Washington Educators of Business and Marketing (2021 - Present)
In 2021 Washington State Business Education Association (WSBEA) and Washington Association of Marketing Educators (WAME) merged to form a new organization Washington Educators of Business and Marketing (WE-BAM). The goal of merging the two organizations was to match industry trends and form a stronger organization that could provide more for its members.
Washington Business Education Association History (1963 - 2020)
The Washington State Business Education Association (WSBEA) was organized in 1963. Business educators in the eastern part of the state had formed Eastern Washington Business Education Association and determined that the organization should expand to encompass the entire state. Under the leadership of Dr. Eugene Kosy (CWU), Dr. Robert Briggs (UW), Ray Christopherson, and Verner Dodson (Seattle Public Schools), the first organization meeting was held at Rainier Beach High School in 1963. The first state conference was held in Seattle in 1964; Lee Gary was the first president. Incorporation and non-profit status came in 1976. WSBEA first hosted a WBEA conference in 1971.
WSBEA was originally comprised of three regional associations-Western Washington Business Education Association, Central Washington Business Education and Eastern Washington Business Education Association-in order to serve the in-service needs of teachers. Each had an operating board of directors and a treasury; each had representation on the WSBEA Executive Board (the number of representatives was determined by the number of WSBEA members); and each held an annual regional conference in the spring in addition to the state conference in the fall. Each region gave awards to business educators within the regions, and each had a scholarship program.
In 1997, the regional associations of WSBEA were dissolved; and WSBEA was re-organized into six divisions, each division having two representatives to the Executive Board. The Scholarship monies were merged and the funds now provide more scholarships. Doris Y. Gerber (NBEA President, 1979-1980) and her husband, John, created the Gerber Scholarship, which is awarded annually to university students pursuing a degree in business education. The Eugene Kosy Scholarship is given to outstanding seniors with membership and active participation in FBLA. The F. Ross Byrd Scholarship is awarded to persons pursuing a post-graduate degree in business/business education.
WSBEA’s awards program recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of its members. Award categories include the Merit Award (honoring middle school/junior high school teachers, secondary teachers, post-secondary teachers, and university professors. The first Merit Award winner was Beverley Funk. In addition, WSBEA has the Distinguished Service Award and Lifetime Achievement award (this was created in 2001 and awarded to F. Ross Byrd. Several WSBEA members have received awards from WBEA.
WSBEA was originally comprised of three regional associations-Western Washington Business Education Association, Central Washington Business Education and Eastern Washington Business Education Association-in order to serve the in-service needs of teachers. Each had an operating board of directors and a treasury; each had representation on the WSBEA Executive Board (the number of representatives was determined by the number of WSBEA members); and each held an annual regional conference in the spring in addition to the state conference in the fall. Each region gave awards to business educators within the regions, and each had a scholarship program.
In 1997, the regional associations of WSBEA were dissolved; and WSBEA was re-organized into six divisions, each division having two representatives to the Executive Board. The Scholarship monies were merged and the funds now provide more scholarships. Doris Y. Gerber (NBEA President, 1979-1980) and her husband, John, created the Gerber Scholarship, which is awarded annually to university students pursuing a degree in business education. The Eugene Kosy Scholarship is given to outstanding seniors with membership and active participation in FBLA. The F. Ross Byrd Scholarship is awarded to persons pursuing a post-graduate degree in business/business education.
WSBEA’s awards program recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of its members. Award categories include the Merit Award (honoring middle school/junior high school teachers, secondary teachers, post-secondary teachers, and university professors. The first Merit Award winner was Beverley Funk. In addition, WSBEA has the Distinguished Service Award and Lifetime Achievement award (this was created in 2001 and awarded to F. Ross Byrd. Several WSBEA members have received awards from WBEA.
Washington Association of Marketing Educators (1990-2020)
The Washington Association of Marketing Educators (WAME) was founded as a professional organization for marketing educators. WAME worked closely with Washington DECA, with many members over the years serving as WA DECA Board Members.
