The National Business Education Association (NBEA) is pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Cheryl Wiedmaier, pictured, as President-Elect of the association. Her term as President-Elect will officially begin July 1, 2026, when Dr. Tom Mays assumes the presidency following the completion of Dr. Pamela Scott Bracey’s distinguished term as NBEA President.

Dr. Wiedmaier brings more than four decades of experience in business education, career and technical education, higher education leadership, teacher preparation, and professional association service. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing business education and supporting educators at the secondary and post-secondary levels.

Currently serving as Dean of Career Education at Arkansas State University–Beebe, Dr. Wiedmaier oversees numerous career and technical education programs while collaborating with educators, business leaders, and workforce partners to strengthen pathways for student success. Her career has also included leadership roles with the Arkansas Department of Education and faculty appointments at the University of Central Arkansas, University of South Carolina, Eastern Kentucky University, and the University of Missouri.

Dr. Wiedmaier has been actively involved in NBEA and affiliated organizations for many years. She previously served as Technology Editor for the Business Education Forum, contributed to multiple NBEA yearbooks and research initiatives, and has presented extensively at national, regional, and state conferences. In 2021, she received the NBEA Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her contributions to the profession.

In addition to her work with NBEA, Dr. Wiedmaier has held numerous leadership positions within the Southern Business Education Association, Arkansas Business Education Association, Delta Pi Epsilon, and other professional organizations dedicated to business and career education.

“Dr. Wiedmaier’s experience, professionalism, and long-standing dedication to business education make her an outstanding addition to the leadership team of NBEA,” said Joe McClary, Executive Director of NBEA. “Her background in teacher preparation, educational technology, curriculum development, and career education aligns exceptionally well with the evolving needs of business educators nationwide.”

As President-Elect, Dr. Wiedmaier will work closely with current and incoming association leadership to support NBEA’s mission of advancing business education through professional development, research, advocacy, and innovation.

NBEA extends its sincere appreciation to Dr. Pamela Scott Bracey for her leadership and service as President and looks forward to the continued leadership of Dr. Tom Mays as he assumes the presidency on July 1, 2026.

About the National Business Education Association
Founded in 1878, the National Business Education Association is the nation’s leading professional organization devoted exclusively to serving business education professionals at the secondary, post-secondary, and collegiate levels. NBEA provides professional development, networking, advocacy, publications, and resources to support excellence in business education.

The National Business Education Association (NBEA) has announced the hiring of Dr. Lori Hauf as its new Director of Education, effective July 1, 2025.

Dr. Hauf brings more than 20 years of experience in higher education, having served in various academic and leadership roles at Dickinson State University, including Dean and Associate Professor in the School of Business and Entrepreneurship. She is widely recognized for her work in instructional technology, curriculum development, and her commitment to advancing business education nationwide.

A longtime member and leader within the NBEA community, Dr. Hauf previously served as NBEA President, Secretary/Treasurer, and as a representative for the National Association for Business Teacher Education (NABTE). She has also been active in the Mountain-Plains and North Dakota Business Education Associations, earning honors such as Post-Secondary Teacher of the Year and the Council for Business Teaching and Research Doctoral Dissertation Award.

In her new role, Dr. Hauf will oversee the organization’s professional development programming, support national education standards initiatives, and work closely with educators and stakeholders to further the mission of NBEA. Her leadership will play a key role in shaping the future of business education across the country.

Executive Director, Joe McClary, CAE, said,"NBEA is thrilled to have Lori onboard to expand the association membership benefit portfolio. Lori's job will be almost exclusively to add value to NBEA's membership. Professional development is one of our most important benefits, and Lori will contribute to new offerings for our educators that will increase the value of membership"

The NBEA community looks forward to Dr. Hauf’s continued contributions and leadership in her new capacity. Lori can be reached at LHauf@NBEA.org.

Dr. Bracey currently serves as Clinical Professor at the University of North Texas, where she recently led the establishment of the first chapter of the National Business Honor Society–Collegiate (NBHSC) in the U.S.—a historic milestone that recognizes high-achieving business students across academic departments.

Her appointment follows a successful tenure at Mississippi State University, where she served as Assistant Professor in Instructional Systems and Workforce Development. She is also the founder and CEO of Urbane Enterprises LLC, a consulting firm through which she has secured over $1 million in federal and state education grants.

