Young business professionals speak to Byesville Rotary

Pictured: Alex Calvert, VP Business Professionals of America; Robey Bates, President Business Professionals of America; and Becky Brunner, Speaker Chair for October.

Two students from the Mid-East Career and Technical Center Buffalo Campus who are members of the Business Professionals of America (BPA) organization spoke to the Byesville Rotary at the Tuesday meeting.

Robey Bates, President of the Business Professional of American at Mid-East, and Alex Calvert, Vice President, explained that the aim of their organization is to develop leadership, academic, and technological skills for the workplace in students. They pointed out that BPA is the leading Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for students preparing for careers in business management, office administration, information technology, and related fields. The organization currently has 43,000 members in over 2300 chapters in 23 states.

Bates and Calvert are good representatives of BPA’s motto, “Today’s students. Tomorrow’s business professionals.” Bates intends to take classes in computer programming, and plans to attend Kent State. Calvert said that he, “…loves computers especially fixing and repairing them." He plans to attend Kent State or Hocking College and become a computer programmer. His long-term plan is to own his own computer repair shop. 

Bates pointed out that students in the computer program at Mid-East are already involved in the business of repairing computers. They will fix computers for a $5.00 fee. Turnaround time is typically 24 hours. The students can repair any Apple product. Repairs are limited to software only. 

When asked what computer problem was the most common, Bates immediately replied, “Viruses.” 

Members of BPA are preparing to take part in local competitions which will test their skills and knowledge in various areas of computer technology such as their knowledge of computer terms or ability to troubleshoot a computer problem. Mid East students hope to do well locally and qualify for state competition. 

Sharon Miller, Interact advisor, announced that the Meadowbrook Interact Club plans to hold a Halloween dance on October 25. The dance will also be the kick-off for the club’s Christmas food drive.