Warren County High School DECA Chapter recognized four local business leaders as official Business Partners

On November 10, 2021, the Warren County High School DECA Chapter recognized four local business leaders as official Business Partners of the DECA Chapter.

Emily Mawson, President of WCHS DECA introduced the first business partner Heather Clatterbuck, Vice-President and Branch Manager of United Bank. Clatterbuck had assisted the Chapter and its members by serving as a member on their Leonard Maiden DECA Scholarship Selection committee, providing job shadowing opportunities for students interested in banking and finance, being a guest speaker in WCHS personal finance classes, providing public speaking opportunities for chapter officers at local Rotary Club meetings, serving as an interviewer for mock job interviews for our members and other WCHS students, and assisting DECA members competing in state and national DECA financial literacy competitions.

Emily Mawson, President of WCHS DECA presents award to Heather Clatterbuck, Vice-President and Branch Manager of United Bank.

Sara Waller, Vice-President of Hospitality for WCHS DECA introduced the next supporter, William Huck, owner, and operator of C & C Frozen Treats in Front Royal.

In October 2017, WCHS DECA began what is now “DECA Tailgaters”, a school-based enterprise dedicated to foodservice and on-site food catering operations.  C&C Frozen Treats was a huge part in helping them establish this project.

Additionally, he has actively supported chapter membership recruitment open houses, provided job shadowing opportunities for DECA members interested in learning more about the foodservice industry, provided assistance and mentorship experience to students competing in the district, state, & national DECA competitions, served as a judge during district DECA competitions, served on the Maiden DECA Scholarship Selection Committee, provided employment opportunities for WCHS DECA members and other WCHS students, provided numerous opportunities for our DECA members to engage in community-based activities, most recently being, “Hometown Halloween”, and provided assistance during various DECA Tailgaters events.

Sara Waller, Vice-President of Hospitality for WCHS DECA presents award to William Huck, owner, and operator of C & C Frozen Treats in Front Royal.

Ginger Gouda, Vice-President of Sports Media Marketing introduced Christine Costello, Agent with Farm Bureau Insurance in Front Royal.

In the summer of 2020, the Virginia High School League passed a restriction on the number of people who could attend in-person at high school athletic games and events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This restriction led to the birth of Wildcats LIVE!, a live streaming service that WCHS DECA created in partnership with our athletic department in order to broadcast live games via the internet to our Wildcat fans.

Christine Costello has actively supported this student managed and operated sports media business by being a contributing sponsor for live streamed games, being a major sponsor during the 2021-22 football game day programs, donating promotional giveaway items for WCHS athletic events, and as a guest speaker in marketing and personal finance classes at WCHS.

Ginger Gouda, Vice-President of Sports Media Marketing presents award to Christine Costello, Agent with Farm Bureau Insurance in Front Royal.

Nicole Ranney, Chapter Vice-President of Corporate Information introduced Mike McCool, President of National Media Services, Inc and Publisher of the Royal Examiner in Front Royal.

Mike McCool has provided invaluable assistance and advisement with many chapter initiatives and projects including serving as a consultant for Wildcats LIVE! bi-weekly shows,  assisting with publishing, not only news articles and press releases about WCHS DECA activities, but other school-related press releases as well, provided graphics design assistance for project presentation boards, assisted with creating various promotional items or our SBEs – Wildcats Corner, DECA Tailgaters, & Wildcats LIVE!, served as a member on the Maiden DECA Scholarship Selection Committee, and provided opportunities for sports and digital marketing students to use learned promotional skills with creating press releases about activities at Warren County High.

Nicole Ranney, Chapter Vice-President of Corporate Information presents award to Mike McCool, President of National Media Services, Inc and Publisher of the Royal Examiner in Front Royal.

After the awards, our publisher Mike McCool spoke with Richard Gardner, DECA advisor about the DECA program and activities at Warren County High School. Emily Mawson, President of WCHS DECA shared the activities of the DECA Chapter.