Fall Quarterly Newsletter

Dear ACTE Business Education Division Members,

Get ready, because ACTE's CareerTech VISION 2025 is coming to Nashville, Tennessee, Dec. 9–12. It’s the premier event you won’t want to miss! This conference is your chance to connect, learn, and grow alongside hundreds of career and technical education (CTE) professionals from across the country.

Here’s why VISION should be on your calendar:

Innovative Sessions & Workshops – Explore cutting-edge strategies in business education, technology integration, and leadership development.

Networking with Peers & Industry Leaders – Share ideas, collaborate on solutions, and build connections that last well beyond the conference.

Resources to Transform Your Classroom – Discover tools, programs, and materials to help your students thrive.

Leadership Development – Gain actionable strategies to enhance your impact as an educator and a leader in CareerTech.

Why Nashville? Not only is Music City full of energy and inspiration, but it’s also the perfect backdrop to ignite new ideas, celebrate innovation in education, and recharge your professional passion.

For ACTE Business Division members, this is more than just a conference — it’s a launchpad for your professional growth. You’ll leave with actionable insights, new contacts, and the motivation to elevate business education in your community. Join us for the Opening Session on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 11:45 a.m.

See you in Nashville!

Warm regards,

Jonathan Walker

ACTE Business Education Division VP

Business Education Division News

Meet VISION Business Education Opening Session Speaker David Ochi

David Ochi

Executive Director, CSUDH Innovation Incubator
Managing Partner, V1 Ventures
Adjunct Faculty & Board Member of Beall Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at UCI
UC Irvine – 1999, MBA, Paul Merage School of Business, 1997, BA, Political Science, School of Social Sciences, 1997, BS, Biological Science, School of Biological Sciences
Keller Graduate School of Management – 2008, Masters in Project Management

David Ochi is a persistent entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in early-stage companies having started his first enterprise at the age of 13. Since then, Mr. Ochi has started over a dozen companies in diverse industries such as fashion, technology, international distribution, startup incubation, cleantech, biotech, mobile, social media, and education.

In 2007, he moved to Vietnam for nearly two years launching Disney Consumer Products into the Indochina market. He was the founding Executive Director of the ANTrepreneur Center at the University of California, Irvine, and is the co-founder and CEO of V1 Ventures, a health sciences and technology acceleration firm focused on exponentially growing scale-ups by facilitating rapid international expansion into global territories.

Currently, Mr. Ochi is the Executive Director of the Incubator at California State University Dominguez Hills near Los Angeles, California where he focuses on expanding the entrepreneur mindset and skillsets into diverse communities. He is also an adjunct faculty member and the Program Director of a product design competition at the University of California, Irvine. Mr. Ochi is the co-founder of Skystart, a non-profit organization whose mission is to help students – especially those from diverse backgrounds – to launch side-hustles in order to graduate without the burdens of student debt.

Featured Thursday VISION Session

Sponsored by the American Accounting Association

Energize Your Business & Accounting Classroom with Engaging, Free Resources!

Looking to bring more energy and relevance to your business or accounting classes? This session will showcase a variety of free, ready-to-use resources designed to make your curriculum more engaging and aligned with today’s business and accounting professions. Learn how to integrate real-world technology tools into your teaching and give your students a clearer view of the exciting, high-demand careers in business and accounting. Plus, discover free programs and materials specifically tailored to help high school students explore these opportunities.

Bonus: Session attendees will be entered into a drawing for Amazon gift cards during the session!

ACTE Business Division Needs You!

We want to strengthen our committees, create new ones and expand our foot print. If you have a passion for mentoring, assisting, or sharing your expertise, complete the interest survey below.

TAKE THE SURVEY

Professional Development Opportunities

National Career Clusters® Framework: Integrating Entrepreneurship with Career-Ready Practices Across Technical Career Fields

Tuesday, Oct. 14

6:00–7:00 p.m. EST - Zoom Webinar
7:00–7:30 p.m. EST - Small Breakout Groups (optional)

The new National Career Clusters® Framework and the Innovation & Gig Economy require students to graduate with an entrepreneurial mindset and design thinking skills across technical career fields as intrapreneurial employees, leaders, innovators, trailblazers, and entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurial skills are an increasingly essential part of workforce development and overlap with the 12 Career-Ready Practices that employers say they want in new hires in a rapidly changing, innovation-based workplace.

During this webinar, teachers will:

Review best-practices for integrating the entrepreneurial mindset and design thinking skills aligned with the 12 Career-Ready Practices across Career Clusters and work-based learning sites in a way that optimizes student engagement by facilitating students’ pursuit of their own unique career interests.

Network and collaborate in small breakout groups to brainstorm specific examples of where to integrate entrepreneurship concepts and skills as a Cross-Cutting Cluster in their respective CTE courses.

Receive free, classroom-ready resources, including an entrepreneurship e-textbook, to teach the entrepreneurial mindset and design thinking skills, as well as the Exam Resources Package for the U.S. Entrepreneurship Certification Examination.

Registered teachers will receive the Zoom link the day of the webinar. The webinar

recording, certificate of completion, and resources will be emailed the next day.

QUESTIONS? Please email Cheryl Ayers.

Professional Development Survey

We want to hear from you! The professional development committee wants to offer programs that meet the needs and interests of business teachers nationwide. Please take a minute to complete this

2-question survey to share the topics and times of day you would like to see moving forward.

We are also looking for presenters, so feel free to submit a brief proposal similar to the October webinar format featured above to Cheryl Ayers.

New Action Brief:

Challenges in the Recruitment Process

Beyond just a resume: Our newest Action Brief, You’re Hired? Exploring Challenges in the Recruitment Process, discusses the challenges faced by both candidates and companies during the recruitment process and offers strategies for enhancing the hiring experience for all parties involved.

