DECA's job shadow program provides opportunities for students to explore their career aspirations. The shadow experience allows students to share the day with a successful businessman or businesswoman, seeing first hand the realities of their day-to-day duties and responsibilities. What a better way to find out what a person does at their workplace that to see for yourself!

Since its inception, DECA students have completed over 1,100 job shadows. From doctors, engineers, lawyers, and architects, to small business entrepreneurs, our students have sampled a myriad of careers.

In addition to the shadow experience, DECA students are taught the importance of dressing for success, making a good first impression, being appreciative, and most importantly—having an attitude...the right attitude.

If you or your company are interested in becoming involved in the job shadow program, please contact Bob Von Derau at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Some of the businesses and organizations which have hosted student job shadows include:

Adventure Central
American General Insurance
American Institute of Architects
APG Office Furniture
APP Architecture
APT Veterinary Clinic
Arena Dodge
Bally’s Fitness Center
Bank One
Beacon Agency
Bella One Designers
Bella Photographic
Benchmark Homes Inc.
Bethany Lutheran Village
Blue Sky Project
Bob Ross
Bombeck Center
Boonshoft Museum
Carillon Park
Catholic Social Services
Centerville Family Eye Care (Dr. Jeff Chandler)
Centerville Music
Central State University
Chase Bank
Christopher’s Restaurant
City Folk
City of Dayton Engineer’s Office
City of Dayton Payroll Department
City of Dayton Police Department
Citywide Development
Claypool Psychological Services
Clear Channel Communications
Clinton Psychological Services
CVS Pharmacy
D&T Body Shop
Danis Construction
Dayton Art Institute
Dayton Board of Education
Dayton Chamber of Commerce
Dayton Christian Center
Dayton City Council Chambers
Dayton City of Commission
Dayton Cultural Arts Center
Dayton Daily News
Dayton Metro Library
Dayton Optometric Center
Dayton Power and Light
Dayton Urban League
Dayton Visual Arts Center
Dayton Vote
Dermatologists of Southwest Ohio
Dr. Chandler (Ophthalmologist)
Dr. Lane Rocks
Dr. Michael Williams
Dr. Rager Colon
Eastway Corporation
EPA Water Festival
Erma Bombeck Daycare Center
Farmers and Merchants Bank
Field/ Thade Construction Company
Fifth Third Bank
First Baptist Church (Dayton)
First Class Salon
First Security
GE Credit
GE Engine Science Center
GE Money
Ginny’s Early Childhood Learning
Glory Day Montessori
Habitat for Humanity
Higher Grounds
Hospice of Dayton
House of Bread
Huber Heights Animal Hospital
Human Race Theater
Humane Society of Greater Dayton
ID Cast
Ida Stevenson (Poet/Writer)
Innerwest Priority Board
Junior Leadership Dayton
K-12 Gallery
Kettering Medical Center
Kids Voting
Kiser Middle School
Kitty Hawk School
Kroger Corporation
Levin Porter & Associates
Lexis Nexis
Liberty Bank
Life Enrichment Center
Long Graphic Design
Mahogany’s Child
Matt Dewald (Journalist)
Mead Westvaco
Metlife Corporate Headquarters
Miami Valley Child Development
Miami Valley Hospital
Miller’s Collision Center
Mini University
Montgomery Children’s Services
Montgomery County Commission
Montgomery County Common Pleas Court
Montgomery County Courts (Juvenile)
Muse Machine
My Favorite Pet
National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ)
New Page Corporation
North Dayton School of Discovery
Northridge Animal Hospital
Oakwood High School
Ohio EPA
Ohio Pediatrics
Orthopedic Institute of Dayton
Parkside Red Cross Emergency Services
Patterson Kennedy School
Prestigious Touch
Rebuilding Together Dayton
Red Cross
Reutschle Architects
Riverdale Optimist Club
Regional Transit Authority
Schindler Elevator
School of Advertising Art
Shelton Pharmacy
Sinclair Community College
SISCA
South Dayton Dentistry
St. Mary Development Corp.
St. Vincent Hotel
Stiver’s School for the Arts
Street Sound
Surgical Consultants
The Flower Shoppe
Unified Health Solutions
United Rehabilitation Services
University of Dayton
US Bankruptcy Court
VA Medical Center
Vandalia Medical Center
Vic Cassano Center
WDTN
We Care Arts
Willis Bing Davis
Woodhull
WOW Elementary School
WPAFB
Wright Dunbar Inc.
Wright State University
Xenia High School
Xenia Police Department
Young Learners World
YWCA