University's Sales Cat team finds success at several national sales competitions this fall
Friday, Dec. 4, 2015
The Sales Cat team at the 2015 International Collegiate Sales Competition included from row, from left: Dawn Deeter, Ashley Ebeck, Kasey Kowalski and Helen Dinkel; and back row, from left: Nick Ramsey, Armani Williams; Mike Schonwetter; and David Lehman. | Download this photo.
MANHATTAN — The Kansas State University Sales Cat team had a successful fall 2015 season, entering four national sales competitions around the country and bringing home several awards and prizes.
The Sales Cat team is made up of students 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 four straight years by the Sales Education Foundation. The team is coached by David Lehman, instructor of marketing, and Dawn Deeter, director of the National Strategic Selling Institute.
Sales competitions allow students to test their selling skills against their peers from other top sales schools through role-playing scenarios, including cold calling, case competitions and speed selling.
The team competed at the Great Northwoods Sales Warm-Up at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire; the International Collegiate Sales Competition, hosted by Florida State University, placing fifth overall out of 60 universities; the Northeast Intercollegiate Sales Competition at Bryant University, where the Sales Cats received the Rookie of the Year Award as the top school that was new to the competition in 2015; and at the RBI National Sales Challenge at William Patterson University.
"Having success in these competitions helps bring recognition to what we are doing at K-State to prepare students for successful and fulfilling careers in sales," Deeter said. "They also provide a great opportunity for our students to network with their peers and interact with employers from around the country at career fairs and workshops."
In addition to competing as part of the university's Sales Cat team, the students are earning a certificate in professional strategic selling from the National Strategic Selling Institute. The certificate program is open to all majors at the university, and allows students to distinguish themselves by demonstrating professionalism and competency in selling skills.
Sales Cat team members include the following students:
Ashleigh Bunker, senior in marketing, Ellis, competed at the Great Northwoods Sales Warm-Up.
From Greater Kansas City: Helen Dinkel, senior in marketing, Leawood, placed fifth out of 117 students in role play contest at the International Collegiate Sales Competition and presented a speech at the RBI National Sales Challenge as its 2014 grand prizewinner; Armani Williams, senior in marketing, Lenexa, advanced to the quarterfinal round in the role play contest at the International Collegiate Sales Competition, and competed in the role play and speed selling elevator pitch contests at the RBI National Sales Challenge; Lars Hanson, senior in marketing, Olathe,competed at the Great Northwoods Sales Warm-Up; Danielle Lickteig, senior in marketing, Olathe, competed in the role play and speed selling elevator pitch contests at the RBI National Sales Challenge; Christopher Earnshaw, junior in entrepreneurship, Overland Park, advanced to the quarterfinals in the role play contest at the Northeast Intercollegiate Sales Competition; Kasey Kowalski, junior in marketing, Overland Park, finished sixth out of 84 students at the Northeast Intercollegiate Sales Competition and competed at the International Collegiate Sales Competition; and Mike Schonwetter, senior in management, Overland Park, placed third in the sales management case contest at the International Collegiate Sales Competition.
Nick Ramsey, junior in finance, Hutchinson, placed third in the sales management case contest at the International Collegiate Sales Competition; Racya Doyle, sophomore in business, Manhattan, competed at the Great Northwoods Sales Warm-Up; and Ashley Ebeck, junior in finance, Paola, advanced to the quarterfinals in the role play contest at the Northeast Intercollegiate Sales Competition and competed at the International Collegiate Sales Competition.
From out of state: Dan Burger, junior in entrepreneurship, Minnetonka, Minnesota, finished 12th overall and received a $150 award at the Great Northwoods Sales Warm-Up; and Ana Vandermark, junior in marketing, Frisco, Texas, advanced to the quarterfinals in the role play contest at the Northeast Intercollegiate Sales Competition.