“Pamela is a long-time member of NBEA who has provided distinguished leadership for our association,” said NBEA Executive Director Joe McClary. “She has expertise in the business education ecosystem that uniquely prepares her for this important position. We all look forward to working with her.”

Dr. Bracey’s work spans classroom teaching, curriculum innovation, and national recognition. She has taught at both the secondary and postsecondary levels and is known for her ability to empower educators with practical, career-focused instruction.

She is the co-founder of the Global Academic Essentials Teacher Institute (GAETI), which supports educators in integrating 21st-century skills, instructional technology, and workforce readiness into their classrooms. Her leadership has been recognized by several national organizations, including honors as Collegiate Teacher of the Year by the Southern Business Education Association and as President of the Mississippi Business Education Association.

Dr. Bracey holds a Ph.D. in Applied Technology and Performance Improvement with a minor in Gifted and Talented Education from the University of North Texas. She also earned a master’s in Higher Education Administration from Mississippi College and a bachelor’s degree in Business Technology Education from the University of Southern Mississippi.

As NBEA President, Dr. Bracey aims to advance professional development that meets the evolving needs of today’s business educators, promote career-ready curriculum innovation, and expand pathways for student excellence through programs like the NBHSC.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Pamela Scott Bracey on this well-deserved honor. Her leadership promises a year of growth, innovation, and opportunity for the NBEA community.

In 2018 she was selected as the Dickinson State University Innovative Teacher of the Year, as well as the 2018 Mountain Plains Business Education Association Leadership Award.  In 2020 she received the Best of the Western Edge-College Professor of the year.  Most recently she was selected as the recipient of the 2021 Council of Business Teaching and Research Doctoral Dissertation Award.  She has served NBEA has secretary/treasuer and other committee leadership roles over her tenure at NBEA. She is active in a variety of university committees including technology committee, graduate council, teacher education council, HLC Criteria 3 team, and serves as the campus faculty athletic representative. Outside of professional interests, she enjoys traveling, golfing, and spending time with her family. 

Dennis Krejci is currently serving as the NBEA Secretary/Treasurer for the 2023 - 2024 year, which was left vacated when Lori Hauf moved into her President-elect position. Dennis has previously served in this position from 2009 – 2012. He also served on the NBEA board from 2000 – 2003.

Dennis is a retired 7 – 12 business education teacher from Nebraska. He did his undergrad at Black Hills State in Spearfish, South Dakota, and his Master’s at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska. He taught for 41 years in three different districts, with Tri-County High School being his last, where he taught for 29 years.

He has been involved at the state, regional and national levels, serving in many positions. During retirement, Dennis has been traveling both internationally and within the states.

Dr. Hagler has been active in Southern Illinois Business Education Association, Illinois Business Education Association, Illinois Association for Career and Technical Education, Delta Pi Epsilon, Omicron Tau Theta, and National Business Education Association. She has presented at many conferences, published articles in journals, and served in leadership positions in these organizations.
She was raised on a farm in southern Illinois and credits her parents for instilling in her the value of hard work. She also believes that her church and 4-H activities helped prepare her for life. She is married to Lou and is the proud mother of two children (Louis and Cheryl) and proud grandmother of five (Elliott, Hannah, Zachary, Austin, and Nathan).

Dr. Hagler received the National John Robert Gregg Award in 2019, the NBEA Collegiate Teacher of the Year in 2015, the Anthony G. Porreca Award for Outstanding Service to Omicron Tau Theta in 2014, as well as other awards. She served as co-editor of an NBEA Yearbook and was editor of a textbook for workforce education. She has also authored chapters in NBEA Yearbooks and other books.
She has sponsored a chapter of Pi Omega Pi and Omicron Tau Theta, as well as co-sponsored the Southern Illinois Business Education Association. Her service also includes NBEA Director for CBTR/ARBE, JRBE Editor, Chair of Editorial Board for the Journal of Career and Technical Education, as well as other positions for ARBE and NABTE. In addition, she served as Chair for the Policies Commission for Business and Economic Education and was Trustee and Secretary for the University Council for Workforce and Human Resource Education.

She has also received several grants, chaired over 100 master’s research theses or papers, and chaired 14 doctoral dissertations. She continues to work with Ph.D. students in her retirement. She and her husband owned two UPS Stores for several years. She also has been active in her church including teaching religious education, serving as Eucharistic minister, and serving as treasurer of the women’s council.

