A row of shields for different accomplishments adorns the office of Mark Mantey, co-director of the Sales Leadership Center at CSUF’s Mihaylo College of Business and Economics.
One of his more recent accomplishments was being named advisor of the year for 2015 during CSUF’s annual Tuffy Awards.
The awards recognize Cal State Fullerton’s faculty and staff who maintain positive communication with an on-campus club or organization, including mentoring and support for involved students.
“From the beginning, Mr. Mantey has been a welcoming advisor who wishes the best for the students involved within the center,” said Jocelyn Ferrer, chair of recruitment of the Sales Leadership Center. “His friendly nature leads the spirit of the center.”
The Sales Leadership Center was established in fall 2009 to elevate the understanding of sales careers and prepare students for the real world of business.
True to its mission, Mantey fosters hands-on leadership skills in students by having them organize a host of events, seminars and interactive workshops. In addition, he mandates participation in Titan sales competitions for developing networking and professional sales skills that are instrumental in collaborating with corporate partners for job opportunities.
Since joining the Sales Leadership Center as co-director in 2013, his popularity soared due to his open-door policy.
“I understand things from students’ perspectives, learn their ambitions, goals and through the center help them achieve the goals,” he said.
Mantey began his sales career in 1979 with Hormel Foods Corp. in Minnesota and progressed to Nestle USA Inc, where he held various sales positions for 28 years. Despite a 34-year corporate life, his passion for sales and the opportunity to share that passion made for an easy transition to being a university advisor.
He passionately strives to advance students’ careers by promoting a positive perception about salesand educates them about different sales approaches. And to fuel students’ enthusiasm, he shares the perks of sales careers such as company cars and good salaries.
Challenges were not uncommon in his long sales career. But Mantey always overcame them with tremendous resilience. One incident he vividly recollects was when he made his first sales call in Minnesota, sitting alone in his car sweating profusely, as he had to demonstrate cooking mac and cheese and some chicken products to a group of women at a food service department.
He said that making sales calls can be difficult as not every customer is welcoming.
“You are going to be knocked down, you got to have a rubber butt and keep going,” he said.
Over the years he gradually developed a few more qualities like persistence, creating value for customers, self-motivation, competitiveness, adaptability and a willingness to work with people.
Now, Mantey guides his students to embrace these key tools to have a successful sales career.
Under his leadership the center’s membership has increased from 12 during 2013-2014 to 86 students at present, comprising business majors and students from other colleges working towards certifications in professional sales. In May, 28 graduating seniors were awarded the certificates.
Also, with his industry experience he secured 16 corporate sponsors and key partners that include Nationwide Financial, Frito-Lay, Stanley Black & Decker and AT&T.
Mantey now aims to continue building awareness of the center and getting more students involved.
“I have met students who haven’t heard about the center until senior year,” he said. “It is more challenging to attend events and meet the needs of the certificate as seniors than as freshman or juniors.”
