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UT team wins second straight national sales challenge |
| By
Bob Mackowiak |
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Nov 24, 2008
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| Posing for a photo after taking top team honors at the Russ Berrie Institute National Sales Challenge were, from left, Dave Liebrecht, Jack Tiernay, Dr. Ellen Pullins and Brittany Phillips. |
Three students from The University of Toledo’s Edward H. Schmidt School of Professional Sales in the College of Business Administration claimed top team honors at the annual Russ Berrie Institute National Sales Challenge at William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J., Nov. 6-8.
“There were 47 of the country’s top professional sales students competing in this three-day event, and this is the second consecutive year UT’s Edward H. Schmidt School of Professional Sales team claimed the first-place team prize,” said Dr. Richard Buehrer, school director. “This clearly demonstrates that UT has the best sales program in the country.”
The UT team consisted of Jack Tiernay, who placed second in the individual all-around, fourth in the information-gathering role-play event and fourth in the speed-selling event; Brittany Phillips, who placed third in the speed-selling event; and Dave Liebrecht, who finished in the top 10 overall. All are seniors in the Edward H. Schmidt School of Professional Sales. Dr. Ellen Pullins, school research professor of sales and sales management, accompanied the team.
Students role-played selling pharmaceuticals to a hospital, demonstrated how they would manage time and territories for a clothing manufacturer, and sold themselves to six of the many corporate sponsors in a two-minute speed-selling drill.
“Business leaders applauded UT’s positive reputation and the impressive way that UT students represented their university,” Buehrer said. “Of 30 universities recognized by the University Sales Education Foundation, the Edward H. Schmidt School of Professional Sales has the largest program that can boast both a major in this field as well as a full set of accreditations and certifications. Now with a two-year winning streak at the prestigious RBI National Sales Challenge, the Edward H. Schmidt School of Professional Sales can legitimately claim to be the top program in the country.”
The UT Pi Sigma Epsilon team continued the winning streak, taking top honors at the regional Pro-Am Sales Competition held at Purdue University Nov. 14-15. Matt Richmond, a senior majoring in sales, won first place in the role-play sales call competition, Tiernay took second place, and Ryan Papp, a junior majoring in sales, took fourth place. This was the third straight year UT students claimed the top two spots in the regional competition, where the faced peers from Purdue, Ohio State and Indiana University, among other schools. Pi Sigma Epsilon is the national professional fraternal organization in sales, marketing and management.
Next up, students from the Edward H. Schmidt School of Professional Sales will travel to Kennesaw State in Atlanta for the National Collegiate Sales Competition in February.
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