By Erika Carruba

Although the fledgling Phi Beta Lambda chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) still need a permanent advisor and increased membership, they are responsible for starting a trend in the state.

“We are the first chapter in Massachusetts and three other chapters formed in the state after us,” sophomore math major Adam Terrien said to a new member at the group’s meeting Jan. 20.

Terrien and sophomore psychology major Rosanna Mennone began organizing FBLA last spring as freshmen. Both were members of the national group in high school and wanted to form a branch at Northeastern. The main purpose of the group is to form a network, in which those interested in business meet professionals and others intrigued by the field.

Terrien and Mennone started e-mailing and talking to possible advisors while going through the process of starting a student group, set forth by the Student Government Association (SGA). In October, they finally had enough group members and an advisor, Associate Professor of Human Resources Management Brendan Bannister, and were approved as a group by the SGA. However, a disagreement caused a rift between Bannister and the group, and the advisor left. An interim advisor, Executive Director of the Center for Family Business Ted Clark, stepped in to fill the void. Clark also oversees the entrepeneur club, but stresses he is temporary in FBLA.

The group is not just for business majors, as evidenced by the two founders’ majors. The group is about learning to network and build resum