The professional sales certificate program in the College of Business at Washington State University Vancouver has been named one of the 2013 Top University Sales Programs by the Sales Education Foundation. 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø’s program was recognized for preparing students for professional selling careers and placing top talent in professional selling roles.
The Sales Education Foundation, a non-profit that promotes the sales profession through college and university programs, reports that more than 50 percent of college students in the United States enter sales careers, and many fail due to lack of professional preparation. Universities with professional selling programs are receiving significant attention from companies for successful hiring.
91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø’s professional sales certificate program has gained national notoriety through fine performances by students at the Western States Collegiate Sales Competition and the National Collegiate Sales Competition.
Twenty-nine students from 10 colleges competed in the Western States Collegiate Sales Competition April 19 at Chico State University in California. 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø’s team included top performers from the 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Professional Sales Competition in December. The team members were Azur Buljubasic, Devin Ferner, Justin Johnson, Shaina Schlansky and Katelyn Vivian.
The 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø team won third runner-up overall. Schlansky won second runner-up for her ADP payroll services role play. Ferner won second place in the TEKsystems IT staffing solutions role play, and second runner-up overall.
Shaynne Goodwin and James Kramer, top two performers from the 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø Professional Sales Competition in December, represented 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø at the National Collegiate Sales Competition in Kennesaw, GA in March. Both Students performed well and narrowly missed qualifying for the quarter finals.
To earn a professional sales certificate, students complete courses in marketing, professional sales, sales management, business-to-business marketing and negotiations. The courses are applied and interactive. Students complete sales and negotiation role plays, and shadow professional sales people. Graduates of the program are in great demand, often entertaining multiple employment offers.
2013 graduates of the professional sales certificate program have been hired by some of the top sales organizations in the area including: ASC Professional staffing, Alpha Broadcasting, Boeing, Consolidated Electrical Distributors, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Nautilus, Northwestern Mutual, Tom James Clothiers, U.S. Bank and Zones, Inc.
The professional sales certificate program has benefitted greatly from local business-community involvement. Local sales professionals have served as guest speakers, competition judges, career fair exhibitors and members of the Professional Sales Advisory Task Force.
The professional sales certificate program is directed by Ron Pimentel, clinical assistant professor of marketing and faculty director of professional sales; and Alberto Sa Vinhas, assistant professor of marketing.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Brenda Alling, Office of Marketing and Communications, 360-546-9601, brenda_alling@vancouver.wsu.edu