Twelve Susquehanna University students placed in the top four at the Pennsylvania Future Business Leaders of America Collegiate State Leadership Conference while two ascended to the organization’s top leadership positions.
Nicholas McPhillips ’28, a finance major with a minor in economics, was installed as president, and Brandon McPhillips ’28, an accounting major with a minor in finance, began his term as executive vice president. Nicholas and Brandon are twin brothers from Yardley, Pennsylvania.
In his role as president, Nicholas McPhillips said he will represent and lead Pennsylvania FBLA Collegiate at the state and national levels, setting the direction for the organization and working alongside the executive council team to the benefit of members. This will include leading meetings, supporting chapter engagement, coordinating with chapter advisors and partners, and ensuring members have access to opportunities in leadership, competition and professional development.
Nicholas McPhillips also serves as the president for Susquehanna’s chapter of FBLA. As president of Pennsylvania FBLA Collegiate, he said he wants to raise awareness among students of the competitiveness and accelerated recruitment timeline for internships and job opportunities within Big 4 accounting firms.
“FBLA has been a defining part of my development, not just in competition, but in understanding how to navigate opportunities and build meaningful connections,” said Nicholas McPhillips. “Moving into this role, my focus is on making sure every member has access to those same experiences to help prepare students for success in their careers.”
The Pennsylvania FBLA Collegiate’s annual two-day leadership conference also includes competitive events. Individuals and/or teams who place in the top four in all events are eligible to compete at the 2026 National Leadership Conference from June 5–8, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The following Susquehanna students earned this distinction:
- Ezabella Piccione ’28, a double major in luxury brand marketing & management and advertising & public relations, from Boyertown, Pennsylvania: first place in competitive exams covering the foundations of communication and digital design.
- Jacob Craig ’26, a management major in the Honors Program, from Milton, Pennsylvania: second place in project management and third place in business law.
- Fernando Dysico ’26, a double major in international studies – trade & development and mathematical economics, from the Philippines, and Paul Matra ’26, a management major, from Glen Mills, Pennsylvania: second place in emerging business issues presentation.
- Brandon McPhillips: second place in a competitive exam covering the foundations of accounting.
- Brandon McPhillips and Nicholas McPhillips: second place in the accounting case competition.
- Kagan Watkins ’26, a management major, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: second place in supply chain management.
- Abduboriy Komilov ’28, a finance major, from Bel Air, Maryland: third place in a competitive exam covering the foundations of finance.
- Jett Straining ’27, a finance major, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Jacob Vance ’28, a double major in finance and mathematical economics, from Lititz, Pennsylvania; Nicholas McPhillips; and Matra: third place in the finance case competition.
- Dysico, fourth place in the business presentation.
- Raphael Wolf ’27, a luxury brand marketing & management major, from Mertztown, Pennsylvania: fourth place in the entrepreneurship pitch competition.
Dysico also completed his term as state treasurer. In his role, he assisted in the financial management of the organization at the state level and helped with the overall coordination of the conference.
