OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – An Oklahoma City-based leader in the event and destination management industry is giving more than $100,000 in grants to support students in hospitality, entrepreneurship and leadership development.
factor 110, Oklahoma’s first and only destination management company, awarded the grants through the One Ten Legacy Fund, which it established in 2023 with the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to support young leaders in hospitality, entrepreneurship and leadership development.
An advisory board composed of thought leaders and stakeholders in hospitality, entrepreneurship and leadership development shared their insight on program areas, unmet financial needs and resources needed to advance their missions.
“We are thrilled to announce the launch of grants aimed at empowering students in hospitality, entrepreneurship, and leadership development,” said Brian Ferrell, CMP, DMCP, president of factor 110. “These grants will serve as catalysts for growth, enabling students to pursue their passions, develop essential skills, and unlock their full potential. We believe investing in the next generation of leaders is key to fostering innovation and driving positive change in our communities.”
The grants will provide essential funding and resources to support implementation of innovative initiatives to drive positive change and meaningfully impact the young leaders they serve.
factor 110 selected the following organizations to receive a 2024-2025 program grant:
- Association of Destination Management Executives International (ADMEI) | Campus to Career (C2C) Program | $5,000. The Campus to Career program is a catalyst for the growth and excellence of the destination management industry and creates global connective opportunities for graduating college students enrolled in hospitality tracks in their respective universities. The program provides universities with educational content on standards and trends in destination management, matches graduating students to opportunities to internships and/or job opportunities, and bridges the gap between scholastics, experience, and employment.
- Council for Exception Children | Students with Disabilities Enterprise Initiatives | $5,000. CEC will launch a new initiative supporting student-run enterprises in schools that are operated by students with disabilities. These programs help students with disabilities as they transition out of school so that they leave with solid vocational and life skills that spark an entrepreneurial spirit and purpose.
- FBLA | New Adviser Training | $15,000. Launching an online training for new FBLA advisers will revolutionize professional development opportunities, providing convenient access to resources and guidance for advisers to better support their student members and chapters.
- Kansas FBLA | Fund a Director of FBLA Middle School | $5,000. Kansas FBLA believes that one key to increasing membership participation at the high school level is the recruitment of FBLA Middle School members. Kansas FBLA will fund a part-time position to oversee the FBLA Middle School chapters, seek out potential new chapters, provide support materials and resources for advisers and members, and manage the Middle School competitive events at the state and district conferences.
- Kansas FBLA | Lindell-Ferrell FBLA Emerging Leader Scholarship | $40,000. The Lindell-Ferrell FBLA Emerging Leader Scholarship honors two members each year with a $1,000 scholarship pursuing a postsecondary education by recognizing their servant-leader outlook, experience and leadership in FBLA, and need for financial support.
- Louisiana FBLA | Fund a Conference Manager | $5,000. Louisiana FBLA will fund a part-time conference manager who will play a crucial role in overseeing the comprehensive management and coordination of logistics, programming, and administrative tasks essential to the successful execution of the State Leadership Conference.
- Nebraska FBLA | Fund Gallup Strength Finders for Student Training | $5,000. Nebraska FBLA plans to work with student leaders to develop their communication and teamwork skills by providing the Gallup Strengths Finder assessment and training on Gallup Strengths at their Fall Leadership Conference.
- North Dakota FBLA | Leadership Assessment & Training | $5,000. This grant will allow North Dakota FBLA to provide the Real Colors personality assessment to all attendees (members and advisers) at the North Dakota FBLA Collegiate 2024 State Leadership Conference and a 2.5 hour training session on communication styles.
- Oklahoma BPA | Chapter Officer Readiness Experience | $2,500. Oklahoma BPA is thrilled to provide scholarships to the inaugural Chapter Officer Readiness Experience (CORE). CORE will give Oklahoma BPA members an opportunity in a summer camp setting to network with others around the state, enhance their leadership skills, and learn how to take advantage of every opportunity that being in a CTSO, specifically BPA, offers to them and their schools.
- Oklahoma DECA | Aim for Glass Summer Camp | $2,500. Oklahoma DECA will provide scholarships to members seeking to develop their competitive event and leadership skills at Oklahoma DECA’s Aim for Glass Summer Camp. As part of an ongoing initiative to enhance Oklahoma’s competitive edge in hospitality, finance, and marketing competitions, this camp provides students with resources, tools, and connections to assist them throughout their DECA membership and beyond.
- Oklahoma Hospitality Foundation/ProStart® | 2025 Hospitality Conference | $5,000. Oklahoma Hospitality Foundation and Oklahoma ProStart® will be developing a state-wide Hospitality Conference in 2025. ProStart® is a school to career curriculum developed by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
- Oklahoma State University School of Hospitality & Tourism (HTM) | Launch HTM Club | $5,000. These grant funds will support HTM students by providing financial assistance for student leadership development opportunities, and foster networking opportunities with industry professionals. The program will also launch the new HTM Club and support its activities related to leadership, engagement, education and networking.
- Virginia FBLA Foundation | Fund Initial Chapter Success Grants | $5,000. The Virginia FBLA Foundation identified an unmet need of local FBLA chapters needing funds to help them achieve success. This grant will be used to jump start this process while the foundation raises funds for long term sustainability. Specifically, these $250 per chapter stipends will go to new and reactivated chapters to get their students to a state or regional conference, fund chapter organization activities, or champion chapter activities.
- Virginia FBLA | New Adviser Retreat | $2,000. Learning how to run and FBLA chapter is an evolutionary process, but teacher turnover is one of the biggest issues the organization faces each year. Virginia FBLA will provide a retreat for new advisers to guide them through an onboarding process and help them develop a three-year plan for their chapter. The hope is that this will allow them to develop relationships with other advisers facing the same challenges so that they can work together as a team as they navigate their new role of mentor/adviser.
factor 110 was established in 2006 and has become a leader in the event and destination management industry.
Inc. magazine recognized factor 110 | Destination Oklahoma in its annual Best Workplaces listings, receiving honors in two categories – “Micro: Employee Size 10-49” and “Southwest Region: AZ, NM, OK, TX.”
