State Officer Action Team
Each year voting delegates from each chapter elect officers into different positions. These officers meet once a month to talk about ways to improve DECA. They devote their time and energy to ensure that DECA will continue to run smoothly and enhance the DECA experience every year. If you are interested in running for office please visit the officer candidate page here.
New Jersey DECA currently has 7 members of the State Officer Action Team. They are:
President: Destini Clark
Northern Region Vice President: Alexandra Formichella
Central Region Vice President: Paul Averhart
Southern Region Vice President: Brendan Kelley
Treasurer: Christopher Tejada
Recording Secretary: Madison Grant
Communications Secretary: Nick Gentile
PRESIDENT
Destini Clark
Delsea Regional High School
242 Fries Mill Road
Franklinville, NJ 08322
email: destini.clark@tjo.nxw.mybluehost.me
@_destiniclark
@destini.clark
Personal Program of Work
Destini Clark is extremely honored to fulfill the role as your 2015-2016 New Jersey DECA State President! Destini is a senior at Delsea Regional High School and has spent the last four years volunteering, fundraising, advocating, and competing in events through and for DECA! In her fours years of DECA, she has written 3 chapter papers & 1 advertising campaign, and has also participated in role plays all the way up to the international level. In previous years she has lead her chapter as the Community Service Chairperson and Chapter Secretary and has been a Social Media Correspondent for all four of her years in DECA. Destini was the first freshman from her school to attend an ICDC, and since then has been to two more!
Beyond DECA, Destini is dedicated to her academics and a handful of other extracurriculars. She works hard to maintain a spot in the top 10 of her graduating class and loves to challenge herself with AP classes. She also serves as her Senior Class President and National Honor Society Vice President and participates in clubs throughout her school to build relationships, learn new things, and give back to her school and community such as National Art Honors Society, Black Cultural League, and the Interact Club. Additionally, Destini is a happy and active member of her church which is dedicated to helping families in the third ward of Millville, NJ. Ever since she wrote a Creative Marketing Project her sophomore year, she also enjoys helping small businesses market themselves via social media and spends time helping them strategize to do so. She feels as though these activities has made her a better a leader.
Besides doing schoolwork, working at a local Chinese buffet (which is one of her favorite places to eat!), or participating in extracurriculars, you can find Destini anywhere having a blast with her friends and family or taking a nice, long nap!
Destini is thrilled to be a chosen member of the State Action Team and is open to communication at any time! If there is one thing for sure, it is that she loves talking to and meeting new people, especially people who love DECA! She is ready and willing to work with all members in making this year DECA EPIC!
NORTHERN REGION VICE-PRESIDENT
Alexandra Formichella
Ridgewood High School
627 East Ridgewood Avenue
Ridgewood, NJ 07451
email: alexandra.formichella@tjo.nxw.mybluehost.me
@alexformichella
Personal Program of Work
Alexandra Formichella, mostly called Alex, is beyond excited to be serving as your Northern Region Vice President for the upcoming DECA year! DECA has played an enormous role in shaping her high school experience and life since she entered her advisors personal finance class her freshman year. Now, as a senior at Ridgewood High School, she is a seasoned DECA competitor. Alex has received regional and state recognition for her performances in Hotel Lodging and Management her freshman year, as well in Business Law and Ethics where she has competed with her Partner Jordan Iannone since her sophomore year of high school. As a junior, they place 2nd in their state conference allowing them to attend ICDC in Orlando, Florida this past year.
CENTRAL REGION VICE-PRESIDENT
Paul Averhart
Monroe Township High School
1629 Perrineville Road
Monroe Township, NJ 08831
email: paul.averhart@tjo.nxw.mybluehost.me
@paul___averhart
@paul_averhart
Personal Program of Work
Paul is extremely honored to be serving as your Central Region Vice President for the 2015-2016 year. Paul is a now a Senior at Monroe Township High School where he has been a highly involved member of his DECA chapter for all four years. He has served as his Chapter Vice President before taking it to the next level as a State Officer. Paul has competed in Principles of Marketing and now competes in Professional Selling, where last year he placed 1st at Regionals and was a State Finalist winning an Instructional Award. Paul has competed at every Regional Conference, 2 state conferences, and has attended the International Career Development Conferences in Atlanta, Georgia and Orlando, Florida. This year Paul hopes to compete at the Regional, State, and National Conferences.