Past Presidents (WBEA, WABEA, WAME)
Year(s) |
Name |
School/Institution |
Organizations |
1953 - 1954 |
Eugene Kosy |
|
WBEA |
1955 -1956 |
Eugene Kosy |
|
WBEA |
1962 - 1963 |
Frances Brown |
|
WBEA |
1963 - 1964 |
Lee Gray |
Redmond High School |
WSBEA |
1964 - 1965 |
Ted Boswell |
Davis High School |
WSBEA |
1966 -1967 |
Ray Christopherson |
Rainer Beach High School |
WSBEA |
1967 - 1968 |
Blair Glover |
North Central High School |
WSBEA |
1968-1970 |
Gene Kosy |
Central Washington University |
WSBEA |
1969 - 1973 |
Ray Christopherson |
Rainer Beach High School |
WBEA |
1970-1971 |
Norm Thompson |
Eastern Washington Univsertiy |
WSBEA |
1971-1972 |
Bob Briggs |
University of Washington |
WSBEA |
1972-1973 |
Ross Byrd |
Central Washington University |
WSBEA |
1973 - 1974 |
Georgialee Smithpeters |
Shadle Park High School |
WSBEA |
1974 - 1976 |
Ken McDonald |
Shoreline High School |
WSBEA |
1976 - 1977 |
Marilyn Mizer |
Big Bend Community College |
WSBEA |
1977 - 1978 |
Chuck Boehme |
Medical Lake High School |
WSBEA |
1978 - 1979 |
Hub Thoreson |
Western Washington University |
WSBEA |
1979 - 1980 |
Ken McDonald |
Shoreline High School |
WBEA |
1980 - 1981 |
Rita Van Pevenage |
Everett Community College |
WSBEA |
1980 - 1981 |
Georgialee Smithpeters |
Shadle Park High School |
WBEA |
1981 -1982 |
Frank Nelson |
Eastern Washington University |
WSBEA |
1982 - 1983 |
George Borg |
Wahkiakum High School |
WSBEA |
1983 - 1984 |
Wayne Klemin |
Central Washington University |
WSBEA |
1984 - 1985 |
Lois Peterses |
Western Washington University |
WSBEA |
1985 - 1986 |
Mary OFury |
Spokane Community College |
WSBEA |
1986 - 1987 |
Jerry Cummins |
Walla Walla High School |
WSBEA |
1987 - 1988 |
Warren Schreibner |
Auburn High School |
WSBEA |
1988 - 1989 |
Janece Connor |
Spokane Community College |
WSBEA |
1989 - 1990 |
Bill Leth |
Centralia High School |
WSBEA |
1990 - 1991 |
Ross Bryd |
Central Washington University |
WBEA |
1991 - 1992 |
Carol Gehrman |
Spokane Falls Community College |
WSBEA |
1992 - 1993 |
Carolyn Quantrille |
Kent-Meridian High School |
WSBEA |
1993 - 1994 |
Helen Humbert |
Central Washington University |
WSBEA |
1994 - 1995 |
George Borg |
|
WBEA |
1994 - 1995 |
Rob Perkins |
Spanaway Lake High School |
WSBEA |
1995 - 1996 |
Cindy Agnew |
Spanaway Lake High School |
WSBEA |
1996 - 1997 |
Rob Watson |
Rosalia High School |
WSBEA |
1997 - 1998 |
Jackie Floetke |
Wilson Creek High School |
WSBEA |
1998 - 1999 |
Laura Hilzendeger |
Enumclaw High School |
WSBEA |
1999 - 2000 |
Patrick Campbell |
Kent-Meridian High School |
WSBEA |
2000 - 2001 |
Helen Humbert |
|
WBEA |
2000 - 2001 |
Kim Bartel |
Central Washington University |
WSBEA |
2001 - 2002 |
Steve Shumski |
Newport High School |
WSBEA |
2002 - 2003 |
Susan Dunaway |
||
2003 -2004 |
Lynda Schlosser |
||
2004 - 2005 |
Dave Eby |
Olympia High School |
WAME |
2005 - 2006 |
Diane Heath |
Evergreen School District |
WAME |
2005 - 2006 |
Lori Finn |
Walla Walla High School |
WSBEA |
2006 - 2007 |
Matt Pakinas |
Wenatchee High School |
WMA |
2006 - 2007 |
Cory Bartlett |
Riverside High School |
WSBEA |
2007 - 2008 |
Suzie Roberts |
Edmonds Woodway High School |
WAME |
2007 - 2008 |
Kim Gregory |
Compass High School |
WSBEA |
2008 - 2009 |
Shanna Lamar |
South Kitsap High School |
WAME |
2009 - 2010 |
Eileen Wascisin |
|
WBEA |
2009 - 2010 |
Steve Brown |
Lakes High School |
WAME |
2009 - 2010 |
|
|
|
2010 - 2011 |
Jackie Floetke |
Wilson Creek High School |
WBEA |
2009 - 2011 |
Jodi Jacobs |
Cascade High School |
WAME |
2008 - 2011 |
Pam Weingrad |
Eastern Washington University |
WSBEA |
2011 - 2012 |
Pam Weigand & Jackie Floetke |
Eastern Washington University & Wilson Creek High School |
WSBEA |
2011 - 2012 |
Rick Davis |
Kelso High School |
WAME |
2012 - 2013 |
Grace Brady |
Redmond High School |
WAME |
2012 - 2014 |
Jackie Floetke |
Wilson Creek High School |
WSBEA |
2014 - 2015 |
Jackie Floetke & Keith Hannah |
Wilson Creek High School & Columbia Junior High |
WSBEA |
2015 - 2016 |
Doug Aubert |
Auburn Riverside High School |
WAME |
2016 - 2017 |
Lori Hairston |
Auburn High School |
WAME |
2015 - 2017 |
Keith Hannah |
Columbia Junior High School |
WSBEA |
2017 - 2018 |
Tom Robinson |
East Valley High School |
WAME |
2017 - 2019 |
Ariel Dykstra |
Mount Vernon High School |
WSBEA |
2018 - 2019 |
Brenda Grabski |
Capital High School |
WAME |
2019 - 2020 |
Shawn Perez |
Heritage High School |
WAME |
2019 - 2021 |
Peter Rustemeyer |
Hazen High School |
WSBEA |
2020 - 2022 |
Ariel Dykstra |
Mount Vernon High School |
WBEA |
2020 - 2021 |
Sierra Larkin |
Wenatchee High School |
WAME |
2021 - 2022 |
Sierra Larkin & Peter Rustemeyer |
Wenatchee High School & Hazen High School |
WE BAM |
2022 - 2023 |
Shelley Grant |
Onalaska High School |
WE BAM |
2023-2024 |
Brenda Grabski Shawn Perez |
WE-BAM |
|
2024-2025 |
Heather Gallagher |
Goldendale High School |
WE-BAM |
