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BPA Information

2011-2012 National Officers

Secondary National Officers

President

Jay Mulakala (jmulakala@bpa.org)


Jay Mulakala joined the 2011-2012 National Secondary Officer Team after nearly 5 years of active involvement with Business Professionals of America. Jay has been a member of BPA since his freshman year of high school at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, IL.

His first NLC was in Reno, Nevada, competing in Entrepreneurship. The following year, Jay served as a voting delegate at the NLC in Dallas, Texas while competing in Entrepreneurship again and placing 2nd. Over the span of 4 years, Jay has competed in Video Production Team, Graphic Design Promotion, Global Marketing Team, Parliamentary Procedure Team, and Entrepreneurship. He has also served as Chapter President, State Vice-President, National Parliamentarian, and now National Secondary President of Business Professionals of America.

He has also been actively involved in his community, serving as the President of United Students of Aurora Leaders (USA Leaders) and organizing community service projects for his local chapter as well as another CTSO, SkillsUSA.

Jay is currently attending the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign pursuing a career in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Business.

Vice President

Lacy Morrison (lmorrison@bpa.org)


Lacy Morrison has been an active member of Business Professionals of America since the beginning of her freshman year in high school.  In addition to placing in competitive events at the state and national level, and participating in the Torch Awards Program, she has served BPA in several leadership capacities:  as a local officer, the Idaho State President, and in her current office of National Secondary Vice President. 

As a senior at Burley High School, Lacy is actively involved in other clubs and activities, including National Honor Society, Key Club, and the high school swim team.  Some of Lacy’s hobbies include traveling, music, clogging, snowboarding, and meeting new people.  She is honored to be serving as the National Secondary Vice President, and is grateful for all of the opportunities that BPA has given her. 

Secretary

Natalie Berry (nberry@bpa.org)


Natalie Berry joined the 2011-2012 BPA National Officer Team after four years of membership in BPA. During this time, Natalie has been actively involved in BPA, qualifying for state, going to Nationals, receiving her Ambassador Torch Award, and serving on officer teams at the local and regional level.

On top of BPA, this college freshman previously served as Secretary of her Senior Class, Founder and Sponsor of P.U.R.E. P.R.A.I.S.E. and Historian of Skills USA while also participating in Speech, Drama, and National Technical Honor Society.

Natalie plans on using her BPA inspired leadership skills to pursue a post-secondary education in Nursing at Prairie View A&M University and then attend medical school.

Treasurer

Thomas Craven (tcraven@bpa.org)

Tommy Craven is happy to begin his fifth year with Business Professionals of American by becoming the Secondary Treasurer on the National Officer Team. Over the last five years, Tommy has competed and placed in many competitive events, received his Ambassador Torch Award, and served as three state positions on the Indiana State Officer Leadership Team including State President in 2010-2011.

Currently, Tommy is attending New York University where he is studying film, theatre, and business aspects in an individualized study program. At the university, Tommy holds scholar status for the Horatio-Alger Association and the Point Foundation. While there, he hopes to be involved in student government, community service projects, and performing arts much like he was involved in when attending Jasper High School.

While completing the goals set by the National Officer Team, Tommy also hopes to accomplish personal goals within the organization including expanding on career opportunities, starting a post secondary chapter at NYU, and possibly running for a Post-Secondary office. With his own goals, Tommy also wishes all BPA members the best as they Reach New Heights this year in BPA.

Historian

Sydney Melton (smelton@bpa.org)


Currently serving as your National Secondary Historian, Sydney Melton has been a member of BPA for three years. During this time, she has been highly involved in our organization through various competitive events and through the Torch Awards Program. Sydney has held local chapter officer positions such as President and Vice President and has previously served as the State Parliamentarian for the Texas Association. 

In addition to BPA, Sydney has been involved in Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. She thoroughly enjoys gaming; however, one of her biggest passions is photography.

Sydney is furthering her education at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. She plans to major in General Business to one day pursue opening a business of her own.

Parliamentarian

Gabija Stonyte (gstonyte@bpa.org)

Gabija Stonyte joined BPA after three years of being an active member and one year of serving as the local President. As part of BPA, she qualified for Nationals in Legal Office Procedures and served on the
2010-2011 Illinois National Officer team.

Gabija is now interning at a well renowned law firm in downtown Chicago, while attending class at DePaul University. With a concentration in Business, she hopes to graduate early and attend law school in Europe, where she grew up.

Gabija’s hobbies include outdoor events such as longboarding, snowboarding, rock climbing, and above all, traveling.  One of Gabija’s favorite quotes is, “life is either a daring adventure or nothing,” by Helen Keller.

Post-secondary National Officers


President

Lyndsay Robinson (lrobinson@bpa.org)


Lyndsay Robinson is the National Post-Secondary President of Business Professionals of America.  She has served in the past as Massachusetts State President for two years and the National Secondary Treasurer.

Having graduated from Shawsheen Technical High School in Massachusetts, Lyndsay now attends Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire where she majors in Politics and minors in Russian.  At college, Lyndsay is very involved with Student Government Association having served as her class president and the Secretary of Internal Procedures.  She also dedicates a great deal of her time to the New Hampshire Institute of Politics where she serves as an ambassador for her college.

Someday she hopes to become a lawyer and eventually a government official.  When she is not working with BPA, she is spending time with her family, traveling, and enjoying life.

Vice President

Debra Schwager (dschwager@bpa.org)


Deb Schwager has been a BPA member for 3 years. Deb has been actively involved  in her local chapter leading the Officer Team. She is the current Minnesota State Post-Secondary President, qualifying for Nationals as well as receiving her Ambassador Torch Award each year.

Deb has been married for 24 years to Tim, has three children, Racheal, 31, Lucas, 23, and Jordan, 21,as well as Chance, their 14 year old Beagle.  Besides BPA she is actively serving as Vice President of Dollars for Scholars, Secretary/Treasurer of Sherburn Area Task Force, Treasurer of WINGS, Treasurer of St John's Youth, Silent Action coordinator for Martin County Relay for Life and achieved the Dean's List each year.

Deb's leadership skills will be used as she pursues her Business Administration with a Medical emphasis,   and Accounting Degree at Minnesota West Community and Technical College, Jackson Campus.  BPA will be a part of her journey as she continues on life's path.

Secretary/Treasurer

Kayla Bailey (kbailey@bpa.org)


Kayla Bailey began broadening her horizons as a member of Business Professionals of America her freshman year of college. Since then, she has been an active club member, the President of both her local chapter and the state of Idaho, a two-time qualifier for Nationals, and now, a National Officer.

Kayla lives in Idaho and attends college at Idaho State University, where she is studying to be an elementary teacher. Aside from her full credit load, Kayla also works on campus, plays intramural sports, and enjoys life as a college student.

As she prepares to enter the workforce, the opportunities provided through BPA continually help Kayla develop skills that will be beneficial for her all throughout her professional career.