Along with DECA, Paul participates in many other extracurriculars such as Student Council, Ex-Animo, Peace Ambassadors, other business clubs, and he runs Spring Track where he Pole Vaults and Sprints. Paul also takes part in yearly activities held at his school such as Freshmen Orientation, Veterans Appreciation Day, and his schools summer leadership camp.
Paul is a very outgoing person who loves to come up to new people and introduce himself. Paul is also goal-oriented and puts everything he’s got into accomplishing his goals. In addition, Paul loves to make people laugh and do exciting new things, so you’ll never see Paul always going to the same place more than three times. Paul has 1 dog named Buddy who he treats as if it were his own son, so if you ever see him around odds are Buddy is somewhere near by too. On his free time you can catch Paul at his favorite restaurant, Buffalo Wild Wings, or at home watching his favorite type of television, Reality Television.
With that being said, Paul is very excited to serve on the State Action Team and meet many of you great members! He looks forward to working with his fellow officers and members to make this year DECA Epic!
SOUTHERN REGION VICE-PRESIDENT
Brendan Kelley
Clearview Regional High School
1625 Breakneck Road
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062
email: brendan.kelley@tjo.nxw.mybluehost.me
@btkelley88
@btkelley88
Personal Program of Work
Brendan Kelley is thrilled to serve as the 2015-2016 NJ DECA Southern Region Vice President. As a senior at Clearview Regional High School, Brendan is entering his third year in DECA. In previous years, Brendan has competed in Principles of Finance and Automotive Services Marketing. He has had the pleasure to participate in the regional, state, and international conferences for his 2 years of being a member. During his High School career, he has taken Marketing, Accounting 1, Accounting 2, and Accounting 3 to further prepare himself for DECA and will be taking Honors Accounting 4 in the upcoming year.
Outside of DECA, Brendan is active in both his studies and extracurricular activities. His extracurricular activities include French club, Key club, National Honors Society, National World Language Honors Society, Debate Club, and he plays for his school’s Junior Varsity tennis team. Outside of school, Brendan is involved in organizations such as Relay for Life and TOP Sports. During his free time, Brendan highly dislikes sitting around doing nothing, so he tries to keep as busy as possible by spending time with his friends and family playing basketball, swimming, or any other activity. Brendan is very social and personable, so don’t be afraid to contact him with any questions or concerns!
Brendan is honored to serve on the 2015-2016 NJ DECA State Action team, and he hopes that he will fulfill his duties to the best of his abilities to make your experience a memorable one. He loves DECA as a whole, and he can’t wait to see what is in store for this upcoming DECA year!
RECORDING SECRETARY
Madison Grant
Lenape Valley Regional High School
28 Stanhope-Sparta Road
Stanhope, NJ 07084
email: Madison.grant@tjo.nxw.mybluehost.me
@maddy_grant27
@maddy_grant27
Personal Program of Work
Madison is ecstatic to say that she is your 2015-16 State Recording Secretary. As a senior at Lenape Valley Regional High School, Madison is coming up on her fourth year as an active and committed DECA member. Madison’s experience in DECA has greatly affected her life, so she hopes she and her fellow officers can do the same for the rest of NJ DECA. She is fully confident that this team of officers will be very successful in allowing NJ DECA to grow in numbers and improve in experience.
When Madison is not taking part in DECA-related activities, she is being active in and out of school. Madison is a member of the National Honor Society as well as her school’s Go Green Club, yearbook committee, and tennis team. In addition, Madison works part-time at Crunch Fitness. She adores volunteering at a local electronics-recycling center, called Green Vision Inc., which employs those with special needs. In Madison’s free time, she enjoys going on hikes, going to the beach, biking, painting, shopping, traveling, and driving in her Jeep Wrangler that she calls “Jackson.”
