SUCCEED.... LEED.... ACHIEVE.... Dr. Hamden L. Forkner, head of the Commercial Education Department of the Teachers College of Columbia University developed the FBLA concept in 1937. In the fall of 1940, the National Council for Business Education accepted official sponsorship of FBLA; on February 3, 1942, the first high school chapter was chartered in Johnson City, Tennessee. In 1958, the first Phi Beta Lambda chapter was chartered in Iowa. The Professional Division (originally the Alumni Division) began in 1979; the latest group to join FBLA (in 1994) was the FBLA Middle Level, for students in grades 5-9. The Board of Directors is comprised of local and state educators, business leaders, and the membership division presidents. The Board sets policy and employs a President/CEO, who directs a national staff and Association programs. The Association's National Center is an 11,600 square foot building, which was completed in 1991. The 1.6-acre site it occupies was purchased through a grant from the Conrad Hilton Foundation. The building mortgage was retired in 2001 following a successful capital campaign.
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