“One of the best decisions I ever made was to major in business education. I thank all of my business education teachers who led me to making that decision. I cannot imagine having done anything else that would have been more rewarding. I believed then and still believe that every person can benefit from business education. My business education skills and knowledge have served me well in and out of the classroom.”

“It is truly an honor to serve my profession as President Elect of NBEA!” Hagler will take the NBEA presidency July 1, 2023. 

Cynthia (Cindy) Durkee received her MS in Education from North Adams State College, (now Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts), BS from Salem State University in Business Education, and AS from Holyoke Community College in Business Education. A member of the staff at Wahconah Regional High School since 1978, she has taught a variety of courses within the Business curriculum, including shorthand, typing, computer software applications, accounting, entrepreneurship, sports and entertainment marketing, etc. Cindy is the advisor to Wahconah’s chapter of the National Business Honor Society.

Cindy is the past president of the Massachusetts Business Educators Association serving three years as president, and she now serves on the Board as a Director. She represents the East Region on the NBEA Executive Board.

She has been active in the school with various committees at the school, including BPA, School to Career, and contracted credit. Previously she served for many years as the Business department chair. She has written and coordinated the Perkins Grant at Wahconah for 22 years.

Cindy has raised two grown sons Jeffrey and Aaron. In her spare time, she enjoys officiating volleyball matches and track and field meets at the high school and collegiate levels. She grew up in Amherst, Massachusetts, where her 94 year old mom still resides. Cindy has two pet cats whom she adores.

Sherrell Wheeler is the chief online officer and a professor of business at New Mexico State University Alamogordo. Sherrell’s passion is business education and she has served as a business educator for 40 years. Her experience includes administration, post-secondary teaching, and secondary teaching.

Sherrell is an active member of her professional organizations and has been since her college days when “invited” to join NBEA as a business education student. Early in her career, she was active on the local and district levels. As she got more involved, she took on leadership roles on the state and regional levels, eventually serving as the president of the Mountain-Plains Region. Her work and commitment were rewarded with the Dr. Donald Moore Leadership Award.

Sherrell stays active on the national level by serving on committees and attending the national conference each year while attending various webinars when possible. This year Sherrell is serving on the Convention Committee and the Awards Committee and will be presenting sessions at the conference. In the past, she served as an editor for the Business Education Forum, worked as the NBEA Conference Virtual Attendant, served on the Strategic Planning Committee, along with other activities.

Along with teaching business courses, Sherrell is an advocate for student organizations. Sherrell served as the National Officer Coordinator for 21 years for Business Professionals of America. She also served as both a post-secondary and secondary advisor. She continues to support BPA through mentorship.

Sherrell’s educational background includes a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Education and a Master’s of Business Education from West Texas State University along with a plethora of professional development and workshops to remain current in the ever-changing curricula areas of business, technology, and online education. 

Personally, Sherrell serves as a leader in Recovery Unanimous to support those who need to overcome addiction. She loves spending time with her grandson who will soon have twin brothers!

DeLayne has an undergraduate degree in Business Education from Wayne State College, a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instructional Technology from Peru State College, a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Nebraska Omaha, and a Doctorate from the University of Nebraska Omaha. DeLayne also is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Nebraska Omaha College of Education, supporting CTE teacher education and endorsement programs.

With a strong passion for Career and Technical Education, DeLayne has and continues to contribute to the CTE community via involvement in boards, committees, authoring of literature in professional journals, and presentations at conferences for multiple state, regional, and national level associations.

In addition to serving the needs of CTE students and faculty, DeLayne and his family reside in a busy household in Omaha, Nebraska. DeLayne’s wife Jeana is a project manager for a finance company. Their son Zach is a high school freshman engaged in baseball and band and son Josh is in middle school and is involved with football and music.

Leave a comment below to welcome Denise as the new editor.

In 2018 she was selected as the Dickinson State University Innovative Teacher of the Year, as well as the 2018 Mountain Plains Business Education Association Leadership Award.  In 2020 she received the Best of the Western Edge-College Professor of the year.  Most recently she was selected as the recipient of the 2021 Council of Business Teaching and Research Doctoral Dissertation Award.  She is active in a variety of university committees including technology committee, graduate council, teacher education council, HLC Criteria 3 team, and serves as the campus faculty athletic representative. Outside of professional interests, she enjoys traveling, golfing, and spending time with her family. 