Madison’s other favorite things are her dog, Ruby, her friends and most importantly, her family. In terms of traveling, Madison’s favorite places are South Carolina and Florida. However, when she gets the opportunity to visit her family on the east coast of Canada, she is there in a heartbeat!
Madison prefers being called Maddy, so feel free to do so. Maddy wants you to know that she loves meeting people, especially fellow DECA members! She wants this year to be successful and fun for all NJ DECA members!
COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY
Nick Gentile
Lenape Valley Regional High School
28 Stanhope-Sparta Road
Stanhope, NJ 07084
email: nicholas.gentile@tjo.nxw.mybluehost.me
@nick_gentile40
@nick_gentile40
Personal Program of Work
Nicholas Gentile is honored to serve New Jersey DECA as your 2015-2016 State Communications Secretary. Nick is currently a junior at Lenape Valley Regional High School and will be entering his third year of DECA. During his sophomore year he served his school as a chapter officer and is looking forward to serving again. As a freshman Nick competed in the category of Principles of Business Management and as a sophomore he competed in the Human Resources category. After finding his passion for business Nick enrolled in the following classes; Financial Literacy, Intro to Business, Marketing 1 and Marketing 2.
Outside of DECA, Nick keeps very active in his high school and community. Nick is involved in Interact, Go Green, and FBLA. In addition, Nick is a two season athlete, competing in swim and track. He is excited for another successful year in sports. Outside of school, Nick is very active in his community. He has participated in the boy scouts since he was 7 years old and is working on completing his Eagle Scout. Through Scouts he has completed many community service projects and learned what it takes to be a leader. When Nick is not busy with his other activities, he likes to sit back and relax. In the summer, Nick spends his days lounging on the beaches of his lake. In the winter, you will find Nick shredding the slopes of New Jersey as his favorite winter activity is to snowboard. After a long day of working, to Nick, nothing’s better than going out for ice cream. Although Nick loves having alone time just to relax, he always says he loves spending time with his friends and family.
Nick is very excited to serve New Jersey DECA along with the other members of the State Action Team. He hopes that through this experience he will be able to meet many new people and make DECA as enjoyable to its members as it is to him. Nick is very friendly so feel free to socialize with him at the next DECA conference. He looks forward to hearing from you and listening to ideas you may have. Nick is very excited for what is to come this DECA year.
TREASURER
Christopher Tejada
Union City High School
2500 John F. Kennedy Boulevard
Union City, NJ 07087
email: christopher.tejada@tjo.nxw.mybluehost.me
Christopher Tejada is extremely honored to be serving as your 2015-16 State Treasurer. Christopher is a junior at Union City High School and has been an active member for three years. He has attended two regional conferences, two state conferences and has attended ICDC’s in Atlanta, Georgia and Orlando, Florida. Christopher served his chapter as an officer his freshman and sophomore year. As a freshman, he competed in the Principles of Hospitality and Tourism event and then, as a sophomore, competed in Hospitality and Tourism Professional Selling.
Christopher’s experience in DECA has impacted his life and he wishes to share his passion for DECA with his fellow members. Outside of DECA, Christopher is active participating in activities in and out of school. Christopher is a writer for his school’s Newspaper. He also sings for his school’s choir and plays for his school’s Junior Varsity Volleyball team and is also a member of the 2017 class committee. Outside of school, Christopher loves to volunteer at his local theatre. He has helped rebuild the facility and train the young students how to become great leaders.
Christopher also enjoys spending time with his dog, Lilly, his friends, and especially his family. On his free time you can catch Christopher going out for a run or preparing for his next run by eating as many Doritos as he can. Christopher is a very social person who is never afraid to spark up a conversation. He wants you to know that you can call him Chris, if you please. Be sure to catch Christopher at the next conference and ask him as many questions as you desire. He looks forward to being your State Treasurer and is always open to any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas that you may have. Christopher cannot wait to start working with you all!