Iowa DECA

Competitive Events

DECA has something for everyone.

Business Management + Administration

State Team

Leaders of Iowa DECA

Nathan Montgomery

President

My name is Nathan Montgomery and I currently serve as the President of Iowa DECA. This organization has provided me with so much throughout my high school career and allowed me to connect with members and business professionals from all over the world. I am proud to serve as the President because everyday I work for a better tomorrow and a better Iowa DECA. Listening to member feedback is my top priority, and I would love for members to reach out with any questions they may have. My contact information is below. Stay humble, be kind, and change the world.

Sammi Scharper

Vice President of Leadership

Sammi is a senior at Osage High School. I am involved in XC, basketball, track, and softball. Along with NHS, Student Council, DECA of course, band, choir and Educators Rising. Being a DECA State Officer has helped my communication skills, public speaking skills and most importantly I have become more confident. I wish you all the best of luck in your competitions and I hope you have a great school year!

John Meis

Vice President of Marketing

Hello everyone, my name is John Meis and I currently serve as your 2018-2019 Vice President of Marketing. I am a senior at Bishop Garrigan High School located in Algona. It is here where I am heavily involved through a variety of sports and activities. I play football, cross country, baseball, and run track. Some of my activities include: speech, Christian Leadership, criminal justice club, pickleball club, quiz bowl, announcer on the school’s radio broadcast, and the Bishop Garrigan Honor Society. In addition to these school activities, I also work two jobs. One as a dairy clerk at Fareway and the other as a part-time worker at a local restaurant. I am also very excited to serve as a Senate Page for the upcoming Legislative Session. As if this list isn’t enough, I decided to bring DECA to my own school. Since starting a chapter at Bishop Garrigan, I have fell in love with DECA and everything it has to offer. DECA has truly taught me how to break out of my comfort zone as well as prepare me for the future. I am beyond appreciative of the opportunity I have had to serve Iowa DECA.

Olivia Dodd

Vice President of Hospitality

My name is Olivia Dodd I am a senior at Osage High School. I am the VP of Hospitality for 2018-2019 Iowa DECA. I have three younger siblings who make my life very interesting. I play volleyball, we had an amazing season this year and finished in the state semifinals and softball which is my favorite sport! I am a part of Educators Rising which is a club where we put on after-school camps for elementary kids and well as helping with “daycare” during parent-teacher conferences. I am also part of Book Club at my school, I love to read so this an amazing way for me to find outstanding books! I also am (obviously) a part of DECA, my absolute favorite club. My fellow state officers are amazing to work with and this experience along with the state officers have taught me so much. Meeting DECA members and learning about their experiences are the best parts. DECA had helped me with my speaking skills and truly has prepared me for college and future jobs. I work at a local flower shop where I deliver flowers and work with customers, it is an amazing job and my boss is the best! I am not quite sure what my college plans are yet but, I will most likely go into the medical field.

Helen Gould

Vice President of Career Development

Hi, my name is Helen Gould and I’m a senior at Valley High School in West Des Moines. I am your 2018-2019 Vice-President of Career Development, and serve as the Events and Competitions Director of the Valley DECA chapter. Outside of DECA I participate in Student Council, where I serve as Student Body President, National Honor Society, Principal’s Advisory Council, and Silvercord. On top of these activities I’m an All-State track and cross country runner. Outside of school activities I enjoy reading, watching Netflix, and attending Krav Maga lessons. Next year I plan to attend the University of South Dakota to major in Sport Management and Business Administration as well as run cross country and track.

Marshall Schellhorn

Vice President of Community Service

My name is Marshall Schellhorn, I’m serving as the 2018-19 VP of Community Service for Iowa DECA. I am currently a senior at Tripoli High School, where I play football, wrestle, and run track. In DECA I compete in the Team Buying and Merchandising category, where I have qualified for ICDC twice. After school I have plans to attend Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.

Morgan Peterson

Executive Director

Hello! My name is Morgan Petersen and I am the Iowa DECA Executive Director. Before this role, I spent time as a DECA member, three year ICDC qualifier, Iowa DECA State Officer, and the State Officer Advisor. When I am not working, I enjoy advising the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority at UNI and spending time with my husband and two dogs. As the Executive Director, it is my goal to get to know DECA members from across the state and to continuously grow Iowa DECA along with industry trends and programs from around the world. My phone and email inbox are always open for questions, concerns, or new ideas! I am looking forward to another great DECA year!

READY FOR IT

How DECA impacts members

Below are some testimonials from current and past members.

Claire Hellman

Fort Madison

"DECA has given me the opportunity to build friendships with people I never would have met. I have been given many opportunities to develop my professional and leadership skills through conferences in DECA. I believe DECA can provide opportunities for everyone!"

Scott Junck

Ames

"DECA has given me the opportunity to meet new people, become a better leader, and learn about the business world...all while having fun! Due to my experiences in DECA, I can confidently say that I am better prepared for the future than I was before I joined DECA.”

Ethan Schellhorn

Janesville

"DECA is a great group to be a part of. I have made a lot of new friends, made connections, and developed skills I’ll need to be successful in life. Best of all I’ve had a ton of fun, from the competitive events to running service projects. DECA is awesome!"