What is FBLA?
Future Business Leaders of America, previously known as Phi Beta Lambda, is a national association of over 270,000 students interested in careers in business or business education. FBLA-collegiate is the postsecondary division of the association. FBLA’s mission is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership development programs. To achieve its goals, FBLA provides members with a broad range of exciting conferences, publications, competitive events, and partnership opportunities.
FBLA Conferences
At state conferences, FBLA members network with each other and state business leaders while attending numerous workshops on leadership development, community service, and much more. State officer elections are held at each state conference. At the Spring State Leadership Conference, FBLA members compete in over 55 competitive events to earn the right to represent Arkansas at the National Leadership Conference.
At the National Leadership Conference, FBLA members seize the opportunity to compete against the best of the best in one of more than 60 competitive events. This is the ultimate FBLA experience! FBLA members participate in the National Officer election process and attend numerous workshops and networking activities during this four-day conference. The NLC is held in a different exciting city every year; in recent years, NLCs have been held in Orlando, FL; Chicago, IL; Anaheim, CA; Baltimore, MD; San Antonio, TX; and Atlanta, GA. The 2024 NLC will be held in Orlando, FL, and the 2025 NLC in Anaheim, CA.
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- Twelve students and two advisors attended the 2019 PBL National Leadership Conference in San Antonio, TX.
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- SAU PBL won 40 awards at the 2019 State Leadership Conference in Little Rock.
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- SAU award winners from the 2019 PBL National Leadership Conference in San Antonio, TX. From left: Kelsie Collatt, Olivia McClure, Amanda Easley, Joshua Okwuazu, Micah Larey, Wesley Price, Kaitlin Kitchens.
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- SAU FBLA members at the 2023 National Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
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- Olympic Rings in Atlanta, at 2023 NCL trip.
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- The Bean in Chicago, at 2022 NCL trip.
Why should you join FBLA?
In today’s highly competitive business environment it takes more than just a degree to succeed – it requires leadership skills, team-building experience, and technical knowledge. By taking advantage of the many programs FBLA offers, students acquire the skills that will set them apart from the average graduate. Through active involvement, you will make connections and form networks and friendships that will last a lifetime. FBLA will give you the opportunities, skills, experiences, and confidence to achieve your dreams!
FBLA at SAU
The Phi Mu Chapter of Phi Beta Lambda was chartered on September 22, 1971. Linda Beene, 1971 State and National PBL President installed the chapter’s seventy-five charter members and challenged them to develop a strong, active chapter.
The Phi Mu Chapter evolved from the Commerce Civic Club. Tri-C, as it was known, was organized on the SAU campus in the later 1940s for the purpose of providing business students the opportunity to share social and learning experiences. Following three decades of successful operation, business students recognized the need for the affiliation with a national organization. Therefore, in 1971 students reorganized Tri-C and joined Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda.
Since 1971, the Phi Mu Chapter has experienced sustained growth and success. Members of the chapter have won over 1,300 state awards and over 300 national awards. The chapter has earned recognition as a Silver Chapter in Arkansas Phi Beta Lambda 31 times and as an Arkansas Gold Chapter five times. At the national level, SAU-PBL has earned the Gold Seal Award of Merit 34 times and was named a Gold Key Chapter thirteen times.
Over the last 41 years, 54 members of the Phi Mu Chapter served as state officers, and the following five served with distinction as elected national officers:
- Rodney LeGrone as the 1986-1987 Southern Region Vice President
- D. Wayne Floyd as the 1989-1990 National President
- Selena Belt Blair as the 1992-1993 National Treasurer
- Darlene Tickle as the 1996-1997 Southern Region Vice President
- Traci Hughes as the 1998-1999 Southern Region Vice President
PBL has always been a big part of the SAU Rankin College of Business and the chapter plans to remain active in the state and national competitive event programs for years to come.
