DECA Inc., formerly Distributive Education Clubs of America, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit career and technical student organization (CTSO) with more than 177,000 members in all 50 U.S. states, Washington, DC; Canada, China, Germany, Poland, Guam, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Spain. The United States Congress, the United States Department of Education and state, district and international departments of education authorize DECA's programs. DECA is organized into two unique student divisions each with programs designed to address the learning styles, interests, and focus of its members. The High School Division includes over 173,000 members in 3,200 schools. The Collegiate Division (formerly Delta Epsilon Chi) includes over 4,000 members in 200+ colleges and universities. The organization's mission statement is: DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. The four components of the organization's Comprehensive Learning Program are that DECA integrates into classroom instruction, applies learning, connects to business, and promotes competition. DECA prepares the next generation to be academically prepared, community-oriented, professionally responsible, experienced leaders. Dr. Ed Davis served as executive director from 1992 to 2014. Paul Wardinski served as executive director from 2014 to 2018. Lou DiGiola served as the executive director in 2018. Frank Peterson is currently serving as the executive director since 2020. Governance and partners According to DECA's bylaws, the organization is governed by four primary bodies: Executive Director - The Executive Director is responsible for implementing the board's policies, serving as the fiscal agent and primary spokesperson of the organization, and employing such staff as necessary to plan and execute the board's policies. The Executive Director is Frank Peterson. Board of Directors - An eleven-member Board of Directors establishes policies relative to the interpretation and implementation of the constitution and bylaws. The current President of the Board of Directors is Scott Jones and the current President-Elect is Steven Mitchell. National Advisory Board - DECA's National Advisory Board (NAB) is composed of business partners that provide strategic advice for the organizations, professional insight on content and crucial financial support for programming. The current chair of the NAB is Mike Brown from M & M Productions. Congressional Advisory Board - DECA's Congressional Advisory Board (CAB) is a bipartisan group of United States Senators and Congressmen and women representing varied political philosophies, but all supporting career and technical student organizations as an integral part of delivering career and technical