Rock Port FBLA members who attended the 2025 Missouri Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference, from left to right, were: front row – Karlie Gebhards, Avery Meyerkorth, and Payten Shrader; and back row – Jaxson Smith, Sam Van De Goor, Bracton Cook, Ryland Garst, Malachi Skillen, and Ryan Lucas. Karlie Gebhards will advance to national competition in Introduction to FBLA.
The Rock Port group stopped at Lambert’s on their trip.
More than 5,200 of Missouri’s brightest future business leaders gathered in Springfield April 13-15 for the 2025 Missouri Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference (SLC). This annual event brought together student leaders, advisers, industry professionals, and volunteers for three days of dynamic learning, competition, and connection.
The conference welcomed 5,233 total attendees representing high schools from across Missouri. Students who had advanced from their District Leadership Conferences (DLCs) competed in over 70 different competitive events, ranging from public speaking and marketing to cybersecurity and accounting. Hundreds of industry professionals served as volunteer judges, providing real-world feedback and helping identify Missouri’s top competitors.
Beyond competition, attendees engaged in immersive programming designed to develop their leadership, communication, and collaboration skills. This year’s offerings included:
• Leadership Academies – Intensive, topic-specific workshops for aspiring professionals
• Leadership Labyrinths – A leadership-themed escape room experience
• Hands-on Workshops – Covering topics in business, technology, and career readiness
• Community Service Projects – Including a statewide effort benefiting the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri
• Networking Activities – Helping students build connections with peers and professionals
The opening session featured keynote speaker Zack Sheets, a motivational educator and leadership expert from Baylor University, who inspired students to lead with authenticity and purpose.
A highlight of the conference was the recognition of Andrew Reynolds, business teacher at Centralia High School and Chair of the Missouri FBLA Foundation Board, who was named the 2025 Missouri FBLA Adviser of the Year. He will be honored this summer at the FBLA National Leadership Conference.
Missouri’s top student competitors from SLC will advance to the FBLA National Leadership Conference (NLC), set to take place in Anaheim, California, June 29 to July 2, 2025, where they will compete against winners from across the nation.
Rock Port’s Karlie Gebhards will advance to national competition in Introduction to FBLA. She said, “I had an amazing time at the state FBLA conference! It was so much fun hanging out with other members and meeting new people from all over Missouri. I was completely shocked when I found out I qualified for nationals. I’m beyond excited to visit California for the first time and create many memories!” Karlie will be accompanied by Adviser Stephanie Parsons and Chapter President Payten Shrader who is submitting her Capstone Business Achievement Award for competitive review.
