PRESS RELEASE July 19, 2010:

“Are you smart? S.M.A.R.T., smart.” This was the closing question asked by Johnelle Simpson, II of Seminole County High School in his winning speech at the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Nashville, TN.

Simpson won First Place in Public Speaking I event at the national conference of Future Business Leaders of America, July 14-17 and received $750 from Dale Carnegie Training, the event sponsor.

In his speech, Simpson explained how many of us are like a frog. You can place a frog in a pot of cold water and gradually increase the temperature and the frog will adjust his body to the environment and eventually die. This is what happens with many of us and our personal finances. We get accustomed to spending and before we know it, we are in hot water.

But if we set S.M.A.R.T goals that are specific, measureable, attainable, realistic, and have a timeline, we can be successful with our finances and FBLA teaches its members this.

Simpson, a rising junior at Seminole County Middle/High School, serves as local chapter president and Region One president. As the top state winner, he represented Georgia in Public Speaking I at the FBLA National Leadership Conference. The Public Speaking I event consists of the four (4) minute speech of a business nature. It must be developed from one or more of the nine (9) FBLA-PBL goals.

Simpson chose to use goal # 6: “Encourage and practice efficient money management”. Student members, not advisers, must prepare speeches. Local advisers should serve as consultants to ensure that the speeches are well-organized, contain substantiated statements, and are written in a business style. Facts and working data may be secured from any source.

Competitors are judged on clarity of voice, critical thinking and problem solving, poised manner, professional appearance, and good communication skills.

Johnelle Simpson, Kati Godby, and adviser, Mrs. Kim Orrick attended the National FBLA Leadership Conference in Nashville, TN, July 14-17. Simpson competed in Public Speaking I in a preliminary round on Thursday and was chosen as one of fifteen in the final round on Friday. The top ten were recognized on stage at the Award of Excellence Program on Saturday night. Kati Godby competed in Job Interview.

Simpson is the son of Twynette Reynolds of Donalsonville and Johnelle Simpson I of Lafayette, Louisiana. Other family in our area include: sisters, B.J. Simpson of Colquitt and Jeanelle Simpson of Donalsonville; step-father, Earnest Reynolds of Cairo; maternal grandmother, Elna Gissentanner of Brinson; and maternal great-grandmother, Cleo Washington, of Bainbridge.

Future Business Leaders of America is the oldest and largest national organization for students preparing for careers in business leadership. FBLA prepares students for “real world” professional experiences. Members gain the competitive edge for college and career successes. Georgia FBLA is the largest state chapter with over 21,000 members. Mrs. Kim Orrick is the lead adviser of Seminole County Middle/High School FBLA.