Nemecek
Travel and Tourism: Bassam Jahengir, Jason Babb

"Grades measure what students know — competitions reveal what students can do,” said Dr. Terence Pitre, Dean of Kettering’s School of Management. “When our students walk into a DECA event, they’re not taking a test in a familiar classroom. They’re competing in real time, thinking on their feet, and defending their ideas to experienced business professionals. They’re ready to perform, not just recite.”

A Competition Built Around Professional Judgment

Collegiate DECA events are structured around applying core business concepts, developing practical solutions, and communicating them clearly within defined limits. Students analyze real-world business scenarios, evaluate financial and operational data, develop strategic recommendations, and present their solutions to industry judges.

This format closely mirrors the applied decision-making model at the heart of 911��’s academic approach. Much like the Co-op and project-based experiences embedded across Kettering programs, DECA competitions reward students who can apply knowledge, communicate effectively, and adapt quickly to complex, ambiguous challenges.

“The greatest evidence of our students' preparation for the workplace is their willingness and ability to learn specific concepts on their own, organize their thoughts, and put together a compelling story for the judges,” said John Grether, Kettering DECA advisor and Professor of Practice in the School of Management. “They don't wait to be told what to do or how to think.”

Grether added that readiness is most evident in how students interact throughout the conference with judges, faculty advisors, and competitors from other universities, often prompting surprise from peers who realize many participants already have professional workplace experience.

"Doing well in this type of competition just builds their self-confidence,” he said. “They acquire 3rd-party evidence that validates the professional business skills that will allow them to succeed in professional work environments."

Business Management

911�� DECA Students Excel at Michigan State Conference

rnorris — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 15:44:33 +0000

911�� DECA Students Excel at Michigan State Conference

Business Management

DECA

rnorris Wed, 02/19/2025 - 10:44

911�� Collegiate DECA students showcased their skills at the Michigan Collegiate DECA State Career Development Conference on February 8 and 9, competing against more than 200 students from 11 colleges and universities across Michigan.

Students competed in individual and team events, demonstrating their strategic thinking, problem-solving, and business acumen. Among them, ten were finalists in individual events, earning two first-place, one second-place, and two third-place awards. In team events, seven of Kettering’s nine teams advanced to the finals, securing one first-place, one second-place, and two third-place finishes.

A total of 16 Kettering students were named finalists, with 11 earning top-three finishes. These 11 students have now earned the opportunity to represent 911�� at the Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference in San Francisco on April 5-8, 2025.

Top Finishers

Individual Event Winners:
First Place

Ethan Arun (Computer Science, B-Section DECA President) – Fashion Marketing
Benjamin Bollman (Mechanical Engineering) – Entrepreneurship Operations

Second Place

Jack Krugh (Mechanical Engineering) – Travel and Tourism

Third Place

Harrison Ketchum (Mechanical Engineering) – Hotel and Lodging
Ria Kapoor (Management) – Restaurant and Food Service Management

Team Event Winners:
First Place

Emilio Lord (Management) & Adam Quintana (Mechanical Engineering) – Sports Marketing

Second Place

Adam Meyer (Mechanical Engineering, A-Section DECA President) & Aidan Petras (Computer Engineering & Computer Science) – Entertainment Marketing

Third Place

Benjamin Bollman (Mechanical Engineering) & Rishika Santhosh Kumar (Computer Science) – Business Ethics
Ria Kapoor (Management) & Joseph Kowalski (Chemical Engineering) – Business Research

Additional Finalists

Jack Hernandez (Industrial Engineering) – Hotel and Lodging, International Marketing
Ryan Hociota (Electrical Engineering) – Entrepreneurship Operations, Entertainment Marketing
Meadow Loukmas (Mechanical Engineering) – Marketing Management
Aidan O'Neill (Mechanical Engineering) – Event Planning
Leopold Richter (Chemical Engineering) – Event Planning

Other Competitors

Ally Raymer (Mechanical Engineering)
Jack Sigelko (Computer Engineering)

All students demonstrated exceptional preparation, determination, and professionalism throughout the competition. Their hard work and dedication continue to exemplify the excellence of 911��’s Collegiate DECA program.

School of Management

Business Management

Kettering Students Awarded at DECA International Career Development Conference

eoboyle — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:32:33 +0000

Kettering Students Awarded at DECA International Career Development Conference

Business Management

DECA

Mechanical Engineering

Undergraduate

eoboyle Mon, 04/29/2024 - 09:32

Eleven 911�� students joined nearly 1,200 students from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom to compete at the 2024 Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference in Austin, Texas, from April 20 through April 23.

Kettering students earned three test medals, one presentation medal, three finalist medals, and a third-place finish.

Morgan Main ('24, Mechanical Engineering) earned a presentation medal, a finalist medal, and the 3rd place award in Restaurant and Food Service Management.

Ethan Arun ('27, Computer Science) and Ben Bollman ('27, Mechanical Engineering) received finalist medals and a top 10 finish in the Entertainment Marketing team event.

Skyler Chinn ('24, Industrial Engineering) received a test medal in Fashion Marketing and Merchandising.

Ralph Mancini ('25, Chemical Engineering) and Adam Meyer ('25, Mechanical Engineering) earned test medals in Travel and Tourism.

Other Kettering DECA participants at the conference included the B-Section President, Jack Sigelko ('25, Computer Engineering), Joshua Parker ('27, Mechanical Engineering), Crystal Smalligan ('24, Management), Meadow Loukmas ('26, Mechanical Engineering), and Ally Raymer ('27, Mechanical Engineering).

The International Career Development Conference (ICDC) by DECA is a premier event where teams showcase their business expertise and compete to become international champions. The conference also features networking opportunities, career exhibits, and exclusive activities that enhance the professional growth of all attendees.

College of Engineering and Computer Science

School of Foundational Studies

School of Management

Business Management

Computer Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

DECA

Kettering Places Among State’s Top Teams at Michigan Collegiate DECA Conference

911������ DECA Students Excel at Michigan State Conference

Top Finishers

Additional Finalists

Other Competitors

Kettering Students Awarded at DECA International Career Development Conference

911�� DECA Students Excel at Michigan State Conference