DECA is pleased to announce Marcus Lemonis will deliver the keynote in an interview format during the 2021 DECA Virtual International Career Development Conference. During the Grand Opening Session, he will share everything from his favorite moment on The Profit to advice to DECA members for building a personal brand, the importance of diversity, how to be successful and more.
Best known for breathing life back into struggling small businesses on CNBC’s The Profit, Marcus Lemonis is more than a TV personality; he is a successful entrepreneur, advocate and philanthropist.
And in a world where business leaders are lauded for being cutthroat, Marcus does it all with heart and compassion for the people, process and product he aspires to elevate. But as with many success stories, his road has not always been an easy one.
At four days old, Marcus was left at the steps of a Lebanese orphanage by his birth mother. He was soon adopted and brought to Miami, Florida where he was raised by his loving adoptive parents, Sophia and Leo Lemonis. Although he struggled with weight issues, bullying, and a lack of self-confidence as a child, it was his mother, Sophia, who taught him to embrace his unique qualities, allowing him to discover that he had a head for business and a gift for helping others.
Marcus read the description of Entrepreneur to his mother from the dictionary while working on a school project, which inspired him to challenge himself and make his dreams come true. His humble beginnings and journey through life represent the heart and soul of what true entrepreneurism is.
As a young man, Marcus honed his entrepreneurial spirit while working at his family’s automotive dealership. By the age of 25, Marcus seized upon an opportunity to reshape the way recreational vehicles and outdoor equipment was sold. Under his leadership and vision, Camping World would grow to become the Nation’s largest RV retailer and would make Marcus Lemonis one of the most successful businessmen in America.
But with each great success, the lessons of humility imparted by his mother have helped keep him grounded, reminding him that the true riches of life are found in giving back. With millions of dollars donated to charitable organizations and invested in small businesses, he is an advocate for the underdog and finds his strongest inspiration by investing in people. Marcus Lemonis may have been born in Lebanon but he is 100% American-made.
