November 18, 2019
K-State Sales Team brings home top individual honors for the third year in a row from International Collegiate Sales Competition
The Kansas State University Sales Team brought home the top honor in individual placings for the third year in a row at the International Collegiate Sales Competition. Hosted Nov. 6-9 by Florida State University in Orlando, the competition had 180 competitors from 90 universities competing.
The K-State Sales Team had two students compete in the competition. The team consisted of Preston Maurer, senior in finance, and Cecilia Nancarrow, junior in professional strategic selling, both from Overland Park. Lanessa Aurand, senior in professional strategic selling and marketing, Belleville, and Abbie O'Grady, senior in professional strategic selling and marketing, Overland Park, traveled with the team as student coaches to help prepare the team for the competition.
The two competitors participated in the role-play event, which is a tournament-style competition consisting of four rounds. The 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. The scenario always includes some aspects of international business. Nancarrow placed first place individually out of 180 competitors. Maurer was a semifinalist placing in the top 20 competitors.
"I'm very proud of our students and their performances!" said Dawn Deeter, director of the National Strategic Selling Institute and sales team coach. "Cecilia and Preston worked incredibly hard to prepare for the role-play competition. Abbie and Lanessa competed in a case simulation and speed selling, while also serving as student coaches. They worked well together as a team and I think that made the difference."
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 eight straight years by the Sales Education Foundation. The team consists of students who are enrolled in the certificate or major in professional strategic selling. Last fall, Kansas State became just the 19th university in the U.S. to offer a major in professional strategic selling. Students can also earn 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 through the innovative curriculum and sales labs allows students to develop the skills needed to be successful.
The K-State Sales Team will compete 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@ksu.edu.