March 26, 2024
K-State Sales Team takes home 11th place at National Collegiate Sales Competition
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From left: Simon Lee, Halle Hartner and Taylor Moorman. |
The K-State Sales Team competed in the National Collegiate Sales Competition March 8-11. The competition was hosted by Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia, with Gartner as the 2024 product sponsor. There were 69 universities and 138 competitors participating.
The K-State Sales Team had two professional strategic selling students compete in the competition: sophomore Halle Hartner and junior Taylor Moorman. Simon Lee, sophomore in professional strategic selling, was selected as a student alternate to travel with the team and compete in speed selling events. Hunter Hartner, senior in professional strategic selling, served as the peer coach.
Halle Hartner advanced to the semifinals, placing ninth in the competition. Moorman advanced to the quarterfinals, placing 34th in the competition. The team took home 11th place overall in the competition.
Through the contest, students competed in role-play scenarios selling Gartner for High Tech Leaders services and tools to various prospects and industries. During a 20-minute role-play, students uncovered the prospect's needs through effective questioning and presented the value Gartner could provide the prospect based on their current situation.
The National Collegiate Sales Competition is the most prominent, largest and longest-running university sales role-play competition in existence. This event was built on the core values of professionalism, talent match, skill enhancement and communication, which are still in place today.
"I want to thank Terry Loe, professor of marketing at Kennesaw State University and executive director of the National Collegiate Sales Competition, as well as the rest of the Kennesaw State University team, Gartner, and many others for providing this opportunity for our students," said Kellie Jackson, marketing instructor and K-State sales team coach. "This competition truly represents the best upcoming sales talent and is a great opportunity to not only develop their skills but network with both peers and professionals." "I'm extremely proud of our student's efforts and hard work leading up to and during the competition and appreciate the leadership of their peer coach Hunter Hartner; he played an invaluable role in the team's success as a peer coach, practicing and coaching the students throughout their preparation efforts."
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 12 straight years by the Sales Education Foundation. The team consists of students who are enrolled in the certificate or major in professional strategic selling. In the fall of 2018, 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 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.