Business Students Compete in Annual Internal Sales Competition
October 14, 2022 | John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation News
By Staff
The University of Toledo John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation’s
Edward H. Schmidt School of Professional Sales (ESSPS) hosted its inaugural Sales
Connection and 12th annual Internal Sales Competition (ISC) on Friday, October 14, 2022.
The day consisted of interactive workshops and panel discussions, open networking lunch, coaching/interviewing sessions, and a role play competition. Students were placed in development block workshops based on their preferences for the topics and how well that matched with the strengths and interests of industry experts from ESSPS corporate partners and other companies.
After the 100+ students completed their development blocks and open networking lunch, around 30 students spent the rest of the afternoon getting 1-1 coaching/interviewing and then doing a role play based on a case that was shared earlier in the semester. Role play rooms were assigned based on level of experience to keep the competition transparent and fair and to help corporate partners better identify the various types of students in the ESSPS. Corporate partners also served as judges and role play buyers.
Congratulations to the following winners:
Freshmen - Stephen Williams
Freshmen/Sophomore - Ben Doenecke
Juniors Emerging - Amelia Pullins
Juniors Developing - Drew Paule
Juniors/Seniors Refining - Kennedy Bringman
Seniors Emerging - Sam Shockey
The event took place onsite and did offer select elements available online, however all of the corporate partners and companies wanted to be onsite to make better connections with the professional sales and business students who were participating, competing, and/or working behind the scenes.
“Sales Connection is an evolution that reflects key engagement activities that we know are highly impactful to shape people and make connections and that we needed to streamline to one day as over 80% of professional sales students are working while going to school full time. That is a 12% increase since 2019 before the pandemic,” said Deirdre Jones, director of the Edward H. Schmidt School of Professional Sales.
“Our students and faculty/staff are very fortunate to have the time, talent, and treasure support from our corporate partners who collaborate with us to make Sales Connection, Internal Sales Competition (ISC), and other aspects of the ESSPS possible.”
Sponsors of the ’22 Internal Sales Competition include 3M, Hilti, Owens Corning, National Corporate Housing, Therma-Tru Doors, Thomson Reuters, Fastenal Company, Airgas, Northwestern Mutual Toledo, Hyland, All Phase Electric, and more.