The Future Business Leaders of American began in New York State in 1946 when Dobbs Ferry High School was chartered as the first chapter in the state. Eighteen years later, on April 15, 1964, New York State received the 35th State Association Charter from the National Association of the Future Business Leaders of America. New York State FBLA is part of the Eastern Region on the National Level of FBLA.
New York State FBLA was originally divided into thirteen geographic districts with boundaries corresponding to the State Education Department Planning Regions. In 1981, due to its large geographic size and population, District 1 (Long Island) was divided into two districts: District 1N (Nassau County) and District 1S (Suffolk County). In July 2001, District 3, the lower Hudson River Valley area, was divided into District 3 North (3N) and District 3 South (3S). Thus bringing the total number of districts within New York State FBLA to fifteen.
In 1967 the New York State Association of FBLA came under the guidance of the Bureau of Business Education in the New York State Education Department. Mr. Hobart H. Conover, Chief of the Bureau of Business Education at that time, became the first State Chairman; Mr. Elton T. Murphy, Associate of the Bureau, was named the first State Adviser. On March 20, 1970, NYS FBLA received an absolute charter from the University of the State of New York. Mr. Robert G. Fleig, Bureau Associate, then assumed the responsibility of State Adviser.
In June 1974, Dr. Willard R. Daggett replaced Mr. Fleig as State Adviser and remained in this position until May 1978. He was replaced by Ms. Millie Frandino, a former high school FBLA adviser, who served a two-year term as State Adviser. In December 1980, another former business teacher and local chapter adviser, Mr. Stephen A. Donnelly, became State Adviser. He was replaced in 1987 by Mr. Robert Brennan, Associate of the Bureau of Business Education. From 1995-2001, Mr. Dennis Kagel served as the NYS FBLA State Adviser. Mr. Jon Greenwalt assumed this position in 2001 and continued until his retirement in 2011. In 2019, Michael LaMastra began serving as the liaison with State Ed.
Within the first five years of our state’s charter, we had grown to 125 chapters; after ten years New York State FBLA increased to 151 chapters. In 2014, when we celebrated our 50th anniversary, New York proudly boasted more than 190 chapters with a membership over 4,000. During the 2023-2024 membership year, New York State had a chapter total of 130 (including Middle Level), a membership of 2,767.
The first joint state conference of FBLA-PBL was held in 1966 on the campus of the State University of New York at Cobleskill. Beginning in April 1970, FBLA conducted its own State Leadership Conference in the Catskill Mountain region where resort facilities were able to accommodate our needs. In 1987, the SLC site moved to Niagara Falls and was there for three years. Since then the State Leadership Conference has been moved several times to accommodate our needs and for ease of travel times for local chapters. The sites include the Pines Resort in the Catskill Mountains (1993), the Nevele in the Catskill Mountains (2006-2008), Binghamton Double Tree/Holiday Inn (2018-2019), and the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center.
In 1969 the first summer leadership workshop was held at Camp Oswegatchie in Croghan, in the Adirondack Mountains region of the state. All state officers are required to attend this week-long leadership training program. From 1984 until 1991, State Officer Training was held at Central City Business Institute in Syracuse, New York. In 1992 State Officer Training was moved to Watson Homestead near Corning. This retreat location was of special interest as it was established by IBM founder, Tom Watson. In 2004 the State Officer Training was moved to a location 90 miles west of New York City to Kutcher’s Country Club. This resort site is located in the Catskill Mountains in Monticello. The training returned to Watson’s Homestead in 2005, but moved again in 2008 to Christ the King Retreat Center located northeast of Albany (where it is held today).
Honorary Life Members
1971: Elton T. Murphy – NYS Education Department
1972: Hamden L. Forkner, Professor Emeritus – Columbia University
1972: Monsignor Charles H. Sewall – Utica Catholic Academy
1973: Sister DeSales – St. Mark’s Faculty Residence
1974: Raymond Dumser – National Commercial Bank & Trust Company
1975: Robert G. Fleig – NYS Education Department
1976: Hobart H. Conover – NYS Education Department
1979: Willard R. Daggett – NYS Education Department
1981: Mildred Frandino – NYS Education Department
1982: Martha Altman – William H. Maxwell Vocational HS
1985: Barbara Kagel – State Leadership Conference Staff Chairperson
1986: Dennis Kagel – NYS Education Department
1986: Deborah D. Donnelly – State Coordinator
1987: Steve A. Donnelly – Auburn HS
1987: Victor T. Ehre – State Advisory Board Member
1988: Donna Clement – State Coordinator
1990: Frank Basile – Shenendehowa HS
1990: Herbert Yengel – Farmingdale HS
1991: Fred Zuccala – Central City Business Institute
1992: Eleanor Hayes – Little Falls Jr./Sr. High School
1993: Paul Cramer – Rochester Riverside Convention Center
1994: Josie Gaddy – Saunders HS
1995: Margaret Swingle – Greece Athena HS
1996: Nancy Latour – Business Development Center
1999: John Jesse – IBM Corporation
2001: Dorinne Williamson – Colonie Central HS
2003: Edward Murphy – John Jay HS
2005: Gloria LaSota – Cheektowaga Central HS
2005: Anne Zeh – Cobleskill-Richmondville HS
2008: Leslie Zuccaro – Little Falls HS
2008: Barbara Peck – State Advisory Board
2011: Eileen Multari – Mamaroneck HS
2012: Debora Gaber – Clarkstown South HS
2012: Anita Halstead – Monroe-Woodbury HS
2019: Elizabeth Garofalo – Canastota HS
2023: Peter Tambroni – NYS BOT Member