March 20, 2023
K-State Sales Team places first at University of Toledo Invitational Sales Competition
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From left: Taylor Moorman and Jack McGuire recently placed first at the University of Toledo Invitational Sales Competition. |
The Kansas State University Sales Team placed first in the University of Toledo Invitational Sales Competition, or UTISC, on Feb. 23-25. The competition saw 36 universities and 72 students participating in the event. The competition is the first and only national sales competition to focus exclusively on non-seniors.
Competing for the K-State States Sales Team were Taylor Moorman, sophomore in professional strategic selling, Emporia, and Jack McGuire, junior in professional strategic selling and business economics, Shawnee.
The competition consisted of multiple role-play events that were sponsored by 3M. In addition, students participated in engagement opportunities with all sponsors of the event, including coaching sessions, development blocks, a career fair and a social media competition. The team placed first overall with combined points from both the role-play and engagement events.
Students competed in two different divisions: sophomore/freshman and junior. Moorman finished fourth out of 36 competitors in the freshman/sophomore division. In the junior division, McGuire finished fourth out of 36 competitors. Moorman also had two social posts selected as winners as part of the social media competition.
"The UTISC is a great opportunity for students to enhance their sales skills," said Kellie Jackson, K-State Sales Team coach. "With 3M as the sponsor, it provides students the opportunity to sell a technical product with a clear return on investment, unlike other competitions that concentrate on selling a service with perceived value. In addition, the engagement opportunities allow students to grow professionally while developing their professional network. I was proud of the team's accomplishment and their effort on both the role-play and engagement events and look forward to their continued success."
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 11 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 fall 2018, Kansas State University 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 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@k-state.edu.