About MHS DECA

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. DECA enhances the co-curricular education of members through a comprehensive learning program that integrates into classroom instruction, applies learning, connects to business and promotes competition. DECA's activities assist in the development of academically prepared, community oriented, professionally responsible, experienced leaders. DECA's attributes and values describe our priorities and standards. We value competence, innovation, integrity and teamwork in preparing college and career ready students. Millbrook High School DECA is comprised of over 100 amazing members.

Meet Our Officers, The Dream Team!

President- Emily Willis

Hey y’all, this year I am proud to be the president of our 2017-2018 DECA chapter. I joined DECA my freshman year and this will be my fourth year in DECA. For the past two years I have been Co-VP of Promotion and Recruitment. DECA has definitely given me the opportunity to improve important skills like interviewing and networking. Outside of DECA, I am a member of National Honor Society, Spanish club, Photography club, Key club, World Cultures club and can be seen in the student section every week cheering on our Wildcats. My favorite part of DECA has been getting to know everyone in our local chapter as well as ones around NC. DECA has been so valuable to me during my time here at Millbrook and I can’t wait to see where it takes me in my future.

Vice President of Public Relations - Max Roberts

Hi everyone! I am a senior at Millbrook and I am very excited to be Co-Vice President of Public Relations for our DECA chapter! My job is to help manage the website and our email, as well as help create newsletters to be sent out every month. I joined DECA my sophomore year and absolutely fell in love with it. DECA has allowed me to meet many amazing people and has also opened the door to many incredible opportunities. DECA is not just a "business club", it is a club that gives you valuable skills that can be used in pretty much anything you do. Outside of DECA, I am involved in Young Life. In my free time, I enjoy playing guitar, reading a good book, as well as writing stories. I look forward to seeing the amazing things that our chapter does this year!

Vice President of Public Relations - Jonathan Underkoffler

I am the Co-Vice President of Public Relations for our DECA chapter. I am a senior and joined DECA my freshman year. At MHS, I am also involved in MEB, Mu Alpha Theta, and outside of school I row crew. In my first year, our states competition was cancelled due to snow, but we still went anyways and I won a testing medal, solidifying my love of DECA. This is my third year as an officer of our chapter and I can't wait to see what this final year brings!

Vice President of Community Service - Loujain Al Samara

I am the co-Vice president of community service for the Millbrook chapter. I am a junior at Millbrook. I joined DECA last year as a sophomore, and in that year I learned that sometimes boundaries are meant to be broken so we can learn to love new things. In my first year, without much knowledge of what DECA was, I attended districts and placed as a finalist in the Principles of Business and Marketing category. This allowed me to discover my love for competition and marketing. DECA introduced me to a group of driven individuals. Since then I have joined the Millbrook Executive Board and become a leader in the creation of Tempest, Millbrook’s literary magazine. I am also a member of the Spanish honor society at Millbrook. This will be my second year in DECA, and I'm excited to see what this year brings.

Vice President of Community Service - Ryan Rebne

Hey guys, for this 2017-18 school year I will be serving as your VP of Community Service. Last year I joined DECA as a freshman, and have not for one moment regretted it. From the very beginning DECA has hooked me in with its ability to teach real-life skills in business and marketing, and to help teach me how to take charge and be a leader. Besides DECA, I am involved in MEB, Debate Club, an officer of Spanish Club, and a two-year member of the JV Soccer team. As a sophomore I am very excited about my potential future in DECA, I am hoping to run for state office this coming year to further my leadership skills and public speaking. Outside of that I know that DECA is teaching me applicable skills that I can late translate into college and life to make my future absolutely limitless!

Vice President of Promotion and Recruitment - Sammy Storey

Hey everybody, I am so excited to be your VP of Promotion and Recruitment for this 2017-2018 school year. I became a member of DECA my freshman year and this will be my fourth year in DECA. For the past two years, I have served as the VP of Membership Activities, and that role has helped me to understand how important it is that all of our members feel like they are involved and a part of our DECA Chapter. Outside of DECA, I am a four year member of the cross country team as well as a two time captain of that team, a runner for the track team, in MEB, National Honors Society, World Languages Honors Society, and Latin club. My favorite part about DECA is all the real world experience it exposes you to, like how to interview and public speaking, which are extremely important life skills. I know that over the past years DECA has taught me some of the most valuable skills I have learned in high school, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this year!

