Source: Dawn Deeter-Schmelz, 785-532-6889, ddeeter@k-state.edu
Website:http://cba.k-state.edu/about/departments-initiatives/national-strategic-selling-institute/index.html
Hometown connection/news tip: Andover, Hesston, Ottawa, Overland Park, Shawnee and Valley Center
Monday, Oct. 29, 2012
Sealing the deal: Students compete for spot on 2012-2013 sales team
MANHATTAN -- It takes a winning sales pitch to land a spot on Kansas State University's 2012-2013 Sales Team.
The team members were selected based on their performance at the recent Edward Jones Sales Competition, a daylong event where students role-play a sales pitch to potential Edward Jones customers, played by the company's representatives. The on-campus event attracted 46 participants.
"The contestants in this year's Edward Jones Sales Competition were outstanding. The judges had a difficult time determining the winners -- there is so much sales talent at K-State," said Dawn Deeter-Schmelz, marketing professor and the J.J. Vanier chair for relational selling in the College of Business Administration.
"Each of the competitors should be proud of his or her effort," she said.
The four students selected for the team each received a $500 scholarship. The team's two alternates earned $250 scholarships.
Team members and alternatives include: Tyler Maneth, junior in marketing, Andover, alternate; Jeffrey Norris, senior in marketing, Hesston, alternate; Andrea Fouts, senior in marketing, Ottawa; Megan Kirtland, senior in marketing, Overland Park; Josh Kirk, senior in entrepreneurship, Shawnee; and Jake Pritchard, junior in finance, Valley Center.
The team will take part in the National Collegiate Sales Competition at Kennesaw State University in Atlanta in March 2013 as part of the activities organized by the College of Business Administration's National Strategic Selling Institute.
This is the second year that the institute was host to the Edward Jones Sales Competition.
"We would like to thank D.C. Hackerott of Edward Jones for assisting with the planning and judging, and Gail Urban and Austin Graham of Edward Jones for serving as buyers," Deeter-Schmelz said. "We also appreciate the efforts of Dave Slain of Inland Label, Steve Wood of Country Financial, Jason Schaeffer of TEK Systems, Ted Bauer of Frito Lay and Dick Atchity of Sales Pro Staffing & Consulting, who served as judges.
"These professionals took time off from their jobs to provide invaluable feedback to our students, and we thank them for their support," she said. "Finally, the marketing faculty and our business ambassadors helped with registration throughout the day; the event was a success due to the efforts of this large group of people."
The National Strategic Selling Institute is an initiative of the College of Business Administration at Kansas State University to promote sales education and the sales profession among the college's students. Led by Deeter-Schmelz, it organizes and sponsors sales-related activities at the college and university through the year, including the K-State Sales Team, the Edward Jones Sales Competition and K-State Sales Week. More information about the institute is available at http://cba.k-state.edu/about/departments-initiatives/national-strategic-selling-institute/index.html.