We recommend pairing this Action Brief with the following performance indicators (PIs) and lesson modules (LAPs):

EI:002 Assess personal strengths and weaknesses (PQ) | LAP-EI-902
EI:024 Explain the importance of demonstrating initiative (PQ) | LAP-EI-024
EI:077 Manage commitments in a timely manner (CS) | LAP-EI-077
PD:028 Interview for a job (PQ)

How to access: We post our newest Action Briefs on our website, while the full archive is available on State’s Connection, organized by trend category.

Leveraging AI: Strategies and Tools for Business & Marketing Education

Want to stay ahead of the curve in business and marketing education? We’re excited to announce our second webinar in our free monthly series, "Leveraging AI: Strategies and Tools for Business & Marketing Education," in November. This session will be presented by Patrick W. Schultz, Executive Director/CEO of Business Professionals of America (BPA).

This session will explore cutting-edge AI strategies and tools designed to revolutionize business and marketing education. This virtual presentation will provide educators with practical insights into integrating AI into the classroom, enhancing student engagement, and preparing the next generation of business leaders.

Stay tuned for registration details in our weekly newsletter, Perspectives.

Empower Your Future: FBLA, DECA & BPA

The Business Division’s CTSOs give students the skills, experience, and confidence to succeed in the business world. Explore FBLA, DECA, and BPA — each with unique opportunities to launch your career!

Why Join a CTSO?

Access mentorship, scholarships, and internships
Build lifelong professional networks
Develop leadership, confidence, and problem-solving skills
Make a real impact in your community

FBLA – Future Business Leaders of America

Focus: Business, finance, entrepreneurship

Opportunities:

Leadership conferences & competitive events
Public speaking & business communication
Community service projects

Why Join: Strengthen teamwork, ethical decision-making, and real-world business skills

DECA

Focus: Marketing, finance, hospitality, management

Opportunities:

Role-playing competitions & collaborative projects
Leadership development activities
Networking with industry professionals

Why Join: Develop strategic thinking, problem-solving, and professional skills for college and career success

BPA – Business Professionals of America

Focus: IT, finance, business management, administrative support

Opportunities:

Professional competitions & community initiatives
Entrepreneurship & digital communication projects
Leadership experiences that foster innovation

Why Join: Gain technical expertise, hands-on experience, and thrive in the modern business world

ACTE Updates

Don’t miss ACTE’s CareerTech VISION 2025, the premier gathering for CTE professionals! Join 5,000+ educators, administrators, business leaders and industry experts this Dec. 9–12 (Tuesday–Friday) at the spectacular Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

Choose from hundreds of concurrent sessions on teaching strategies, curriculum design, strategies for improving student success and more
Be inspired by keynote speakers and thought leaders sharing the latest trends shaping CTE
Discover innovative tools, technologies and classroom resources in the CareerTech Expo
Take a deeper dive into focused CTE topics via pre-conference workshops and local tours
Honor your peers and excellence in the field at the ACTE Awards Gala

Whether you're new to the field or a seasoned educator, VISION offers something for everyone.

LEARN MORE

Exercise Your Right to Vote!

Renew Your Membership by Nov. 10

Ensure your membership is current by Nov. 10 to participate in the 2026 ACTE board of directors’ election.

RENEW NOW

Student Video Contest: Gateway to the Cosmos — NASA’s Lunar Outpost

ACTE and NASA HUNCH invite students of all ages to enter the eighth annual Student Video Challenge: Gateway to the Cosmos — NASA’s Lunar Outpost. This year’s theme explores NASA’s Gateway as a vital stepping stone for humankind’s return to the moon and exploration of deep space. Students are challenged to imagine its impact on science, technology and humanity — while showcasing the CTE courses and careers that make it possible. Together, let’s celebrate a century of CTE excellence while inspiring the next generation of innovators who will lead us into the cosmos. Open to individuals or teams. Submit a two-minute video by April 1.

LEARN MORE

Mentorship Matters: Apply for CTE for All Mentorship Program

Apply now for ACTE’s CTE for All Mentorship Program, proudly sponsored by IMAGO — designed to help members grow, lead and thrive through meaningful professional relationships. Whether you’re seeking guidance or ready to mentor, this program fosters a welcoming CTE community, supports career development, builds professional networks and encourages lifelong learning. Take the next step in your journey — applications are due Jan. 11!

LEARN MORE

Elevate Your Impact: Apply for NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Fellowship

Ready to shape the future of postsecondary CTE? Apply now for the 2026 NextLevel Postsecondary CTE Leadership Fellowship — a powerful, yearlong experience that builds leadership skills, expands your network and boosts your impact. Fellows gain immersive training, personalized mentorship and opportunities for national advocacy. Applications are due Dec. 15, and your journey begins Jan. 28. Learn more about program expectations, benefits and costs, and take your next step toward transformative leadership.

LEARN MORE

Keep Your Member Profile Up to Date!

One of the easiest ways to be sure you’re receiving the latest ACTE updates, resources and opportunities is by keeping your member profile current. A quick update ensures you’ll always receive:

Election communications sent to your preferred email and mailing address
Division and region-specific newsletters, eblasts and updates tailored to your interests
Full access to the Techniques archive
On-demand learning through CTE Learn
Access to CTE Communities
Exclusive offers through the new Member Deals program

Quick steps to update your profile:

1. Log in at acteonline.org.

2. Click the “Profile” tab.

3. Confirm or update your personal email and mobile number.

To update your Techniques subscription preferences, click on My Demographics and select the pencil icon to update preferences (scroll down for Preference for Techniques magazine subscription). Stay connected; update your member profile today!