Thirteen Collegiate DECA members and advisors Dr. Shirley Ezell and Dr. Marcella Norwood, from the Retailing and Consumer Science program traveled to New York City to participate in the Collegiate DECA Leadership Academy (CLA), November 17 – 20. Al's Formal Wear donated $500to support DECA's trip.
The Academy was held at the New York Hotel Pennsylvania. Students toured businesses such as Macy's, The TJX Companies, Inc., Marshalls, and the Marriott Hotel. The students were assigned to teams where they developed solutions for several cases.
UH Retailing and Consumer Science majors were challenged to help TJX Companies discover how to reach more customers by analyzing what was missing in their stores. The fourteen teams (63 students) assigned to this case came up with suggestions that would help the company increase sales and improve store image.
Winners of the fashion and TJX Companies retail management case study were retailing and consumer science students Deisy Lopez and Jasmine Bombaywala. Vanessa Nunez and Kenya Pena received honorable mention. Ricardo Barrientos was hospitality management case study winner.
"We are so proud of these officers and members," said Norwood, Associate Professor of Human Development and Consumer Sciences. "Our DECA officers have done an excellent job providing opportunities for the members to get involved this semester. Students have participated in such activities as tailgating, the Thanksgiving Parade, Thanksgiving food distribution. Also, there was a successful special project involving the trendy TOMS shoes where for each pair of shoes sold, a pair of shoes is given to a child who doesn't have shoes."
Collegiate DECA is a student driven organization that values competence, innovation, integrity, and teamwork. It prepares students for careers by integrating skills learned in the classroom into real world experiences.