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K-State Today

Division of Communications and Marketing
Kansas State University
128 Dole Hall
1525 Mid-Campus Drive North
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-2535
vpcm@k-state.edu

October 15, 2021

K-State Sales Team sweeps Challenger Sales Institute Tri-State Challenge

Submitted by Haley Ahlers

CSI Sales Team

The Kansas State University Sales Team took home top honors during the Challenger Sales Institute Tri-State Challenge hosted by the University of Central Oklahoma on Oct. 7-8 in Oklahoma City. K-State competed against the University of Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University in both the speed selling and role-play events. The leading sponsor of the competition was Love's Travel Stops.

The K-State Sales Team consisted of Jacqueline Anzalone, senior in marketing and supply chain management, Kansas City, Missouri; Natalie Beck, junior in marketing, Jefferson, Missouri; Kaley Coffman, junior in professional strategic selling and finance, Bonner Springs; Kaitlin Hiestand, senior in finance and professional strategic selling, Topeka; Lydia Johnson, junior in professional strategic selling and Spanish, Prior Lake, Minnesota; Jack McGuire, sophomore in finance, Shawnee; Lucas Oliver, junior in professional strategic selling, Overland Park; Cameron Pavelschak, junior in professional strategic selling, Mascoutah, Illinois; and Colton Williams, junior in professional strategic selling, Osage City.

In the speed selling competition, Anzalone placed first and Johnson placed second out of 35 competitors. In the role-play competition, Williams placed first, Johnson placed third and Anzalone placed fourth out of 35 competitors. Coffman and Hiestand advanced to the role-play semifinals placing in the top 12.

"I couldn't have asked for a better start to the 2021-2022 academic year and I'm extremely proud of the efforts put forth by all nine individuals," said Kellie Jackson, managing director of the National Strategic Selling Institute and sales team coach. "As our first competition of the year, and many students' first traveling competition, it was a great accomplishment to have representation in the finals in both events. We are excited to have these events back in person this year to help further develop the students' sales skills and also appreciate all the sponsors and faculty for the time and effort they invest to put on these events to develop the next generation of sales talent."

The K-State Sales Team is in the College of Business Administration's National Strategic Selling Institute, which has been named one of the top sales programs in the country for ten straight years by the Sales Education Foundation. The team consists of students who are enrolled in the certificate or major in professional strategic selling. In fall 2018, Kansas State became just the 19th university in the U.S. to offer a major in professional strategic selling. Students can also earn a certificate in professional strategic selling, which is open to all majors at the university. The professional strategic selling program introduces students to the fundamentals of sales and the innovative curriculum and sales labs allow students to develop the skills needed to be successful.

The K-State Sales Team will be competing in several competitions throughout the school year across the country. For more information on the National Strategic Selling Institute or the K-State Sales Team, please contact kstatesalesprogram@k-state.edu