Deirdre Jones, M.B.A.
Director and Instructor
419.530.2978
Deirdre.Jones@utoledo.edu
Curriculum Vita
Deirdre is the director of the Edward H. Schmidt School of Professional Sales (ESSPS)
in the College of Business and Innovation at The University of Toledo. She joined
the College of Business in 2004 as a visiting instructor and continues to be an instructor.
Ms. Jones holds a MBA in Information Systems and a BBA in Marketing with a Professional Sales concentration both from The University of Toledo. She was awarded the Pacemaker Award as an undergraduate and team taught Sales and Micro-Computer Applications in Business as a Graduate/Teaching Assistant.
Prior to joining UToledo, Deirdre was an account executive for WTA Consulting, a business technology consulting firm and Oracle reseller. During her three years with WTA Consulting, she was responsible for managing strategic accounts and securing new business. Ms. Jones closed the company's first six figure purchase order for consulting services.
Ms. Jones has trained 1,100+ students and 600+ working professionals. She currently teaches Sales Career Orientation and introduces students to the world of professional selling, ESSPS faculty, alumni and corporate partners. Deirdre also teaches personal selling, advanced sales, account and territory management, sales force automation, and customer relationship management. She has trained and consulted with a number of firms in technology, engineering, manufacturing, and healthcare.
Deirdre develops and manages outreach initiatives to market and sell the ESSPS such as the Corporate Partner Program, Sales Ambassador Program, recruiting events, development events, online recruiting tools, sales force automation, communications, and facility rentals. She also conceived and directs the nation's first and only national sales competition to focus exclusively on the non-senior, the University of Toledo Invitational Sales Competition (UTISC). The staff and operations of the ESSPS are 100% externally funded by the money Deirdre raises annually and by the Edward Schmidt endowments. Deirdre was awarded the Alice H. Skeens Outstanding University Woman Award (2022), College of Business & Innovation Innovation Award (2020), Lancelot C.A. Thompson Service to Students Award (2018), Honorary Blue Key (2018), and UToledo Outstanding Staff Award (2014). The ESSPS, their initiatives, and alumni have been recognized in the Wall Street Journal, Sales Education Foundation Annual, The Blade, Careers in Professional Selling, Ebony, and other news media.
She has published research on technology mediated learning, intergenerational selling, and undergraduate relocation. Her researched has appeared in Journal of Marketing Education, Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing, and Journal of Selling & Major Account Management.
Deirdre planned, designed, raised funding, launched, and manages the technology in the quarter million dollar ESSPS Sales Suites that is also in use in other areas of the college and university. Her projects were recognized with a global student impact award (2010) by one of the technology vendors and are highlighted in higher education technology publications such as University Business and Campus Technology.
Ms. Jones resides in Perrysburg, Ohio with her husband and two children. She volunteers with DECA, Junior Achievement, Perrysburg Schools athletics and performing arts, and Girl Scouts of America.