Future Business Leaders of America – Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA – PBL) is a nonprofit educational association of students preparing for careers in the business and business-related fields. The association has four divisions: (1) FBLA for high school students; (2) FBLA - middle level for junior high and intermediate students; (3) PBL for postsecondary students; and (4) Professional Division for businesspeople, educators, parents, and anyone who supports the goals of the association.
FBLA – PBL is financed primarily through membership dues. Corporate and foundation grants also play an important role in the association’s financial base.
The FBLA concept was developed in 1937 by Dr. Hamden L. Forkner of Columbia University. In the fall of 1940, official sponsorship of FBLA was accepted by the National Council for Business Education; on February 3, 1942, the first high school chapter was chartered in Johnson City, Tennessee.
FBLA was developed by Hamden L. Forkner of Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City in 1937. During meetings of business teachers during the school year 1937-1938, Dr. Forkner proposed a plan that an organization be set up in high schools and colleges for business clubs. At a fall meeting in 1940, the proposal was accepted by the National Council for Business Education (FBLA, 1959).
In the years that followed, the United States engaged in World War II causing difficulties in organizing FBLA. However, business teachers, businesspeople, and administrators established “pilot” or experimental chapters. The first chapter was organized at Johnson City, Tennessee, on February 3, 1942, and the second chapter was organized at St. Albans, West Virginia on February 5 of the same year. In 1942, 41 chapters were organized.
In July 1946, FBLA began to flourish. The United Business Education Association was formed from the merger of the National Council for Business Education and the Department of Business Education of the National Education Association. A headquarters was established in Washington and the UBEA took on FBLA as one of its major projects.
State chapters were organized in Iowa and Indiana in 1947; Ohio in 1948; Georgia, Oregon, and South Carolina in 1949; California, Illinois, Louisiana and New Mexico in 1950; Florida and Virginia in 1951, Pennsylvania and Texas in 1952; Alabama, Kansas, and Kentucky in 1953; Arkansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin in 1954; Tennessee and West Virginia in 1955; and Maryland in 1957 (FBLA, 1959).
Future Business Leaders of America. (1959). Handbook United Business
Education Association. Washington, D.C.
Future Business Leaders of America. (No date). [Online]. Available:
http://www.fbla-pbl.org [2001, October 20].