November 17, 2022
K-State Sales Team places 20th in 2022 Collegiate World Cup of Sales
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From left: Kaley Coffman, Jack McGuire, Cameron Pavelschak, Taylor Moorman and Lydia Johnson. |
The K-State Sales Team recently competed in the International Collegiate Sales Competition and placed 20th in the 2022 Collegiate World Cup of Sales. The competition was hosted by Florida State University on Nov. 2-6.
The Collegiate World Cup of Sales is the ultimate measure of a university sales program's focus on overall business revenue-generating skills including strategic decision-making, relationship development, sales management problem-solving, and presentation and speech skills. Eighty universities competed in various events as part of competition including a role-play competition, sales management case competition and speed selling event.
The K-State Sales Team had four students compete in the competition: Kaley Coffman, senior in professional strategic selling and finance, Bonner Springs; Jack McGuire, junior in professional strategic selling and economics, Shawnee; Taylor Moorman, sophomore in professional strategic selling, Emporia; Cameron Pavelschak, senior in professional strategic selling, Mascoutah, Illinois. Lydia Johnson, senior in professional strategic selling and Spanish, Prior Lake, Minnesota, traveled with the team as a student coach.
"Our student's preparation for this event did not go unnoticed, as they understood that was the key to success," said Kellie Jackson, managing director of the National Strategic Selling Institute and sales team coach. "I'm so proud of the students and all their hard work competing against students from around the globe. It's such a great opportunity for students to grow professionally while utilizing their skills learned in the classroom."
The role-play competition had 160 student competitors from across the world competing in the event. This four-round, tournament-style role-play scenario is similar to a real complex selling situation where needs are developed in early meetings leading to a solution presentation and final purchase decision. In this event, the role-plays focused on the commercial finance company DLL with Gallati Yachts as the prospect company. Pavelschak and McGuire represented the K-State Sales Team in this event. McGuire advanced to the semi-finals placing in the top 12 students. The team ranked ninth place overall in this portion of the competition.
During the sales management case competition, Coffman and Moorman represented the K-State Sales Team in the event. The team was given a specific sales management situation related to a sales operations challenge at Gartner and asked to present a realistic solution. They competed in the first round, placing fourth in their room.
The speed-selling competition had 150 plus student competitors in the event. This competition consisted of speed interviewing at four companies to demonstrate professional and presentation skills in an elevator pitch format. Coffman and Moorman represented the K-State Sales Team in the event.
"I want to thank Chuck Viosca, Leff Bonney and the rest of the Florida State University team for putting on such a great event once again," Jackson said. "Also, thanks to all the sponsors for helping make this event possible for all the student competitors and universities! There is no other event that compares to what this event offers our students as it is such an invaluable experience for them."
The K-State Sales Team is in the College of Business Administration's National Strategic Selling Institute, which has been named one of the top sales programs in the country for 11 straight years by the Sales Education Foundation. The team consists of students who are enrolled in the certificate or major in professional strategic selling. K-State offers a major in professional strategic selling and a certificate in professional strategic selling, which is open to all majors at the university. The professional strategic selling program introduces students to the fundamentals of sales and the innovative curriculum and sales labs allow students to develop the skills needed to be successful.
The K-State Sales Team will be competing in several competitions throughout the school year across the country. For more information on the National Strategic Selling Institute or the K-State Sales Team, please contact kstatesalesprogram@k-state.edu.