Students from Bay College/LSSU Escanaba Regional Center Business Professionals of America (BPA) chapter joined nearly 7,000 members from across the world at the 2026 BPA National Leadership Conference, held May 6–10 in Nashville, Tennessee.
While in Nashville, students competed for national recognition in BPA’s Workplace Skills Assessment Program (WSAP), showcasing their talents in business administration, finance, digital communication and design, information technology, management, marketing, and more.
In addition to competition, attendees participated in leadership workshops, connected with industry professionals, explored college and career opportunities, and engaged in service activities supporting Special Olympics, BPA’s national service partner.
The following students from the Bay College/LSSU Escanaba Regional Center BPA attended the National Leadership Conference:
- Gabriel Viau - Digital Marketing Concepts 1st place, Contemporary Issues 3rd place, Meeting & Event Planning Concepts 3rd place, Project Management Concepts Top Ten
- Riley Rebholz - Podcast Production Team 1st place
- Payton Saari - Podcast Production Team 1st place
- Matthew Keast - Prepared Speech 1st place, Video Production Team 1st place
- Landon (Marcy) Dugree - Video Production Team 1st place, Presentation individual Top Ten
- Wyatt Groleau - Video Production Team 1st place
- Connor Howes - Financial Analyst Team 3rd place
- Nicholas Chaillier - Financial Analyst Team 3rd place
- Andrew Lord - Financial Analyst Team 3rd place
- Haylee Gatien - Entrepreneurship Top Ten, Human Resource Management Top Ten
- Hunter Robinson - Advanced Interview Skills Top Ten, Small Business Team Top Ten
- Jake Poquett - Prepared Speech Top Ten, Small Business Team Top Ten
- Gracelyn Wiles - Interview Skills Top Ten
“Attending the National Leadership Conference is a powerful experience for our students,” said Patrick W. Schultz, BPA’s Executive Director. “They not only demonstrate their skills at a national level but also grow as leaders, build confidence, and connect with peers and professionals from across the country.”
This year’s conference also featured keynote speaker Sam Demma, whose message on resilience, leadership, and personal growth inspired attendees to take small actions that create a big impact.
Students also explored the Exhibitor Showcase and College & Career Fair, gaining insight into future pathways and connecting with organizations that support their academic and professional goals.
BPA’s 2027 National Leadership Conference will be held in Denver, Colorado, from May 5 to 9, 2027.
Contact Gabriel Viau with any questions about this press release at (906) 280-8348 or gabe.viau@baycollege.edu.
About Business Professionals of America
Founded in 1966, Business Professionals of America (BPA) is a premier Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) serving middle, high school, and college students preparing for careers in business, finance, information technology, and related fields. BPA provides opportunities for students to develop leadership, technical, and workplace skills through competition, education, and community service. The organization serves more than 60,000 members in nearly 1,500 chapters across the United States and internationally. Learn more at www.bpa.org.
About Bay College
Bay College is the community’s college with a mission of: Student Success, Community Success, and Culture of Success. Bay is devoted to each individual’s achievement in the classroom, on-campus, online, in the community and into the workforce by providing career certificates, associate degrees, transferable university credits, industry certifications, trainings, and professional development programs which develop skillsets, enrich individuals, and advance careers. #BayIsTheWay