Vice President of Membership Activities- Izzy Morgan

Vice President of Membership Activities- Leanna Coley

I am so excited to be your co VP of Membership Activities this year. I joined DECA my freshmen year due to my sister’s recommendation. DECA has given me interview and leadership skills that I now use in my day to day life. I’ve met so many great people and have learned so much being a part of this club. I am now a senior at Millbrook. Along with DECA I am also a part of Millbrook Executive Board, Newspaper, and the Millbrook cross country team. When I am not at school I am most likely working at Chick-Fil-A.

Vice President of Promotion and Recruitment- Connor LaRocca

Hey everyone, looking forward to be your 2017-2018 co-VP of Promotion and Recruitment for this year of MHS DECA. I joined DECA as a sophomore and this will be my second year in the club. The first year made a huge impact in my view of students in DECA and their determination to work hard. Other than DECA, this is my third year of Track/XC, I am the Sound Crew Chief for the Theatre Program, and this is my second year of SGA. I’m very excited about the upcoming year and I’m hoping that we can make our club more known to the whole school. My favorite part of DECA is the community and the initial purpose of teaching young adults useful skills that can help throughout one’s whole life. I’m ready to work hard to make this year our best.

Vice President of Social Media- Sam Levine

Hi! I’m Sam Levine and I am the Millbrook DECA Social Media VP for the 2017-18 school year. I joined DECA last year as a sophomore and it was the best decision I’ve ever made! My favorite part about DECA is the community; I have made so many friends in this club and I’m sure I’ll make more this year! DECA has helped me develop confidence, creativity, and professionalism, and equipped me with valuable skills that I can use in life after high school. At millbrook, I am involved in junior class council, varsity tennis, and ultimate frisbee, and I am the treasurer of key club. I am looking forward to another awesome year in DECA and I can’t wait to get to know this year’s chapter!

Vice President of Social Media - Julia Vandermel

I have been on DECA since my freshman year and I have competed at Districts and States every year. My freshman year I competed at the International Career Development Competition in 2015. I have been the VP of Social Media since my Sophomore year.

Check out the newsletter written by our officers!
November Issue

Meet Our Amazing Advisers!

Deborah Robinson

Mrs. Robinson grew up in Salisbury, NC and graduated from Catawba College. She worked for American Express for 13 years in customer service and market research. She earned her Master’s degree in Business and Marketing Education from N.C. State University in 2006. She has taught at Millbrook since 2003 and re-activated the Millbrook DECA chapter in 2004. Since then, the Millbrook DECA chapter has grown to over 100 members and students qualify every year for the International Conference.

Robert Dail

Mr. Dail was born in Washington, NC, and is an adamant outdoors man. If not in the classroom he can be found in the vicinity of a soccer field where there is a good chance he will be officiating a contest. In his spare time he works as an NCHSAA, NCAA, and US Soccer referee. Mr. Dail graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Business Education and began teaching at Millbrook in the fall of 2012. He runs the Digital Media Career Academy.

Matt Katsuleris

Mr. Katsuleris (KATS) began teaching at Millbrook High School in 2013 and has been a DECA advisor since 2014. He graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Business Education. Mr. Katsuleris teaches Entrepreneurship and Personal Finance and has helped past DECA students improve projects.

Erik Cain

Mr. Cain was born and raised in Long Beach, CA. He is now married with 3 kids. Mr. Cain recieved a B.A. in History from California State University Dominguez Hills and an M.B.A in Global Management from the University of Phoenix. Mr. Cain enjoys baseball, football, hockey, and is a big fan of Star Wars, Disney, and Comics. He loves teaching Business and Marketing classes, especially Sports and Entertainment Marketing, and having fun being an advisor for DECA.

April Smith

Ms. Smith graduated from NCA&T State University with a BS in Business Administration Marketing, she has earned her MBA in Business Administration Marketing from the University of Maryland University College, at Adelphi, Maryland. Ms. Smith believes that education, knowledge, and learning are lifelong endeavors. Before coming to Millbrook she followed a corporate career path in the insurance industry. Ms. Smith has two children, and a wonderful Cairn Terrier.