Who Are the Board of Trustees at BPA?
The Business Professionals of America Board of Trustees is the primary governing body for the organization. The make-up of the board consists of a talented group of educators, organization and community leaders and professionals that are dedicated to Mission and Vision of our organization.
Meeting regularly throughout the year, the Board of Trustees manages all affairs of Business Professionals of America, establishes and monitors the annual budget, oversees the organization’s assets and ensures sound management of the association. The Board of Trustees consists of 13 voting members and two non-voting ex-officio members that include the Board’s Immediate Past Chair and the National Association’s Executive Director. Trustees are elected by the corporate body at the National Leadership Conference each year and traditionally serve three-year terms.
Learn more!
Want to learn more about the responsibilities of a our BPA Board Members? Download our Board Member Responsibilities document.
Questions?
Do you have questions or comments for our Board of Trustees? You can reach out to them via email using board@bpa.org or use our contact form.
Executive Officers

Paxton Cavin
Chair
At-Large Representative
Elected: 2021
Term Expires: 2024 (1st term)
Occupation: Oklahoma State Advisor

Devin Alexander
Vice Chair
State Advisor Representative
Elected: 2022
Term Expires: 2025 (1st term)
Occupation: Florida State Advisor

Jeannette Barreto
Secretary
Secondary Local Advisor Representative
Elected: 2022
Term Expires: 2025 (1st term)
Occupation: Educator, Billings Senior High School

Angie Benson
Treasurer
NBAC Representative
Appointed: 2022
Term Expires: 2025 (2nd term)
Occupation: Customer Success Manager, SmartSense by Digi
Board Members

Andrea Leal
Alumni Representative
Elected: 2022
Term Expires: 2025 (1st term)
Occupation: Payroll and Compensation Specialist, General Electric

Sonya Russell
At-Large Representative
Elected: 2023
Term Expires: 2026 (1st term)
Occupation: Information Technology Specialist
Arlington Middle School, Florida

Dr. Brenda Jacobsen
Postsecondary Representative
Elected: 2021
Term Expires: 2024 (1st term)
Occupation: Idaho Post-secondary State Advisor | Associate Professor at Idaho State University

Sabrina Taylor
Middle Level Local Advisor Representative
Elected: 2023
Term Expires: 2026
Occupation: Teacher, Nichols Jr. High, Texas

Lisa Parker
State Advisor Representative
Elected: 2023
Term Expires: 2026 (1st term)
Occupation: State Advisor, Montana

Kevin Benjamin
Business Representative
Elected: 2022
Term Expires: 2025
Occupation: Commercial Account Executive, Classy.org

Breezy Gutierrez
State Supervisor Representative
Elected: 2021
Term Expires: 2024 (filling unexpired 2021-2024 term)
Occupation: Education Administrator, New Mexico Public Education Department

Lucy Christensen
National Secondary President
Elected: 2023
Term Expires: 2024
Occupation: Student

Amber Lane
National Post-secondary President
Elected: 2023
Term Expires: 2024
Occupation: Student

Steven J. Mitchell
Ex-Officio
Occupation: Executive Director/CEO,
Business Professionals of America, Inc.
BPA Board of Trustees Nominations
Each year, the Nominations Committee of the Board of Trustees opens up the nominations process for vacant positions on the Board.
Are you or do you know anyone who may be interested in serving as a member of the national BPA Board of Trustees? If so, we encourage you to review the election process and submit a nomination form below.
There are three (3) positions up for election this year, with terms serving from 2023-2026. These positions require at least five (5) years of experience or membership in BPA, and their respective qualifications are:
- At-Large Representative:
- At-large members must be employed in a position directly related to business, information technology, and/or office occupations education or Business Professionals of America. This shall include: teaching at any level; local supervisors of business, information technology, and office occupations; Business Professionals of America state sponsors, state advisors, executive secretaries; Alumni members employed in a business occupation; and representatives of business and/or service industries. The at-large members should be employed in a Business Professionals of America affiliated state unless place of employment is changed after election.
- State Advisor:
- Any state advisor in business education, information technology, and/or office education and/or the person designated by the career and technical education division of the state department of education or state board of career and technical education.
- Middle Level Local Advisor:
- A business education, information technology, and/or office education teacher who is serving as an advisor/sponsor at the middle school level.
Nomination Process
In order to be considered by the Nominating Committee, a Nomination Form for a candidate must be submitted. Nominees must also submit a Nomination Acceptance Form with their written consent to serve, two (2) letters of reference, and documentation of qualifications. All nominations and nomination acceptances must be submitted via the online forms provided below.
The board nomination deadline is Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 11:59 pm EST.
The board nomination acceptance deadline is also Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 11:59 pm EST.
After this date, the Nominating Committee will verify the candidates’ qualifications and determine eligibility. The names and qualifications of all candidates meeting eligibility requirements will then be distributed to the Corporate members fourteen (14) days prior to the Annual Corporate Meeting at NLC.
Those who do not submit a nomination form and/or accept a nomination by the deadline can be nominated from the floor provided that the candidate complies with the eligibility requirements and documentation requirements, which includes their written consent to serve, two (2) letters of reference, and documentation of qualifications. This must be received by the Chair of the Nominating Committee no later than fourteen (14) days prior to the Annual Corporate Meeting, and will then be distributed to the corporate members seven (7) days prior to the Annual Corporate Meeting.
If you have an interest in board service, but would like to learn more about the process, roles, and responsibilities, questions can be directed to board@bpa.org.
Have you been nominated? Submit your Nomination Acceptance Form
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Have Questions?
Need some quick answers? We’ve put together some answers to our most commonly asked questions. If you still need some guidance, please use our contact form to reach out to our staff.