NEWTOWN SQUARE–For the first time in its history, the Marple Newtown High School was the site for the regional leadership conference of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). 

Marple Newtown High School hosted 450 students from 12 different schools, including Paxon Hollow Middle School, Chichester High School, Garnet Valley High School, Haverford High School, Interboro High School, Penn Wood High School, Penncrest High School, Radnor High School, Ridley High School, Springfield High School, Upper Darby High School, and E.T. Richardson Middle School.

Though the location of the conference alternates between schools in the region, Marple Newtown was unable to host due to renovations, which were recently completed, until now.

Marple Newtown junior Alexandra Adams, vice president of MNHS' FBLA Club, brought the idea–to have Marple Newtown host this year's conference–forward to business education teacher and advisor Anita Stum, which got the ball rolling.

On Nov. 29, Marple Newtown held the regional conference from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The keynote speaker was Thomasina Tafur,  a women's training consultant and a former FedEx senior manager who climbed the corporate ladder for 20 years.

Some of the seminars throughout the day included topics on business ethics, client service, emerging business issues, public speaking, job interviewing, and more. 

The FBLA is a non-profit educational association of students preparing for careers in business. Their mission is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs. For more information, visit www.fbla-pbl.org.