On July 1, 2020 NBEA welcomed a new President. Dr. Benita Moore follows Michigan's Colleen Webb who moves into the role of immediate-past president.

Upon completion of her master’s degree in Business Education, she began her full-time teaching career at Cleveland State Community College in Cleveland, Tennessee, where she worked for two years. She then moved back to the Atlanta area and worked in DeKalb County Schools for one year and Clayton County Schools for three years. During this time she began work on her Ph.D. at Georgia State University, completing her doctorate in Business and Adult/Career Education. During her doctoral program, she started teaching at Clayton Junior College and retired in 2009 after 27 years at Clayton State University. While at Clayton, Benita was a professor of Business Education and also served as an administrator in several capacities. Moore's career also took her to work with the Technical College System of GA (TCSG), as a Curriculum Program Specialist. TCSG has 22 technical colleges, all regionally accredited, and she worked with the different college instructors and administrators on specific curriculum, assisted with articulation agreements between the technical colleges and University System of Georgia (USG) and private colleges, and conducted training for new TCSG instructors. With many TCSG instructors coming from industry as subject matter experts, most have limited formal teaching experience, so covering learning styles, classroom management techniques, active learning strategies, and other essential topics for these new instructors become important for student success. Benita is married to William Moore (for 41 years and pictured above with her family) and has two grown sons, two wonderful daughters-in-law, a grandson, and a granddaughter. When asked about her upcoming year as President, Moore told KeyingIN,"It is my pleasure to serve as your NBEA President. NBEA has been an important part of my career, and I look forward to working with you and moving us into the future."

After decades of being involved in business education, Colleen Webb (pictured left) was elected to NBEA’s leadership. As Colleen took the reigns of the NBEA presidency last July, little did she know what an adventure it would be. NBEA’s new Executive Director, Joe McClary, said,” Colleen was President in a critical year for NBEA. The amount of change Webb needed to oversee was way beyond the norm for most presidents, and she handled it with professionalism and class.” 

Webb’s time as President started with a retiring Executive Director who had been at the organization for almost thirty years. When an association’s chief staff person who has been at the organization that long retires, it is a challenge for any President.  According to Webb, “the hiring of a new Executive Director was a long, arduous process, with so many considerations for the team to consider. In the end, we made the unanimous decision to hire Joe McClary, who possessed the best of both worlds, a background in Business Education, experience in Association Management, and, as a bonus, is certified by the American Society of Association Executives as an association executive.”

Also, beyond transitioning staff, NBEA decided to shift strategies on property ownership with the sale of an aging building located in Reston.  The liquidation of NBEA’s biggest asset involved a mandatory move of the office from more than 5,000 square feet to less than 1,500 sqft.  Downsizing was essential for efficient operations of the association.

While things started to settle down in January of 2020, concerns about COVID-19 and the association’s annual conference scheduled for Boston, Massachusetts, became a concern.  For the first time in NBEA’s distinguished history, by March, the on-site convention was not going to happen.  Webb was kept updated by the Executive Director and made the difficult decision to lead the charge to try something new, a virtual conference.  While the choice may have seemed obvious, Webb’s prompt leadership in acting allowed NBEA a week’s head start toward working on the transition to a virtual conference. This time was critical to communicate with stakeholders to ensure the success of the event.  Webb said, “With our country in the midst of a pandemic, NBEA quickly  transitioned from a face to face to a Virtual Convention in just two weeks and had over 250 participants, a win for our members.”

The Executive Board had a clear vision for needed changes. Webb also felt very strongly that the Board should act quickly on getting changes implemented as soon as possible. Webb led board meetings where the association embraced new procedures for financial transparency, greater inclusion on committees, along with presiding over a new website, association management services, and online library. According to Webb, it was “thanks to a cohesive Executive Board that NBEA can move forward as an Association and broaden our base for the future.”

Incoming President Benita Moore said,” Colleen’s leadership in 2019-2020 has provided us all a great foundation on which we can continue to build.”  When Colleen Webb reflected on her time as NBEA President, she said, ” through my travels to the regional events,  my attendance in numerous face-to-face and virtual meetings, I have met so many wonderful business educators and made so many friends. Thank you for all for your camaraderie, hard work, dedication, and your many contributions to our profession and NBEA. A special thank you to the members of the 2019-2020 Executive Board for a job well-done. It truly was a privilege and a great honor for me to have served as your President, 2019-2020.”