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Shaundra Ingram, Buffalo HS FBLA Adviser
417.345.2223 ext. 3156
417.399.4270
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 29, 2017
“BUFFALO FBLA STUDENTS MEET NOLAN FOGLE ON SPRING BUSINESS TOURS”
Buffalo, MO, March 29, 2017—On Monday, March 27th, 2017, the Buffalo High School Future Business Leaders of
America (FBLA) chapter experienced Spring Business Tours in Springfield and Branson, Missouri. FBLA Students visited
Sam’s Club, Grand Glitz Boutique, CiCi’s Pizza, and Fritz’s Adventure. While on their tour, students heard from industry
professionals while touring “back door” areas of some of these businesses. At Sam’s Club, Nathan Floyd shared with
students about his experience as the child of a Sam’s Club manager, and now as a Membership Assistant Manager
himself. His responsibilities include overseeing club productivity and membership sales while creating business
relationships outside of the club. In addition, he shared Sam’s Club’s goals of respecting each other, serving members,
and striving for excellence each day; specifically, he gave examples of why each is important for the company and the
customer. In addition, he shared with students about the company’s efforts to “go digital” through Jett, the Scan & Go
App, 24-hour customer survey responses, the Sam’s Club App, and Pick & Pull App. In addition, he shared with students
that the East Sunshine location is one of the most successful Sam’s Clubs despite the fact that it didn’t meet the original
location specifications for the company. The company saw a market to serve small businesses with bulk sales as lower
price points.
Then, FBLA students visited Grand Glitz Boutique located in the Grand Village Shops where they toured the shoe, jewelry
and clothing departments. The store manager talked with them about the responsibilities of small business store
management, personnel, and customer service sharing stories of past experiences. Both the jewelry and clothing
department associates shared about the companies’ product lines and other tips for customer service.
Next, the FBLA students ate lunch at CiCi’s Pizza. While there, they were surprised and ecstatic about hearing from
Nolan Fogle, President of Fogle Enterprises Inc. He shared about his grassroots beginning on a dairy farm, losing a job, an
unfortunate partnership, and a variety of investments throughout his career, and now owning multiple restaurants and
serving on many local charities and boards. Now, Fogle is worth an estimated $54 million, and that plus his car collection
and home were very impressive to our business students! His restaurants serve 1.7 million people per year and employs
approximately 400 employees. Fogle also shared his passion for sports with the students, as he is a competitive slowpitch softball player endorsed by Miken. He advised the students to look for opportunities that include “win-win”
situations where both parties benefit in business. For example, recently the Fogle Family Foundation helped to create
“Benefit the Badge” in Branson, Missouri to raise money for the needs of local law enforcement which also brings
business to the area. Also, he emphasized the importance of making employees feel appreciated and part of a team. He
advised students to “focus on being successful, not on failing” and “being a good person.”
Finally, students visited the new Fritz’s Adventure family facility where they heard from the group sales and marketing
director concerning the company vision, marketing of a new business, creating a model for future franchises, and
highlighting the unique aspects of the company. Then, students enjoyed trying out the ropes course, warp walls,
underground tunnel mazes, climbing apparatuses, and treehouse nets and slides.
The mission of FBLA is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative
leadership and career development programs.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Shaundra Ingram, Buffalo HS FBLA Adviser at
417.345.2223 ext. 3156 or email at [email protected].
Buffalo FBLA students listen to Nathan Floyd at Sam’s Club in Springfield, Missouri.
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Students hear from the Store Manager at Grand Glitz Boutique in Branson, Missouri.
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Skylar Wimberly, Hayden Miller, Madeline Jacobs, Nate Beck, and Coltin Henderson try-on the “fun” hats at Grand Glitz
Boutique in Branson, Missouri.
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Buffalo FBLA (left to right) Row 1: Shaundra Ingram, Adviser, Laci Banks, Madison Andrews, Savannah Rice, Madeline
Jacobs, Madison Bennett, Colby Kramer, Gabraella Ramos, Skylar Wimberly, Wyatt Darnell. Row 2: Shayla Blake, Annie
Bishop, Emily Rice, Alyea Portis, Aiden Mitchell, Travis Clemmons, Taryn Elia, Natalee Wilhite, Nick Ryan, Bryan Valencia.
Row 3: Mehala Keller, Austin Starkey, Abigail Stark, Coltin Henderson, Nate Beck, Molly McKinney, Cody Smith, Hayden
Miller, Austin Reid, James Smith, Emma Wolf.
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Buffalo FBLA students with Nolan Fogle, President of Fogle Enterprises Inc. (left to right) Row 1: Bryan Valencia, Nick
Ryan, Shaundra Ingram (Adviser), Emily Rice, Aiden Mitchell, Nolan Fogle (President of Fogle Enterprises Inc.), Gabraella
Ramos, Skylar Wimberly, Madison Bennett. Row 2: Hayden Miller, Abigail Stark, Taryn Elia, Shayla Blake, Wyatt Darnell,
Natalee Wilhite, Laci Banks, Madeline Jacobs, Madison Andrews, Annie Bishop, Alyea Portis, Savannah Rice, Austin
Starkey, Mehala Keller. Row 3: Nate Beck, Coltin Henderson, James Smith, Emma Wolf, Travis Clemmons, Cody Smith,
Colby Kramer, Austin Reid, Molly McKinney.
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Buffalo FBLA students listened to the Group Sales and Marketing Manager of Frtiz’s Adventures.
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