UT students place second in National Collegiate Sales Competition

A team of three University of Toledo students placed second at the 12^th annual National Collegiate Sales Competition. Matt Shipley, Jeff Tippy and Heidi Schollmeier competed against some 130 students from 62 universities across the country at the event in Kennesaw, Ga.

Bowling Green State University took first place at the event, and UT tied for second place with Florida State University and the University of Washington.

Other top 10 university teams were Kennesaw State, Bradley, Baylor, Houston, Michigan State and Georgia.

"Our students' performance at the competition is, of course, a reflection of their pride in representing UT and motivation to demonstrate the (sales) skills that they are learning in school - but it is also indicative of the passion that our entire sales faculty demonstrates by putting in the extra time and effort required to coach and prepare our students for success,” said Dr. Michael Mallin, UT assistant professor of marketing, who coordinated the trip and coached the team at the competition.  “This year, we are very fortunate to be able to utilize the new Huntington Sales Lab which is part of the College's new expansion, the Savage & Associates Complex for Business Learning & Engagement, as well as the Schmidt School of Professional Sales “

To reach the finals, Schollmeier completed five rounds, while Shipley completed three as a semifinalist.

“Many of the best and brightest sales students would be unable to attend without the help of corporate sponsors,” Mallin said. “Sponsoring the competition also provides participating companies with the opportunity to network with and preview elite up-and-coming sales talent.”

Inaugurated in 1999, the National Collegiate Sales Competition is the largest and oldest sales role-play competition in existence. Its mission is to enhance the practice and professionalism of the sales discipline. Each year, the competition hosts the top collegiate sales talent and sales faculty from the most elite university sales programs in North America. Sales students are provided a venue for sharpening their sales skills in a highly competitive environment and a chance to network with their peers and sales faculty from across the United States.