Georgia DECA
2012-2013 State
Action Team
Lauren Calvert
State President
South Forsyth High School, Senior
• Birthday: May 29,1995
• Birthplace: Atlanta, GA
• Number of Years in DECA: 4
• Favorite Food: Ice Cream
• Favorite Movie: Remember the Titans
• Favorite Quote: “We have this hope as an
anchor for the soul” Hebrews 6:19
Lauren Calvert
• Hobbies: Basketball, volunteering, spending
time with friends, crafting, and cooking
• DECA Accomplishments: Competing at ICDC all
3 years and being elected as the Georgia DECA
State President
• Future Plans: Attend college and study
marketing and business.
Ellie Forrester
State Executive Vice President
Lanier Charter Career Academy, Senior
• Birthday: December 19, 1994
• Birthplace: Gainesville, GA
• Number of years in DECA: 4
• Favorite Food: Mexican!
• Favorite Movie: A Walk to Remember
• Favorite Quote: “Never let the fear of striking
out keep you from playing the game.”
Ellie Forrester
• Hobbies: DECA, softball, hanging out with friends
• DECA Accomplishments: Placing in top 3 for three
years at state, International Top 20%, Top 16, and
2nd place winner and 2 consecutive years as a
State Officer
• Future Plans: Attend Johnson and Wales
University and Major in Marketing and
Advertising Communications. Pursue a career in
Public Relations.
Hanna Buce
State Executive Secretary
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Troup High School, Senior
Birthday: January 3, 1995
Birthplace: Newnan, GA
Number of years in DECA: 3
Favorite Food: Chicken Alfredo
Favorite Movie: The Blind Side
Hanna Buce
• Hobbies: Soccer and wakeboarding
• DECA Accomplishments: Placed 3rd at Region
in Apparel and Accessories Marketing, Local
Officer and State Secretary
• Future Plans: Attend the University of Georgia
and major in Pre-Medicine
Mackenzie Potts
Vice President of Public Relations
North Hall High School, Senior
• Birthday: October 20, 1994
• Birthplace: Atlanta, GA
• Number of Years in DECA: 4
• Favorite Food: Chick-fil-a
• Favorite Movie: Lion King
• Favorite Quote: “What doesn’t
kill you makes you stronger.”
Mackenzie Potts
• Hobbies: Photography, crafts, working,
planning anything, cheerleading and tumbling
• DECA Accomplishments: Local chapter
president, Elected state VP of Public Relations,
Participating in state 3 times and ICDC once
• Future Plans: Attend college and major in
veterinary medicine and a minor in marketing
Derrick Palms
Vice President of Civic Consciousness
North Forsyth High School, Senior
• Birthday: December 23, 1994
• Birthplace: Kalamazoo, Michigan
• Number of years in DECA: 3
• Favorite Food: Syrian/ Italian
• Favorite Movie: Saving Private Ryan
• Favorite Quote: “What goes around comes
around.”
Derrick Palms
Vice President of Civic Consciousness
• Hobbies: Lacrosse, Cross Country, DJ, and making
music
• DECA Accomplishments:
2011- 4th place at State and Top 20% at ICDC
2012- 3rd place at Regions and elected the State
Vice President of Civic Consciousness
• Future Plans: Attend college and double major in
Marketing and Music Production/ Graphic Design.
DJ in college and once graduated, own his own
shoe company.
Cohen Hughes
Vice President of Chapter
Development
• Cass High School, Junior
• Birthday: June 21, 1996
• Birthplace: Marietta, GA
• Number of Years in DECA: 2
• Favorite Food: Baked Ziti
• Favorite Movie(s): Saving Private Ryan,
Defiance, Hurricane Season
• Favorite Quote: “Yes, though I walk through the valley
of shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with
me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm
23:4
Cohen Hughes
• Hobbies: DECA, Baseball, hanging out with
friends, telling jokes, church, and playing Xbox.
• DECA Accomplishments: Becoming president of
his local chapter after just 2 years, getting elected
to the State Action Team, and putting DECA on
the map at his school.
• Future Plans: Attend Tulane University and obtain
a degree in Law, become a Lawyer. Then one day
become a small business owner and own his own
law firm.
Cathy Lefebvre
Vice President of Competitive Events
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North Gwinnett High School, Junior
Birthday: April 19, 1996
Birthplace: Stone Mountain, GA
Number of years in DECA: 3
Favorite Food: Sushi
Favorite Movie: Harry Potter
Favorite Quote: “Falling down is a part of life,
getting back up is living.”
Cathy Lefebvre
• Hobbies: DECA, Marching Band, and Hanging
with Friends
• DECA Accomplishments: Becoming a State
Officer
• Future Plans: Becoming a Marketing and
Communication Specialist
Monique Longoria
Vice President of Finance
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Troup High School, Sophomore
Birthday: February 16, 1997
Birthplace: Salt Lake City, Utah
Number of years in DECA: 1
Favorite Food: Sour Gummy Worms
Favorite Movie: The Blind Side
Favorite Quote: “Dream bigger than the
world.”
Monique Longoria
• Hobbies: Marching Band and Basketball
• DECA Accomplishments: Becoming a State
Officer her first year in DECA!
• DECA Goals: To get more college sponsors
• Future Plans: To become a vet and open her
very own zoo.
Lauren McKaig
Historian
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Cass High School, Junior
Birthday: July 17, 1996
Birthplace: Decatur, Alabama
Number of Years in DECA: 2
Favorite Food: Mac and Cheese
Favorite Movie: 27 Dresses
Favorite Quote: “For beautiful eyes, look for the good
in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of
kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that
you are never alone.” –Audrey Hepburn
Lauren McKaig
• Hobbies: DECA, spending time with friends
and family, scrapbooking, and crafting from
Pinterest.
• DECA Accomplishments: Placed 1st in Job
interview at Regions
• Future Plans: Attend Berry College