South Florida’s No. 1 Business Chapter Earns Global Top 10 Finishes
The Business & Entrepreneurship Program at American Heritage Schools, Broward Campus, established a major milestone at the 2026 DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. Competing against over 30,000 students from around the world, the Broward campus team earned multiple global placements, positioning the school as the second-highest-performing chapter in the state of Florida among the top 20 finalists. This international success follows a dominant regional showing where American Heritage outperformed local private schools, including Pine Crest, Ransom Everglades, and North Broward Prep, as well as major public programs. Furthermore, the team achieved a higher per-capita success rate than the nation's largest chapter, Cypress Bay, cementing the school's status as a premier force on both the local and global stage.
Global Scale and Competitive Scope
The international conference brings together the most capable student minds in business, finance, hospitality, and entrepreneurship. Each individual competitive event features approximately 240 elite qualifiers from across the globe.
Led by advisor Mrs. Heather Weissman and supported by chaperones Rachel Fleischer, Marc Shaw, and Harry Torres, the Broward campus sent 48 participants to the conference. The team secured two Top 10 world finishes, eight Top 20 world final finishes, and three international medals for top exam or role-play scores.
2026 International DECA Champions and Finalists
Top 10 Finalists in the World
- Levi Fleisher – Entrepreneurship Series
- Max Callis – Automotive Services Series
Top 20 Finalists in the World
- Enrico Raneri & Anthony Rodriguez – Hospitality Services Team Decision Making
- Prisha Patel & Eesha Shah – Hospitality Services Team Decision Making
- Melody Cheng – Marketing Communications Series
- Lauren Lee – Restaurant and Food Service Management Series
- Anika Mishra – Restaurant and Food Service Management Series
- Ivanshi Gadani – Principles of Business Management and Administration
International Testing and Role-Play Medals (Top 20 Globally)
- Krish Hirani – Principles of Hospitality and Tourism (Top International Exam Score)
- Adrian Thurman – Integrated Marketing Campaign: Product (Top International Exam Score)
- Shreyas Baghel – Automotive Services Series (Top International Role-Play Score)
Institutional Performance Metrics
In only its fourth year since inception, the Broward chapter has grown from 10 initial members to a force of 300 students, ranking as the ninth-largest chapter in Florida.
In regional private school comparisons, American Heritage Schools outperformed competitors, including Pine Crest School, which secured two top 20 placements, while Ransom Everglades, North Broward Preparatory, and Saint Andrew's School did not advance finalists to the international level.
Among large public programs, the Broward campus outperformed major traditional chapters, such as Marjory Stoneman Douglas and Spanish River. While Cypress Bay High School secured 14 finalists, the American Heritage Schools cohort of 10 finalists represents a significantly higher per-capita success rate relative to total chapter size.
Future Program Development
The structural foundation of our DECA chapter ensures continued momentum as the program scales to even greater heights. With the expansion of targeted coaching, enhanced competitive resources, and a rapidly growing membership, American Heritage Schools remains committed to advancing student readiness for the complexities of the global corporate landscape. Building upon this year's historic international success, our business students are exceptionally positioned to maximize their potential and secure a prominent ranking among the absolute top elite programs in the nation.