Of the 17 charter states accepted to National DECA in 1948, over a third of them were from the Central Region (Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, and Indiana).  In 1968, the first Central Region Leadership Conference (CRLC) was held in St. Paul, Minnesota.  Due to the great success of the first CRLC, this conference was made an annual event. 

Throughout the late 60s and 70s, CRLCs drew close to 2,000 attendees each year.  In 1975, the Central Region Board of Governors adopted the Central Region Conference Articles of Agreement, which provided a specific direction for the region.  In 1977, the 10th annual CRLC was hosted by North Dakota.  This conference stands out in DECA history because a large snow storm and sub-zero temperatures kept delegates in North Dakota for several extra days. 

Highlights of CRLCs in the 1980s include a performance by super-band Three Dog Night in 1986, the 20th annual CRLC in 1987, and the adoption of a new Central Region Conference Articles of Agreement in 1987.  In 1996, over 3,500 students attended the CRLC, making it the largest CRLC on record.

Central Region Today

Since the turn of the millennium, DECA’s Central Region has continued to be a force in the international organization.  Quality Central Region Vice Presidents are elected each spring to serve National DECA.  Also, National Presidents have come from the Central Region in recent years.  The Central Region Leadership Conference continues to be a premier DECA conference and boasts approximately 3,000 attendees each year.