The Germantown Press April 22, 2021 - "Shartle elected BPA Officer"

05/06/2021

The Miami Valley Career Technology Center recently announced that Laycie Baker of Miamisburg and Alexander Shartle from Germantown were elected as BPA Officers for the 2021-2022 school year.

According to Kelly Herzog, public information coordinator at MVCTC, “BPA Is Business Professionals of America, a Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO).”

Herzog elaborated further on what BPA does and how it helps students. “Business Professionals of America has a long history as a career technical student organization providing members with opportunities for growth through education, competition, community service, and personal development,” she said “The organization works with students at the middle, secondary and post-secondary levels pursuing careers in business management, information technology, finance, office administration and other related fields.”

The Mission of Business Professionals of America is to contribute to the preparation of global professionals through the advancement of leadership, citizenship, academic and technological skills. The Business Professionals of America, Ohio Association, is the largest state association with approximately 9,800 middle level, secondary and postsecondary members.

“In the past, BPA State officers were responsible for attending monthly meetings where they went through leadership training and planned activities at the state level. This extended throughout the summer months also. State officers are responsible for helping plan, organize and run the Fall Leadership Conference, State Leadership Conference and the Ohio area at the National Leadership Conference,” Herzog said. “This requires them to find speakers/presenters of leadership activities, be presenters themselves, speak on stage and run the conferences. Throughout the year they are very active as offi cers on social media, especially with COVID.” 

Both students are proud of their accomplishments and both are clearly seeking bright futures. “I’m currently attending MVCTC for Business Ownership and I am so excited for the opportunities that continue to come to me. To be elected as a BPA State Officer feels beyond rewarding after years of struggling to overcome the shyness I knew was holding me back from so much,” Baker said. “As a junior this year I’ve thought more about my future than ever. After graduating from MVCTC I hope to attend college; my top pick being Case Western Reserve University.  My main goal is to be a teacher and hopefully, one day start up my own business. I’m confident that the experiences BPA will continue to provide will guide me towards success for all my future endeavors.”

“I am currently in my junior year of high school attending Miami Valley Career Technology Center for Business Ownership. I am honored to have the privilege of serving as a Business Professionals of America Ohio state officer!” Shartle said. “BPA provides many amazing opportunities to students across America and I am thrilled to be a part of the organization. After graduation, I plan on joining the workforce to use the knowledge I gained from BPA and my time at MVCTC, I also plan on attending college to pursue a degree in business.” 

Mandy Watts, a business ownership teacher at MVCTC is extremely proud of the students and believes they truly deserve this honor. “Laycie and Alexander have proven to be excellent students in a short amount of time. They are both very respectful and professional, maintaining excellent attendance and grades. Both students have really embraced MVCTC, the Business Ownership program and Business Professionals of America,” Watts said. “It is such an inspiration to see them strive for such accomplishments amid a hybrid COVID schedule. In addition to school, Alex manages a local coffee shop and runs his own lawn care business with over 20 loyal customers. Laycie is an athletic trainer for Miamisburg High School and works at Ele Bakery. Both have taken on additional responsibilities with becoming a state officer, yet are able to prove their success in the Business Ownership program at MVCTC. Both Laycie and Alex are well deserving of this accomplishment and will be excellent BPA state officers.”