ABOUT FBLA-PBL, INC.
Future Business Leaders of America

Service, Education & Progress

Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) education association of students preparing for careers in business and business-related fields. The Association has four divisions:

• FBLA for high school students;
• FBLA Middle Level for junior high, middle, and intermediate school students;
• PBL for postsecondary students;
• and the Professional Alumni Division for business people, educators and parents, who support
   the goals of the Association.

FBLA-PBL is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, and organized on local, state and national levels. Business teachers/advisers and advisory councils (including school officials, business people, and community representatives) guide local chapters. State advisers and committee members coordinate chapter activities for the national organization.

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. In 1958, the first Phi Beta Lambda chapter was chartered in Iowa. The Professional Division (originally the Alumni Division) began in 1979; the latest group to join FBLA (in 1994) is the FBLA Middle Level for students grades 5 - 9.

The Board of Directors is comprised of local and state educators, business leaders, and the membership division presidents. The Board sets policy and employs a President/CEO, who directs a national staff and Association programs.

The Association’s National Center is an 11,600 sq. ft. building, which was completed in 1991. The 1.6-acre site it occupies was purchased through a grant from the Conrad Hilton Foundation.

For the past few years, FBLA-PBL has enjoyed an annual increase in membership. The high school level has over 215,000 members, while Phi Beta Lambda (postsecondary level) reaches over 10,000 college students.

The newest group, FBLA Middle Level (grades 5-9) is showing remarkable growth with 8,000 student members and is developing member interest for the high school level.